Waves of Change

“Having a vested interest in other souls unconditionally creates a ripple effect that produces miracles in the lives of those around us.”
― Molly Friedenfeld

Just recently a large winter storm swept across the U.S. There were hundreds of thousands of people deeply affected by the cold, snow and flooding. There were also many who took time out from their day to help these individuals.

Different points in life present opportunity to help others.

There is an insurance commercial from a few years back which depicts different types of opportunities which occur in the most mundane way. I would hesitate here and state that commercials are not necessarily the best forum to learn about life. Yet at times, advertisements can teach us basic principles about living even though the intent is to sell us on something.

You can find the commercial titled "Responsibility" at the link provided or watch it below. This particular insurance company is Liberty Mutual and depicts one person making a choice to do one thing for another.

A ripple effect upon others helping others begins.

I have spoken of this ripple effect previously regarding the choices and actions we take in life. Like a pebble dropped in the water, small vibrations begin to flow out from this one seemingly insignificant event. As the flow moves further and further, the vibrations grow into waves.

Eventually a great wave breaks at waters edge.

You can have an impact in life with your small actions of helping others. Those actions carry beyond through others further and further. It is unlikely you will see the wave on the outer edges. And sometimes you do and it is a wonderful feeling to see.

Yet the crashing wave is spectacular.

Like surfers riding atop these giant waves crashing with final impact upon the beach, your simple movement results in waves of impact on a greater world. Others will ride this wave of movement to a destination of greatness.

Other people will also create movement based upon your actions. Pebbles in the water with circles of change moving out from their own center will create waves on which you can ride when they come along.

It may be said it creates a rough pool of water, yet in calm water a boat remains still, motionless with little chance of getting anywhere. But a breeze comes along and the boat begins to move.

Your movement begins and the waves begin to form.

Change begins and life will never be the same for you are moving towards something great. Create waves in your life by helping others and then catch the waves of change which come back your way.

Stay inspired my friends!

Storms Reveal

"Storms reveal what a sunny day conceals." - Jill Sweetman

When the day begins, I get into my car and drive off down the road to work. In the breaking morning light, I look to the sky in order to get a sense of what the weather will be that day. I have done this from my early days of being raised on a farm. Over the course of my many years, I have learned to appreciate and curse what awaits over the horizon.

I could look to a weather forecast the day or days before and make a judgement on what kind of day might be in store. But I would rather wait upon the change, the gathering light in the morning, to see what is revealed.

Many times, if the day starts out sunny and mild, the expectation of a great day sets the mood for many of us. We tend to be more pleasing to others and in our attitude. When things are going well such as family, work and other parts of our lives; our true ability to weather a storm is easily concealed.

But when weather is bad, when 'storms' in life come along, our true nature can be revealed.

Think of your morning drive to work. If storms are filling the early day with rain, wind and miserable conditions, do you allow your spirits to dampen? If you do, those feelings will translate into stress, shortness with others and just a lousy attitude.

If you learn to accept the rain and adjust your own reaction to it, the drive isn't so bad. Your attitude can bring a certain amount of 'sunshine' into the gloominess of a rainy day. Very easy for me to state the obvious, but you need to examine your own attitude when things are bad.

When things are going well, it is easy to be positive about things. It is easy to be nice, friendly and helpful to others.

Yet when things are not going so well in your life, this will be the true measure of your inner attitude.

Stay strong, stay positive, stay happy and stay inspired my friends!

Enduring the Typhoon

“The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.” -Molière

Sure enough, that is right where I had flown into, sitting in a 24th floor hotel just on the north side of Hong Kong. It was early on a Saturday evening as we drove from the airport to the hotel. The streets were dry, the winds seemed a bit strong and strangely there was very little traffic.

After traveling for eighteen plus hours, it took me a while to come to the realization that I had arrived just prior to a storm. A storm called Typhoon Usagi that would eventually cause the death of twenty-five people and pack 100+ mile per hour winds. I had entered into the path of an obstacle that was not standing still but about to overrun me.

The choices were clear at this point; run or endure.

The idea of running was actually not much of an option as airline flights were being canceled, trains were already scooting out of the area and getting on a boat didn't seem to make sense. So endure the storm is what it would be. The high winds, the water coming through the seals of my window and knowing that my meetings would be canceled.

All of us will encounter a storm at one point or another. Many times, the storm will come to us and we'll have to make a choice. Either we run or we endure.

When we overcome, push through or defeat our obstacles, the outcomes will be greater than you could imagine.

Stay inspired my friends!

Storms Revealed

"Storms reveal what a sunny day conceals." -Jill Sweetman

When the day begins, I get into my car and drive off down the road to work. In the breaking morning light, I look to the sky in order to get a sense of what the weather is going to be like. Since I was raised on the farm, I've learned to appreciate and curse what awaits over the horizon.

I may look to a weather forecast and judge what kind of day it might be, but I would rather wait upon the change. If the day starts out sunny and mild, the expectation of a great day sets the mood for many of us. We tend to be more pleasing to others and in our attitude.

When things are going well such as family, work and other aspects of our lives; our true ability to weather a storm is easily concealed. There is an old phrase that goes, "when the going gets tough, the tough get going." In many respects that phrase is about determination to overcome. But when the going gets tough, when the 'storms' in your life occur, our true nature is revealed.

Think again of the morning drive into work. If storms are filling the early day with rain, wind and miserable conditions, do you allow your spirits to be dampened. When you do, it will translate into stress, shortness with others and just a lousy attitude.

If you learn to accept the rain and adjust your own reaction to it, the drive isn't so bad. Your own attitude can bring a certain 'sunshine' into the gloominess of a rainy day. Very easy for me to state the obvious, but you need to examine your own attitude when things are bad.

When things are going well, it is easy to be positive about things. Yet when things are going not so well in your life, this will be the true measure of your inner attitude.

Stay inspired my friends.