You still have a couple days of the old year to think about what you want to let go so you can enter 2017 as unencumbered as possible without old ideas, old grudges and old baggage. What would lighten your load? What things feel like a ball-and-chain that you no longer wish to drag around?
OK, here's your chance to shed all that so you can soar like the proverbial butterfly into a brand new year. If you do that, you'll be so much more ready for the adventure of new possibilities and opportunities. Who knows what lies ahead?
There's a second part to this. The first part is the letting go. The next part is to stay awake and aware so you notice the opportunities that show up in your life. It's so easy to be all tied in knots about old stuff and not even see what's on the path in front of us. We might be too busy looking in the rear-view mirror or looking straight down at the ground and not seeing what shows up on the horizon.
Let 2017 be a year of embracing opportunity and adventure. Happy New Year to you!
P.S. Remember, beginning next week, I will post blogs only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week. I invite you to tell me what topic ideas you'd like to see. Make your suggestions at: sonia@way2growcoaching.com.
Showing posts with label opportunity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label opportunity. Show all posts
Friday, December 30, 2016
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Open mind—open heart
"Light is in both the broken bottle and the diamond, and music is in both the flowing violin and the water dripping from the drainage pipe," says inspirational writer Mark Nepo.
That is so true. Good things can come in several different packages. So can bad things. It behooves us, then, to stop making judgments about everything. "This is good." "This is bad." "This is right." "This is wrong."
Things aren't often quite so clear cut. We simply need to remain open to possibilities. Important lessons can come to us from situations we consider negative or harmful. And they can come from some of life's most beautiful and precious experiences.
What might happen if we could drop our judgments and simply keep open minds and open hearts? How much more might we see and learn?
That is so true. Good things can come in several different packages. So can bad things. It behooves us, then, to stop making judgments about everything. "This is good." "This is bad." "This is right." "This is wrong."
Things aren't often quite so clear cut. We simply need to remain open to possibilities. Important lessons can come to us from situations we consider negative or harmful. And they can come from some of life's most beautiful and precious experiences.
What might happen if we could drop our judgments and simply keep open minds and open hearts? How much more might we see and learn?
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Adding love to the world
There are so many ways we can add a touch of love and humanity to our world. Just look around. Opportunities abound in our homes, our neighborhoods, our wider community, in our schools and public institutions, in our country and across the globe.
I just read in the AARP Bulletin of one such effort, begun in 1948 when Air Force chief of staff Gen. Hoyt Vandenberg and his wife, Gladys, realized that some of the funerals at Arlington National Cemetery were attended only by the military chaplain. They felt someone else should always be present, too. Now each of the service branches has wives' groups that make sure others attend the funerals. They also reach out to families of the fallen in various ways.
Sandra Griffin, retired as a major after 23 years in the Air Force, writes sympathy notes to Air Force families she hasn't even met; and she attends funerals. "It's a way to still serve. It's a comfort to the families," she says. "Some reach out to hold your hand and say thank you."
Yes, it really doesn't take a lot. What needs are you noticing around you that might be calling to you? Sometimes even smiles to strangers in the public sphere can add joy to someone's day. So many possibilities. What will you choose?
I just read in the AARP Bulletin of one such effort, begun in 1948 when Air Force chief of staff Gen. Hoyt Vandenberg and his wife, Gladys, realized that some of the funerals at Arlington National Cemetery were attended only by the military chaplain. They felt someone else should always be present, too. Now each of the service branches has wives' groups that make sure others attend the funerals. They also reach out to families of the fallen in various ways.
Sandra Griffin, retired as a major after 23 years in the Air Force, writes sympathy notes to Air Force families she hasn't even met; and she attends funerals. "It's a way to still serve. It's a comfort to the families," she says. "Some reach out to hold your hand and say thank you."
Yes, it really doesn't take a lot. What needs are you noticing around you that might be calling to you? Sometimes even smiles to strangers in the public sphere can add joy to someone's day. So many possibilities. What will you choose?
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
'I'm only one person'
I'm feeling grateful today. It's snowing ever so gently, so the landscape outside my office window is just beautiful—all clean and white with diamond-studded snow. And I'm safely ensconced inside my house, all warm and cozy. I'm not a real fan of winter, but this is picture postcard-beautiful.
At the same time, I'm feeling sad for the large number of Americans (and others around the world) who are homeless. While I enjoy the warmth and comfort of home, many others will sleep in a cardboard box, under a bridge or in a doorway somewhere.
Honestly, I have a difficult time wrapping my head around this sometimes. How can this be—in one of the wealthiest nations on earth?
It all comes back to me, though: What am I doing to help those who find themselves in such a situation? What am I doing to bring about the changes necessary so this won't be? It's so easy to say, "I'm just one person. I have no power." That's too easy, though, and we shouldn't be off the hook so easily. There are things to be done—ways to help. Many opportunities are out there if we just look.
Whatever the community or societal problem you and I see, let's find ways we can help. Every person's action adds up. Before long we see that, together, we have made a difference.
At the same time, I'm feeling sad for the large number of Americans (and others around the world) who are homeless. While I enjoy the warmth and comfort of home, many others will sleep in a cardboard box, under a bridge or in a doorway somewhere.
Honestly, I have a difficult time wrapping my head around this sometimes. How can this be—in one of the wealthiest nations on earth?
It all comes back to me, though: What am I doing to help those who find themselves in such a situation? What am I doing to bring about the changes necessary so this won't be? It's so easy to say, "I'm just one person. I have no power." That's too easy, though, and we shouldn't be off the hook so easily. There are things to be done—ways to help. Many opportunities are out there if we just look.
Whatever the community or societal problem you and I see, let's find ways we can help. Every person's action adds up. Before long we see that, together, we have made a difference.
Monday, April 20, 2015
Opportunity? Or loss?
Last week I attended the funeral of a dear uncle and godparent. He was one of my favorites, and it wasn't easy to lose him.
As a friend said recently, "There seem to be more funerals lately." I guess that's bound to happen at a certain stage of life. It causes me to reflect on what it means to be the generation that will soon be out on the edge—or the forefront—depending on your point of view.
That can be a downer for you if you focus on death or on the fact of what you'll be missing out on once you're gone. But it can be inspirational to think about your role as a mentor, an elder, an encourager or whatever other word you'd like to put to it. We have so many wonderful opportunities as we age to pass on whatever wisdom we've gained, to encourage younger ones to find their place in life and to live into their authentic selves. It can be a wonderful time of life. There's so much need out there, and we have so much to offer.
As is so often the case, you can view aging from different vantage points. You can look at what little time you have left and feel the loss. Or you can look at all the opportunities that are ahead for you no matter how much time you have left. Choose carefully. Your happiness depends on your attitude.
As a friend said recently, "There seem to be more funerals lately." I guess that's bound to happen at a certain stage of life. It causes me to reflect on what it means to be the generation that will soon be out on the edge—or the forefront—depending on your point of view.
That can be a downer for you if you focus on death or on the fact of what you'll be missing out on once you're gone. But it can be inspirational to think about your role as a mentor, an elder, an encourager or whatever other word you'd like to put to it. We have so many wonderful opportunities as we age to pass on whatever wisdom we've gained, to encourage younger ones to find their place in life and to live into their authentic selves. It can be a wonderful time of life. There's so much need out there, and we have so much to offer.
As is so often the case, you can view aging from different vantage points. You can look at what little time you have left and feel the loss. Or you can look at all the opportunities that are ahead for you no matter how much time you have left. Choose carefully. Your happiness depends on your attitude.
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