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A Birthday Wish List

December 27, 2010 in Family and Friends, Inspiration, Leadership, People with 9 Comments

Ever have those periods in life when you feel as though you’re just existing?  Things are getting done. Life is good. But your sense of adventure-that fire inside that spurs you to do big things-has been on sabbatical just a little too long? Me, too.  And one thing I’ve learned when those times hit is that I can’t begin to live there…I have to set my sights on what’s ahead.  And since today is my birthday, it’s the perfect time to look ahead and write out my “wish list”…actually more of a “bucket list” for the next 365 days. In this next year, I want to:

  • Begin each day with a smile.  Life is too short to let the little things, like a morning routine, set a bad tone for the day.
  • See the best in others, even when it’s hard.
  • Be a leader others remember later on in their careers for having inspired them.
  • Write at least one thank you note each day. There’s much to be grateful for, and handwritten notes do it beautifully.
  • Forgive easily and forget often.
  • Allow Jesus to be the pilot–a daily, conscious effort.
  • Dig deeper with friends, and cast off life-suckers.
  • Take a dream from “some day” to “this year”.
  • Remain sticky through the peaks and valleys.
  • Actively seek our more opportunities to invest in others-through time and resources.
  • Use Every day of my vacation time!  I love my work, but I love my life more.
  • Be a 3-c parent as my kiddo hits the preteen years: connected, compassionate, and consistent.

Whoa, nelly.  Looks like a big year ahead.  If you were making this list, what would you add?

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What Will Christmas Be This Year?

November 3, 2010 in Family and Friends, Inspiration with 4 Comments

We all know the pressure is on to make people happy at Christmas.  And I always wanted to be a good gift-giver.  I would pay attention all through the year and surprise loved ones with that one thing they’d really wanted.  I loved the adventure of finding the gifts…but felt guilty about the priority I was putting on this process of gift-giving.

Two years ago, I felt God challenge me about the way I was spending this money.  The number of zeroes was growing each year.  Generosity has always come easy to me, but I knew I needed to redirect who was benefitting from these gifts.  Seriously…do we need one more Wii cartridge or giftcard??

Once I made the decision (and prepared my many family members for the change), it became such a fun experience.  We’ve given cows and pigs, we’ve adopted children in Kenya and India and we’ve helped fund water programs in Uganda.  There are so many programs that make the process easy, and have built a legacy on creating change where needed.  There was some learning along the way–especially in prepping family for this change.  Some people loved the idea and were excited about knowing their gift was going to help someone else.  Others were not so crazy about it at first, and I had to respect their desire to get an actual gift (though I didn’t give in and change what I was doing, but did respect their feelings in the process).  And, in addition to not giving any gifts, I asked that I not be given any either, so that the money they would’ve spent on me was used to help others, too.  All that to say, communication is needed when you decide to do this, but it’s well worth the discussion so people know ahead of time.

If you want to know you’re really impacting a life with a gift this year, try this: you’ll never regret it, and won’t have to wonder if  your present is just collecting dust in someones’ closet.

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A Day in the Sweet Spot

September 21, 2010 in Inspiration, People, Work with 8 Comments

Yesterday was one of those days where I left the office feeling excited, energized…tired, but in a good way.  As I was walking to the parking lot to drive home, I pondered why I was feeling so refreshed after a long day.  I realized I’d spent most of my day smack dab in my sweet spot.  A few years ago, I read Max Lucado’s Cure for the Common Life.  The message of that book was about finding the things that make us unique-things only we can do that further God’s plan.  It stuck with me and I began paying more attention to the parts of my work and personal life that make me feel made for something unique in His plan.

It’s in those days when I know I’ve been right there in that inner circle of what I was made to do…where I serve others well…that I know true contentment.  All is well with the world.  My soul is at peace.  And it makes me wonder why I don’t fight like mad to make sure I’m there more often.

How do we make sure we’re spending time focused on the right things?  I made a list of some things I think help me:

1. Understand what really fills us-God gives us passions for a reason.  And when we’re clear on what our individual gifts are, and using them to His glory, there’s no better feeling in the world.

2. Learn to say “no”-This is harder for some than others, but in order to make space for what we do best, we have to be willing to pass on some things.  No matter our title, there are certain tasks each of us has to get done, but the only person who will ensure we’re finding time for “sweet spot work” is ourselves.

3. Stretch our comfort zones-Sometimes, it’s not until we tackle a new challenge that we learn a part of it fulfills us.  In order to grow, we must stay challenged and not allow ourselves to get too comfortable.

4. Help others around us live in their sweet spots, too-Imagine a team of people working together where each found time to live in their unique sweet spots.  Yes, there’d be some amount of ‘”grunt work” for each that still has to get done, but there’d be a spirit of passion and unity that’d be unstoppable.  We can be aware of the talents of others and encourage them to make time to fit in those sweet spot moments in their own lives.

How do you make time for your sweet spot?

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How Much is “Enough”?

June 17, 2010 in Family and Friends, Inspiration, People with 9 Comments

There’s a great scene with Sandra Bullock and James Garner in the movie version of Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood that always gets me.

Sidda: Daddy, did you get loved enough?
‘Shep’ Walker: What’s enough? My question is, did you?

As we search the stores for that perfect gift or perfect card this year for Father’s Day, I wonder if we should pause a moment to think about what will speak love most to our dads.

Truth be told, my relationship with my dad lives near “nonexistent.”   I was always different from everyone else in my family.  And as I grew older, the gap grew wider.  These days, though we’re only 90 minutes apart, the emotional distance is more like “other side of the world.”

Earlier this week I saw a tweet from Adam Roth that said “Any thought that makes you feel that you have to earn or “work hard enough” today for God to be pleased with you is a spirit of Fatherlessness.”   It hit me in the gut and has stayed in my mind for days.  Enough that it could be another blog post, but not today.  What it did do is cause me to evaluate where I am with that relationship right now.

I bought a Father’s Day card that says “I’m praying God opens up a new door for us. A new beginning of grace, respect, forgiveness-and the understanding we both long for.”  To be honest, I don’t feel it.  But I know we’re called to do things even when we don’t feel them.  And while it’s true that I wasn’t loved enough, I know God can make miracles happen, even when we don’t have the ability to see it.  It may not change anything, but I’m thankful my heart is open to the possibility.

But you know, God is so good in knowing what we need. He knew that my flesh and blood dad couldn’t give what my heart ached for.  So He gave me an adopted dad who could.  Had it not been for this man, I’d be a shell of the person I was meant to be.

Today, I’m lifting up Dads.  Those who try. Those who fail. Those who give of themselves, and those who are learning to.  Those who know that life is made of memories they help create. And those who understand that when it comes to love…there is never enough.

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