Choices

Choices. 

“...you make your choices and your choices make you.”

Darren Hardy

The Compound Effect

Darren Hardy in his book The Compound Effect devotes an entire chapter in his book to the importance of choices, both those we make and those we don’t. 

He writes about how the choices we make can set “the trajectory” of our life. 

I spent a little time thinking about different choices I had made in my life, and how they had set me on the path that I am on today. I also wondered what would have happened if I had changed just one choice?

This phenomenon is known as The Butterfly Effect. Simply choosing one thing different may change everything. 

When I graduated from college I was offered a teaching position in McKinney, Texas. School had already started, and I was quite depressed that I did not have a job yet. As much as I wanted to accept the position it really made no sense. It was too far to commute, and with my meager beginning teacher salary there was no way I could have paid the bills. 

Little did I realize that seven years later I would be introduced to Chuck by one of the teachers I taught with in Cedar Hill. If I had never taken that position we would never have met. I think about how my two grandsons would not be here today if I had made a different choice. 

Each day I have a series of choices to make. Often I don’t give many of them much thought, as they have just become my routine, but is that necessarily a good thing? 

Chuck and I have a habit of plopping down in front of the tv after dinner. We made a different choice the other night after I started reading The Compound Effect. What if we read for 30 minutes after dinner? Even if we only read one book a month, that would end up being twelve more books than we would have read before. 

I can’t help but think that thirty minutes of reading will probably benefit us more than another thirty minutes of television. 

Think about some of the choices you make. Is there another choice you could make that over time will pay off in a healthier way? Slow and steady wins the race. 

Humble

Humble.

Being humble seems to fly in the face of our current culture. I recently picked up a popular book that had caught my eye. I was curious what all the hype was about. 

At first I was quite taken in by all the upbeat, motivating sentiment at how I could take charge of my life, and accomplish my wildest dreams. 

It wasn’t until I came to the chapter about how the author chose not to be too involved in her children’s lives in order to accomplish all HER wildest dreams that I began to have second thoughts. 

Now don’t get me wrong, I was a working mother, and I’m not trying to pit career over motherhood, but at the same time I always knew which of the two was the higher calling. 

It’s very trendy today to be brave, and to step out of your comfort zone in order to do it all. Honestly, I’ve encouraged others through my blog to not limit the possibilities, but today when this Bible verse popped up on my i pad it really spoke to my heart. 

“Humble yourself, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.”

1 Peter 5:6

Interestingly the definition of humble is “having or showing a modest or low estimate of one’s own importance.”

This really does seem antithetical to what we are taught today. 

What I found reassuring, though, was that in His perfect timing, if you allow it, you will accomplish the things you were put on this earth to do, all with an air of humility. 

Opinions

Opinions. 

“A view or judgement formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.”

I’ve realized that so much in life is just somebody’s opinion, mine included. 

I don’t always understand other’s opinions, and sometimes I find myself acting overly defensive about mine. 

I used to think that opinions had more to do with the flavor of ice cream, and not so much about religion or politics, but I found myself determined to find the right flavor of both of these as well. 

I have come to understand that we are influenced by our upbringing and our experiences, and our opinions are based on these. We all come with our own set of biases.

As I watch both sides of an opinion be quick to express hatred for the other it makes me sad. I wonder if it has to continue or could things be different?

Sometimes I think that we have just gotten so big that it’s hard to find common ground anymore. 

In the future, though I don’t want to be so quick to defend my opinion as “right.” I do, however, want to extend the effort required to base my opinion on facts and knowledge as often as possible- except, perhaps, when it comes to my favorite flavor of ice cream!

Consistency

Consistency.

“Consistency compounds.”

John C. Maxwell

I was listening to a podcast the other morning while walking at the gym, when author and motivational speaker John Maxwell said something that caught my ear. 

“Consistency compounds.”

Yes!!!  He couldn’t be more right.  Something that you consistently do will show up either way, good or bad. 

