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Posts tagged ‘Everyday Life’

Oct 20

Entertain Possibilities

Without hesitation, we let doubt and fear enter our thoughts, control our actions, putting us into a “holding” pattern. Holding back, holding up. We too easily accept less rather than risk more, putting conditions, rules and fences around wide open spaces. “I can’t do this because of this … If I do this then this will happen … I need this to happen then I can do that … I am not good enough to do that…I’m too old to do something different…”

Entertain the endless possibilities present for yourself, others and the world. Abundance over scarcity. Fulfillment over comfort. Curiosity over inevitability. Action over acquiescence.

No more fear of what may or may not happen if… Invite, entertain and welcome new ideas and possibilities for your life.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” – Marianne Williamson

Oct 19

Class Clown

“If by chance some day you’re not feeling well and you should remember some silly thing I’ve said or done and it brings back a smile to your face or a chuckle to your heart, then my purpose as your clown has been fulfilled.” – Red Skelton

“Only in spontaneity can we be who we truly are.” – John McLaughlin

“Only in spontaneity can we be who we truly are.” – John McLaughlin

Remember the kid in class who always made you laugh? The one who didn’t care if she got caught, she was just being herself, looking for a good laugh. The friend who pushed you to have some light-hearted fun and get into some trouble.

The “real world” needs more class clowns. We’ve become way too serious, too self-absorbed in our self-created problems of stress, busyness and “the race.” Lighten up, be silly and laugh more. Life is way way way too short to not enjoy the daily journey and bring others with you.

My golden retriever Lily is our lead clown, never missing an opportunity to make each day more fun for Molly and me. Molly sneaks in a few antics of her own too. She’s a good student of Professor Lily. I’m working on getting my grade point average up.

So go out today and pursue some silliness. It’s frivolous and irresponsible for sure. And we need it. Open the windows wide and stick your head out, skip down the hall, throw a ball and maybe even be so bold to chuckle.

Class Clowns unite.

“Reason, I sacrifice you to the evening breeze.” – Aime Cesaire

“Reason, I sacrifice you to the evening breeze.” – Aime Cesaire

Sep 29

Interrupt

“As long as habit and routine dictate the pattern of living, new dimensions of the soul will not emerge.” – Henry Van Dyke

When your thoughts stray, when circumstances win the day, interrupt and break the pattern. When Monday lives up to its reputation, reset and renew yourself to meet Tuesday with new eyes. Re-anchor as needed to what matters, what is lasting. Family, friends, kindness, delight, your very best self. Rediscover your true north as often as needed, learn, relearn the lessons until they stick. Center and reconnect to what’s real.

Sep 27

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Already Found

“God is an unutterable sigh, planted in the depths of the soul.” – Jean Paul

God is found right in the middle of our struggle, despair, laughter, doubt, victory, defeat and joy. Up and down. Wide and deep. Right and left. The entire gamut that makes up life.

At the altar of the everyday, God is with us whether we recognize it or not. It is God’s choice to be there, not ours. Our choice is one of awareness, acceptance, gratitude and faith. And if we accept grace, we are given a fullness of life right NOW, not someday when…

May we stop searching for what is already found and start living the bigger life that we are called to, fulfilling the purpose for our being. Start today and everyday as if it’s the first ever, dancing in the discovery of all that is new.

“Life is God’s novel. Let him write it.” – Isaac Bashevis Singer

Sep 18

Ease Into Today

“On a day when the wind is perfect, the sail just needs to open and the world is full of beauty. Today is such a day.” – Rumi

In sailing terms, ease means to let the sails out. Trim means to pull the sails in. Depart the dock of your mind and ease into today. Every day is new and awaits our fullness of presence in all that it offers. One day at a time. That is all that is asked of us. Let the sails out.

“Ten thousand flowers in spring, the moon in autumn, a cool breeze in summer, snow in winter. If your mind isn’t clouded by unnecessary things, this is the best season of your life.” – Wu Men

“Ten thousand flowers in spring, the moon in autumn, a cool breeze in summer, snow in winter. If your mind isn’t clouded by unnecessary things, this is the best season of your life.” – Wu Men

Sep 7

Roots

“All things must come to the soul from its roots, from where it is planted.” – Saint Teresa of Avila

The weekly grass cutting turned into a bit more than a routine chore this weekend.  As I moved a branch on a bush that’s been in my yard for years, it broke off. The next branch, the same. When I looked closer, the roots were dry, weak and rotted. One branch after another kept coming out. A few stubborn ones had to be axed out. I cut up the remains and the branches are ready to be burned in the fire pit on a cool evening.

What other dry and hollow things need to be uprooted and discarded? So often, we let assumptions, biases and insecurities take root. Take a closer look. What needs to go to see a new view, to make a fresh start, to move onto the next chapter? Make time for some digging and axing as well as watering and nurturing. The shallow must go to make room for what’s real and deeply rooted.

