Tag Archives: love

An intention that totally stands to reason.

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Daily writing prompt
Do you think everything happens for a reason?
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Well my friends, a very interesting topic today, isn’t it?

When I first read it, I was a little perplexed. I wanted to make sure I fully understood the question.

So I referred to my compatriot Al for a defintion. After all, he comes from a long line of information collectors, spawned from the shores of Britannica, where they attended Oxford, and were lovingly raised by Merriam and Webster.

But of course, I digress…

I went to him because much of what I think, say and do has been and is self directed, for better or worse. I choose. I formulate the reason, arrive at the intended and misperceived results in my noggin, guided by my ego, and just go with it. That being said, once the things do happen, then my tendency is to go back and review the refigure the reason while I swiffer up the mess I made.

“I knew I could do it, so why did this happen?”

“Why did my thoughts, words and actions offend so many?”

“How come no one understands I am right and does what I tell them to do?”

True, I do all of the calculus before hand, or at teast I thought I did, so I can figure out the best reasons for doing everything I do. The results will then always reflect my math.

Yikes.

I never really was good at arithmetic. Tried, but just never connected point A to B. Not in my geornetry apparently. Actually torpedoed my college GPA trying calculus and physics in the midst of trying to find my way.

Based on the stats I have accumulated for more than a couple of decades, things definitely trend towards the negative.

So delving deeper into the concept of reason, the word purpose was offered. Not as a sibling. Perhaps moreso a distant relative.

As it stands, reason is more of definition or explanation of a past motivation, a cause, or even a justification for the reasons something was done or why an event occurred. Strange, you think you are figuring out how to go about doing something – via reasoning – and yet it is more attuned to understanding why it took place.

Purpose, in this stoic’s understanding, seems a more independent and intentional entity.

Independent in the sense that I am coming to believe it is not self generated. I get bits and pieces, hints and suggestions, clues and coincidence that open me up to embrace what is in the process of happening. Not so much deciding I guess, just letting if you know what I mean. I feel less compellee to reason things out. More driven to let go and let it become.

And purpose, they say, is yet to be revealed. Yet to be fully known. yet to be pursued. But then again, I think that its intention is tug me towards it, allow it to capture my heart, mind and soul and then take me beyond my wildest dreams and most fervent imagination. I simply need to grant my permission to be carried away.

As frightening as that may sound, there is an overwhelming sense of peace to it. I need not know, be, drive, control, decide, determine, or even concede. All of this has nothing to do with capitulation. I just need to let.

Allow.

And most of all, trust.

At this point in my life, one of the best things I can do for myself.

Finally allowing myself to divine my purpose.

An intention that totally stands to reason.

Out.

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Daily writing prompt
What’s a promise you made to yourself that you’ve actually kept?
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I cannot call it a promise.

More of an intention I would have to say. It can be worded all sorts of ways. But what it comes down to for me is just this; stay here.

In this moment.

Now.

Present.

That is not to say I don’t feel the urge to pull off at the next exit when I am heading south for “The Past”. Or the one that comes right after the rest area labeled “Whathasyettobedetermined”. This is an ongoing battle for me. I have put the blinkers on a few times lately. Tapped the brakes. That being said, my sense is that it always will be that way. I just need to work at taking it down a few notches.

Hoping that effort too will remain ongoing.

Staying here is the best way to stick with the now and allow things to happen. One of the most prescient offerings regarding these moments came from Robert Frost. He said “…the best way out is always through.”

Which makes sense. Reverse then cannot come into play and you cannot see or experience anything beyond what is currently in front of you.

It can feel somewhat sunsettling just staying here. For lack of a better term, transitory. Perhaps that is how it is taken. Sensed. Not controlled. Planned. Just there.

But now does only last twenty-four hours, a third of which may be consumed by sleep. Probably explains that growing lack of attachment or concern I have what came before and a general disinterest in devoting or expending any form of energy towards “next” whatsoever.

If I can remain focused, then through can only be seen from where I am right now.

Not simply the best way.

The only way.

Out.

Fin.

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Daily writing prompt
If you could change the ending of any book, which one would it be?
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As you get to know me from these routine assignments and other spontaneous contributions, there has been an ongoing, perhaps noticable transition. Intention is undergoing alteration. A reinforcement of values accompanied by a shift in vocation. A new day finally treasured for once with some hope on the horizon.

We are all authors of our own story.

Mine had become a messterpiece.

But with a pack of legal pads, once of those Sharpie ball point pens and this trusty chrome book, I am in the process of being able to document a rewrite.

The main characters remain, but in a new light. The plot has shifted with the introduction of some new to my story. I am not aware of the acromym for a spiritual, adventure packed romance, fixer upper, comedy. Maybe that is something that needs to be left for Al to figure out. But that is where it seems to be going. Hopefully, many chapters remain.

