Our first full day in Skopje resulted in great food, new friends, and a life long lesson in humanity.

I woke up at 2:30 am after going to sleep at midnight and went back to sleep only to awaken at 4:00am with the same feeling, except this time I was wide awake.

Jet Lag Tip: Before you leave the country, set your clock to the local time overseas and adjust your sleep schedule to it. –courtesy of Randy

Fortunately, when I went down to the lobby I wasn’t the only one. Rabbi Steve was wide awake and writing emails. Since we both couldn’t sleep he decided to accompany me to morning prayers at the mosque I had visited the night before. Too bad the mosque was actually closed (we missed prayer time), so we ended up walking around exploring the streets of the old city some more.

Well worth it.

We were fortunate enough to meet an inquisitive shoe salesman who was setting up his shop and asked about our origins. After he learned we were tourists he hurriedly gave some money to a little boy who then rushed to a shop and came back with smoking hot tea in his hand.

The Kickboxer

What a guy.

He didn’t know much English, so we resorted to sign language and a calculator for communication. We learned that our new friend is a kick boxer and he has three kids of which one is in Oslo and happens to be a professional kick boxer. Apart from that we weren’t able to communicate much, however the lack of verbal exchange in place of assuring nods and slight laughs was just enough for a wonderful conversation.

After we parted, the Rabbi and I walked around some more and briefly stopped to eat at a bakery situated in the middle of the town underneath trees and surrounded by closed shops. It reminded me of a Shipley’s except it had freshly baked bread and freshly squeezed juice instead of greasy bread and Tropicana. As the sun crept further along, the morning chill was ever present and and at times it seemed to get a tad colder. The Albanian’s were slowly coming out to open their shops and as the streets gained life we headed back to the hotel after two hours of strolling which proved to be beneficial and tasty.

The Bodyguard and the Kid

Our first meeting of the day was with members of a faith based group called Renewing Our Minds (ROM). ROM focuses on gathering young people from different ethnicities all over the Balkans and engaging them in dialogue in Fuzine, Croatia. They spend two weeks together every summer focusing on different subjects with the hopes of reconciliation.

Through these functions every summer for the past 10 years, they have been able to connect young people and train them on dialogue, peaceful negotiation, conflict resolution, and more under the auspices that Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of living.

After two hours and a very interesting and heated debate between the former bodyguard of the late President Boris Trajkovski, who was involved in the conflict, and a young ROM student (watch below), we headed out to the city of Tetovo to meet with the mayor and the Baba (spiritual leader) of the Bektashi’s as well as tour the Colorful Mosque.

The Baba

Since their inception, the Bektashi’s haven’t been looked upon very highly from mainstream Muslims because of enormous differences in ideology and interpretation of Islam. Observing their place of worship and listening to the Baba speak struck two different chords in my heart.

Note: I didn’t know much about Bektashi’s going in, but here is a link for you to do some light research on their beliefs. Keep in mind that it is Wikipedia and should be taken lightly : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bektashi

On one hand, observing their place of worship and hearing the Baba speak about his beliefs made me very uncomfortable because to me it seemed an extremely far off interpretation of the fundamental beliefs of Islam; the core of which didn’t seem to be Islam at all.

The Baba -courtesy of Reverend Beth Marie

On the other hand I felt conflicted as I looked around at my peers. They didn’t show signs which read discomfort or rejection, instead they read empathy and sadness as he talked about the plight of his people. After the discussion was over and we made our way to the shuttle to depart, I realized that I had lost my objectivity.

I focused too much on the content instead of the person.

It brought to mind a story of men who were sitting on the side of a road as a procession of adversaries passed by carrying one of their dead. The leader of the men rose up and stood in honor as the procession passed by and his men asked him why he had done so. His response was simple, “Doesn’t he have a soul created by God?”

The idea is not to focus on the content, in this case the ideology, instead the focus should be on the person. As a human being. Someone different from myself upon different beliefs, but worthy of my respect simply because the person is endowed with a soul bestowed only by our Creator.

