That Good ol Feelin

By Giovanni Azaël

Society often attempts to guide or walk us through life with a magnitude of expectations and values that truly misrepresent who we are as individuals. What we are and what we love tends to be measured against society's standards and not that of our own. Many may feel disappointed and misled, moving them to question their very existence and purpose on this earth.

Giovanni Azaël not only gets it, but he's managed to somehow create and navigate his world within this chaotic system. In That Good ol Feelin, Giovanni invites us into his personal journey of happiness and, with hope, confidence, and vulnerability helps us to: 

• Dig deep into our core to truly acknowledge who we truly are based on what we know and not based on we were told. 
• Embrace our life's journey as an adventure so that we may get the maximum out of it. 
• Discover the key to creating a life filled with love, gratitude, and a deep appreciation for life on our terms.
• Shift our focus away from the chaos around us and building a place of calm and peace within that can shield us from the outside noise. 
• Reprogramming our minds so that our focus remains on the things that matter and necessary for a better quality of life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Giovanni Azaël
• Release date: Sep 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393574811

Book preview

Preface

As many of us continue to battle ourselves through life attempting to figure out where we fit in, the sense of who we are and what we want can sometimes take the back seat. I am continuing to find my way in this world and understand the work and effort it takes. Although our experiences have the ability to change who we are and what we do, I can say that I am grateful for having taken the perspectives that enable me to mentally navigate through this thing called life.

You’ll find all of the information in this book is based on my navigating the many issues each of us deals with today. I’m presenting it to you because, just as babies don’t come with books on how to be a parent, life doesn’t come with an instruction manual either.

I didn’t realize my new definition of life until I worked at a 55+ community while working my way through college. The misconception of what we become as we age was redefined to me. I always thought getting older meant nearing the end of your life, but I was taught otherwise. Many of the elderly had so much life I began looking forward to my days.

Another thing I learned was that a funeral wasn’t the only thing that signified the end of life. Just because someone was still breathing didn’t mean they were living. I met an elderly man, 78 years old to be exact, who complained about everything life brought his way. Even when I presented him with a positive perspective, he responded with a negative remark. After speaking to him and learning more about him, I realized he’d been miserable and unhappy with everything his whole life. In all reality, although he was still breathing, his soul was dead.

This experience made me realize how important it is to not only be alive, but to understand the importance of living alive. Living in a world where we are all going through the experience of life sometimes makes it a little challenging to step out of out of our own way.

I noticed that although my life was getting brighter, many others were drowning from the lack of That Good ol Feelin that I refer to as my oxygen for living. So I decided to put a manuscript together to help others understand my story and the things I was able to take from the experiences of my life in order to change it forever.

My hope is that you see value in this information and gain the strength or power you need. Your present self will thank you tomorrow. Life is a journey, and we are all going through a particular portion of the journey. We are all at a particular stage of life. The reality is that we all have what it takes to endure, to persevere, to take life to the next level. So let this manuscript be the nudge you need to reach the apex of living your best life.

Chapter One

In the Beginning... There was Love

What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.

- Helen Keller

That Good Ol Feelin...

Love is the most valuable, most priceless gift known to mankind. At the core of any living specie, deep within, lies the urge to love, to be loved, and to share love. There is no greater feeling than this special ingredient of life. Love is a part of the greatest joy a human being can experience. It is only in an environment of love that we find true fulfillment, whether it’s doing something we are passionate about, or doing something for a cause that’s greater than any one person. This love is what we all seek to find whether we know it or not, because without it a void lingers, just waiting for the opportunity to be filled.

No matter our walk of life, the language of love is understood by all. But it doesn’t stop there. It’s not only well understood...it is also deeply felt. All it takes is a second, that one moment, and a connection is made forever. Some may argue that statement, but the reality is, we only get what we are open to receive. So during those times when you believe love isn’t present, it may just be right there in front of you. The question is: Have you actually opened yourself up for that opportunity to enter?  I’ve come to realize that we don’t always open ourselves up to the things we truly long for. Anyway, we’ll get back to that later in Chapter 2.

Where there is love there is life.

