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Posts from the ‘Friends’ Category

Aug 16

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Find Fun

“Find joy in everything you choose to do. Every job, relationship, home… it’s your responsibility to love it, or change it.”- Chuck Palahniuk

Everyday is filled with opportunities for fun and frolic, despite chaos that may surround you. Lighten up and simply enjoy those moments that remind us of the many blessings that we overlook. You need not look far to find fun, just to be open to it.

Mom, Dad, Lily and I celebrated Molly’s seventh birthday today with a lot of toys and a few frosty paws ice cream cups. I can remember driving with Dad to Elkhart Lake Wisconsin to pick Molly up like it was yesterday. Time flies. Joy is ours if we choose it. If you can’t find fun, let it find you.

“If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give.” – George MacDonald

“If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give.” – George MacDonald

Aug 7

The Mirage

“Earth’s crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God: But only he who sees takes off his shoes. The rest sit around it and pluck blackberries.” – Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Exhausted from another long day of many lately, I glanced at Psalm 23 that’s posted on my refrigerator next to an array of favorite photos and quotes. The dichotomy of “through the valley of the shadow of death” and “my cup runneth over” hit me.

Worn and weary, we see the shadows more than the overflowing cup. Parched in the desert, our cup is empty. That’s the mirage. Our cup is overflowing when we lie down in green pastures and beside still waters near our oasis of blessings with a renewed gratitude. My cup runneth over. The mirage is the desert.

Jun 30

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What Will They Say?

“I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. ‘Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death.” – Leonardo da Vinci

At a funeral service for a family friend, a few of family members reflected on a life well-lived filled with laughter, tears, inside jokes, little moments.  Loyal, generous, kind, gentle – principles lived out each day.

What will they say about what you left behind? Move through each day keenly aware of the brevity and gift of life and your capacity and duty to make a positive, loving and lasting impact while you’re here. What will they say? You’re writing it each day in your thoughts, words and actions.

May 27

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Wisdom

“Wisdom begins in wonder.” – Socrates

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” - William Butler Yeats

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” – William Butler Yeats

This weekend, we celebrated my nephew Mark’s graduation from college. Next weekend, we celebrate my niece Emily’s graduation from high school, proud moments, wonderful life transitions and milestones. Twenty seven years ago, I graduated from college and am reminded vividly that time passes by both slowly and quickly all at once. If I could go back and give my 27 year younger self some advice as well as Mark and Emily, here are a few thoughts that come to my mind and heart:

  • Be aware and awake to the gifts in each day. Pay attention.
  • Each step, each day makes up your story and it will be revealed at the right time. It all ties together.
  • Love completely, regardless of the perceived risk.
  • Work hard. And while your career is an important part of your life, it’s not who you are.
  • Mind, body, heart, spirit – grow them all.
  • Always do your best regardless of what others say or think. Never dumb it down or dial back.
  • Our plans don’t always work out the way we planned, but they always work out.
  • Stop and help others along the way. Lasting joy comes from giving more than receiving.
  • Laugh a lot and don’t take yourself so seriously.
  • Your family is your anchor and home, always cheering for you, crying with you and quietly praying you through.
  • No matter what happens, you are never alone. God is with you every step of the way. Sometimes ahead, lighting the way. Sometimes at your side, holding your hand. Sometimes behind, lifting you up.
  • Cast your light. The world is waiting.

While this part of your education is over, school has just begun. Be curious, ask questions and you will learn every day. And to my 27 year older self, that youthful optimism and enthusiasm remains within, a bit bruised from the journey, but stronger for it.

May 12

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Extraordinary Ordinary

“A garden requires patient labor and attention. Plants do not grow merely to satisfy ambitions or to fulfill good intentions. They thrive because someone expended effort on them.” – Liberty Hyde Bailey

“Genius is childhood recalled at will.” – Charles Baudelaire

“Genius is childhood recalled at will.” – Charles Baudelaire

It is quite simple. We find the extraordinary in the ever so ordinary moments in our life. Never underestimate the power of playing catch, swinging at the playground, going for a walk hand in hand, watching a baseball game, sharing an ice cream cone. Above all other seemingly important endeavors, time spent with your kids, parents, family, and friends in words and silence is time well-spent. The richness and depth of our life is defined by what we pay attention to so choose well. Joy is ours to capture daily in the ordinary moments.

May 11

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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 5

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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.

May 2

4 Comments

Travel Light

“A cloud does not know why it moves in just such a direction and at such a speed… It feels an impulsion… this is the place to go now.  But the sky knows the reasons and the patterns behind all clouds, and you will know, too, when you lift yourself high enough to see beyond horizons.” – Richard Bach

“Thus am I, a feather on the breath of God.”- St. Hildegard von Bingen

“Thus am I, a feather on the breath of God.”- St. Hildegard von Bingen

Gaze up and float on the clouds. Break free from the gravity of a world that yells faster, more, not enough, more. Release your spirit, it’s wrestling to break free. We carry and cling to a heaviness that holds us back from our best self.  With ease and grace, travel light and inhale the immense beauty of now. Put your seat belt on, the sky’s the limit. “a feather on the breath of God” – imagine that.

Apr 26

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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

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