Ripples, version 1.06 [2/22/99]: An electronic postcard from Stone Soup Seminars
Current Number of Subscribers: 542
A PEBBLE ###########################
What you love is a sign from your higher self of what you are to do.
Original Source: "Living with Joy" by Sanaya Roman
Submitted by: Amy Uecke, Lawrence University
REFLECTIONS ##########################
(This is a little longer than usual....BUT WORTH IT! -ptw)
KEEP YOUR FORK. There was a woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal
illness and had been given three months to live. As she was getting her
things in order, she contacted her pastor to discuss certain aspects of her
final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what
scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in.
The woman also requested to be buried with a fork in my right hand. The
pastor did not know quite how to respond.
"That surprises you, doesn't it?" the woman asked. "Well, to be honest, I
am puzzled by your request," said the pastor.
"In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always
remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared,
someone would inevitably lean over and say, "Keep your fork." It was my
favorite part because I knew that something better was coming, like velvety
chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with
substance!
"So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my
hand and I want them to wonder 'What's with the fork?' and I want you to
tell them, 'Keep your fork...the best is yet to come.'"
At the funeral, people were walking by the woman's casket and they saw the
fork placed in her right hand. Over and over the pastor heard the question
"What's with the fork?" During his message, the pastor told the people of
the conversation he had with the woman shortly before she died. The pastor
admitted that he could not stop thinking about the fork and suggested that
they should try to remember it as well.
So, the next time you reach down for your fork, let it remind you that the
best is yet to come....
Original Source: unknown (this version adapted by Paul Wesselmann)
Submitted by: Diana Rahn, U.S. Bankruptcy Court
SNIPPET ##################################
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT? In two workshops different workshops this week on
networking and small talk, we spent some time reflecting on the power of
EYE CONTACT when initiating contact with people. It is a simple idea. And
a powerful one. Here's looking at YOU (and hopefully you looking at some
new faces this week!)
Copyright 1999 Stone Soup Seminars
Monday, February 22, 1999
Monday, February 15, 1999
Ripples v1.05
Ripples, version 1.05 [2/15/99]
An electronic postcard from Stone Soup Seminars
Current Number of Subscribers: 298
This issue celebrates Valentine's Day with LOVE.
A PEBBLE ###########################
We all become more beautiful when we are loved,
and if you have self-love
then you are always beautiful.
Original Source: Alice Walker
REFLECTIONS ##########################
Love Quiz
1. Is anyone a little happier because we came along today?
2. Did we leave someone with any concrete evidence of our kindness, any
sign of our love?
3. Did we try to think of someone in a more positive light?
4. Did we help someone to feel joy?
5. Did we make someone laugh, or at least smile?
6. Have we attempted to remove a little of the rust that is corroding our
relationships?
7. Have we gone through the day without fretting over what we don't have
and celebrating the things we do have?
8. Have we forgiven others for being less than perfect?
9. Have we forgiven ourselves?
10. Have we learned something new about life, living or love?
Submitted by: secret admirer of all Ripples subscribers
Original Source: Leo Buscaglia
SNIPPET ##################################
It is hard for me to believe that 13 years have passed since my friend
Steve took his life during our senior year in high school. Last fall I
visited a quiet spot in my hometown where Steve often slipped away to
contemplate life. His mother had placed a plaque there and I offer its
inscription to you this week with my love:
Come to this special place
In the crisp morn, in the full midday, in the deepening eve;
Rest here to contemplate your world and the universe around you.
Look inward with love and know your own goodness and wisdom.
Look outward with love, and share it with the world.
We need you.
[This plaque celebrates Steven C. Wikel, 10/23/66 - 2/12/85, who touched
more hearts in life than he believed.]
Copyright 1999 Stone Soup Seminars
An electronic postcard from Stone Soup Seminars
Current Number of Subscribers: 298
This issue celebrates Valentine's Day with LOVE.
A PEBBLE ###########################
We all become more beautiful when we are loved,
and if you have self-love
then you are always beautiful.
Original Source: Alice Walker
REFLECTIONS ##########################
Love Quiz
1. Is anyone a little happier because we came along today?
2. Did we leave someone with any concrete evidence of our kindness, any
sign of our love?
3. Did we try to think of someone in a more positive light?
4. Did we help someone to feel joy?
5. Did we make someone laugh, or at least smile?
6. Have we attempted to remove a little of the rust that is corroding our
relationships?
7. Have we gone through the day without fretting over what we don't have
and celebrating the things we do have?
