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Posts from the ‘Friends’ Category

Oct 7

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First Time Again

“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” – T. S. Eliot

“No one can possibly know what is about to happen: it is happening, each time, for the first time, for the only time.” – James A. Baldwin

“No one can possibly know what is about to happen: it is happening, each time, for the first time, for the only time.” – James A. Baldwin

The first weekend of October is the Twin Cities Marathon, a tradition. In 2004, the Twin Cities Marathon was my first marathon, so it’s very special to me. This weekend, I ran the 5k on Saturday and the 10 mile on Sunday. Over the past 10 years, I’ve probably done over 100 5k runs, no big deal. It’s become routine. But this weekend, it became new again.

At the 5k, there were thousands of runners of different ages, sizes and walks of life. For many, this was their first 5k. To them, it was a big deal. All of them with their own stories and daily challenges, simply running, achieving a goal. At the 10 mile and marathon events, the runners had the same excitement and enthusiasm as months of hard work paid off in each step moving them to the finish line, crossing over in the victory of finishing. And as we cheered for the them today, I remembered how important the spectators and my friends and family were to me when I ran my first marathon. They carried me and inspired me. And this weekend, I was inspired by those running all of the events – 5k, 10k, 10 mile and marathon – especially those running for the first time.

Run into each day with a “first time again” perpective and be inspired and renewed as the old becomes new again.

Sep 30

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Show Your Colors

“Your attitude is like a box of crayons that color your world. Constantly color your picture gray, and your picture will always be bleak. Try adding some bright colors to the picture by including humor, and your picture begins to lighten up.” – Allen Klein

“Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Reawaken the child within and start coloring outside the lines. Play, laugh, jump in a pile of leaves (if you don’t have dogs). If you need a refresher on how to find joy in each day, watch a child swinging at the playground or riding a bike without training wheels for the first time. Or the wilde enthusiasm when you come home and dogs greet you like you’ve been gone for 10 years. Be bright, be light and show your colors. Change your attitude, change your life.

Sep 27

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Soften

“So often we try to gird ourselves to face a harsh and difficult world when we might instead gentle both ourselves and our world by slowing down.” – Julia Cameron, Walking in this World

Walk softly through this day and observe. You can be a gift to someone who may be having a really tough day. Don’t race by. Go deeper instead of farther. A smile, a laugh, a hug, a helping hand, your full attention – all simple acts that can transform your corner of the world. This race is won by the slow.

Sep 24

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Test Your Mettle

“In the realm of ideas everything depends on enthusiasm… in the real world all rests on perseverance.”
– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance.” – Samuel Johnson

“Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance.” – Samuel Johnson

You are stronger than you think. Test your mettle by doing something that challenges you. With hard work, determination, perseverence and enthusiasm, you will pass the test every time.

I participate in half marathons, duathalons and other events to have a goal, stay in shape and to spend time with friends as we cheer each other on.  And it’s not about being the fastest or first, but rather about the preparation, showing up and finishing, especially when it’s hard.

And in starting and finishing, we build depth of character. So when life tests us with challenges outside of our control, we know that we have the strength to get through. We have taken the test and passed.

Sep 18

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You First

“You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.” – Winston Churchill

As we race from one thing to the next with speed and velocity, yielding is not natural, especially in a “get their fast and first world.” The real win is not just about crossing the finish line, but in how we get there. Open a door, step to the side, make way, hold back, listen, be patient, lend a hand, let others by. Yield and yield a good life, beyond your own.

Sep 16

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Build

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

On Sunday night, my mind focuses on my schedule for the week – meetings, projects, commitments – the transactional part of life. We feverishly race to get as many items checked off our “to do” lists, mulitasking, juggling, stressing.

Slow down and start dancing on the relational side of life. Lighten up. Choose people over activities. Encourage others. Celebrate each day’s blessings. Discover your gifts. Build a meaningful life by giving your gifts away.

Sep 13

Balance

“Our goal while on this earth is to transcend our illusions and discover the innate power of our spirit. We are responsible for what we create, and we must therefore learn to act and think with love and wisdom and to live in service to others and all of life.” – Caroline Myss, PhD, Anatomy of the Spirit

“Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony.” - Thomas Merton

“Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony.” – Thomas Merton

We live the illusion that we will achieve balance “someday” when our circumstances change. True balance is achieved from within, despite the chaos around us.

The world will never be balanced. Be grounded and anchored in defining your own view, insulating yourself from the world view.

What we let in and what we give out will define the quality of our life and our contribution to the world.

Sep 9

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Before Thought

“Really big people are, above everything else, courteous, considerate and generous – not just to some people in some circumstances – but to everyone all the time.”  – Thomas J. Watson

It happens to all of us and we do it as well – not getting invited or invited last minute, passed by or over, going unnoticed. We need to have more “before thoughts” so we don’t make others an “after thought.” Self pity is an ugly shirt, so remember the lessons and not how we learn them. Be considerate and treat others as you want to be treated, even if you are not treated that way, simply because it’s right.

In a world that teaches the opposite, put others first, get outside of yourself, initiate and include others. Give without keeping a scorecard, expecting nothing in return. Be considerate on purpose.

Sep 5

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Bear Fruit

“The entire fruit is already present in the seed.” – Tertullian

“Life stands before me like an eternal spring with new and brilliant clothes.” - Carl Friedrich Gauss

“Life stands before me like an eternal spring with new and brilliant clothes.” – Carl Friedrich Gauss

Early Fall brings the gift of Jeanne’s labor when she generously shares fresh tomatoes from her garden, sweeter than candy. Reminding me that our life’s purpose is to bear fruit by sharing our gifts, by adding bold flavor, by lighting up a room, by planting seeds of hope. To leave more behind than what we were given. To multiply our gifts by giving them away.

Our fruit – gentleness, compassion, patience, generosity, civility, peace. In a word, love. Bear fruit.

Aug 25

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Lift

“If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” – Booker T. Washington

Always look up – the only way out. No matter what, hope and light. Lift your heart, mind and soul and bring your others with on the way up.

“Lift up your eyes upon. This day breaking for you. Give birth again. To the dream.”
– Maya Angelou

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