Honesty

"Honesty,  is such a lonely word......."

Honesty refers to a facet of moral character and connotes positive and virtuous attributes such as integrity, truthfulness, and straightforwardness, including straightforwardness of conduct, along with the absence of lying, cheating, theft, etc. Furthermore, honesty means being trustworthy, loyal, fair, and sincere.



UGHHH......you think you know what a word means and then you look it up.
What I am really saying is,  YES, I know what Honesty means and it still bugs me sometimes :)
Ok, all kidding aside.
I learned what honesty was at a very young age, but not really.
I was told to "tell the truth". "Don't lie". "Do not take things that don't belong to you."
But, I also learned at a very young age, the wonderful world of manipulation.
I learned that you don't have to tell all of the truth, you can keep some for yourself.
I learned how to rationalize and justify.  It's not stealing, if you don't get caught.
It's not a lie, if you believe it to be true.
If my intentions were good, it's not really lying.
Most of these attributes came from the neighborhood I lived in and the people around me.
All very loving, good people that cared about me deeply, but inevitably were not always the most
"honest" people in the world.  I am not just talking about my family, I am talking about the Catholic school
I was attending, the kids and their families I knew, the world I was born into and grew up in.
I grew up in south St. Louis, Mo. Smack dab in the city, in a lower-middle class neighborhood.
Everyone was trying to get ahead and get by at the same time.
You learn to take care of yourself as a young child. I learned to get what I wanted and to manipulate the situation when it wasn't going my way.
I won't go into the juicy details, (I'll save that for a glorifying, self-absorbed autobiography)
but I learned the art of deceit.
At the age of 33, I was low down and ready to try anything.....including honesty.
My first attempts at honesty were like that of a child.
I learned to be "Cash Register" honest.  I stopped stealing money or things that did not belong to me.
I was so proud of myself when I gave you back your exact change!
Baby steps......baby steps.
I learned to say the truth out loud, mostly for myself to hear.
I had been lying to myself for so long, I believed it all to be true.
Once I accepted this new truth about my life and who I was, I was able to start honestly taking
steps to change my life and change my thinking.
Honesty comes in phases in recovery, just as it does in life.
We are faced with situations (opportunities) in life where we get a chance to practice forms of honesty,
truthfulness, straightforwardness. I want to exaggerate this story to you, but it's simply not true.
Tell it like it is.  
If I am keeping in my feelings about you or a situation and telling you something different, that is dishonest.
This is not easy.  People pleasing is a form of dishonesty.
I will tell you what you want to hear, to manipulate the situation for whatever reason......usually selfish.
I also have learned that I don't need to tell you the truth to be hurtful.
I can simply not answer you or bow out.  Telling someone the "Truth" to let them have it, is not very spiritual at all.  True honesty requires consideration.  If the truth is going to hurt you and it is not life threatening, world shaking or really necessary, it could be best to not say anything at all, or just be nice.
BAD EXAMPLE:  "Does this dress make me look fat?"   
BAD ANSWER:  "No, your big fat ass makes you look fat."   
Could be the truth, but just seems mean and unnecessary.
GOOD EXAMPLE: "Does this dress make me look fat?"
GOOD EXAMPLE: "If you don't feel comfortable in that dress, maybe find something else to wear."
That's how you do it Al Anon!

As life continues in recovery, I am much more honest and truthful than I have ever been in my life.
I seek the truth in all that I do and accept nothing less.  (most of the time)
But my mind can still get the best of me, usually with intellectual dishonesty.
Again, manipulation.
I am not revealing all of the facts, I am keeping things to myself.
I know the truth, you do not know the truth. That is your problem. I will not tell you the truth,
because thats not my problem. I figured it out, you figure it out for yourself.
Plus, if I tell you, you won't believe me and it will cause me pain and suffering to argue with you,
so I'll just let you bobble around until maybe you figure it out for yourself, or you crash and burn.
Also, if I tell you the truth, now we both know and I am not in "Control" of this situation anymore....
YIKES!
If any of this makes sense, you are in big trouble.
Eventually though, the dishonesty wells up inside and when I am uncomfortable enough, I will tell the truth.
Usually this very intellectual, high brow form of dishonesty is a one on one, relationship type of dishonesty.
I might be honest with the entire world, except one person.
For some reason, I feel this person does not deserve the honesty. 
Resentment is the culprit here, and needs to be dealt with if I am to remain clean and sober.
Whatever the situation, honesty must prevail. It will allow me to breathe and soothe my worried mind.

