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Posts tagged ‘Quotes’

Feb 25

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The Waterline

“What goes on externally is only the tip of the iceberg in any situation. The lessons, the real changes, the opportunities to grow—these are things the body’s eyes can’t see. They remain beneath the spiritual water line, but they are there. And they represent a much more vast picture of the soul’s journey than what we can see from the perspective of our physical senses. Growth is not always about getting what we think we want. Always, it’s about becoming the men and women we have the potential to be. Loving, pure, honest, clear.” – Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love

“From birth, man carries the weight of gravity on his shoulders. He is bolted to earth. But man has only to sink beneath the surface and he is free.” – Jacques Yves Cousteau

“From birth, man carries the weight of gravity on his shoulders. He is bolted to earth. But man has only to sink beneath the surface and he is free.” – Jacques Yves Cousteau

Cast your net more deep than wide. Beneath the surface of assumptions and judgment lies compassion and kindness. The truth is below the waterline, waiting to free us to love deeper, stay longer and become who we are meant to be. Just beneath the waterline.

Feb 16

2 Comments

With Love

“I think God’s going to come down and pull civilization over for speeding.” – Steven Wright

“Love knows how to form itself. God will do his work if we do ours. Our job is to prepare ourselves for love. When we do, love finds us every time.” – Marianne Williamson

“Love knows how to form itself. God will do his work if we do ours. Our job is to prepare ourselves for love. When we do, love finds us every time.” – Marianne Williamson

As I raced through a hectic last week to get ready for a very busy this week, I realized how much I rush through each day. To get through, to get by, to get to the next place, only to focus on the next. So instead of “preparing” for the worst, I am going to be present in each moment, trusting that I am where I am supposed to be. And instead of doing it with speed and velocity, I will embrace each encounter with enthusiasm and love.

Isn’t it awesome to be around people like that? We can be that for ourselves and others. We get what we give. Do this week with love.

Feb 12

6 Comments

Be Glad

“This happiness consisted of nothing else but the harmony of the few things around me with my own existence, a feeling of contentment and well-being that needed no changes and no intensification.” – Herman Hesse

When we let go of the idea that we’ll be happy when circumstances or people change, we discover true contentment doesn’t shift with the wind and resides within and right next to us in the simplicity of daily moments. We need to trust that deep well within, get into alignment with our core values and let the rest go. So much easier said than done, and often a lesson that needs to be relearned daily.

Being grateful for blessings of family and friends, reflection, rest, laughter, singing the “poochy mama” song to the girls, running with friends all get me back in the groove of living well and in the present. We’ve arrived, we just forget sometimes.

“Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love, to work, to play, and to look up at the stars.” – Henry Van Dyke

“Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love, to work, to play, and to look up at the stars.” – Henry Van Dyke

Feb 8

4 Comments

Imagine

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it’s a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life’s realities.” – Dr. Seuss

Combine imagination with a pair of sunglasses and the six foot wave of snow in my front yard transforms into waves rolling in on the beach in Malibu, Kona, Monterey Bay, Cancun (insert your favorite beach here). Surfs up.

When we are not overcome by the trivial, each day becomes “show and tell.”  A simple shift and we’re laying on a beach, warm sun on our face, relaxing to the music of the ocean waves dancing on the beach. Imagine. Delight. Lighten Up.

“A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupery

“A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Jan 28

8 Comments

Even Then

“Always the beautiful answer who asks a more beautiful question.” – e. e. cummings

Even in our coldest days when the wind is blowing, the sun remains.
Even in the starkness of winter, the blue skies look down.
Even in the depths of gloom, hope waits patiently, to be found and embraced.

Even then.

