Better life

Spring is here. Birds are nesting in my bird houses, Spring flowers are bursting through the ground, and my large live oak is shedding its leaves readying itself for a quick turnaround. Spring tells us that life wins. Spring tells us, no matter how dark it gets, life wins. Troubles buffet us, fears about the future knock at our door. And, Spring laughs, it tells us, life wins.

I often hear in conversations where someone lost a loved parent or grandparent that they wished they had taken the time to learn more about them by listening to their stories. The stories we tell are our life’s narrative. Once a loved one dies, the stories are lost. Take time to listen to grandparents’ or parents’ stories, you’ll never regret it. 

Questions can change the direction of a relationship, a quest for a dream, or for a deeper understanding of a problem. What would happen if we asked open ended questions such as “What if we . . . ? What would happen if . . . ? What if we thought everything was possible?”  The questions we form direct our conversation. If the questions are positive in nature, the conversation will be positive and generate positive alternatives.

You can’t dance if you’re leaning against the wall. You can’t swim unless you jump in the water. You can’t climb your mountain until you set out climbing. Don’t wait, get up, get going, go after it, whatever it is for you.

We see what we only really want to see. We may be blind to what really exists. To see what really exists we have to choose to see differently.

Time Out! Yes, time out for you. Pull off the highway and take five. Find a space where, even for a few minutes, you can get away from the day’s demands and noise. It’s your time. Don’t feel guilty. You’ll feel better.

Don’t worry about the storms, you’ll catch your second wind. You’ll come out of the storms in fine stead. You’ll be stronger, wiser, and more confident.