I will never be 100% honest, all of the time. No one will.
Like all of the spiritual principles, I will continue to do my best and when I make mistakes, hopefully learn from them.  I will make mistakes. When I do finally take the step to be honest, no matter how painful it might be,
the relief behind the truth always outweighs the pain of being dishonest.

Honesty is spiritual. It is real. The truth is the truth, the only truth. Their is your story, my story and the REAL story.  I am trying to see the real story, at every step of the path.

"When I'm deep inside of me
Don't be too concerned
I won't ask for nothin' while I'm gone
But when I want sincerity
Tell me where else can I turn
Cause you're the one that I depend upon"
Billy Joel


Peace, Love Zito

Narrow

Everything is moving so fast......or so it seems.
Maybe I am just slowing down, taking my time.
I assume I am getting older, and with maturity comes pace.
I am surrounded by fast, ineffectual movements that seem so fleeting,
with little to no purpose but to get to the next......

That is a broad statement.
It seems to me that everything I do should count in someway.
Not with great expectations, but with purpose.
To truly be considerate and mindful, I should take steps in the right direction
no matter what I am doing or saying.....of course I fall very short.
Buddhism teaches me that I should not speak unless I have useful words to say,
but I constantly open my mouth and rabble on about nothing good.
Point taken.

Not everyone is on the same page.
This knowledge is still new to me. I am hopelessly hopeful, childlike in this way.
I still believe in my heart that we are all doing the right things for the right reasons.
We're in this together and we want to succeed in a way that is beyond our ego.
Shortly followed by a huge slap in the face......
Not everyone is on the same page.
I am trying to accept this for the truth.  Mostly because I allow people to let me down.
Again, not out of expectations, but out of this childish belief that "we're all in this together".
No, we are not all in this together. Maybe in the biggest picture idea we are all in this together,
but not on a very personal level. I get frustrated with life and those around me, wondering why
they just don't get it. Why are we doing the same things but for different reasons?
It seems to me that the purpose is the key to it all.
And it is.
But we all have such different ideas of purpose and belief.
Live and let live.
That being said, I don't stop searching for the truth or for like minded people.
In fact, I search harder. I use this acceptance as fuel to strengthen my belief.
I am in constant search for other human beings that are walking this very narrow
path that I am on. It is not a path to fame or fortune, nor a path of misguided, intellectual
spiritualism for elitists......it's just my very narrow path to the truth.
Of course I ask questions, I doubt, but I continue to walk.
I am uncertain and veer off at times, but never stray.
It gets more narrow the further I walk. I look for others and there are less and less.
From what I read, what I am told and what I have learned.......
in the end it's only me and my maker.
We walk this path together. This is the only way to relieve the pain of living.
True Awareness eliminates the suffering of life.

Most of this is music based for me.  Music is life and means everything to my soul.
Music done in haste or without consideration or real purpose does not transcend.
Every note should count. Every note should resonate and be whole. (pun intended)
Every note should resound with consideration and with masterfulness to any level.
Passion for ego's sake is mere bullshit. It is for children and childish.
Every note should contain love.
It should have that "I'm going for it and I am trying my best and I promise to try harder the next time"
feel. It should never be good enough.
I am not saying that music and life should not be fun.
Music and life should be complete enjoyment.
But when music is your job, your path, your passion.......
It should be PASSIONATE!
True passion. From the soul. Begging for forgiveness to a KING that this note is not worthy....
but I give you everything I've got in this one note.... and I will give you more.
Assertive, not aggressive.
Love is not aggressive.
Life is like music, music is like life.
Every breathe should count.

There are many on this path with me.  We know each other.
It is unspoken. We do not have to argue or discuss, it's understood.
We lift each other up.
You remind me to slow it down. Don't be in a hurry. Take your time.
I will remind myself that we are not all on the same page, and thats ok.
It is a very narrow path with no end in sight.....I am lucky to be alive to walk it.

Peace, Love Zito

Tommy Lund, my brother

Well.......

I usually use this blog to share my feelings and thoughts about living clean and sober
in the weird world of rock n roll......

But, today I will share my feelings and story with you about my dear friend, Tommy Lund.

Tommy Lund was a very close friend of mine and many in this world that has left us too soon.

