THE REAL TOP TEN

The top 10 things people claim to have taken for granted when they were alive:

10. How important they were to so many.
9. How easy life was when they stopped struggling.
8. That all of their prayers and thoughts were heard.
7. That there really were no coincidences.
6. How far ripples of their kindness actually spread.
5. What really was important: happiness, friends, love.
4. That any and all of their dreams could have come true.
3. How good looking and fun they always were.
2. How much guidance they received, whenever they asked for help.
1. That God was alive in everything, including themselves.

As expressed by the recently departed, fresh after their life-review on the big, BIG screen.

Ah-so,
    The Universe

reprinted from Mike Dooley - A Note From the Universe

Kenya and Habitat for Humanity

Jambo! As some of you might know, our daughter Tori is spending a few weeks in Kenya working with a team from Habitat for Humanity building a house for a family. She reports that they have arrived in Nairobi after stops in London, Athens and Istanbul and then a further 3,000 miles to the capital of Kenya where they met the rest of their team and spent Sunday resting and sight-seeing before heading off into the wilds on Monday.
To those of you that were kind enough to donate to the building fund on her behalf, I would like to pass on my gratitude and I'm sure that Tori will send you a report on her return. Internet access is hit and miss and seems to be centered in the major cities like Nairobi. She leaves after the "build" on the 17th and will spend a few days on Santorini before returning home and back to work. What an experience it will be.
There sure are great opportunities out there to make a difference in the world and I'm glad to see that Tori is taking advantage of one of them.

UNCLE JIM

My Uncle Jim passed earlier today and the world is poorer for it. He was surrounded by family, prayers, and love. I wish I had been able to talk with him one last time and share a laugh and a tear. He was my favourite uncle, probably because I had spent some formative years in his company, and I am a better person for it. My thoughts go out to his wife, Ruth, his children, and his sister Mabel - your sadness is shared by many.

A few years ago, Uncle Jim was in the hospital and I penned a few thoughts at the time - they follow below.

 

March 1, 2008

UNCLE JIM

Many of life's lessons are accompanied by either pain or laughter and frequently they arrive together. I learned recently that my Uncle Jim is in the hospital and he, unwittingly, was one of my greatest teachers. We were a lot alike I think, in that I recall much tut tutting from some of his sisters when he was young and single - it doesn't seem that long ago and like his nephew later, there may have been a dram or two involved to cause the tut tutting. He got past that stage and married a wonderful woman whom I remember laughing uproariously, when this little snot of a city boy drank an entire bottle of heavy cream found on her front porch, thinking it was milk. That same summer, my uncle had taken yours truly into their home to help with farm chores and a glorious summer it was (in retrospect). There was the day he sent me into an outdoor pen to grab a young calf and bring it into the barn. I walked in, grabbed it around the neck and pulled it through the gate, at which point the calf spotted freedom and made a bolt for the open highways with me holding on for dear life. My uncle stood in the gravelled yard and laughed his head off as I got dragged from one side to the other, like a rag doll. Every time he told that story over the years, he would add the line that I never let go of the calf and it makes me proud to this day.

My days of being a wrangler came to a close when Uncle Jim decided that I should paint the farm house, a brick, 8 storey edifice that had faded wood trim at the very top, shrouded in clouds, or so it seemed to a young boy barely taller than the aforementioned calf. Up the rickety wooden ladder I climbed with paint can and brush held with the white knuckles of one hand and the other clutched to the rungs, as I pushed myself further skyward on wobbling legs. At the top end of the ladder, I had to stretch as far as I could and still came up short of the actual peak, but I stole a glance at the ground when I heard my uncle standing there laughing so hard he was crying - the very top never did get painted that summer, but many years later, I had a painting business with 5 crews working and I didn't allow them to leave the worksite without painting the very top, or I'd climb up and do it myself.

