“Remember, remember, this is now, and now, and now. Live it, feel it, cling to it. I want to become acutely aware of all I’ve taken for granted.”
Credits: Portrait by Theo Papadopoulos. Quote – Poetoaster.
So. What is it going to be this week?
March 18, 2013 By 49 Comments
Patience Grasshopper. Patience.
January 15, 2013 By 27 Comments
Michael’s in my head again. Jabbing. Jabbing. Jabbing. Gracefully dancing and landing punches like Sugar Ray. With similar effectiveness. Each one leaving a mark. Punch line popping: You are RUDE.
If you want to pay someone a quiet compliment, give them some serious attention when they are speaking.
I’m in the groove. Making up lost time on a long neglected project with a looming deadline. And, then a colleague with unscheduled “drop-in” meeting walks through my door. My flow is interrupted. “It will just take a few minutes,” was the request. Rather than setting expectations as to my time upfront or scheduling a meeting to accommodate the discussion, I reluctantly shoe-horn it in.
We’re five minutes in. And we are wading. In a swamp. My mind begins to wander. (My foot starts tapping. I start playing with my pen. I sneak glances at my watch. TRIGGERS. Susan’s post intrudes: You see the triggers pal. The alarms are coming at you in waves. Pull up. Pull up. Do not go to the “automated response.”
Now
January 13, 2013 By 11 Comments
Most days I cling to a single word.
It is a mild-mannered creature made of thought.
Future, or Past.
Never the other, obvious word.
Whenever I reach out to touch that one, it scurries away.
—Laura Kasischke, opening lines to “Riddle” from Space, in Chains
Laura Kasischke was awarded the 2011 National Book Critics Circle Award in poetry for Space, In Chains. She is currently a Professor of English Language at the University of Michigan. She attended the University of Michigan (MFA 1987) and Columbia University.
Image Source: Wedebrand via Here And Now. Quote Source: Apoetreflects
You Reading This, Be Ready
November 25, 2012 By 20 Comments
Starting here, what do you want to remember?
How sunlight creeps along a shining floor?
What scent of old wood hovers, what softened
sound from outside fills the air?
Will you ever bring a better gift for the world
than the breathing respect that you carry
wherever you go right now? Are you waiting
for time to show you some better thoughts?
When you turn around, starting here, lift this
new glimpse that you found; carry into evening
all that you want from this day. This interval you spent
reading or hearing this, keep it for life -
What can anyone give you greater than now,
starting here, right in this room, when you turn around?
- William Stafford (The Way It Is)
Sources: Poem – Thank you WhiskeyRiver. Photograph: Rangefinder
4:39 am & inspired…
August 22, 2012 By 34 Comments
Good Wednesday morning. Two missions today: sharing inspiring posts of the week from several of my favorite bloggers and blogger award nominations.
In the category of just so-very-good, is a post from Thomas Ross @ “Only Here Only Now”with his post titled: Affliction.“The worst thing, the most terrible thing, was to see the reflection of my critical gaze in the people I love the most- to understand how I had fed their self doubt all those years. How I had harmed those I loved so deeply…”
In the bucket of yanking on my heart strings, Ray Visotski @ Simple, Village Undertaker with his post “Butterfly Kisses”: I remember Kelliann playing it for me for the first time when the song was a hit. We decided that it would be the song we danced to at her wedding…It may or may not be the first song, as I cannot listen to it without sobbing…) Me too Ray. Me too…
In the bucket of growth and re-birth, Brenna Gee @ Space2Live with her post title Steven Tyler and an Introvert: Expanding Through Music, Stillness and the Inner Garden:(Steven Tyler) Just recently my dad came over to the house – he’s ninety-three now! And I sat down next to him at the piano and he played Debussy’s Clair de Lune… It was so deep and invoked so much of that early emotion laid on top of my adult emotions that I wept like a baby…(and then Brenna)…As for me, I went through a withdrawal process that started with caring for my body…”
6:10am and inspired…
August 15, 2012 By 28 Comments
Good Wednesday morning. Two missions today. Sharing inspiring posts of the week from several of my favorite bloggers and blogger award nominations.
Kicking it off with Ivan Terzic @ My Highlights – Utopia with Face Painting - Magical Self-Transforming
FeyGirl @ Serenity Spell with her post: Anoles of the Rainbow — and a Newly Discovered Color Variant!