   I met Tommy in 2009 while on tour in Europe. Our first meeting was at a club in Holland.
He was very nice and excited and gave me his card. He had taken pictures and offered to send me
the images in an email.  I met Tommy again in 2010 at the Moulin Blues Fest in Holland.
This time I knew who he was and he came back stage before the show. We spoke about music and
such and really hit it off. He was very excited about me, my band and my music.
He offered to help me in anyway possible with building my career in Europe.
He told me he wrote for Bluesnews in Norway (where he is originally from) as well as other mags and online websites devoted to blues in Europe. He was also a tremendous photographer and always
had his camera with him to capture the shows.  We began to stay in touch regularly online through
email and of course, Facebook.  Every trip I made to Europe, Tommy found a way to get to a show and take pictures and write about the show or my new albums.
It didn't take long for Tommy and I to become fast friends, not because he was offering to help me,
but because we shared an awful lot in common.  I was very happy that Tommy had taken an interest
in helping me with my career, very grateful, but very happy to have a new, real friend.
It is not easy to make friends later in life, you know what I mean.
With family, work and such, you really don't get much time to find new friends and seek out
people with similar interests, that is for the young.

I am not always a good friend. I am so busy with my touring and writing and 5 children, I do not
always reach out to people or take time to ask how they are doing. I forget to write people back, call people back and that rubs some folks the wrong way. I understand.  I just don't have as much time as I wish I had for a vibrant social life.  Tommy was the kind of friend, who understood and didn't really care about all of that. He would work past my shit and keep plugging along in our friendship.

Within a year or so, I was talking with Tommy everyday, every week, via Facebook, Skype, text, emails, you name it!  We loved a lot of the same music and he had a wide appetite for the arts.
We both agreed that "reality" in art was most moving and really appreciated the artists that didn't hold back. The ones that shared it all and were themselves, not trying to put on a facade.
We quoted Bruce Springsteen to each other and lines from 80's movies.
Before I knew it, I had a new brother in life.

He really jumped into my career and took over posting on Facebook for me and starting my fan club,
"Zito Nation" with my good friend Joan.  The two of them became a force and worked together
night and day to promote my music and new albums and endeavors.
Tommy continued to attend any european tours he could and promote me like crazy.
The BEST photo's I have of me performing live are from Tommy Lund.
Tommy's photo of me at Moulin Blues became the photo of the Blues Music Award Nomination and Win in 2010 for "Pearl River".  It was also the Fender Musical Instruments photo on their artist website.
He got great shots of RSB and of me performing with Warren Haynes.
All of this time over the past 5 years, we spoke everyday in one form or another.
We joked, teased, laughed, argued (not really) and dreamed together.
Tommy had this belief in me and in my music that I don't think I had.
He convinced me that what I was doing was worthwhile and necessary.  He encouraged me
to let it all out.  Every time I thought I was sharing enough with the world, Tommy told me I was holding back and needed to share more.  He got me to believe in myself in the biggest way.
He saw something in me that I did not see in myself and he made me a believer.

But Tommy did not just do this for me....... he did this for many, many great artists.
He was a TRUE BELIEVER.  He saw through the shit and found the diamonds.
He promoted many new and unknown artists.  He lived for turning people onto new music,
new art.  He was a gentle, kind, sweet, warm and funny man who wanted world peace.
He pointed out when the world was wrong politically, racially, ethically and stood his ground.
He believed in the power of music and he was my friend.

Tommy was not well this past year.
His back was really hurting him and he had to stay in bed or laying down for quite a while.
He had a hard time walking or getting out and it really bothered him.
He couldn't get out to the shows like he wanted to, so instead he worked harder online,
bugging the shit out of me everyday!!!   I miss that.....

We spoke so much that I took for granted our relationship. It would last for a long time I believed.
He was one of maybe 5 people that I spoke with everyday for the past 5 years.

The last I spoke with Tommy was on February 10, 2014.
Ironically that is 2/10 - 210 is a song I wrote that I have never recorded for fear that it was too personal,
but Tommy LOVED and BEGGED me to put it out someday, now I guess I have to :)

He sounded weak. He told me his back was really bad and needed to stay in bed for months.
We laughed at how much that sucked and he said he would get through it.
We made plans for him to come on tour with me in the fall in Europe.
He was sweet and said he would get better soon. We laughed and said goodbye.....

I received a message on Sunday Feb 16th in the evening that Tommy Lund had passed away.
I was in shock and total disbelief......and then it hit me
He had not sent me a message in days, he had not texted me or called me. He had not posted
anything online.......thats when I knew it was true.

