Julio Marchi

What does it mean to be a man, a real man?

Does it have anything to do with physiology or gender?

How about size and constitution?

Historically, these things have often defined a real man relative to just being male. But, throughout that same history, there have been real men who have denounced these physical manifestations as indicative or definitive of a real man. These men were real movers and shakers, yet they often did not represent the iconic masculine image. They… Show more

What does it mean to be a man, a real man?

Does it have anything to do with physiology or gender?

How about size and constitution?

Historically, these things have often defined a real man relative to just being male. But, throughout that same history, there have been real men who have denounced these physical manifestations as indicative or definitive of a real man. These men were real movers and shakers, yet they often did not represent the iconic masculine image. They knew something profound, amazing, and secret. They have always attempted to share this knowledge, but the message has often been lost to those who did not fully understand it, but sought instead to control its power. Pick any great religious or civic leader through history, and you will find this message in their words, and more importantly, in their deeds. This knowledge is now available to anyone who desires to claim it for their own. In this book you will find the keys to this knowledge. Show less

Michelangelo is often quoted as saying about his masterpieces of sculpture: Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.

As minimalists this is our task, too. Just as sculptors first envision the statue already living inside the block which they intend to carve, so must we envision the life we intend to live. Then we start to chip away all the extraneous material until all that is left belongs to the perfect vision of what we… Show more

Michelangelo is often quoted as saying about his masterpieces of sculpture: Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.

As minimalists this is our task, too. Just as sculptors first envision the statue already living inside the block which they intend to carve, so must we envision the life we intend to live. Then we start to chip away all the extraneous material until all that is left belongs to the perfect vision of what we imagined.

In Thom Byxbe and Lynn Greenleaf's insightful book, Less is More: Daily Meditations for the Minimalist Soul, they teach readers that living a life of minimalism is a lot more than de-cluttering the house. Then what is it?

It's creating a balance between our inner world and outer world; it's sharing with others less fortunate; it's being content with who we are. The idea of “small is beautiful” is a lesson strung throughout the book, reminding readers that it's not the big house, expensive car, or newest gadgets that create happiness—it's being in tune with one's spirituality, it's being able to appreciate the little things in life, it's focusing on creating true happiness. Show less

First: Contemplate it for some minutes wondering, “What good could come from this?” Next: Once you have one idea of the silver lining behind the cloud, write it down, and see if you can come up with two more possibilities. Finally: When you have the three possibilities, meditate on them for a while, visioning the potential positive outcomes. This process starts you down a path of great potentiality. With some practice this positive way of seeing things will become your “default” setting instead… Show more

First: Contemplate it for some minutes wondering, “What good could come from this?” Next: Once you have one idea of the silver lining behind the cloud, write it down, and see if you can come up with two more possibilities. Finally: When you have the three possibilities, meditate on them for a while, visioning the potential positive outcomes. This process starts you down a path of great potentiality. With some practice this positive way of seeing things will become your “default” setting instead of the old negativity that has been obstructing your life's passageways. Every single person has been made in the image of a power greater than our own—therefore the knowledge attainable to us is far beyond what we could imagine. Power and wisdom are constantly flowing into our lives from people, places, events, history—we just have to look and listen for it. By considering the truths behind these we have the potential to live a life of ease. But in such a complicated world, that's easy to forget. Streams reminds us that the wisdom to live life to it's fullest is right there and ready for us to grab—we just have to do it. With thirty-one daily meditations, Streams offers readers everyday advice for dealing with life's negativity and creating a positive life and environment. Each meditation ends with a “Reminder from the Streams”—a little word of advice, a reminder of positivity, a bit of guidance for dealing with the day, letting us flow with the stream of life. Show less

Are you one of those people who are constantly in fear of what others think of you? Do you constantly feel anxiety because you think everyone is judging you or criticizing you? Why do you worry and concern yourself other people's opinions? Worry about yourself. Believing what others tell you they think about you can cause you you to lose sight of taking care of what is most important, YOU.

