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Posts tagged ‘Friends’

Ripple Effect

“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.” – Mother Teresa

“A mountain is composed of tiny grains of earth. The ocean is made up of tiny drops of water. Even so, life is but an endless series of little details, actions, speeches, and thoughts. And the consequences whether good or bad of even the least of them are far-reaching.” - Sivananda

“A mountain is composed of tiny grains of earth. The ocean is made up of tiny drops of water. Even so, life is but an endless series of little details, actions, speeches, and thoughts. And the consequences whether good or bad of even the least of them are far-reaching.” – Sivananda

We are here for a purpose. Each thought, word and action offered has power, mulitplied and magnified. Between making a living and really living, we oscilate between “going through the motions” and a search of the “extraordinary and lofty.” Our true purpose unfolds in the simplicity of living each day well, right in the midst of the ordinary.

Author Caroline Myss in Entering the Castle beautifully and susinctly summarizes – “… you are measured by the quality of attitude you bring to all your tasks, by your capacity to be a model of generosity, and by challenging the fear that there is not enough to go around in world – whether that is money, love, food, fame, power, attention, success, or social position. Mystical service means modeling calm in chaos, kindness amid anger, forgiveness at all times, personal integrity – to live, in other words, mindful that every second offers a choice either to channel grace or to withhold it.”

Channel it. Each drop, one by one, ripples through the world. A drop is enough.

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.

The Now Thing

“I do not want to foresee the future. I am concerned with taking care of the present. God has given me no control over the moment following.” – Mahatma Gandhi

The first thoughts of the day set the direction for the rest of the day. This morning, my thoughts were rapidly going through upcoming meetings, deadlines and all of the Christmas “to dos”. Often, we focus on the “next thing” instead of experiencing the “now thing.”

So as this week begins anew, ask two questions. “What will this day bring?” More importantly, “What will I bring to this day?”

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

Wait Up

“A good companion shortens the longest road.” – Turkish Proverb

“If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans.”- James Herriot

“If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans.”- James Herriot

Every Wednesday and Saturday, Molly, Lily and I run with our running group. Lily and Molly run side by side with not much air between them. If we get ahead of the group, Molly will look back to make sure that they are still close by, not losing sight of her pack.

If Molly’s boyfriend Solomon (a cute yellow lab who doesn’t realize that he’s her boyfriend) is behind, she will sit down on the path and wait for him. When they are neck and neck, she will make her move and give him a kiss on the cheek. Every once in a while, I see him glancing her way so I think he’s playing hard to get.

We run a lot of our “daily race” alone. So as you run your race, focusing on the finish, remember to glance back now and then and wait up for others. Better yet, loop back around and run by their side, celebrating the finish together.

Between Sunsets

“If I can put one touch of rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked with God.” – Gilbert K. Chesterton

“If I can put one touch of rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked with God.” – Gilbert K. Chesterton

“Know what you want to do, hold the thought firmly, and do every day what should be done, and every sunset will see you that much nearer to your goal.” – Elbert Hubbard

Carefully choose how you spend the hours between each sunset. When you have chosen the path made for you, carelessly give yourself to the journey.

“Service is the rent we pay for being. It is the very purpose of life, and not something you do in your spare time.” – Marian Wright Edelman

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

Exhale

“The world is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.”
– Bertrand Russell

“We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend.” - Robert Louis Stevenson

“We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

In waiting, hoping and quiet, we rediscover what’s important and what’s merely noise. Pettiness and cynicism get loud temporarily only to be drown out by gratitude and goodness. This past year has been a series of waiting periods with family health, tree limbs falling, cars breaking and most recently Molly having major surgery for an infection in her chest (she’s home and doing well).

As we hold our breath through these days, we need to remember to exhale, releasing the weight of waiting. And then to inhale, taking in the good. In and out, yin and yang, up and down, inhale and exhale.

Out of the Blue

“It's wonderful to climb the liquid mountains of the sky. Behind me and before me is God and I have no fears.” – Helen Keller

“It’s wonderful to climb the liquid mountains of the sky. Behind me and before me is God and I have no fears.” – Helen Keller

“A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love.” – Saint Basil

The right words at the perfect time, a phone call from a friend, an unprompted email from a co-worker with an authentic thank you, a handwritten card for no occasion but one of encouragement.

All simple acts of love “out of the blue” that remind us that there are more blue skies than clouds. We have the power to create “out of the blue” moments for others. This week, write an email, send a card, pick up the phone. A simple act of kindness that can transform the sky.

“My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.” – Dalai Lama

Cues

“Ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing, only a signal shown, and a distant voice in the darkness; So on the ocean of life, we pass and speak one another, only a look and a voice, then darkness again and a silence.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

We all want to be found, heard, seen, without asking. What signals do you send off and pick up on each day? In our rushing (where are we going so fast?), we miss cues, clues and nuances. Often misunderstanding others and sending the message “I don’t have time.”  Slow down, look and listen to what’s in the forefront, not off in the distance.

Take time to go deeper, walk softly and discover the many treasures at our feet. The horizon is the destination but the journey is found in each step we take with people who add meaning to the trip.