I had an epiphany today. I love the word and I love the concept. The ah ha moment. Anyway my epiphany: I've read all sorts of quotes, comments etc. about running toward your fears and I've never understood the concept. I thought it meant if I was afraid of skydiving I should go do it and I would develop as a person. Maybe that's what some of the people who say it mean but I've never bought into it.
Today I was thinking again about how we don't ask for what we want and we miss out on so much because we are afraid of our egos being bruised. Then it hit me.....this is what people are talking about. Two people who are both interested in each other but neither says anything about it and they lose the opportunity. A husband and wife who both want more _______ (sex, communication, time out together whatever) but neither tells the other and it spirals downhill, a friendship that fades away because neither pushes the other for more time because each is afraid of feeling needy. Life is full of numerous examples every day.
I've heard stories of articles and movies of people who are fanatically honest. No lie telling or holding back any thoughts. However I've never heard of anyone doing an experiment where they never let being afraid of something soft (feelings being hurt etc. as opposed to hard like a safety concern or physical fear) stop them from saying or doing things. I guess the heart of it would be asking for things. How many times a day do we settle for less than we could have because we don't ask for what we want? Look at your own life for a day and see how many times you don't ask? What would be different if you did ask?
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Keep moving
I just read a quote from a movie executive who says that in reflection he thinks if he had said no to all the projects he said yes to and yes to all the ones he said no to things would have worked out about the same.....makes me wonder. What's more important: making the right decisions or just doing something? Is it really just all about getting up to bat? A numbers game?
Thinking back on the areas of your life where you have been successful is it because you made great decisions or because you gave consistent effort?
Thinking back on the areas of your life where you have been successful is it because you made great decisions or because you gave consistent effort?
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Someone died today
Someone we knew died today. I didn't know him well but I knew him enough to know he was a good man who was taken too soon. I didn't know him well enough to have memories that will remain with me but I will remember the way it happened and I will strive to apply it's lessons to my life. In his memory here are some quotes about life:
For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way. Something to be got through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life. ~Fr. Alfred D'Souza
Enjoy yourself. It's later than you think. ~Chinese Proverb
To change one's life: Start immediately. Do it flamboyantly. No exceptions. ~William James
Why must conversions always come so late? Why do people always apologize to corpses? ~David Brin
You will never find time for anything. If you want time you must make it. ~Charles Buxton
Death twitches my ear. "Live," he says, "I am coming." ~Virgil (Publius Vergilius Maro), Minor Poems, Copa
Most of us spend our lives as if we had another one in the bank. ~Ben Irwin
If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You have another chance. ~Andrea Boydston
Expect an early death - it will keep you busier. ~Martin H. Fischer
Live as you will wish to have lived when you are dying. ~Christian Furchtegott Gellert
No man is quick enough to enjoy life to the full. ~Spanish Proverb
You don't get to choose how you're going to die. Or when. You can only decide how you're going to live. Now. ~Joan Baez
We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance. ~Japanese Proverb
Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is the special occasion. ~Author Unknown
"Go for it now. The future is promised to no one." -Wayne Dyer
This list of quotes came almost exclusively from QuoteGarden.
For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way. Something to be got through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life. ~Fr. Alfred D'Souza
Enjoy yourself. It's later than you think. ~Chinese Proverb
To change one's life: Start immediately. Do it flamboyantly. No exceptions. ~William James
Why must conversions always come so late? Why do people always apologize to corpses? ~David Brin
You will never find time for anything. If you want time you must make it. ~Charles Buxton
Death twitches my ear. "Live," he says, "I am coming." ~Virgil (Publius Vergilius Maro), Minor Poems, Copa
Most of us spend our lives as if we had another one in the bank. ~Ben Irwin
If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You have another chance. ~Andrea Boydston
Expect an early death - it will keep you busier. ~Martin H. Fischer
Live as you will wish to have lived when you are dying. ~Christian Furchtegott Gellert
No man is quick enough to enjoy life to the full. ~Spanish Proverb
You don't get to choose how you're going to die. Or when. You can only decide how you're going to live. Now. ~Joan Baez
We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance. ~Japanese Proverb
Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is the special occasion. ~Author Unknown
"Go for it now. The future is promised to no one." -Wayne Dyer
This list of quotes came almost exclusively from QuoteGarden.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Life Is Short
Another Stu Saunders gem.
Mar 25, 2009
I am sitting at my favourite Starbucks enjoying a latte. I know all the staff, I am a regular. The manager is sitting at the table beside me. She has just promoted a young barista to a shift supervisor. I am happy to see her so excited. I open my Macbook and look at my dozen new emails.
“I don’t know it you heard?” says the manager as she leans over to me.
“No, what’s the news?” I reply.
“Sandy the other Starbucks Manager, her husband passed away on Sunday.”
“How?!”
“Sudden, don’t know all the details. Went into hospital on Wednesday and was gone on Sunday.”
“How old?” I asked.
“39”
“I’m 39.”
We were all silent for a few minutes.