Start by Doing is a powerful book that shows readers how to be better by illuminating love… Show more

Are you one of those people who are constantly in fear of what others think of you? Do you constantly feel anxiety because you think everyone is judging you or criticizing you? Why do you worry and concern yourself other people's opinions? Worry about yourself. Believing what others tell you they think about you can cause you you to lose sight of taking care of what is most important, YOU.

Start by Doing is a powerful book that shows readers how to be better by illuminating love. Radiating love not only gives you the power to do, but it rubs off on others. It is this love that binds all. Show less

Further evidence of how much importance we put on a name is provided by other examples of name usage: for instance, addressing others by the wrong name after we have been introduced to them is a social faux pas that can create a great deal of antipathy in the one wrongly addressed and embarrassment in the one who makes the mistake. Calling people derogatory names or using another's name in a pejorative way can cause a rift in relationships at least as inimical as the feud that was raging… Show more

Further evidence of how much importance we put on a name is provided by other examples of name usage: for instance, addressing others by the wrong name after we have been introduced to them is a social faux pas that can create a great deal of antipathy in the one wrongly addressed and embarrassment in the one who makes the mistake. Calling people derogatory names or using another's name in a pejorative way can cause a rift in relationships at least as inimical as the feud that was raging between the Capulet and Montague families of Romeo and Juliet. Show less

Do you find yourself retreating from life and love? Are you tired of all the disappointments that come one after the other in your attempts to find your perfect person, while at the same time pursuing your one true passion in life? Our world today moves at a rapid pace with constant Facebook updates from our friends, Twitter posts from people we don’t know, and our instant connection to the world through the internet. It's easy to sit back and feel connected to others when in reality we’ve… Show more

Do you find yourself retreating from life and love? Are you tired of all the disappointments that come one after the other in your attempts to find your perfect person, while at the same time pursuing your one true passion in life? Our world today moves at a rapid pace with constant Facebook updates from our friends, Twitter posts from people we don’t know, and our instant connection to the world through the internet. It's easy to sit back and feel connected to others when in reality we’ve locked ourselves up in our homes, tired of the heartache and battling the headaches that come from realizing our lives are not what all the media are telling us they should be. Show less

Without further ado. It's time for you. To curl up on a big comfy couch or bed or rug or chair. Please, don't be scared. For you are about to visit places within yourself. That may have sat on a shelf for many years. Oh dear! Never fear. The Seussification of Life is an intriguing book that allows readers to self-analyze their life and meditate on the direction they are headed. Unlike most meditation books however, the Seussification of Life takes quotes from the famous Dr. Seuss to create a… Show more

Without further ado. It's time for you. To curl up on a big comfy couch or bed or rug or chair. Please, don't be scared. For you are about to visit places within yourself. That may have sat on a shelf for many years. Oh dear! Never fear. The Seussification of Life is an intriguing book that allows readers to self-analyze their life and meditate on the direction they are headed. Unlike most meditation books however, the Seussification of Life takes quotes from the famous Dr. Seuss to create a fun, loving, and creative look at life. With quotes from the doctor and unique rhymes to match, the Seussification of Life shows readers the deeper meaning behind some of the most popular Dr. Seuss quotes and how they are still applicable in adult life. With thirty-one daily meditations, this book allows readers to find a unique perspective on life and then apply it themselves through thought-provoking exercises that require writing, playing, self-reflection, and more. Not only will readers have the opportunity to remember and reflect on their favorite Dr. Seuss quotes and books, but they'll be able to look at life with a child-like innocence and positivity that they may have lost as they've aged. Unlike any other meditation book out there, the Seussification of Life: Daily Meditations for the Movin' and Groovin' Soul makes self-reflection fun, creative, and exciting. Prepare to remember your favorite Seuss book, your favorite Seuss quote, and access your inner child as you meditate on your past, present, and future in this hands-on book. Show less

