Ripples or Finding Inspiration

When you need to be inspired, where do you look?

Sometimes it is difficult to know where to turn when I need to be inspired,
or simply need a kick in the pants.
Oh don't get me wrong, my kids are a good source for
the 'kick in the pants' I often times need.
But I am talking about something that goes a little deeper than,
"mom, when are you going to start dinner."

How do I find the inspiration I need?
Where should I look for answers unknown?

I have found answers and insight in scripture, meditation,
other people's blogs, reflective readings, music, my family,
(on occasion from within)
and most recently in an email.

Some time in the past year I stumbled upon The Ripples Project.
http://theripplesproject.org/index.php

I don't remember exactly how I came across it, but I remember liking it.
I signed up for a weekly email,
it comes each Monday morning.
Its short and sweet containing 3 inspirational quotes on the same theme.
On a number of occasions it was absolutely perfect for what I needed to hear that week.

The Monday after my dad passed away, the quotes were perfect for me.
It was also right on yesterday after my weekend 'pity party'.
The quotes have been rolling around in my head for 24 hours or so, and
I thought I might share this week's reflections with you.

PEBBLE
Make visible what, without you,
might perhaps have never been seen!
-Robert Bresson

BOULDER
When you allow your best self
to shine through
and have the courage to believe
in unlimited possibilities,
you will discover how wonderfully magnificent
you truly are!
-written & submitted by Elizabeth Hyland, author of
"Surviving The Unemployment Roller Coaster"

PONDER
It may be time to take a deep breath and remind yourself that you really are, as Ms. Hyland states above, Magnificent.  And being Magnificent means that you cannot simply shirk in the shadows, nor can you collapse into a heap because you feel overwhelmed or defeated by the (real) challenges life is presenting to you lately.

Your colleagues, your neighbors, your community, 

and indeed everyone in the entire world desperately 

needs you to release your Magnificence this week.  

So take one more moment to catch your breath 

and then hop up, dust yourself off, 

and then give us your absolute best self.  

Please, and thank you.

Peace,

Paul

A couple of things that have captured my thoughts and inspired me about that email center around the idea that I can help others see things that might not have been seen otherwise. 
This happens all the time as a parent so I know this is true.
I also have to acknowledge that when I get self absorbed,
I am less likely to allow my best self to shine through.
In fact, I tend to retreat and not want to interact with others.

"you cannot simply shirk in the shadows, 

nor can you collapse into a heap 

because you feel overwhelmed or defeated"

Uh...
Yep.
That describes how I spent my weekend.
Maybe not in a heap, but certainly trying to hide and feeling defeated.

Thankfully I didn't stay there too long.

Monday morning came and I got back up again,
Submitted more job applications, cleaned the kitchen,
mailed the bills, bought groceries, worked on Laura's quilt and
got back to the business of life.

I am not sure I felt Magnificent,
but it felt great in comparison to the previous couple of days.

If I keep at it,
if I take one more moment to catch my breath,
Then hop up, dust myself off, and give it my
absolute best, then perhaps that Magnificent feeling will come
by the week's end, at at least it might come...someday.

At least I will feel better for trying.
I am always open to more sources of inspiration...
What inspires you?

Here is the link to another inspirational piece, this time a video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG0wi1m-89o

Steppin' out with DWNTWN
DWNTWNimages.me

Attitudes & Mind over Matter

Mind over matter can work.
I believe that.
I have used mind over matter to get me through some difficult situations in my life.

I was trying to explain to my youngest daughter a few days ago about 'mind over matter'.
It was another early morning drive on our way to school that we had this conversation.

(Every morning is a great morning when I can take her to school!

Even if I do dread the sound of my alarm!)

As I started the car she said, "I think I am getting a sore throat."
"No you're not." I said in a matter of fact tone.
She looked at me quizzically.
I went on to say, "you can tell yourself that you are getting sick,
just as easily as you can tell yourself you are NOT getting sick.

