To Serve well

Serving with Excellence for a Life of Excellence

Grit

Rewind: 13 ways October delights!

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(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

(This is a throwback post from 2016 as we look toward how to make October great!)

I think October is my favorite month. I know I have a few that I have grown over time to love, but October is delightful… I’ve listed below some of my reasons why I say that. Take a moment to add yours in the comments! I think it would be fun to share and who knows, you might just get a great idea to refresh your own list.

  1. My No. 1 for sure… the COOLER weather: My dog is relishing in longer walks and gentle breezes. HIKING, and CRUNCHING IN THE LEAVES… INVIGORATING!
  2. The COLORS: The leaves, all manner of pumpkins and vegetables that look like pumpkins to me!
  3. COMMUNITY: It feels like everyone comes out and “GATHERS.” I like that idea of gathering. And with pop-up options like cider mills, pumpkin patches and corn mazes, what better time to hang out with old friends or make new ones!
  4. FOOTBALL! I do in fact love football, from little league, high school, college and the NFL! It’s just plain FUN!
  5. SOUP: My friend Nan always brings me soup. I love that! I also love finding a great butternut squash or pumpkin soup recipe. A bit of crusty bread and it’s the perfect meal, and as an added bonus, it soothes the SOUL!  (I promise my trainer, Amy, that I’ll add some protein in there!)
  6. BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH: I love how America has embraced this and over time the rates of SUCCESS if you get an early diagnosis are greatly improved. Research is necessary and this campaign showcases how, if we galvanize the troops, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
  7. HOLIDAY SEASON SNEAKS IN: We get a glimpse but we aren’t fully deluged yet.
  8. HALLOWEEN: To be perfectly honest, until my boys were born I didn’t really embrace Halloween. I mean it’s okay and I loved to fill my pillowcase when I was in 3rd grade, but then it sort of faded. Now that my boys are in college, it’s fading again, but OH HOW FUN IT IS if you have little kids! EMBRACE EVERY MOMENT OF IT! Make fun punch with dry ice, set up a bobbing for apples activity, host a neighborhood pre-trick-or-treating party… It’s a BLAST!
  9. OCTOBER BASEBALL: Last year in particular, but I still LOVE MY BOYS IN BLUE! FOREVER ROYAL!
  10. BONFIRES, S’MORES, ETC.! Being around FIRE IS PRIMAL and screams connectedness. The smell of the smoke… the whole thing is just perfect fun!
  11. BOOTS, SWEATSHIRTS, SWEATERS: If you are a gal, need I say more? If you are a guy, ask your favorite gal! She’ll fill you in!
  12. APPLES! Apple orchards, apple picking, cider, cider donuts, apple crisp, apple pie…         It’s fully AMERICAN and fully AWESOME!
  13. Last but not least… HAYRIDES: YEP, HAYRIDES. I need to find one this year. There isn’t anything more fun to me, than a simple trailer, some HAY, and family, friends and complete strangers! I hope you’ll find one too!

“Fall has always been my favorite season. The time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale!”  – Lauren DeStefano

Don’t miss an opportunity: Tales of my Uber Driver, part 1

Travel often offers us the opportunity to meet some great people. Some not so friendly, but thankfully the good wins.

I was reminded on Sunday night, as I was traveling from the airport in Denver, of the tremendous opportunities we have to CONNECT with some AMAZING people. It is always great to put the headphones on and get lost in our own thoughts, but that’s a choice that may result in a miss. I generally do the headphone thing on airplanes, but when I’m at someone’s mercy as they drive me around unknown territory, I like to be aware and also engage. (Mom, I’m sure that makes you quite happy.)

Sunday, the driver was a local attorney from Nigeria, moonlighting with Uber to make money for a foundation he has created to send back home to help provide educational opportunities for students in his native land.

He had two children at home ages 10 and 14, so I know this extra effort is a sacrifice. How many of us would work a part time job JUST to send money to a cause we love and know will change the world?

We had a truly meaningful conversation, and I think we both walked away as better humans – I for sure did. I like the idea of of being “BETTER HUMANS,” don’t you?

As you go through your days, don’t miss those opportunities we have to learn, connect and as a result GROW.

