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.

A Vertical Perspective of Life

'The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking

new landscapes but in having new eyes.'

-Marcel Proust

Many years ago my eldest son discovered and, ultimately, mastered the sport/skill of rock climbing.  One day, after I was finally able to calm my own fears about this new passion in his life, I asked him, “Why?  Why do you love this, what does it bring to your life, why do you DO it??!!” 

After explaining some of the physical and mental challenges involved in conquering a 3000-foot vertical slab of granite, he went on to express how his climbing skills had become useful in his everyday life.  His words struck me like a hammer and left me with a visual that would return over and over again, helping me through my own personal challenges, and as a powerful gem to share with my grief groups, and in both cases – many ah-ha moments!

In contemplating my blog assignment this week, I asked Matthew to please share those words of wisdom again.  He thoughtfully and eloquently obliged.  Below are his words – and my “like life” comments:

 “………Climbing, for the most part, is a team sport (like life: almost every minute of the day we are called upon to find harmony in our interpersonal relationships). Your teammate, however, is primarily there for safety and can really do nothing to help you once you’ve begun climbing. In this respect, it is a very individualistic endeavor. It is up to you, and only you, to accomplish your objective of reaching the top. You must overcome the obstacles you encounter with your own skills and strengths (like life: once past the age when our parents/caregivers are no longer responsible for our nurturing and wellbeing, we are basically on our own to choose the paths - ascending or descending- our lives will take).

“They say that climbing is 10% rubber (chance) and 90% mental (choice). Essentially, the rubber on your shoes will stick to just about any edge you put it on. The real challenge is in knowing that you have the skills to pull that next move, (conviction, courage) even when you’re 500 ft. off the deck (haven’t we all felt like we were flying without a net at one time or another?). In this respect, climbing is very mental. Being pushed out of your comfort zone (the easiest, quickest way) and overcoming a challenge is very rewarding (making the right decision, doing the right thing = feels good!!!).

“When you climb, especially difficult routes (a reoccurring part of life), it demands your total concentration (consciousness, integrity). Your world, in essence, shrinks to the size of what you can physically reach with your hands and feet (being in the present moment). Sometimes, you may get stuck (mental/physical/spiritual/existential roadblocks), not able to find a handhold or foothold to make upward progress with (indecision, worry, lack of support, loneliness). This is the point at which you must focus (see the truth in the situation) the most. Your arms start to burn and your legs start to shake (fear, depression, feeling overwhelmed), but you know that there’s got to be another handhold somewhere (hope). So, you hold on and step your feet up just a bit higher, (faith, trust, inner knowing) even an inch or two (slow and steady wins the race), and more handhold options usually appear (success, right action = joy, happiness, fulfillment).

“Many times you find that you’ve gone the wrong way (bad decisions, things that don’t work out as you’d hoped/unexpected, life changes, mistakes) and that you just can’t make any progress no matter how hard you try, the holds just aren’t there (doing the same thing over and over with the same – undesired - result). When this happens you need to reverse your moves and figure out where you got off route (what went wrong and what part did you play in it). It all comes down to efficiency, you can’t waste your energy trying to go the wrong way (it takes just as much effort to choose to be miserable as it does to choose to be happy), you need to back up and try a different approach (helping things go right, taking responsibility for your actions, making amends) or you’ll never have the energy to make it to the top (a joyful, fulfilling, good LIFE).”  

Thank you Matthew for helping me remember that when life is an uphill climb - shifting my perspective, trusting my instincts, taking responsibility, and using my innate and acquired skills, will help me find a way to the top.  Thank you for helping me see with new eyes.

“The man at the top of the mountain did not just fall there.” (anon)

Namaste,

Dorothy

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Dorothy:  My mantra for the week:  Life’s an uphill climb – drop the rocks!

Susan:  Be careful what you wish for … because you just may get it.  I’ve heard this phrase many times throughout my life and found that it’s very sage advice.  I’m analyzing my “wishes” so that I can determine what parts of them I truly want and need to have a fulfilling life.  When I’m clear about the outcome I’m wishing for, I’ve found my authentic wishes and dreams; my best self emerges and opportunities for fulfilling dreams are easier to recognize and act on.  

