Rest, SWEET, Rest

“The faster I go, the behinder I get.”

              ~ Lewis Carroll

How easy it is for us to get caught up in the idea of our own grandiosity and forget that the world, and our lives, will, indeed, go on even with a temporary lull in our attention!  So often we push on, to the point of exhaustion, believing that our needs are secondary to our bosses, our spouses, our children, our parents, our friends, our places of worship, our communities, the committees we serve on, the pets we care for, the garden, the laundry, the shopping, the, the, the……And then wonder why we left that important graph out of the report, left the shopping list on the counter, scorched our child’s school uniform, lost the directions to the new meeting place….A weary mind will find a million ways to tell you to STOP! Hopefully, it won’t be the broadside of a truck, after running a red light that finally makes you get this!

Here’s the truth:  YOU are the most important being in your universe. Without the necessary care required to keep YOU nourished, fed, exercised and rested, all the other people and things in your life will suffer in one-way or another.  A body and soul receiving only part of what they need, can only give part of what they have to others. It’s a lose, lose equation!

Economists and financial advisers will tell you that you cannot have a realistic and workable budget if you don’t pay yourself first. Take what you need for savings, expenses right off the top.  So it is with your time and life budget….you have to pay yourself first if there’s to be anything left for the rest.

Like everything you do, say, think – good self-care is a choice. So, whether you spend your day at an office or in your home, make and take a time out (or two) everyday. Turn off your phone, TV, computer, Ipad/pod, Kindle, Nook, voices in your head and go sit in a park, your car, on your front porch…and REST. 

Your business will not shut its doors because of your twenty-minute absence, REALLY.

Your family will live to see another day if dinner is fifteen minutes late, REALLY.

The school bake sale will still go on even if you don’t get the brownies there by 10 am, REALLY. 

You and every one you love, and all the things you do, will be better for your few minutes of nothingness, REALLY!

PUT YOUR FEET UP!

Dorothy

Please visit our Facebook page at The 51% Project, where you will find daily postings of inspirational words and images. And, please “LIKE” us while you’re there. THANKS!

With Our Own Two Hands

Unless someone like you cares a whole lot,

nothing is going to get better.

It's not. 

         ~ Dr. Seuss

Anne Frank knew it.  Leo Rosten, Edward Everett Halle and Dr. Suess, too. Even a small, single act can work to make the world a better place. 

 

I find this beautiful piece set to the music of Jack Johnson and Ben Harper a thoughtful and powerful reminder that: Doing nothing is not an option. 

 

 

I hope you are inspired by these words to take action, do something, make a difference with YOUR own two hands!

Last week's daily quotes are also a good reminder of the power of action. If you missed them on Facebook, please enjoy them here today.

 

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a

single moment before starting to improve the world. 

~Anne Frank

 Act as if what you do makes a difference.  It does. 

~William James

The purpose of life is not to be happy - but to matter, to be productive,

to be useful, to have it make some difference that you have lived at all. 

~Leo Rosten

 

Being good is commendable, but only when it

is combined with doing good is it useful.

 ~Author Unknown

 

I am only one, but I am one.  I cannot do everything,

but I can do something.  And I will not let what

I cannot do interfere with what I can do. 

~Edward Everett Hale

It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing

because you can only do little - do what you can. 

~Sydney Smith

  

 

Nameste - Dorothy

 

 

 

 

Live With Passion

Man, unlike the animal, has never learned that 

the sole purpose of life is to enjoy it.

-Samuel Butler

Life is supposed to be fun and lived with gusto!  We hope this poem touches your heart and reminds you to enjoy every day.

The Dash Poem

by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak

At the funeral of a friend.

He referred to the dates on her tombstone

From the beginning to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth

And spoke of the following date with tears,

But he said what mattered most of all

Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time

That she spent alive on earth

And now only those who loved her

Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,

The cars, the house, the cash,

What matters is how we live and love

And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard;

Are there things you'd like to change?

For you never know how much time is left

That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough

To consider what's true and real

And always try to understand

The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger

And show appreciation more

And love the people in our lives

Like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect

And more often wear a smile,

Remembering that this special dash

Might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read

With your life's actions to rehash

Would you be proud of the things they say

About how you spent your dash?

All our best for the terrific week!

Susan and Dorothy 

Ahhh, the Memories

Make joyful memories often,

they will sustain you forever.

Susan Amidon

I believe that life is supposed to be an adventure and the past few weeks have been full of adventure, fun, and reminiscing.        

