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Posts tagged ‘writing’

Sep 10

Measure Up

“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

We will measured by what we give away, not by what we take. Give your time, talents, attention, support, patience, understanding, encouragement, laughter, forgiveness, compassion, love, yourself to a world that often doesn’t deserve it.

Spend each day giving without measure and your life will be beyond measure. Each day in those little moments that make up your life, cast light.

Aug 26

3 Comments

Aim High

“In the long run, men hit only what they aim at. Therefore, they had better aim at something high.” - Henry David Thoreau

“In the long run, men hit only what they aim at. Therefore, they had better aim at something high.” – Henry David Thoreau

“We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence… We need silence to be able to touch souls.” – Mother Teresa

Aim high. Low, good enough, just getting by are already taken. By all means, aim. Rediscover your potential, don’t settle, shoot for the moon. Life is a one way trip. Live it well and with enthusiasm.

“The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware.” – Henry Miller

Aug 11

5 Comments

Carry On Luggage Only

“Inner peace can be reached only when we practice forgiveness. Forgiveness is letting go of the past, and is therefore the means for correcting our misperceptions.” – Gerald Jampolsky

Never underestimate the weight of carrying the past on your journey – grudges, offenses, irritations, unforgiveness, omissions, regrets. All of the conversations replayed, gossip we participated in, words unsaid and disagreements get heavier the longer we carry them. Our pace is slowed and the scenery is clouded.

So, don’t check any bags. Travel light, carry on luggage only and enjoy your flight.

“All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.” – Havelock Ellis

Aug 1

1 Comment

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

Jul 30

Stick

“The end is nothing; the road is all.” – Willa Cather

“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”- Edith Wharton

“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”- Edith Wharton

As we go through the challenges of life – ours and others, stick. There may never be words adequate to comfort completely, but sticking around is enough. We are put into each others’ lives for a reason. And when someone tells you to go, stay. When you want to run, stop.

Stick and walk them through it, if only to hold a hand. Never underestimate your power to make a positive impact. We are really grown up when we realize it’s not all about us. If we can say at the end of our journey that we helped others on their journey, we will have lived well. Today, ask someone how they are doing and pause long enough for the real answer. Stick.

Jul 28

6 Comments

Just When You Think…

“If I had my life to live over, I would perhaps have more actual troubles but I’d have fewer imaginary ones.” – Don Herold

Just when you think you’ve had it tough, you get a whack to the head on how blessed you really are. This morning, I joined my “sole sisters” – Jeanne and Linda at the Challenge Cancer run. Jeanne is celebrating almost 10 years breast cancer free and 13+ years melamona free for me. Other survivors stepped forward to get recognized. A nine year old boy – 6 years cancer free, diagnosed at 18 months old. And then a young woman who was just diagnosed in April with brain cancer, still going through chemo.

We often focus on our burdens, instead of our blessings. Many times our burdens are our blessings. They teach us to accept what we can’t control and let the rest go for God to handle. We may not have the choice on what we go through, but we do have the choice of how we go through it.

Celebrate your life today, tomorrow and next week – burdens, blessings and the whole darn mess.

“If things go wrong, don’t go with them.” – Roger Babson

Jul 24

2 Comments

A Good Day

“What we call the secret of happiness is no more a secret than our willingness to choose life.”
– Leo Buscaglia

While I enjoy traveling, the ingredients that make up a good day don’t require getting on a plane. The recipe: hanging out at home with the girls, sleeping in without an alarm (except for several kisses on the forehead from Lily and Molly’s nose in my face at 5:30 am), no schedule, no meetings, no email, reading, going out for a long run that’s not rushed, taking a nap (I’ve been up since 5:30 am), a quiet walk at the end of the day.

With the limited number and the distance between vacations, we need to “work” in the good days, good hours, good moments throughout the week. What makes a good day for you? Create your checklist and start checking. And while creating those moments, always remember that we have the power to give “good day” moments to others as well – with a smile, a hug, a kind word.

Your good days are now. Don’t let them pass you by.

“I expect to pass through life but once.  If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.” – William Penn

Jul 17

6 Comments

Accept the Gift

“God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today.  Have you used one to say “thank you?”
– William A. Ward

Each day is a gift. Open it.

“Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons.” - Ruth Ann Schabacker

“Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons.” – Ruth Ann Schabacker

“Joy is the feeling of grinning inside.” - Melba Colgrove

“Joy is the feeling of grinning inside.” – Melba Colgrove

Jul 12

3 Comments

Illuminate

“As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence actually liberates others.”
– Marianne Williamson

Casting light is a choice. And if it were an easy one, everyone would do it. Even when we make a conscious decision to do it, we don’t do it consistently. Despite our best efforts, we let “little” things get to us.

Rest, restore, find your release valve (running for me) to re-energize. Find activities and people who recharge you. And while encouragement from others is important, illuminating our best must ultimately originate from within to be sustainable.

Circumstances out of our control, unreasonable demands we put on ourselves and the cynicism of others can wear us down. Never give in. Don’t become that which you despise. Own your outlook, own your life. Do more than shine but for a moment, illuminate!

Jun 30

5 Comments

New Carpet

“The results you achieve will be in direct proportion to the effort you apply.” –  Denis Waitley

If I would have thought too much about what it would take this week to get the yard in order, I wouldn’t have started. Everyday, each step built on the next. Move wood chips and pull weeds on Monday; rototill on Tuesday; move a big pile of dirt on Wednesday; even out new dirt and move block back along the house on Thursday; put down “new carpet” on Friday. All done after work and in 90 degree heat. No complaining, just getting the work done. Well, maybe a little complaining before going to bed exhausted and waking up with stiff and aching parts – neck, back, wrists, elbows …

With projects like this, you get to see the results immediately. There’s an undeniable satisfaction in hard work, in earning the win. Also, an appreciation for those who show up to help and work as a team to get the job done.

To relax today, I ran 6 miles, watered the new carpet and took a few naps. I will be looking for a new tree in the next week to put the final touch on the blank canvas. Lily and Molly are enjoying the new yard, a great improvement over laying on wood chips. This morning, Lily ran through the sprinkler and then rolled around belly up on the new carpet with a big smile, making the effort more than worth it.

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