My first Valentines memory… The teacher, it was in Grade 2, puts a box up by the blackboard and tells the class that it is for us to share our Valentines for each other. Most of us were immigrant kids and could barely speak English. And now we’re told about something beyond the realm of our experience plus in a foreign language! Few of us got it but for one or two of the English family kids. They filled the box and the teacher diligently made one for each of us. And I did feel special that first Valentine’s Day. All it took was 2 or 3 little ‘Be My Valentine’s’ cards.
How can we make others feel special this Valentine’s Day? It isn’t that difficult… Send an email, write a card, give flowers. Make sure that two other people do the same for those persons you are acknowledging as important in your life. The power of accumulating affection changes lives. What worked for the little immigrant boy works.
In a world wherein there is too little gentleness and care, every act of kindness is one that truly makes a difference. And every act of kindness you give has a boomerang effect and comes back to enrich and encourage you.
I want you to know that you’re getting this blog because you are a part of the fabric of my life and I am thankful FOR YOU. My one desire is that your day is enriched with a deep sense of the appreciative people that surround you. Thank you for your part in my life. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY!
‘Nothing is impossible if you get out of your own way’ said Mary Poppins. I sat there, beside my wife, at the New Amsterdam Theatre on Times Square and pondered what this could mean. Nothing is impossible if you can get out of your own way…
How is it that we get in our own way? We were created with all the potential in the world and yet, life falls so short of our goals and aspirations. Inner peace doesn’t live within us as much as we’d like.
The fact is that we do get in our own way. We live with a constant sense of falling short. Falling short in our relationships. Falling short in our career. Falling short in our personal human development. Slipping.
I have a friend, Nevin Eggum. He likes to climb frozen waterfalls in the Rocky Mountains. He climbs with spikes, ropes, helmet… He’s got a lot of gear so that he can survive and succeed. He would not get anywhere without the equipment. He’d simply slip and slide.
We need to be equipped to stop slipping and sliding and to survive the sense of falling short. The equipment is of an attitude that while our past mistakes and falling short cannot be changed, we can move forward.
The challenge of today is too great to meet when dealing with all our yesterdays. There is a terrific life giving word written years ago that says: ‘There is now no condemnation...’(to read it all go to Romans 8:1).
The news is that your maker God wants you to let go of the past. It’s that simple. Let go. Live. And get out of your own way.
How is it that we get in our own way? We were created with all the potential in the world and yet, life falls so short of our goals and aspirations. Inner peace doesn’t live within us as much as we’d like.
The fact is that we do get in our own way. We live with a constant sense of falling short. Falling short in our relationships. Falling short in our career. Falling short in our personal human development. Slipping.
I have a friend, Nevin Eggum. He likes to climb frozen waterfalls in the Rocky Mountains. He climbs with spikes, ropes, helmet… He’s got a lot of gear so that he can survive and succeed. He would not get anywhere without the equipment. He’d simply slip and slide.
We need to be equipped to stop slipping and sliding and to survive the sense of falling short. The equipment is of an attitude that while our past mistakes and falling short cannot be changed, we can move forward.
The challenge of today is too great to meet when dealing with all our yesterdays. There is a terrific life giving word written years ago that says: ‘There is now no condemnation...’(to read it all go to Romans 8:1).
The news is that your maker God wants you to let go of the past. It’s that simple. Let go. Live. And get out of your own way.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Climb Every Mountain
One of my favorite New York stories is about Thomas Edison. He was a possibility thinker, so much so that he held patents for over 1,000 inventions and even applied for a few hundred more that were not granted. But he never was discouraged… In fact, the light bulb was the result of over 300 experiments. He had a dream and pursued it.
In life, we don’t always succeed but with perseverance, we can discover success. Often we must simply try and try again. I truly and passionately believe that nothing is impossible…
One day I was in the Rocky Mountains skiing. It was my first time downhill skiing and decided after just a few practice runs to tackle the mountain and went to the very top with some friends. I was far from prepared for the challenge and realized it quickly with the aid of several bruises! I was a bit shaky and had to collect myself… I took stock of my attributes. A. I had good friends who were experienced skiers with me. B. I was physically fit. C. I was mentally strong. There was no reason I couldn’t manage the challenge before me (about 4, 000 feet of vertical!). We broke down the mountain by sections and discussed how to manage each one. Several falls later – but none over any of the incredible cliffs - we made it down the mountain… and my friends have not let me forget it to this day!!! We still talk about it, laugh and celebrate yet again our successs.
Nothing is impossible when we break down a challenge into its manageable parts, when we have the support / coaching of colleagues and good friends and are blessed with physical strength, mental and spiritual strength. Absolutely nothing is impossible. Nothing! There is no mountain too high. You can succeed; professionally and personally!
In life, we don’t always succeed but with perseverance, we can discover success. Often we must simply try and try again. I truly and passionately believe that nothing is impossible…
One day I was in the Rocky Mountains skiing. It was my first time downhill skiing and decided after just a few practice runs to tackle the mountain and went to the very top with some friends. I was far from prepared for the challenge and realized it quickly with the aid of several bruises! I was a bit shaky and had to collect myself… I took stock of my attributes. A. I had good friends who were experienced skiers with me. B. I was physically fit. C. I was mentally strong. There was no reason I couldn’t manage the challenge before me (about 4, 000 feet of vertical!). We broke down the mountain by sections and discussed how to manage each one. Several falls later – but none over any of the incredible cliffs - we made it down the mountain… and my friends have not let me forget it to this day!!! We still talk about it, laugh and celebrate yet again our successs.
Nothing is impossible when we break down a challenge into its manageable parts, when we have the support / coaching of colleagues and good friends and are blessed with physical strength, mental and spiritual strength. Absolutely nothing is impossible. Nothing! There is no mountain too high. You can succeed; professionally and personally!
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