January 24, 2015
Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.
Aristole
GOOD BYE 2014
I’m posting my last blog of the year without the fanfare fancy pictures. As 2014 draws to an end I am humbled. I can’t stop time and no matter how hard I try I don’t seem to have enough of it. But I’m not complaining. I’ll play the hand I’m dealt. This year was full of unexpected surprises. Some of them were good, others I’ll understand, by and by.
One of the hardest things for me to do is to exercise patience. In 2015 I’ll try harder to wait longer, listen with earnest and be still long enough to hear the spirit whisper in my ear, to provide the understand and guidance I need to live a more fulfilling life. I need to learn and truly understand that what God has for me is for me. Time can’t take it away. No person can take it away. Nothing can take it away. Just knowing that is enough for me.
How about you, what will you do different?
October 22, 2014
One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today.
Dale Carnegie
WHAT’S REALLY IMPORTANT
What’s important in life? Getting to work on time? Watching the big game? That new pair of shoes? Lots of money in the bank? Rushing to complete the ‘to-do’ list?
I spend so much of my day focused on some of these activities, at the end of the day, I flop into the nearest chair, exhausted from the exertion. As beautiful summer days fade into the sunset, cold winter months fade into memories and glorious joyous moments slip through my fingers, I wonder if my attention is on the right thing. If where I spend so much time will bring more joy than my heart can hold.
Sometimes I seem so obsessed with getting stuff done, I forget the reason behind it all. My dogged determination to walk 10,000 steps per day is supposed to ensure I live a long and happy life. But if I don’t enjoy all the beautiful things I see while taking these steps then I’ve wasted a moment. My drive to save money for the future is to ensure I have enough to enjoy that long and happy life I hope to have. Completing the long list of ‘to-do’s’ is meant to allow me time to enjoy that long and happy life. But if I spend all my available time in the doing, I’ve wasted the opportunity to enjoy the moment. The journey. The now.
Today as I hurried into the office building, I wondered if I had my priorities in order. Am I existing or living? There is a difference. For certain, between all the coming and going, ups and downs, ins and outs, I better know the reason for the activity and treasure, cherish, enjoy, love and nurture every single moment. Because this is my life.
August 25, 2014
To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one’s family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one’s own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him.
Buddha
August 6, 2014
July 20, 2014
Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it.
June 25, 2014
We don’t even know how strong we are until we are forced to bring that hidden strength forward. In times of tragedy, of war, of necessity, people do amazing things. The human capacity for survival and renewal is awesome.