Just like how compounding interest can greatly effect your 401K, almost anything you commit to doing consistently can also grow exponentially.

According to the authors of The Twelve Week Year, Brian P. Morgan and Michael Lennington;

“It’s not enough to have the intention of changing; you have to act on that intention for things to get better-and not just once, but consistently.”

 Now as much as we might wish that there was some sort of magic wand that would help us get what we desire, the reality is that hard work, perseverance, self-discipline and consistency are really the only way to achieve this. 

Although changing your actions may be what is needed to reach your dreams, this according to Morgan and Lennington will only result in “incremental improvements.”

Rather, shifting your thinking is the better way to go. Knowing your natural tendencies, and the reason behind what you are wanting to achieve can help you to reach your goals. 

Why do you want something? Be specific, and remind yourself of this frequently.

I’ll end with another quote from Morgan and Lennington;

“Consistent action on the critical tasks needed to reach your goal is the key to getting what you want in life.”

Start compounding your heart’s desire through the consistency of your actions. 

Monet

Monet. 

Chuck and I were fortunate the other day to be able to view the Monet: The Late Years exhibit at the Kimbell Art Museum in Ft. Worth. 

As Monet grew older he suffered with cataracts which affected his vision. I can only imagine how devastating that was to him. 

In response to his limited vision he began painting on much larger canvases, and redefined his artwork. Near the end of his life, as he still continued to paint into his eighties, he redefined his painting style once again. 

Several lessons can be learned here:

Never give up doing something you love. 

Redefine yourself as needed adjusting for any impositions brought on by aging. 

Don’t allow a hardship to completely hold you back. 

Interestingly Monet described his abilities as such; 

“Beyond painting and gardening, I am good for nothing.”

What an understatement considering the breadth of his work over an eighty year period, and the beauty of his beloved gardens at Giverny.

We all have something that we are naturally good at, and we should develop and redefine if needed those talents, so we can share them with the world. 

The Downside of Comfort

The downside of comfort.

If I were to ask you how comfortable you are with your life, what would you say?

What if I told you that there might be a way to help you achieve your dreams, except that it would require you to sacrifice one thing?

What would that one thing be, and would it be worth it?

Would it surprise you to know that that one thing is comfort?

According to the authors of The 12 Week Year, Brian P. Morgan and Michael Lennington:

“The number one thing that you will have to sacrifice to be great, to achieve what you are capable of, and to execute your plans, is your comfort.” 

As I thought about it, I realized that I live a pretty comfortable life overall. As I thought about it some more, I wondered if I was not fulfilling my potential because I clung to being comfortable?

Would it be worth it to risk comfort in exchange for something potentially meaningful?

Morgan and Lennington also state:

“Without a compelling reason to choose otherwise, most people will take comfortable action over uncomfortable ones.”

I wonder if I have a “compelling reason”?

Do you?

Paying Attention

Paying attention. 

Author Emily P. Freeman describes her job as a writer in this way:

“My job even before writing is to pay attention.”

Regardless, of whether you consider yourself a writer or not, her words can be helpful.

It’s only through paying attention that we notice what needs to be done. Paying attention allows us to embrace the inspiration that is placed along our path. 

If we are too busy or too distracted then we just might miss our purpose in that moment. 

As I reflected on the idea of paying attention I knew that it related to writing my blog. When I’m not paying attention I find myself struggling to come up with ideas.

If I haven’t read something new, or visited a new place, or talked with a stranger, chances are that my well of ideas have run dry. However, when I’m aware of what I’m listening to, watching or reading then ideas seem to flow like water. 

As you make your way through your day pay closer attention to what is right before your eyes, so you don’t overlook the importance of that moment, and the treasures it may bring. 

Inner Peace

Inner Peace

“Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.”

Dalai Lama

I wish I had taken these words to heart long ago. 

How often have I allowed what someone else has said or done to determine how I would react? How often have I lashed out instead of responding peacefully when others’ behavior have pushed a button?