The founders of the company I’ve been associated with for more than 20 years have recently retired and this week was their retirement celebration.  Former employees came from all around the West to celebrate with them.  It has been years since I’ve seen many of the guests and it was so fun to reconnect, look at photos from years past and reminisce about the good times, as well as the awkward times, we shared.  Everyone was happy and eager to be a part the festivities.  So many pieces of our lives have been spent together, it was terrific to reconnect and update each other with our more recent adventures.  

Seeing old friends has made me think about how fortunate I am to have so many remarkable people in my life.  I’m one of the luckiest people I know ... I work with some of the most amazing people, from my knowledgeable and forward thinking clients to the willing and talented team members who make my work success possible.    I have a loving and accomplished family, friends and acquaintances who are inspiring and help me think outside of the box as well as make me laugh and remember that life is best when shared in joy and appreciation of all that we have.  

A couple of weeks ago I told you about my raccoon friend ... I’ve named him Hairy Houdini ... and how he drew me into his nocturnal adventure by inviting himself into my home.  He’s still making regular forays to my yard, enjoying the smorgasbord of treats placed in the trap set especially for him, and then somehow letting himself out of the trap to continue on his merry way.  His fearlessness, determination, and curiosity inspires me and I find myself drawn to the road less traveled to see what inspiration and fun I can find there.   

What I’m finding is kind and helpful people willing to go out of their way to help others, new ideas and opportunities, and some very funny conversations.  Most everyone I meet seems to be in a similar place; trying to redefine their purpose and move to a more meaningful and fulfilling life.   I think this is a needed change of perspective from the decadence of the past decade or so.

Adventure calls and I want to answer ... will you join me?     

Susan

Susan:  This week will include business travel and creative problem solving, I’ll be tapping into my joyful memories for stress relief and smiles. 

Dorothy:  Susan and I will have to duke it out for the title of luckiest person in the world this week! How can I not win - I have Susan in my work and play life!  Her ever positive twist on life is such a great tonic against the frequent grumblings of the greater world.  I'm lucky and grateful to be traveling this part of my road of life with her!  Thank you Suz!

Gifts from the Sea

The sea does not reward those who are too anxious,

too greedy, or too impatient. One should lie empty, open,

choiceless as a beach - waiting for a gift from the sea.
Anne Morrow Lindbergh

There is something about being near the sea that changes me. The juxtaposition of fury and serenity settles beneath my skin to my cells and soul, helping me to renew my acceptance of the ebb and flow of life. I am always changed and better for the experience.

Recently I had the great pleasure of spending three weeks by the sea, up the coasts of New Hampshire and Maine, and around the Canadian Provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. It was an awesome, incredible, breathtaking and jaw-dropping journey. But, in spite of the excitement and joy that comes with great adventures, I also carried with me a deep sadness and great concern as some people I love were experiencing great loss and difficult challenges in their lives at the time of my departure.

Then one evening, on the shore of Peggy’s Cove, on the Southern coast of Nova Scotia, the waves wild in the wake of hurricane Lee, I saw that even after being tossed and tumbled by the fierceness and rage of an angry sea, the beach and shells and rocks and bits of washed up glass had come to rest at last; glistening in the sun, rough edges smoothed, beautiful in a new and triumphant way. And I knew that my loved ones though tossed and tumbled by the harsh, tumultuous occurrences currently in their life, would one day also be glistening in the sun, softened and peaceful again. I was filled with joy and gratitude.

Beyond the heart and head filling memories and images gathered along the way of my travels, I have returned with something else: a gift from the sea – the gift of hope and peace, and a renewal of faith that life, like the sea, will be full of highs and lows, of rage and stillness but if we lay ourselves open to its cycles, trusting that calm will come after the storm, we will arrive on shores worth reaching.

In the vastness of our surroundings there is always something that can show us the way to a deeper knowing.  Whether a small shell or a great ocean, there are truths and wisdom to be learned from nature.  Take the time to see and listen – you’ll be grateful for the gifts.

Happy Trails,

D

 Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia

Dorothy  There were other gifts along the way as well:  The comfort and joy of spending time with dear and special friends, the rekindling of long ago friendships with people who still have the power to make me a better person, and the companionship of the quintessential traveling buddy; an extraordinary women with whom I look forward to always taking the scenic route, on the road and in life.

Susan  I'm in one of the "calm water" segments of life.  But, that doesn't mean I don't have concerns, or trials every day.  Despite some random uneasiness, I'm enjoying the respite this calm brings, because I've been here before and know that the one constant in life is change. Change comes in many forms but, I believe it shines light on something that needs to be reviewed, therefore, it's productive and helps me better myself.

