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Posts from the ‘Everyday’ Category

May 20

Lean Back

“If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive.” – Eleonora Duse

“The time to relax is when you don't have time for it.” – Sydney J. Harris

“The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.” – Sydney J. Harris

The view changes when we take time to lean back and see the horizon before us and beyond us. We often lean in too hard and fast, getting lost in over-committing, multitasking, competing, comparing, complaining. Lean back and go bigger than making a living and start making a life. Lean in to the moment fully – work, play, family, friends, faith - with attention and delight, not weight and burden. Enjoy each and move on to the next, coming back when it’s time. A rhythm of leaning in and leaning back. Time won’t wait for you to enjoy your life, neither should you.

May 19

4 Comments

Abide

"Explore daily the will of God." - Carl Jung

“Explore daily the will of God.” – Carl Jung

In the quiet of the morning before we let thoughts in that have no place, set the tone and direction for each day. A guide, a compass, a prayer.

“Dear God, 
I give this day to You. 
May my mind stay centered on the things of spirit. 
May I not be tempted to stray from love. 
As I begin this day, I open to receive You. 
Please enter where You already abide. 
May my mind and heart be pure and true, and may I not deviate from things of goodness.
May I see the love and innocence in all mankind, behind the masks we all wear and the illusions of this worldly plane. 
I surrender to You my doings this day. 
I ask only that they serve You and the healing of the world. 
May I bring your love and goodness with me, to give unto others wherever I go.
Make me the person You would have me be. 
Direct my footsteps, and show me what you would have me do.
Make the world a safer, more beautiful place. 
Bless all your creatures. 
Heal us all, and use me, dear Lord, that I might know the joy of being used by You. Amen.” 

- Marianne Williamson. Illuminata: A Return to Prayer

Be present in this day, tomorrow has its own time.

May 11

12 Comments

Belong

“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” – Mother Teresa

Our family is the first place we discover a sense of belonging. From here we go out into the world and invite others into our lives, to be in relationship, expanding the circle. Moms teach and model unconditional love, proving that it’s possible in this world.

On Mother’s Day and everyday, in addition to my Mom, I am grateful for all of the special women in my life - sister, sister-in-law, aunts, nieces, cousins and girlfriends, whether they are a Mom or not. They have shown me how to love and be loved. Happy Mother’s Day to women everywhere who make life softer and sweeter, those still with us and those who are gone but remain ever present in our hearts. It’s good to belong.

“Intense love does not measure, it just gives.” – Mother Teresa

“Intense love does not measure, it just gives.” – Mother Teresa

May 8

6 Comments

On Purpose

“I am here for a purpose and that purpose is to grow into a mountain, not to shrink to a grain of sand. Henceforth will I apply ALL my efforts to become the highest mountain of all and I will strain my potential until it cries for mercy.” – Og Mandino

Slow down, take a breath, step back and get a new perspective. We create a lot of internal angst struggling with the anchor of where we’ve been and where we think we should be, missing where we are in this very moment. Have faith and accept that you are where you need to be right now, on the path just for you.

The world becomes so much bigger and beautiful when it’s not all about us. What will you offer, what will you leave behind? And in those quiet moments when we choose to listen, we hear the call to let go of the struggle and move into the moment fully, on course, climbing that mountain, on purpose. Grow into that mountain and take in the view.

May 5

17 Comments

Dare

A few months ago, I watched a TED video featuring Brene Brown (http://www.brenebrown.com/) speaking on her years of research on vulnerability, courage, worthiness and shame. I am now reading her book “Daring Greatly”. She starts the book with the following quote from Theodore Roosevelt that is my daily reminder to dare greatly in all that I do – work, play, relationships.

The Man in the Arena, Theodore Roosevelt

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” – Excerpt from the speech “Citizenship In A Republic  delivered at the Sorbonne, in Paris, France on 23 April, 1910

On Saturday, I ran the “Run & Dye” 5k to support a friend who was running her first 5k – daring something new and different. 8000 people gathering to throw powdered dye at each other – crazy, fun and memorable. What an honor to be invited to be a part of someone’s first event, to share the victory, to be in the arena – dye and all.

