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Posts tagged ‘Reflections’

Sep 16

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Build

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

On Sunday night, my mind focuses on my schedule for the week – meetings, projects, commitments – the transactional part of life. We feverishly race to get as many items checked off our “to do” lists, mulitasking, juggling, stressing.

Slow down and start dancing on the relational side of life. Lighten up. Choose people over activities. Encourage others. Celebrate each day’s blessings. Discover your gifts. Build a meaningful life by giving your gifts away.

Sep 13

Balance

“Our goal while on this earth is to transcend our illusions and discover the innate power of our spirit. We are responsible for what we create, and we must therefore learn to act and think with love and wisdom and to live in service to others and all of life.” – Caroline Myss, PhD, Anatomy of the Spirit

“Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony.” - Thomas Merton

“Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony.” – Thomas Merton

We live the illusion that we will achieve balance “someday” when our circumstances change. True balance is achieved from within, despite the chaos around us.

The world will never be balanced. Be grounded and anchored in defining your own view, insulating yourself from the world view.

What we let in and what we give out will define the quality of our life and our contribution to the world.

Sep 5

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Bear Fruit

“The entire fruit is already present in the seed.” – Tertullian

“Life stands before me like an eternal spring with new and brilliant clothes.” - Carl Friedrich Gauss

“Life stands before me like an eternal spring with new and brilliant clothes.” – Carl Friedrich Gauss

Early Fall brings the gift of Jeanne’s labor when she generously shares fresh tomatoes from her garden, sweeter than candy. Reminding me that our life’s purpose is to bear fruit by sharing our gifts, by adding bold flavor, by lighting up a room, by planting seeds of hope. To leave more behind than what we were given. To multiply our gifts by giving them away.

Our fruit – gentleness, compassion, patience, generosity, civility, peace. In a word, love. Bear fruit.

Aug 1

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Soak It Up

“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”
– Buddha

Each season has its own gifts. I can’t ever remember a “slow” summer. So as we dive into August, enjoy the summer days that remain, not lamenting their passing. We have this very moment. Drink it in, soak it up and be satisfied.

“Then followed that beautiful season... Summer....

“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

“There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart.” - Celia Thaxter

“There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart.” – Celia Thaxter

Jun 5

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Poetry in the Ordinary

“Breathe-in experience, breathe-out poetry.”  – Muriel Rukeyser

While running a different path in St. Paul, I found poetry stamped into the cement sidewalk. A wonderful way to share poetry in an unexpected and somewhat ordinary place.

The poetry and art of our life can be discovered in the ordinary if we look with new eyes. Found in people, places and our own hearts, all within reach.

Everyday Poem for City Sidewalks, St. Paul, MN

Apr 19

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Sweet Memories

The father of my best friend in grade school passed away from cancer and the funeral was today.  Patty and I still connect a few times a year (not enough) and each time we do, it’s like we just talked yesterday, one of those rare connections that doesn’t fade with time.  I’ve been reflecting a lot about the people and places that we grew up with and in – the neighborhood.

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Apr 10

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Simple Math

Life – it’s simple math really. We add or substract. We multiply or divide. What equation will you choose to be today, tomorrow?

A Good Life = + and x.

Do the math. Show your work. Do it right. Repeat.

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