My biggest lesson today was the idea to not just focus on myself, my family, my friends, and my community, but to consistently focus on humanity.

Tomorrow: Off to the Monastery, the Boris Trajkovski foundation to sit with the former First Lady, and a Turkish school which is at the frontlines of bringing all ethnicities together.

Wow, that trip took forever! Houston to Washington to Vienna to Skopje, I thought it would never end, and I actually felt a little queasy between Vienna and Skopje (more tips on what to do in a flight coming soon).

I’ve never flown Austrian Air, and probably would never have if it wasn’t for this trip, but the food was pretty good and the stewardesses were really nice about letting me pray in the back of the plane for however long I needed to. Go Austrian Air!

Along the way, I had some wonderful conversations with a Rabbi and Priest. I know it sounds like the beginning of a comical joke, but… no. We talked about the role of the seminary, different ‘callings’ (aka pastoral community assignments), inside jokes, and the differences between some of the denominations. All in all, I’ve learned the most about Christianity and Judaism today than I have my entire life. Getting it straight from faith leaders is a completely different experience, and it has really enhanced my understanding of these other Abrahamic faiths.

How about this:

1. Did you know Lutherans are sent around the country after seminary much like the military? As soon as they graduate they get their first calling at some random church and like Reverend Chris Lake from Conroe, it could be as far away as Nebraska.
2. How about the different groups within Judaism? Reform Judaism is more about seeking the spirit of the law whereas; Orthodox Judaism is about the literal law itself.

Ignorant is the word I would use to describe myself after listening to these faith leaders. I kept asking myself, how could I have not known these simple facts about groups of people that make such a large impact in the city? Throughout this trip, I’m sure I’ll learn a great deal about these various faith traditions as well as about my fellow travelers, and I’ll continue to write about these not-so-random-facts as well.

Definitely beats Houston's view, unless you're standing in front of Bubba's Burger Shack... then that tops the mountains.

When we landed in Macedonia, we exited off a stair ramp and walked into a bus which took us to the border checkpoint. After waiting in a long line inside a tiny airport we grabbed our bags and walked out into the streets of Skopje, which were set against a backdrop of looming snowcapped mountains.

Beautiful.

We got to the Holiday Inn, freshened up, and agreed to meet in the lobby at 3:30 p.m. to go out for a stroll as a group.

The Incident

Pastor Chris and I decided to take a stroll in lieu of a ‘group outing’ to find a coffee shop. The jet lag was getting to us pretty bad. A 7 hour difference may not seem so much, but our heads and eyelids kept dropping.

When we got to the city mall, about two minutes from the hotel, we were confronted by three Gypsy children who looked like they hadn’t washed in weeks (more to come on the status of the Roma aka Gypsy people in the Balkans). Apparently, he and I stood out like a sore thumb as obvious tourists.

As these children huddled around us asking for money holding their hands up together and saying incoherent things in a desperate manner, one of the kids cleverly reached into my pockets and grabbed my wallet. I noticed it right away and grabbed it back, but without any shame he kept asking me for money. He just pick pocketed me, and he kept asking for more money! Ridiculous.

That would have been a horrible start to a promising trip.

We eventually got away from them, but the experience still lingered. Amongst Gucci, Prada, and other high-end stores set in an almost archaic ex-Communist era mall, these unkempt children were roaming around begging for money and looting tourists.

My moment of the day: Even though some may annoy you, disrupt your plans, and even try to steal from you… instead of looking at what they are doing… reflect on WHY they are doing it. It truly helped keep me calm and I know, as the kids continued to hound Pastor Chris, reflecting on their situation kept him patient as well.

The editor at Zaman along with one of his writers.

