Fan of Everyone

"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." -Henry David Thoreau

Here I am on the road once again, traveling for business. I always enjoying the people watching at the airport and in the locations I travel to. The diversity of people seen and meet really tends to enrichen my own life. As with wide variety, there will be those that annoy those around them. But there will also be those that liven up their surroundings just by being there.

I tend to be the type of person that sits back and observes. I view it as listening to my surroundings. To feel out how life is interacting with people can be quite entertaining. There is the young woman in the dress walking through the Sky Club lounge. What caught my eye was not her, but watching the men and women watching her. The turn of a head, a scowl from the wife, and all of the varied looks people gave. Did the woman notice, did she feel the eyes upon her? For all that, did she care or want the attention?

What it comes down for me is trying to figure out the stories of these people. Granted it isn't for me to know their personnel stories, but to develop a story from their actions. I'd love to know the personal stories because most would have an interesting one to tell. But since I can not do that, I develop stories in my mind.

I sit then at the airport waiting for my flight and watch the Diamond level travellers wondering how they do it. I'm a Gold level flyer nearing in on Platinum but not sure how one can possibly reach that 125,000 mile level.

So I imagine their stories, the kind of work they perform, the time spent away from home and wonder could I handle it. There is the pastor traveling every Sunday from Atlanta to Los Angeles, pastoring two churches. He is impacting the lives of hundreds of people while traveling on a modern day donkey. Think about that for a moment and then read on.

What of the consultant as she travels cross country providing her expertise to international companies. Do her kids grow more quickly with each passing week?

Are their stories any different than our own? I dare to say that our stories are different only in varied shades and colors. But they are the same in how each of us are working towards a life of success that contains great relationships, love of family and friends and an expectation that our dreams will be fulfilled.

So what I try to see in the stories of these people are the good things they try to accomplish. I see the same struggles that each of us are going through. I see great possibility and hope for everyone to achieve greatness.

And I see it in you even though I don't know you. I see all things are possible in your life regardless of your own story. Maybe I'll even see you walking by one day and imagine your own story. Do not be alarmed by the thought. Be gladdened in knowing all of my stories of people have great endings.

That means there is at least one person out there who believes in you. One person that is cheering for you and for great things in your life. Now that makes two people that believe in you; me and you. The most important one being you.

I'll keep watching and please don't think of me as a stalker. Think of me as your greatest fan. Then cheer yourself on to greater things, to greater success and a greater life.

Stress Management

"Stress is the trash of modern life - we all generate it but if you don't dispose of it properly, it will pile up and overtake your life." -Danzae Pace

According to an article by the Mayo Clinic, "stress is a normal psychological and physical reaction to the ever increasing demands of life." Hmmm, a 'normal' reaction to things going on around you! I guess that is one way of viewing stress as being normal. Which I guess means to say that you are not abnormal if you develop stress while going through challenges. That makes me feel a whole lot better.

Don't get me wrong, I agree with what the staff at the Mayo Clinic is saying. Stress is a response to life's challenges thrown into the mix of your everyday life. There is stress related to what seems to be increasing pressure at work. There are fewer people doing more of the work as companies work to save money by laying off people.

There is stress related to money, kids, relationships or even the drive home on a busy freeway. The stress can build up inside of us and begin to cause physical problems. When stressed, our body responds as though we are in danger. It causes hormones to speed up your heart, which is turn allows you to breathe faster, and provide a burst of energy (called the fight-or-flight stress response).

But stress has also been linked to headaches, upset stomach, back pain, and trouble sleeping. Stress can weaken your immune system and that makes it harder to fight off disease. If you already have health problems, stress can make it worse. Stress can make you moody, tense, or depressed. Relationships can suffer, and your performance at work or school can suffer as well.

There are methods to help you manage your stress. WebMD offers some techniques shown below. These stress-relief techniques focus on relaxing your mind and your body.

Ways to relax your mind

Write:
It may help to write about things that are bothering you. Write for 10 to 15 minutes a day about stressful events and how they made you feel. Or think about starting a stress journal. This helps you find out what is causing your stress and how much stress you feel. After you know, you can find better ways to cope.

Let your feelings out:
Talk, laugh, cry, and express anger when you need to. Talking with friends, family, a counselor, or a member of the clergy about your feelings is a healthy way to relieve stress.

Do something you enjoy:
This can be a hobby, such as gardening. A creative activity, such as writing, crafts, or art. Playing with and caring for pets. Volunteer work. You may feel that you're too busy to do these things. But making time to do something you enjoy can help you relax. It might also help you get more done in other areas of your life.

Focus on the present:
Meditation and guided imagery are two ways to focus and relax your mind.

Meditate:
When you meditate, you focus your attention on things that are happening right now. Paying attention to your breathing is one way to focus.

Doing meditation:
Use guided imagery.With guided imagery, you imagine yourself in any setting that helps you feel calm and relaxed. You can use audiotapes, books, or a teacher to guide you.

Ways to relax your body

Exercise:
Regular exercise is one of the best ways to manage stress. Walking is a great way to get started. Even everyday activities such as housecleaning or yard work can reduce stress. Stretching can also relieve muscle tension.

Try techniques to relax such as breathing exercises, muscle relaxation, and yoga can help relieve stress.

