Wednesday Wisdom 9/30/09

I love food and everything that goes into the art of creating a fabulous meal. I find joy in the stroll through the produce store (especially an outdoor market!), cleaning the vegetables, setting an inviting table, selecting the right wine and sharing the aromas that seduce the senses. So, when our daughter sent me this quote from NYC restaurateur Danny Meyer’s book, Setting the Table, I giggled:

The road to success is paved with mistakes well handled.

Anyone who has jumped on the journey of competent cookery has created less than tasty dishes, especially in the beginning. Why choose angst over a satisfying experience? Well managed mistakes help us learn what doesn’t work and force creativity from whatever additional flavors you have at hand. Some chefs call it their essence.

So, let’s keep on cookin’ . . . in the kitchen and in life!

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Wednesday Wisdom 9/23/09

Tomorrow our little one turns 29. Last week, her sister turned 32. September is a memorable, emotionally triggered month for me. Do you have those? Each year, I have the opportunity to sit with myself and remember the entire journey. I recall the planning and anticipation; hopes, dreams and deliberation; successes and mistakes; discipline, joy and frustration, and find them all worth celebrating. The processes of birthing and parenting have given me more defining moments than I could have ever imagined possible. Rajneesh’s words remind me that truth resonates with the soul:

The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.

Courtney and Amanda – thank you for playing such a significant role in my ongoing transformation. You have been my best teachers. If I could sum up, in one word, my parenting experience I would choose cherish. Where are you creating moments and memories worth treasuring beyond words?

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Wednesday Wisdom 9/16/09

Shelley Tucker, an outstanding education coordinator for the Michigan Townships Association sent me this reminder:

Our business in life is not to get ahead of others, but to get ahead of ourselves — to break our own records, to outstrip our yesterday by our today. ~ Stewart B. Johnson

Shelley, today I’ll outdo myself from my yesterdays. I’ll sit in silence long enough to determine what personal record I might exceed. It may not seem big . . . perhaps I’ll purposefully acknowledge and smile at 4 more people today, say thank you or I love you with more enthusiasm, write an extra 3 pages or contact 2 more people, remain patient in an angst-filled situation, increase my compassion in a moment of need . . . not certain what it’ll be yet; however, today will be a record breaking day for me. How about you?

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Wednesday Wisdom 9/09/09

Recently, professional golfer, Johnny Miller, spoke to NFL athletes about excellence, competition teamwork and success. After his presentation several men in attendance were asked what they would take away from his presentation and remember most. A common comment was:

No amount of professional success can account for failure at home.

In our own defined priorities of life, what’s getting less attention and time than it needs and deserves? Today’s a day to change that!

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Wednesday Wisdom 9/02/09

Last week, I received these words imbedded in a message that resulted in another wake-up-and get-a move-on moment:

The real reason so many have trouble with the baby steps – doing all they can, with what they’ve got, from where they are, no matter how humble or seemingly futile – is because they haven’t yet grasped that the baby steps trigger unseen forces that throw wide the floodgates of unstoppable momentum, infinite abundance, and eternal life.

One small, intentional, forward moving, yet not insignificant step for me today . . . then making those baby steps CONSISTENTLY. How about you?!

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