Wednesday Wisdom 11/26/08

Thanksgiving. What a perfect time of the year to pause, ponder and purposefully and give thanks. In fact, why not sit down and write those things you are most thankful for this year? Like carving them in stone, affix gratitude in the heavens.

Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don’t unravel.
– author unknown

What are you most grateful for today? We’ve all heard about the power of keeping a gratitude journal with daily entries of gratefulness. It only takes a couple minutes to log in 3 things you are grateful for in that given day. And, that time invested yields a huge return. If you don’t already do it, today’s a great day to start!

Happy Thanksgiving.

Read Full Post »

Wednesday Wisdom 11/19/08

Considered by many to be the greatest living film actress, Meryl Streep has performed in over 50 films, is a two-time Oscar award winner and has been nominated for the Academy Award a remarkable 13 times.

In an interview, Meryl was asked, “What do you know for sure?” Perhaps you’ll get as much from her response as I did:

I think that you find your own way. You have your own rules. You have your own understanding of yourself, and that’s what you need to count on. In the end, it’s what feels right to you. Not what your mother told you . . . Not what anybody else told you – but the still, small voice. Beyond that, I don’t know. It’s the not knowing that’s the good part. To me, mystery is the most beautiful thing—the fact that you can’t figure it out—that’s it for me. That’s for sure.

Meryl Streep – thank you for reminding us of the power of understanding ourselves and trusting the still, small voice. And, rather than shying away from not knowing – honor the mystery. How about a few minutes alone in silence today? A good way to honor and welcome that small, still voice . . .

Read Full Post »

Wednesday Wisdom 11/12/08

Last week I was procrastinating about a project. When I finally sat down and got honest with myself I recognized it as the fear of not being good enough mental chatter (an all too common theme for me).

In the middle of talking myself out of a wonderful opportunity and great challenge, I received an email from a cherished friend, author, highly acclaimed professional speaker and international consultant, Chris Clarke-Epstein. She wrote that when she was little, her mother got booklets in the mail from Dr. Norman Vincent Peale. She would read them because she liked the stories he wrote and the lessons he drew from them. One she remembers to this day is:

I’d rather attempt something great and fail than attempt nothing and succeed.
– Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

Her words (and his) could not have come at a better time. Acting on that which stretches us is a part of the process of peeking into our own greatness. Perhaps the next time you find yourself resisting a challenge, you’ll remember Dr. Peale’s words. I will.

Read Full Post »

Wednesday Wisdom 11/5/08

Today, we wake up to the promise of a new tomorrow. Yesterday we cast our ballots for the individuals we believe will give us the best possible chance of succeeding in the mist of immense turmoil. Unlike many places in the world, the shift of enormous power occurred smoothly as a result of us making our voices matter.

If liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost. – Aristotle, 340 B.C.

Seeking a better future, my grandparents got on boats and traveled from Russia to America at the beginning of the last century. Every election day I am profoundly grateful for their daring decisions and courageous action. As a woman I am acutely aware that I am able to make my voice count because suffragists with firm beliefs and strong wills fought hard to make that so. In my lifetime I’ve experienced the struggle and sacrifice of those who finally assured the vote for people of color in the 1960s. I don’t know about you, but I do not take freedom lightly. And, I am forever grateful to those who envisioned a bold nation of inclusion and acted courageously to make it happen.

We must be the change we wish to see in the world.
– Mahatma Gandhi

Whether or not your candidate is now our president-elect, I pray we invest more time united in solving pressing issues and less time divided by differences.

Read Full Post »