When Chris and I got back to the hotel, we all left together towards the city center and Mother Theresa’s birth place. After which we went to the offices of Zaman Newspaper, a Turkish publication with a satellite office in Skopje. There we learned about the ethnic conflicts between the Albanian and Turk population on one side of the river and the Macedonian population on the other side (literally divided by a river). What it boiled down to was the Albanian and the Turks didn’t have access to higher education, jobs, or even had a voice in parliament, which beginning in 2001 has led to some serious ethnic conflicts in Macedonia, especially in the capital city of Skopje. More analysis on these tensions to come, as we learn more in the coming days.

I went back to the hotel for dinner, and then I heard the adhaan (Muslim call to prayer) from my hotel room. I didn’t originally plan on praying in the masjid, but after hearing the adhaan called in a 85% Christian city I had to see what the community here was like.

Passing through the old city looking for the masjid was quite an experience. Streets paved with cobblestone from the Ottoman days and several Turkish restaurants and bakeries everywhere, made my Chicken Medallion dinner look extremely insignificant. Nice wrap to a long day.

Tomorrow: Tour the old city with a guide, meet faith leaders from Skopje, and hopefully grab some Iskendar Kabab!

No... Bono didn't come with us, but 'Coexist' is the objective of our travels.

“Macedonia? Croatia? What? Why would you go there?”

That’s usually the line of questioning I’ve heard from family and friends when I’ve told them about my trip. Countries which aren’t heard about and easily forgotten… sort of like Idaho, the Dakota’s, and Nebraska.

I’m traveling these two countries with an interfaith group called TRUTH Houston. There are pastors, activists, Muslims and a rabbi. Just one rabbi, but he’s wonderful and probably does the job of five combined (props to Rabbi Steve Gross).

The idea of the trip is to bring together leaders from different faiths in Houston and sitting with people from these counties to understand what role different faiths play to bring together war-torn societies. The hope, thereby, is that we as leaders come closer together in friendship and understanding and work with one another to bring a higher level of dialogue between our respective communities.

The TRUTH group

The more communication between our communities, the better.

Afterwards, as everyone goes home, I’ll be taking off to Bosnia with my backpack.

Throughout the trip, I’ll be writing brief posts on a daily basis about my trip along with pictures and brief interviews with different members of our group and locals. Keep up with it all on my Facebook Page (http://www.fb.me/lifefromadifferentlens), Twitter (@shariqghani) and through email (subscribe on the right hand side of this page).

Next: Houston to Washington to Vienna to Skopje, Macedonia for a couple of days!

Learn more about the wars which shaped the region: 
Wiki on the Yugoslav Wars: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yugoslav_wars
Video on the War: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df4e_nL-SQ0

That’s right. Vampires.

Contrary to popular opinion, vampires really do exist. They hide amongst us at work, at school, at our place of worship and even within our families only showing their teeth when it’s time to feed.

And because many have faced them not knowing who they are or have chosen to deliberately ignore the issue out of the goodness of their hearts, these vampires have had the good fortune to partake in a feeding frenzy.

Not anymore.

Here is what we know about vampires:

1. They enjoy what they do.
2. They’ll bite and pursue you in the most annoying way possible.
3. They will hiss just a little.
4. They will constantly try to feed on you until you either die or move away.
5. They are driven by an emotional (some say physiological) condition, and they MUST feed on someone.

How to identify them?

Luckily, they are incredibly easy to spot if you keep your eyes peeled and your ears open.

Their nourishment is derived through criticizing every move you make. If you try to do some good in this world, they will pick your efforts apart and consistently attempt to make you look silly.

Their coffins are lined with unaccomplished and failed efforts. For this reason, they will be highly critical and judgmental of anyone who accomplishes what they couldn’t and surpasses them. For this reason, they will backbite and mix pleasantry with fallacious remarks, and they are prone to exaggerate and draw erroneous conclusions from flimsy ‘facts’.

More than likely, their attire is created and fashioned out of the attention of those around them. They need it. They desire it. They love it. As long as people continuously keep an ear towards gossip, they will always dress well.

