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Posts tagged ‘appreciation’

Sep 27

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Holding Up the Light

“Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye.” – Helen Keller

“There are little gems all around us that can hold glimmers of inspiration.” – Richelle Mead

“There are little gems all around us that can hold glimmers of inspiration.” – Richelle Mead

When we give up perfect to accept the gift of the present, unexpected and imperfect, we can live authentically and hold our light up no matter what.

We may and will stumble and fall, no doubt. But we must get up again and again, never quitting.

When necessary, I let myself be ticked off for up to 24 hours and then move on. Learning lessons required and letting go of the pain required too. Grudges grow heavier. Release the burdens of regret and remorse. True and lasting light is always there, regardless of circumstances.

Some moments, hours, days are better than others. That’s a fact. But when we are grounded in light, shadows are temporary and illuminate the brilliance of light.

Heads up, smile and carry your light.

Sep 20

I See You

“The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.” – William James

On a quick run in the neighborhood yesterday, I passed a boy on a bike and he said “I see you.” I knew he wasn’t talking to me. He was playing a little game of hide and seek with a friend. But I perked up with the words “I see you.” Isn’t that all we ask for? To be seen, to be heard, to be acknowledged.

In a noisy world, we can get lost and we can lose others on the rapid journey to nowhere. Pay attention and notice more of what’s around you right now. This is it. This is life. Enjoy it.

And when you don’t feel seen or heard, get outside of yourself. Look and listen more to others so they can be seen and heard. You will then discover yourself in them. Never alone. Always seen. I see you.

Jun 16

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Choose Tigger

“Never, ever underestimate the importance of having fun.” – Randy Pausch

“Never, ever underestimate the importance of having fun.” – Randy Pausch

“I am going to keep having fun every day I have left, because there is no other way of life. You just have to decide whether you are a Tigger or an Eeyore.” – Randy Pausch

Today, and each day going forward, have fun, no matter what’s going on. There will never be a time in life when there are not challenges woven through the victories. Create your little wins by having fun.

Don’t wait for a loved one to die or a health diagnosis to learn that life is so very short. Give more and receive all there is right now in this moment. Be grateful for the gift of this day and put some bounce in your step – choose Tigger.

Apr 28

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The Years are Short

“The days are long, but the years are short.” – Gretchen Rubin

Today is the one year anniversary of my Dad passing away. Pictures, stories and memories flood my mind every day. Lots of tears and laughter this last year, more tears I think. Missing will never go away and gratitude for our relationship grows deeper.

I loved, appreciated and respected him while he was here and even more so now that he’s not. Yet even though he’s gone, he shows up in so many ways. In expressions, in places, in people, so he remains in the fabric of each day. Perfect by no means and none of us are but a man of integrity, faith and resilience. I carry what he taught me and try to be and do my best, again, not perfect by any means.

So hug your loved ones a bit longer today. Be grateful and find laughter in each and every single day. Celebrate and laugh more.  Life is very good and we need to discover that daily so we can live a full and joyful and sometimes difficult life. Sometimes, the days are long and most definitely, the years are short.

“Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you.” – H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

“Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you.” – H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Jan 21

But a Moment More

“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

“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

“I said to myself, I’m going to quit complaining! I’ll keep quiet especially when the ungodly are around me. But as I stood their silently the turmoil within me grew to the bursting point. The more I mused, the hotter the fires inside. Then at last I spoke and pled with God: Lord, help me realize how brief my time on earth will be. Help me to know that I am here but a moment more.” – Psalms 39:1-6

It is so easy and tempting to join in with the complainers, the “chirpers.” Those who criticize and choose to see nothing but shadow. But the chirping merely breeds more of the same, producing nothing of value. The higher road has plenty of room for all and often a hard one to take. But with one step at a time and an acute awareness that we are here but a moment, the high road is the only journey worth the trip. So when the choice arises, and it will several times a day, choose light. See the beauty, be the beauty.

Dec 31

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The Cusp

“From the math of ordinary time, it seems we falter repeatedly, always off course. But this is how life uncovers us. It’s a beautiful journey that no preparation can avoid, that no learning can imitate. We begin with an irreplaceable trust and are sent into the amazing race the world has to offer, thinking there are more valuable destinations we can’t live without, only to land where we began.” – Mark Nepo, The Endless Practice

New Year’s Eve – the cusp of new beginnings filled with resolutions, good intentions, plans, moving on, hopes, dreams and “this year’s going to be different.” Looking back at this last year, most of it was unpredictable and “not in my plans.” A lot of it was struggling with family health issues and work intensity. And weaved through it all, that I often missed at the time, was joy, laughter, growth and love. What begins as a burden slowly then suddenly transforms into a blessing. Burdens always precede blessings.

