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Posts tagged ‘Inspiration’

May 14

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Agreement

“Happiness, contentment, the health and growth of the soul, depend, as men have proved over and over again, upon some simple issue, some single turning of the soul.” – George A. Smith

When we quiet the noise, we realize that much of our conflict is created by us – thoughts, assumptions, gossip, keeping score, coasting. Driven by us then conveniently projected on others. Our pursuit of getting others in agreement with us is futile. The starting and ending point is getting in agreement with ourselves. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz beautifully summarizes key agreements for us to own. Pretty simple and profound. We can get in agreement and it really is our choice.

“Be Impeccable with Your Word
Speak with integrity.  Say only what you mean.  Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others.  Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

Don’t Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you.  What others say and do is a projection of their own dream.  When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

Don’t Make Assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want.  Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama.  With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

Always Do Your Best
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick.  Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.”

May 12

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Extraordinary Ordinary

“A garden requires patient labor and attention. Plants do not grow merely to satisfy ambitions or to fulfill good intentions. They thrive because someone expended effort on them.” – Liberty Hyde Bailey

“Genius is childhood recalled at will.” – Charles Baudelaire

“Genius is childhood recalled at will.” – Charles Baudelaire

It is quite simple. We find the extraordinary in the ever so ordinary moments in our life. Never underestimate the power of playing catch, swinging at the playground, going for a walk hand in hand, watching a baseball game, sharing an ice cream cone. Above all other seemingly important endeavors, time spent with your kids, parents, family, and friends in words and silence is time well-spent. The richness and depth of our life is defined by what we pay attention to so choose well. Joy is ours to capture daily in the ordinary moments.

May 8

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On Purpose

“I am here for a purpose and that purpose is to grow into a mountain, not to shrink to a grain of sand. Henceforth will I apply ALL my efforts to become the highest mountain of all and I will strain my potential until it cries for mercy.” – Og Mandino

Slow down, take a breath, step back and get a new perspective. We create a lot of internal angst struggling with the anchor of where we’ve been and where we think we should be, missing where we are in this very moment. Have faith and accept that you are where you need to be right now, on the path just for you.

The world becomes so much bigger and beautiful when it’s not all about us. What will you offer, what will you leave behind? And in those quiet moments when we choose to listen, we hear the call to let go of the struggle and move into the moment fully, on course, climbing that mountain, on purpose. Grow into that mountain and take in the view.

May 5

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Dare

A few months ago, I watched a TED video featuring Brene Brown (http://www.brenebrown.com/) speaking on her years of research on vulnerability, courage, worthiness and shame. I am now reading her book “Daring Greatly”. She starts the book with the following quote from Theodore Roosevelt that is my daily reminder to dare greatly in all that I do – work, play, relationships.

The Man in the Arena, Theodore Roosevelt

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” – Excerpt from the speech “Citizenship In A Republic  delivered at the Sorbonne, in Paris, France on 23 April, 1910

On Saturday, I ran the “Run & Dye” 5k to support a friend who was running her first 5k – daring something new and different. 8000 people gathering to throw powdered dye at each other – crazy, fun and memorable. What an honor to be invited to be a part of someone’s first event, to share the victory, to be in the arena – dye and all.

“How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!” – Maya Angelou

“How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!” – Maya Angelou

Today, I ran a half marathon with my “Sole Sisters” Jeanne and Linda – a beautiful morning, celebrating the joy of movement, distance and good friends cheering each other to the finish line and to share more time in the “arena”.

As I get older, I choose to surround myself with people who dare me, feed my spirit and who want to be in the arena with me to enjoy life, to try harder despite the odds and to never, never, never give up.

Thanks Suz, Jeanne and Linda for being with me in the arena this weekend daring greatly, enjoying each moment.

Apr 26

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Bloom

“The fact that I can plant a seed and it becomes a flower, share a bit of knowledge and it becomes another’s, smile at someone and receive a smile in return, are to me continual spiritual exercises.” – Leo Buscaglia

Go out today and give flowers to yourself and someone else. Whether you buy flowers or the petals are your smile, a hug, a word of encouragement, plant seeds and delight in what blooms. No grand gestures, rather simple acts done with love.

“To see the world in a grain of sand, and to see heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hands, and eternity in an hour.” – William Blake

“To see the world in a grain of sand, and to see heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hands, and eternity in an hour.” – William Blake

Apr 24

19 Comments

Seek Joy

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” – Jawaharlal Nehru

“After every storm the sun will smile; for every problem there is a solution, and the soul's indefeasible duty is to be of good cheer.” - William R. Alger

“After every storm the sun will smile; for every problem there is a solution, and the soul’s indefeasible duty is to be of good cheer.” – William R. Alger

What you look for you will find. So if you’re looking for something to complain about or someone to talk about, there will be plenty to find. Cynicism, complaint and negativity are easy and decrease our capacity to see beauty and blessings. Adventure into joy every day. First step – SMILE. My “life coaches” Lily and Molly teach me this each and every day. Seek and find joy and good in all. Cheers!

Apr 21

6 Comments

Deep Gratitude

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” – Melody Beattie

Each and every day, pause the shallow chaos of busy and go deeper to gratitude. In simple moments with family, friends or by yourself, appreciate the goodness in your life, the gifts of people and place. In quiet awe and reverence, let joy permeate your being. Life is an ocean, deep and beautiful. Dive in.

“Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.” – John Milton

“Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.” – John Milton

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

Apr 19

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Delightful Discovery

“Everything that is new or uncommon raises a pleasure in the imagination, because it fills the soul with an agreeable surprise, gratifies its curiosity, and gives it an idea of which it was not before possessed.” -Joseph Addison

“Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit.” - e. e. cummings

“Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit.” – e. e. cummings

Discover what’s new and delightful today. Not in searching in far off places, but in opening your eyes with curiosity, awe and innocence. Choose wonder over worldly, joy over jaded, delight over despair, light over dark. Look, breathe, hear anew, right where you are now in this very moment.

Apr 15

6 Comments

Unsettle

“There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” – Nelson Mandela

We get comfortable in our routine of multitasking and checklists. We choose busy over meaningful, quantity over quality. Slow down and play big. Foster your passions that are simmering quietly within waiting to be heard and acted on, if but for an hour a day. Imagine the world if we all were striving to meet and exceed our potential, to open our gifts and share them. There’s no true fulfillment in mere busyness, getting by, jumping to the next thing or good enough. Do something, anything, to unsettle your routine this week, to shake it up, moving toward the life that you are not only capable of living but are called to live.

Apr 11

8 Comments

Invest

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Invest wisely, but by all means invest. For many, it’s hard to focus for 54 days, much less 54 years. Thanks Mom and Dad for modeling commitment, caring and devotion through 54 years, despite what life brings, always with a sense of humor and grounded by faith. Never perfect but always persevering. Patience, kindness, honor, trust, hope. Looking at this photo reminds me of how quickly time moves. Invest your time well and enjoy life now.

“Love is always bestowed as a gift - freely, willingly and without expectation. We don't love to be loved; we love to love.” – Leo Buscaglia

“Love is always bestowed as a gift – freely, willingly and without expectation. We don’t love to be loved; we love to love.” – Leo Buscaglia

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