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Posts from the ‘Inspiration’ Category

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 24

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Thankful Out LOUD

“Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.” – Henry Ward Beecher

Wake up – life is blooming with gifts to be opened and shared, with gratitude. Be grateful and express it early and often. A simple and sincere “thank you” is like giving someone a fragrant bouquet of flowers. Every single day, we have dozens of opportunities to express thanks – the coffee shop cashier, a co-worker, a sister, a friend. Our lives expand when we move outside of ourselves and our expectations of how others should treat us. Don’t hold out or back. Be selfish and go first in giving thanks and attention to others and take several turns. No strings attached but the ones that pull at your heart and theirs. Thank you – that was easy. Out loud and loud!

“A person however learned and qualified in his life's work in whom gratitude is absent, is devoid of that beauty of character which makes personality fragrant.” – Hazrat Inayat Khan

“A person however learned and qualified in his life’s work in whom gratitude is absent, is devoid of that beauty of character which makes personality fragrant.” – Hazrat Inayat Khan

May 20

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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

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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 14

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Agreement

“Happiness, contentment, the health and growth of the soul, depend, as men have proved over and over again, upon some simple issue, some single turning of the soul.” – George A. Smith

When we quiet the noise, we realize that much of our conflict is created by us – thoughts, assumptions, gossip, keeping score, coasting. Driven by us then conveniently projected on others. Our pursuit of getting others in agreement with us is futile. The starting and ending point is getting in agreement with ourselves. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz beautifully summarizes key agreements for us to own. Pretty simple and profound. We can get in agreement and it really is our choice.

“Be Impeccable with Your Word
Speak with integrity.  Say only what you mean.  Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others.  Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

Don’t Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you.  What others say and do is a projection of their own dream.  When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

Don’t Make Assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want.  Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama.  With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

Always Do Your Best
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick.  Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.”

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 8

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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

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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

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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.

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