It is not the critic that counts; it is the man in the arena… Battling it out… Doing the work…

(Photo creds: Canva)

Don’t you love how something said in 1910 is still true today? You may not be familiar with this speech, so please read it. It’s terrific. It resonates with me considering how our world today seems to be infiltrated with sideline judges.

Granted, most of us do what we can, jump in where we see a need, vote on issues that are important, etc. But we can easily fall victim to those “judges” often hiding behind computer screens. These are the “Monday morning quarterbacks” reporting on how we “should” have navigated whatever the trials of the day may be… Hurricane preparations, actual game day errors, conversations that should have taken a different direction, etc… What we need are those that call out what was done WELL! To focus on what we really desire… EXCELLENCE.

I just LOVE the idea and ACTION of GRIT, of working it out with blood, sweat and yep, tears at times. The key words of GREAT DEVOTIONS, WORTHY CAUSE, DARING GREATLY… are STRONG, RESILIENT, LIFE GIVING, ENERGETIC, and IMPORTANT.

Step into an ongoing effort to build a WORLD OF ENCOURAGEMENT… In your home, work place, school, community… and GET ENGAGED with the GREAT WORK OF BUILDING AN EVEN GREATER WORLD!

Simple Thoughts Sunday – Love & bearing burdens

As I write this, hurricanes are swirling, forest fires are ravaging, Houston is beginning a lengthy recovery and a lot of folks are praying, rolling up their sleeves, opening their wallets, and in anyway they can reaching out to help… to love… to send healing and positive thoughts.

This is the best part of “us” when we stop and truly bear the burdens of others. Love surrounds us and I hope this week we all PRESS forward to LOVE BIG.

Go deep: We need to build our root system

(Photo Creds: Canva)

If you’ve ever stood under a redwood tree, you know that their height is something magnificent. The extent of their root system is shockingly not deep at 6-12 feet. So, how do we account for the crazy growth, with many reaching 300 feet tall? (The tallest pine measures in at 268 by comparison.)

“Redwoods create the strength to withstand powerful winds and floods by extending their roots more than 50 feet from the trunk and living in groves where their roots can intertwine.”

Perfect! Another very cool illustration for just how important going “DEEP” in your relationships is to your ability to grow and optimize your gifts. Of course… I LOVE THIS – and so should you!

“Community” is what allows us to live a joy filled life. (“Community” also defined, as families, friendship groups, circles, tribes, colleagues… you get my drift.) To SERVE WELL, it is almost required that we are encouraged, held accountable and ultimately pushed toward our “best self.” For most of human history, this has been a normal part of life, starting out with the earliest Native American tribes and, for my generation, playing kickball in the street until well after the sun has gone down. Today, many find themselves immersed in technology and other distractions. That seems almost too obvious to state but when the shoe fits… Heck, I don’t even like to get out of my car to go in the bank. God forbid I can’t take care of business on my phone or through a machine.

I like the idea of GOING DEEP. I need to work more at this. I’d love to achieve the greatness of a REDWOOD GROVE… to lock arms together with some amazing people and establish root systems that allow us all to grow and flourish.

We all need a spotter (or a few)

(Photo Creds: We Heart it)

On Sunday, I kicked off the week by reminding you that you are indeed a “bad ass.” That’s according to the Bible by the way, which is a great go-to source for understanding how we are designed. Apologies for any that are offended by that word choice, but I feel it’s the most appropriate way to call out the truth.

That said, I felt this was an appropriate topic for a Tuesday, which by the way is the “most productive” of work days. It’s when the coffee hits the system and we are ready to ROLL.

To me, there is not much better than getting that “flow” going and really feeling like you are conquering your day. That could be any day, but especially when that to-do list starts to get crossed off, line by line. LOVE IT! Anyone else?

Along the way, my hope for you today is that you will make sure to USE A SPOTTER. We all need them. I need several… managing your health, finances, family, relationships – the list goes on – requires a TON OF HELP. Who are your spotters? They can help LIFT THE HEAVY LOAD and give you much needed relief.

Have a STRONG WEEK and know that others are cheering you on and want to help!

Simple Thoughts Sunday: You are a badass (Acts 26:15)

(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

When I heard this connection this summer I knew I had to share it with you. Let’s face it, life can be tough. I was greatly encouraged to have someone point out to me the biblical reminder that I am indeed a badass… and SO ARE YOU! As you start this week, remember, that you can GET UP AND STAND UP. God created us to be courageous and brave and He gave us the tools to confront our lives with GREATNESS! (Peace, Grace, Love – the list goes on.)

