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Posts tagged ‘appreciation’

Nov 24

16 Comments

Detach

“In order to settle down in the quiet of our own being we must learn to be detached from the results of our own activity. We must withdraw ourselves, to some extent, from effects that are beyond our control and be content with the good will and the work that are the quiet expression of our inner life. We must be content to live without watching ourselves live, to work without expecting an immediate reward, to love without an instantaneous satisfaction, and to exist without any special recognition.” – Thomas Merton, No Man is an Island

Immerse yourself into each day with no attachments or expectations with the exception of giving your very best to each moment, each person. When we focus on doing good and being authentic, it’s so much more than enough. Detach from that which you have no real influence and get out of your own way.

“Let your life lightly dance on the edges of Time like dew on the tip of a leaf.” – Rabindranath Tagore

“Let your life lightly dance on the edges of Time like dew on the tip of a leaf.” – Rabindranath Tagore

Nov 22

7 Comments

ASK

ASssumeK

“Great thoughts and a pure heart, that is what we should ask from God.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

When we move past assumptions and go deeper by asking, we will discover a new world. We are surprised when we learn something new about a person we thought we knew, usually based on our first impression or gossip. Our assumptions and judgments hold us back from asking. Like a rock thrown across the water, we skip barely touching the surface, missing out on the deep waters of connection.

She never talks so she must be stuck up. Really she’s an introvert and just needs to be drawn out. He’s in a bad mood. Really he’s just found out his wife is leaving him. There are a lot of undercurrents in people’s lives that impact their behavior and they are more complicated than our assumptions allow. When we move outside of ourselves, we can see our world in a different light. “They” becomes “us.”

We leave a lot of unopened gifts under the tree. And we miss out on the flavor of all different people with one desire in common – to be seen for who they really are.

Assume the best. Ask and listen.

Nov 14

13 Comments

Uncomplicated

“In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don’t try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present.” – Lao Tzu

It’s really pretty simple. Each day we choose. To see wonder or despair, light or dark. A new toy, wrestling, going for a run hunting up squirrels, time together. Lily and Molly have it figured out.

Stop overcomplicating it all with drama, assumptions and comparison. It’s your life – do something with it and enjoy the journey. Our regrets will be made up of what we didn’t do, the chances and opportunities we missed while we were distracted by noise, insignificance. Make some music and dance. A polka is pretty uncomplicated. 1, 2, 3. 1, 2, 3.

“We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.” – Mother Teresa

“We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.” – Mother Teresa

Nov 13

4 Comments

Remember and Forget

“The Great Creator lives within each of us. All of us contain a divine, expressive spark, a creative candle intended to light our path and that of our fellows. We are shiny, not tarnished; large, not small; beautiful, not damaged – although we may be ignorant of our grace, power and dignity.” – Julia Cameron, Walking in this World

I don’t think we’ve lost our sense of delight, joy and laughter. We’ve forgotten. We remember what we should forget and forget what we should remember. Our mind easily strays to the worst case scenario, to offense. We need to calibrate our mind each day, to decide what’s worthy of remembering and what’s necessary to forget.

I am reminded of the part of the St. Francis of Assisi prayer to guide each day:

“O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

Console, understand, love, give, pardon. Remember you are shiny, large and beautiful . Forget the rest.

Nov 9

4 Comments

Everyday Stuff

Everyday stuff – that’s what Cast Light is all about. I’ve discovered when I notice the ordinary of each day and put myself in its midst I find meaning and joy. And I am grateful for the grace and faith to see the bigness in the small.

I bought four new books with my Amazon birthday gift cards – thanks Anna, Chris, Lynn – and just finished Anne Lamott’s new book Stitches, A Handbook on Meaning, Hope and Repair. My kind of book and I love her writing style and insights, here’s one that sticks:

“The search for meaning will fill you with a sense of meaning. Otherwise life passes by in about seven weeks, and if you are not paying attention and savoring it as it unfurls, you will wake up one day in deep regret. It’s much better to wake up now in deep regret, desperate not to waste more of your life obsessing and striving for meaningless crap. Because you will have finally awakened.” Pretty good advice.