Another responsibilty, that long ago summer, was keeping the barn clean and I attacked the corridors with a push broom and much enthusiasm and he always expressed his pride in my efforts. Along with sweeping straw and hay, there was the need to keep various areas directly behind the cows and some hog living quarters, clean as well. This required the use of a shovel, a strong back and a concerted disregard for my sense of smell. Shovelling shit became my specialty and if you have read this far, you will see that that lesson was also well taught.

thanks Uncle Jim

MY BACKYARD - ALBERTA

HAPPINESS COMES BEFORE SUCCESS

Most of us have moved forward in our lives assuming that if we work hard and create successful lives, we will attain some level of happiness. Here's a very unique and intriguing twist on that supposition from Shawn Achor, who has spent his time proving scientifically that happiness is what leads to success. He's a terrific speaker with a great message and it's worth your while to give it a listen.
Also, I am going to accept the 21 day challenge at the end of the video - how about you?

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

Ok, guys - what if you started off February 14th by saying this to your significant other:

"THE ANSWER IS, YES - WHAT'S THE QUESTION?"

I'm not necessarily saying that I would start off the day that way - but what might happen if YOU did?

HOW'S YOUR MENTAL HEALTH?

I have been in many places, but I've never been in Cahoots. Apparently, you can't go alone.
You have to be in Cahoots with someone.
I've also never been in Cognito. I hear no one recognizes you there.
I have, however, been in Sane. They don't have an airport; you have to be driven there.
I have made several trips there, thanks to my friends, family and work.
I would like to go to Conclusions, but you have to jump, and I'm not too much on physical activity anymore.
I have also been in Doubt. That is a sad place to go, and I try not to visit there too often.
I've been in Flexible, but only when it was very important to stand firm.
Sometimes I'm in Capable, and I go there more often as I'm getting older.
One of my favorite places to be is in Suspense! It really gets the adrenalin flowing and pumps up the old heart!
At my age I need all the stimuli I can get!
I may have been in Continent, but I don't remember what country I was in. It's an age thing.

PLEASE DO YOUR PART!

Today is one of the many National Mental Health Days throughout the year.

You can do your bit by remembering to send an e-mail to at least one unstable person. My job is done!
Life is too short for negative drama & petty things.
So laugh insanely, love truly and forgive quickly!
From one unstable person to another...
I hope everyone is happy in your head - we're all doing pretty good in mine!

GO AHEAD AND FORWARD IT - YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO

WE ALL NEED INSPIRATION

I have very few followers on this blog - it's been more of a personal journal for several years now and I spend most of my time over at Book Mentor. However, I thought you might be interested in this.
I go through spurts of a morning ritual that includes reading something inspirational and I am sure that I will recommit to this practice now that the New Year is upon us. Actually, I just started the reading part about 10 minutes ago.
A friend just released his new book, that I have gladly purchased, and I am making it part of my daily practice and you might want to consider it, too. Larry Anderson's personal story is one that shows what a dream can really accomplish and that dream includes making a difference in the world - his book does that. It offers the true stories of people who have made a magnificent contribution and offers the possibility that each of us might do the same. Larry has committed his own life to doing exactly that. Take a look here or on Kindle here and consider making his inspiring stories part of the magic that you can create in 2012.

Larry has donated the profits from his book to charity - just the sort of thing he does!!

PURPOSE vs. DEPRESSION

The natural antidote for depression and anxiety, and pretty much every other negative is, purpose.
No matter what our spiritual flavor, or lack of it, we all share one thing in common, the overwhelming need for a purpose. What's yours?

LIVING LIFE

A couple of things caught my eye recently. The first is a post from Seth Godin in which he talked about the experience of visiting a medical facility and then compares that "pre-digital" excursion (one which most of have taken) to other areas of life like shopping, working and so on - it's worth the 45 seconds to read it and the hour to contemplate how we are involved - go here.
The second thing arrived in my inbox this morning and reminded me about social networking and some of the basics that deserve to be recalled from time to time. Take a look here.

INSPIRATION

Inspiration is that deeper part of our spirit that emerges when we give ourselves permission to live our dreams