"When elephants fight it is the grass that suffers." - African Proverb
See the YouTube video on the top left side of the blog..."Dear Mr. President"
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
Last Lecture
"One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon--instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today."
- Dale Carnegie
Tuesday afternoon a professor at Carnegie Mellon University gave his final lecture before a crowd of 400 students. Randy Puasch, a 46-year-old father of three, was diagnosed with inoperable liver cancer and is expected to live only a few more months. Asked to comment on what he had found to be important in life, he elicited tears from students as he triumphantly shared his life experiences. To read more about his lecture and see a short clip of him speaking, click on the link below:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119024238402033039.html
Stories like this one bring our own mortality into focus and give each of us the chance to re-evaluate our direction and our priorities.
Food for Thought: If you found out tomorrow that you were dying of cancer, what would you wish you had done?
- Dale Carnegie
Tuesday afternoon a professor at Carnegie Mellon University gave his final lecture before a crowd of 400 students. Randy Puasch, a 46-year-old father of three, was diagnosed with inoperable liver cancer and is expected to live only a few more months. Asked to comment on what he had found to be important in life, he elicited tears from students as he triumphantly shared his life experiences. To read more about his lecture and see a short clip of him speaking, click on the link below:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119024238402033039.html
Stories like this one bring our own mortality into focus and give each of us the chance to re-evaluate our direction and our priorities.
Food for Thought: If you found out tomorrow that you were dying of cancer, what would you wish you had done?
Saturday, September 22, 2007
True Greatness
"To endure is greater than to dare; to tire out hostile fortune; to be daunted by no difficulty; to keep heart when all have lost it -- who can say this is not greatness?"
- William Makepeace Thackeray
Remember that your greatness as a human being is not determined by the present conditions in which you find yourself. Greatness is something that comes from within us. It is something that compels us to change our world, but does not have the power to compel those changes to be always successful or easy. If you are great, it is because you DO strive, because you DO struggle, regardless of the outcome. Every day that you choose to be proactive in achieving your goals is a day that you stake claim to your own greatness. Every day that you refuse to be paralyzed by doubts or fears or guilt or pain or exhaustion, is a day that you earn the reward that you seek.
Food for Thought: If you are facing troubles at the moment, remember, you will succeed someday because of your greatness today, or you will fail for the lack of remembering it. It is, as always, your choice to make.
Proactive Inspiration Challenge: Rise up today. Rise up in your mind and in your heart. Resolve that you will not be beaten...that you will not falter. That you will move forward in action towards your life and towards your dreams...that you will put to rout all that is not life...that you will disregard any thought that holds you back.
- William Makepeace Thackeray
Remember that your greatness as a human being is not determined by the present conditions in which you find yourself. Greatness is something that comes from within us. It is something that compels us to change our world, but does not have the power to compel those changes to be always successful or easy. If you are great, it is because you DO strive, because you DO struggle, regardless of the outcome. Every day that you choose to be proactive in achieving your goals is a day that you stake claim to your own greatness. Every day that you refuse to be paralyzed by doubts or fears or guilt or pain or exhaustion, is a day that you earn the reward that you seek.
Food for Thought: If you are facing troubles at the moment, remember, you will succeed someday because of your greatness today, or you will fail for the lack of remembering it. It is, as always, your choice to make.
Proactive Inspiration Challenge: Rise up today. Rise up in your mind and in your heart. Resolve that you will not be beaten...that you will not falter. That you will move forward in action towards your life and towards your dreams...that you will put to rout all that is not life...that you will disregard any thought that holds you back.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Persevering Love
"Perseverance is more prevailing than violence; and many things which cannot be overcome when they are together, yield themselves up when taken little by little."
-Plutarch in "Life of Sertorius"
I find that there is an unquantifiable, almost mystical, quality to steady, unrelenting love. Violence is like lightening, or an earthquake, it can change our world through jolts and shocks and sudden explosions of fury. But love is more like the ocean waves, or the quiet tapping of the rain. Each instance of love in your life might not serve to dramatically change your existence. But you will find that the steady, persevering application of love to your friends, family, acquaintances, and even strangers will begin to transform not only their lives but your own as well.
Even when people refuse our love, I am a firm believer that we should continue to offer it. There is a great movie that I re-watched recently that reminds me of this concept. It is called "About A Boy" and I highly recommend it. It offers a vivid reminder that persistence can work wonders. For more info on the movie, click here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0276751/
-Plutarch in "Life of Sertorius"
I find that there is an unquantifiable, almost mystical, quality to steady, unrelenting love. Violence is like lightening, or an earthquake, it can change our world through jolts and shocks and sudden explosions of fury. But love is more like the ocean waves, or the quiet tapping of the rain. Each instance of love in your life might not serve to dramatically change your existence. But you will find that the steady, persevering application of love to your friends, family, acquaintances, and even strangers will begin to transform not only their lives but your own as well.
