Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Passion Party #307 - The Road Of Life

The road of life is too short
to spend time driving with f---ed up people.

There are times on the road of life
when you need a good mechanic
and other times when you need a new road.

Sometimes you just need ingenuity:
Steven Wright took his car to the mechanic because the brakes were failing.
"I couldn't repair your brakes," the mechanic told him, "so I made your horn louder".

The other day I saw my favorite bumper sticker:
HORN BROKEN -
Watch For Finger

Monday, November 29, 2010

Passion Party #306 - Ask For Help

Don't be afraid to ask for help
There is nothing weak about it
It shows character, strength and trust.

Don't be afraid to ask for clarity
More clarity earlier means fewer emergencies later
It is not a sign of ignorance when you don't understand.

Don't be afraid to say,
"Can you explain this"
or "I can't do this alone
I need your help."

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Passion Party #305 - I Will Be There

Smart, funny, caring,
concerned, truthful, musical,
loving, questioning, responsible,
brilliant, talented, thoughtful...
I know at times it all feels like dust
but believe me,
your character will carry you through
It may feel like you are at the top of the mountain
but really the journey is just beginning
and it will be full of
twists and turns and surprises
and know
that I will be there to love you
I will be there to support you
I will be there to care for you
I will be there to hug you
No matter what

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Passion Party #304 - Open For Business

There was a time about two years ago
that I was praying for business
Now I have plenty of business
and I am praying for relief.

The work is cyclical
and when it hits it can be overwhelming
the detail and intricacy
leaves me ready to only focus on the challenges directly in front of me
to forget the past and future.

At times like this
I must remain open for business
remember that people need help
and I can use my knowledge and ability to guide them.
As long as I am honest and don't over-promise
I can stay open to receive
new business

Monday, November 22, 2010

Passion Party #303 - Embrace the Unknown

There are things that I know
There are things I know that I don't know
And then there are things that I don't know that I don't know.

The world is full of wonder
if I just open myself to it.
I shut myself off from possibilities
when I approach things
from the place that I know what I know.

Today I will let go of fear
and embrace the unknown
opening up to what I don't know
to see what I can learn.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Passion Party #302 - Upon Waking

There is a pleasure
in waking before sunrise
when the world is still and quiet
with only the white noise of the distant freeway
in the background

It is a time to view this blank slate
the sense of energy in my body buoys me
It is not yet a day of happiness or sadness
tethered not to moods or expectations

To accept that there is pain in life
that there is loss in life
that as we travel this path from birth to death
we have the ability to experience
both joy and pain
and to be open
to where the currents take me today
knowing
it is all part of life.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Passion Party #301 - A Gift of Health

There are many things in my life that I put up with, but when it comes to my health, I can't compromise any more.

After countless years of "tolerating" my current gym, I took a leap and joined a new sports facility. My old gym was fine - the equipment was up-to-date, but the place always felt kind of dirty and the locker room area was barely serviceable. At any given time there were always 2-3 showers out of service, etc.
The new club I joined is a major step up (in quality as well as price). It is more like a four-star hotel spa, without the hotel. Valet parking. Full-service restaurant for breakfast, lunch or business meetings. Salt water lap pool and basketball court. The men's locker room has a huge steam room, sauna and jacuzzi.

My new commitment: 3 times a week to the gym. It is a gift to myself.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Passion Party #300 - Let It Go

We pick our battles
and fight our fights
some are for personal gain
and some are for what we believe is justice.

But at some point
we have to let go
and move on
trusting that it will get done.

The sun will rise each day
without me pushing it up
into the sky.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Passion Party #299 - Fiinding Solutions

My job is simple.
Each day I am given a new set of problems
and my job
is to find solutions.

It is simple, but not for the weak of heart.
Like composing music, some notes will sound better than others
and like doing a crossword puzzle, some words will fit but may be incorrect.

But at the end of the day
the more puzzles I am able to solve
the more I am able to find the solution
the better my life is.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Passion Party #298 - The Tyranny of The New

Our society is obsessed with New
It must be cutting edge
The New New Thing
Next year's model
The latest, the greatest
New and Improved.

But some things do not need improvement
like a hug because you care
or a Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends
Sometimes we don't need
to be on "the bleeding edge"
to feel alive and worthwhile.
I can let go of the "new"
and wear my old comfortable slippers
with the hole in the heel.
I will ignore the Tyranny of New
and focus instead on being authentic.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Passion Party #297 - Physical - Therapy

Many people see physical therapy as something you just do
when you are wounded or have pulled a muscle
but for me, most anything I do that is physical
acts as therapy.

Our bodies and minds are intertwined
The more anxious I am
the tenser my body gets
and when I bike ride, or hike in nature
my mind relaxes.

Like working with a coach or therapist
getting help from others makes a huge difference.
Massaging my own back can only go so far.
Now is the time to commit
to regular massages from a professional.
It is not an extravagance
it is a necessity
so I can continue to perform
at my highest level.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Passion Party #296 - Ten Benefits

Setting goals is easy
Getting it done is hard.
What I want and how to get there
are two different things.
For me what works best is a clear mental picture
of how I will benefit
once I reach the goal.
Whether it is to lose 10 pounds,
or earn $100,000
or to get two new referrals in the next 7 days
it is how I benefit from the result that motivates me to complete the goal, not the goal itself.

Finding ten benefits for the goal gives me motivation.
Like a good method actor, I have to know WHY I am doing something before I can make it real.
Today I choose to write ten benefits that I will receive by reaching my goal.
"When I lose ten pounds..."
or
"When I get better at..."
When I see the benefits that I receive from achieving my goal
I will also find the motivation to keep going.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Passion Party #295 - Time For Joy

My day should never be too busy
that I don't have time for joy.

Whether it is watching a cloud
or staring at the moon,
noticing the birds singing in the morning
or looking at the trees as the leaves change color,
feeling the breeze
or splashing in a puddle
watching a child play
or writing in a journal.

There is always time for joy.