« The spiritual side of life

Terry,

What I think is eye opening from your post is that bad and good may come from the same event.  It's sort of the "glass half full/glass half empty" thinking.  As an example, I attended a town hall event yesterday evening to support youth (www.rahcc.org).  The event was sparsely attended, which prompted some attendees to see the event as a failure ("Only xxx people showing up is not acceptable.").  I would agree that it would appear disappointing that just a handful of parents would choose to show up to learn how they might be better equipped to protect their kids from harm and help them make good choices.  However (here's the glass half full), the handful of people that did attend are well equipped to talk to their neighbors, friends, colleagues.  Like MCC, and networking in general, results can be achieved by people talking to people, (and maybe better) rather than a large group setting. 

Perhaps like many things in life and business, the goal remains the same, the path to achieve the goal will most likely change as we encounter obstacles/challenges/setbacks/etc.  Maybe that's the time to stop for just a minute and check out the sunrise, listen to birds, play with your kids, hug your spouse, etc.

Regards,

Dale Hetrick

Wonderful post Terry.

It made me think about a book I once (okay several times) read call Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl he was a psychiatrist and also a prisioner at Auschwitz for three years. Frankly writes " We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms-to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.

To that I would like to add an experience that relates to that, that has given me perspective.

When I first moved to Saline it was winter and we had quite a surprise waiting for us in spring, our yard had more dandelions than blades of grass. So, one day I got out my weed tool and a lawn refuse bag. I was sure to pull the weed with roots and all to be sure they would not come back, but what happened was amazing to me. The lawn refuse bag half full of weeds was left in the garage for nearly 2 weeks, on garbage night I found the bag and opened it to find what was inside, oh yes my dandelions but much more, they had grown, there were flowers standing 6 inches tall, there was no dirt, no light and no water but yet thriving.

What is the point of this story?

When discouraged by our weeds in life we must move forward. Our weeds in life will always be there, whether obvious or lurking. Our trials or roller coaster rides in life and business offer us an opportunity to gain new knowledge or experience. The best medicine is to give of yourself, time and talents.

I've had several conversations in the past few days about feeling good - about ourselves.  We so often take what our strength/gift/contribution is for granted.  (Have you ever caught yourself thinking "But doesn't everybody do/see that/think that way?")  No, they don't!  That's what's special and unique about you. 

Each of us is so amazing.  But we don't tend to let anyone know!  It's not egotistical to point it out to others.  In fact, it's a contribution, because they then know that they can come to you for that.  You've now become a resource for them - and who doesn't want more resources? 

This is a hard one for me, and I am finding for a lot of people.  We are so conditioned to not toot our horn, to be humble, etc. that we have a hard time talking about ourselves at all, let alone thinking of ourselves that way.

What if each of us had a gift (maybe more than one), and your job on the planet was to give it away as much as you could, to as many people as you could? 

What's your gift - and would you please let us know?