Sandy @ Another Lovely Day with her poem: breathing in the quiet
The tide gently,
slowly,
nudges
in between the spaces,
covering the shore,
smoothing patterns,
clearing all traces,
with waves
that are but ripples,
softly
lapping…(hit link for more)
And now on to the Blogger awards of the week:
3:10am and inspired…
August 8, 2012 By 45 Comments
Thank you Glenn Weissel for nominating me for the Sunshine Award. Thank you for Cristi Moise @ Simple. Interesting., ForOnePlease and Ivon Prefontaine @ Teacher As Transformer for nominating me for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. I’m humbled by your nominations.
As to seven facts about me: (1) I’ve never been to Paris. New Zealand. Or Australia. (2) I’m the breadwinner in our family but have absolutely no clout. (3) I have insomnia (like now). The excuse tonight, Zeke crowded me out of bed. (4) We’re empty nesters in less than 3 weeks. (sigh) (5) I’m afraid of heights yet have no fear of flying. (6) I’m a sap with babies and animals (not fish so much). (7) I relish Saturday afternoon naps (and Sunday afternoon naps for that matter). (Bonus Fact) I’m a lucky man in so many ways. Too many too count. And I’m grateful for it all.
In return, I’d like to nominate the following bloggers for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award:
- Mimi @ Waiting For The Karma Truck
- George W. Mahn III @ Vertical Leap
- Bill Moore @ coachbillmoore
- Jay Morris @ The wayward journey
- John E. Smith @ Strategic Learner
- James Young @ JamesYoung Artist
- Melody @ Donkey Whisperer Farm Blog
- Alex Jones @ Liberated Way
- LaDona @ LaDona’s Music Studio
- Tim Mushey @ Sell, Lead, Succeed
To accept the award, the rules are:
- Link back to the person who nominated you
- Post the award image to your page. (Here’s the Link)
- Tell seven facts about yourself
- Nominate 10 other blogs
- Let them know they are nominated
And here’s a few of the inspiring bloggers’ posts of the week:
There will be no damage control today…
August 1, 2012 By 10 Comments
If you prefer smoke over fire
then get up now and leave.
For I do not intend to perfume
your mind’s clothing
with more sooty knowledge.
No, I have something else in mind.
Today I hold a flame in my left hand
and a sword in my right.
There will be no damage control today.
For God is in a mood
to plunder your riches and
fling you nakedly
into such breathtaking poverty
that all that will be left of you
will be a tendency to shine.
So don’t just sit around this flame
choking on your mind.
For this is no campfire song
to mindlessly mantra yourself to sleep with.
Jump now into the space
between thoughts
and exit this dream
before I burn the damn place down.
Quote Source: Thank you Rob Fichau @ Hammock Papers from Adyashanti, A Tendency to Shine. Painting: Federico Bebber via crescentmoon06 and oxmonkey
Related Posts:
- There is no world for the penitent and regretful…
- I learn more about life when I’m in it…
- I believe that whatever we need is at hand…
- There is sacredness in tears…
- The moment you realize that you are currently happy…
- Before you know kindness…
- Burn down that house…
4:23 am and inspired. Climbing the (big) dune…
August 1, 2012 By 22 Comments
GOOD SUNNY WEDNESDAY MORNING!!!!
The photo is a sand dune in Sossusvlei, Namib Desert in Namibia. The climbers are trying to catch the sunrise from the summit which rises 400 feet from the ground. Would love to be climbing this dune on Hump Day.
Here’s my selection of the most inspiring posts and moments of the week:
My Rachel was looking for research for a summer internship project to answer the question: “Are Leaders Born or Made.” The first person that came to mind to help was Susan Barrett Kelley @ Great Moments. Prior to jumping on this blogging train in 4Q11, I had never spoke to or met Susan but had come to admire her blog posts. And, yet I didn’t hesitate to drop her an email asking for help. (Love these blogging connections. Powerful.) Within several hours of my request, Susan had replied and the opening line in her email was: “Oh, this question is like handing a microphone to Charlie Sheen and asking if he has anything to say…” She proceeded to offer links to research papers, web sites and her own point of view on the subject. My reaction: Inspired. How I managed to get wired to fantastic human beings on this ride…
Mimi @ Waiting for the Karma Truck in a return visit to inspiration row with her post titled: Post This: “The Post-It notes had one of three messages – “You’re Terrific”, “Smile” or “Have A Wonderful Day”… I started at the gym, surreptitiously placing notes on the handle of an exercise bike, on the mirror in the locker room and on the windshields of two cars in the parking lot. Honestly? I felt both tremendously silly (and I do silly very well) and sneaky (I don’t do that as well) . Onto a quick meeting, where I left one Post-It on the panel of the receptionist’s desk and again on a windshield. At Starbucks I put one on the cash register (there was no one behind me in line – the place was empty for a change), left one on the sugar/cream counter and in the ladies’ room…Talk about stepping outside one’s comfort zone…(Finish reading this awesome post at this link.)