They are emotional creatures and prone to broadcasting their feelings in secret whispers behind closed doors and aliases.

Cowardice is their creed.

And when it is said to them: Don’t make mischief in the world, they say: We are only trying to do good.

What to do?

Ignore them! Vampires will always exist in all walks of life, and they will always suck the life out of you, if you let them.

Never let their criticism and their cries of inadequacy hammer at your efforts. In fact, if your flock of vampires continues to grow, view it as a measure of success. Their words and actions only point towards you succeeding in your goals.

However, do not confuse unwanted criticism with vampire-like action. Criticism, in and of itself, is a great thing and through it we can mold our efforts and continuously improve. Without criticism we would continue this journey blind and unaware of the impact of our efforts.

As cliché as it sounds: Always believe in yourself despite what others say. Somewhere or another, either on the path which you are upon or another you discover from a fork in the road, you will find success.

There will be a time when loud-mouthed, incompetent people seem to be getting the best of you. When that happens, you only have to be patient and wait for them to self destruct. It never fails. – Richard Rybolt

Pack your wooden stake, keep a bottle of holy water handy and focus your eyes on the path of success.

How Bill Clinton handles Vampires:

Borrowed from Steve's Picasa Album: http://bit.ly/9zLUVV

When I was younger, for one reason or another, I couldn’t learn how to swim as fast as other children. Like many, I wasn’t able to stay afloat or successfully hold my breath underwater because I feared I would drown.

This fear of drowning captivated my every move and my every thought. It kept me from floating, it kept me from breathing properly, and it paralyzed my focus on going under.

There were four routes my parents could have chosen:

a) Enroll me in lessons at the local swimming pool.
b) Stay patient and continue to work with me for several more weeks.
c) Give up and accept that I would never learn how to swim.
d) Throw me in the water and hope I’ll learn to move my arms.

You guessed it. My parents took option D and I distinctly remember my father picking me up and throwing me in the middle of my neighbor’s pool completely against my will.

It worked, and it worked really well. Apparently, when you’re drowning you can overcome your fear of the water and somehow all the swimming lessons kick in.

The way my parents helped me overcome this problem may not have been the most ideal or the safest solution at the time, but it worked.

Throughout my life, there have been several instances where I have held back on a project because of my fear of failure. I held back because I didn’t want to embarrass myself or face others if my project or plan had failed, and this particular dilemma wasn’t restricted to myself. I know of several people who function in the exact same way and you may very well be one of them.

The issue here isn’t about erasing fear, because we all know that it is a healthy and natural emotion. Rather the issue is how to balance fear and subdue the hesitation to keep the issue in perspective.

If I have done proper research and consulted the right people about a pending project, I feel the best way to overcome my fear and hesitation is to throw myself in the mix and launch right away. To this day, my last swimming lesson continues to be the push I need to overcome my personal hurdles.

I won’t say that it has led me to success 100% of the time, but it has always given me the momentum I need to continue moving forward.

Is their a magic pill? I’ve read several stories on fear.less, a popular blog about overcoming fear, and its helped to convince me of the absence of one singular method to overcome fear. Everyone has their own unique way of subduing their anxieties and taking that next step. My swimming lesson worked for me, but for others it could spell disaster.

I’d love to learn your methods of overcoming fear so I can compile a list for a future post to help others. Using a single or a combination of methods to gain the energy needed to jump that hurdle may very well serve as the impetus for change in ourselves and in others.

So, my question to you is this: How do YOU overcome your fears?

Taken from the Art of Non-Conformity (chrisguillebeau.com)

No matter how noble your cause there will always be a group of people who will vehemently stand against you for no particular reason.

Countless stories from history and the present day conclusively paint a picture of polar opposites when it comes to doing good. Jesus, Moses, Muhammad, Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King Jr., Buddha and others are everyday examples of noble people who faced severe opposition for advocating the ever elusive subject of peace.