8. Have we forgiven others for being less than perfect?
9. Have we forgiven ourselves?
10. Have we learned something new about life, living or love?
Submitted by: secret admirer of all Ripples subscribers
Original Source: Leo Buscaglia
SNIPPET ##################################
It is hard for me to believe that 13 years have passed since my friend
Steve took his life during our senior year in high school. Last fall I
visited a quiet spot in my hometown where Steve often slipped away to
contemplate life. His mother had placed a plaque there and I offer its
inscription to you this week with my love:
Come to this special place
In the crisp morn, in the full midday, in the deepening eve;
Rest here to contemplate your world and the universe around you.
Look inward with love and know your own goodness and wisdom.
Look outward with love, and share it with the world.
We need you.
[This plaque celebrates Steven C. Wikel, 10/23/66 - 2/12/85, who touched
more hearts in life than he believed.]
Copyright 1999 Stone Soup Seminars
Monday, February 8, 1999
Ripples v1.04
Ripples, version 1.04 [February 8, 1999]
An electronic postcard from Stone Soup Seminars
Current Number of Subscribers: 220
A PEBBLE ###########################
Learn to relax. Your body is precious, as it houses your mind and spirit.
Inner peace begins with a relaxed body.
Original Source: Norman Vincent Peale
Submitted by Cindy Bartz, Oil Equipment Company
REFLECTIONS ##########################
[shared from subscribers]
NOBODY'S PERFECT
When you catch the little things
But overlook the big mistakes,
When everything takes longer
Than what it usually takes,
When nothing goes according to
The best-laid plans you make,
Just remember no one's perfect-
So give yourself a break.
When the stress of your success
Makes your head and stomach ache,
When everything you touch falls though,
Fouls up, goes bad, or breaks,
Please remember that you're human
For your sanity's sake,
And relax---nobody's perfect,
So give yourself a break.
Submitted by Louis Maccarone II, University of Rhode Island,
Original Source: Jill Wolf
[note from Louis: Paul, my mother gave me this little poem on a bookmark
when I was very young after my father passed away. I was an over achieving
little boy; when I did not perform well on whatever task I was given I
would become vary angry with myself to the point of temper tantrums. This
poem has been a calming influence in my life for over half of my life, and
I hope that you share it with all of the Ripples subscribers. Thank you]
RECOMMENDATION #########################
[explore these resources]
Jason Punzel, who works at Action Mortgage in Lake Mills, Wisconsin treated
me to a fabulous lunch in Cambridge last week. He also treated me to a
great book suggestion: "Your Sacred Self: Making the Decision to be Free"
by Wayne Dyer. I am just getting into the meat of the book and already it
is simultaneously stirring up my mind and calming my soul.
SNIPPET ##################################
[from a recent Stone Soup Seminar]
YOU DECIDE. On Saturday, I presented two similar workshops: one to a
group of Girl Scout volunteers and another at a leadership conference for
Pharmacy students. I was reminded that no matter how different our lives
may be, we often face the same challenges. The perspectives and life
experiences of the two groups were divergent, but their reaction to the
concept of TAKING CARE OF YOU was identical: "I KNOW it, I just don't DO
it!" It is easy to slip into the mode of giving to others and putting
ourselves last. When you take care of YOU first, you prevent BURNOUT
which translates into no help for anyone!
ACTION: Stop right now, and do something nice for you. Massage your face,
buy a pop, call a friend, or just think about some happy memory for 60
seconds.............Okay, back to life!
Copyright 1999 Stone Soup Seminars
An electronic postcard from Stone Soup Seminars
Current Number of Subscribers: 220
A PEBBLE ###########################
Learn to relax. Your body is precious, as it houses your mind and spirit.
Inner peace begins with a relaxed body.
Original Source: Norman Vincent Peale
Submitted by Cindy Bartz, Oil Equipment Company
REFLECTIONS ##########################
[shared from subscribers]
NOBODY'S PERFECT
When you catch the little things
But overlook the big mistakes,
When everything takes longer
Than what it usually takes,
When nothing goes according to
The best-laid plans you make,
Just remember no one's perfect-
So give yourself a break.
When the stress of your success
Makes your head and stomach ache,
When everything you touch falls though,
Fouls up, goes bad, or breaks,
Please remember that you're human
For your sanity's sake,
And relax---nobody's perfect,
So give yourself a break.
Submitted by Louis Maccarone II, University of Rhode Island,
Original Source: Jill Wolf
[note from Louis: Paul, my mother gave me this little poem on a bookmark
when I was very young after my father passed away. I was an over achieving
little boy; when I did not perform well on whatever task I was given I
would become vary angry with myself to the point of temper tantrums. This
poem has been a calming influence in my life for over half of my life, and
I hope that you share it with all of the Ripples subscribers. Thank you]
RECOMMENDATION #########################
[explore these resources]
Jason Punzel, who works at Action Mortgage in Lake Mills, Wisconsin treated
me to a fabulous lunch in Cambridge last week. He also treated me to a
great book suggestion: "Your Sacred Self: Making the Decision to be Free"
by Wayne Dyer. I am just getting into the meat of the book and already it
is simultaneously stirring up my mind and calming my soul.