In Memory....

On the morning of September 11, 2001, 2,977 people from 115 nations

left home expecting to take their seat at the dinner table that night.

May the memory of that horrifying day be a reminder

that we do not know what lies ahead.

Make today matter.

We must continue to honor those who died September 11, 2001, by living the best life we can, by being good neighbors, citizens, stewards of the earth, by remembering that every minute is a gift, by practicing kindness and compassion, by accepting our differences, and by working together to make the world a better place for children and other living things.

Love One Another,

Dorothy and Susan

In Praise of Farmers

In Praise of Farmers

Up at dawn, 

to bed at dusk,

Tending every seed
and husk,

In sun, and rain,
and wind, and snow,

It matters not,
for they must go,

Through bugs and beasts
and floods and drought,

They cannot stop,
they must not doubt.

For the rich, the poor
on them depend,

The war on hunger
they must defend.
And to our tables 

comes their bounty,
To every town and 

state and county,

But those of us who
share their gifts,

Think little of their
daily risks,

The toil and hardship
they must face,

To bring the feast that
earns our Grace.

So, with each bite you next should savor,

Do not forget the farmer’s labor,

That brought these gifts from farms to stands,

And praise the farmer’s loving hands.

DM

8/2011

Dorothy and Susan:   This week let's all acknowledge the great abundance that surrounds us...visit your local Farmers' Market, pick-your-own berries, buy or pick a bunch of flowers and bring them to your neighbor and do what you can to otherwise support your local farmers, to share the harvest and to savor the banquet of life.

(the photos above were snapped at the Boise, ID Farmers' Market - one of the nation's best!  Thank you for the opportunity Chris and Kristi)

Taking Off the Blinders

Acceptance is seeing with your heart,

Not with your eyes.

Anon

The quote above hangs outside my grandson’s 3^rd grade classroom.  What a great piece of wisdom for a young mind to catch each day.

I’ve talked with my grandson, as have his parents, about this quote and about bullying and doing the right thing - even when it’s the hard thing and about using words rather than fists to settle disputes. I suspect you, too, have shared some similar insights with the children in your life. I know educators do the same. I can’t remember if there was such a focus on all this when I was in grade school, but I also can’t remember any Columbines or Virginia Techs.

How did we come to a place in time where children kill themselves because of slanderous “posts” or “tweets,” and kill each other because their pain is too big to contain, where the elimination of prejudice seems to be going backwards not forward, where our government is tied up in time wasting power plays, where being the top dog means more than being the good dog?  We seem to have misplaced our knowing and have disregarded our connection to, and need of, one another.

We have forgotten that whether we’re a type A or B employee, a teenager insisting on wearing a snow cap all year long – inside and out, an overweight mom, a husband who prefers TV to dance class, we have, every one of us, the same basic desires:  to support our physiological needs with access to clean air, clean water, fresh food and basic healthcare, to be safe and secure where we live, work, play, and socialize, to belong and be loved by family and friends, to experience esteem through respect of ourselves and others, and to achieve a purposeful life.

And, we seem to have forgotten that every one of us, whatever the color of our skin, our religion, our sexual preference, our ethnic origins; whether we’re rich, poor, fat, slim, brilliant or average, is born into this word with just one emotion, love.  Everything else is learned.  Courage, integrity, honesty, patience, tolerance and right action are taught values.  As are, hatred, greed, cruelty, and bullying.  Every act, word, interaction we engage in is a lesson.  Nothing we do or say goes unnoticed. 

So, we must, every one of us, remember that we are teachers to not only our children but also to our partners on this earth and take responsibility, everyday, in every way to do the right thing and to be intolerant, not of people, but of ignorance and injustice. 

The capacity to bring about change is not just in the hearts of a few…it’s in every one of us.

The video below was the inspiration for today’s post.  I hope the music and images touch and inspire you as much as they did me. Enjoy!

Namaste -

Dorothy

 

 

Dorothy:  As the school year comes to an end, I’d like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the outstanding efforts of my grandson’s 3^rd grade teacher.  Her commitment, joy, patience, and love made this an amazing year for all of us!  Kudos, as well, to the rest of the remarkable men and women who dedicate their lives to the children who hold our future in their hearts and minds.  I am forever grateful to all the teachers…both paid and unpaid…who have, and continue to grace my life.  I am better for all your lessons.

Susan:   Thank you to all of the wonderful teachers that have come into my life and the lives of my family.  Each of you has had a profoundly positive impact.

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