The Worm

As I sit here on a Saturday afternoon, watching inspirational videos that bring tears to my eyes, like this one...

I feel compelled to share an inspirational video of my own that I took this week.  What you are about to see is footage of my dog Jak, doing his second favorite activity next to eating.  Before we moved, he would perform his signature dance move, the worm, in the snow.  He adapted his move to the warmer climate by seeking out the perfect spot of blush grass.

For almost nine years now, Jak is my reason to get out of bed in the morning and my reason to get out in walk even on the days when I'd rather not.  He is always happy, easy going and follows up most meals by eating cardboard for dessert.  His satisfaction in the seemingly little things, like a roll in the grass, make him my everyday reminder how the little moments make life big.

Walking Home

Last week I was having breakfast at my favorite spot.  It's a little out of the way cafe with outdoor seating.  There was an older man with his small dog sitting at the next table and we finished our meals at about the same time.  He commented about what a nice place it is and I had to agree.  This segued into him telling me a little about his life.  How he'd been in the Air Force stationed in Alaska.  He told me about what it's like to live in Alaska and how his son lives there now.

How long the conversation went on, I'm not exactly sure, 10-15 minutes, perhaps longer.  It was my day off and I had a full to do list waiting for me which I easily could've excused myself to get to.  But another thought prevailed in my head.  This guy is someone's dad and I have a dad who has no trouble engaging in conversation.  And somewhere, at some point, some kind stranger, or acquaintance or friend has chatted with my dad when I'm sure he/she had a to do list to get to.  As I drove away that day I kept thinking of a quote I'd seen by Ram Dass.

A conversation I long ago overheard between two co-workers has always stuck with me.  One was in need of a ride to pick up his car from the garage and he was looking for someone that lived near there so as not to be an inconvenience.  For the co-worker I heard him ask it would've been somewhat out of her way but she said she could run an errand in that area and would give him a ride.  Not wanting someone to be put out in any way, he tried to decline and what she said still resonates with me all these years later.  "We've all needed a ride somewhere at some point in our lives, it's no problem."  What a simple truth.  In the little moment it was a ride, but in the big picture, it was helping a fellow human being get home.

A kindness extended to someone else's dad is a kindness extended to my own dad.  A ride given to a colleague is a ride given to us or a loved one somewhere down the road.  Though our paths may vary greatly, we are all here doing the best we can to live each day to the fullest and on any given day a kindness we extend to another is a step toward walking each other home.

The Greatest

In a little moment (that can feel like a hot minute) our perception of a situation can totally change.  And even if the situation hasn't actually changed, because how we see it has, it can wreak havoc on our minds.  Recently I found myself in this scenario and my mind was immediately on a downward spiral.  My illusion of certainty had been shattered leaving me slowly going under into a black sea of the unknown.

It was during this time of uncertainty that this Albert Einstein quote showed up in my life.

This resonated deeply with me as I tried to figure out how I would now I approach the said situation.  Perhaps I knew all along what I needed to do was to push myself forward and this quote was just affirmation of that.  It took me a few days to gather my courage because rising to the next level meant I had to make myself vulnerable by asking a question I wasn't guaranteed I'd like the answer to.

One of my own personal philosophies is that life is about taking leaps.  And when you take a leap, whether you hit the ground running or land flat on your bum you have still catapulted yourself forward from where you were.  I took the leap, I asked the question and I'd say I landed on both feet which I'd see was a decent outcome.

There's a Kenny Rogers' song from the early 2000's entitled "The Greatest".  It's the kind of song that makes you smile.  This blog entry had already been percolating in my mind when I heard this song and realized it sums it up perfectly.   As the song starts, there's a little boy alone in a field with his bat and ball.  He tells himself he is the greatest player then he throws the ball in the air, swings and misses.  He is not phased by this and again throws the ball up, gives it his all, swings and misses.

"He makes no excuses he shows no fear
He just closes his eyes and listens to the cheers.
Little boy he adjusts his hat, picks up his ball, stares at his bat
Says "I am the greatest when the game is on the line"
And he gives his all one last time."

So again he throws the ball up, gives it his best shot, misses and that's strike 3.  The song goes on to say that his mom calls him home for supper and as he picks up stuff to go, he says...

"I am the greatest, that is a fact,
But even I didn't know I could pitch like that!"

And that my friends, is solving a problem by pushing yourself to the next level.  It is not always easy, or perhaps more accurately, it is usually not easy to take that leap but in order to grow it is necessary.

Choosing You

About a month ago, I had an interaction with a friend that turned awkward fast with the potential to not end well.  A thoughtless comment was made and I easily could've taken it personally.  In that little moment I made two important choices.  First, without being mean or hurtful, I made it clear that I wasn't willing to be a part of whatever this was.  (I think that may be called a healthy boundary but I struggle with those so I could be wrong.)  And the second choice I made was to push myself past the comment and continue the conversation.  At the time those seemed like compassionate choices which on the surface were seemingly made to the benefit of my friend.  What I didn't realize was those choices were also a benefit to me.

During a recent trip home, I found myself involved in a situation that was a mixture of stubbornness, hurt pride and doing the right thing.  As I stood in a corn patch trying to make my case for doing the right thing, I remembered the above scenario and realized the person I was trying to reason with was not in a place to make a compassionate choice.  Hurt pride is a lot to overcome.  And so after saying what I felt needed to be said, I gave the stubborn person a hug and said I care about you no matter what you decide and took myself out of the situation. 

The thing about making a compassionate choice regarding a fellow human being is that you are also choosing yourself.  It is so hard not to take stuff personally, I mean let's be real.  And it is even harder to draw those healthy boundaries where you have to make it clear to someone that you care about them and you are there for them but you are NOT in whatever this is with them.  That's choosing you.  It's taking a step forward instead of taking a step back and getting caught in someone else's hang ups.

Although I couldn't exactly see it that day with my friend, I have been offered the clarity since.  Choosing compassion is choosing you.  It is expanding yourself instead of shrinking down.  It is offering love and kindness to humankind.  And I believe that benefits everyone.

 

Welcome!

If you followed me here from old blog then you already know that my last informative post was from May at which time I alluded to some possible changes in my work situation.  Those changes have finally panned out and as of this week I have been promoted to assistant manager and now only have one job. 

In retrospect I have come to realize that working 6 days a week for over a year has been exhausting - physically, mentally and spiritually.  Thankfully as humans we have the capacity to be resilient and I know that with some TLC I can rejuvenate my body, mind and spirit.

With this blog I intend to share the how little moments become great teachers and make life expand into a bigger and better existence.  If you are a new follower welcome, if you have followed my blog before, welcome back and thanks for the support.  Writing is one of my greatest creative outlets and I look forward to getting back to it here.