A Lesson from Isaac

What is it about kids that they are so resilient, so invested in experiencing and savoring every part of life,  that they refuse to let sickness take them down if at all possible?  Take our 6-year-old Isaac, who just came down with a stomach bug.  In a simple, matter of fact manner, he announces, “Momma, I’ve got pee pee coming out my bottom!”  Not to mention him throwing up just a few seconds later.  Over and over, all day long as Kim, the wonderful mom she is, takes care of him and everything else along the way.  Despite all of this, you would think Isaac was feeling absolutely amazing in between times when the bug is taking its toll.  How does he and other young kids do it?

I want to be like that, all the time.  Where nothing, not even a stomach bug, takes me down.  I want to tackle anything life throws at me, whatever the challenge, and choose to be resilient, embracing all of life, good and bad, no matter what.  As much as possible, I want to find again that child in me, like my Isaac, who welcomes and savors all of life, good and bad.  Thanks for the lesson and reminder my son.  Maybe we all just need to take time to stop growing up?

Getting My Fire to Burn

I was grateful that a participant in one of our recent workshops shared a cool poem with me by Judy Brown called "Fire".  It explores the importance of reflection, inner thought, and feeling to one's leadership.  It made me think about how I used to shove far too much wood into our wood stove when we first got it, then wondering why it was so difficult to get my fire to burn.  I failed to realize I needed more empty space between the wood, more oxygen for the fire to burn.  As I reflected on this, I believe lately I've been shoving far too much wood into a proposal for my next assignment at work.  I've been failing to Sail every one of the Seven C's. 

You see I've been chasing this specific job proposal and only this one assignment, clinging to my notion of what it should look like and being able to continue working with long-time friends, and doing everything I can think of to control the outcome and the responses of others, despite continued resistance from a few key stakeholders.  As I reflect further, my approach to date has also had far too much competing, comparing, criticizing, and complaining.  It's time to stop, drop, and be.  Time to let go, accept my circumstances, and be more grateful, flexible, positive, kind, and compassionate.  Time to simplify my goals and be open to other possibilities, whatever they may be.  There now, that wasn't so hard.  I now have just the right amount of wood in my stove for my fire to burn.