How do you grow down when you grew up? It's simple. You think about what made you happy as a child. Was it playing in the sandbox and building sandcastles? If it was, you can take a beach vacation and make sand castles on a white sandy beach while sipping a cool drink. If you enjoyed water activities as a child, you can visit a water park and have fun slipping and sliding down the water slides. Afterward, you can kick back in a lazy river and watch the world go by. Maybe you drew cartoons as a… Show more

How do you grow down when you grew up? It's simple. You think about what made you happy as a child. Was it playing in the sandbox and building sandcastles? If it was, you can take a beach vacation and make sand castles on a white sandy beach while sipping a cool drink. If you enjoyed water activities as a child, you can visit a water park and have fun slipping and sliding down the water slides. Afterward, you can kick back in a lazy river and watch the world go by. Maybe you drew cartoons as a kid. You can enroll in a drawing class to reawaken your drawing skills, and then you can create a website and share your cartoon. Who knows? You could make a career change and become a cartoonist and or illustrator. Do you see how growing down can lead to happiness? All you have to do is tap into your childhood dreams and memories and put them to work in your adult life. Everyone has an inner child waiting to come out and play whether they realize it or not. Your Inner Child will help you rediscover that little boy or girl within you that's begging to come out. Show less

Your alarm goes off. Ugh! You open blurry eyes to red numbers. Your first choice. Do you slam down the snooze bar or do you get out of bed? Choices follow you. At a morning work meeting your boss presents data that isn’t correct. Do you say something? Maybe it’s better to not make trouble. A few hours later, that guy who talks too much is putting together a lunch group. So far nobody is going. You know he’s lonely but you brought a sack lunch to save some money. Should you be kind or… Show more

Your alarm goes off. Ugh! You open blurry eyes to red numbers. Your first choice. Do you slam down the snooze bar or do you get out of bed? Choices follow you. At a morning work meeting your boss presents data that isn’t correct. Do you say something? Maybe it’s better to not make trouble. A few hours later, that guy who talks too much is putting together a lunch group. So far nobody is going. You know he’s lonely but you brought a sack lunch to save some money. Should you be kind or responsible? Back at home, your precocious teen-aged daughter hasn’t done her homework. But she wants to go out to a double-feature with her more-wild-than-you-would-like friends. Should she stay home or do you let her go? You get the idea. Life is full of choices. Constant, unending choices. Wisdom is the ability to make good choices. So begins You’ve Gotta Wise Up! a 31-day devotional based on verses from the Biblical book of Proverbs. A journey introducing you to every area of wisdom needed to live a smarter, more fulfilling life. Get started today. Show less

In The Feminist Way, Daily Meditations for the Feminist Soul, authors Lynn Greenleaf & Thom Byxbe break the stereotype that typically befalls word ‘Feminist.’ The Feminist movement has a bad rap for being associated with sensible-shoe-wearing, bra-burning, and ballbusting females that want nothing more than to promote women's rights and do away with men altogether. Each 31 daily meditations provides quotes from leading figures in the feminist movement to shows us the true meaning behind the… Show more

In The Feminist Way, Daily Meditations for the Feminist Soul, authors Lynn Greenleaf & Thom Byxbe break the stereotype that typically befalls word ‘Feminist.’ The Feminist movement has a bad rap for being associated with sensible-shoe-wearing, bra-burning, and ballbusting females that want nothing more than to promote women's rights and do away with men altogether. Each 31 daily meditations provides quotes from leading figures in the feminist movement to shows us the true meaning behind the intentions of the women that have come before us, to shatter the stronghold of yesteryear, and have set the stage for the freedoms we live now. The Feminist Way provides the truth to what is at the heart of attaining women’s rights; such as equal pay, equal political opportunities, and free reproductive choices which befalls all of us women regardless of what we call ourselves. But this concern is not only for women, but for any person belonging to minority groups across the world. Show less

