The following passages have been taken from a daily email that I share with family and friends. Should you like to be on the
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Live All Your Life
My wife sent me this poem that is a wonderful lesson in how we should live our lives. The God Baccus proclaimed that we should
"Drink wine not by the glass but by the bellyful!" and others have said that we must suck the marrow out of the
bone of life to ensure we have lived
fully. Live every second to the fullest.
"Live all your Life
Live all your life, is a challenge to live
A challenge to get, and a challenge to give
A challenge to be and a challenge to do
A challenge to me and a challenge to you
Live all your Life, in whatever estate
Live for a purpose, live to create.
Live to impart, live to receive.
Live to have faith, to trust and believe
Live ALL your life, don't just live a part,
For living requires Soul, Conciense, and Heart
Live while you live, don't just walk around
an unburied corpse encumbering the ground.
Live all your life is the Clarion call
For young and for old, for big and for small
In sunshine or shadow, in good times or strife,
Here's the greatest of blessings
May you live all your life."
The Passage Of Time
Isn't it a curious thing that time seems to go by so much faster when
you are older? I used to think this phenomena was related to age, but
a more sensible (and hopeful) reason for this came upon me quite
suddenly this morning. Time passes much more quickly as we age because
we spend much more time worrying about the future. When we worry on
the future we lose the present. When we lose the present we lose
time. Have you ever been driving some place when you get so deep in
thought that you realize, to your horror, that you cannot remember a
20 minute section of your journey? This is a common phenomena,
especially amongst commuters that do the same route day after day.
The autonomous brain kicks in and a slice of your day disappears.
In the 'present', in the here and now, time passes much more slowly.
Remember how long a summer seemed as a kid? You spent every moment of
that summer in the here and now, playing with toys, running in fields,
making castles in the sand. Childhood has a lot of lessons, not the
least of which is to spend a little time every day playing. As
adults, we become more and more preoccupied with planning and looking
ahead. Many of us become very good at this, but to our detriment the
present disappears.
The only way to really add time to our lives is to focus on what is
going on right at this very moment, and to do this a great deal. Next
time you ask yourself "Where did the day go?", take a moment to ensure
the same thing doesn't happen the next day. Become fully engaged in
the Present and this worry should become a thing of the Past. *grin*
We Are Blessed
You can invariably tell when I'm in a good place in my life because I
find everything so inspiring. I send out these little emails as they
occur to me because I find it good to share. Please share your
thoughts with me as well. Any good quotes, any tips and tricks you use
to make life more fulfilling, I want to hear them all!
We live our lives in dichotomy. There is our physical self such as
the body we walk around in. There is also the spiritual and
intellectual self which we often refer to as our personality. We take
both for granted. When we take our body for granted it gets tired and
out of shape. When we take our spirit for granted we become
despondent and gloomy. Our bodies are very familiar with change.
When we need to, we eat better and we exercise more. The results show
themselves pretty quickly. But we don't always do the same for our
spirit. I am taking a little time every evening now and in the early
of the morning to reflect on things that I am grateful for. I have a
wonderful family. My health is great. I have friends innumerable. I
am not impoverished. I live in a country where my safety and well
being are a given. These are all incredible blessings. I find that
taking the time to remember and be thankful for all these blessings is
great exercise for the spirit. The day seems lighter, tasks are less
daunting, and the little things feel to be the miracles they truly
are.
Have a great morning all, and remember to take a few moments to
remember your blessings. I'm remembering some very good blessings
right now as I think fondly on you all. Be well.
The Victom & The Warrior
Every morning when I am preparing for my day, I look into the mirror
and ask myself a very serious question:
"Are you going to be a Victim today, or a Warrior?" I actually
picture a Samurai staring back at me, fully decked out in traditional
armour. That image works very well for me.
I choose to be a warrior. This helps me get my filters in order so
that all the events and things that happen in my day are handled with
me in the driver's seat. Life is perspective, entirely. My worse
days are days that I forget to become the warrior.
Choosing to be a warrior doesn't mean the day is going to be easy. By
choosing to be the warrior we put ourselves on the "front line" where
things are much more dangerous. The upside is, however, that we
stretch ourselves and do things that we normally wouldn't do. We
grow, and we amaze ourselves in just how powerful we truly are.
Yesterday was a very hard day to be a warrior for me. I felt as
though I was bombarded on all sides by the enemy. But I trudged on
through, forcing myself to get things done even though they were
painful. The warrior went to bed last night very tired and very worn.
But this is what warriors do. They take the pain. They are
disciplined. They are impervious. They are powerful.
