To Serve well

Serving with Excellence for a Life of Excellence

Inspiration

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Rise and shine

I have decided that snow, wind or hail, I’m going to pretend it’s a SUNNY DAY!

Seriously folks, we desperately need spring. You know, that “rise and shine” feeling that only the sun can bring out in you. The spring in your step, the desire to skip like a worry-free 10 year old! The verse above calls us to “rise” out from the cold, the dust, the dreary days and the things in our lives that hold us back or down… It imparts the wonderful feeling of coming out and the season of new.

Last week we celebrated Easter. In the actual scholarly commentary on this verse it leads us to the fact that this was a chapter discussing the “glorious state of the New Israel, a reign that began on the first Pentecost after the Resurrection of Christ.” (Coffman’s Commentary) Truthfully, I had no idea of that when I picked the verse — I just wanted to talk about “rising” (above the ashes — or just out of my winter jacket and boots).

Please join me this week in RISING. Rising in honor, in attitude and with a downright simple JOY that makes people want to embrace the day no matter what mother nature serves up! I’m praying for each and every one of you right now.

In a world of conflicting opinions, we must get to a place of respect

Our nation was in full ACCELERATE mode this weekend with  “March Madness” games, the youth-led walks across the nation to raise awareness of the desire of “the people” to achieve greater gun control laws, and the celebration of Palm Sunday.

All areas of which there are opposing views. It’s no surprise when I asked one of my dear friends if they had any blog ideas for me, that the immediate response was on how we can best respect differing opinions.

I’m not sure I have any profound thoughts, but my hope would be to get to a better conversation. To truly think through how we honor one another best without allowing our personal opinions to be in overdrive, which often results in the opposite.

Here are my initial thoughts…

  • We must “get to” a point of listening with the intent to understand. This is a call to not listen or simply “hear” with the intent to respond.
  • We must honor where others come from, remembering that just like us, their opinion didn’t come about overnight. They too have come to the conversation with history and perspective that is true to them.
  • We must also be true to our own perspective, and share it when it matters and not be silent. We must share with grace, with subtle power and with love.

There is so much to talk about with this topic, but I believe that if we keep honor in mind first, we can have opposing opinions and continue to push through to a better world for the future generations.

The back story: Even the best highlight reels have them

I had my 50th birthday last week and wrapped up what ended up being a wonderful trip to pick my son Sam up from Australia where he was studying abroad. I posted some fun pictures along the way and it was fun to see everyone’s comments and birthday wishes.

That is the absolutely best part about Facebook: using it as a tool for encouragement. As a community we are darn good at encouraging one another on that  medium! It got me thinking that sometimes we see pictures, videos, etc.  and think others have a “storybook” life and that might make us wish we had that, too, or at least that part of it! I think we all know by now that social media is generally a place we share the great things going on in our lives, and not the parts that aren’t so much fun.

This blog post today is a call for us all to remember that there is always a back story.

Most of the greatest successes in the history of our country have come from those whose lives didn’t start out glamorous, and often were filled with hardship and struggle. What I have found in the average person I know, is that their lives are full.  Full of joy, sadness, anxiety, excitement, fun and sometimes hardship that is difficult to understand. No one is immune to these truths in life.

Just before I left for Australia, I was experiencing some health issues (anxiety triggered by higher-than-normal blood pressure, acid reflux — Yep… I thought it was a heart attack on its way).  I am pretty sure most, if not all of it, was stress related since I felt so much better while away. I also, in all of my “semi-hiking” glory, had a knee injury and walked around with a beautiful tan knee brace which was very, let’s say, “50+.”

If anyone of you have been on a family vacation for any period of time, you know that there are often a few glorious moments of heated exchange.  I think you get the point…we all have a back story.  We all have our great days and those that, frankly, suck. It’s all part of the ride! Have a great weekend!

#MarchMadness and its glory

(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

(Rewind: Today’s blog is a partial throwback to one of my favorites, celebrating one of the best events of the year.) 

The NCAA Basketball tournament dominates March (and sometimes a bit of April) for many people. I’m not a huge basketball fan, but it’s so much fun to see people get excited about watching their teams play out their dreams. Here are a few insights on why this time of the year is both magical and full of glory:

  • It seems almost everyone joins the fun: Even if you don’t know a thing about basketball, many people jump on the bandwagon and complete a bracket in an attempt to claim the guessing-the-most-wins prize. Some pick by colors (ahem – that’s me), mascots, season records, and of course there are those who actually know what team could win based on solid criteria. Regardless, it’s a ton of fun! (I mean who wasn’t cheering for the Retrievers? My golden surely was!)
  • “Scratching your way to the top:” Watching teams come back from a 20-point deficit with five minutes left always leaves me thinking the refs must have their back. Anyone who is a KU fan remembers the 2008 series and Mario Chalmer’s infamous 3-point shot to win the game, after KU shocked the nation with overcoming a 9-point deficit with two minutes on the clock. It’s that kind of drama that makes someone who normally doesn’t care join in around the TV appreciate the ENERGY and VICTORY.
  • EVERYONE HAS A CHANCE – CINDERELLA STORIES: This is the BEST. For a few weeks in March, any team can show up and show off. It’s fun to watch the magic Cinderella videos online, or SportsCenter.  We’ve seen names such as Butler, Wichita State and Yep, now UMBC, come from seemingly nowhere and make an amazing RUN FOR THE BIG WIN.

