The Open Mind

“Where there is an open mind there will always be a frontier.” - Charles F. Kettering

It was very early one morning, only 5:50 AM without any light trying to paint the day just yet. I was leaving my hotel for an early start on a two-hour drive. Just across the street stood an open McDonalds Restaurant. It was a chance to grab a morning coffee for the long drive ahead.

A few people sat, reading a morning paper or enjoying their "Mc-whatever". I was more interested in a large coffee to go in order. My haste was in hitting the road early. But as I made my way from the counter, an older gentleman came up to me.

He asked me, "Do you have an open mind?"

Startled and defensive at first, I asked him about what? He simply asked again if I have an open mind, continuing with "an open mind about life in general." Quickly I tried to assess his motive for asking and then simply responded, "Yes, I do have an open mind."

He responded, "That is great, have a good day."

I left the restaurant repeating in my mind what had just happened. Maybe I was overthinking it too much. Maybe I was finding it much more profound then it really was. It did make me consider what the question meant.

As we live our lives, do we have an open mind to the changes which can and will occur? Are we open to possibility, to love, to greatness, or just to doing things differently?

After a few miles driven down the road I was able to finally ease off of the question. Before I did, there was a definite sense, a real belief, that I do have an open mind. I have the ability to accept new things in my life. Not always easily but then not everything in life is easy to accept.

Do you have an open mind which will allow you to accept possibility?

Is your mind open enough to imagine greater things for your life?

Brave new adventures exist out there that will take you to bigger things. All you have to do is open your mind.

Stay inspired my friends.

An Open Mind

“Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in.” ― Isaac Asimov

Here it is April 2nd and I do hope you did not think I was serious about quitting my blog. While I have been writing this blog since August 2005, I feel I'm just getting started. With a new design of the blog page, I hope you enjoy reading.

In saying all of that, let me tell you a story. 

It was very early in the morning, only 5:30am without any light trying to paint the day just yet. I was leaving my hotel for an early start on a long drive to a customer meeting.

Just across the street stood an open McDonalds Restaurant and a chance to grab a morning drive breakfast. A few people sat, reading the morning paper or enjoying their "Mc-whatever". I was interested in a large coffee to go so that I could get on the road.

As I was about to leave the counter, an older gentleman came up to me and asked, "do you have an open mind?"

Startled at first, I asked him about what?

He just asked again if I have an open mind and added, an open mind about life in general. Quickly I tried to assess his question and then simply responded, "why yes I do have an open mind."

He responded with, "Thats great. Have a good day."

I left the restaurant repeating in my mind what had just happened. Maybe I was overthinking it too much. Maybe I was finding it much more profound then it really was. But it did make me consider the question.

As we live our lives, do we have an open mind to the changes that can occur?

Are we open to possibility, to love, to greatness, or to doing things differently?

After a few miles down the road I was able ease my mind off the question. Before I did there was a definite sense or belief that I truly want to always have an open mind. I want to have the ability to accept new things in my life.

It will not come easily but then again, not everything in life is always easy.

Do you have an open mind that will allow you to accept possibility? Is your mind open enough to imagine greater things for your life? Can you brave new adventures that exist which will take you to bigger things.

All you have to do is open your mind.

Stay inspired my friends!

Farming Hearts and Minds

The environment around you regardless of where you are is your field of influence. A field that includes the hearts and minds of other people that enter in, pass through and generally any one that you encounter through out your life. It is a field that you impact by your actions and words.

As a farmer plants seeds and tends to the field, you also have responsibility for the seeds you plant in the hearts and minds of others. You can tend to them over time and watch those people grow and move to greatness. Or you can ignore them and watch them wither. These interactions go on everyday both to you and by you.

You may be 'planting' seeds within the fields of your influence, but others are doing the same as you enter theirs. When two mindful farmers enter each others environment, a wonderful thing happens to both people. The metaphor for tending a field of influence can be difficult to follow in its concept, but the more you think about it, clarity will come to your understanding.

The basic premise for me when it comes to 'farming' your field of influence is this. Do not leave people where you find them. Help them, nurture them and bring them to a higher place. Leave them with hope and understanding that life has much to offer them.

The 'harvest' of a well tended field will yield much to you. Your life will be enriched for the experience and be more bountiful in its rewards. In all that you do, leave that which you enter better then when you found it. Leave the heart and mind of others in a better place.