Wednesday Wisdom

Seed tomorrow with wise compassion and understanding today!

Last week we exchanged Happy Thanksgiving. Now, once again, we’re wishing blessings upon each other as we celebrate several spiritual holy days.  Like years past, we’ll be reading and hearing people concerned about greeting each other with anything but, “Merry Christmas.”  So, once again, please allow me to state that my “Happy Holidays” is not out of political correctness or because I’m sparring against Christmas. It is, as a Christian, out of respect.

From November 1 to January 15 there are approximately 29 holy days observed by 7 of the world’s major religion. And, I don’t think mine are the only ones that count.

People are sincerely not trying to eliminate Christmas, nor are their intentions to force people into not saying “Merry Christmas” – something we say to those we know celebrate the sacred holy day. Using Christ as the model we’re called to be compassionate and respectful, extending love to all.

So, this season let’s behave more like Christ and act with kindness and compassion, and honor others and their journey. Over the next few week, when someone says Happy Holidays please say thank you, because they do not know your beliefs. It’s honestly out of respect, not a war on Christmas.

Life is calling . . .  Today’s the day!

Learn Lavishly. Live Significantly. Leave a Legacy.

www.marilynnsemonick.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 gratitude today!

Tomorrow many Americans will eat turkey, watch football, and avoid talking politics with family and friends. It’s one of those special days that calls us to give thanks. When bowing my head in gratitude I can’t help but think about our choice of two paths: to wait around for that special day, or to treat every day as special.

Perhaps a mindset shift, a settling in of contentment, and the choice to savor that which matter most in our lives will remind us that: Gratitude turns what we have into enough.

Rather than thinking of Thanksgiving as a day, we could reframe giving thanks as the way we think about and live our lives. Albert Einstein said it better than I can:

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.   

John F. Kennedy spoke of turning thoughts into actions:

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.    John F. Kennedy

Counselor and author Josie Robinson writes:

The simple act of gratitude, consistently, is your invitation to a new life. Accepting the invitation is now up to you. 

As we experience whatever unfolds in our day . . . Today’s the day!  Happy Thanksgiving.

Life is calling . . .  Today’s the day!

Learn Lavishly. Live Significantly. Leave a Legacy.

www.marilynnsemonick.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 wonder today!

Forty eight years ago today, Curt and I committed ourselves to a life standing next to each other,   for better or for worse. And, like every other marriage, we’ve had our share of both. That said, I’m completely aware of my immaturity in the beginning of our union, resulting in conflicts over the most insignificant issues.

Growing together isn’t an easy journey, often riddled with challenges, confusion, chaos, learning, triumphs, and eventually, celebration. Reflecting upon almost 5 decades of growth, we’re completely aware of how blessed we’ve been along the way. And, of the work it takes to sustain the respect, love, and cherish we have for each other.

Travel is one of the blessings we’ve always treasured. Currently on our out-of-our-own-country annual anniversary adventure (something we sorely missed during the pandemic), we’ve been exploring a nation we’ve experienced before; however, a region we’ve never walked upon until now. Something novel and unique every day.

If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine, it’s lethal.  ~ Paulo Coelho

I have no idea how you learn, appreciate, or love; however, I trust you do so with intention, care, and meaning. And, I hope you enjoy the process!

Life is calling . . .  Today’s the day!

Learn Lavishly. Live Significantly. Leave a Legacy.

www.marilynnsemonick.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 wonder today!

Today Curt and I travel out of the country for our annual anniversary adventure. Exploring diverse cultures has always been a high priority for us, so we’re excited about celebrating on acreage we’ve not walked upon before.

There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign. – Robert Louis Stevenson

Leaving one’s culture to experience others’ has been the second greatest education source of my life (our two daughters are definitely the first). It’s clear that humans have more in common than in opposition. We all want to be seen, heard, and validated. We appreciate the sacred parts of our ancestors and our culture and have a desire to change that which is not humane. We want more for our children than for ourselves.

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.  ~ Mark Twain

Savoring unfamiliar foods, conversing with people who have different histories, opinions, and beliefs, and experiencing art forms created by locals have fascinated us for the greater part of our lives. The excitement of anticipated discoveries settled in weeks ago.

Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind. ~ Anthony Bourdain

Off to wander, explore, remain in wonder, appreciate, learn, and to be changed.

Seed tomorrow with wise wonder today!

Life is calling . . .  Today’s the day!

Learn Lavishly. Live Significantly. Leave a Legacy.

www.marilynnsemonick.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 responsibility today!

Upstanding journalists like Walter Cronkite are becoming rare. As a trusted anchor of the CBS Evening News, he covered some of the biggest news of the 20^th century. For nearly two decades he signed off with the statement: And that’s the way it is, stating he did so because:

To me, that encapsulates the newsman’s highest ideal: to report the facts as he sees them, without regard for the consequences or controversy that may ensue.

Bringing people together through the power of story, he reminded us of the need for dialogue, listening to understand, and respect and civility while pursuing facts.

In seeking truth you have to get both sides of a story.

Decades ago I was influenced by his following words and remain independent to this day, without loyalty to a party, rather to a nation and the notion of sustaining our great democratic experiment.

I am neither Republican nor Democrat. I am a registered independent because I find that I cast my votes not on the basis of party loyalty but on the issues of the moment and my assessment of the candidates.  ~ Walter Cronkite

Frederick Douglass, an African-American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman, escaped from being enslaved in Maryland to remind us:

The life of a nation is secure only when the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous.

November 8. Please do your homework. Please seek honesty, truth, and honorable intent. Please vote. Our future depends on it.

Life is calling . . .  Today’s the day!

Learn Lavishly. Live Significantly. Leave a Legacy.

www.marilynnsemonick.com

Marilynn Semonick, CEO (Chief Exploration Officer)

Educator, Consultant, Coach, Facilitator, Professional Speaker

Marilynn@marilynnsemonick.com

Read Full Post »