Find a quiet place and sit in a comfortable chair, lie down on the floor (put a towel down) or your bed. Take a deep, deep breath in through your nose. Feel the breath coming in through your nose and filling your chest. Visualize or feel the energy moving throughout your entire body. Really focus on the energy. Hold your breath for a count of three and then release. Do this three times. Notice how you feel after you've completed the exercise. How do your hands feel? How do your feet feel? How… Show more

Find a quiet place and sit in a comfortable chair, lie down on the floor (put a towel down) or your bed. Take a deep, deep breath in through your nose. Feel the breath coming in through your nose and filling your chest. Visualize or feel the energy moving throughout your entire body. Really focus on the energy. Hold your breath for a count of three and then release. Do this three times. Notice how you feel after you've completed the exercise. How do your hands feel? How do your feet feel? How does your body feel? Write your thoughts in a journal or notebook. Color Your Life shows readers how to get through issues such as anger, depression, dissatisfaction, and more through the use of creative outlets. Not only do these creative outlets, like writing, drawing, and painting, allow readers to soothe themselves, but there are certain colors that can help them recover. Celeste Teylar and Thomas Byxbe show readers that red creates energy and courage, yellow creates warmth, blue can help remove problems and obstacles. These colors, along with the creative outlets will help readers reach the fulfilling life they want and deserve. Color Your Life:Daily Meditations for the Creative Soul contains thirty-one thought-provoking challenges for readers to create a more successful, productive, and happy life. Each meditation has a “paint your day with creativity color,” an exercise based on that color, and an affirmation of what the color entices in life, thus creating not only an educational book, but a hands-on one. Show less

You can find him on the corner of Woodward and Jefferson. Every day, rain or shine, sleet or snow. He sits at his bench, with his black leather exterior, blue velvet interior guitar case on the ground; a sign saying, “I don’t want your money, sit down, I want to see you smile.” He would sit there all day singing the blues. Occasionally you would see a stranger sitting next to him. And when they left, they always left money; they always had a smile on their face. At the single sighting of a… Show more

You can find him on the corner of Woodward and Jefferson. Every day, rain or shine, sleet or snow. He sits at his bench, with his black leather exterior, blue velvet interior guitar case on the ground; a sign saying, “I don’t want your money, sit down, I want to see you smile.” He would sit there all day singing the blues. Occasionally you would see a stranger sitting next to him. And when they left, they always left money; they always had a smile on their face. At the single sighting of a smirk, he would scream out in joy, “Talkin’ bout hey jack! Finally got some sunshine on your face.” There is Only Now: Daily Meditations for the Buddhist Soul is a compilation of stories surrounded by one singular tie: becoming a better you. With thirty-one meditations readers will learn how to follow their heart, remember those that have helped them along the way, live in the present, seek truth and more. Each day readers will read an inspirational story, then see how they can apply it in their own lives with the “Be Here and Now” section. This inspiring book not only shows readers how to live, forgive, and bury those grudges, but it also shows them how simple it is to improve the lives of others. There is Only Now is a great way for readers to vamp up their life, live in the moment, and love each day. Show less

In Climbing the 12 Steps, Daily Meditations for the 12 Step Soul, authors Lynn Greenleaf & Thom Byxbe help provide a sanctuary for those of us needing to recover from addiction, compulsion, and other behavioral problems. Unlike most twelve step programs that revolve around God as their higher power, this book shows how to complete each step without the God figure being the focus of every step. Many enter twelve step programs with skepticism, uncertainty, and most times unwillingly, being given… Show more

In Climbing the 12 Steps, Daily Meditations for the 12 Step Soul, authors Lynn Greenleaf & Thom Byxbe help provide a sanctuary for those of us needing to recover from addiction, compulsion, and other behavioral problems. Unlike most twelve step programs that revolve around God as their higher power, this book shows how to complete each step without the God figure being the focus of every step. Many enter twelve step programs with skepticism, uncertainty, and most times unwillingly, being given ultimatums by spouses, parents, counselors, etc. to seek help once and for all. Yet it's in these very God-centered programs that misses the mark for atheist and agnostics needing guidance but do not feel at home in faith based recovery programs. Climbing the 12 Steps is the answer and provides the neutral ground for believers and unbelievers to come together to achieve a balanced, strong and independent life free from the stronghold that once entangled them. Show less

