Perceptions, Parables, and Pointers

by Jerald Simon

What do you really want to do with your time? What is your mission in life? Where have you been, and where would you like to go? What are your dreams, your hopes, your wishes? If you could do anything in the world, what would it be? The main goal in writing down these perceptions, parables, and pointers, and in creating this book in general, is to present ideas that will help get people thinking, imagining, planning, creating, and actively participating in life. This book is divided into three sections: (1) Perceptions, (2) Parables, and (3) Pointers. - Who do you want to become? The person you were yesterday, the person you are today, and the person you can become tomorrow are all very different. Learn as much as you can about the person you want to become...page 25 - There are many stepping stones on the road to success. One of the first steps toward success is believing in yourself...page 32 - Do not dwell on defeat. Do not wallow in the well of worry or be fenced in by fear. Learn from your past mistakes and move forward...page 33 "When we fall down, we GET BACK UP!" If you say the first part to my children, "When we fall down", they all automatically respond with "WE GET BACK UP!" This encompasses not only physical falls, but mental, emotional, spiritual, financial, and all different kinds of "falls". This ideology began when I was eight years old and had fallen off of a 50 foot cliff. I cracked my head open and the doctors lodged a total of 26 staples in my scalp. I endured seizures for the next year, as well as frequent doctor visits, CAT scans, and MRIs. As a result of the fall, I have no memory of my life before the accident. It is a miracle I am alive and was not paralyzed. After my fall from the cliff, I resolved that each day would be a new birth for me regardless of how many times I would fall down, both literally and metaphorically. It helped me see that life is precious. It is a gift and should be cherished. It helped me to evaluate my priorities and focus more intently on what matters most. Now, we don't need to fall off a 50 foot cliff to get sense knocked into us, but we all need to continually have reminders and even wake up calls that help us refocus our energy into the best life has to offer us. We all fall down, metaphorically, and make mistakes. We may do poorly on a school or work assignment. As a result, we may feel we don't measure up. We may feel like failures as parents, and worry that others criticize us. We might feel depressed and even apathetic toward life. At times we may feel unsure, insecure, afraid, and doubt our own abilities, potential, and future. What must happen when we fall down emotionally, spiritually, financially, and even socially? We must GET BACK UP! Throughout this book, I have written my own perceptions on life. These are motivational tips and ideas to help each of us improve and strive to be better today than we were yesterday. This book, for me, is a manual of what I would share with my younger self. It is what I would encourage myself to think and strive to become. It is something to turn to for those times when we have been beaten by the bullies of life. Life is full of intricate and unforeseeable twists and turns. The ups and downs can take their toll. The focus, however, must be on our potential and possibility! If we can believe in ourselves and hope for the best within us and within others as well, then we can commit to do and be our best. We can strive to be better because we choose to look for the best in life. Yes, there are discouraging days and moments of madness when everything that could go wrong will go wrong. That is life. We don't need to enjoy it, but when those dark days get us down, we can always GET BACK UP! It may be difficult, but it is worth it. It may take time, but is imperative to realize that we can improve and change. We cannot give up on ourselves!

216 pages, Paperback

Published November 11, 2016

About the author

"My purpose and mission in life is to motivate myself and others through my music and writing, to help others find their purpose and mission in life, and to teach values that encourage everyone everywhere to do and be their best." - Jerald Simon

Jerald's bio:

First and foremost, Jerald is a husband to his beautiful wife, Zanny, and a father to his wonderful children. Jerald Simon is the founder and president of Music Motivation®. He is a composer, author, poet, and Music Mentor/piano teacher (primarily focusing his piano teaching on music theory, improvisation, composition, and arranging). Jerald loves music, teaching, speaking, performing, playing sports, exercising, reading, writing poetry and self help books, gardening, and spending time with his wife, Zanny, and their children.

Jerald created musicmotivation.com as a resource for piano teachers, piano students, and parents of piano students. In 2014 he began creating his weekly "Cool Songs" to help teach music theory - the FUN way by putting FUN back into theory FUNdamentals. He is the author/poet of "The As If Principle" (motivational poetry), and the book "Perceptions, Parables, and Pointers.” He is also the author of 21 music books from the Music Motivation® Series. He has also recorded and produced several albums and singles of original music.

Jerald also presents to various music schools, groups, and associations throughout the country doing workshops, music camps, master classes, concerts and firesides to inspire and motivate teens, adults, music students and teachers. He enjoys teaching piano students about music theory, improvisation, and composition. He refers to himself as a Music Mentor and encourages music students to get motivated by music and to motivate others through music of their own.

Jerald's Specialties:

Composer, Author, Poet, Music Mentor, Piano Teacher (primarily focusing his teaching on music theory, improvisation, composition, arranging, and pop, new age, and jazz music), Motivational Speaker, and life coach.

Read more on Jerald's website: http://musicmotivation.com/funpianole...

Reviews

[Jerald Simon]

This book, for me, is a manual of what I would share with my younger self if I could. It is what I would encourage myself to think and strive to become. It is something to turn to for those times when we have been beaten down by the bullies of life. My focus with this book is on potential and possibility. It is the thought that if people can believe in themselves and believe in and hope for the best in others as well, then everyone can commit to doing and being their best and striving to be better each day. I wrote about how there are discouraging days when everything that could go wrong will go wrong. That is part of life. But when anyone experiences those dark days, they can always get back up regardless of how many times they fall down, metaphorically speaking, by making mistakes. Life is a gift and it should be cherished!