Inspirational Sunday – Jan. 8, 2012 : Perspective

This week was a toss and turn type of week for my mind and soul: I felt myself being pulled in multiple directions that seemed in direct conflict with one another.  While this isn’t atypical for a Tracy Flick like me (see previous post), my attitude towards it was less than admirable.  Rebellious … petty … negative … but as Rick Springfield pointed out, “I’m only human, born to make mistakes.”

So what does this have to do with perspective?  Everything … but let me tell you a story first:

Last night I was at the gym, and as I typically do, I was processing many of these situations in my mind.  What should I do?  How should I react? Why am I here … again?  The music on my mp3player was slow and melodic, and my thoughts were deep and methodical.  Then I looked up at a man in front of me … he was slightly hunched, clearly bald, and limped as he walked.

I passed him with my quick and bouncy stride and felt his strength as I passed.  When I came around the circular track once more, I saw him standing next to the wall, slowly moving a towel up and down as he pressed it against the wall with his right hand.  It was clear that he was rehabilitating his body … a body that was failing him.

I didn’t feel sorry for the man; rather, I felt in awe of his will and courage.  He reminded me that greater struggles exist and that we all must get back on our feet and work at regaining our strength.

While it is important to face the challenges of the day and to reflect on the decisions we must make, I also challenge us to not lose ourselves to the emotions that can take us in a direction where we don’t want to be.  Honor and acknowledge those emotions, but also ask yourself if they are aligned with where you want to go.   If not, ask yourself how they can become aligned and give yourself the time to regain your strength and perspective.

We are only human, made of flesh and blood – thank goodness for that!

A New Year’s Wish – 2012

I wonder what would happen if we spent more time worrying about the growth of our minds and less time worrying about the growth of our hips … pocketbooks … houses?

If we looked at the world as opportunities for personal growth rather than as opportunities for personal gain, I wonder if we’d realize that we have gained much more than we may recognize.

On the first day of this year, I wish you a year of discoveries and inner growth.

Happy New Year – 2012!

Just choose …

Some weeks, it can feel as though others make all the decisions regarding how and with whom you spend your time.  The slow driver in front of you dictates your speed, the cold weather dictates your activities, your children dictate your mood … and it can feel as though you must fight for even a small morsel of control.

But who is really in control? And must it be a fight?

I believe we mustn’t give in to the thought that life happens to us – that we are merely puppets in the hands of others.  Though I believe in a destiny for all, I also believe we are active participants in how we experience and reach this destiny.

Whether you believe in a God, a higher power, or just yourself, try to remember …

Every day is a choice … what choices are you making today?

Two Paths by Andrew Kazmierski

 

A Beautiful Slice of Hope

A friend of mine shared a video link on Facebook today.  When I first opened it, I noticed the length: 24 minutes long!!  Yikes!!! I immediately thought of closing the window and moving on with other forms of media consumption.  Then I stopped and considered what I was going to do instead (i.e. turn on the television and watch some meaningless show for entertainment).

My mind course-corrected and I pushed play.  I am so pleased I did.

For the next 24 minutes, I listened to a 23 year-old woman, Maggie Doyne, talk of passion, hope and our human family. Her story is an example of infectious giving and change: how once you put one foot forward, it is hard to stop yourself from walking, running and then sprinting towards a new direction.

I encourage you to skip one 30 minute television program this week to watch this video about Kopila Valley Children’s Home and School.  As  Maggie states in her story, “It is a beautiful slice of hope.”

I hope you are inspired by watching the video and encourage you to share with others.

Friendship continued …

Rather than switching topics for this post, I thought I would continue with the friendship theme I discussed in my last post as it continues to be top of mind.

Once again, I have to pay homage to the art of writing and expression.  My post last week has been an impetus for action this week.  By putting down my thoughts, I faced a fear that is growing within me: the fear that I am losing touch with some of the most important people in my life.  And, frankly, I am not interested in losing touch with these amazing, beautiful and influential individuals.  They have all brought joy, laughter, wisdom, support and love into my life; they are my friends, and I want to be sure life does not stand in the way of our continued, growing friendships.

This week, I made it a point to reach out to some of the most important people in my life.

Have you thought about your relationships lately?  Are you feeding them?

Friend, Acquaintance, or Visitor?

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about friendship: What is friendship? Who considers me a friend? Have I been a good friend?

