Bryan

Upfront, I’m a bit of a cynic and pessimist. That being said, I always struggle with the advice given by self-help books and TV shows, even though I readily consume all of it. (I love a Sunday morning watching the Oprah Winfrey Network. By the way, I love Oprah. However, is it just me or do all of her “favorite things” seem really expensive?) No matter the self-help guru, the advice is always the same — “just be yourself”, “follow your passion” or “take risks.” And, in doing so, “happiness” is sure to follow.

My issue is that the advice is always coming from someone who’s already successful and wealthy. These shows and books never highlight someone who’s struggling or not well-off financially. Hindsight is always 20/20, right? It begs the question, “Which came first the chicken or the egg?” (The media creates this illusion that being happy or successful is achievable with the right attitude, only to make many of us feel like we’re flawed.) It’s difficult to “take risks”, when you have lots of bills to pay. It’s easy to sit high atop a perch and espouse such wisdom because you don’t have to worry about money. Most successful people don’t answer to anyone, so “being yourself” comes much easier.  [Read more…] about Bryan Blathers: Can Money Buy Happiness?

I’m not one to get too sappy over the passing of celebrities. I even cringe, when I see people crying on TV over some actor or musician. We don’t know these people, so how can you be upset? Yesterday changed all of that for me. I’m simply heartbroken at the passing of PRINCE. I never thought I’d see the day. Mainly because he seemed of another world — mysterious and immortal.

My first experience with his music was when my older brother, on break from the Navy, brought home a cassette of “1999” for my middle brother. I commandeered it and fell in love with it. Next, that same middle brother took me to see “Purple Rain” (just a few months later) at the Villa Italia twin theater in Lakewood. In those days, the rules were much more lax because it was R-rated and we still got in, even though I was only 13 and my brother was 17. Much like every teen, I played “Purple Rain” a thousand times that summer — never skipping a track. (I still get emotional every time I hear “The Beautiful Ones” and the title track.) [Read more…] about Bryan Blathers: My (Brief) Interactions With PRINCE

I must be the luckiest guy in the world. For years, I’ve read about pay-it-forward stories happening at restaurants and drive-thrus. Well, it happened to me for the second time. (The first time was at Taco Bell, a few years ago. At the time, I shared my experience here.) I was at Starbucks buying breakfast sandwiches for my elderly parents (in their 70s) on Tuesday morning and (surprise!) the family ahead of me in the drive-thru lane paid for them. It seems like such a small gesture, but I can tell you the impact is profound. In the moment the barista told me my tab was covered, I felt shocked, special and grateful. Unfortunately, it seems we no longer expect others to be kind, generous or thoughtful. The family pulled away so quickly. There was no chance to honk my horn or tap on the driver’s window to share my gratitude. They had no idea about my gender, race, political beliefs, religion or financial situation. They simply wanted to make a stranger’s day a little brighter. The act was not small by any means, especially for a bargain hunter like me. The $10 they saved me allows me to put more gas in the car, buy more groceries or add to my savings account. Every action has a reaction. [Read more…] about Bryan Blathers: Thank You, Kind Strangers.