4:17 am and inspired…
July 25, 2012 By 13 Comments
GOOD SUNNY WEDNESDAY MORNING!!!!
No video clips…
No warm up bands…
No puppy or baby pictures…
We’re jumping right into the inspiring posts of the week:
Tony Caselli, a professional stage director from Williamston, Michigan, with his post: A Beautiful Night. “It’s gorgeous out. I’m on the back deck, just got back from a terrific night at the theatre – a great show, fabulous audience, good feelings all around. Sitting out here, 68 degrees, everything’s wet from the rain, the wind blowing gently, the dogs chasing the ball, and each other, playing…(Hit this link to read the rest…you won’t be disappointed.)
Erin @ Analyfe is back for another visit to inspiration row with a post titled: Fear, Secret Identities, and Superpowers…Here’s a few random nuggets: “Consider this: you already have superpowers…The opposite of fear is surrender…learn to untangle, both from criticism and praise…When someone says that they’re disappointed with you, that simply means that you’re not living out their script for you…If you can figure out confidence, your life will be awesomer sooner…If you don’t earn it, you don’t win…don’t get big on yourself…(hit this link for the entire post as I’ve cherry picked a few of my favorite lines and butchered the glue and flow from Erin’s exceptional post.)
4:12 am and inspired…
July 18, 2012 By 31 Comments
We’re opening Hump Day with a short two minute clip shared with me by Lori @ Donna & Diablo called The Future Is Ours. “We truly live in a extraordinary time…we forget this.” (Thank you Lori!) And then on to my inspiring posts of the week…
Rob Firchau @ The Hammock Papers, a 5th grade teacher, who is a fountain of inspirational posts and profound shares including this Abraham Lincoln quote that I’d never heard before that he calls Teach: “…Teach (your son) him that for every enemy there is a friend…teach him if you can, that a dollar earned is of far more value than five found…Teach him the secret of quiet laughter. Let him learn early that bullies are easiest to lick. Teach him, if you can, the wonder of books…but also give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun and flowers on a green hillside. In school, teach him it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat. Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him they are wrong. Teach him to be gentle with [gentle] people and tough with the tough… (Read the rest of this quote @ Teach)
4:09 am and Inspired: Pandas + Puppies + More…
July 11, 2012 By 35 Comments
We’re opening Hump Day with a short one minute clip about Pandas. (Now who doesn’t just love Panda cubs.) And then on to my inspiring posts of the week…
From Baltimore, MD, George Amoss Jr. @ The Post Modern Quaker with his post: The Zen of Quakerism. “If, when I’m feeling a little playful, someone were to ask me to summarize Quakerism in a sentence or two, I might say this: You have a heart. Use it.”
From Blacksburg, VA, Erica Ann Sipes @ Beyond the Notes is a pianist and cellist, who is asked by a graduate trumpet student (a Marine) to serve as his pianist for his recital. In From Battlefield to Stage: “The recital began and I was literally bursting with pride by the end. Was it perfect? No, of course not…The trumpet player knew where he was and what he was supposed to be doing and he met his mission in a way that I’m sure would make his fellow Marines very proud. Fifth lesson: Semper fidelis. Semper fidelis. To ourselves; to each other; to our passions; to our calling.”
Now, Now, Now.
July 5, 2012 By 18 Comments
Make up your mind that nothing is more important than how I feel now, because now is everything. Now is the whole enchilada. Now is the power of me. Now, now, now, now, now… You might as well start somewhere, and it might as well be now. Why not start improving your life now, now, now?
~ Abraham
Quote Source: john449
Related Posts:
- You are a never-ending, always unfolding Being…
- The Process of Pivoting…
- Worried about your job? Hope is not a strategy…
- Mastery.
- The Thought-Patterns of Success…
- A man must constantly exceed his level…
- Success is not a theory…
- A great life…well-lived days strung together like a necklace of pearls
- Shatter Your Standards…
- Want to grow – you need feedback. Here are three sure-fire questions that work.
- Coach Lombardi on filling the personal skills gap…