If people as popular as the above were confronted with groups who not only opposed, but took action to physically stop them from spreading their message, who are we to feel we won’t receive and shouldn’t receive any opposition? It is truly humbling to read about what they went through simply to spread messages of peace, equality and justice.

I present a few pointers below for young and experienced activists alike. They are principles I hold dear and are principles which help myself and others get through times when it feels as if an entire community of people are against us. From environmental to religious to poverty issues, the words below will strike chords and provide comfort for those involved in all fields of activism.

1. They will put up a wall because you accomplished what they were not able to.

Jealousy and envy will be feelings which drive those who have failed in the field you are working in. When you accomplish goals there will be a few who will resent you, not because of the good you are doing, but because when they tried they failed. Don’t distance yourself from these people, but instead remember that these are natural emotions. Before these emotions turn into something worse, such as hate, take these people out for coffee or tea and attempt to involve them in your work. Consult with them about your activities, and genuinely heed their words. Not only will you learn from their mistakes, but this will give you the opportunity to create bonds and reignite the flame of those who share the same values as you.

2. They will always say you don’t consult enough or you’re not organized.

It used to be that I would defend myself and others from these comments, but I quickly learned that no matter how much you consult or how organized you are, these critiques will continue to roll in. We can’t please everyone, and we shouldn’t even try. Not one in all of history was able to please everyone, not even Mother Theresa. But, improvement? Always. Could you consult others? Of course. If you do both, will it stop the criticism? Never. It’s important to continuously strive to improve and evolve into something better, but not on anyone’s terms except yours.

3. No one will care until they see results.

Your ideas may be the best in the world, but they mean absolutely nothing unless you move forward. Until tangible results are shown in the form of work in progress (along a proper timeline) or a final product the majority of people will not put their energy behind you. This world is awash with brilliant ideas and yours will drown very quickly unless you show results. Just because your plans are brilliant doesn’t mean people will support you. Understand it, accept it, and humble yourself.

4. Remove yourself from people who say you can’t.

You should not find comfort or associate with friends, mentors and other folks who are consistently telling you to quit, give-up, or questioning your every move. Continuously associate yourself with people who share your same passion and you’ll move forward. Continuously associate yourself with those who don’t and watch your own demise.

5. You are your biggest enemy.

You will continuously get in the way of yourself. You will bend to fear, criticism, cowardice, pain and other emotions which won’t help you move forward. You are THE biggest enemy. Is change ever easy? In fact, change has always been something difficult. It requires constant sacrifice from yourself and a high level of endurance. It requires you to hussle, to be embarrassed and sometimes humiliated, to accept dislike and even disdain for your work and those supporting you. You will fail and sometimes you’ll hit rock bottom. It’s ok and it’s all part of the process.

When you find yourself tripping on your own feet, slow down, and get help from a like-minded individual. Find your passion, rejuvenate, and get back to work. You’re an activist. Change is waiting on YOU.

To end, I leave you with a timeless quote from Winston Churchill: “Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never, Never, Never, Never give up.”

I’d love to hear your thoughts and insight into the points above. Please share them below!

Previously, I wrote about the importance of becoming more solution-oriented than identifying-problems-and-never-doing-anything-oriented, and I thought I should write some personal reflections on just how to achieve that state.

Remembering the glass as half-full and other idioms of optimism have one theme in common: your world-view. The issue isn’t a problem unless you see it that way. By viewing your problems as a hurdle, instead of a giant brick wall, you jump on the fast track of tackling the issue. Through that simple mental shift you’re able to start finding a solution rather than looking at the size of the wall and giving up right away.

Here’s another one: A problem is never a problem unless you make it so.

This past Friday night, a program for young people in Sugarland, Texas didn’t go as planned. Several of the attendees didn’t show up until 6:50pm (35 minutes after the program started) and half the attendees were about an hour and a half late. At 6:30pm, the organizers of the program had no clue that everyone would be late and their only concern was all the BBQ meat still sitting in the car going to waste. Almost $150 worth of food would go down the drain if something wasn’t done, and in this economy $150 is worth about $1,500.

