Baby Steps

Great big, innovative, world-changing ideas are plentiful don't you think. Everyone seems to have the latest and greatest idea or is busy chasing the latest and greatest idea. But people who take tiny little baby steps toward them are rare.

If you are one of those who are taking baby steps you are so acing this life.  There is a quote from the Chinese Philosopher Laozi (604 BC) which says a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.  In this quote, Lao Tzu is trying to express the idea that great things start from humble beginnings. For many of us, this is common sense, but in our everyday quest to solve the problems of our world, we forget this idea. For example, if a person is lonely, it is hard to make new friends, but it is a small step to smile every time you see someone, or just say hi and smile when you see the same person every day. If you repeat this small gesture, over time a relationship may build and a friendship may be forged.

My six-year-old grandson was frustrated that he could not do a particular flip on his trampoline at home, but he started small and continued to work at it each day until he could do it. Small steps toward a goal are just as important as the big leap, and I sometimes think that slow and steady progress is easier on us than chaotic and rapid change. We are creatures of habit and although we say we like change, or we say we believe that the only constant in life is change. Change and progress bother us if they are done too quickly, we prefer to move slowly toward a future or a destination that creeps up on us, rather than one that jumps out at us. By moving slowly we can see how the change or the journey will change us, and we can begin to adapt to that new version or the new way of doing.

Harvey

I have a split personality, sometimes I am quiet and sometimes I am outgoing. I wonder how many of us have the same way of looking at life.

When I am in a quiet mood I find that people, sometimes virtual strangers, tell me their deepest secrets. I think it is because when they talk, I don't judge, I just listen and I hear their story. I also don't offer advice or rarely do. When I was young I gave advice and found it was usually ignored so I no longer give advice. 

I really like a movie called Harvey. James Stewart plays a man who sees a "Pooka", whose name is Harvey. No one else can see Harvey but James Stewart. In the movie, the character played by James Stewart befriends many people just by listening to their stories, and when they are finished telling him all their troubles and sorrows, he introduces them to his friend Harvey, and as his character says in the movie.  And they tell about the big terrible things they've done and the big wonderful things they'll do. They tell me Their hopes and their regrets,  their loves, and their hates. All very large, because nobody ever brings anything small into a bar. And then I introduce them to Harvey. And he's bigger and grander than anything they offer me. And when they leave, they leave impressed.

When people are sharing their secrets with me,  my quiet self-shows them through non-verbal language that no matter what they have to say, I will not lose my respect for them. I also do not introduce them to my invisible friend.  Sometimes it is easier to tell a stranger your problems then it is to tell a friend. I wonder why that is.

A challenge

I bet you could do something for someone today, who'd remember it for the rest of their life.

In a good way.

On your mark, get set...

Recognition

We all love recognition, and what better day to receive it is on our birthday. When we were small our parents gave us the best day they could, parties, friends, presents, and cake. We all have fond memories of birthday's past. Our special day is a that because we know that someone values us, and care that we are in this world. 

As we age, some of us try to put up the front that we don't want any more birthdays, and some go out of their way to hide their birthday. I believe it is not the birth day that is the problem, it is the recognition that we are getting one day older. As we get older we understand that our time on earth is finite and that each passing year brings us closer to the end of that time. Our birthdays are special and one should never underestimate the immense importance of one's birthday, to that person, on that very day.

Birthdays are like, really, really HUGE. They can be days when we are surrounded by the wisest of the wise, scared to pieces by rumours of tigers, volcanoes, and cough medicine. or laughing at the newest joke or story told by friends. On our birthday we are the heroes or heroines' of our life story. Once a year, we can be encouraged by tales of past romance, adventure, and comedies in our life and we can look forward to future romance, adventure, and comedy in our life. For one day our existence on earth is celebrated by our friends loved ones and family, and we feel recognized and loved.