“Everything has seasons, and we have to be able to recognize when something's time has passed and be able to move into the next season. Everything that is alive requires pruning as well, which is a great metaphor for endings.” – Henry Cloud

“Everything has seasons, and we have to be able to recognize when something’s time has passed and be able to move into the next season. Everything that is alive requires pruning as well, which is a great metaphor for endings.” – Henry Cloud

Jul 9

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Delicious Ambiguity

“I wanted the perfect ending…Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end…Delicious ambiguity.”

We try to figure out the ending at the beginning, wanting to know what’s ahead. As I look back over the years, I am sure I would not have dug in, took new paths, tripped through detours if I would have know what it would take and where it would take me.

Instead of solving the mystery that is the essence of life, let go into the moment, ready and willing to be surprised, delighted, scared and awed.

Delicious ambiguity.

Jun 24

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Sow . . . Reap

“You have to sow before you can reap. You have to give before you can get.” – Robert Collier

As the world continues to go faster and rewards quantity over quality, width over depth, we try to convince ourselves that we can figure out the shortcut, the easy path, the magic formula that no one else has figured out.

If we are honest with ourselves and heed that still small voice, the cues and clues, we know better. There are universal truths that we can’t outsmart, outthink or outrun. Step by step, seed by seed, act by act, we build our life day to day.

For us to grow, to transform, to reap the “harvest” of life, we always must sow first and often. We can’t bypass step one – sow and go immediately to step two – reap. And sometimes what we sow doesn’t take root and the harvest never comes.

When we sow kindness, hard work, play, compassion, joy, encouragement, laughter and sprinkle it with light and love, we not only reap in due time, we reap through the mere act of sowing.

So each day, ask “what will I sow today?” The reaping will take care of itself and the harvest will be plenty.

Jun 2

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Friend

“Our friends interpret the world and ourselves to us, if we take them tenderly and truly.” – Amos Bronson Alcott

Sharon and I have been planning our 50th birthday celebration New York trip for over a year. It had to be delayed a year when life and other commitments took precedence. I took a lot of pictures of our New York adventure last week and this is one of my favorites. I am not a fan of pictures of myself but I vowed to take a “selfie” of us each day to capture the trip and be reminded long after it passed.

“Let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.” – Khalil Gibran

“Let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.” – Khalil Gibran

We were at Carnegie Hall for a concert. When I checked it out to make sure my finger didn’t make its way into the picture, I saw the gal in back of us with a big smile – so we got a selfie plus. I turned around and asked her what she was doing in our selfie and we all had a big laugh about it. We saw a lot of girlfriends together on the trip.

I’ve known Sharon for over 30 years. We met at freshman orientation at the University of Minnesota. We went around the room for introductions and she said she was from a small town called Canton, South Dakota which probably wasn’t on the map and cracked up at her own joke. I thought – what a nerd. And from that day on that nerd and this nerd have been best friends.

During college, when she didn’t go home for Easter, she joined my family’s celebration and quickly became part of the family. My Dad helped her buy her first car. From calculus to Rocky’s pizza lunches to break ups to grocery shopping at midnight after a movie to her and Tim getting married and moving to New Jersey in August, 1989. I remember the moment after we packed the moving truck saying good bye and aching the loss. And then surprising her Thanksgiving that year and flying out to see her. That was the first time I went to New York when we ventured in on the train.

Even three decades later when we get together, it’s like time has not passed between the last time we saw each other. The conversation picks up as if only a moment’s silence in between.

Time passes quickly and time away with a friend or helping family through health issues are vivid reminders to focus, pay attention and invest ourselves in what’s really important.

Call an old friend, check in with a family member, make a new friend. We can’t predict what tomorrow will bring but we can be assured that change will be a main ingredient. Stay in the moment, create new moments and cherish each one as you are moving through them. Be a friend that will still connect 30 years later and laugh and love even deeper.

May 18

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Commence

“Graduation is only a concept. In real life every day you graduate. Graduation is a process that goes on until the last day of your life. If you can grasp that, you’ll make a difference.” – Arie Pencovici

My niece Jenna graduated from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management today. Next up, law school this Fall. To see the hope, enthusiasm and optimism in these kids’ eyes makes me feel like a kid again. Ready to commence, begin and begin again, to never stop learning, growing, embracing and engaging in each day to the fullest extent.

“The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of the child into old age, which mean never losing your enthusiasm.” – Aldous Huxley

“The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of the child into old age, which mean never losing your enthusiasm.” – Aldous Huxley

The past few months has been filled with a lot of challenges, of “real” life. For a few hours today, the roller coaster hit the high point. Instead of lamenting the “reality” that experience brings, I’d rather tell these young people (and not so young people) to never give up or be defined by another, believe AND work for your dreams and let faith, kindness and love to be your GPS through it all. Commence.

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