In Open Up to Life, Daily Meditations for the Blooming Soul, authors Donna Faith & Thom Byxbe help us break our silence and open our hearts to all that life has to offer. Each of us has been through difficult times, rough circumstances, and trials of life, and it’s typically these life events that end up shaping and defining our lives. When we let our wounds harden our hearts, we fold up like a closed flower to protect ourselves from the world and to prevent more heartache. While putting up… Show more

In Open Up to Life, Daily Meditations for the Blooming Soul, authors Donna Faith & Thom Byxbe help us break our silence and open our hearts to all that life has to offer. Each of us has been through difficult times, rough circumstances, and trials of life, and it’s typically these life events that end up shaping and defining our lives. When we let our wounds harden our hearts, we fold up like a closed flower to protect ourselves from the world and to prevent more heartache. While putting up walls can prevent people from getting in it also prevents us from getting out, and as a result, we are even more damaged than before. When we stop letting our past define our future and learn to forgive instead of letting things fester, we gain the ability to open our hearts and therefore lives to living an abundant life. In opening up our lives, we enter into a new world filled with promise and joy. Each moment is a gift, and within each thirty-one daily meditations, we are given the tools to tend the soil of our hearts, water the leaves of our lives, and feed the soul in our bodies through faith, hope, and love. Show less

Elegance, grace, and poise come with a good woman’s personality. It’s who she portrays herself as in public. It’s how even though she may be very mature, she still knows how to have fun without getting carried away. It’s when she walks into a room and everyone in it takes notice of her confidence. It’s when, even if she’s sad or upset about something, she still resembles happiness and joy on her face when need be. Being beautiful doesn’t require the latest makeup or the most recent breakthrough… Show more

Elegance, grace, and poise come with a good woman’s personality. It’s who she portrays herself as in public. It’s how even though she may be very mature, she still knows how to have fun without getting carried away. It’s when she walks into a room and everyone in it takes notice of her confidence. It’s when, even if she’s sad or upset about something, she still resembles happiness and joy on her face when need be. Being beautiful doesn’t require the latest makeup or the most recent breakthrough of acne medication, it’s how you feel about yourself. Confidence is key and when you reveal that confidence, you also show a sense of beauty that no amount of makeup or face wash can beat. If you don’t believe you’re a lady, then you won’t be one. Being a Real Woman is more than having nice clothes, a good job, and a fancy car. It's not about being the best mother, friend, or wife. It's having a positive attitude, self-confidence, and courage. It's working daily to improve the person you are, and being the best of your ability. Real Woman: Daily Meditations for the Real Woman's Soul encourages women to be the best they can through positive aspects like being caring, loving yourself, and having loyalty. Each meditation provides a new perspective on how to be a better woman and person, giving readers everything they need to know to improve the life they have. With thirty-one meditations, women can devote one month to becoming a better, stronger, Real Woman in this easy-to-read book. They will learn how to be the best version of themselves in an imperfect world, with an imperfect possibility. Show less

Book Description (long) In On the Road of Life; Daily meditations for the Traveling Soul, Authors A.D. Wells & Thom Byxbe take us on a journey that will help us avoid the twist and turns life is guaranteed to bring. These detours often leave us feeling disoriented as to which direction to go next. Each pothole encountered leave us fearful in moving forward with our life. With all of these obstacles thrown at us at random times it’s easy for our lives to get disoriented and stop us dead in our… Show more

