Two weekends ago I had the great pleasure to be visited by a new friend, Ricardo Flores. Ricardo and I first connected last November when he participated in the 17th LIVING THE FULFILLED LIFE FOUNDATIONAL PROGRAM. Since then we've been exploring how Ricardo could bring the Life On Purpose Process to the Spanish speaking portion of the world since he was born in El Salvador and speaks fluent Spanish as well as English.

I had a full and invigorating weekend with Ricardo, who now lives in San Antonio. We went to Simpsonville to a Catholic church on Saturday night to hear Tony Melendez, a very talented singer that Ricardo had heard about and discovered was going to be in this area over the weekend.

Tony was born without arms -- a result of his mother receiving thalidomide while she was carrying Tony. He taught himself to play the guitar with his feet as well as doing everything else with his feet that most of us do with our arms and hands without a moment's thought. He was called to sing to the world and in 1986 had the opportunity to sing to Pope John, who at the end of the music, walked over to Tony, embraced him and encouraged him to take his gifts to the world which Tony has been doing ever since. (www.tonymelendez.com)

Listening and watching him helped put life in perspective. I was reminded of the quote that goes something like - I felt bad that I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet. Any excuses I've been giving myself about furthering my own purpose and mission seem to evaporate.

Meeting Tony was a great inspiration to both Ricardo and me. Bringing a transformational program like the Life On Purpose Project to a new segment of the world suddenly doesn't look so hard.

2005 Brad Swift of Life On Purpose Institute, Inc. This article can be reprinted freely online, as long as the entire article and this resource box are included.

Brad Swift

As a writer, I've written well over 300 magazine articles for a diverse assortment of magazines including Omni, Entrepreneur, New Age Journal, Yoga Journal, Utne Reader, Unity Magazine, Better Homes and Garden, Modern Maturity, and many others. I'm also a regular contributor to Veterinary Economics. (Yes, I still have a special place in my heart for animals.) My books include, WINNING THROUGH COACHING: Building Your Business Through Building Your Team and TRAVELING THE PURPOSEFUL PATH ? 6 Passages to an Inspired Life on Purpose.

As a public speaker, I lead programs on life purpose that are customized to fit such diverse groups as churches, spiritual centers, civic and professional organizations. The principles of these programs are also available in the 12-week teleclass, Living the Fulfilled Life. From these programs participants bring more focus to their life, experience a renewed sense of fulfillment, and lighten up and have more fun. Out of this focus, fulfillment, and fun emerges an ability to maintain balance in their life and a deeper appreciation for living.

One of my all time favorite ways of expressing my purpose is as a life purpose coach. I find the intimacy and creativity of one-on-one coaching to be a breathtaking experience. The select group of people who are my clients are very special to me, and with them I am constantly creating new facets of life purpose coaching that are then incorpoated into the other programs.

In short, the focus of my life is life purpose. From living on purpose, I've been blessed with an extraordinary life in which I am satisfied and fulfilled. My wife, Ann, and I share our redwood chalet home in the "Paradise Found" of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina with our daughter, Amber, and a menagerie of purposeful and playful pets.