Personal Growth

Now We Have A Deadline

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For years, my wife and I have been saying that we need to get a will done.  It’s one of those things that’s extremely important, not super urgent (that we know of!), and is easy to put off.  We finally connected with a professional to help us.  One thing I appreciate, is that we have a day on the calendar when we will sign off on the completed document.  Now we have a deadline.

While we still have some work to do, having a “complete-by-date” on the calendar is just the motivation (and accountability) we need to ensure that we’ll see this task to completion! 

If you’re struggling to complete a task that you know needs to be done, consider creating a real deadline.  What would be even better, would be to link that deadline to someone who will hold you accountable.

Sometimes a date on the calendar is all the motivation you need.   

Capture It

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I had a great idea for a topic to write about in this week’s post!  The idea just popped into my head as I was getting ready Thursday morning, and I was eager to tease it out later in the day.  When I sat down to recall the topic, it wasn’t there.  Like a vapor, the idea seemed to leave my head as mysteriously as it showed up. 

I love the comment “Your head is a great place for having ideas, but it’s a lousy place for storing them”.  What I should have done on Thursday morning, was to take 15 seconds to jot the idea down.  I didn’t need to write the whole post, this the highlights.  Enough for a good mental trigger, to remind me of the idea when it was time to sit down and write.  Fortunately, there will be other opportunities to do likewise!

Does your mind supply you with good thoughts and ideas you want to remember for later?  If so, I encourage you to capture them when they occur.  How you capture it isn’t important; in a journal, on a scrap of paper, digitally on your phone or computer, it really doesn’t matter.  The important point is to capture the idea in the moment, so you have it when you need it. 

Having Each Other’s Back

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Last weekend as I was leaving the grocery store, I saw a man in the parking lot who had locked his key in his car, and was trying to retrieve them through his partially opened window.  From what I saw, it was obvious that he wasn’t going to be successful.

I then noticed another person, who had also seen what was going on, walk up to the guy’s car and offer to help.  This person apparently had smaller arms than the owner of the car, because they were able to rather quickly retrieve the keys from the car.  Apparently, the car owner’s dog was also locked in the car, so I’m sure the dog was as happy to be set free as the owner was to have his keys!

Although this may seem to be a small act, I’ll bet the owner of the car didn’t think it was. 

Let’s be on the lookout for simple ways we can “have someone’s back” who needs assistance.  If we were in a similar situation, wouldn’t we want someone to have ours?

Cause It To Happen

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By the time this blog is posted, I’ll be back from a trip to the San Juan islands in Washington state.  This is some place we’ve wanted to go for many years, but other destinations have always taken priority.  This year however, we decided to make it a priority and pay a visit. 

I’m amazed by how many cool places are in our back yard (relatively speaking) that we haven’t seen yet.  I’m also amazed how easily these places can be deprioritized simply because they are so close.  Like most things, it takes intention to actually get to them. 

Is there anything that is relatively close to you (geographically or otherwise) that you’d like to experience that you haven’t yet?  Perhaps now is the time to cause it to happen.

Give The Process A Chance To Work

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I just got through spending time learning new riffs on the electric bass.  Learning a new riff is often frustrating for me because when I listen to someone playing the riff I’m trying to learn, it seems so easy.  Then I start playing it and I’m no where as smooth crisp as the recording I’m listening to.  For some reason I feel that I should be able to pick the riff up in just a couple of minutes, and play it as good as the person on the recording. 

HA!  That NEVER happens!

What I don’t see or hear in the recordings is all the practice that the person put with the riff in order to play it so well.  I’m just seeing the finished product, without any mention of the process to get to that point.  It makes perfect sense to me that I would have to go through the same process too, but still, I always feel a sense of frustration that the process isn’t much faster.

This frustration can drive us in 2 directions.  First, it can cause us to remember that it will take time to achieve mastery of the challenge we seek, and commit ourselves to putting in that time, or it can cause us to give up and walk away, without giving the process a chance to work.

As for me, I’m deciding to commit to the process.  Not just with the electric bass, but with other areas of life that require time before I achieve the results I seek. 

