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Posts tagged ‘Miscellaneous’

Jun 23

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Start + Finish = Win

“To finish the moment, to find the journey’s end in every step of the road, to live the greatest number of good hours, is wisdom” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Still drying out

Still drying out

I am not the fastest runner. I am not the slowest runner. I run races throughout the year (even in winter) for fun, to participate, to compete with me, to stay in shape.

Today, I ran the William O’Brien 10.5 mile trail run. I am going to rename it the “What was I thinking run?” or “Let’s run on a rollercoater through the woods” run. It seemed like a good idea when I signed up. Starting, never a problem.

Within a half mile, we had to run through a large puddle ankle deep, no way around it. Tentatively tip toeing, as if we could walk on water if we went through gingerly. Soggy wet feet until mile six. Each new corner, another hill – up and down, more up than down. Mentally slicing the run into chunks – mile 7, only a 5k left; mile 9, only 1.5 mile; mile 10, almost there and oh that’s right the unavoidable puddle that didn’t dry up while I was out on running the rollercoaster.

Sprinting the last quarter mile as if I did the entire run, the finish line in sight and an irreplaceable feeling of accomplishment of finishing a challenging journey. Running through the puddles, not around. Forging the hills, running and many times walking. Dodging holes that would break an ankle. All while the birds sang and the rest of nature watched, laughing.

It’s easy to start. The winning comes when we start AND finish – a run, a project, a promise. Start, finish, well done.

Jun 17

10 Comments

Come to Your Senses

“He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.”
– Albert Einstein

“Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing.” - William James

“Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing.” – William James

As we juggle our mulitple and competing demands each day, our senses get dulled.

Smell the fragrance of the flowers (lilacs are my favorite), of fresh cut grass, of a wood burning fire. Hear the symphony of the birds at dawn, the hearty laughter of children playing, the rhythm of rain tapping the roof. Taste the sweetness of a fresh picked tomotoes, the fun of bubble gum or pop rocks. Re-engage and reignite your senses – see, hear, touch, smell and taste it all.

And while you’re at it, discover a few more senses like wonder, delight and the most important one – a sense of humor – a gift to yourself and others all in one.

“Humor is the great thing, the saving thing.  The minute it crops up, all our irritation and resentments slip away, and a sunny spirit takes their place.” –  Mark Twain

Jun 12

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Learn and Forget

“You will find that it is necessary to let things go; simply for the reason that they are heavy. So let them go, let go of them. I tie no weights to my ankles.” ― C. JoyBell C.

Much of our learning happens through difficulty. Learn the lesson and forget the pain. Invest your time and attention in what you can impact and let the noise of what you can’t impact fade to the background. We carry the past, the future and others’ baggage. Carry yourself lightly through the present moment.

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.

Jun 3

Summer BrEASY

“Then followed that beautiful season… Summer….
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.”

– Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

‘In summer, the song sings itself.” – William Carlos Williams

There’s an easiness and simplicity in summer. We overcomplicate our days, our lives – over committing, overdoing, over the top. Summer calls and reminds us of what could and should be in our hearts and minds all year long. Life is before us in this very moment to be taken in and given back out. Be present, gentle and generous as a summer breeze.

“Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own; and from morning to night, as from the cradle to the grave, it is but a succession of changes so gentle and easy that we can scarcely mark their progress. “ – Charles Dickens

May 30

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What are you going to do different?

“Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.” – Cecil Beaton.

We try to own so many things that aren’t ours to own – other people’s problems, thoughts, ideas, attitudes. The only thing we truly own is our attitude, actions, reactions, outlook, thoughts – our life and what we do with it.

What will you do differently today, tomorrow, this week to make your life better? – run your first mile, read a new book, pray your first prayer, call an old friend. We spend too much time trying to own what’s out of our control, ignoring what’s ours right in front of us.

It takes one step to move us out of complacency, to move us forward. Do something, anything, different.

“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” – Albert Einstein

May 28

4 Comments

Show Up

On Friday, I drove to Appleton, Wisconsin with my sister to watch my nephew’s team play in the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship series. I came back on Saturday, but I wanted to show up for one game to support Mark and the team. His Mom, Dad and sister stayed and have been to his games all year long. For years, Mark has shown up for practices and games, not always playing, but showing up and giving his best just the same.

How often do we put our efforts on autopilot, half-hearted, holding back? In relationships, work, faith, play, we can choose to show up, dive in and passionately give all of ourselves, whether we win or lose. And the more we show up, the more we improve and increase our chances of winning.

We all have our reasons of why we merely go through the motions – too busy, stressed out, discouragement from others and ourselves. But the smile on his face when Mark saw his family show up makes a 600 mile car drive in 24 hours all worth it. Show up for your life, no one is going to take your place.

May 24

5 Comments

Give

“What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.” – Albert Pike

Our lives will be measured by what we’ve given. As we our surrounded by entitlement, fairness and me first, think about what we can give – time, attention, compassion, love. So as Summer officially kicks off with Memorial Weekend, think of and honor those who have given so much for others, giving without counting.

“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” – Buddha

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 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

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