My lifestyle has changed rather dramatically over the last 10 years. Most of those changes in reality occurred rather gradually from year to year and only now in retrospect seem so dramatic. My sincere committment to creating a better life for myself has allowed me to continually progress over the years. However, having each ideal/goal/destination firmly implanted in my mind was only the first step.

It is my unequivocal belief that mere "words" and "good intentions" are absolutely meaningless without supporting actions. It's the consistency of our actions that directly reflect the truth and sincerity of our committment. Each new day provides us another opportunity to shape our future and to gain another step toward achieving our goals. Unfortunately, consistency is the one key to success that so many of us fumble over while trying to unlock our full potential.

The actions that are required to achieve our goals are rarely "easy" but nevertheless necessary. Finding the time to exercise each day is not "easy" due to all the distractions and responsibilities that consume our limited hours. Balancing a healthy diet each day is not "easy" when all of our convenient snacks and fast foods are responsible for killing us slowly. Maintaining an emotional bond with another person and/or and spiritual bond with our "higher power" each day is not "easy" in a world full of cynicism and hypocrisy. We simply cannot allow our difficulties to become deterrents, or even worse to become excuses, that prevent us from living up to our full potential.

Sometimes we need to re-evaluate our priorities. During these times of financial instability and economic uncertainty it's "easy" to allow our job/employment to become our chief priority. Each day we find ourselves exerting a Maximum effort toward getting to work on time and then toward accomplishing our assigned tasks once there. Most of us are perfectly able (but hopefully not content) to do this consistently for years and years and years yet for some reason we are unable to apply that same Maximum effort toward the numerous other priorities in our lives. Is our job/employment really more important than even our own emotional and physical well-being? If we're not investing in ourselves each day then we'll inevitably have much less to give to the persons and priorities in our lives that truly matter the most.

One of the greatest quotes I've come across sums it up best by advising: "Instead of trying to prioritize your schedule why not schedule your priorities" (Stephen Covey). Take a moment to think about what's really most important to you and seriously ask yourself if all your "priorities" are really all that important. Today is YOUR day...There will never be a better time than right now for you to begin living the life you deserve and desire. May you continue to find much more Health, Love & Happiness in your life each and every day....A


Since transferring to a new facility this past May, Adam has been able to view his "sincere commitment to creating a better life for himself" and his positive words and actions come full circle.  Please stay tuned for his future blog postings in which he elaborates. To see just how far he has come prior to the recent move, read Adam's growth process.

The Memorial Day Weekends of my youth were bacchanalian events of little consequence. I spent most of those early days of summer at the Jersey Shore chasing girls and gave no consideration to the significance of the holiday. To be honest, it wasn't until 9/11 and our subsequent invasion of Iraq that I developed a genuine concern and consideration for our troops. Due to all that's transpired since that fateful day and the tremendous sacrifices that have been made to protect our way of life I feel a sacred duty to show my deepest respect and honor for all of our service people both past and present.

It's a truly humbling experience to listen to the stories of our veterans and to see the physical price that so many have them have paid on our behalf. Often I've wondered what I could do to show my appreciation or to contribute in some small but meaningful way. Then, just yesterday, I heard a 30 second spot on the radio talking about a website called www.ThankYouVeterans.org where anyone is free to log on and leave a message to a veteran. I mean how simple is that- no cost, no hassel, no time, and simply not excuse not to log right now.

Unfortunately I can't log onto the site myself but if you're reading this that obviously means that you can. By me telling you about this site I feel like (hopefully) I've been able to contribute in my own small way... but now it's upto you to follow through and do your part. Make sure you take just a moment to leave a message and then remember to have a very Happy, Safe, and Healthy Memorial Day Weekend...A

Adam uses the limited resources available to him in every way possible to give back to his community, both "inside" the walls in which he is currently confined as well as society on the "outside." While incarcerated, Adam organized  a program for prisoners to grow and donate their hair to the "Locks of Love"  foundation. Inmates, including Adam, have been successfully donating their hair since 2001. Click the link to read more about how Adam is giving back and Adam's growth while incarcerated.