I hope as you spend some time  getting wrapped up in the “MADNESS,” you  remember that you also ALWAYS have a chance at achieving the CINDERELLA STORY of your own making! It takes GRIT, PASSION and HARD WORK, but the VICTORY is like none other!

Designing a life you love

I don’t know about you, but I love to look at beautiful buildings, no matter if they are historical, or modern.

Some of the coolest modern-day structures are actually sports stadiums, which create an experience far and above what we have come to expect from “watching a game.”

Architecture is fascinating, as is the idea that someone can sit down and literally create a structure that can endure storms while maintaining its integrity and beauty.  Great architecture inspires, and offers a connection to the environment around. It can even engage our imagination.

All of these qualities lead me to the idea that we are the true architects of our own lives. No matter if you are in school, looking to what the future brings, or a young professional, ready to know what the “next” level looks like, or heading into a later phase of career or life, the same truth applies.  We have this wonderful opportunity to design what we personally find to be rewarding for ourselves.

My perspective has always been that it starts with attitude, and if we choose a positive one, then we can  achieve whatever it is that we strive for.  While it is true that we all have been given gifts that help us fulfill our purpose in life, we still “get to” prioritize and use our time and talents to mirror a beautiful life.

So, what is it for you? Is your life currently where you want it to be? Do your weeks look how you want them to? Is your health and wellness lined up where you’d like it to be? Your relationships? Your career, studies, retirement? Your community engagement?

Sure, sitting down to design the life you want takes intention (I recommend a quarterly assessment at minimum), but the results, like great architecture, endures. I think that sounds pretty good to me!

Why do we sometimes choose the second-rate version of ourselves?

I came upon an interesting conversation via a podcast and it really resonated. I hope it does with you, too.

Here’s the thing: Sometimes we actually choose the second-rate version of ourselves. OUCH! Why would we do that?

Let me give you an example: Each year when I do the Daniel Fast for the first 21 days of the year, I feel GREAT during and after. Eating healthier, incorporating regular exercise, a diligent focus on sticking with a solid wake-up and nighttime routine coupled with less social media… it’s a game changer for me. So, why would I not live my life this way every day of the year? It’s a really good question.

I am guessing that a trained psychologist would say it is because we are accustomed to and find comfort in our routines. I mean, I really like queso and I do enjoy reading about the lives of those I love via social media.

Trying to find that “balance” of how you can “have your cake and eat it too” is the challenge we all face. My point of view is that it comes down to framing the question in a way that moves us to the potential negative side of the equation. For example: What happens if I choose more queso over having more energy and a healthier body?

I find myself living on the edge of this…trying to find the right mix of both. I suspect each year I try to “lean in” to the healthier side a bit more — but maybe only a tad bit. (The unfortunate part, however, is that as you age, the body isn’t as forgiving of that basket — or two — of chips!).

How about you? Sharing is caring, and I know we would all love to have a dynamic community tackle this topic of how to choose the best version of yourself. After all, it is there that we are meant to be, and there that we are able to serve the very best.

The Culture Connection: Why travel is a life priority

I have made travel a life priority.

Along the way, I learned that whatever your budget — and whatever your goals with travel — it can be done with a bit of research and flexibility. There are so many stories out there of poor college students backpacking across Europe, and travel blogs that showcase journeys around our vast world. This is encouragement to many, as travel can seem to be a goal achievable only after retirement, if at all. In my viewpoint, even a trip to the lake can be a much-needed cultural shift from our day-to-day lives.

As it pertains to my writing on this blog, I truly feel that in order to serve well (for me) that travel is essential to creating a greater understanding of the people we share this planet with.

Here’s why: Being immersed in different cultures allows us to stretch and grow beyond our normal experience.

I have learned that whether it be a trip to New York City, Chicago, San Diego, or abroad to say, Greece (or my current journey in Australia), the customs from the time they eat meals to the way they approach their day opens me to new, potentially life-changing perspectives.

For example, in bigger cities, you seldom see anyone overweight. This is likely due to their active lifestyles to some extent, with a dependence on walking as a major means of transportation. It forces me to consider how to incorporate more of that lifestyle into my own.