Tommy Lund left us the week of February 10-16th. He died in his sleep.
It was of natural causes.  He is being cremated and brought back to Norway to be buried with
his grandfather, his hero.

Tommy was my same age.
He was funny and vibrant and strong.
He was a true believer in life and in music and the arts.
We laughed a lot, and he believed in me.
He encouraged me and promoted me.
He pushed through my wall and got very close to my heart.
We made plans to rule the world.
He was my friend and I miss him.

Tommy would not want us to cry or be sad.
He would want us to celebrate life, listen to music and especially take time
to appreciate the lyrics. Seek out art in all forms and encourage others.


God bless your soul my brother. I know you are at peace in the warmth of the Spirit.

Please take time to look at Tommy's personal photography and writings:

http://tommylund.eu/

Confirmation

Happy 2014 to all of my friends out there!

We made it and we should be so lucky :)

This year has taken off with a bang. So much to do, so much traveling already and

plenty of work ahead.  All of this is great and I am very grateful for my gift to work

and take care of my family, but sometimes it's just one day after another - hurry hurry hurry,

try to keep it all in line - balancing a checkbook, picking the kids up from school, getting the bills paid,

feeding the animals, getting to the gigs on time and keeping the schedule organized.....

I am sure you all know what I am talking about.

Sometimes I need a confirmation of all things good and amazing in my life.

Maybe I should say - reconfirmation - but it seems as though every new confirmation really

seems to supersede the last one and bring about even more awareness.

Fear usually brings this confirmation around.

I step into a fearful situation, which is usually not fearful at all, but from my past experience

has caused me pain and suffering and I immediately expect the same experience.

But why would it be the same experience? I am no longer the person I used to be and things

have changed. If  I have truly forgiven myself for any of my wrong doings, then I have nothing

to be fearful of - especially if I have practiced the principles in all of my affairs.

Once I examine my feelings of fear and find that they are the same deep rooted feelings based

in old shame and remorse, I begin to forgive myself all over again.

I don't have to feel this way anymore.

But my mental illness always looks for a way to beat me up and beat me down so I will start

feeling sorry for myself and possibly consider taking a drink again. This disease is cunning, baffling

and POWERFUL!

The next step for me is to call my sponsor, read some literature, go to a meeting and ultimately

deal with my fear head on and take care of business. In the meantime I learn, yet again, that I am a child of the Universe and I have a right to be here, just as the mountains and the stars above.

I need to learn to be nice to myself.  Stop judging myself so hard and give myself a break.

I am doing the best I can, and that is all I can do.

Once this feeling of true love comes over me, I start to see the world as beautiful all over again.

We are here for such a short period of time, it will all be over soon.

Every word and every breath should count. I start to take notice of every detail and more from the

observers view and not my judgmental ego.  

The observers view is the greatest feeling in the world. To let go of myself and become a part,

rather than apart.
A new confirmation is necessary from time to time, to keep me grounded in my spirituality.

It's all a process and soon I will leave this mountain and come back to the valley where the work is needed to be done......but for now, life is beautiful.

Peace, Love, Zito

Truly Thankful

It has been a while since I have blogged and I have been wanting to do so badly,
but I have been so fortunate to be busy working, so it's been hard to get a minute to reflect.
Of course, with the end of the year, comes naturally a feeling of looking back.

I hope we can all look back on this year and have fond memories, but that may not be so
for everyone. Life is hard and then you die........says Johnny Winter.

I have had such a wonderful year and for that I am grateful.
RSB had the best year yet, touring all over the world to wonderful audiences.
We traveled to Australia, Europe, opened for Gregg Allman, played the Wanee Festival,
played at the Notodden festival and rocked the Blues Music Awards, we ended the year
by recording our second studio album.
Mike Zito and The Wheel was born in 2013, recording and releasing our debut cd and getting
some great tours in and around RSB.
We were so humbly honored this week to be nominated for Blues Music Awards.
All in all,  a fantastic year, with so much that has happened, I cannot remember it all.

I was gone too long this year from my family. I missed my children and my wife.
I didn't get to play with my kids enough or watch them grow. I feel some regret
when I think of how much I was gone. I know it;s all for the best in the long run,
but that is time that I will never get back. I look forward to having more time for my family
in 2014.  But, I became closer with my bandmates and my friends on the road.
I made new friends at shows all over the world. I spent time with people and got to really
know them well this year. I celebrated 10 years in recovery and performed at a huge recovery
convention with RSB. My good friend Tom spent the day with me and Charlie, it was great.