*On Adam's behalf adonation was made to www.thankyouveterans.org this Memorial Day.

...E/Motion

According to Sir Isaac Newton for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. This obviously applies to all of our "physical" actions but I'd like to strongly suggest that it equally applies to our thoughts and emotions as well.
External forces and influences are perpetually present in our lives but ultimately we make a conscious decision regarding how they will affect us. Each of us maintains the absolute authority over our own misery or happiness. The ONLY person that you can either blame or thank for the way that you're feeling RIGHT NOW is that same person that you see in the mirror each day.

You ALWAYS have a choice to make...You can either allow yourself to become a victim of circumstance OR You can get up off your butt and take control of your life. Be proactive...Start living the life that you want and deserve today by taking responsibility for BOTH you actions as well as your emotions. Inevitably it will lead you to much more Health, Love & Happiness...ABC

Adam has taken control of his life despite circumstance...together we can help take control of his unfortunate situation and help set Adam Bentley Clausen free.

Veritas means "truth" in Latin. A few years ago I was inspired to make the "truth" a central aspect of my life. I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't lie to ANYONE about ANYTHING. Initially I found myself being evasive whenever I didn't want to answer someone truthfully but that didn't leave me feeling very good about myself either. In those situations when I was genuinely concerned about hurting some ones' feelings with my response I learned to accentuate the positive BEFORE expressing myself with absolute honesty. This personal policy has made my life so much less complicated and less stressful. Most importantly, I feel 100% better about myself.

One of my daily intentions is to "Seek and Express Truth" in all of my actions and interactions. This in turn has forced me to excise nearly all of the negative influences/aspects/persons from my life. I had hoped that all of the persons in my life would reciprocate by giving me the truth whenever it applied to me and not simply whenever it was "convenient" for them. Some people fail to realize that no matter what you do the truth will surface eventually. It's better to deal with things head on and out in the open...this of course is how you build trust in a relationship. The Truth is strong and immediate...Trust is fragile and slowly earned. If you predicate trust on evasions, lies, or half-truths it will eventually be lost. The greater the deception the longer or less likely it will be to repair/rebuild that relationship. Unfortunately some relationships will not survive but doing the right thing is rarely, if ever, easy. You'll feel better about yourself as a result.

I encourage you to be truthful in all your affairs and relationships. Much Health, Love & Happiness....ABC

Adam has vowed to be honest and tell the truth regardless of a lack of comfort or any consequences in doing so.  Many of us have been taught since childhood that "the truth will set you free." Now is your chance to help Adam Bentley Clausen, victim of unfair mandatory minimum sentencing laws, be set free. 

Read the story behind Adam B. Clausen's unfair federal prison sentence.

Incommunicado (Written Tuesday, July 14, 2009)

For the last 2 weeks I was held hostage in my cell and forced to survive on bologna and cheese sandwiches...but it's not quite as bad as it sounds. Food issues aside, I generally enjoy the downtime because it gives me a chance to really relax and decompress. Most people have to pay big money for that type of total escape...no phones, no emails, no distractions, and no responsibilities. I was able to read ALL the books and magazines that have been accumulating under my desk over the past few months without being hurried or distracted. There was even plenty of time for me to pursue my artistic endeavors which recently expanded from music to drawing....that's right, I said drawing. As most of you know I've been unable, or rather unwilling to attempt, to draw anything more than simple stick figures...until now. Seems that I had a breakthrough of sorts and found a new hobby that I'm compelled to explore. I'll let you know how it goes...

