This is a Traditional Native American prayer that puts things into perspective for me. I always have to remember not to sweat the small stuff.
The first six lines will suffice and are easy to memorize for those times when only a heart touching prayer will do.
"O, Great spirit,
whose voice I hear in the wind,
whose breath gives life to all the world,
Hear me! I am small and weak.
I need your strength and wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty,
and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have made
and my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may
understand the things you have taught my people.
Let me learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock.
I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother, but to fight my greatest enemy - myself.
Make me always ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes.
So when life fades, as the fading sunset,
my spirit may come to you without shame.
Ho!"
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
George Carlin
I heard sad news that George Carlin died today at age 71. I first became acquainted with Carlin as a teenager. I had a record album which included the risque routine, "The Seven Words You Can't Say on Television". I remember my mother coming into the living room and initially reacting with horror as to what we were listening to. Moments later, despite her best efforts not to, she would be laughing along with us. His career saw him move from a rebel comedian to a wise social commentator of our times. Here is a taste:
"The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom.
Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."
I will miss him.
"The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom.
Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."
I will miss him.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
What I learned when I turned 50
I turned 50 over this past weekend. My wonderful husband Jim put together an absolutely amazing party. There were several groupings of musicians and I was serenaded with everything from "Long May You Run" ( which I believe was originally written about a car, but who cares) to a searing version of Carlos Santana's "Europa". There was also a group participation number of "Midnight Train to Georgia" that featured about fifteen Pips impersonators.
The highlight of the evening was, cornily enough, having my dear friends and family sing "Happy Birthday to You" to me. I looked at out a sea of beautiful smiling faces and at that moment I felt like Jimmy Stewart at the end of "It's a Wonderful Life", when his brother Harry makes a toast "to my brother George, the richest man in the world." George Bailey then finds a book that has been inscribed by his angel Clarence that reads, "Dear George, Remember no man is a failure who has friends."
I am rich in friends and I am very blessed for this.
I had thought hitting this milestone might be difficult. It turned out not to be that way at all. Instead, it made me realize how rich my life has been because of the people I have known and loved.
The highlight of the evening was, cornily enough, having my dear friends and family sing "Happy Birthday to You" to me. I looked at out a sea of beautiful smiling faces and at that moment I felt like Jimmy Stewart at the end of "It's a Wonderful Life", when his brother Harry makes a toast "to my brother George, the richest man in the world." George Bailey then finds a book that has been inscribed by his angel Clarence that reads, "Dear George, Remember no man is a failure who has friends."
I am rich in friends and I am very blessed for this.
I had thought hitting this milestone might be difficult. It turned out not to be that way at all. Instead, it made me realize how rich my life has been because of the people I have known and loved.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Truth over Harmony
In the past few years the expression "Truth over Harmony" has become my parenting mantra. I would like to say that I came up with this idea on my own. However, it is something I have learned from a first-rate book on creating a character culture within one's family called, The Biggest Job We'll Ever Have. The authors, Malcolm and Laura Gauld, have devised a list of Ten Priorities to help parents do their job. Truth Over Harmony is number one.
The concept of Truth over Harmony is simple. It espouses the notion that most families pick harmony over truth. In an effort to maintain civility and avoid conflict, family members are not honest with one another. How many times have you let things slide in order to keep the peace? How often have you done something for your child instead of asking them to do it because it would prevent an unpleasant confrontation. I know I used to do that all the time. The problem is that in choosing harmony we are also choosing dishonesty.
For the conflict-avoidant this is a difficult mindset to embrace, but I assure you that in the long run the dividends are huge.
The concept of Truth over Harmony is simple. It espouses the notion that most families pick harmony over truth. In an effort to maintain civility and avoid conflict, family members are not honest with one another. How many times have you let things slide in order to keep the peace? How often have you done something for your child instead of asking them to do it because it would prevent an unpleasant confrontation. I know I used to do that all the time. The problem is that in choosing harmony we are also choosing dishonesty.
For the conflict-avoidant this is a difficult mindset to embrace, but I assure you that in the long run the dividends are huge.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Two Wolves
Two Wolves
An elder Cherokee Native American was teaching her grandchildren about life. She said to them, “A fight is going on inside me… it is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.
One wolf represents fear, anger, envy, sorrow, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and self importance.
The other stands for joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.
This same fight is going on inside of you and inside of every other person too.”
The grandchildren thought about this for a bit and then one child asked his grandmother, “Which wolf will win?”
The old wise woman simply replied, “The one you feed.”
Keep feeding the right wolf.
I cannot remember when I first heard this story but it is as helpful today as ever. Those negative emotions can get a fierce grip and over shadow the positive, especially when I'm tired. Thank God for weekends!
Peace
An elder Cherokee Native American was teaching her grandchildren about life. She said to them, “A fight is going on inside me… it is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.
One wolf represents fear, anger, envy, sorrow, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and self importance.
The other stands for joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.
This same fight is going on inside of you and inside of every other person too.”
The grandchildren thought about this for a bit and then one child asked his grandmother, “Which wolf will win?”
The old wise woman simply replied, “The one you feed.”
Keep feeding the right wolf.
I cannot remember when I first heard this story but it is as helpful today as ever. Those negative emotions can get a fierce grip and over shadow the positive, especially when I'm tired. Thank God for weekends!
Peace
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)