The three Fs – Faith, Family, Friends. Here’s to some of my everyday stuff – Lily and Molly. Mom and Dad. Running group on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Sole Sisters hanging out. The extraordinary in the ordinary.

everydaystuff

Nov 3

12 Comments

Cast Light

“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

Cast Light started from a small seed of thought and desire to seek out and shine light on the positive, the goodness in each day, if we choose it over shadow and cynicism. Over a year and 279 posts later, the act of writing the blog challenges me to align my thoughts and desires to my attitude and actions. To live out what I believe, to recognize when I fall short and most importantly to relentlessly pursue light, not perfection.

In conversation with others, I am reminded to get outside of me and to be present in the moment, in relationship. While we are vividly aware of our own feelings, we never really know what someone else may be going through. And when we put aside and rise above our assumptions, judgments, and biases, we discover the humanity, frailty and beauty of those who cross our path each day. CAST = throw forth LIGHT =  love.

“When walking through the 'valley of shadows,' remember, a shadow is cast by a Light.” – Austin O'Malley

“When walking through the ‘valley of shadows,’ remember, a shadow is cast by a Light.” – Austin O’Malley

Oct 30

4 Comments

Unexpected

“The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. It is not that we seize them, but that they seize us.” – Ashley Montagu

On our usual run tonight, the girls and I were turning for home and suddenly out of the fog, a beautiful deer launched out of the woods and gallantly ran across our path. We stood there frozen in awe and then my little hunter Lily’s instinct was to chase him, but he was gone in a flash.

Molly and Lily are always on the look out for the unexpected. They wake up ready to dive deep into the day and when I come home it’s like I’ve been gone for days.

“Nearly all the best things that came to me in life have been unexpected, unplanned by me.” – Carl Sandburg

“Nearly all the best things that came to me in life have been unexpected, unplanned by me.” – Carl Sandburg

Too often, we’ve come to accept and expect the worst, disappointment. And we give up too easily on our capacity and yearning to be surprised and delighted by the unexpected. Expect more and be open to the unexpected. It’s all around us.

Oct 28

4 Comments

Hue

“Your problem is how you are going to spend this one odd and precious life you have been issued. Whether you’re going to spend it trying to look good and creating the illusion that you have power over people and circumstances, or whether you are going to taste it, enjoy it and find out the truth about who you are.” – Anne Lamott

“It was the rainbow gave thee birth, and left thee all her lovely hues.” – W. H. Davies

“It was the rainbow gave thee birth, and left thee all her lovely hues.” – W. H. Davies

Unexpectedly, the rainbow pops out of the clouds, at the just the right time, without hesitation. Light and water collide, casting light, an array of hues. Amidst the clouds, but never defined by them, never holding back. True to itself in strength, color and brilliance. Taste and see.

Oct 23

2 Comments

Lighten Up

“Oh the wild joys of living! The leaping from rock to rock … the cool silver shock of the plunge in a pool’s living waters.” – Robert Browning

“Not what we have But what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance.” – Epicurus

“Not what we have But what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance.” – Epicurus

Ever since she was a puppy, Lily takes hold of Molly’s collar three houses from home on our daily outings. She starts up and invites participation in frolic. Stare in her eyes long enough and send the signal, “let’s mix it up” and she’s starts dancing in circles, grinning ear to ear. Everyday, she lovingly pulls Molly and I out of serious into delight, into the moment.

The accumulation of the past or consternation about the future steals the present. We take life way too seriously. Turn off the television, turn up the music and dance. Laugh, skip, leap, take the plunge in the pool of abundance. Lighten up. The world is longing for it, and it does a world of good in return.

Oct 22

2 Comments

Forefront

“When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” – Gilbert K. Chesterton

“The hardest thing to see is what is in front of your eyes.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“The hardest thing to see is what is in front of your eyes.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

What do you see? Clouds or blue sky? What we move to the forefront defines our landscape, our path. We all have our days when the clouds win. But days turn into weeks, into years, into a life time. The most important people, moments, gifts become the backdrop, unnoticed as we search for something that is right in front of us. The scenery goes unseen. Wake up everyday and choose the blue sky. No more lost time, no more regrets. Make the blue sky the forefront and let the clouds fall back where they belong.

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