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Take Action — Show Your Gratitude

Thank You Notes
Creative Commons License photo credit: meddygarnet
How do we do that?

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.

— G.K. Chesterton

In last week’s posts we celebrated the helpers who sprung up to assist an injured friend, a cornucopia of new beginnings for an off-the-track fitness resolution and the wellspring of hope that the habit of gratitude engenders.  All of which got me to thinking about how to persist in the face of various challenges. Continue reading » Take Action — Show Your Gratitude

Begin Again

Begin again.
Creative Commons License photo credit: Ashley Groome
How are those resolutions going?  Do you, like me, need a fresh start, a new beginning in order to persist in reaching your goals?

Life never presents us with anything which may not be looked upon as a fresh starting point, no less than as a termination.

— Andre Gide

Monday Morning

It’s Monday morning and I’m dressed, ready to go out for my walk – yet here I am, writing this post instead.  Lately it’s been a challenge to get myself out for my morning walk.  And an even tougher task to eat in ways that cause me to shed pounds.

Not too long ago I was cruising along doing both with ease.  No such luck now.  I can come up with every excuse in the book for not going out first thing in the morning.  And my sweet-tooth plagues me.

This has GOT to turn around.  Now would be a good time.  I need a fresh start at this losing weight and getting fit stuff.  I’m barely holding my own here.  And it’s waaaaaay too soon to be in maintenance mode.

Could writing this post serve as Continue reading » Begin Again

Delight over a Missed Goal

Carr Bridge - the old bridge  - Scotland
Creative Commons License photo credit: conner395
Have you ever been disappointed at not reaching your goal but somehow found that you were delighted with the outcome anyway?

Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, Or what’s a heaven for?

— Robert Browning

We recently experienced an extraordinary week of rain here in sunny California.  And when the weather forecasters declared an end to the onslaught, I decided to indulge in the luxury of taking my car to the carwash.  I had an hour to wait so I went for a walk on the river trail.  My goal: To the bridge and back.

Disappointment

I didn’t get as far as I expected. At the half hour mark, hoping to catch a glimpse of the bridge, I pushed on… and then on some more… but the bridge continued to hide “just around the bend.”  With time ticking, I realized I wasn’t going to get to the bridge – and, disappointed that I’d missed my goal, I reluctantly turned and double-timed it back to the carwash where my clean car awaited me.

I guess it’s human nature to be disappointed when we don’t get as far as we expected. I remember when, back in my corporate days as a sales manager, one of my rookie sales people aimed to be “Top Sales Leader of the Year”. He really put his heart and soul into it.  He came in second.

That’s when it pays to remember: Continue reading » Delight over a Missed Goal

Still on Target Using Creative Optimism

IBM System/360 Mainframe
Creative Commons License photo credit: Erik Pitti

It is not always what we know or analyzed before we make a decision that makes it a great decision. It is what we do after we make the decision to implement and execute it that makes it a good decision.

— William Pollard

Back when I was working in Corporate America managing the installation of large computer systems, it was very important that everything be done correctly.  When a computer was ordered, it wasn’t delivered like today’s PCs are, it arrived in pieces and needed to be assembled.  Elaborate plans needed to be made to assemble the equipment, install the operating system (think Windows) and migrate the data.

These machines were so physically large that it was sometimes necessary to plan a route from the delivery truck into the machine room.  Because of the complexity of the process and the number of people from different organizations that needed to be involved, we had a process called “Systems Assurance.”  There were two purposes to the Systems Assurance meeting; ensure that nothing Continue reading » Still on Target Using Creative Optimism

Still Heading for the Target

on target
Creative Commons License photo credit: hans s

Life is a sum of all your choices.

— Albert Camus

Malibu (the kitten) has one major goal in life – to get onto my desk.  Although he will give you the impression that he is interested in other things, in reality he is focused like a laser on my desk.  I’m not sure what the attraction is, maybe it’s just that each time he gets there, someone removes him, but whatever it is, he is determined.

Because he is so determined, no matter what he is doing, IF I walk away from my desk for a moment and don’t move my chair away from the desk, he will leave whatever he is playing with and within seconds, he will Continue reading » Still Heading for the Target

Cup o’ Inspiration

cup with steam swirl

Take a short break and consider the following:

“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.”

Meister Eckhardt

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