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Posts tagged ‘Friends’

Jul 30

Stick

“The end is nothing; the road is all.” – Willa Cather

“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”- Edith Wharton

“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”- Edith Wharton

As we go through the challenges of life – ours and others, stick. There may never be words adequate to comfort completely, but sticking around is enough. We are put into each others’ lives for a reason. And when someone tells you to go, stay. When you want to run, stop.

Stick and walk them through it, if only to hold a hand. Never underestimate your power to make a positive impact. We are really grown up when we realize it’s not all about us. If we can say at the end of our journey that we helped others on their journey, we will have lived well. Today, ask someone how they are doing and pause long enough for the real answer. Stick.

Jul 26

2 Comments

Whisper

“None of us will ever accomplish anything excellent or commanding except when he listens to this whisper which is heard by him alone.” – Thomas Carlyle

“The flowers that sleep by night, opened their gentle eyes and turned them to the day. The light, creation's mind, was everywhere, and all things owned its power.” - Charles Dickens

“The flowers that sleep by night, opened their gentle eyes and turned them to the day. The light, creation’s mind, was everywhere, and all things owned its power.” – Charles Dickens

Be quiet long enough to hear yourself and listen to others. Leave your opinions, judgement and criticism by the wayside. Like a gentle breeze through fragile flowers, whisper.

Jul 24

2 Comments

A Good Day

“What we call the secret of happiness is no more a secret than our willingness to choose life.”
– Leo Buscaglia

While I enjoy traveling, the ingredients that make up a good day don’t require getting on a plane. The recipe: hanging out at home with the girls, sleeping in without an alarm (except for several kisses on the forehead from Lily and Molly’s nose in my face at 5:30 am), no schedule, no meetings, no email, reading, going out for a long run that’s not rushed, taking a nap (I’ve been up since 5:30 am), a quiet walk at the end of the day.

With the limited number and the distance between vacations, we need to “work” in the good days, good hours, good moments throughout the week. What makes a good day for you? Create your checklist and start checking. And while creating those moments, always remember that we have the power to give “good day” moments to others as well – with a smile, a hug, a kind word.

Your good days are now. Don’t let them pass you by.

“I expect to pass through life but once.  If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.” – William Penn

Jul 15

5 Comments

Yellow Lights

“If you wish to succeed in life, make perseverance your bosom friend, experience your wise counselor, caution your elder brother, and hope your guardian genius.” –  Joseph Addison

Yellow lights – the sign of caution. That critical moment when you determine whether you stay or go for it. I’ve thought alot about yellow lights the past 24 hours.

On the way back from an 18 mile bike ride with friends, Jeanne and I were riding back home (we live about a mile a part). I was in front approaching a green light. It changed yellow. To make sure I didn’t take any risks, I stopped. This time caution didn’t work in our favor. Jeanne was able to stop in time but not get her feet out of the pedal cages. I turned and watched her fall to the ground, hard. I could feel it, of course, not as much as she did and does.

I’ve thought about how it could have been prevented. I could have gone for it. I should have told her I was stopping. And the post-analysis continues.

Not really sure of the lesson other than to get back on the bike again. Hopefully Jeanne will too. May take a few weeks though and a mattress duct taped around her to soften the blow. Jeanne – here’s to our Tour de France moment. I only wish it was me that hit the cement. You’re one tough chick!

Jun 8

6 Comments

Notice

“I see you.” I say that when I’m running with Lily and Molly when they look up to make sure that I am paying attention to them. A simple acknowledgement to let them know that I notice them. We all long to be “seen” and acknowledged, to not be invisible.

We get trapped in our own world and feelings, missing opportunities to encourage others. And when we get outside of ourselves and offer the gift of acknowledgement, our perspective on our world changes.

Take notice each day. A simple and profound gift to others and yourself.

May 21

3 Comments

Laugh, A Lot

“At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities.” – Jean Huiston

May 16

6 Comments

Wellspring

“Happiness is not in our circumstance but in ourselves. It is not something we see, like a rainbow, or feel, like the heat of a fire. Happiness is something we are.” – John B. Sheerin

“Friendship, love, health, energy, enthusiasm, and joy are the things that make life worth living and exploring.” - Denise Austin

“Friendship, love, health, energy, enthusiasm, and joy are the things that make life worth living and exploring.” – Denise Austin

“The secret is this. You make your own happiness.” - Harold Klemp

“The secret is this. You make your own happiness.” – Harold Klemp

Be a wellspring of encouragement, enthusiasm and excitement. Our days can feel like a desert, leaving us thirsty and dry. We can be an oasis. Our happiness and contentment is mulitpied by giving ourselves to others in simple yet meaningful ways. The world is starving for recognition, acknowledgement and “likes.” Say a kind word (or many), smile (alot) and shine (everyday).

May 14

2 Comments

Praise

“Praise is like sunlight to the human spirit: we cannot flower and grow without it.” –  Jess Lair

Be grateful for the many gifts that we don’t see because we are too busy chasing the next “thing.” See the wonderment in each day and express appreciation to those right in front of you. It’s so simple and often too rare. Start today and repeat again and again and see what it does to your world.

“Wonder is involuntary praise.” - Edward Young

“Wonder is involuntary praise.” – Edward Young

May 13

4 Comments

Blank Canvas

“This world is but a canvas to our imagination.” – Henry David Thoreau

“Life is a blank canvas, and you need to throw all the paint on it you can.” - Danny Kaye

“Life is a blank canvas, and you need to throw all the paint on it you can.” – Danny Kaye

Ten hours and $5800 later, my sixty year old silver maple is gone. The backyard is stark. A blank canvas. I am not sure what I’ll put in its place. I’m still thinking about it and looking at garden and patio magazines for ideas. When it’s right, I’ll know it. I asked them to leave a chunk of the tree to make a bench out of it to carry a piece of the old into what will be new. Some things we get so used to that we don’t have a vision of what could be until the canvas is blank. So as I face a blank canvas in my backyard and other parts of my life, I go forward with confidence that the possibilities will be more exciting if I am open to them. Start painting and watch the colors fill the canvas. The beauty unfolds if we get out of the way.

Apr 24

9 Comments

Let Your Puppy Out

“The ability to retain a child’s view of the world with at the same time a mature understanding of what it means to retain it, is extremely rare – and a person who has these qualities is likely to be able to contribute something really important to our thinking.” – Mortimer Jerome Adler

It’s inside all of us – that enthusiasm of childhood (puppyhood for some of our friends). Rediscover the simple joy and awe of youth and carry it with you no matter what your age. Let your “puppy attitude” out to play in the world. Be a gift.

“If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older.” - Tom Stoppard

“If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older.” - Tom Stoppard

"All of us have moments in our childhood where we come alive for the first time. And we go back to those moments and think, this is when I became myself." - Rita Dove

"All of us have moments in our childhood where we come alive for the first time. And we go back to those moments and think, this is when I became myself." - Rita Dove

“To a young heart everything is fun.” - Charles Dickens

“To a young heart everything is fun.” - Charles Dickens

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