SNIPPET ##################################
[from a recent Stone Soup Seminar]
YOU DECIDE. On Saturday, I presented two similar workshops: one to a
group of Girl Scout volunteers and another at a leadership conference for
Pharmacy students. I was reminded that no matter how different our lives
may be, we often face the same challenges. The perspectives and life
experiences of the two groups were divergent, but their reaction to the
concept of TAKING CARE OF YOU was identical: "I KNOW it, I just don't DO
it!" It is easy to slip into the mode of giving to others and putting
ourselves last. When you take care of YOU first, you prevent BURNOUT
which translates into no help for anyone!
ACTION: Stop right now, and do something nice for you. Massage your face,
buy a pop, call a friend, or just think about some happy memory for 60
seconds.............Okay, back to life!
Copyright 1999 Stone Soup Seminars
Monday, February 1, 1999
Ripples v1.03
Ripples, version 1.03 [February 1, 1999]
An electronic postcard from Stone Soup Seminars
A PEBBLE ###########################
Work like you don't need money,
love like you've never been hurt, and
dance like no one's watching.
Submitted by Debra Paulson, American Family Insurance,
Original Source: Unknown
REFLECTIONS ##########################
Your world is as big as you make it.
I know, for I used to abide
In the narrowest nest in a corner,
My wings pressing close to my side.
I battered the cordons around me
And cradled my wings on the breeze,
Then soared to the uttermost reaches
With rapture, with power, with ease!
Submitted by Shannon S. Vairo, Michigan Technological University,
Original Source: Georgia Douglass Johnson
RECOMMENDATION #########################
I recently had the opportunity to observe a colleague presenting a workshop
on leadership. Her primary reference: the fine writing of Dr. Seuss. It
reminded me of my favorite: Oh, the Places You'll Go (1990, Random House).
It makes a great gift for anyone who is anticipating or struggling with
change: "And when things start to happen, don't worry. Don't stew. Just
go right along. YOU'LL start happening too." It also makes a great treat
for yourself!
SNIPPET ##################################
This week, I presented a new workshop called "Unit of One: Entrepreneurial
Actions for Creating Your Own Profit Centers" to a group of trainers in
Madison and we spent some time exploring the qualities of successful
entrepreneurs. Two of the qualities were creating vision and being
disciplined. While creating vision is the process of widening your view
and seeing the big picture, discipline is about narrowing your focus and
concentrating on specific objectives. On the way home I found myself
pondering the challenge of finding the right balance between the two.
Which are you better at right now? Which could use some of your energy and
time? Good luck finding that balance!
Copyright 1999 Stone Soup Seminars
An electronic postcard from Stone Soup Seminars
A PEBBLE ###########################
Work like you don't need money,
love like you've never been hurt, and
dance like no one's watching.
Submitted by Debra Paulson, American Family Insurance,
Original Source: Unknown
REFLECTIONS ##########################
Your world is as big as you make it.
I know, for I used to abide
In the narrowest nest in a corner,
My wings pressing close to my side.
I battered the cordons around me
And cradled my wings on the breeze,
Then soared to the uttermost reaches
With rapture, with power, with ease!
Submitted by Shannon S. Vairo, Michigan Technological University,
Original Source: Georgia Douglass Johnson
RECOMMENDATION #########################
I recently had the opportunity to observe a colleague presenting a workshop
on leadership. Her primary reference: the fine writing of Dr. Seuss. It
reminded me of my favorite: Oh, the Places You'll Go (1990, Random House).
It makes a great gift for anyone who is anticipating or struggling with
change: "And when things start to happen, don't worry. Don't stew. Just
go right along. YOU'LL start happening too." It also makes a great treat
for yourself!
SNIPPET ##################################
This week, I presented a new workshop called "Unit of One: Entrepreneurial
Actions for Creating Your Own Profit Centers" to a group of trainers in
Madison and we spent some time exploring the qualities of successful
entrepreneurs. Two of the qualities were creating vision and being
disciplined. While creating vision is the process of widening your view
and seeing the big picture, discipline is about narrowing your focus and
concentrating on specific objectives. On the way home I found myself
pondering the challenge of finding the right balance between the two.
Which are you better at right now? Which could use some of your energy and
time? Good luck finding that balance!
Copyright 1999 Stone Soup Seminars
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