But warriors are more than this. They are wise. They are kind. They
are optimistic. They are respected. Most importantly they believe in
the cause. The "cause" that we choose to fight for is different for
each one of us. Mine is very simple, to live honestly and with joy.
What does your warrior look like? What is their history? How do
people react to them? Let me know, I'd be interested to hear.
Gotta run gang, the next skirmish is about to begin and I need to prepare. :O)
These Are The People In My Neighborhood
I have the good fortune of living a life filled with people that are
dear to me. You are ALL in that list, and my life is richer for
having you in it. When work seems dull or overwhelming, when life's
little curve balls come flying much to frequently, when 'Monday
Morning" seems to stretch throughout the week, it is good to stop and
take some time to refuel with good company. Family and friends are by
far the best rememdy to all afflictions of the soul.
Take inventory of the people you have shared time with lately (and
those you should make an effort to spend time with). A month ago I
spent cherished time with my sister, brother, and Dad, something we
haven't been able to do in such a croud for over a year. A few weeks
ago I was inspired as I witnessed a friend make record time in a cross
country race. A couple of weeks past I got to revel in the music that
only the 'Waillin Jennys' (pick up their CD, 40 Days, you'll be very,
very glad you did) can sing so well at the Vancouver folk Festival.
Just last Friday I went to a bar-b-q at a friends house and we spent
hours enjoying the night air and great conversation. On Monday I got
to "refuel" by having coffee with a kindred spirit and fellow actor.
Two days ago I got to spend an afternoon with an old friend I haven't
seen in a long time, and it was welcome company indeed. Yesterday I
got to talk with a friend on the phone for awhile and we shared dreams
of the future together. Last night I watched a film with my wife and
son and we ood and ahhhd at the conquests of HellBoy. I could go on
and on and on! How rich my life is, how very rich indeed. I can
hardly wait to see you all more in the coming days and months!
Be well my friends, one and all. Take some time to cherish the people
that enrich your life. You; and they; will be all the better for it.
The Power Of Memories
Last night I was working on a short story and as I did so I was
transported back to a time in my youth when I couldn't have been any
older than 9 years old. I was remembering with vivid clarity the act
of opening a brand new pack of Star Wars cards. It may sound silly,
but at that time there was nothing more important to me than these
cards. I would chew on the gum that came in the pack and spend the
next 1/2 hour pouring over every detail on those cards. I would read
every actor bio on the back, every movie trivia fact, every bit of
information including the copyright symbol.
Yes, I am a geek. But as I sit here now I realize that as an adult we
should probably spend more time making a big deal out of little
things. I'm talking the positive little things here; as adults we do
a great job of making garbage heaps out of ant hills. I'm just saying
we should all slow it down a bit, chew on the stale gum like it was
the finest caviar, and examine the little cards that make up our
lives.
What memory from your childhood makes you smile all over? Take a
minute, and soak it in. If you wouldn't mind, maybe you could share
some of those memories with me. While we're at it, lets make a few
more memories to chew on in the years to come.
Fully Engaged
I was hiking on Sunday with a very good friend of mine on Sunday. He
was kind enough to let me rant for some time about my belief in our
power to make positive and lasting change in how we all live our
lives. He told me that a practice he employs is making sure that he
is "Fully Engaged". It is an absolutely briliant concept.
To be fully engaged, one must focus entirely on the task at hand.
This is very simple, but few of us practice it. If you are playing
with your child but thinking of worries at the office, you are not
fully engaged. If you are at the office writing a proposal and you're
worrying about the upcoming mortgage payment you are not fully
engaged. If you are having dinner with your girlfriend or boyfriend
and are thinking about a date from the week before you are not fully
engaged. If you are not fully engaged EVERYTHING you do will suffer.
I thought of nothing but Engagement while typing this email. Now I am
disengaging so I can go pick up my wife and have a great evening with
my family.
Nirvana In The Morning
We get so caught up in the routine of the everyday that we forget to
take time to appreciate the WONDER that is living. Every morning I
drive my son to daycare, drop my wife off at work, and rush off to the
office. I am sure you have a similar routine in your day, likely the
day is consumed with such rituals.
But there is always time to marvel at the world, all we need to do is
disrupt the routine. After I dropped my wife off this morning I
stopped the car in Stanley Park at a spot overlooking the ocean with a
view towards the North Shore. I was inspired to do so because I drove
by a group of Buddhist monks that were meditating on a nearby stretch
of lawn.
I sat on the edge of the sidewalk and looked out over the water and I
was inspired to write the following poem:
Morning Nirvana
Seaplane hurtling skyward;
Tide washing over glistening stones;
Seaweed bobbing atop placid ripples on salt water;
Sunlight dancing on the water like starlight;
Gulls crying in haunted tones;
Ivy creeping up bark, translucent and alive in the morning sun.