What I am finding, though, is that I am primarily responsible for my actions, and how I respond to others. In saying this, though, I do believe that often times my actions have fallen short, and that I should expect more of myself, especially if my actions lead to another’s exasperation. 

However, in allowing my inner peace to be determined by the actions of another, then I am in reality choosing to give that person more power than they should be allowed. 

I learned a valuable lesson from my son-in-law the other day when he handled a potentially volatile situation with grace and understanding. Where my first reaction would have been to snap, he waited until he could interject a “cooler heads prevail” mentality, and it made all the difference. 

We will always be exposed to moments in time when our inner peace is challenged. If we rise to the occasion then perhaps we can make things better for both parties involved. 

Don’t Count Your Chicks

Don’t count your chicks. 

While my former co-workers were beginning their school year with Convocation at The Star in Frisco, I was sitting in Euless City Hall learning about backyard chickens. 

Now I’m really not planning on having chickens in my backyard, as I don’t think my HOA would allow it. However, even if I could have chickens, I could only have two so as not to exceed the total number of four animals per household per city ordinance. 

However, since Brittany has been raising chickens I wanted to learn a little more about poultry life, and perhaps someday when Chuck retires and we move closer to Brittany and her family, we might entertain the idea.  

One interesting thing I learned about chickens is that they are basically on the bottom of the food chain. Pretty much anything that eats meat can make a meal out of chickens. Having a permanent structure that can provide shelter is critical, and even then there is no guarantee that your feathered friends won’t meet an untimely end. 

The other interesting thing I learned about chickens from both my daughter and my friend Michele is that fresh chicken eggs do not need to be refrigerated as long as they have not been washed. They can last for at least a month before needing refrigeration.

Brittany has raised her hens from baby chicks and is now beginning to reap the fruit of her labor. The girls can be found roaming freely during the cooler part of the day happily gobbling up grasshoppers. One evening Brittany was late in putting them up, and was surprised to find them all contentedly hanging out in their coop. 

In fact, anytime they sense danger they hightail it back to the coop. Recently they replaced their make-shift coop with an upscale real coop. Being creatures of habit, just like humans, they weren’t too happy about the change. 

It’s been a few days now, and I’m hoping they’ve all settled into their new digs. 

Accepting Your Nature

Accepting your nature.  

As I reflected on my recent art class experience, and my frustration at both not drawing well, and not handling it with grace, I kept coming back to this comment from my favorite high school teacher:

“Your frustration at less than perfection is just who you are and will take much more than an attempt at a new skill or two to overcome.”

She is correct. Perfectionism is in my nature, and pretending it’s not won’t just make it go away. 

As I contemplated that I probably would not return to the art center for another class I couldn’t help but be a little disappointed in myself.

There seemed to be a misalignment between the person I aspired to be and the person I was. 

Recently I read an article by Michael Simmons about incorporating the Five-Hour Rule into your week to increase learning. 

He recommends doing small experiments as part of the learning process. “Whether or not an experiment works, is an opportunity to learn and test your ideas.”

I’m reframing my art center experience as an experiment; an experiment that didn’t go quite as I had hoped. Now some of my next artistic ventures might happen in the safety of my own home, but I’m not giving up on perhaps venturing out and trying another class. 

The Encouraging Word

The Encouraging Word

If there was one thing you could do to help someone out, and it really didn’t require much effort or preparation would you do it?

Well I think most of you would say, “Of course!”

Believe it or not, simply offering encouragement to someone else is priceless. 

When we are struggling we may think our situation is unique, and we may find ourselves alone. However, the beauty of life is that we all share a common humanity. 

What that means is that we have had common struggles as well as common joys. When we reach out to another, even in the simplest of ways we can start a chain reaction. 

The smile offered to a stranger, might result in that stranger holding the door open for the next person they come across. 

A kind word on Facebook, a phone call or text are all ways of making connections with others. 