Life is short, we need to make it sweet. Be great, be awesome. Stop complaining about silly things that are truly silly. Hug your children, love your spouse, smile at a stranger, lead without title.
Now.
You know this stuff. I talk about it all the time. This is not new.
“The sad part about it is we all go back to our lives and not think about it in a few days.” the manager adds as I empty my inbox.
True.
Need to stop that, need to stop.
“I don’t know it you heard?” says the manager as she leans over to me.
“No, what’s the news?” I reply.
“Sandy the other Starbucks Manager, her husband passed away on Sunday.”
“How?!”
“Sudden, don’t know all the details. Went into hospital on Wednesday and was gone on Sunday.”
“How old?” I asked.
“39”
“I’m 39.”
We were all silent for a few minutes.
Life is short, we need to make it sweet. Be great, be awesome. Stop complaining about silly things that are truly silly. Hug your children, love your spouse, smile at a stranger, lead without title.
Now.
You know this stuff. I talk about it all the time. This is not new.
“The sad part about it is we all go back to our lives and not think about it in a few days.” the manager adds as I empty my inbox.
True.
Need to stop that, need to stop.
Friday, March 5, 2010
A Life Defined
http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog
Feb 27, 2010
How you live your days defines your life.
I am not sure where I read that quote. I am not sure if perhaps I strung it together myself. The point though, is not new. Each and every day of our lives we choose to live how we want. It’s true you may have restrictions from bosses, coaches, parents, financial means, geography or physical ability but no one controls our attitude.
I once wrote a blog called the “Bitter Bus”, the point being so many of us live our days riding around as passengers on the bus of bitterness. We complain, whine, blame and make excuses. We exist rather then evolve. Each day is a chance to get better, to grow and to learn. Why not choose to be the star rather then the extra of your movie, your life, your day?
Today I had trouble getting out of bed, putting on my winter gear and venturing out into the deep snow with my dog Duke. I struggle through the packed ice and with each step I labour to the next. I think to myself, “turn around”, no I can’t. After the first five minutes have been conquered I get stronger, I search for deeper snow, for challenge. I move to the lake and embrace the cutting wind as it strikes my face, burning it. I pick up my pace, high step through the snow drifts. My Lab and I throw the stick for a while. His enthusiasm is never changing. Heading around the point I find the path back to my home. I take the hills instead of the path. My dog breathes heavy, panting, whining a little but continues. When we arrive back to the house, I peal off the gear and my shirt is soaked with sweat. I feel as if I won, I am an Olympic athlete that has conquered my foe. That foe is me. I am the only one that decides how I live.
Back on the couch, I pour my coffee, Duke is fast asleep on his bed. I open my Mac and begin to write. Already I feel as if I am winning.
Today I will CHOOSE to live fully, to live deliberately, to define my day. There is no bitter bus, it does not exist.
My life story is a result of my days. My mortality is my coach, reminding me that I must win, play hard and find a way. I am the star and not the extra, the passenger or the observer.
Are you?
I am not sure where I read that quote. I am not sure if perhaps I strung it together myself. The point though, is not new. Each and every day of our lives we choose to live how we want. It’s true you may have restrictions from bosses, coaches, parents, financial means, geography or physical ability but no one controls our attitude.
I once wrote a blog called the “Bitter Bus”, the point being so many of us live our days riding around as passengers on the bus of bitterness. We complain, whine, blame and make excuses. We exist rather then evolve. Each day is a chance to get better, to grow and to learn. Why not choose to be the star rather then the extra of your movie, your life, your day?
Today I had trouble getting out of bed, putting on my winter gear and venturing out into the deep snow with my dog Duke. I struggle through the packed ice and with each step I labour to the next. I think to myself, “turn around”, no I can’t. After the first five minutes have been conquered I get stronger, I search for deeper snow, for challenge. I move to the lake and embrace the cutting wind as it strikes my face, burning it. I pick up my pace, high step through the snow drifts. My Lab and I throw the stick for a while. His enthusiasm is never changing. Heading around the point I find the path back to my home. I take the hills instead of the path. My dog breathes heavy, panting, whining a little but continues. When we arrive back to the house, I peal off the gear and my shirt is soaked with sweat. I feel as if I won, I am an Olympic athlete that has conquered my foe. That foe is me. I am the only one that decides how I live.
Back on the couch, I pour my coffee, Duke is fast asleep on his bed. I open my Mac and begin to write. Already I feel as if I am winning.
Today I will CHOOSE to live fully, to live deliberately, to define my day. There is no bitter bus, it does not exist.
My life story is a result of my days. My mortality is my coach, reminding me that I must win, play hard and find a way. I am the star and not the extra, the passenger or the observer.
Are you?
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Mother Teresa's prayer
Mother Teresa's prayer
People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
... Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
... Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
... Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
... Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
... Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
... Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
... Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
... Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.
We can do no great things - only small things with great love.
- Mother Teresa
People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
... Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
... Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
... Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
... Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
... Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
... Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
... Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
... Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.
We can do no great things - only small things with great love.
- Mother Teresa
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