Tag Archives: Gifts

Every Day Is A Gift

Here in the states, Thanksgiving Day came and went.  As I evolve, my belief is that this particular holiday offers an opportunity for people to embrace gratitude.  If you’ve been a follower of this blog, you’ll know I believe sending out your gratitude every day is something to aim for…but is not always reached (certainly for me).  In this short film by Louie Schwartzberg, through his brilliant photography and cinematography, he captures the gifts surrounding us each and every day.  He invites us to treat every day as if it were our ‘first day of life and last day of life’…and if we approach each day like this, ‘then it will really be a good day.’  Take 6 minutes to watch this film and try not to have an ear-to-ear smile emerge within the first 30 seconds and stay throughout the film.

I repeat these words internally daily, externally almost daily and practice them as best I can (which is certainly not daily).  Relentless positivity is the foundation of Come In From The Cold, a value Linda and I agreed on at the genesis of this adventure.  This short film encompasses just that…and as he says in the film, ‘every day is a gift.’

Be well my friends…

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Keeping the gratitude flowing…especially for Linda Keys

As has been my intention as of late, especially here on this space, I’ve been sending my gratitude to those in my life whom fill me up in wonderful ways.  Back in July, while attending the Toronto Summer Institute, the co-author of this blog, Linda Keys, surprised me with a post of gratitude for me.  Back home in Ratho, being a mom to her newborn baby boy, Linda wrote and posted a piece while supposedly on a writing hiatus.   It was an overwhelmingly meaningful piece for me to read.  The back-story to the surprising nature of the post is this:  for those who follow this blog, you are well aware that Linda gave birth to her son Findlay back in the Spring.   Continue reading

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The Science of Happiness…

Back in July, I found myself sitting at “a table for one at the Gratitude Cafe“.  Remember that?  I’ve been particularly interested in the idea of intentionally sending my gratitude out to people in my life whom I love dearly and/or have the opportunity to meet and form relationships with.  I know this is important to me and I know that it has profoundly affected my life in positive ways. Continue reading

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Places of Goodness

As mentioned, last month, I made my annual journey to the Toronto Summer Institute.  One of the many great lessons learned smacked me across my face via friend and colleague Tim Vogt.  I’ll get to Tim in a bit. (By the way, if you haven’t yet had the opportunity to read the blog Tim hosts, you must!  It is fabulous. www.cincibility.wordpress.com)  We spent 3 days together in a module hosted by Connie Lyle O’Brien and Lynda Kahn, centered around the idea of isolation.  Our group, about 12 people each day, shared personal stories of not belonging, feeling isolated and about friends and family members experiencing these feelings.  We shared how we actually may be contributing to isolation, entering into a vulnerability where support and real ideas emerged. Continue reading

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Table for one at the Gratitude Cafe…

Highway 101 just outside Santa Barbara...

Highway 101 just outside Santa Barbara…

Driving down Highway 101 from Santa Barbara to San Diego early Sunday morning, along the familiar coastline I’ve traveled seemingly all my life, a line from Jason Mraz passes through the speakers in the car:  “I keep my life on a heavy rotation, requesting that it’s lifting you up, up, up and away…and over to a table at the Gratitude Cafe.”  This analogy of placing yourself into a metaphorical space to be mindful of your gratitude for life, resonates deeply. Continue reading

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Who Am I Being?

I spent this past week gathered in Toronto with people from all over the world and entered into conversations about many things.  The main thread I immersed myself in centered around loneliness and connection.  Our group, facilitated by Connie Lyle O’Brien and Lynda Kahn, shared personal stories of loneliness and isolation.  This conversation quickly grew into a dialogue about what we are doing in our own lives to combat loneliness and isolation.  What emerged was the idea of authenticity, or as I wrote about a few weeks ago, identifying our integrity gaps.  It is paramount for all of us to truly live the values we speak about…something I strive to do, though not always well, everyday. Continue reading

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The Gathering…

Stone Soup

Stone Soup

I’m blessed to have happened across a global community of colleagues, friends and loved ones 4 years ago at the Toronto Summer Institute. This year, along with Chris Lee, Sheldon Schwitek, Peter Leidy, Beth Gallagher, Michelle Schwartz Continue reading

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My Integrity Gap…

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Back in January 2013, while facilitating a workshop in Scotland with  Beth Gallagher, Peter Leidy, Heather Simmons and our lovely hosts from EDG (Linda Keys, Stephen Coulson, Helen Wright),  the concept of our Integrity Gap smacked me across the face.  Presented to Heather by John O’Brien a few months prior to the workshop, she decided to share it and pay it forward to our group.  Ever since learning about this concept, we’ve been sharing it with our employees in San Diego with Life Works at orientation and with others we run into while facilitating workshops wherever we travel. Continue reading

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In Order to Change the Community, We Must Change the Soil

This week we’ve linked in a TED Talk given by Ron Finley.  Ron Finley is an activist in South Central Los Angeles.  He started an organization comprised of volunteers that plant gardens in vacant lots across South Central Los Angeles.  His passion rests in educating kids and community members about food and a healthy way of eating.  His philosophy is beautiful, simple, real and impactful.  Take the time to watch this ten minute talk.  Have a great week everyone!

 

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A beautiful story of recognition…

Last night, Jody and I sat down and watched the next movie in our Netflix envelope.  We often don’t know what it is, though we set the list ourselves, it is usually a surprise which title arrives.  The movie was “Searching For Sugar Man”, a film recommended to me by a friend who viewed it at a film festival.  Over the course of the next 90 minutes an evolution of emotions rolled over me like a Zamboni smoothing the ice of a hockey arena.  This story set me at peace. Continue reading

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