My dear friend Joan made me an amazing video for Gone to Texas, with all of my friends and fans
showing their Gone to Texas signs. My main man, Tommy created my first ever online fan club
website, Zito Nation......   I have a fan club! who would have thought :)
Scott and Kelly sent my wife flowers when she needed them to brighten her day.
People got involved personally with our business this year and really helped us get kicking!


Listen, I could go on and on about all the wonderful things that happened this year,
but it's not the point to brag or show off, it's to look back and say thank you.
I missed my family so much this year, it hurt......but you, YES YOU - my friends
that were at every gig, that called me, emailed me, facebooked me, sent me messages
to show your love, friendship, appreciation. You went out of your way big time to show me love,
and for THAT I am truly thankful.
I could not have gotten through this year without you, Laura and my children either.
We are so blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives.

Finally I am over the moon for my wife, Laura. She is my rock.
She makes our house a home, and takes such good care of my girls.
She has stood by my side through thick and thin and never lets me down.
Our marriage is a dream come true and this year was not easy, but we made it through
by helping each other and loving unconditionally.
The mothers of my children are also hero's in my life. It's not easy raising kids and I am
not there nearly enough to help anyone being on the road so much, but they continue to
be strong and raise these kids of ours to be wonderful, loving children and I am so thankful.

Life is not easy, but it's worth living when you've got family and friends to live it with.
Rich or poor doesn't really matter to me, although life can be much easier when you've got a
few bucks, but it won't make you happy. Happiness is found in embracing the imperfection
of life. Rolling with the punches and making a gratitude list once in a while, which I believe I just did with you, right here :)

Thank you all again for a great year and for all the love - let's do it again next year!!!!
Peace, Love, Zito

Absurdly Lucky

Yes, I am truly grateful.
I really don't have anything to complain about and my life just keeps getting better.
It's been a special time for me recently as I am celebrating a milestone in my recovery.
I am so thankful to all of my friends for all of the love and support.
Everywhere I go, I have friends there waiting for me.
They bake me cookies (I'm getting FAT!!!), they take me dinner, they bring their children to the shows,
and most of all, they come to see me and spend time with me and I am so blessed.
RSB just finished a week at sea on the Blues Cruise.
It was such a good time. I am a fan of the performers and the musicians and it's so fun for me
to hangout with the people I admire and love. Best of all, my oldest son Zach was able to come
with me this year on the cruise. He is 18 and a freshmen in college.
He is a tremendous guitar player and is very much into the blues. I don't get to see Zach everyday as he
goes to school and lives in another state, so it's a big deal to just get a week with him, let alone
being on the cruise together. We had such an amazing time. We obviously enjoyed playing the shows
with RSB, but also going to all of the jams and getting up together and playing.
Zach also took the stage over at one point without me and played with Cyril Neville,
Tommy Castro, Sam Fish and Albert Castiglia. It was a very proud moment for me.
There was a time when I couldn't really see Zach. I was so bad off in my addiction, I couldn't
ever keep my commitments to pick him up and spend time with him, I wanted to,
but I couldn't stop using.  It ended with me not being able to really see Zach at all
and he was old enough to know something was wrong. I know he was very hurt by my addiction.
Luckily for me and my family, I found the programs of recovery and my life
has been changed forever. I look back at this short period of time I have invested in recovery
and how much my life has changed and how just a few years later I am with my son on the Blues Cruise playing music together and being so close - it's truly a miracle.
Recovery is available to anyone. I am not special or unique, I have just followed the rules.
For the first time in my life, I followed the rules.
I do believe this new lease on life is a miracle, but I never want it to seem to those who are constantly
struggling that they are not miracle worthy, or that God loves me more.
That's not true. Recovery is available to us all. I heard it said recently from a good friend that we
are "absurdly lucky". The odds are against me and yet I have beaten the odds.
By no means of rational mathematics should I be alive today. I should be dead.
I cannot explain to you how I am alive, other than an other worldly intervention.
When I see others struggling along the way, fighting the awful fight of addiction, I feel for them.
It is a pitiful existence and I have so much empathy. That could so easily be me, and was me.
But thank God it's not me today, and for that I am truly grateful.
I believe when we decide in our hearts that we have had enough and want to change, God will
line everything up to help us break the cycle. Surrender is all we need to make a change.
So, looking back at the misery and strife I caused myself and my family and seeing the
Sunlight of Spirit all around me today, in everything I do - I believe I am Absurdly Lucky.
I thank God for my life and those who share it with me, that means you too!
To spend time with my children and see a beautiful relationship rather than disconnect and hurt,
is a miracle.  I call them on the phone, I take them on vacations, I make them breakfast, tuck
them in their beds.....might seem normal and usual to most of you, but to me it is a miracle.
So I will continue to trudge the road of happy destiny. It's all that I have and all that I need.
And I thank God for my clean and sober life.
Peace, Love, Zito