Even when people refuse our love, I am a firm believer that we should continue to offer it. There is a great movie that I re-watched recently that reminds me of this concept. It is called "About A Boy" and I highly recommend it. It offers a vivid reminder that persistence can work wonders. For more info on the movie, click here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0276751/
Friday, September 14, 2007
It's a Dog's Life
A friend of mine recently sent me this story with its accompanying tips. It made me smile, so I thought I'd share it here:
A Dog's Purpose (from a 6-year-old)
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle. I examined the dog and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to be there when Belker passed. .The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?' The six-year-old continued, 'Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long." Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
Take naps.
Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough.
Be loyal. Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently
ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY
A Dog's Purpose (from a 6-year-old)
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle. I examined the dog and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to be there when Belker passed. .The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?' The six-year-old continued, 'Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long." Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
Take naps.
Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough.
Be loyal. Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently
ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
In Memory 9/11
"Patriotism consists not in waving the flag, but in striving that our country shall be righteous as well as strong."
- James Bryce
It has been six years since the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. As we remember those that were lost on this day and since, as we mourn them, we must also look deeply at ourselves and ask if we are living up to the sentiment expressed above. It is not my intention to turn this blog into a political forum, and I am not here to throw stones at any one. It seems to me, however, that this country is in constant need of re-evaluation. We are the super power of the world, we are the leaders of the free world, we are, and always have been, the champions of democracy on the globe. We must strive, through the leaders that we choose for ourselves and the causes that we champion, to be compassionate as well as powerful, righteous as well as strong, fair as well as brave.
It is my hope as we move forward in this new millenium that we will all make choices everyday that contribute to a better tomorrow.
Food for Thought: Remember...We are the change that we hope to see in the world.
- James Bryce
It has been six years since the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. As we remember those that were lost on this day and since, as we mourn them, we must also look deeply at ourselves and ask if we are living up to the sentiment expressed above. It is not my intention to turn this blog into a political forum, and I am not here to throw stones at any one. It seems to me, however, that this country is in constant need of re-evaluation. We are the super power of the world, we are the leaders of the free world, we are, and always have been, the champions of democracy on the globe. We must strive, through the leaders that we choose for ourselves and the causes that we champion, to be compassionate as well as powerful, righteous as well as strong, fair as well as brave.
It is my hope as we move forward in this new millenium that we will all make choices everyday that contribute to a better tomorrow.
Food for Thought: Remember...We are the change that we hope to see in the world.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Carpe Diem
"I went into the woods because I wanted to live deliberately. I wanted to live deeply and suck all the marrow out of life... to put to rout all that was not life; and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."
- Henry David Thoreau
The above is one of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite authors. Thoreau, Whitman, Emerson and others provide us with plenty of material expounding the virtue of LIVING our lives. This quote says it particularly beautifully. "I wanted to put to rout all that was not life." What an amazing thought! I was wondering about this after I read it. Wondering how much of my own life is spent in merely existing and how much is spent in LIVING! Granted, most of us (including me) have to work for a living. We have jobs and families and responsibilities and we can't just run out and take treks into the Himalayas every time we so choose. But we can make decisions every day that "suck the marrow out of life." We can enrich our lives with new thoughts and ideas, we can reach out to friends, we can try new things, we can do something everyday that scares us just a little.
Food for Thought: What does it mean to you to "suck the marrow out of life?"
Proactive Inspiration Challenge: This week, make a memory that you will remember. Do something that will guard against arriving at your death only to discover that you have not lived.
- Henry David Thoreau
The above is one of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite authors. Thoreau, Whitman, Emerson and others provide us with plenty of material expounding the virtue of LIVING our lives. This quote says it particularly beautifully. "I wanted to put to rout all that was not life." What an amazing thought! I was wondering about this after I read it. Wondering how much of my own life is spent in merely existing and how much is spent in LIVING! Granted, most of us (including me) have to work for a living. We have jobs and families and responsibilities and we can't just run out and take treks into the Himalayas every time we so choose. But we can make decisions every day that "suck the marrow out of life." We can enrich our lives with new thoughts and ideas, we can reach out to friends, we can try new things, we can do something everyday that scares us just a little.
Food for Thought: What does it mean to you to "suck the marrow out of life?"
Proactive Inspiration Challenge: This week, make a memory that you will remember. Do something that will guard against arriving at your death only to discover that you have not lived.
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