These thoughts do not come with a light heart, for I fear that in our world of technological advancements and growing “to-do” lists, we often overlook the true needs of our friends and replace them with the occasional Facebook post, email, or voicemail.  While these overtures certainly tell our friends that we are thinking of them, I wonder if they are sufficient for maintaining the intimate connection between true friends.

I realize we all have different definitions of friendship.  For me, I believe friendship is more than “updates”: it is knowing the successes, the struggles, and the joys of my friends.  While I am like any other person, struggling to balance all the priorities in my life, I would like to challenge myself to be more than a visitor in my friends’ lives …

So I ask you … do you have any ideas of how we can stay “connected” to our friends when our lives are so full?

And I ask you to consider … are you a friend, acquaintance or visitor to those you call a friend?

Are you brave enough?

It is easy to blend into the background and keep your opinions to yourself.  But are you brave enough to stand up for what you believe in, regardless of the consequences you may face?

If we fail to project true images of ourselves, the reflection we see in the mirror is merely an illusion.  Face the day and be brave!  Be kind … but don’t forget to embrace your beliefs and your reality.

Breaking the Pattern

Here’s a fun and easy quiz for you … just fill in the blanks:

1. If a=b and b=c, then  a= __
2. M123M123M123M12__
3. 2 4 6 8 10 12 __
4. abcd_fghi_klmn_pqrs_uvwx_z
5. wake, rush, eat, rush, brush, rush, work, rush, love, rush, life ___

So, how did you do?  Was it easy to fill in the blanks and predict the outcome of the pattern or sequence?  Did you find yourself automatically looking ahead, anticipating the answer?  I know I did … but why in the world am I asking you to complete such a simple quiz?

because …

this morning, as I was driving to the gym for the first time in MONTHS, I realized how easy it is to establish patterns in our lives that we don’t want to be following.  Simple decisions we make on a day to day basis can soon add up to a pattern we don’t want to be following – a pattern that looks nothing like our style, our pizazz or our blueprints for life, yet a pattern that begins to define us.

And although we may want them to change, the patterns can be a source of comfort and predictability in our lives – and so, we cling to them and feed them.  We see what is happening and quickly jump two steps ahead to fill in the blanks.  And by doing so, we recreate them and before you know it, your life becomes a string of sequences that you created but reject.

This week, I am challenging myself to break a sequence I don’t embrace – something I do everyday that I’d like to change.  I know I have the power to do it … I know I have the will to do it … but I have to wonder if I have the energy to do it so often, that my new sequence will defy the old?

Let’s see what happens!  This week, I challenge you to do the same … is there something “little” you do everyday that has led to a string of events that you don’t embrace?  Make a small change and see what happens.  Would love to hear how you do!

I’ll report back once I am successful

Why Write?

The other day, I received a text from my husband that read, “You should start writing in your blog again.”

I wasn’t sure what sparked this comment in him, but my guess is that he has seen a change in me over the past few months – a change that represents a shift from a free spirit to a working professional; a change that represents a shift from reading poetry to reading my blackberry; and a change that represents a shift from creativity to practicality.

And, frankly, I think he might miss the carefree version of me – at times, I know I do.

So, to honor the free spirit, the poetry reader and the creative person within, I am going to “try” to start writing again.  Not just for me, but for those around me.  After all, I think writing helps ground me and helps me reflect on a world outside of my “Inbox” at work.

Today, I write to reconnect to a part of me that is appearing less and less in my everyday life; in other words, I write to find my way back to me.

What/Who is your Muse?

Lately, my posts have been sparce: partly due to a lack of time; partly due to a lack of creative thought. 

There are times when the words and ideas seem to blow like the Nebraska winds; and there are times when I sit and wonder … and wonder … and wonder …

“Where do the creative thoughts go when they decide to take a hike?”

Perhaps we all need time to sit and be still in our heads; time to enjoy the silence in our soul.

Perhaps creativity is like any good friend: we spend a lot of time with her and then she goes off to visit others, only to return at a later date.

Perhaps our imaginations dry-up when we fail to surround ourselves with interesting people, artifacts or surroundings.

Wherever she goes, I miss her when she’s gone and celebrate her when she returns. 

Today, I am asking myself, “What/Who is my muse?”  because I would like a visit from my creative self.