Did the manager of the program whine and complain or curse the heavens?

He sprung into action by discussing ways to solve the problem at hand: what to do with all this food? After a brief discussion, he arrived at the solution and decided that all the food should go to another program 30 minutes away and the BBQ would be used to feed young people there who would like hot dogs more than the ethnic menu and the adults would get all the spicy food to themselves.

Brilliant. Problem-solved. Headache gone.

This manager wasn’t always solution-oriented. In fact, no one who IS solution-oriented was born that way. It happens over a period of time, with a continued understanding that a problem is actually a puzzle waiting to be solved.

Reflections:

1. Always view the issue at hand as a puzzle (even if you’re horrible at them). Try to solve it.
2. When the pieces don’t fit together, don’t give up. When those training wheels first came off, and you fell smack on your side, you didn’t stop trying to ride your bike… did you? If it doesn’t work the first, second, third, or fourth time… keep trying.
   
3. Don’t let the issue overwhelm you. Take baby steps. Any puzzle guide will tell you to start by identifying the corner pieces, then the edge pieces, then the common colors and so on. You have to start somewhere.
   
4. Know this: EVERY puzzle can be solved. If not right away, then sooner or later, the pieces will come together and it will be completed. However, the ONLY way it will happen is if you are making an honest attempt to put it together.
   
5. Lastly, if you can’t fix it with your hand, then fix it with your words, and if you can’t fix it with your words, then continue to desire a solution in your heart (click here to reference).

In 1939, in the middle of World War II, the Soviet military entered the small eastern European nation of Latvia en route to Germany. These troops, just as other Soviet troops at the time, were low on supplies including ammunition and food, and the vice-Consul at the U.S. State Department in the Latvian embassy wired Washington D.C. requesting permission to fly the Stars and Stripes over the Red Cross food warehouse. If our flag was flying over the supply depot, more than likely, the troops wouldn’t enter the building to loot it for food and other goodies. The good folks in D.C. responded with “no precedent exists for such action”.

<insert a few choice words here>

No precedent for such action? The vice-consul climbed the flagpole on the Red Cross building, secured our flag to it and wires  the State Department with, “As of this date, I have established precedent.”

He didn’t sit back, whine and throw his hands in the air and watch Soviet troops loot the hard work of the Red Cross. He took control of the situation and devised a solution.

Two words describe his feat: Solution Oriented.

Seeing problems right in front of your face doesn’t require any special skill. We can sit back and identify problems with our political system, our local place of worship, and our community, but that is all we are doing: identifying problems.

It was once said, “Whoever amongst you sees anything objectionable, let him change it with his hand, if he is not able, then with his tongue, and if he is not even able to do so, then with his heart.”

It takes a special sort of person to identify the problem and attempt some action to fix the issue. For those with the least amount of time, completing a feedback card or speaking out against an issue may be feasible, and for those with plenty of time, planning a protest or speaking at city-council may be feasible.

There are many ways we can all get involved and try to be become solution-oriented. It may not be easy at first, but trying feels much better than not doing anything and as with everything else, once we do it a few times it becomes easier and easier until being solution oriented is ingrained in your system.

How would the world be, if we were all a people who tried to fix problems instead of complaining about them?

How would your world be, if you were one of those people?

I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do. – Helen Keller

The last Thursday of November is the day we set aside to specifically be thankful for all the blessings we’ve been given. It’s a nice time with family and friends, a gigantic meal, lots of pictures and good memories to create. I don’t know about you, but I find myself having moments of Thanksgiving throughout my week. Not the turkey and dressing, the apple pie or the nice wintery clothing, but the part about giving thanks.

When I see a person without a home on the streets, I thank God I’ve been given shelter.