Whatever area of improvement you’re striving for, be sure to give the process a chance to work.

A Reminder

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This week I finished listening to the audio book “E.R. Nurses”, in which about two dozen ER nurses describe some of their experience.  It was eye-opening!

I work as an IT person for a hospital, so I am a little familiar with and emergency department.  However, I had no idea of the scenarios these nurses have on a regular basis.  The biggest thing that stood out for me was how often they have to jump from one tragic event to another, without much time to process what happened.  I am grateful for these nurses and the work they do.

The book reminds me that I often have no idea what struggles and challenges people are facing on a daily basis.  In light of that, I’m also reminded that I would do well to show grace to others. 

Slowing Down

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Based on a recommendation, I recently started reading the book “Mindfulness” by Gill Hasson.  One thing I realized, even before finishing the book’s introduction, was that I would have to slow down when reading this book.

Even in my early reading of this book, I found myself re-reading sections, marking passages and making notes in the margin.  There are also parts that are good for reflection and journaling.  None of this would be possible if I didn’t slow down.  In the case, the object is not to turn pages as quickly as I can, but rather to get the most out of the book that I can apply in my life.

I think there are many instances where we would do well to slow down.  Perhaps we should slow down in our interactions with those important to us and actually listen to what they saying and be present in our conversations.  We could even throttle back our pace and take greater notice of our surroundings, noticing the beauty that becomes invisible at speed.

Are there any areas in your life where you might benefit from slowing down?  If so, give it a try.  You might just be surprised by what you notice.

Kind Words

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This week a work I received a very kind email from someone that I completed a task for.  They were very generous with their comments in appreciation for the job I did for them.  Their email was a pleasant surprise, and made my day that much brighter.

It got me thinking how we can bless other people by sharing kind words of genuine appreciation with them.  Whether these words are spoken verbally, sent electronically, or hand written, they have the potential to brighten someone else’s day in a way they might not have expected.

Let’s be on the lookout for opportunities speak/write kindness.  And when we recognize an opportunity, let’s take advantage of it by liberally dispensing kind words to others.

Find Out For Sure

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One thing my wife and I like to do is visit farm/fruit stands and mills that grind their own grains.  On Friday we went to visit a mill that we had found online in a nearby town.  When we showed up the place looked like a warehouse and not some place that would sell grains and flour to the public.  It would have been easy to drive off, thinking they didn’t sell to walk up customers, had my wife not said, “Let’s go in and find out.”  I’m glad she suggested we find out for sure!

When we went in and asked if they sold to the public, we were introduced to Polly, who generously told us about the different kinds of grains, flour, and even pasta that they had, and how best to use them!  She was extremely helpful and encouraged us to reach out if we had any questions about any of their product.

I tend to read situations and make judgements rather quickly.  (Ex. “This looks like a warehouse.  I’m sure they don’t sell to the public.”)   My wife, however, is more likely to challenge assumptions, situations, and judgements and take the attitude of, “Let’s find out for sure.” 

I’m grateful for this perspective.  Without it, we would have missed a fun experience, not to mention interacting with a nice person!

Be on the lookout for quick judgments or assumptions you making that make be incorrect, and then go find out for sure.

When It’s Someone You Know

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One of the values at my church is personal connection with others.  The saying that goes along with this value is, “Because everything changes when it’s someone you know.”  I’ve found that to be true.

Our experiences shape our worldview, which makes sense.  However, our worldview is limited when seen strictly through the lens of our own experience.   When I connect with others and learn about their experiences, and hear their story, my worldview can change.  I can be changed in how I see the world based on someone else’s experience.

I have never been depressed, or homeless.  I have never been a parent or suffered with anxiety.  I have never owned a business or been responsible for making payroll.  But I know people who have, who have shared their experiences with me.  My thinking has changed on many topics as a result of knowing people and their experience. 

What a great way to broaden our worldview!  By seeing and connecting with people, we can learn how others experiencing the world around them, and possibly gain an understanding we didn’t have before.

Because everything changes when it’s someone you know.