Posts by Pat:
What can you learn?

It may seem like a bit of a stretch to say there are life lessons to be learned from that jack-o’-lantern you carve for Halloween, but see what you think about these! (even if your pumpkin might be less dramatic)
1. Get inside-We need to be willing to open ourselves up to the possibilities ahead.
2. Have a plan-whether it’s a simple one with triangles for eyes and nose and toothy grin or something more intricate, it helps when we have a plan so we and everyone knows what we’re trying to accomplish.

3. Get to the guts of the issue-This is sometimes the hard part because it usually doesn’t feel good. Sometimes the “seeds of distraction” can pull us off target. It can be slimy and uncomfortable but if we don’t get deep into the heart of the issue, our final idea/project/day/life might be only a surface level achievement.
4. Cut to the chase-the sharper the knife/skill, the better the results. Taking action with confidence, and also not rushing, is smart. Sometimes if we cut off more than we want, we can damage our entire project/life.
5. Pay attention to the details– Once we’ve taken our initial steps, it’s time to go back and “check our work.” We can fine tune anything by looking at things from all angles so that others looking at the outside see our best work/life.

6. Light it up…from the inside– Inspiration usually comes from the outside, but motivation comes from within. We need to reach deep in our souls and re-ignite the pilot light that fuels our passion. When it is shining brightly, folks can see our commitment to excellence from far away.
7. Put our work on display-Once we’ve done all the work and feel good about the final result, it’s time to “pump” our chest out and let everyone see our awesomeness!
We can find lessons anywhere if we choose!
Can you add any others?
Are you a cook or a chef?
It may seem as if these words are interchangable: after all both individuals may wear a chef’s hat or coat, work in a kitchen and prepare food. However, every chef was once a cook who went on to learn new skills and create new combinations that cooks can then follow. As Wolfgang Puck, the celebrity […]
Lessons from a squirrel?
Squirrels are just small rodents to some folks, but to admirers they are high flying acrobats, fuzzy-tailed philosophers, scampering tree huggers and resourceful survivors. (They are also rather cute!) Here are 4 (+1 extra!) life lessons we can learn from our squirrel friends. 1. We all know this easy one: save for the future. 2. […]
Can you be creative?
Sometimes we think that we are not creative; that the gift has passed us by. But we have each… come up with creative solutions to family problems, figured out a clever workaround to not having the perfect tool to make a repair, said what needed to be said, but tactfully and compassionately. Here are two […]
In just 4 words!
If less is more and if a short sermon is more memorable than a long one…then here are some quotes of only four words that you might find meaningful! From some philosophical folks… From some business folks… “Aim for the highest.” Andrew Carnegie “Stay hungry. Stay foolish.” Steve Jobs “Whatever happens, take responsibility.” Tony Robbins […]
The Spare Change Principle
I saw a video from a few years ago by Jon Acuff that made good sense to me. He shared that he had run 1,000 miles the previous year. How? Short answer: he ran a lot. Long answer: he used the “Spare Change Principle.” And what was that? It was his willingness to do an […]
Response-Ability
We have the responsibility to choose. And we have the ability as well! We can respond or we can react. And the quality of our life depends on the choice we make. We know there is a difference between trying to control everything in our life and taking charge of our life. After all, haven’t […]
The weather is just the weather…
Has our summer been sweltering, oppressive, scorching, or just hot? Just like Calvin, we often describe our weather as “too much!” Let’s refuse to listen to weather reports. Weather reporters this past winter often described the weather as being gloomy, dismal, or miserable rather than just saying it was cold, rainy or windy! The weather […]
Don’t let the tail wag the dog…
So, what does that mean? It means don’t let the smallest or least important part of something be in control of the larger or more important parts. And this is not just in dogs. The purpose of a tail is complicated. Not just for communication, but also for balance. A retriever in the water (me?) […]
Complaining is easy…
Complaining is easy. It’s as natural to us as breathing. Complaining is describing something (an event, an experience, a person) negatively without any indication of next steps or plans to fix the problem. It requires little thinking and zero action. Whether it be whining about God, the government, the universe, slow Wi-Fi, the authorities, or […]