Dec 12
“Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don’t wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it’s at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored.” – Earl Nightingale
“The true delight is in the finding out rather than in the knowing.” – Isaac Asimov
Dec 11
“Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.” – Henry James
When I was traveling last week, I noticed something different right away as I approached the gate to get on the plane. The gate agent was smiling and as she scanned each ticket, she welcomed each passenger by name. You could see each person’s demeanor change as she recognized each individually. Some days, it’s easy to feel like a number, a transaction. But she gave the gift of undivided attention, choosing relationship over transaction.
When I got in the cab in Austin, I sat silent for a moment and then chose to start a conversation with the driver. It started with the weather and the local economy and then moved to how proud he was of his family, in particular his grandson who calls him G-pop. A simple encounter, a short conversation, a few moments.
We have a choice to check out or check in to these moments, to be more human, more alive. To be called by name and do the same in return. To see and be seen. What’s in a name? So much more than you know.
Dec 9
“Man is most nearly himself when he achieves the seriousness of a child at play.” – Heraclitus
“Life must be lived as play.” – Plato
The first real snow brings heavy thoughts of shoveling, slow travel, shoveling again and being stuck in the house. Watching Lily and Molly wrestle in the fresh snow today and hopping through the drifts brought me back to the pure joy of being a kid again.
Building snow forts, sledding down dead man’s hill again and again, ice skating at the playground for hours. No complaining, just fun and frolic, delighting in the simple. So as a new week starts, be as light as the snowflakes floating in the air instead of the heavy pile at the end of the driveway that’s left by the snowplow right after you finish shoveling.
Lighten up, just for fun.
Dec 8
“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
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.
Dec 6
“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” – Albert Schweitzer
“Give light and people will find the way.” – Ella Baker
We underestimate our impact on the world – both positive and negative.
Be the light and accept the light.
Dec 2
“Every moment and every event of every man’s life on earth plants something in his soul.” – Thomas Merton
On Friday, I went to the mall to buy some new clothes for upcoming meetings. Like many activities, my intention was to get in and out quickly without delay, without notice, to get it over with.
Head down, thinking about what’s next, I placed the clothes on the counter. Slide check card, sign, transaction done, receipt in the bag, ready to say a quick thank you and go, go, go. But this time I stopped, looked up directly in the clerk’s eyes, smiled and said a sincere thank you. Moving the moment from a mundane transaction to undivided attention and acknowledgement. A simple yet profound reminder to be in the moment completely. Instead of passing by or around, we can choose to pass through aware and engaged, giving more than a glance.
We are called to go deeper in and reach further out.
“The whole idea of compassion is based on a keen awareness of the interdependence of all these living beings, which are all part of one another, and all involved in one another.” – Thomas Merton
Nov 29
“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.
“All experiences of life seems to prove that the impediments thrown in the way of the human advancement may for the most part be overcome by steady good conduct, honest zeal, activity, perseverance and above all, by a determined resolution to surmount.” – Samuel Smiles
“I wish I had an answer to that because I’m tired of answering that question.” – Yogi Berra
As we approach the end of the year, we put together our list of “resolutions,” many are repeats of last year and the year before. We call them resolutions, but unless we have a plan and take steps every day to achieve them, they are merely wishes. Wishes are magic. Resolutions are work. The true reward is found in hard work and discipline, earning your victories.
Don’t delay the journey to your aspirations. Start now, a step at a time and on New Year’s Eve, you’ll have something concrete to celebrate.
“Do you wish to be great? Then begin by being. Do you desire to construct a vast and lofty fabric? Think first about the foundations of humility. The higher your structure is to be, the deeper must be its foundation.” – Saint Augustine
Nov 22
“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
Nov 20
“Life is all about timing… the unreachable becomes reachable, the unavailable become available, the unattainable… attainable. Have the patience, wait it out. It’s all about timing.” – Stacey Charter
“It’s the constant and determined effort that breaks down all resistance, sweeps away all obstacles.” – Claude M. Bristol
Going against the waves, waiting for the right one to roll in, the surfer patiently waits for the right wave to stand for the victory of riding the wave, if but only for a moment. And when the moment is complete, turning back into the waves to start all over again.
Resilience, timing, patience, opportunity, stand, fall, get back up, learn, grow, repeat. Surfs Up – time to ride the waves of your life.