– Mahatma Gandhi

The Experience of a Lifetime

Have you ever felt that feelin? I’m talking about ‘that good ol feelin’ you get the moment you realize a true bond has been forged with someone or something. Nothing else matters in that moment. There’s something about that connection that paints a picture of joy, love, and life. Yes, even life itself. I believe a major part of how we experience life is directly related to how we choose to connect with others. I have a saying that goes, Where we connect most, our energy goes.

When I was younger, it used to hurt me to see my mother when she was sick. I was a kid and had no clue what to do no matter how much I wanted to make it right. But one thing struck me. I discovered a pattern. I noticed that my mom automatically ‘healed’ as soon she had guests. I mean, I wouldn’t call her an actress, but she was definitely running the show. At one point I thought she had to be faking because there is no way this instant healing was possible. That temporary connection forged when she had guests served as a painkiller that contained the secret ingredient called love. So whenever she was sick, there was no question what remedy would do the trick. It was a no brainer. Call her friends over. 

If we really think about it, the most beautiful times of our lives not only involved a place and an event, but they also include someone other than just ourselves; someone that contributed to the story we continue writing today. The stories are endless and the memories are forever.

It could seem like the connection that develops with a stranger is different than one that develops with someone whom we are emotionally interested in. But is there a difference? Both exchanges involve an initial exchange of words that turns into sentences and then an entire conversation. While you may have different expectations for these two scenarios, the process is the same to achieve that good ol’ feeling. Both instances involve a spark and contain a hope that you’ll walk away with more than you had before engaging with this person; you hope for a possible connection.

The Adventure of Connection

In order to truly experience that good ol feelin one must truly be connected. It is true that no matter what we do for ourselves, the things we do for others brings us the most fulfillment. Therefore, no matter how great our lives are when we’re alone, and despite the many challenges involved, sharing life with someone else always makes life more meaningful. 

My question to you is, what are you allowing to get in the way of connecting to others? You say you want that special someone, but what is it you may or may not be doing that prolongs the process of hoping to connect while simultaneously preventing it from taking place? Are you still blaming the fact that ‘there aren’t any good people out there’? If so, it only confirms that you’re human because that’s what we do as human beings.  We tend to look for an outside source, neglecting to realize the power we have to contribute to bringing about the circumstances we truly desire. We sometimes believe the sought out connection will magically create itself when the time is right. Therefore, it’s important to understand that for any connection to take place, you must give your permission. The good news is it’s your choice, and with that choice comes the opportunity to create what it is you truly desire or, conversely, to destroy that opportunity.

Ask yourself the following questions to see if a spark of insight is created. If not, it’s ok. We’re just getting started.

-  What occupies your mind throughout the day that prevents you from seeing the world outside of yourself?

-  What could you experience if these distractions were no longer there?

-  Do you think the ‘right’ person could have been in your presence, but you were blind to them?

-  How often do you pay attention to your surroundings?

-  How do you feel about interacting with people?

-  Do you enjoy the company of others?

-  Does your past infiltrate your present? Better yet, is the past currently your present?

-  What does connecting with someone mean to you? Is it something you look forward to, or is it something you avoid out of fear?

Take a moment to think about the questions and how you answered them. What did these questions reveal about you? Have these answers helped clarify your current situation and possibly shed some light on why you don’t connect with others if that’s the case? 

Think about the most valuable, most memorable times of your life and about the people that helped make those times possible. In my life’s story, my most memorable moments were made possible by the people in those moments, and by what each of them contributed. With that being said, why have we allowed ourselves to be distant from something so beautiful, something we all long for deep down inside? What can we do to generate more of that good ‘ol feeling?

Discovering Our Storyline

Based on our individual stories, I’m sure we can all come up with reasons we choose to accept the conditions of our circumstances. After all, it’s always easier to accept than to create, isn’t it? I believe everyone is a book with a story to tell, and based on our storyline, somewhere along the line we’ve altered our script so it aligns with our past experiences. In other words, in order to ‘protect’ ourselves, we’ve chosen to neglect the feeling we want and deprive ourselves from experiencing that good ol feelin. But why?

As hard as it is to believe, many