While I was on my retreat I was thinking about how many people never get an opportunity to actually sit down and "do nothing". Even when we sit back to relax we begin thinking about what needs to be done next. Our vacations are most often quite hectic since there are so many things that we want to squeeze into that 1 or 2 weeks that we're away from work and our normal responsibilities. A buddy of mine and I often joke about how "jail-time" should be mandatory for all adults- just like they do with military service in some countries. The idea is that everyone should get a chance to experience this "lifestyle" in order to better appreciate the lives they normally lead. Only problem is that when you only have say 30 days to be confined your focus remains almost exclusively on your "out date" as you count down to your release. There's no realistic way to experience the perspective of someone in my situation, or similar, and that's truly unfortunate. I certainly didn't have the same appreciation, love and respect for all of you, my family, friends and loved ones while I was out there running around like a madman as I do now. "Everything is exactly how it is supposed to be right at this moment."


The typing is a little rusty and I've got a few things to take care of now that we're back to business as unusual around here so give me a few days to get up and running. I promise that I will try to write all of you much more frequently and consistently. PLEASE feel free to send me pictures of your summer festivities and vacations because the Christmas photos on my board are all looking a bit out of place. I hope that each of you are enjoying these fleeting days of summer with family and good friends...Wish that I could be there with you...Much Health, Love & Happiness....ABC

Imagine being locked in a cement cell the size of a bathroom w/ no TV, no computer, no phone...just a desk, bunked beds, a commode and a room mate.  Now imagine being trapped there under lock and key for an indefinite period of time.  Most of us, whom often take our freedom for granted, can't imagine surviving those conditions for a mere 20 minutes, let alone weeks (or months) at a time. Yet Adam looks forward these "lock downs" as an escape from the daily chaos that surrounds him and a time to reflect with in. Once again, Adam's mental strength and optimism is not one breath short of amazing.

Along with the cherished pictures of his family and friends that he mentioned, Adam also keeps a "vision board" filled with pictures of tropical destinations.  The images help fuel his dream of one day walking on a beach again.  Together we can  help Adam take his "vacation" beyond his own imagination (while locked in his prison cell) and feel warm sand between his toes, hear waves crashing upon the shore and go for a swim once again.  To learn more about Adam Bentley Clausen's story of criminal injustice, please click the following link: mandatory minimum sentencing injustice.

(By simply sending a picture, letter or card you can make Adam's entire day. Please click the following link for address information:  Help Free Adam)

Gotta Love Yourself - Help Free Adam B. Clausen

A few years ago I learned a very helpful "trick" by accident. We don't have glass mirrors in here but they do sell 4"x6" plastic mirrors with a magnet on the back. I've yet to come across one that was perfectly flat and gave an accurate reflection. Some are more convex or concave than others but they're all basically just "Fun House" mirrors.


Since I'm a bit taller than my cellmate (and he kept lowering the mirror we shared above the sink) I decided to tape an additional mirror to the wall. I placed the new mirror right next to the old one but a few inches higher. Inevitably I found myself bobbing my head back and forth from one to the other. The one on the left became my "skinny mirror" while the one on the right became my "husky mirror".
The "skinny mirror" gives my reflection a strong jaw line but an even larger forehead while the "husky mirror" flares my nose wide but brings my hairline down. I'm not sure which one is more accurate but I've learned not to care..."I" get to choose which image of myself I like best each day. And before I roll out of the cell to begin my day I make sure to give myself a big smile... knowing that I'm guaranteed to get one right back.

I hope that whenever YOU look in the mirror you can smile at yourself because you like what you see. Your true feelings about yourself will always be projected in your outward appearance regardless of, or even in spite of, your physical attributes. Remember that feeling good is looking good and looking good is feeling good...So the next time you pause to look at yourself in the mirror make sure that you show yourself a little love with a smile....Much Health, Love, & Happiness To All....ABC



It is downright amazing how Adam can keep a smile on his face daily. This is not only amazing to us viewing him from a distance, but his example has kept an even temperedness within his quarters, in comparison to other high security penitentiaries.  If Adam can wake up happy every day, when looking in the mirror, does that person looking back have much of an excuse? Miraculous, isn't it?! Click the link to learn more about Adam B. Clausen's story of mandatory minimum sentencing injustice.  You can make a difference in his life...YOU can help keep Adam smiling:  Help Adam Bentley Clausen

