Another Perfect Monday

Today was one of those absolutely perfect Mondays.  I woke up late, the dentist’s bright light was on the fritz and the hygienist was NOT happy. A *really* important electronic file was corrupt, a title company hadn’t paid the 2011 tax bill at closing and the Denver Treasurer was placing a lien on my client’s newly-purchased home. All that before 9:00 a.m.

And then, my girlfriend Stacey emailed the final drawing of our bike ride’s new logo. Isn’t she pretty?

Suddenly, I remembered all the things that are absolutely right in my world. Like the world’s greatest biker-chicks, my friends who like to ride together & race together & plan one of Colorado’s coolest summer events together. Life Is Good!

I Will

"As you go through this day, keep an eye open for the random beauty that surrounds you. When it crosses your path, stop what you are doing and relish in the fullness of that beauty.  Let it seep into the crevices of your soul, filling the empty corners with its warm light." ~unknown

What do you think?

I saw this photo and a smile crept across my face. I laughed.

The thought of Fried Kool-Aid does that, at first glance. It makes you laugh! “What’s fried Kool-Aid?” The mind tries to conceive the thing. “And how do you fry it?” The mind attempts to conjure the process.

And then my mind said, “Can’t be done.”

Unbelief.

I’ve watched a man fry ice cream, so why did my mind STOP at the idea of fried Kool-Aid?  In that moment, I was reminded of two favorite quotes, one by Henry Ford, the other by Napolean Hill. Both strike at the heart of what we will and will not accomplish with our lives, based on our beliefs.

“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” – Napolean Hill 
“Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right.” – Henry Ford

And so today I’m making a conscious effort to say “Yes!” to those things that seem, at first glance, impossible, and to creatively consider the ways that ‘impossible’ things can be done.

It’s going to be a wonderful, adventurous day.

You Go, Girl!

My 28-year-old daughter moved to London this week, following on the heels of her younger sister, who moved to South Korea in 2009.

It's no small thing when you quit your job, sell your car, rent your condo and move to a foreign country. There's the short-term packing and the long-term shipping, the landlord's insurance and the work visa and too many good-bye's ... and ... fear & trepidation.

I'm so proud of my daughters. They're following their hearts! They're letting go of 'the known' and hanging on to 'the unknown'. I am so proud of them, I'm tempted to believe they're filled with strength and courage. But we know ~ from our own experiences, we know ~ that we're filled and then emptied, re-filled and then re-emptied in the days and seasons of our lives. So I pray again, dear Lord, please fill my girls with the strength and courage for today. oh ~ and fill their hearts with joy ~

His wise, gentle smile

Once upon a time, long long ago, I expressed my frustration to my Dad. “It’s not fair,” I argued. He smiled his wise, gentle smile. “Life’s not fair, Kathie.” That smile didn’t lesson the hurt, and I continued my plea. He listened to my argument: Every Saturday, my older brother Ed was assigned the job of mowing the front yard, which paid $7.00. And every Saturday, I was assigned the job of mowing the back yard, a much smaller yard, which paid $4.00. Thus my brother was growing exponentially richer than me. And it was tearing me apart!

My father relented and gave me the occasional privilege of mowing the front yard. As a result, I was occasionally, temporarily content with my lot in life.

As a child, I didn’t consider the possibility that my father had reasons for dividing the chores unequally. Life isn’t fair. In every age, in every culture, in every circumstance, life isn’t fair. And a wise father never creates a false reality or a false hope.

Today, 40 years later, I look back to that moment with my own wise, gentle smile. I’ve raised four children, a son and three daughters, and I know the complexity of parenting. It’s not easy to guide your children safely from infancy to adulthood. But we try.

Today is Dad’s birthday, and I’m taking him to see the Lincoln film. I think he’ll enjoy Daniel Day-Lewis’s complex protrayal of the president, the husband, and the father, as Lincoln strove to act with wisdom in what must have been extraordinary trying times. I’ll ask Dad what he thinks, and he’ll share insights that escape me. And I know my Dad. He’ll listen and nod and smile that wise, gentle smile.

East of the Sun

Each morning I drive about 20 miles into the city. It is often a lovely drive, despite the traffic. Today the landscape was breath-taking, with a rising sun to the East and a setting moon to the West, snow-capped mountains and shimmering foothills and a hazeless city spread before me. I could see fifty miles in every direction, and it was beautiful.

As I travelled, Charlie Parker with Strings played "East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)" on Jazz89. I've often enjoyed listening to Charlie Parker, but never so much as this morning. It was a perfect morning.

Joy

Have you ever forgotten a favorite book, only to have it reappear as you reorganized your things? That happened to me today.

I stumbled upon "JOY", a book that I had purchased on a clearance shelf in 2011. It's a compilation of joyous quotes by M.H. Clark. It's the sort of book that you can read through in five minutes, though if you read with your heart, it might stop you dead in your tracks for long moments, or long hours, or long days ...

The first page announces, "Prepare for Joy". The next page contains only a brief quote, "These are the days of miracle and wonder." - Paul Simon

The second page announces, "Believe in Joy" - and the proceeding page says only, "Remember the feeling as a child when you woke up and morning smiled? It's time you felt like that again." - Taj Mahal

And on it goes ... taking you on a path of discovery. The final page announces, "Be Joy."  But no quote follows. That's my favorite part. The cliff-hanger ending, where the reader is exhorted to take all of the dynamic, inspirational quotes and create joy in her world.

The beginning of the new year is such a busy time in my business and personal life. I scarcely have time to read through a five-minute book of quotes. But I'm inspired to not only observe and be thankful for the joy that happens upon my path, but to thoughtfully and intentionally create joy and sprinkle it there for others.

If Everybody Did

Today I met several smiling people, each wishing "Happy New Year" as we passed on the sidewalk, passed through doorways, passed through life. It reminded me of Jo Ann Stover's 1989 classic, "If Everybody Did" - except the opposite.

Stover's little book introduces children to the concept of "cause and effect" by stretching their imaginations to visualize what would happen if everybody did things like pull off a bud? ... jump in mud? ... slam the door? ... stomp and roar?

Each negative behavior is seemingly innocent, until "everybody did", and then the illustrations make it clear that if more than a few people acted in these ways, the results would be disastrous.

I thought, as I smiled at another happy face, that I'd like to commission an artist to illustrate, "If Everybody Smiled," because as each stranger shared their grin, my day grew brighter and brighter. Smiles don't cost a dime, don't require any investment of time, and yet have a contagiously positive impact upon the recipient.

Now, as I turn off the lights on January 2, 2013, I am filled with gratitude for the handfuls of happy people that passed my way today. I can still see each one of your smiles ~ though you were strangers ~ and each was a unique blessing to me. Thank you.

Welcome to My World, 2013

Aaah. January the First.

Each January is welcomed with so much ceremony. People the world over make resolutions to change for the better. I'm one of those people. I think it's a good exercise to stop & reflect upon where you are and where you are going. Each year, I get a mid-winter high from the process of looking forward and imagining the possibilities in the year to come.

This year is no different. I've written business goals and personal goals, everything from Anatomy to Zoology. I've written each as a SMART goal, a goal that is Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-Bound. And I've written each goal with gratitude. I am so very grateful for the seemingly endless opportunities in my life. In fact, the only goal that isn't SMART is this:  Gratefully choose to say "No" to the many interesting & fascinating projects that I don't have time to accomplish in 2013.

Here's to the 365 days before us. May we each strive to make the most of each day, and may we thankfully receive the innumerable blessings that are showered upon our lives.