In most countries I have visited outside of the U.S., the pace of life seems to be less frenetic and more reasonable. Even the average vacation time they are offered by employers is almost triple what we find here in America. It ties to a focus on overall wellness, it seems. I believe our country has a lot to learn in this area. (Side note: I have not been to the Asian countries, which I understand are more hurried in their approach, and perhaps it is due to the size of the population.)

One of my favorite authors (Batterson) is known for saying “a change of place, offers a change of perspective.” That is so very true. Somehow, when you are able to remove yourself from your routine, your mind “shifts” to a neutral zone that allows you to more easily embrace the beauty that surrounds us, even in the seemingly simple matters. I believe that notion leads us to achieve creativity and engage in life with a more health focused approach.

I try to keep these short, so will stop here. As the North Face slogan goes, I hope that you will “Never stop exploring,” and I hope this has inspired you to travel, local or abroad — just get out there!

Simple Thoughts Sunday: How’s your soul?

(Photo Creds: My own)

(Rewind: This post comes from last March’s blog after a conference. One of the speakers recommended this exercise, which I’m still convinced has served me well and bears repeating!)

So, HOW IS YOUR SOUL? I mean how are you doing? (And not the “I’m fine. It’s all good.” answer we give in the corridors of life.)

Are you truly happy? Joyful?

Are you empty or sad? Have you or a loved one had a loss of some kind?

Are you afraid of the next season of life? Confident and ready to take it on?

Are you content, and wish you had more desire to “change the world?”

Well, I’m not sure yet because I haven’t done the exercise, but my gut reaction is that it is a combination of the above.  I love this idea of doing a literal check-in  or check up, for my medical friends, with your soul. To write it out and and ask why or why not, and develop some steps to move closer to where you want to be. I think it would be a fun “task” to do with someone that knows you really well.

This blog seems to always lean toward this concept of improving in how we serve. Serving ourselves and others well is critical to our ultimate happiness and ability to live out God’s purpose. He is quite clear that we are here on this planet, in this very zip code, to serve others and shine a light to make the world a better place than we found it. We do this with each daily decision and action. The cumulative result is a life fully lived.

I encourage you to walk through this “check in/up” and in the process, give God praise for both the joy and the pain and to seek his word as a guide to help you close the gaps in the areas that need some attention. The truth found in Galatians 5 has always been one of my favorites:

“But the fruit of the Spirit (what God desires for us), is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control…” (22-23 NIV)

Anything else is not his desire for us and not our destiny. We therefore need to understand those are not his will and ask him to show us the truth and walk toward that! As always, I’m cheering you on!

Hello March: Nothing but blue skies ahead!

Here’s how I feel: We made it, we made it!

We came, we saw and we conquered the worst of winter! We (mostly) conquered cold and flu season. And maybe some exhilarating “go get ’em” goals for January and February! We did it, it’s over! Today is a new day and a new season is about to begin. Yahoo!

As you head into March, consider shaking off one season and head bravely into the next. Open the windows and breathe deep, because spring comes with promises of new life. The Easter story alone is breathtaking, but we also get sunnier days, flowers and fresh air. Oh, and for those in corporate America: one month left to bring home the big wins for a successful quarter. It’s beautiful. (Oh, and this year, the season opener in baseball is in March! That means it just has to be great!)

I hope this weekend you will shine a little brighter with the new month and make a decision to have your best month yet this year. We all have to make that choice each day really. How can we serve the best? How can we show up to meet our purpose? I recommend that, along with setting some goals, you think about how to inject some fun as well. This month is a good one to hit reset and laughing out loud is a great source of healing for the soul!

Make it great my friends! I was reminded again this week that life is short and we have to optimize our days!

Rewind: Go ahead, jump the fence!

(Photo creds: We Heart it)

(This is a throwback post to 2017, because levity goes a long way.)

I told my son I wanted to do something funny today – something to add some levity to our day and get away from anything too serious.

Initially, this idea of “jumping the fence” was captured in a conversation about diversity and the need for us to not be afraid to experience different cultures, food, people, environments, etc. That is still a good idea, but what’s better today is this perspective of the image.

Through all of the stress that America has realized over the last few months, and what seems like a never-ending back and forth accelerated by social media, we really need to laugh.

So maybe this photo captures how you feel as you try to get away from your friends’ viewpoints on Trump…? Or, perhaps you had so much fun watching the Grammy Awards on Sunday that you gave some thought to changing career paths to become a rock star… You know you’ve got that image now of you on Monday morning with your blazer on and your friends cheering you on running & jumping toward your new found PATH TO GLORY.

No matter what it is, make it a demonstration of fun, friends and no doubt a lot of laughs. (By the way, that may be me struggling to even get up the dang fence.)

I’m in the mood to jump the proverbial fence into brighter territory. Into something meaningful and beautiful and truly FUN. Grab your tribe this weekend and create some memories filled with laughter!