Please visit us on Facebook - The 51% Project - and let us hear your thoughts and suggestions.  Give us a thumbs up while there and help us reach of 1,000 "likes" by 4/30!!! Thanks!

Living an Intentional Life

Intention:  an aim or objective, the quality of purposefulness.

As we move forward with the 51% Project, we are deeply touched and lifted by the stories shared by the people we’ve highlighted, and of those of you who have posted comments on these pages. In recognizing the joyful and determined lives of folks like Charley Johnson and Heather Gable, we’ve come to see a central theme in their way of being in the world.  Though they may not be as well-known (yet) as others across history who have lived intentional lives (often at their own great peril); Oskar Shindler, Martin Luther King, Paul Rusesabagina, Nelson Mandela, Captain Sully; their choices and actions are made through the conscious intention of decency and integrity everyday. 

When Susan and I first started talking about this project, she told me about a morning ritual she practices.  Each day when she awakens, she takes a few moments to write a sentence in her journal:  Today I will author my life by______________________.  Author her life = write her story, a chance to start a new chapter if so inclined or to beef up or alter the current saga unfolding, simply by stating an intention of how she wished to be that day.  Brilliant!

I loved the concept and began to employ it the very next day.  The results have been remarkable – really.  Though I often forgot the actual verbiage of the written intent by the time I get about my day; at days end, when I peek back at my entry, it’s clear my subconscious has remembered and has guided me appropriately. It’s so subtle, yet extraordinarily powerful.  The results seem to be cumulative as well.  I feel better – do better - am better - for those few moments of contemplation I am taking each day.

Though our intentions may not save the lives of millions, they may provide us, or the people we love and share the earth with, a joyful memory, a moment of grace or the feeling of peace in our sometimes-frightening world.

Whether you choose to AUTHOR your life through your heart or your hand doesn’t matter.  The important thing is to define what purposefulness means to you, and to offer up – in whatever way is comfortable to you – your intention to make it be.

Dorothy:  A peek at my intentions this week:  Today I will author my life by……being a witness and not a judge, remembering to breathe, giving someone the benefit of a doubt, smiling at strangers, being quiet, giving more hugs, trusting it will all work out………………….

SUSAN:  Last summer I began looking closely at the people I interact with in my work life as well as my personal life. I identified what I saw as a change that has occurred in the past few years in everyone’s way of looking at life. I described it in my journal as a frantic, swirling, compulsion to protect ourselves, our jobs, our families, our finances. Everyone, including me, seemed quick to react with aggression and without thinking about a positive outcome, a win/win if you will.  It seemed to me that we’d all given up on the belief in a happy life and instead turned to frustration and fear about the changes occurring in our world.  I didn’t like this feeling and decided to do something about it.  As I considered how to improve my outlook I remembered something I was taught years ago as a technique for creating successful sales calls … visualize the desired result before you walk into the appointment.  Just like an athlete, see the entire encounter it in your minds eye. See/feel yourself entering the meeting confident and purposeful, see/feel your prepared presentation going perfectly, the client’s responses being positive, and leaving the meeting having been awarded the sale. I read about authoring your life every day and liked the idea because it was a simple way to create my day using the same principle I’d learned about successful selling. Every morning I began writing what I wanted out of the day and, like Dorothy, found that I didn’t think about my entry during the day, but when I reviewed it in the evening I’d almost always had the kind of day I’d intended.  Some of my entries have been: “I will author my life today by letting go of the old and inviting in new positive experiences.” “Today will be a day filled with energy and accomplishment.”  “Today is a day to enjoy being out in the mountains, clearing my mind and defining what’s important to me.”  “Today I will be authentic in all of my conversations.” I hope this gives you some ideas about creating an intention for your day … a way to create a purposeful and fulfilling life.

Do you have a story to share – yours or someone you know?  Please tell us about it!  You can email your suggestions to: dmsa51@51percent.us and we’ll contact you.  Remember – this is a PROJECT and the more we share the better we ALL will be!  Thank you for your kind words and acknowledgements.

Live with intention!

Dorothy and Susan