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Posts from the ‘Inspiration’ Category

Dec 9

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Just for Fun

“Man is most nearly himself when he achieves the seriousness of a child at play.” – Heraclitus

“Life must be lived as play.” - Plato

“Life must be lived as play.” – Plato

The first real snow brings heavy thoughts of shoveling, slow travel, shoveling again and being stuck in the house. Watching Lily and Molly wrestle in the fresh snow today and hopping through the drifts brought me back to the pure joy of being a kid again.

Building snow forts, sledding down dead man’s hill again and again, ice skating at the playground for hours. No complaining, just fun and frolic, delighting in the simple. So as a new week starts, be as light as the snowflakes floating in the air instead of the heavy pile at the end of the driveway that’s left by the snowplow right after you finish shoveling.

Lighten up, just for fun.

Dec 6

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Light It Up

“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” – Albert Schweitzer

“Give light and people will find the way.” – Ella Baker

“Give light and people will find the way.” – Ella Baker

We underestimate our impact on the world – both positive and negative.

Be the light and accept the light.

Dec 2

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More Than a Glance

“Every moment and every event of every man’s life on earth plants something in his soul.” – Thomas Merton

On Friday, I went to the mall to buy some new clothes for upcoming meetings. Like many activities, my intention was to get in and out quickly without delay, without notice, to get it over with.

Head down, thinking about what’s next, I placed the clothes on the counter. Slide check card, sign, transaction done, receipt in the bag, ready to say a quick thank you and go, go, go. But this time I stopped, looked up directly in the clerk’s eyes, smiled and said a sincere thank you. Moving the moment from a mundane transaction to undivided attention and acknowledgement. A simple yet profound reminder to be in the moment completely. Instead of passing by or around, we can choose to pass through aware and engaged, giving more than a glance.

We are called to go deeper in and reach further out.

“The whole idea of compassion is based on a keen awareness of the interdependence of all these living beings, which are all part of one another, and all involved in one another.” – Thomas Merton

Nov 29

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Spend It All

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me’.” – Erma Bombeck

Invest your time, talent, creativity and passion in people and activities that matter. Build others first, and you will build yourself even more. Spend yourself, all of you on what’s right and true. Taste the sweetness of life. Share, laugh, work hard, play harder, carry others when they can’t, let them go when they can. Take the training wheels off and ride full speed ahead. Put your party hat on and celebrate this day.

Nov 22

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Thanks and Giving

“Thank you, God, for this good life and forgive us if we do not love it enough.” - Garrison Keillor

“Thank you, God, for this good life and forgive us if we do not love it enough.” – Garrison Keillor

“Make it a habit to tell people thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. Truly appreciate those around you, and you’ll soon find many others around you. Truly appreciate life, and you’ll find that you have more of it.” – Ralph Marston

Thanks and Giving – Can’t think of two better ways to live life out loud, well beyond a long holiday weekend. Awaken to and take in the gifts that are in front of you at this very moment. Discover the extraordinary in the ordinary. Happy Thanks and Giving, every day, every single day.

“I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes.” – e. e. cummings

Nov 13

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Lost and Found Smile

“Let my soul smile through my heart and my heart smile through my eyes, that I may scatter rich smiles in sad hearts.” – Paramahansa Yogananda

“Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.” - Dr. Seuss

“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” – Dr. Seuss

THE Sole Sisters rode again for our annual “run a half marathon by the ocean” vacation. This year’s mini-escape – Malibu, California. The subtitle could be the “find your lost smile” excursion. Mission accomplished. Vacation breaks our daily patterns, whacking us in the head to wake up and enjoy this short life. The trick is to carry the vacation calm forward. It’s not about a permanent escape, but living each non-vacation day with that same joy and enthusiasm.

Carve out time each day, week, month to stay fresh and engaged, despite the odds. Laugh about silly things until your stomach hurts, taking yourself much less seriously. Eat food that looks like art with a sunset as your backdrop. Smile from your heart and soul, giving your mind a rest. See the good in all, even when not evident or rational. Go deeper, walk lighter.

Slow down and listen to your internal GPS, which like our GPS in our rental car told us several times to “recalculate.” Take the long cut and enjoy the journey, living to your fullest potential, giving your best. Smile like you mean it.

“Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.” – Mother Teresa

Nov 7

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Know the Difference

“Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” - Abraham Lincoln

“Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” – Abraham Lincoln

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” – Reinhold Niebuhr

What can we effectively affect? What can be impacted by our effort and energy? What we can do to make a difference? a real one – not the busy work of worry, anxiety and distress. True discernment. Clarity.

“The supreme end of education is expert discernment in all things – the power to tell the good from the bad, the genuine from the counterfeit, and to prefer the good and the genuine to the bad and the counterfeit.” – Charles Grosvenor Osgood

Nov 4

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Succumb to Optimism

“There are only two ways to live your life. One as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is.” – Albert Einstein

GIVE in to your aspirations and dreams, achieve them through your actions. Hope without discipline is hollow.

GIVE up following the pack mentality of cynicism. Start and end with yourself and what you can do. The only real control that you have is over yourself.

GIVE out the best of yourself without measure or conditions. It’s counterintuitive to the common view, but it will change your corner of the world.

Oct 28

You

“Make visible what, without you, might perhaps never have been seen.” – Robert Bresson

Stop underestimating what you have to contribute while you are here. The clock is ticking – we can’t keep waiting. You need to show up now and give your best. The world needs it and you have it. Give your gifts away and your blessings multiply. It’s about you becoming you as soon as possible so we can receive the one-of-a-kind gift – YOU.

Oct 26

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Still Learning

“Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself, and know that everything in life has purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from.” –  Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

“Anticipate the day as if it was your birthday and you are turning six again.” - Mike Dolan

“Anticipate the day as if it was your birthday and you are turning six again.” – Mike Dolan

As I was reflecting on growing one year older today, I was going to write a list of lessons learned. But that’s what this blog is about, discovering and learning the lessons from the many blessings, gifts and “coincidences” that happen every day of the year.

So here’s a few words that come to mind in this moment … give, laugh, smile, cry, share, look, listen, pray, try, celebrate, appreciate, explore, discover, sing, dance, move, learn, love, cast light. Happy birthday every day. The gifts are many, to give and accept.

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