"Make new friends, and keep the old..

one is silver and the other gold."  At the grocery yesterday, I ran into a former colleague and friend who I hadn't seen for a couple of years.  I had forgotten what a happy, engaged person he was.  What a treat to catch up!  If we are lucky we will run into a friend whose eyes twinkle because they are such a happy person. And if we are really fortunate, we will learn to carry that joy into our own lives.  Make a ripple, celebrate your life, see what happens!

What are we willing to do?

Last night I was watching a story about a man who cut off his arm to escape from a mountain and save his own life.  It made me wonder how committed I am to doing what I feel is important.  We may not have to do something as extreme, but knowing what another human has done might strengthen our resolve to make sure we do whatever we can to continue to change the world for the better, every day. Make a ripple, honor your strength, see what happens.

"it totally wicks!"

So I was talking to a friend about polyester.  I don't necessarily like it.  I prefer bamboo, silk, or cotton.  However, the thing polyester does (besides not wrinkle) hmmm.. polyester skin(!) Anyway, it wicks moisture away from the body so you don't get cold.  Then I started thinking, what wicks sadness and frustration away from my mind?  Joy, peace, friends, good food, exercise and sleep all seem to work!  Make a ripple, choose from the above list, see what happens.

Where's your brilliance?

There is no doubt in my mind that each one of us contains a bright shining gift.  I think mine is writing.  It makes me euphoric to get up every morning and write these posts.  It is my passion and my brain is overflowing every minute of the day. It makes me feel alive and worthwhile.  We all have this, each and every one of us!  Make a ripple, twinkle brightly, see what happens.

"It's always something..."

Years ago, on Saturday Night Live, there was an actress named Gilda Radner.  She played a character named Rosanna Rosannadanna.  She was goofy and scattered with frousy hair that stuck out all over and a voice that could remove nail polish.  She was sooooo funny she made me laugh til my guts hurt, and she was soooo brilliant.  My rambling point is she always said, "It's always something... and she was and is right!  Sometimes it feels like we step from one pile of poop to another.  Her brilliance laid in the fact that she came at everything with humor!  Make a ripple, smile as you scrape your shoe, see what happens.

Resilience

I have four wonderful friends who have had quite a year.  One got cancer. (she is now successfully beating it), two of them had 3 of the 4 top stresses that can break you completely, and the other has had so much financial crap, it is unbelievable! I love them all so much! What they have in common is the ability to stand up each time they get knocked down.  They are smart enough to ask for help when they need it, and strong enough to endure what ever it takes.  I am so fortunate to have these people around me.  I honor them every day!  Make a ripple, learn to bounce back, see what happens.

What's the BEST thing that could happen?

We've all heard the opposite saying, and we can learn from that, but what if we decided to expend our energy on the best thing?!  What if we took a few minutes every day to picture our best world?  Would that propel us toward taking action to make it a reality ?!  There are so many great opportunities out there. Could we look at our own special gifts and see how we could use them?  Make a ripple, ask and answer, see what happens.