Mistakes Made or Making Progress?

What if we could all rescript our self in how we view our mistakes made?  What if we saw every misstep as a chance to learn and an inevitable, even critical part of our making progress?  What if mistakes were nothing to fear or beat oneself up over at all?  A rather humorous case in point that while watching our recent TEDx talk for the first time, a few of those pesky C’s immediately started up again in my mind.  I began to complain and criticize myself for all the things I felt were mistakes I made, missing this or doing that.  Funny and ironic don’t you think, that in this short video, all about Sailing the Seven C’s, I’m not sailing them while watching the message back?  HA!  Shows how hard Sailing the Seven C’s is I suppose, as well as my need to rescript myself to see my mistakes as continued progress and a chance to do better next time.  Heck, it’s like I tell our boys, “do your best and let go of the rest”.  Oh wait, there is the part of the video where Dr. Tyson flies in and reminds me to be positive and playful.  Thanks for the reminder Tyson.  Stop, drop, and be baby!   



https://youtu.be/Ve_-FL_65HU

Thanks for the Reminder Isaac

Our youngest Isaac, a year or so ago, had a major, inconsolable meltdown.  Before he could read all the words, he accidentally pushed the reset save data button on his level 92 video game character and lost literally months of his hard-earned gaming work.  To say he was completely devastated is a gross understatement.  It seemed as though he loved this game and his character as much as his family.  Despite my best efforts to offer him that simply choosing to see this unfortunate event differently, as an opportunity to have fun doing it all over again, the truth was he wasn’t prepared to go there.  Finally, months later and just this weekend he announced to me that he had finally reached level 88 again.  “Wow!  That’s awesome Isaac.  Nice work.  Level 88 really isn’t that different than 92, is it?”  He replied, “Yeah, I can read now, and my character is actually way better than my last one.”  I guess it takes extra time and perseverance sometimes to let go of clinging, especially when it’s something that means so much to us.  Thanks for the reminder my son.

Thank You TEDxLizardCreek!!!

Kim, Issac, and I just returned from meeting new friends, the amazing people involved with TEDxLizardCreek 2017, held in Henrico, North Carolina.  People from all walks of life coming together to explore peoples’ stories and passions.  While driving home, it occurred to us how much everyone there—the incredibly gracious hosts doing all the hard work to make it happen, the participants in the event, as well as the speakers—were already modeling every single one of the principles born of Love that we espouse in the Sail the Seven C’s philosophy.  Principles of generosity, flexibility, gratitude, contentment, simplicity, acceptance, positivity, playfulness, kindness, compassion, as well as letting go, we each experienced in abundance.  Not once did we sense those pesky C behaviors at play.  How cool is that?  We feel so grateful and humbled.  We wished so much that we could have had more precious time with such awesome people.  A heartfelt thank you to our new friends.    

It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Superman?

I still get nervous speaking in front of groups of people even after many years of doing so.  If I’m particularly anxious for some reason, I like to wear my special “Superman” boxers to give me an extra boost of luck and confidence.  I know, right.  TMI.  Except that Kim was just pointing out to me that I might be clinging to this particular pair of underwear and it might be time to Let Go.  I don’t know babe; do you really think so? 

Who Loves Grocery Shopping?

Our Isaac just loves grocery shopping.  Seriously?  While I’m betting his fondness for shopping, groceries in particular, will undoubtedly wane in time, wouldn’t it be cool to experience anything, whether new or not, with the same level of excitement and enthusiasm?  Truth is, it’s possible.  We just have to consciously choose to look at whatever we are doing as if for the first time once again.  Why not give it a try and see what might open up? You might just fall in love with grocery shopping all over again.

Only One Day Left?

Imagine that you knew you only had one more day of sand remaining in your hourglass.  Tomorrow you would pass with no more time.  How would you see the people and things around you?  Would you see the world and life as if for the first time?  Wouldn’t it be easier to Sail the Seven C’s if this were the case?  Wouldn’t it be simple to instead, readily embrace the principles born of love?  Of course, we don’t know how much sand we have left.  So why not embrace and appreciate how precious every grain of sand is regardless? 

Coco Sailing the Seven C’s

Isn’t is awesome what animals can teach us if we just pay attention?  No chasing, clinging, or controlling here.  Nowhere to go, nothing to do.  No fuss, no muss.  Just being, genuinely enjoying and soaking up the simplest gifts of life with zero expectations.  Way cool!  

A Healthy Reminder from Dr. Tyson

Well we’re back from summer vacation 2017 having brought along a positive & playful work colleague and friend with us for this road trip out west.  The good Dr. Tyson regularly reminds us all not to take life, others, or our self so seriously.  He just has a way of living simply and fully present, not worrying about anything else while thoroughly enjoying life, others, and himself.  Thanks for the reminder Tyson.  I think I will try and carry some of that with me as I get back to work.

"Guess I Was Too Busy Being In the Now"

Don't we often wonder whether what we share with our children ever truly sinks in?  Several days ago Kim was driving our 14 year old son, Jonah, and a few of the neighborhood boys to school.  They were all talking, laughing, and clearly enjoying their conversation.  After Jonah exited the car, Kim noticed he didn't have his backpack and upon quickly scanning the car, realized he forgot it at home.  She yelled out the window but he was still so engrossed in conversation that he didn't hear her.  She pulled around to the parking lot and phoned him.  A minute later he returned to the car and she asked, "Missing anything, Jonah?"  He replied, "I don't think so."  "Your backpack silly", Kim announced.  They rushed home and made it back to school just in the nick of time.  Just as he was stepping out of the car once more, Kim asked, "Jonah, how did you not notice at any point that you didn't have your backpack with you earlier?"  He paused for a second to think and responded while laughing, "I don't know mom.  I guess I was too busy being in the now.  Maybe this incident will be a good post for Daddy's blog?"  "I think you're right son.  I think you're right." 

There's Always Dig Out Monday

Kim was recently chatting with some friends stressed about the challenges of keeping a clean house with young children, particularly on the weekend.  Kim, a bit of a perfectionist who also used to get anxious about this remarked, “Don’t worry about it ladies.  If you have kids and your house is perfectly clean, you’re doing something wrong.”  While I get that this is probably not true in every circumstance, I do get her point.  Why not let go of the need to be the perfect supermom, do it all, and have a spotless house?  Wouldn’t you much rather simplify your life, focusing your precious time on the few absolute most important matters in your life, like playing, teaching, and being fully present with your loved ones?  If you don’t think so now, I promise you will one day.  “What’s that Isaac?  Time for the Hot Lava game?  Daddy and Mommy have so much to do”.  On second thought, sounds great.  I hear Kim behind me, “I always have dig out Monday.”  Thanks babe.