Surprise!

My cat had a nightmare, I think. Our cat usually sleeps through the many noises around her. Despite the blaring television and rattling dishes, she keeps on snoozing. One day during nap time, she jumped up into the scary hunched back position. She stared at us, jumped to the floor, and ambled away as if nothing happened. Maybe she dreamed about an encounter with the neighborhood dog. Cats are full of surprises.   

There are pleasant surprises and downright awful ones. Here’s a surprise this young man didn’t anticipate:  

                                         https://youtu.be/n4mznkHDMGk

Active military soldiers and their families deserve heartwarming surprise reunions, and much more. What sort of surprise would give you joy?  



Modified & reprinted from Nov. 2013

Walk This Way

Many of our decisions about where to work, shop or attend school depend on how far from home we’re willing to travel. It boils down to choosing between adventure and inconvenience. Some people don’t mind traveling long distances while others prefer quick trips. Regardless of how far you’re willing to travel, would you do this if you couldn’t go by car?

                                         https://youtu.be/5F6VGlLuzKM

The title “America Strong” underscores the student’s determination. Who else would do what he did? Think about the number of times you’ve texted from your bedroom to someone in your kitchen or ignored a ringing phone because you had to walk across the room to answer it. Rather than walking through the mall, I’ve considered leaving the building and driving to a store at the opposite end. Okay, I actually did that. We find the wildest reasons to avoid moving on. When you don’t feel like taking the next step, who or what motivates you to push forward?      

Life, Camera, Action!

While walking through a department store, I thought I saw a slight movement off to the side. I’m blaming it on tired eyes because it looked like a mannequin moved. It’s not impossible. You’ve seen stores create a buzz by substituting a live model for a mannequin, drawing a crowd as people stop and stare at the store windows. Onlookers stare trying to catch the models moving. They’re watching us, and we’re watching them. With cameras everywhere, it feels like someone’s watching our every move. See what the camera catches:

                                         https://youtu.be/rgDm5Fj5Yeg

There’s always camera footage to back up good and bad behavior. Fortunately, the employee has visual reminders of his little customer. Maybe we’d behave better if we remember that someone’s always watching. You never know when the camera will catch you, and if it does, what do you want it to capture about you?      

Stinky Situation

Whenever a major holiday coincides with trash pick-up, you know what’s in store. Hoping it doesn’t take too long, you impatiently check the receptacle several times while listening for any signs of the garbage truck. And, if the trash stays at the curb past our deadline, this is our biggest fear: 

                                         https://youtu.be/jUNIB4jCBdU

As the days tick by—and you’re fortunate—your receptacle will hold all the trash you need to stuff in it. A late trash pick-up is like life. We’ll tolerate a trashy situation for a while, but as soon as we’re fed up, we want it to disappear. Once we reach our tipping point, it’s time to act. What stinky situation are you ready to eliminate?      

What's the Small Stuff?

As I sat at a stop light on a multi-lane road, the light changed from red to green. A millisecond later, one driver beeped the car horn. Was that for me? What’d I do wrong? That’s what I would have thought years ago when I first started driving. Back then a parallel parking spot used to send me hunting for a “regular” space. Okay, it still does. But the point is now, with years of experience under my belt, whenever I hear a car horn beep while I’m driving, I think, “Hold your horses. You should’ve left home earlier!”   

If you talk with anyone sixty years and older, I believe they’ll tell you that the things they worried about decades ago pale in comparison to the issues that occupy their thoughts today. It’s interesting how knowledge and experience change our perspectives. Sometimes it’s a matter of focusing on the big picture.

One of our kids chose to replicate Neptune for a science project, and I learned it’s approximately seventeen times the earth’s mass. I’m always fascinated by the solar system and our position in it. We always seem to discover something new things in space. This video provides us with a fresh perspective on life and our universe: 

                                                      https://youtu.be/58fs5yI8K9I  

If you’re feeling insignificant, be encouraged! Despite the minuscule blip of space we occupy in the universe, we still have big jobs to tackle, like creating lasting legacies through role modeling. As you pass on the wisdom you’ve learned over the years, what small stuff would you advise someone else not to sweat?   


Edited and reprinted 2011(and still true)

Where Inspiration and Value Meet

Inspiration flows from stories, experiences, and from the most surprising places. I’m inspired by things seen and unseen, by nature and the cosmos. I’m inspired by the Seven Wonders of the World, the sun, how babies learn to walk and talk, how tree roots crack through sidewalks, and possibilities. Good stories inspire us to be and do more. See if this inspires you:

                                         https://youtu.be/QROON4PDt5A

A good story never fails to inspire or offer a powerful point to ponder. In our turbulent times, welcome advice that reminds and inspires us to realize our value and recognize it in others. During an ordinary day, what inspires you?     

Come Again Another Day

Rain, rain, rain. Everyone’s happy when it sprinkles enough to water the flowerbeds. When daily downpours ruin our picnics and outdoor plans, we’re ticked off, and that’s when the complaints begin. Next week they’re forecasting temperatures in the nineties. It’s great for visits to the beach and garden parties, but after several humid heatwaves and a lot of perspiring, we’re back to complaining. Too much of a good thing causes things like this to happen:

                                         https://youtu.be/jtZyn5JOlBM

Customers agreed to the request until the final, shocking smile. Regardless of the things we enjoy, balance is key. A beautiful garden requires sun and rain. Since we can’t bring on sunshine or hold back the rain, we need the appropriate perspective to deal with both circumstances. What helps you maintain perspective and balance?