“God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb.” – Laurence Sterne

“God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb.” – Laurence Sterne

Jan 22

4 Comments

Alignment

“The changes in our life must come from the impossibility to live otherwise than according to the demands of our conscience.” – Leo Tolstoy

Bouncing from one thing to the next in a hurry and hustle, we get distracted, fragmented, out of alignment. Going through the motions, we become both numb and uncomfortable.  And if wise enough to heed the message of discomfort, we can thoughtfully and carefully consider our choices and make good decisions based on what’s right, not on the emotion of the minute. The mistake is to ever think we are stuck without options.

We can stay where we are knowing it’s where we are meant to be right now or we can move on because it’s the next step in our journey. We are not made to coast, just getting by, good enough. We are made for more, to be larger, to give our best wherever we are, especially when we don’t feel like it.

And through the laughter, tears, frustrations and celebrations, we discover the ever present richness and depth of a life lived well day by day, present in the moment. When we align our beliefs with our actions, we are our most authentic self, in sync, moving with natural ease and flow.

Dec 22

3 Comments

Blanket

“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” – Norman Vincent Peale

“Maybe Christmas, the Grinch thought, doesn't come from a store.” – Dr. Seuss

“Maybe Christmas, the Grinch thought, doesn’t come from a store.” – Dr. Seuss

May the grace, joy and love of the season warm and comfort you like a soft blanket. Be light as a snowflake and let the spirit of Christmas be your companion all year long. Merry Christmas.

Nov 13

4 Comments

Remember and Forget

“The Great Creator lives within each of us. All of us contain a divine, expressive spark, a creative candle intended to light our path and that of our fellows. We are shiny, not tarnished; large, not small; beautiful, not damaged – although we may be ignorant of our grace, power and dignity.” – Julia Cameron, Walking in this World

I don’t think we’ve lost our sense of delight, joy and laughter. We’ve forgotten. We remember what we should forget and forget what we should remember. Our mind easily strays to the worst case scenario, to offense. We need to calibrate our mind each day, to decide what’s worthy of remembering and what’s necessary to forget.

I am reminded of the part of the St. Francis of Assisi prayer to guide each day:

“O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

Console, understand, love, give, pardon. Remember you are shiny, large and beautiful . Forget the rest.

Nov 6

5 Comments

Go First

“Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else’s hands, but not you.” – Jim Rohn

Competition at its best makes us better, improves our game, teaches us teamwork. I’ve never been one for getting a trophy for merely showing up. Being your best, cheering for others, learning from losses and coming back stronger is a worthy pursuit.

Go out today and be the first one to smile, say “hi”, start a conversation, include others, be kind. Don’t wait for others to make the first move. Be yourself without asking permission, without reserve. Don’t hold back pursuing excellence (not perfection), improving and recruiting others for your team. There’s a great freedom and power in personal responsibility, working hard and doing more than merely show up. And something magical happens when we stop blaming others for our circumstances. We take control of our game and win our lives back, our happiness.

There will be obstacles, complainers, spectators shouting for you to quit. Count on it. Tempted to do nothing in the face of opposition, push harder, push through. Don’t ever quit the pursuit of being your best and encouraging others to be their best along the way. Life is a team sport. Game on.

Nov 3

12 Comments

Cast Light

“If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give.” – George MacDonald

Cast Light started from a small seed of thought and desire to seek out and shine light on the positive, the goodness in each day, if we choose it over shadow and cynicism. Over a year and 279 posts later, the act of writing the blog challenges me to align my thoughts and desires to my attitude and actions. To live out what I believe, to recognize when I fall short and most importantly to relentlessly pursue light, not perfection.

In conversation with others, I am reminded to get outside of me and to be present in the moment, in relationship. While we are vividly aware of our own feelings, we never really know what someone else may be going through. And when we put aside and rise above our assumptions, judgments, and biases, we discover the humanity, frailty and beauty of those who cross our path each day. CAST = throw forth LIGHT =  love.

“When walking through the 'valley of shadows,' remember, a shadow is cast by a Light.” – Austin O'Malley

“When walking through the ‘valley of shadows,’ remember, a shadow is cast by a Light.” – Austin O’Malley

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