Book Description (long) In On the Road of Life; Daily meditations for the Traveling Soul, Authors A.D. Wells & Thom Byxbe take us on a journey that will help us avoid the twist and turns life is guaranteed to bring. These detours often leave us feeling disoriented as to which direction to go next. Each pothole encountered leave us fearful in moving forward with our life. With all of these obstacles thrown at us at random times it’s easy for our lives to get disoriented and stop us dead in our tracks. With a simple format set in daily meditation style, On the Road of Life is designed to guide us through the railroad crossing of life, helps us get out of those nasty potholes, and shows us the best way to plot our course free of dead-ends. Wells & Byxbe, give the necessary encouragement to restore a right attitude no matter what life can bring, help gain the ability to accept where we are in life, and how to get to where we want to be. Each daily meditations serves as a roadmap on how to steer through the potential disasters we sometimes find ourselves in, while simultaneously paving a new road to bring us back to a more balanced & appreciative life. Show less

In Shattering Shyness, Daily Meditations for Unshackled Soul, authors Lindsay Dawn & Thom Byxbe help those of us who are tired of being wallflowers take that first step to breaking out of our shell. For some, life feels more comfortable from a quite seat at the back of the room, back of the bus, or back of the office. While we may like our view against the wall, there is still that yearning to push away and join the crowd. Shattering Shyness is full of thirty-one daily meditations each designed… Show more

In Shattering Shyness, Daily Meditations for Unshackled Soul, authors Lindsay Dawn & Thom Byxbe help those of us who are tired of being wallflowers take that first step to breaking out of our shell. For some, life feels more comfortable from a quite seat at the back of the room, back of the bus, or back of the office. While we may like our view against the wall, there is still that yearning to push away and join the crowd. Shattering Shyness is full of thirty-one daily meditations each designed as a mini launching pad to help us find our confidence, boost our inner strength, and help us set our sights on being our truest outward self. In order to accomplish these things, authors Dawn & Byxbe help us look inward to find out what changes need to be made, responsibilities need to be owned, and the right course our lives need to go down in order to find real happiness. When we step out from the wall, we learn we are strong enough to break our shackles and shatter our shyness to live boldly and purposefully in life. Show less

In Freedom from Fear, Daily Meditations for the Fearless Soul, authors Eric Sharp & Thom Byxbe show us how to break from living in daily fear, regret, and anxiety. In today’s world we have a tendency become what we see, the negativity in the world. But what if you could live a life of radiant positivity? Instead of absorbing negative, angry, jealous emotions that we put back into the world, and ultimately stem from fear, what if there was a better way to live? The cure for fear is love. When we… Show more

In Freedom from Fear, Daily Meditations for the Fearless Soul, authors Eric Sharp & Thom Byxbe show us how to break from living in daily fear, regret, and anxiety. In today’s world we have a tendency become what we see, the negativity in the world. But what if you could live a life of radiant positivity? Instead of absorbing negative, angry, jealous emotions that we put back into the world, and ultimately stem from fear, what if there was a better way to live? The cure for fear is love. When we learn to better our lives through compassion and empathy for others, we open our lives and hearts to living a positive life. When we live a positive life, more positive things will come our way and as a result break the cycle of fear that hinders us from living fully in love. In each thirty-one daily meditations Sharp & Byxbe teach us how to let go of our egos, which in turn opens up the door to a higher consciousness of love, and where there is love there is freedom from fear. Show less

A few years ago, I painted a picture that I entitled ‘A Beautiful Thirst.’ Intended to portray a songwriter as he journeys toward a source of inspiration, it hangs above my desk even as I write these words. In the foreground of the painting, a bucket dangles from a hand-crank over an old stone well; musical symbols are engraved in the mortared rocks of the well’s circular base. In the background, a man with a walking-stick approaches the structure under the light of the stars and a full moon… Show more

A few years ago, I painted a picture that I entitled ‘A Beautiful Thirst.’ Intended to portray a songwriter as he journeys toward a source of inspiration, it hangs above my desk even as I write these words. In the foreground of the painting, a bucket dangles from a hand-crank over an old stone well; musical symbols are engraved in the mortared rocks of the well’s circular base. In the background, a man with a walking-stick approaches the structure under the light of the stars and a full moon. Musical imagery aside, the painting is a reminder that at some time in our lives, all of us will be compelled to engage in some kind of quest. Show less