Just convince yourself that you are NOT getting sick."

"Mom! That doesn't work." she said.
"Oh yes it does!" I told her.
I said, "It's Mind Over Matter. Have you ever heard that before?"
"No." she replied.

I tried to explain that mind over matter was about attitude.
Everyday you can choose whether you will have a positive attitude or a negative attitude.
You just have to decide what your attitude is going to be.

I used an example of spilling milk on yourself in the morning before heading to work or school.
You can either say, "Damn it all, this is going to be a bad day."
And then proceed to have a bad day,
Or
One can say, "Thankfully this happened at home and I have time to change my clothes.
What luck! It's going to be a good day!"

I also told her, "Attitudes are contagious.
How you act, or how your friends act, can affect everyone around."

I reluctantly mentioned the old phrase,
"If mom ain't happy, ain't No One happy!"

That at lease got a chuckle from her.
I think then she began to understand.
Then we parted ways exchanging "I Love Yous"

Not a block away from the school either a large pterodactyl
or a flock of gulls
tagged my car from hood to trunk.
My windshield was splattered with a nasty white deposit requiring me to hit the wipers to continue down the road.

I was faced with taking my own advice...
Was this some arbitrary sign of whether I would have a bad day, or not?
Could I take control of my attitude and determine the remainder of how my day would go?
I think so!

I opted to determine my own day.

Besides,
Yesterday I saw a coupon in the paper for $2 off the car wash!
Hooray, it's a good day!

(Some of you know I have been looking for a job.

Being out of work for over a year isn't helping our finances.

Its time.)

Later that same morning, the long awaited phone call from the headhunter came in.
I'd been pursuing this job for a few weeks.
After resumes,
applications,
drug testing,
4 interviews,
and a number of sleepless nights wondering if this was a good decision,
My phone was ringing!

I felt very positive about this job.
I took the call with excited anticipation!

And
I wasn't selected.
I didn't get the job.

Again I was faced with applying my own advice to self...

I wondered...
Was this a sign of something better to come?
Or did I just screw up?
I questioned myself...
Was I too open, too honest?
Too qualified, not qualified enough?
Too intimidating? (I've been told that before.)
Too Self Confident?
Not confident enough?
I don't know.
All I know is that someone else was offered the position.

And I was left to think about and decide...
Would I have a good day, or not?

I like to believe I can take control of my attitude and determine my own day.  Most of the time I am good about maintaining a positive attitude.

I try to live by the idea that every day may not be a great day, 

but there is a little bit of great in every day.  

You just have to look for the great parts.

I made it through that day fairly well,
but admittedly 
this weekend hasn't been as easy.

I've worried too much.
Our washing machine quit working.
I've struggled with feelings of inadequacy.
I nearly deleted all of my 10,000 plus photos off the external hard drive...
I've not felt confident or qualified to do much of anything.

I think we all feel inadequate at times.

We all have days or maybe even weeks when we get down on our selves.

But I try not to stay there long.

Unfortunately this weekend my family has noticed...
"When mom ain't happy, ain't No One happy!"

Damn!  I knew that would come back to HAUNT me!

I should be...
Thankful that we were able to recover the photos,
I should recognize my own skills,
But perhaps this job wasn't a good fit.
And I should not worry as much.
Lord knows my life here at home with the kids is extremely full and I was concerned how I would go back to being a full time working mother with 4 teenagers still at home.
I guess I have another week ... or more ... to figure that out.

All I know is that somehow it will be okay...

And on those occasions when things begin to fall through the cracks,

I will just view them as confetti and PARTY!

Because...

It's all Good!

Here are a few of my favorite quotes about attitude.... 

“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t you are right!” -Henry Ford

"The only disability in life is a bad attitude."  -Scott Hamilton

"Say you are well, or all is well with you,
And God shall hear your words & make them true."  -Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Do you have a favorite quote that keeps you going or kicks you in the butt when life gets tough?

Steppin' out with DWNTWN
DWNTWNimages.me