Today was a perfect day, and in the words of the immortal Curly the Cowboy (City Slickers), "day ain't over yet." Bonus points if you can remember the scene.
Perfect days aren't an accident. We invite them into our lives, and we nurture them with an attitude of readiness and appreciation, a deep and fundamental understanding of what's important, pleasing, and joyous in life.
We welcome perfect days by projecting an attitude of welcome out into the world, by practicing a deep love of the blessings of our lives, beginning with the unsurpassable blessing of sharing precious hours with those we love and enjoy the most.
Family is more important than anything. If you're awake and have half a heart, your family should knock your socks off. Today we went golfing with Amber, Ashley and Geoffrey and it was the best day ever.
We laughed. We hit golf balls. We razzed each other and cheered each other on. We jumped up and down and performed elaborate I-just-won-the-U.S.-Open celebrations and fist pumps over every good shot. There is nothing better than being around the people who love you for who you are, have no false expectations or pretensions, and are devoted to you as you are to them. Everyone was relaxed and at home and having a good time. No one felt left out or judged or left behind. We had time together and a little money, having the time of our lives on a little par three golf course with scrubby fairways and poorly mowed greens. The two-handicappers at the Reserve in their hundred dollar golf slacks couldn't possibly have had a better time.
I made four pars. We stopped for sausage dogs, marionberry donuts and shortcake at Fir Point Farms. It was warm and sunny with a slight breeze. We saw cute toddlers and some beautiful flower baskets. We ran into some old friends, Stan and Gail Anderson, at Firpoint Farms. I got to touch my wife's butt. It was a perfect day.
Tonight we'll go out for live music and cocktails. There will be dancing, and possibly more butt touching. I shot a 33 even not putting well. I couldn't be more delighted to be alive.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
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This is the Way the Transformation Begins
"Some men see things as they are and say why? I dream things that never were and say "Why not?"
George Bernard Shaw, Robert F. Kennedy
This is the way the transformation begins.
It begins in me.
It begins now.
It begins with small incremental changes and shifts in attitude
it begins with positive action
failing forward
and suddenly I start looking at the world and my place in it in a new way. I speak differently and dress differently and project a different energy, and the world opens up like a glorious pink azalea bush, eight feet tall and blooming like mad.
photo by Kajo123 from the website flickr.com
Good morning!
An engineer builds a bridge and every bolt and weld has to be exactly right; every measure has to be perfect, or the bridge collapses or fails to take its place. Fantastically detailed blueprints have to be laid out. Impact statements have to be filed, sediment has to be studied, years of effort, months of planning, and a man-made marvel rises in the sky. Park somewhere and take a good look at a bridge, and think of all the skill and knowledge and hard honest work it took to create it. Consider how a few thousand years ago we were living in caves.
It is not so with a dream. Some people are remarkable dreamers and dreams spring whole from them, or they can leap up from bed and pages of creative genius flow out of their pen, intricate and perfect. Most of us though are baby dreamers, new at it and tentative to the trust the power of what we wish for.
Start the dream! Whether you want to go to nursing school or college or learn to play the guitar, take a first step, now, even in the wrong direction. Don't wait for the blueprint to come to you, the environmental impact statement, the permits and the 200-page budget and legislative dream approval. Rough it out, sketch it on a napkin, tell a friend, and take action. Your dream begins the moment you step out in first moment of believing, and the result can touch a thousand souls. Listen to Jim Valvano: never give up, never surrender. Believe in the audacity of action and your fantastic potential for change and new opportunity.
It is not so with a dream. Some people are remarkable dreamers and dreams spring whole from them, or they can leap up from bed and pages of creative genius flow out of their pen, intricate and perfect. Most of us though are baby dreamers, new at it and tentative to the trust the power of what we wish for.
