I hate it when I come across a quote that hits me full-on…really? I am what I settle for. My mind immediately goes to a thousand other excuses – like – what about my circumstances, what about my age, what about my job, what about my family – really there’s got to be a reason…and it’s not ME… it can’t be me… okay fine it’s me. How about you? Have you settled for a small network of friends because you’re too lazy to reach out and meet new people – it’s hard to know who to trust nowadays. Are these […]
Remember people are looking up to you – don’t let them down
There is a small church near where I live, and on the outdoor board that shows the church service times and the pastor’s name and other information, Recently, I saw that they had put up this phrase, “Remember, people are looking up to you – don’t let them down.” I really like that thought because it is so true. I know I speak about this a lot, but friends, hear me—you never know who is watching you, and you never know who is following your steps as they live their lives. You matter. Your words matter. Your actions matter, and […]
Taking Care of Business
I am sure you have a lot going on in your life these days, but allow me a minute to gently remind you to make sure you’re taking care of business–the business of doing what brings you joy, happiness, or simply what gives you a place or sense of rest, relaxation and good times for today and tomorrow. It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle of doing what everyone expects or demands that sometimes we forget why we are doing what we’re doing, as life becomes routine and rote and, for many, boring. I don’t mean […]
Are You Addicted to Doing?
I know you’ve heard the phrase, “Just say no.” And while it was used to take aim at the war on drugs, I am here to encourage you to “just say no” and stop willfully taking another drug of choice that many people take and tend to overdose on, especially during the holidays–the drug of doing. I’ve never understood why so many good people are addicted to the need for doing so, especially when they don’t enjoy it and can’t afford it. What I see is that they feel pressured by others because they feel they have no way out. […]
Harness Your Power
Recently, I was reading a review about Laird Hamilton’s life that will be seen in an upcoming documentary called “Take Every Wave.” Laird is a legendary big wave surfing star who, according to the write-up, is as polarizing as he is acclaimed. I know a bit of who he is from magazine articles and his one-time marriage to volleyball star Gabrielle Reece, so in reading the write-up, I was curious about how he pushed himself to set aside his fear of the water and waves and sharks and whatever else lurks in the ocean to become the master of the […]
Who Is Modeling You?
I would be interested to know who you model your life after if anyone. Most of us grew up, I assume, with a role model that we sometimes eyed with awe and wonder and sometimes with suspicion and regret; either way, we watched someone live their life, and we either said, “I’m going to be like them,” or “I’m never going to be like them,” choosing to model ourselves in a similar fashion but separate enough to maintain our sense of dignity, pride, and individuality. I have always loved the artwork of Norman Rockwell. He seemed to bring to life […]
It’s not what happens to you
It’s not what happens to you but how you react to it that matters. Epictetus There is no easy way to say it, and no need to sugar coat the truth that, for many, could be life-changing, so I’ll hit you straight up and remind you that “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” You know this to be true, and yet it is so hard to let offenses, real and imagined, go without a fight or at least a great put-you-in-your-place-amazingly-smart-aleck comment. Recently, I was speaking at a leadership luncheon, and I […]
Is your life a grand adventure?
I’m reading a great book about a lady’s travels throughout the world, and each page takes me to another outdoor café, museum, or cathedral. I have walked alongside this lady as she tries new foods, buys tiles and trinkets, and smells the scent of the city where she and her husband are exploring. I can get lost in a book pretty easily, and I have found that I tend to like books that have an element of education for me and not just a sappy story. I admit I spend a lot of time reading, and it’s a habit I […]
Generosity of Spirit
Like many of you, I like to think of myself as a generous person, or at least that is the ideal I have in my mind about who I am and those I associate with. I have come to believe that we all hope and trust that we have a place inside us that realizes that it is good to be thoughtful, kind, and generous to others, and it’s at that foundation of our deep moral makeup that reflects who we are at our soul level. Now, I know that some people do not feel this way. While I don’t […]