Protect Your Back - Adam Bentley Clausen

One of the worst possible things you could do to your body is to sit in one spot for an extended period of time. Unfortunately most people’s jobs require them to sit at either a desk or behind the wheel for multiple hours at a time. Humans were NOT meant to be stationary and our bodies will occasionally remind us of this fact. Most people cannot even sleep for long periods because their bodies begin to rebel by sending signals of pain and discomfort to the brain. So why do we continue to ignore our bodies and force them to endure unnatural positions? Chiropractors are making a fortune these days and doctors continue the over-prescription of pain medications but who's at fault here? The only answer to both of these questions involves looking inward...there can be no fingers pointed outward because the responsibility is our own. It is up to each of us to listen to our own bodies and to take better care of them.



There are some very simple solutions for anyone suffering from most back and neck pain. First, if you must remain seated anywhere make sure that you get up and take a brisk walk AT LEAST once an hour. Better yet, talk to your boss or office manager about acquiring a height adjustable desk that allows you to stand while you're working. Spending most of your time on your feet is not only better for your spine and neck but you’ll also burn more calories. Additionally, a Stability Ball is a rather inexpensive tool which serves as an excellent substitute to a conventional chair. Sitting on one of these large inflatable balls forces you to sit up straight and works all of the stabilizing muscles along the spinal column. Utilizing one or more of these suggestions should help to reduce some of the pain and discomfort you've been experiencing but if any pain persists you should seek further medical attention a.s.a.p.

Hope that this helps to put you back on the road to greater Health, Love, & Happiness.....ABC


Adam Bentley Clausen has been working as a Fitness Instructor and Lifestyle Coach in the Sports and Recreation industry for the past six years.  Aside from one-on-one personal training, he has instructed multiple daily classes throughout; which include (but are not limited to) "Spin," "Yoga," "Speed & Agility," and "Ages 50 & above Strength & Conditioning." Adam says he "finds joy helping others to realize their own strengths and potential."

Constantly studying Kinesiology and the writings of top fitness professionals, he has collaborated with physicians, physical therapists, rehabilitation specialists, personal trainers, bodybuilders, military fitness instructors, competitive bodybuilders, power and Olympic lifters, state champion fitness competitors and professional models and has acquired a wealth of knowledge and certifications that one day, with your help, will be an extreme asset to society.  Click the link for more information on how you can Help Adam.

Goal Setting - Adam Bentley Clausen, Help Free Adam

It doesn't matter what you're trying to do in your life...No matter howbig or small it's all about setting goals for yourself. It's great tohave "ambitions" but without an accurate description of your "end game"it's difficult to stay on course. Be specific with the goals that youset and figure out precisely what you need to attain them. For example,if I say that I want to complete a marathon I need to know exactly howfar I'll need to train my body to run. A complete marathon is 26.2miles. In order to prepare for running such a great distance I need tofirst evaluate my present level of physical fitness. Can I run 5 mileswithout stopping? And if so, how long did it take me and how did I feelafterward? Now I have a "starting point" for myself AND a Big Goal. Thenext step is for me to begin setting smaller, short-term goals thatallow me to steadily progress toward my Big Goal. In this case we'llsay that I'm going to try adding 1 more mile each week to my "long run"for the week and gradually make my way up to around 20 miles. Onceyou've run 20 miles in a single session there's no doubt that you're"physically" able to complete a marathon. The only remaining questionat that point is if you're "mentally" prepared because it is in factgrueling. By accomplishing all those smaller goals/shorter runs youshould have built up the necessary confidence and faith in yourself to attain your BIG GOAL.