Start the dream! Whether you want to go to nursing school or college or learn to play the guitar, take a first step, now, even in the wrong direction. Don't wait for the blueprint to come to you, the environmental impact statement, the permits and the 200-page budget and legislative dream approval. Rough it out, sketch it on a napkin, tell a friend, and take action. Your dream begins the moment you step out in first moment of believing, and the result can touch a thousand souls. Listen to Jim Valvano: never give up, never surrender. Believe in the audacity of action and your fantastic potential for change and new opportunity.
The Hawthorne Bridge at sunrise, Portland Oregon. Photo by Joe Collver, from flickr.com
Genuine happiness and success start with an attitude of abundance
Make it a daily practice to begin your day with five minutes of thankfulness. You can even do it in your car on the way to work. Do it in your own way, whether it's thoughtful reflection or a prayer or singing out loud, but focus on your rich, amazing, abundant life.
Feeling grumpy or resentful or worried instead of thankful? Change direction! Consider the incredible gifts you have--mind, body, spirit, senses, your family, your friends, your clothes, your car, and the breakfast you enjoyed this morning. By the standards of 99% of the world, Americans are incredibly, amazingly rich. You truly have no idea how richly blessed you are until you start thinking about it. Even the heart that beats within you and the lungs that breathe your air are an intricate and amazing miracle.
Some of my favorite movies are ones that feature a once-defeated character waking up to an absolutely new day: "It's A Wonderful Life," the various versions of Dicken's "Christmas Carol" and "Groundhog Day." How exhilarating it is for George Bailey to wake up and realize his life isn't over, it's just beginning, and that today truly is a brand new day.
"It's a Wonderful Life"
George returns home to everything he ever wanted.
4 comments:
Dad--
So haven't commented in forever but know I've been reading every day and I;m totally excited that you have been blogging every day! So totally not on the subject of today's blog, but I am glad that you had a good time golfing. Do you know how any of the aunts and uncles are doing? I don't ever see any of them (duh since I barely see you) but I was wondering if you talk to any of them and how life is. Coming home soon but not too sure when yet. Either the teen weekend or the first twenty weekend in July (I don't remember the dates!). So yeah let me know.....
Me
Steff--
Not much news from the family. I don't hear from them often. I know Uncle Mike is working at a golf tournament is Washington D.C. and your Uncle Frank is busy with his shredding business. Aunt Therese is getting a divorce from Uncle Rich. That was too bad--I always liked Richard and it's a shame they're splitting up. Aunt Kristi is busy with her rodeo family and running Like That Productions.
I would love to see you when you come down. Kourtney and I need to play golf. We could play out at Frontier and Ethan could swing a club (it's VERY casual there, near where your mama grew up.
I totally support you and Tom in your decision to reenlist. I am very proud of his service to the country. I'm just a worried grandpa and want him to come home healthy. Leaving aside the politics of it I want them all to come home healthy.
Thanks for leaving comments. I was beginning to wonder if I was in the doghouse.
Love,
Dad
Dad--
No doghouse, jut crazy busy with three little people! I miss the family, I think the last time I saw any of them might have been Grandma's funeral but I'm not sure. I know that Mike's been busy, I'd love to see him someday. Maybe one year I'll finally get an invite to the great game!! Go Huskies, only time I root for them instead of the Beavs, but as long as the quack quacks lose it's all good with me. Frank and Debbie still live in CA? Any news from Brandon? I barely talked to him at the funeral he wouldn't really talk to me. It was kinda sad for me, we were so close as little kids but apparently I don't garner the time of day now...oh well. I really can't believe it about Therese and Rich! They were together forever, and Packers fans always stick together. That's sad, like the Gore's I've never understood how people can be together for so long and then one day decide they don't want to be anymore. When did that happen? I see Kristi all the time on Facebook. We are facebook friends. She invites me and mom to all the production things but I haven't been able to go since I'm not in town. But it's always nice to see her. We comment on each other sometimes. I'll call you when I know which weekend we'll be in town. The kids would love golfing. We should do dinner at Gustav's, I need fondue!!! And I know what you mean about the guys over there, I want them to come home too. We miss him a little more everyday.....
Me
By the way you missed two siblings.......
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