Crazy People All Around Me.......

Well, it's been said that difficult people are a blessing in our lives.
I've read that in literature and in Buddhism books.
When we have adverse situations or people around we have to look at them
as an opportunity to grow spiritually.
We never seem to learn much when things are going well and we don't have
any real problems. Those are the times when we enjoy the peace and the pink cloud.
But nothing lasts forever and somewhere around the proverbial corner is a HUGE
pain in the ass just waiting to teach us a lesson or two :)
If we are trying to live by spiritual principles and get better everyday, we have to look
at our own behavior when dealing with difficult people/situations.
What is it about this person that is rubbing me the wrong way?
They are self centered, selfish, egotistical, obnoxious, mean, clueless.......
wow, those are all the things I used to be and some I still am.
In fact, this person is what I am hoping to not be like at all.
They're reminding me of my own character defects and I do not like that one bit.
You spot it if you got it, and I believe that to a tee.
When someone's personality is just plain killing me I realize I have some more work to do.
When I cannot forgive them for being human, I probably need to learn to forgive myself.
When a painful situation arises, it's time to start praying and meditating and find the peace within.
The difference between today and my past is my reaction.
In the past I would never consider praying as an alternative to hating someone.
I would never think I need to meditate on this situation for a while before I make a judgment....
are you kidding me????
I'd just jump right in and stir the shit pot with them, probably even harder just to prove
I'm a bigger pain in the ass than they are!
When a situation or person would come along and make things all real and uncomfortable
I would immediately get to drinking and using to deal with it, and when that turned into a full
blown bender, I'd blame them for my misfortunate decisions.
Even if I am past using, I would still argue and fight and yell and say and do things I would regret.
I would cause more trouble for myself than the original person or situation posed at all.
So, if I am trying to live by spiritual principles today, I have to hold off on my feelings
and breathe and process it all before I make a move.
Sometimes, I misread the situation.  Sometimes, the person isn't really doing anything wrong,
I just can't stand their personality.  Sad but true.
So, I go to another person I know and trust and run my feelings by them and see if they are justified.
Am I feeling this correctly, or am I letting my ego get involved here?
This is all new to me and my way of living.  Thinking about what I'm thinking about is a totally
new concept for me when I arrive in recovery.  It takes years to develop this skill and train myself
to work in such a new found way.
But, I can promise you that it is a huge payoff for the world around me and especially ME!
Since I am self centered at my core, it appeals to my inner sanctum that this training and process will help me the most! I will greatly benefit  from learning to deal with life and people in this manner.
Eventually I begin to see the "opportunity" in difficult people and adverse situations.
Like "Wow this guy is an asshole.......I'm gonna learn a LOT from him!"
It's life on life's terms and it's just the way it is.....
I can fight for the rest of my life or I can surrender and make the most of it all.
I am so fortunate today, without all of my using and drinking, most of the adversity in my life
has been removed.  I still deal with life like anyone else and I have people that seem to make their
way in and stir up old feelings of resentments or new people that I have to learn to deal with
on a whole new level, but for the most part my life is pretty damn easy.
Mostly due to the fact that I have learned to apply the spiritual principles to everyday living.
I do not react today, at least not externally :)
I'm not perfect, but I'm trying.
I immediately know to do the right thing and I know what the right thing is to do,
and if I am just not quite sure of my choice I have numerous friends I can call and
do some fact checking for me.  Like all successful people ie: Presidents, CEO's, General's -
I have people I trust to help me make the tough decisions.
I enjoy the peaceful life today and I seek it in every turn possible.
When adversity comes along, I meet it head on and deal with it right away.
The sooner the better, because nothing lasts forever and this too shall pass.....
so let's get to passing please :)

Peace, Love, Zito