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Life Changes Fast!
As you read this, somewhere a young woman is falling in love. Somewhere a man is thinking of buying a ring. Somewhere else a couple is ending their relationship. Over there a baby draws its first breath and across town an old man draws his last. Somewhere a young soldier has just died for his country. Somewhere else a soldier saves another's life. I think about this as I fly over the country. I look down on life happening below me. Houses and buildings with secrets; people in cars not knowing it's their last drive, driving next to a teen on her first day with a spanking new driver's license. There's a young woman on her way to a chance meeting that will end her loneliness. And another on the way to making his dream come true. This one is rushing to a job interview that will help him save his house. Another next to him is going into work to discover they are closing the plant. Everywhere we look we see people, ordinary people. Underneath that face, that hat, that smile, there's a life being lived; frustrations being met; decisions being made. Each of us lives in our own little universe, working through our stuff. When we look at a person who appears successful, or down and out, or "normal" (whatever that is,) we make assumptions that are more related to our own reality than that person's. Our reality colors our view. Recently a man died in Phoenix. He was homeless and spent most of his time dabbling on the internet at libraries. It turned out he left $4 million to charity. If you looked at him, you might only see his rags. He just made different choices than you and I. When we think back on our lives we see the patterns. We can see how this decision to take a right turn changed our life forever. That decision to attend a meeting led to a marriage proposal. This decision to skip a meeting lost you an opportunity forever. We can see the whole of the decisions that led us to where we are right now. Yet, in the moment, it's just another moment, really. Another breath, another turn in the road. "Life Turns on a Dime." I always liked that cliché. It's true. According to the Free Dictionary, it means "to change direction very quickly." While this thought is a motivator to pay attention, it is also a source of hope. Nothing stays the same for very long. What looks frightening or hopeless may turn around in a heartbeat. I've always said, "if you don't like the way your life is going, stick around for awhile. It will change!" Pay more attention to your small decisions. They lead to the big outcomes. In July 1989, I had several dreams that led me to the decision to go out on my own as a Professional Speaker. I gave 6 weeks notice to my employer, The Shidler Group, and started Pacific Rim Seminars on September 1, 1989. The small decisions leading up to that were years of saying "Yes!" when asked to present to association meetings and church services. People saw me and encouraged me to take this step. In the 20 years since I made that decision, I've spoken in front of hundreds of thousands of people in 6 countries. It's been quite a ride. It's exciting to look to the future and wonder what's around the next bend. I look forward to serving all of you as I celebrate this milestone. Thank you all for being a part of my grand adventure. It's my hope that I've been a part of yours. Enjoy! PS. Do you like the picture? It was one of my first Promo shots!
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Quote This!"I think God's going to come down and pull civilization over for speeding." "Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy." |
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Cool LinksThis is fun - Improv groups go to public places and start dancing and singing. Hope you can open YouTube. This was in Antwerp. To me, this is the epitome of the Resilience of the Human Spirit. People allowing themselves to be like little kids and just play at full throttle. Others joining in for just a moment, being part of a joyful noise. What fun! |
The Word From Xena!
Once More - HAPPY ANNI-FUR-SARY BETH! It's great that you are hearing from so many of your clients from waaay back before I was a twinkle in my mommy's eyes. 20 years is a long time! That's about 140 dog years. So you deserve to take the day off. But I know you won't! Now about that Life on a Dime and all that stuff... it's really too bad God didn't think to give you the smarts dogs have. We can read minds, and tails, and growls, and smells. WE know what goes on in the little bubble above a 2-leggeds head. Too bad you can't figure out a way to read us better. We'd tell you. I remember one time a person came to see Beth. I think she wanted to be our dogsitter. Beth was all nice and polite, like two-leggeds think you should be. But Lezard told me the lady was the same mean lady that watched him when she first moved to Phoenix. Lezard and I touched noses, and then both of us took off and hid. Finally Beth caught on. But - dang - you two leggeds are slow on the uptake! Now if You think life goes by fast, try being a dog! We go through 7 of your years in just one year! We start out in January feeling all young and chipper, and by December we've got hair growing out of our ears! Wait, that happens even when we're pups. But you get the idea. I get more exercise than Lezard, playing with my duck and all. So I'll probably make it all the way to 18 in human years. Still, it goes by waaaaay too fast. So - dance when someone asks you to. Go find that Bucket List and do something on it this week. Figure out how to see and do all the things you said you wanted to do in this life. Don't keep putting things off! Play with your dogs more. Torment your cat (Ok, maybe that's just me...) But don't just sit around whining and feeling bad. It uses up too much energy. And always remember, I love you! Hugs, |
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