There are things most people would do. Most people, for example, won’t put their hand on a hot stove. Most people won’t go outside in a thunderstorm and hold a metal rod high over their head. Most people won’t pick up a rattlesnake. It all makes common sense. We need to apply that same type of common sense to the people we choose to let in our lives. A set of guidelines to apply when deciding whether or not to let a person into your life is, does this person inspire me to be a better person? Does this person encourage me to continue to grow? How does this person treat other people? Don’t be conned. Look closely and make a good decision.
thought
Today’s Poem: Thought by D. H. Lawrence
Thought
D. H. Lawrence
Thought, I love thought.
But not the juggling and twisting of already existent ideas
I despise that self-important game.
Thought is the welling up of unknown life into consciousness,
Thought is the testing of statements on the touchstone of consciousness,
Thought is gazing onto the face of life, and reading what can be read,
Thought is pondering over experience, and coming to conclusion.
Thought is not a trick, or an exercise, or a set of dodges,
Thought is a man in his wholeness, wholly attending.
Today’s Thought:
Imagine you’re a detective. You’re at a crime scene. You remember all your TV crime shows so you’re all set. There are three witness to the crime. You decide to question them separately since you don’t want them colluding on what they should tells you. One thing you won’t do is to ask them how they’re doing and then walk away. You’ll have a whole list of questions to ask. Some of the witnesses answers will lead to questions you haven’t thought about.
When we want a good relationship with someone it’s important to show interest in them. We politely probe to discover more information about their likes and dislikes. It’s as if we are detectives and we are attempting to draw information from the person we’re with. We forget about ourselves and focus totally on the other person
Today’s Thought: There’s Always a Way Through
Yesterday, I was with a group of friends. Someone wanted to take a photo of the group but wanted everyone in the photo. Six people were too many for a selfie. There was no one near by to take the photo. One of the group had the bright idea of taking off a sandal and wedging into the branch of a small tree and then putting the iPhone inside the sandal and setting a timer. The first try was a wonderful photo of our legs. The second try caught half our heads. Then a member of the group removed a belt and secured the belt around the tree, sandal, and phone. The camera’s focus reset, the ten-second timer started, and we ended up with a photo of six happy people. There’s always a way through, no matter the challenge.
Today’s Thought: Hold On, Never Quit
Yesterday afternoon a whooper of a thunderstorm roared through my area. Lightening and thunder at times were instantaneous. The winds drove the heavy rain sideways. I was happy I was in my home. Then, as quickly as the storm hit, it subsided and the Texas sun was as bright as ever. That’s how it is with life. Storms hit us, sometimes with a raging fury. If we hold on, the storm loses its power and our sunlight returns. We all have to endure challenges. They’re not always simple to overcome. If we hold on we can outlast the challenges. Never quit.
Today’s Thought: Wait Until Next Year, We’ll Show Them
Why do we give our hearts and emotions to sports teams? I confess, i’m guilty. When my teams win, my sun is brighter, the sky bluer. When they lose, especially a big game, it’s as if someone gave me a solid punch in the stomach. It’s not good. It makes sense to stop giving our heart and emotions to our favorite teams. I can’t. I don’t think it’s an addiction. I think we see our teams as having the potential to lift us out of a sometime dreary day. They symbolize what we aspire to. Yes, we all want to succeed. We all want to stand on the top step of the podium, if only metaphorically. Maybe we already do and don’t realize it. I’ll continue to root for my teams and live and die with them. Not only do they represent what I aspire to, but they teach me, there will be another chance, another game or contest. It may have to wait a year. Yah, I can wait. Wait until next year, we’ll show them!
Today’s Thought: Lessons from Hummingbirds
Have you ever watch hummingbirds? There’s a difference between seeing and watching. They are amazing and beautiful creatures. They dart from flower to flower and fly over my yard in the blink of an eye. If I’m on my patio they’ll hover two feet in front of me and stare as they are trying to communicate with me. Watching the hummingbirds do their thing is always a good reminder for me. When I am focused, doing what I was designed to do, I am at peace. As long as I don’t measure myself by what the world believes is the measure of success and instead follow my internal GPS I’ll be successful. I think I’ll step outside for a moment and watch my friends. Perhaps, they’s say hi to me today.
Today’s Thought: Reach Out
I stepped outside early this morning. My neighbor was washing a car. I said, “Good morning.” In the course of our brief conversation I learned she was washing her brother’s car and then she was going to take it to get the car’s state inspection. Her brother has cancer. What a doubly kind act on her part. She was a good example for me. When someone is hurting, it’s time to reach out a hand. Most often all it takes is a bit of our time. Reach out.
Today’s Thought: Keep on Keeping On
One lesson life has taught me is that if I keep trying I have a chance. I think that’s a universal law. It’s only when we quit trying that our chances go down to zero. Would you buy a lottery ticket or a scratch ticket if you knew it was a guaranteed loser? No one would. Most times when we quit, we make an excuse. Our excuse makes us feel better, but the excuse doesn’t produce any results. The steps we take may be small, we may seem to be getting nowhere, but if we keep grinding away, we’ll surprise others and ourself. Never quit.
Today’s Thought: Is it Time for a Change?
One thing is certain about change, we can only change ourselves. We cannot change another person. Our attempts will be futile even when we see something that needs to change. They don’t see it or don’t want to change. Only when the need to change is greater than the effort to change, will the other person decide to change. That’s also true for you and me. Change is an internal mechanism. Each of us has the power to flip our change switch on or off. When we focus on changing ourselves for the better, our life and relationships improve.
