How to Find your Own Limelight
Whenever I'm disappointed with my spot in life, I stop and think about little Jamie Scott. Jamie was trying out for a part in a school play. His mother told me that he'd set his heart on being in it, though she feared he would not be chosen.
On the day the parts were awarded, I went with her to collect him after
school. Jamie rushed up to her, eyes shining with pride and excitement.
"Guess what Mom," he shouted, and then said those words that will remain a
lesson to me...
"I've been chosen to clap and cheer."
A Little Help From our Friends
(Reason #212 I love Leo Buscaglia)
Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was
asked
to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child.
The winner was:
A four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman
who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went
into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.
When his mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little
boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry."
Yes, it is raining, but the sun is still shining
"I believe in the sun, even if it isn't shining.
I believe in love, even when I am alone.
I believe in God, even when he is silent."
WWII Refugee
These few words touch me so deeply. It so easy to believe in God when you are being blessed, but when you are entrenched in adversity--that is a beautiful thing.
A friend of mine was visiting New York for a week. She saw all the sights. After she came back she related her visit. I don't remember where she went or what she did, but I do remember this wonderful story of departure from New York. When she got on the plane it was raining. It was gloomy. Not a drop of sunshine. What a way to end her trip. As they ascended, they rose through the clouds until they were finally above them. Above those treacherous clouds was the bluest sky and the sun was still shining. Sooner or later, while it is raining both of these little reminders come to me. Yes, it is still raining, but I know the sun is still shining.
Natural Talent
Writing is something that feels natural to my fingers. Words flow out of the pen to stain the blank page, while my eyes stare in in wonder. It is calming and soothing, almost transcendental, cosmical, enigmatic. It provides a surety of what I know I was born to do.
The words come so quickly one might be inclined to believe that the words come from the pen itself--seemingly effortless. That is bliss.
A little kokology
I have this realy awesome book called kokology:The game of self discovery. It is a series of psychological games designed to reaveal atttitudes about just anything.
Here's a short one:
Imagine a clear blue sky. Just thinking about it should lift your spirits. Now look at the landscape. Which of the following landscapes do find most calming?
A snowy white plain
A blue seacape
A green mountain
A field of yellow flowers
Intrigued? Ask me what it all means
A Little More Inspiration
These are my most favorite words ever put together. Some have heard me quote it before, because I love you so much!! And if you haven't, I love you and this is my gift to you!!!
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves,'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people wont feel insecure around you.
We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it is in everyone, and as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
Nelson Mandela
Those words move something in my heart.
Leo Buscaglia & Waters That Dont Move
The most huggable lovable human being who ever lived on this earth. I have read several his books. He is a most interesting person. He was a college professors who taught classes on love. He passed away but the words he wrote live on and he is still doing what he did best--showing people how to love. I love to quote him. The qoute I have been thinking about recently is this one:
"Stop doing all the things you know you can do so well and try something new."
I get hung sometimes on what I can do well. I am sure that we all do, to some degree.
Living, though is about growing. There can be no growth if you just stay in the same pond. I think we all know what happens to waters that don't move. Well, if you don't just ask anyone who has seen pond scum...bleck!!
I just need to start moving again. Motly, because I want that for others, too. I know that can't even begin to inspire anyone else if I am not living life to its fullest. I have heard the old cliche that you have to do it for your self, but I am never truly happy unless I am serving someone else. Those are the moments I truly feel at peace. When I am helping others, I feel at one with the universe. I sleep, think, eat,speak, and even breathe better.
"If you are what you do, then when you don't, you aren't"
Wayne Dyer