“How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!” – Maya Angelou

“How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!” – Maya Angelou

Today, I ran a half marathon with my “Sole Sisters” Jeanne and Linda – a beautiful morning, celebrating the joy of movement, distance and good friends cheering each other to the finish line and to share more time in the “arena”.

As I get older, I choose to surround myself with people who dare me, feed my spirit and who want to be in the arena with me to enjoy life, to try harder despite the odds and to never, never, never give up.

Thanks Suz, Jeanne and Linda for being with me in the arena this weekend daring greatly, enjoying each moment.

May 4

9 Comments

Beautiful Threads

“One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood.” – Lucius Annaeus Seneca

“In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.” – Khalil Gibran

“In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.” – Khalil Gibran (A little Barry sisters fun at family wedding.)

There are beautiful threads woven through the fabric of our life. Friends and family who are a part of our many memories and milestones, bonds that are enduring. Some we see everyday, others we see at weddings, graduations and funerals. And whether we talk to them every week or a few times a year, they remain a part of our foundation, our home. Family become friends, friends become family.

Through the celebrations, challenges, transitions and losses, they laugh, hug and cry us through our victories and defeats. Listening more than talking, holding our hand or giving us a high five. They provide the color and pattern in an often random world.

Think of all of those people in your life who are a part of your fabric and call one of your beautiful threads today.

Apr 26

4 Comments

Bloom

“The fact that I can plant a seed and it becomes a flower, share a bit of knowledge and it becomes another’s, smile at someone and receive a smile in return, are to me continual spiritual exercises.” – Leo Buscaglia

Go out today and give flowers to yourself and someone else. Whether you buy flowers or the petals are your smile, a hug, a word of encouragement, plant seeds and delight in what blooms. No grand gestures, rather simple acts done with love.

“To see the world in a grain of sand, and to see heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hands, and eternity in an hour.” – William Blake

“To see the world in a grain of sand, and to see heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hands, and eternity in an hour.” – William Blake

Apr 24

16 Comments

Seek Joy

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” – Jawaharlal Nehru

“After every storm the sun will smile; for every problem there is a solution, and the soul's indefeasible duty is to be of good cheer.” - William R. Alger

“After every storm the sun will smile; for every problem there is a solution, and the soul’s indefeasible duty is to be of good cheer.” – William R. Alger

What you look for you will find. So if you’re looking for something to complain about or someone to talk about, there will be plenty to find. Cynicism, complaint and negativity are easy and decrease our capacity to see beauty and blessings. Adventure into joy every day. First step – SMILE. My “life coaches” Lily and Molly teach me this each and every day. Seek and find joy and good in all. Cheers!

Apr 22

5 Comments

Endurance

“Our real blessings often appear to us in the shape of pains, losses and disappointments; but let us have patience and we soon shall see them in their proper figures.” – Joseph Addison

“Wondrous is the strength of cheerfulness, and its power of endurance - the cheerful man will do more in the same time, will do it; better, will preserve it longer, than the sad or sullen.” – Thomas Carlyle

“Wondrous is the strength of cheerfulness, and its power of endurance – the cheerful man will do more in the same time, will do it; better, will preserve it longer, than the sad or sullen.” – Thomas Carlyle

Whether it’s the prediction of seven inches of snow in late April or the challenging co-worker, we have a choice. We can see the sun in the clouds, the summer chair under the layer of snow. Be patient, be of good cheer. True summer is a state of mind.

Apr 21

6 Comments

Deep Gratitude

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” – Melody Beattie

Each and every day, pause the shallow chaos of busy and go deeper to gratitude. In simple moments with family, friends or by yourself, appreciate the goodness in your life, the gifts of people and place. In quiet awe and reverence, let joy permeate your being. Life is an ocean, deep and beautiful. Dive in.

“Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.” – John Milton

“Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.” – John Milton

“When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” – Gilbert K. Chesterton

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