Look for ways that YOU can offer encouragement. Plant those seeds, and they will come back when you are in need. 

Who can you encourage today?

“Therefore encourage one another, and build one another up...”

1Thessalonians 5:11

A Cat Tale

A Cat Tale

Have you ever wondered how people come up with a business idea? Today being an entrepreneur is a legitimate way to make a living limited only by your lack of imagination. 

Recently, I visited a very unique place with an interesting business model. As I thought about how it came to be I couldn’t help but imagine the following scenario:

Cat Lover One: “I’ve always wanted to have my own business.” 

Cat Lover Two: “Me too!  I’m so tired of working for someone else.  Hey maybe we should go into business together?”

Cat Lover One: “That’s a great idea, but what could we do?”

Cat Lover One: “Why don’t we open a little Cat Boutique, and sell all kinds of cat merchandise?”

Cat Lover Two: “That’s a great idea, and wouldn’t it be fun to have an actual cat roaming around the place like a mascot?”

Cat Lover One: “Yah, kind of like that library cat I read about in the book Dewey.

I love that idea!”

Cat Lover Two: “Cat lovers can never resist loving on a cat when they get the chance.” 

Cat Lover One: “I know! The only thing better than one cat is two. Wait a second why do we have to stop at two? What if we had a whole room full of cats? Do you think people would pay money to get to hang out with them?”

Good question Cat Lover One, because guess what? YES they will!  In fact, I bet you money that on a half-priced Friday where it’s only $5.00 a person you’ll have a whole room full of cat lovers hanging out with their feline friends. 

Yes, readers that’s exactly what happened last Friday at the Casual Cat Cafe in Richland Hills, Tx. I spent about thirty minutes checking out an assortment of kittens to cats, and enjoyed every minute of it.  

Several families were also there allowing their kids to play with and entertain the abundance  of cats and kittens. I laughed as I thought about how my youngest grandson would have been in cat heaven. Unfortunately, he likes to hold them upside down, and after reading a full page of rules, I don’t think they would have allowed him in for the safety of the cats. 

However, I may see a return visit in the future. 

Who would have thought that people would pay money to hang out with a bunch of cats? I have to hand it to the creativity of the owners. 

Coexisting

Coexisting.

As I was walking through my house the other day, I couldn’t help but notice the accommodations I have made for my furry companions.  

In an effort to keep my cat off the dining room chairs, I have placed dryer sheets on all chairs except one. I have covered one of my big Captain’s chairs with a towel to provide a comfy spot for her majesty. Of course, we still play a game of musical chairs occasionally when the dryer sheets begin to lose their fragrance.

In my living room another towel covers the one upholstered chair there to help prevent it from being covered in cat hair. I still have to keep an eye out for the cat when she begins to rub against any piece of furniture in that room, because I don’t want that love fest to end up with telltale bite marks on my furniture.

Now the next two accommodations pertain to both furry members of our household, so Cooper doesn’t get a pass here. For some unknown reason on occasion they have been guilty of using the rug in the front foyer as an emergency bathroom. My solution, besides keeping a better eye on them, is to cover the gorgeous rug with a thin flannel throw. Not exactly a Chip and Joanna moment here, but the blanket can be easily washed.

Now mind you that the cat actually has two litter boxes in the laundry room since our last trip to Galveston was a little longer than a weekend. I figured she’d choose one as her preference, but nooo, she continues to use both. 

In an effort to direct the cat to her litter box, and the dog to the backyard, I have also put up a baby gate to block entrance to the front office, have closed the guest room door completely, and only keep the powder bath door cracked. 

In addition to all of this I almost forgot that Cooper will only eat his food on carpet. So I diligently place his bowl each day between the recliner and the couch, and manage only to trip over it occasionally. 

Geez Louise this has gotten ridiculous! Of course, were these animals ever really intended to live inside?  Perhaps not, but today they basically rule the roost. 

Good thing I love them!