Tis Better To Have Loved

"Happiness comes more from loving than being loved; and often when our affection seems wounded it is is only our vanity bleeding. To love, and to be hurt often, and to love again--this is the brave and happy life." - J.E. Buchrose

The thing about this life we live is that we are always experiencing it as it unfolds before us. Whether it is in love as quoted above or in everyday movement in what we do. You keep moving forward. To persevere and change for the better as we learn that which works and that which doesn't. Always learning from our past and not regretting it.

The old adage from Tennyson in which he says, 'tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all" should ring true for everyone. Life will have "bad experiences", but look at the larger of those two words. "Experiences" are that, lessons learned that if viewed in a positive light, you will understand that you have learned valuable lessons from them. This in turn makes those experiences wonderful ones. Ones not to regret but to cherish as stones laid out to form your life's path.

I myself have had times of hurt and pain, which have taken time to heal. In the light of day I can see that they shaped who I am. It has also placed me in a better position within life, one that only keeps getting better. I view the past with respect and admiration for something accomplished. For the lives of those that I passed through, I truly hope that I've made a positive impact on them.

As all of us move towards our future, take the past experiences as a foundation for moving forward. Be strong in the idea that with that knowledge, you can shape your future. To steal the phrase, "tis better to have lived, then to have not lived at all."

Take Time For Yourself

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles

As you embark on your new journey, one of more positive thinking and serving others, keeping your attitude going in the right direction is important. There will be times that you need to 'recharge' yourself. To take time out and do something for yourself. In the bigger scheme of life, if you are feeling good and positive about yourself, others will benefit.

For myself, when I work the large amount of hours at my normal job, it can become difficult to write this blog. One becomes so focused on the mechanical aspects of doing things and getting the next chore completed. It has been like that this week and my time was filled.

So I took a short trip on Sunday to the famed 'Abbey Road Studios' here in London. I had taken my wife to the airport on Saturday for her return home. Working most of the remaining day, I decided it was time to indulge myself. This required a quick mapping of where it was relative to my hotel and how to get there. What better way then the London Tube. My adventure was set to roll out in front of me.

For those unaware, Abbey Road Studios is where the Beatles did the bulk of their recording. It is here that the famed record producer George Martin met them and upon detailing the terms of their contract asked if they had any problems with it. After a short pause, guitarist George Harrison remarked "I don't particularly like your tie." The friendship was born and their musical history was born.

What was the draw of the studio location for me? Only to relive some memories and to see where the famed crossing took place. This was the Abbey Road album that was supposed to be called Everest (the brand of cigarette that a studio engineer smoked). The picture was going to be of the four on the Himilayas. But by the time the album was completed, it was decided to call it Abbey Road and take the picture outside of the studio.

I've seen the cover so many times and the picture has been duplicated by quite a few other bands. I choose to believe they all did it out of respect for this group. Tourists from around the world recreate in personal pictures the crossing. They then leave a saying or autograph on the wall in front of the studios. I left my mark by writing, “To one, to all, a place to relive a memory.” Not terribly poetic but simply my thought at the time.

These four guys shared with us their talent for music. It made many of us feel good about ourselves and others. Their music also made us think about things that we may not have. Also, these four guys were like you and me, living life the best way they knew how. Their success gave them opportunity to succeed and fail at many different things.

Today only two survive, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr - George Harrison and John Lennon have passed on. Each made an impact in the lives of many including my own. I chose to relive the memories a bit on a cold Sunday morning in London. It was worth every step and encounter along the way. For it is with memories that we guide ourselves to the future.

Choose the good ones, create new ones and live fully. Cross over to a new place, a new attitude and see your life expand.

Experience Life

I read the following from a site that offers somewhat 'tongue-in-cheek' moments of Zen. That particular moment in time when you say to yourself, now I get it. It reads, "experience is something you don't get until just after you need it."

Let it soak in a bit, chuckle to yourself if you must and then realize just how true it is. Sort of like finding your way in a new town. This morning my wife and I arrived in London on which is a business trip with some amount of relaxation as well. If you have never been here or had the experience of finding your way from Gatwick Airport into central London, it is a trip.

I have been to London previously and flown in through Heathrow Airport...hop on the London Tube and get off at my stop. Gatwick is a bit more challenging in that one manuevers the many corridors of that airport to find the Express train to the Victoria Station in London. Then working your way to the Underground while keeping yourself oriented to the proper direction of the subway trains. Then to once again emerge at your stop to try and orient which direction it is to your hotel, while pulling a large suitcase.

We found the hotel by walking only one extra block. Now that I'm oriented and have had the experience...it is an easy process. Now, could I have taken a taxi? Absolutely, but then where would be the adventure? Where would be the 'experience' of trying something different. Putting one foot in front of the other and making a move. Not to stand outside the station and wait for something to happen but to head off in a direction.

It all works out if you just keep experiencing life. Be bold in what you do in life. Help others along the way. Experience what it is have courage to change. You will reap memories for a life time.

(The picture is courtesy of the www.richardbyrom.com/ website)

Twelve Positive Experiences

"You are not only good yourself, but the cause of goodness in others." - Socrates

Did you know that any contact you have with a customer, it takes twelve (12) positive experiences by the customer to overcome just one (1) negative experience they have had? If you think about it, that is an amazing figure. The odds are 12:1, which can be a difficult position for you to start in if you are the next person in line dealing with that customer.

So what happens if you are one of those next twelve experiences the customer has with your company? First thing to remember is that in the eyes of the customer, you are the company.

YOU = YOUR COMPANY

So take responsibility and represent the company in the appropriate manner. You can't hide behind any excuse such as, "I only work here". Sorry, when you were hired at that company a trust was placed in your hands to represent your employer. Now it may be that you have only a certain level of authority. But it doesn't diminish the fact that you are your company at that point in time.

If you can not accomodate the customer, then certainly go out of your way to assist that customer in getting to the right person. Taking just this amount of concern and effort for the customer will go a long way in the customer relationship. Don't be the road block to success, be one of the twelve positive experiences. Every time you pick up that phone and each time you encounter a customer, consider this the first of twelve needed positive experiences.

Now consider your life outside of work at home, at church or at the store. Those you encounter could be considered as just having had a bad experience. Here is your chance to be one or more of the twelve positive experiences this person needs. Understand that lifting others will ultimately cause your life to be lifted up.

Don't Be The One - Be One Of The Twelve