NOTHINGin this life is free and we must "earn" all the things we so desire.Whatever goals you set for yourself can and will be attained as long asyou're dedicated. Whether you want to finish a marathon, land yourdream job, or get in to a certain school/college it doesn't matter whatthe Big Goal is...only that you keep setting those smaller goals andworking your way up the ladder. And once you've attained that Big Goaldon't just stop setting goals but continue pushing yourself to dreambigger and work harder to achieve all the things you want from thislife. We're here little more than the blink of an eye and you owe it toyourself to make the most of that time.  Your life should be full ofHealth, Love, and Happiness...Always.....A

Help us help Adam achieve HIS big goal.  To learn more about Adam Bentley Clausen's story of please read his story of mandatory minimum sentencing injustice.

Believe In Yourself - Adam Bentley Clausen

Every day I wake up and I'm thankful just to be alive. I know that this isn't "normal" for most people but I haven't exactly lived a "normal life" for a very long time. In fact I've always felt the need to press nearly everything in my life to the absolute limit...and this includes people. For so many years I took for granted all the love and support showered on me by my family and close friends. Only after many years in here with the time and opportunity to "honestly" reflect on the path I'd chosen did I come to the startling realization that I had it pretty damn good...in fact I always did. The only person responsible for my self-destruction was in fact ME.


Accepting responsibility for the events of my life leading up to this point brought about an epiphany...If I was responsible for my past then I was also obviously responsible for determining my future. I know that some people may disagree with me when I say this but I don't believe in "fate" or "divine influence/intervention"...I believe that we set our own "intentions" and then self-fulfill them. If we begin our day with positive intentions and decide that today is going to be a great day then that is the course we've set and chosen for ourselves... No one chooses these things for us and the circumstances that we encounter throughout are day can be dealt with in whatever manner we choose. Be the maker and decider of your own destiny...take the actions that are necessary to fulfill your dreams and attain happiness NOW.


This isn't just some watered-down, feel-good b.s. that I'm advocating half-heartedly. I live it because I believe it and I believe it because I've seen the results first hand. I was unhappy for most of my life only because "I" lacked faith in myself...Ironically, I'm much happier now here in prison than I think I ever was out there. My next step is simply finding a way to eventually make it back out there to be with all of you...and everyday I make sure I'm taking the necessary "action" to get me one step closer to attaining that goal.



Have a great day today and everyday! Much Health, Love, & Happiness To All Of You....ABC

Adam has used the inspirational words of Deepak Chopra to help turn his life around while serving the unjust prison sentence he has been faced with.  To learn more about Adam B. Clausen's story of mandatory minimum sentencing injustice, please visit "The Math."

The Lives We Choose For Our Children

Kirk Fronze Szawronski and Isaac Tillman are two names you'll recognize if you're familiar with my Federal Criminal Case...the same one that netted me this ridiculous 213 year mandatory minimum sentence. Once upon a time these two guys were friends of mine...or so I thought...until we got caught. Wespent time with eachother's families and promised to always be therefor one another...especially for the kids. They each had a little one at home and I occassionally had to remind them of their familial obligations when they'd been out running the streets for too long. I shouldn't have been as surprised as I was when I learned that they were both working with the Feds...the story was that they were simply doingit for their "kids sake" and never mind the "get out of jail free card"tucked into each of their back pockets.

A little forgiveness goes a long way...

All these years later I'm neither mad nor bitter at either of those men...but I do think of them occasionally and wonder how their kids turned out. They should both be at least 10 years old by now and I recall that being a very pivotal point in my life. I had just relocated from Racine, WI to Marlton, NJ with my Mom and the kids in my 4th grade class weren't exactly "welcoming" to the new kid with the funny accent.It was a tough year with my teachers since I was constantly being reprimanded for talking in class...and eventually I was kicked out of our 1 day a week art class with Mrs. Lieb who prophesied that I would end up in prison one day...What the hell could she have possibly seen in a 10 year old child who was struggling to fit in that would make her say such a thing? These are the things that come to mind when I remember my youth.

I sincerely hope that Szawronski and Tillman got their shit together and decided to become genuine "family men"...or what was it all for??? I can live the rest of my life in here in peace if I know that both of them at least tried to make a difference in their kids lives...2 for the price of one...I can live with that.