Breathing exercises:
These include roll breathing, a type of deep breathing.

Progressive muscle relaxation:
This technique reduces muscle tension. You do it by relaxing separate groups of muscles one by one.

Yoga, tai chi, and qi gong:
These techniques combine exercise and meditation. You may need some training at first to learn them. Books and videos are also helpful. You can do all of these techniques at home.

In the sum of it all, managing stress can only be handled by you. For the sake of your mental and physical well being, find a way to deal with stress in a healthy way. For the sake of your loved ones, deal with your stress today.

The Fedora Hat

"And all your future lies beneath your hat." -John Oldham

He stood there, a man standing on the gravel drive way. He was near the house about half-way down towards the country road. I remember him as being tall and statuesque in his pressed pants and starched white shirt. The top button of his shirt was undone with no tie, the sleeves partly rolled up. His round wire-rim glasses reflected the afternoon sun as he smiled his wide smile towards me.

What I remember most is the fedora hat that covered his mostly bald head. It was probaby an attempt to keep his Irish skin from turning red. But he lifted his hat and waved to me. A gesture that seemed so comforting to me. A gesture that I believed was meant only for me, his grandson.

I was only five years-old at the time. As I stood in the open door-way of the corn crib, it seemed I had known Grandpa Gale for a lifetime. I guess I had known him for all of my five years, but it seemed much longer. And now the wave of his hat seemed to say it would soon be over.

Soon Grandma and Grandpa would be moving to California. It would be quite a bit of time before I would see them again. So this final wave seemed to be telling me everything I needed to know. All that would guide me in life was in the wave of the hat, telling me everything would be fine.

It is an image that I can recall clearly in my mind to this very day. At the time so many years ago, I am sure the full impact was furthest from my mind. But as I recall the day, the moment, the image, I fully know that Grandpa was giving me his final bit of advice. A year later he would die in that far away place called California. A heart attack would take him from so many. Death would replace him with memories.

As I look back and recall that day, I am sure that regardless of what happens to me, everything will be okay. The wave of his hat telling me everything would be okay. It is an image he left for me, that I can go back and remind myself that yes, everything will be okay.

When even the cruelest of life's circumstance enters your day, think of Grandpa Gale and the wave of his hat. A smile given to tell you that things will get better; that life for you will be okay. Grandpa would want it that way not only for me, but for you as well.

Making Lemonade

"If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn't sit for a month." -Theodore Roosevelt

From Reuters News Service, a story about what NOT to do when life gives you lemons.

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Friday, 22 July 2011 10:18

CONWAY, Mass (Reuters) – A man angry that a car dealership refused to take back a "lemon" van he had purchased, intentionally crashed it into seven parked vehicles, police said on Thursday.

The dispute began when David Cross, 42, of Salisbury, Massachusetts, and his wife on Monday bought a van at the Portsmouth Used Car Superstore, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, said Portsmouth Police Lieutenant Russell Russo.

Cross told police that his mechanic quickly found a variety of problems with the van and advised him to return it to the dealer. But the business declined to take back what Cross said was a "lemon", Russo told Reuters.

After the dealership closed on Tuesday, Cross returned at midnight and used his van to smash into seven vehicles on the dealer's lot, including a Mercedes C300 and a Ford Mustang, causing damage initially estimated at $20,000, police said.

"He damaged each one, and then he left his van that he bought behind," Russo said.

He then crossed the street to where a police cruiser happened to be parked and reported the incident, leading an officer back to the wrecks.

After his arrest, Cross was charged with seven counts of criminal mischief, a felony due to the damage amount, Russo said.

Cross was released on personal recognizance and was scheduled to be arraigned September 19 in Portsmouth District Court, police said.

The Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation on Thursday suggested that individuals who believe they have bought a lemon call its hotline for help.
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I found this story amusing and enlightening at the same time. Here was a fellow that was likely frustrated to his wit's end. It is is very possible he had tried to reason with the car dealership. Maybe the car dealership had tried to reason with him. But somewhere along the way, things went horribly askew in their communication.

Life is pretty sneaky in matters such as this. You are travelling along happy and content. You walk in to purchase a vehicle and life throws you a lemon. You probably think the next thing one might say is, "then make lemonade." Pretty hard to do when the juice is in your eye and you have no water, ice, sugar or jug to put it in.

What you can do is slow down and think about what you have. You can take the seed of the lemon and plant a lemon tree. You can change the circumstance by rational thinking. You can change the atmosphere by changing your attitude. You can change things.

Sometimes we don't always slow down and think before acting. Maybe we do slow down and still choose the irrational act. If we do, then we need to own up to the choices we make. The fellow in the above article did just that. An irrational act and then turned himself in immediately to law enforcement officials. He owned up to what he had done, he probably felt good and I give him points for that action.

The hangover effect of his actions will be painful going forward. The only person he really hurt was himself and those close to him. The car dealership 'might' be startled enough to change their business practices. But in the end, only 'self' will be hurt.

So take the opportunity before doing something irrational to think it through. You could make lemonade but that is only a short term solution. Take the seeds and plant a tree that will provide lemonade for a long time to come.

Its a long journey we are on and its going to take a lot of lemonade to keep you refreshed. Its your choice, its up to you, its your journey, so keep moving onward.