When I see someone in a car accident, I thank God it wasn’t me.

When I see someone getting arrested, I thank God my parents taught me better.

And sometimes, I just thank God for being able to use my mental faculties to thank Him.

In fact, in our scripture it’s written, “And if you were to count His blessings, you would not be able to.”

Isn’t that the truth? How many of us were thankful today that our city wasn’t caught in an earthquake? I didn’t even think to be grateful for Houston’s firm ground. For the poorest country in the world, with 80% of its population living under the poverty line (CIA World Factbook), four natural disasters since 2008, and a population as large as Los Angeles, the people of Haiti have a long road of struggle ahead of them.

And they need our prayers.

With one gust from a hurricane, one movement from an earthquake, one wave from a tsunami, or one pass from a tornado, everything you or your family have ever held dear could be taken away in just moments. Remember the people of Haiti in your prayers, and if you can, text “HAITI” to 90999 and you’ll automatically donate $10 to the International Red Cross who is on the ground right now helping to rebuild lives.

For more information visit the White House website at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/01/12/thoughts-and-prayers-haiti

Last week, 15 of my ‘everything boxes’ were tossed from the attic into the hallway, the office, and the game room to force me to clean the house and get rid of excess clutter. This wasn’t my choice, and it was all done while I was sleeping early Saturday morning.

I wasn’t pleased.

I admit, I have a small issue with hoarding things, but it’s not because I’m a pack rat, it’s just because, I treasure some memories. I liken my situation to that of Richie Rich’s parents.

You all remember Richie Rich don’t you? He partook in various adventures and was the son of super duper wealthy parents who kept a gigantic treasure vault in a mountain. This treasure vault wasn’t filled with gold or cash, but it was filled with family memories that were more valuable than all the money they had.

I know, it’s a little silly to liken my situation to that of a fictional cartoon family, but I don’t mind.

While I was going through all my things, in the bottom of one of my ‘everything boxes’ I found a small bottle which contained several folded pieces of paper and was tightly sealed shut. Lo and behold, I found my time capsule that I made in elementary school almost 16 years ago.

Don’t know what a time capsule is? Click here.

It took me back to another time when stamps were a quarter a piece, Big Macs were 99 cents, and Tom Selleck was the early version of Brad Pitt. I read a letter from the ‘little Shariq’ to ‘big Shariq;’ hopes and dreams, some that came true and some that didn’t.

It was a little depressing and joyful at the same time and at that moment I felt as if I had a true time-machine-like connection to my former self.  I was supposed to be a great detective, a naturalist, and someone who would save the Amazon rainforest.

Reading through very specific memories and letters from my past was exciting and deeply gratifying.

So, as a brand new decade emerges from the rubble of wars and recession, why not start it with capturing your moment right here and now and preserving it for another 10 – 15 years? Capture the essence of who you are and the environment which surrounds you, bottle it up, throw it aside, and forget about it.

I promise, in a decade, you will feel exactly as I did. You’ll be able to genuinely reconnect with who you were in the past and it may even serve as a reminder to reassess your values going forward.

How do you do it? I’ve compiled several PDF forms that will help you get started in creating a time capsule, and you can download them at the link below. All you need is a bottle or a container to ensure the items in the capsule itself don’t go bad. If you don’t have anything made out of metal or glass, I would recommend using a plastic container and wrapping it several times over with duct tape to make sure insects and other creatures can’t penetrate it, and it doesn’t get crushed under any weight.

Making a time capsule is easy and fun, and I would HIGHLY recommend making it a family activity!

I hope you make the best of it and I pray that we all start the new year off safely and with the resolve to bring a change in our live for the better!

May 2010 double your family, spiritual, and financial success!

Click here to download the PDF file.

Forms you’ll receive in the downloadable file:
1. Price List
2. Favorites
3. Goals and Changes
4. Personal Profile
5. Inventory List of Items To Include
6. Video of a beautiful butterfly (not included in the file)