Woody Allen’s quote comes to mind, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.” Our plans are linear, a straight line from Point A to Point B. But life enters and the dimensional, winding and detoured journey ensues. And the crux of the struggle is in our clinging desperately to the linear rather than releasing to the current and flow of life.

So resolutions for next year?
Work and play hard, always do but more importantly BE my best;
Pray harder, accept the answer;
Trust deeper, let faith take hold;
Be more open than closed, risk hurt;
Love more, without strings;
Plan to be surprised, invite awe and wonder in;
Slow down, enjoy the view;
Be present each day, that’s all we are promised;
See, really see, all the beauty, in people and places;
Be grateful and kind, show and share it.

Simply put, let God’s plans unfold and cast light.

Nov 6

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Where Every Day is Friday

“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.” – Marcus Aurelius

“The thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest. “– William Blake

“The thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest. “– William Blake

We often hear or say thank goodness it’s Friday. I try not to but must admit that some weeks I do. When we live Friday to Friday, vacation to vacation, we miss the joy that is to be harvested each day. Do something new, quietly reflect with deep gratitude, connect with others and by all means, play.

When we live right smack in the moment seeking goodness and light, every day is Friday.

Oct 6

Cascade

“Forever is composed of nows.” – Emily Dickinson

We can pool up and remain or flow like water over the rocks, dancing, moving, learning, laughing, living. Whether stay dormant or move freely with the flow, each moment cascades over the rocks never to pass the same place again.

Kids start first grade and suddenly they are in college. Parents protect and hold us, now they need to be held. At 25, we race the sprint, at 50 we know it’s a marathon that’s not forever and pace to enjoy the journey.

Yesterday has taken care of itself, tomorrow will do the same. Embrace your nows, right now.

“Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is its current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away.” – Marcus Aurelius

“Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is its current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away.” – Marcus Aurelius

Aug 14

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It’s Just the Battery

“The torment of precautions often exceeds the dangers to be avoided. It is sometimes better to abandon one’s self to destiny.” – Napoleon Bonaparte

My scooter, aptly named the Buddy, has been sitting in the garage collecting dust, not starting for the past three summers. Each summer I kept charging the battery and it wouldn’t start. Thinking there was a bigger problem, l let it sit to deal with it later. Later never came.

“I love the feeling of the fresh air on my face and the wind blowing through my hair.” – Evel Knievel

“I love the feeling of the fresh air on my face and the wind blowing through my hair.” – Evel Knievel

Realizing summer is winding down, I picked up a new battery this week to see if it could be as simple as that. When I tried to start it, nothing but it sounded different than before. I tried again and again but no spark. Not wanting to drain the new battery, I tried the manual kick start. Two, three, four…and seven was the lucky kick. Tentative, the engine sputtered. After a moment, I revved the engine and a puff of black smoke came out, clearing three years of idleness out of the engine.

More confident that it wouldn’t kill, I headed down the street, gradually picking up speed. After a few times around the block, I went full throttle, wind in my face, claiming victory with a few hoots and hollers. The Buddy rides again! As I pulled her back in the garage, I turned her off and then on again just to be sure. Fired right up.

Sometimes, many times, we make a bigger deal of things and hesitate to try and take action, even one step. We put it off until later and later never comes, only regret for not trying. Our mind is a powerful creation – it can hold us back or when we align it with our heart, it can propel us into endeavors we’d never dare. We risk disappointment and dive in with great abandon.

Most of the time, it’s something as simple as replacing the battery, nothing more. Start changing some batteries, dive in and enjoy life.

Aug 12

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Enlightenment

“Life is full of miracles disguised as the ordinary. Enlightenment is the ability to see them in the commonplace.” – Joan Chittister

Our perceptions, expectations, assumptions, reactions and actions are all in our control. The world changes when you stop being driven by others and take that wheel, driving fast and furious on the road of goodness, fullness and light. May your ordinary day be filled with enlightenment fueled by fire. Expect, be and do more.

“To be filled with the fire of life is to be grounded in goodness and freed by the spirit to do more than life would normally expect of us.” – Joan Chittister

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