"There are loyal hearts, there are spirits brave, there are souls that are pure and true; then give the world the best you have, and the best will come back to you." - Madeline Bridges
A short article today but one that can make a big difference in your life. It is the idea of thinking big in everything that you do. When you dream, dream large. When you act on those dreams, act large.
Another way to 'think big' is to look at what Ben Carson writes in his book, "Think Big: Unleashing Your Potential For Excellence". Each letter has a meaning that you can adapt in to your own life.
T - Talents/time: recognize them as gifts.
H - Hope for goods things and be honest.
I - Insight from people and good books.
N - Be nice to all people.
K - Knowledge: Recognize it as the key to living.
B - Books: Read them actively.
I - In-depth learning skills: Develop them.
G - God: Never get too big for him.
"Big thinking precedes great achievement," is what Wilfred Peterson said. You can achieve more in life by believing in yourself in a "big" way.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Attitude In A New York Minute
There is so much in life to take in as we move through it. Even when busy, I have been learning over these years to try and take in the goodness of things around me. Making sure that I experience and recognize the events and people happening as I pass through it.
An example of this would be a recent day trip up to New York. Flying in late on a Sunday evening, a cab ride into lower Manhattan, checking in and preparing for an early Monday morning meeting. Then another cab ride back out to take a flight back to Atlanta, hitting Atlanta rush hour traffic at its peak. As the saying goes, it felt like a 'New York Minute'.
Yet I have always liked going to New York City. The madness of it all can be overwhelming if you can not put it into context. Sure, lots of traffic, lots of people, everyone and thing going at a fast pace. But you can ease into the pace when you need to but you can easily find ways to simply step to the side and observe. To stop and watch others, you will find that life is happening like it is in any city around the world.
People are rushing to work, to home, to a meeting, shopping or maybe working in some capacity. Doing those same things you do - at a different pace of course - living life the best way they know how. And a general 'bad' reputation is given New York some times as not being friendly. Myself, I have never found that to be true.
There are certainly folks that have a bad attitude and seem to have a mean streak in them. But a smile or kind word tends to have a positive effect on them. In general though, most New Yorkers are quite friendly...as I find people most everywhere I go. What I do find is that the typical New Yorker is rushing by so quickly, it takes 'quick hits of kindness' that get exchanged between people.
In a slower paced community, you may take additional time to stop, say hello and exchange a few words. In New York, it is the fast hello, the quick smile, the 'quick hit of kindness'. When you understand this, you begin to see a change in your own view of New York. It opens you to see a whole new city. You will see a whole lot more of all that happens in that "New York Minute".
An example of this would be a recent day trip up to New York. Flying in late on a Sunday evening, a cab ride into lower Manhattan, checking in and preparing for an early Monday morning meeting. Then another cab ride back out to take a flight back to Atlanta, hitting Atlanta rush hour traffic at its peak. As the saying goes, it felt like a 'New York Minute'.
Yet I have always liked going to New York City. The madness of it all can be overwhelming if you can not put it into context. Sure, lots of traffic, lots of people, everyone and thing going at a fast pace. But you can ease into the pace when you need to but you can easily find ways to simply step to the side and observe. To stop and watch others, you will find that life is happening like it is in any city around the world.
People are rushing to work, to home, to a meeting, shopping or maybe working in some capacity. Doing those same things you do - at a different pace of course - living life the best way they know how. And a general 'bad' reputation is given New York some times as not being friendly. Myself, I have never found that to be true.
There are certainly folks that have a bad attitude and seem to have a mean streak in them. But a smile or kind word tends to have a positive effect on them. In general though, most New Yorkers are quite friendly...as I find people most everywhere I go. What I do find is that the typical New Yorker is rushing by so quickly, it takes 'quick hits of kindness' that get exchanged between people.
In a slower paced community, you may take additional time to stop, say hello and exchange a few words. In New York, it is the fast hello, the quick smile, the 'quick hit of kindness'. When you understand this, you begin to see a change in your own view of New York. It opens you to see a whole new city. You will see a whole lot more of all that happens in that "New York Minute".
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Exercise Your Voice
Not only for any person here during U.S. elections - where ever you live in this world - where ever you have the opportunity to vote - exercise that right to shape the world around you.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Generational Change
As we pass through life, there are seasons of change that occur for each of us. I've been having a 'mini-season' I think over the last week. Our children our growing up and taking on adult life. It is a change that I thought would pass through like a 'normal day'.
Yet I am finding that all of these years of raising and teaching my children is passing in to a new phase. The teaching and worrying doesn't stop, it just changes. With two still in high school and all others carrying on with their adult lives, it is a strange adjustment for me. But I feel assured that each will survive.
With the events of the past few weeks, I think how each of us endured the hardships and joy of early adult life. Each of us were passed down knowledge from previous generations. They were the ones to raise our own generation. And so it is with us, passing of our knowledge to the next generation...in other words the raising of the next generation.
Enjoy the change, enjoy what comes next.
Yet I am finding that all of these years of raising and teaching my children is passing in to a new phase. The teaching and worrying doesn't stop, it just changes. With two still in high school and all others carrying on with their adult lives, it is a strange adjustment for me. But I feel assured that each will survive.
With the events of the past few weeks, I think how each of us endured the hardships and joy of early adult life. Each of us were passed down knowledge from previous generations. They were the ones to raise our own generation. And so it is with us, passing of our knowledge to the next generation...in other words the raising of the next generation.
Enjoy the change, enjoy what comes next.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)