A short thought for the day, but SUPER POWERFUL! Have an AMAZING WEEK!

“Make a dent in the universe”

(Photo Creds: We Heart It…Thanks to everyone who posted amazing eclipse photos!  So much fun!)

I couldn’t let this historical moment go by and not mention the idea above. When the universe shows us how intricate and truly cool it is, I think we should pay attention.

I believe that we all have a role to play in this one world and life of ours and although we can feel pretty small when set against the vastness of the world and it’s many needs and opportunities, we can indeed make our “dent.” Steve’s quote was in regard to entrepreneurs, but I would challenge you that we are all to make our “dent.”

So, as you wrap up your week and the final days of August, the challenge is that we all consider if we are making the “dent” that we want to. If not, why not? What steps can we take to move toward that goal?

I hope that you will think both BIG and small. We need BIG thinking to address some of our current challenges and small steps will get us there!

Life happens in the “wait:” Breathe easier on the other side

As I write this, I don’t even know if it will be a workable post, but I’m going to free flow here and see if it makes sense.

I am waiting for my son Sam while he has surgery to repair a deviated septum. It’s minor and yet, it seems to be the “minor” things in life that can end up being “majors.” With some age, I know this all to well. WAITING can be hard and in this case, Sam will BREATHE much better on the other side of recovery. Like most waits, it will be well worth it.

About the wait… in that space is where we learn stamina, grow in grit and challenge our minds to stay positive. So here’s my thought: life does happen in the “wait,” and yet as we pray, engage with good intent and even fight our battles, we all learn and BREATHE BETTER on the other side. That’s the entire point of the “wait” – to get to the BETTER.

As I think through this, I think it’s probably a timely topic. I literally just had a friend/mentee text a bit ago and ask me one of those “How do you know?” LIFE questions. Again, it happens in the wait… in the discovery.

Another dear friend has a terrific blog, Middle Moments, that shares similar thinking. Check it out; you won’t be disappointed. Her humorous approach to “the middle,” or what I’m calling the “wait,” is both refreshing and fun.

We have a choice in the wait, and that is to choose joy and choose to walk through it with grace and gratitude for the journey we are on. To find a window where we can see the beauty in the moment and ultimately to know that breathing better is on the other side!

Worth repeating: What this moment demands

(Photo Creds: Pine Cove Camps)

(This is an insight worth repeating from around this time in 2016.)

Every moment and season of our lives seems to require something different.

This blog is a shout out to not only my son Sam (pictured above), but the thousands of camp counselors at Pine Cove Camps, Kanakuk Camps, Camp Barnabas and the many other great camps that have literally given themselves fully this summer to serve others. In their endless days, with little sleep and millions of calories burned, they encounter moment after moment where they have to ask this question: “What does this moment demand?”

A child that is just flat-out tired today and not into the camp games, one that isn’t feeling well and another that has more energy than Kelly Ledecky. In every situation, these students have learned to adapt, rise and ultimately, to serve well.

I haven’t gotten to talk at a deep level with Sam yet, but my mom intuition tells me that Sam learned more than he could have imagined and he has a new​ ​idea what personal sacrifice and dedication looks like.

As we think through this idea of “What does this moment demand?” I believe we also often are required to​
adapt and rise up.

What are you encountering in your life right now?​ ​This time last year, we talked about hard conversations, and that is certainly an area that requires something different from us.

Some others might include…

A friend that just received a cancer diagnosis. What is required of us as their friend​? ​How do we need to​ ​rise​ to the occasion. How do we need to adapt our life to be there for them and their family?

A child that is struggling in middle school. Do we need to educate ourselves and read everything we can on these struggles? Do we need to take the time to have meaningful conversations with the school leaders​ ​and​ ​teachers involved? How can we best serve that child in​ ​this moment​​?

A local small business that could use some publicity.​ ​Do we even have a role here?​ ​You bet! Social media is a tremendous tool today! Tell your friends​ ​and give them a shout out. What else?

A community struggling with conflict. Where to even start?

We start by​ ​adapting, learning and by rising up to the moment!