Just the briefest moment in Stanley Park,
My Soul opened wide to the infinite wonders of a quiet morning.
The simple joy of the Universe unraveled through the briefest moment.
Critics, hold you tongues. :O) While reading the poem, can you
imagine the spot? Can you smell the salt air? Can you smile at the
beauty? I hope so.
Take some time for bliss today. Take some time for bliss EVERY day.
Be it five minutes or eight hours, just be sure that the day-to-day
drone doesn't interfere with what is really important: Living every
moment.
Remember To Give Thanks
This morning when I dropped Lesley off to work, I noticed that the
Buddhist Monks that inspired my poem yesterday were out preparing to
meditate again. I remembered that in my work-bag was the original
copy of the poem that I sent to you all yesterday. As they were not
yet meditating I decided that I would park the car and go see them and
to give them the poem that they had inspired (without knowing it
themselves).
As I approached them they smiled. When a Buddhist smiles you can tell
that it comes from very deep within. I approached one of them at
random, gave them the poem, and said thank you for inspiring me not
once, but twice. All of the monks looked to me handing the poem over
and they brought their hands together and bowed their heads in thanks.
I returned the bow immediately.
As I walked away I could hear them talking, discussing the gift I had
given them. A simple piece of paper with words from the heart. It
doesn't get much better than that.
Nothing surprises people more than when a stranger approaches them and
gives thanks for an act that they didn't even know they performed. I
think it important that we remember to give thanks, be it to a
stranger or to a person you have shared your life with for many years.
Be aware of how rich our lives are because of other people's
kindness. Be thankful for all the little things that people do
without want of reward. Understand that it is the kind and selfless
acts of people that enrich our lives more than anything else. Take
nothing for granted, all good things, no matter how small, are
blessings. We are fortunate beyond our wildest comprehension.
Take some time today and graciously give thanks to somebody that asks
for no thanks. Go out of your way to let somebody know that they have
made a difference in your day.
Will You Tell Your Grandchildren?
I had coffee with a friend yesterday, and as always, we got to talking
about this, that, the other thing, and a few more items. :O) Spending
a few minutes with him over coffee is a hell of a way to break up the
work week.
We both have very high-stress careers. And that's putting things very
mildly. *grin* He has always been much better at not letting the
day-to-day strife bring him down. I've always admired that quality in
him, it seems effortless. We were talking about perspective, about
not letting things get to you, to realize how insignificant most
things that bug us really are. He said his Grandpa put it perfectly
and I agree: "If it aint worth telling your grandkids then it aint
worth taking the time to worry about."
Perspective is everything. The older I get, the more I realize just
how relative time is. 6 months is nothing. A year doesn't amount to
much. The sand slips through the hour glass very quickly with every
year, does it not? Try to look back on something that caused you
great concern six months ago. I am willing to bet you don't have too
many on your list. I'm even willing to bet that there has never been
a single event in any of our lives that we have not overcome. Think
about it: You are still here, your old troubles are not. Worries
don't matter. You do.
Can't remember too many things that seemed dire six months ago? Well
how about a few days ago? How about today? I'll bet that list is HUGE!
I put it to you that as important as these worries seem today that if
I was to ask you again six months from now they would have faded from
memory almost entirely.
When ever life gets you down, ask yourself if you would tell the
Grandkids. It's really that simple.
What are some of the things I am going to tell my Grandchildren? I am
going to tell them how much I love my daughter and son who are in
Barbados and how much I missed not seeing them grow up. I am going to
tell them them about the first time Lucas said a swear word. I am
going to tell my Grandchildren about how much I love Star Wars. I am
going to tell them about the time my brother lit his pants on fire by
playing with a spray bottle of gasoline. I am going to tell them
about the first time I looked at my wife and knew that she loved me as
much as I loved her. I am going to tell them about my dog Jynx and
how she is the best dog I have ever owned. I am going to tell them
about how much I loved driving my Landcruiser in the Savannas of South
America. I will tell them about how when my brother and I were only 4
years old that we had our first drive in a big city lying in the back
of a station wagon staring in awe at the street lights passing over.
I will tell all of my kids just how happy I was when they were born. I
will tell them about the time me and some friends saw UFOs over a
field in the town I grew up in.
I could go on for days but I think you get the point. There is
nothing I cherish in my 'book of memories' about the big deal that
didn't close last week. I won't be telling my lil' uns about the month
I lost a job. I won't be complaining about the girl in grade 12 that
didn't dance with me at the prom. It all amounts to mouse terd
(little shit).
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