Archive for the 'Adventures' Category

The Nature of Human Nature

Helen Keller said, …life is a daring adventure or nothing. Some of your life “adventures” you will choose but others will choose you. When things fall apart, here’s an inspiring thought: while time, money, resources, support, and brilliance may have limits, the potential you possess has none. Remember this so you can be your own best encourager during times of change, challenge, or catharsis.

In my book Stick To It! I created “The Law of Opposites.” Three of them come to mind when considering the crises we occasionally have to face.

1. When we most need to take good care of ourselves we are least likely to do so.

2. When we most need to keep our mouths shut we are most likely to sound off.

3. When we most need love we are our most unlovable.

Can you relate? In tough times, human nature being what it is, most of us get defensive and slip into self-protection mode (I do). Temporarily, this makes sense but for the long term this can be our undoing. At some point we must come to terms, examine the situation from all sides, open our hearts, let go of our defenses, and move toward resolution.

This is difficult, tedious, and painful. The only short cut through grief or emotional pain is to plunge into its depths and slowly work our way through it. Otherwise we get stuck. In a workshop years ago, Sid Simon stated that “In some way we help to create, contribute to, and cooperate in every sticky situation we find ourselves in.” This certainly applies to relationships.

Discovering and dissecting our part in a predicament is the first step toward liberation. Acknowledging the imperfect nature of human nature allows our compassion to kick in (first for ourselves and then for our transgressors) so we can escape the past and return to the present. We forgive what we can and begin to release our self-inflicted pain. Journaling, talking with a best friend or counselor, and list-making help us learn, let go, begin our healing, and move on.

Simple Action: In times of crisis, self-protections may work for the short term but in the long term they confine you to the past. Love yourself,  reopen your heart, and enrich your true nature by choosing to once again live fully in the present with an eye on your future.

A 90th Birthday

On April 18 my mother, Julie Allen, turned 90. She wanted a “good photo” to put in the newspaper so when we had our four generation portrait taken (mom, my daughter and three granddaughters), we did a solo shot of Julie and here’s the one that went in the paper.

We’re not talking about your typical 90 year old. Not only does she still drive, she keeps her car cleaner than I do. She gardens, mows her own lawn (one of those electric mowers with the long cord), shovels snow when it isn’t too deep, changes her own screens, and performs all kinds of chores that would drive the rest of us to a nap or stiff drink.

Of course, we held an open house to celebrate her big day. My two sisters-in-law and I planned the event and it was quite a party! Our set up started around 10:30 AM and Julie popped in, all dressed up and ready to supervise. We had requested RSVPs but you know how that goes; none of us had a sense of how many people would show up.

I figured that if we ended up with 40 guests the day would be a success. Well, we ended up with at least 100! From noon to nearly 6:00 PM, people came and went and some family members stayed the entire time. Julie was the star of the show and what a tribute to a woman who is always kind, gracious, and friendly.

People of all ages came out of the woodwork; one of mom’s guests was a high school sweetheart who showed up with his wife. I wish my dad could have been there (he died in 2002) to witness the day-long tribute to Julie. It was a fabulous celebration; we “kids” will never forget the party, nor will she. Julie has plants, gifts (even though we requested none), photos, and a huge pile of greeting cards for her scrapbook, what lovely mementoes.

Ninety years. My mom now has three kids that qualify for social security but she’s more active and energetic than a lot of people half her age. Here’s an example: after her day-long party, she went off for her Sunday night ritual of playing cards with neighbors. How’s that for staying power? All the women in our family want to be like Julie when we grow up, who wouldn’t?

Simple Action: Think about the simple daily steps can you take to preserve your longevity so you can celebrate your 90th year in style.


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Butterfly


Why a Butterfly?

A butterfly's life begins with an egg, which grows into a caterpillar, where it nourishes itself. Next is the chrysalis, the transformational stage where the caterpillar turns into a butterfly. Sometimes we go through stages where we need to rest or remain dormant in preparation for our next dramatic change.


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