Wednesday Wisdom

Seed tomorrow with wise ceremony today

Bali still swirls in my mind. I celebrated my 50^th there with my family and found it sacred and splendid, rendered with a textured culture reflected in its people.  As I spoke with Raksa from Bali, memories immediately surfaced: tiered rice field created with meager hand-tools and tended by generations of families, aromas and sights brushed with ancient pigments, and landscapes that welcomed the imagination of the gods.

When we talked about Bali in contrast to the fast-paced, busy world many of us live, Raksa said:

In Bali, we don’t do anything without  ceremony. It’s almost ridiculous until you stop and think about it for a moment. When you plant a tree in your yard, the community gathers for a ceremony. When you cut down a tree – a ceremony, which includes planting another tree to replace it. Ceremony slows us down, welcomes us to think about what we’re doing and then be more purposeful and intentional with our actions.

Our daily lives, stuffed with multiple responsibilities that too many believe multi-tasking will resolve,  rushing through moments that could have been noticed, savored and remembered, slathered with feelings that life is rushing too rapidly – ceremony asks us to stop, or at least slow down. It brings us into the moment, and reminds us that those moments are sacred and the splendid. Each day, there are activities that can become ceremonial – awakening, getting dressed, cooking, working, enjoying the company of others – perhaps it would be good to listen to the calling.

Life is calling . . .  Today’s the day . . . Make this moment matter!! 

Learn Lavishly. Live Significantly. Leave a Legacy.

Visit www.The Success Studio.com
www.marilynnsemonick.com

To subscribe to Wednesday Wisdom or to read archived postings visit:  http://www.thesuccessstudio.wordpress.com
Marilynn Semonick, CEO (Chief Exploration Officer)
Educator, Consultant, Coach, Facilitator, Professional Speaker
Marilynn@marilynnsemonick.com

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Wednesday Wisdom

Seed tomorrow with wise community today

 Last week, I worked with Raksa, Resident Manager of the JW Surabaya who was born and raised in Bali, one of my favorite places on this beautiful little planet. Within our fascinating and insightful conversations, I mentioned that his homeland’s rice fields took my breath away. The tiers of rolling green growth, tended by generations metaphorically reminded me of the ancestral contributions to the sacred honor of the essence of the land.  He responded:

In Bali, community is the basis of our living, rice fields being a significant part of the process. The entire community plants one family’s field, then moves to the next family field, until all family fields are planted.  We harvest the same way.

Hum . . . You all come together and work all fields?  Yes, it’s the most effective and productive way to grow the largest yield… and, it’s more fun and more meaningful.

 Best practice? Perhaps other cultures can learn from such a concept. How many situations come to mind that would result in more productive outcomes if the entire community would participate in lieu people being spectators, often with judgement of criticism of their neighbors?

PS: More about Raksa and Bali next week. I learned that there is a ceremony for most every individual and community action . . . fascinating.

Life is calling . . .  Today’s the day . . . Make this moment matter!! 

Learn Lavishly. Live Significantly. Leave a Legacy.

Visit www.The Success Studio.com
www.marilynnsemonick.com

To subscribe to Wednesday Wisdom or to read archived postings visit:  http://www.thesuccessstudio.wordpress.com
Marilynn Semonick, CEO (Chief Exploration Officer)
Educator, Consultant, Coach, Facilitator, Professional Speaker
Marilynn@marilynnsemonick.com

 

 

 

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Wednesday Wisdom

Seed tomorrow with wise leadership today

 It’s Wednesday here in Surabaya, Indonesia, where I experience the sacred “call to prayer” several times a day. It’s Ramadan, so the staff fasts all day for 30 days from sunrise to sunset, with the intention of a heightened spiritual focus. Immediately following one of the calls to prayer, a member of the front office leadership team hesitantly asked me:

Are you afraid to live in America?  Are you afraid for your family?  Why does the country allow anyone, including known criminals – especially people who are known to be ISIS supporters – have such  easy access to such weapons?

Like too many tragic situations lately, Orlando is upfront in news coverage and around the world is being felt deeply and profoundly. Like so many, I am struggling with extreme sadness, frustration, confusion, embarrassment, disgust – emotions that have no end.

 

Life is calling . . .  Today’s the day . . . Make this moment matter!! 

Learn Lavishly. Live Significantly. Leave a Legacy.

Visit www.The Success Studio.com
www.marilynnsemonick.com

To subscribe to Wednesday Wisdom or to read archived postings visit:  http://www.thesuccessstudio.wordpress.com
Marilynn Semonick, CEO (Chief Exploration Officer)
Educator, Consultant, Coach, Facilitator, Professional Speaker
Marilynn@marilynnsemonick.com

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Wednesday Wisdom

Seed tomorrow with wise solutions today

 We’re back in Birmingham, Alabama this week.  Like every other city on the planet, it has its challenges and constraints as well as its unique features, textured culture, regional culinary offerings and glorious people that make it interesting and memorable.  Monday, in a session discussing current challenges with the property’s leadership, Angelica stated:

I have never seen a monument erected to a critic. Beyond the voices of those who constantly criticize are people who work hard, stay focused and facilitate results. Still, critics remain loud, challenging and typically come to the party with no solutions.

Yay, Angelica.  How easy it is to point out what’s wrong.  How challenging is it to propose solutions. Then, to deal with the critics.

 

Life is calling . . .  Today’s the day . . . Make this moment matter!! 

Learn Lavishly. Live Significantly. Leave a Legacy.

Visit www.The Success Studio.com
www.marilynnsemonick.com

To subscribe to Wednesday Wisdom or to read archived postings visit:  http://www.thesuccessstudio.wordpress.com
Marilynn Semonick, CEO (Chief Exploration Officer)
Educator, Consultant, Coach, Facilitator, Professional Speaker
Marilynn@marilynnsemonick.com

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Wednesday Wisdom

Seed tomorrow with wise service today

 We’re in the Windy City this week, reuniting with team members in four properties.  Intrigued by the reasoning behind career choices, I often ask, “What brought you to this work?” The responses I receive in the hospitality industry are as varied as the people who respond.  Yesterday, Sara said:

I was blessed to travel a lot as I was growing up.  And, I still remember how I felt every single time we entered the hotel, and throughout our stay . . . welcomed, special and valued.  When I was thinking about what I wanted to do with my life, nothing would be more rewarding than helping people feel the same way I did.  It became my life’s work.

 Wow, good-on-ya to all those who serve others and facilitate memories worth recalling.

Life is calling . . .  Today’s the day . . . Make this moment matter!! 

Learn Lavishly. Live Significantly. Leave a Legacy.

Visit www.The Success Studio.com
www.marilynnsemonick.com

To subscribe to Wednesday Wisdom or to read archived postings visit:  http://www.thesuccessstudio.wordpress.com
Marilynn Semonick, CEO (Chief Exploration Officer)
Educator, Consultant, Coach, Facilitator, Professional Speaker
Marilynn@marilynnsemonick.com

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