Just know that a script is not handed over to you at birth to follow because of circumstance, event, disbelief or choices. There is plenty of paper and ink to articulate your story the way you want it to be read. And never write it to appeal to an audience. Live it the way best suited for you and let them seek you out.

There are many out there that need to know that they too can become their own authors of life. And reading your genuine story, with all of the melodrama, history, pain, joy and awakening will prove to them that they can write theirs too.

It may seem otherwise, but we are all connected. We just need to open up and let that truth happen.

Until next time, I will steer clear of ig-pay atin-lay and return to my roots Francais.

Fin.

And still do.

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Daily writing prompt
What’s the best advice you’d give to someone younger than you?
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I tend to be a giving person. Often to the point of over stepping, reacting, functioning and just about any other word, phrase or idiom you wish to have follow “over”. But from an advice perspective, that would definitely fall into the misnomer category.

To this old stoic, advice would appear to reflect great knowledge and expertise. Honestly, I do not think I am quite yet qualified to carry that moniker. This guy is still earning his stripes. But I have benefited from a life littered with missteps, misdeeds, miscalculations, misspokeness, missoportunity, and yes, mistakes.

Plenty.

So perhaps when it comes to this day’s assignment, allow me to tweak it a bit to “what wisdom would you offer someone younger than you?” To me, that makes more sense. Advice is born of an expert. Wisdom is earned through life. You seem to pay for advice through commitment accompanied by commission. Wisdom is simply shared free of charge with love. The only stipulation being to be open and to listen.

There is this phrase I have held dear for some time though I don’t recall its origin. I know I have shared it in one form or another because of the wisdom it conveyed to me in practice. Even now, its benefits continue to flow inward. For proof, think about where I am and what I am doing this moment.

“Discipline creates independence”.

In a variety of configurations, I have made it my intention to embrace self-discpline. Not that It has been perfect in its implementation and there have been zero flaws in the execution and outcome. But when you engage in the variety that is focused on your self, little by little, freedoms will emerge. They may be in the shape of ten minutes here, less double handling there to start. But in time, the more sef-discplined you become, the more independent you can be. Mathematically speaking, what you then get to do is inversely proportional to what you have to do.

As Roger and the boys once sang, “I’d call that a bargain, the best I ever had,
The best I ever had”

My kids saw this performed as they were growing up.

Starting, taking care of and finishing what had to be done opened the doors to what got to be done. I see it now in how they live their lives today. Heck, I can learn some tricks from them. And these days, I continue to live by that phrase for this old guy and those in my life around me. I see what happens when it is tried and what doesn’t when it is ignored.

So maybe let’s end with this.

I don’t really want to offer any advice. I still don’t know what I am doing. But I am more than happy to share the wisdom I earned and learned in the process of trying to make sense of life.

You are free to do with it whatever you choose.

I just know I get to do now because of what I had to do then.

And still do.

Teachers.

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Who are you most inspired by?
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Some days, following communion service or mass, I run into a man that is busy replacing all of the entrance mats in and around the church. For lack of a better term, he always has this air of “being totally into it” about him. We exchange “good mornings”, “looks like a great day” and “take care”. Who knows how many he does in the course of the day. That is not easy work. But he does. And he is into it. Making things just right for all those coming and going.

A young man I got to know through coaching football is starting a podcast. His mission is two fold. First, to invite athletes to discuss their personal side, what they are about, what they have had to overcome, who they truly are and what they intend to become. Through growing that audience, he hopes to generate the support that will help those that are less fortunate overcome, be who they truly are and begin the work to become all they were intended to be. When I watched him talk to this teammates on the field and in the locker room, you could literally see the passionate concern flow out and touch those all around. It was was never about him. Always them.

Those that I support via job development and coaching have their own burdens to overcome, and yet they show up for work, on time, do their best and look out for their teammates. One in particular simply leads by example. Parts of the establishment are now cleaner than ever before, he addresses stocking issues when he sees them, makes the aisles customer friendly and will help any customer that approaches him looking for the chrome go faster or the platimunm ectawhatsit. He knows where everything is and will take every lost soul where it can be found.

There are other folks in my life that simply put themselves out there for others. Most times small, Sometimes medium, and once in a while, in a big way. They all understand in a deep and genuine fashion that it really isn’t about them. It is all about those in their universe. Without accolades, a million or so clicks, likes or followers, they just go about life putting the other guy first. Because they can. Because that is how they are built. Mostly, just because.

So you want to discuss influencers?

These are three off the top of my noggin that change the world every day through their intention, their effort and genuine love for the other.

True inspiration.

Teachers.