eRipples: a FREE weekly splash of inspiration
version 2.26 [Monday, June 26, 2000]
PEBBLE ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I never did a day's work in my life.
It was all fun.
-Thomas Edison, submitted by Karyn Sneath
PONDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
[before you read this week's ponder, I need you to ponder this: submit a
quote today for eRipples!]
Another week of travels found me hanging out for a few days at the
Wisconsin 4H & Youth Leadership Conference and then bipping down to help
kick off a high school leadership summit hosted by University of Central
Florida. Both events were extremely successful by combining a healthy dose
of educational opportunities with ample amounts of FUN! It isn't the same
as having recess in between the lectures.......the truth is that we learn
some of our most valuable lessons while we are on the playground!
I continued MY education this week by spending a few extra days in Florida
having some fun of my own: I played among the dolphins along the
intercoastal waterway and experienced a magnificent performance of Cirque
de Soleil. The dolphins reminded me of the pure joy in simply splashing
around in the water. Watching hundreds of people ranging from around the
world squeal with delight at the phenomenal music, athletic prowess and
incredible artistry of the Cirque de Soleil performers reinforced the
notion that sharing common joys is much more powerful than all the
differences we have.
I recommend that everyone pursue an advanced degree in FUN this week!
-Paul
Monday, June 26, 2000
Monday, June 19, 2000
eRipples v2.25: Ripples of IMPERFECTION
eRipples: a FREE weekly splash of inspiration
version 2.25 [Monday, June 19, 2000]
PEBBLE ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Learn from the mistakes of others.
You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.
original source unknown, submitted by Maureen Colburn
BOULDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
We are all imperfect.
What we need to achieve is the courage to accept imperfection. This is
one of the most encouraging concepts, and yet one of the hardest to achieve
in our society. There isn't a perfect human being in the world, yet
everyone is demanding it of themselves and others. We set ourselves up for
disappointment and frustrations because of this impossible ideal of
perfection. Improvement, yes. Perfection, no.
In our society we are taught to be ashamed of mistakes. We should instead
learn to be excited about mistakes as opportunities to learn. It is much
easier to recognize and take responsibility for a mistake when it is seen
as a learning opportunity rather than something bad. If we see mistakes as
bad we tend to feel inadequate and discouraged and to become defensive,
evasive, judgmental, and critical. On the other hand, when mistakes are
seen as opportunities to learn, recognizing them will be seem like an
exciting venture. "What can I learn from this mistake".
-submitted by: Margaret Sweeney, original source:
one of Margaret's co-workers
PONDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
In addition to spending three days with an awesome group of adult educators
in Bozeman, Montana, I also spent a couple of days this week with a very
fun bunch of school administrators from Racine, Wisconsin. Both groups
spent a bit of time discussing role models, and upon my return home from
the hectic week I plopped down in front of the TV and clicked upon a
documentary about one of my role models, John Denver. It was exciting to
learn about his path from the son of an Air Force pilot to a hit singer.
It was also quite disturbing to hear about his shadow side and I went to
bed thoroughly frustrated with his actions toward his wife and children as
well as the inconsistencies between his idealized songs and his imperfect
life.
I woke up the next morning remembering a definition that I had shared both
in Bozeman and Racine: a role model is somone who has SOMETHING you
admire, not necessarily EVERYTHING! I suppose it would be grand to believe
in these flawless heros who have affected our society. The danger is that
those pedestals make them seem so much removed from us "regular" folks.
Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Eleanor
Roosevelt all had something in common besides being heroes of mine. They
were HUMAN! They made errors of judgment at times and that does not have
to detract from their incredible achievements!
Spend some time this week being more patient with your imperfection. You
are in good company!
Paul
version 2.25 [Monday, June 19, 2000]
PEBBLE ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Learn from the mistakes of others.
You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.
original source unknown, submitted by Maureen Colburn
BOULDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
We are all imperfect.
What we need to achieve is the courage to accept imperfection. This is
one of the most encouraging concepts, and yet one of the hardest to achieve
in our society. There isn't a perfect human being in the world, yet
everyone is demanding it of themselves and others. We set ourselves up for
disappointment and frustrations because of this impossible ideal of
perfection. Improvement, yes. Perfection, no.
In our society we are taught to be ashamed of mistakes. We should instead
learn to be excited about mistakes as opportunities to learn. It is much
easier to recognize and take responsibility for a mistake when it is seen
as a learning opportunity rather than something bad. If we see mistakes as
bad we tend to feel inadequate and discouraged and to become defensive,
evasive, judgmental, and critical. On the other hand, when mistakes are
seen as opportunities to learn, recognizing them will be seem like an
exciting venture. "What can I learn from this mistake".
-submitted by: Margaret Sweeney, original source:
one of Margaret's co-workers
PONDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
In addition to spending three days with an awesome group of adult educators
in Bozeman, Montana, I also spent a couple of days this week with a very
fun bunch of school administrators from Racine, Wisconsin. Both groups
spent a bit of time discussing role models, and upon my return home from
the hectic week I plopped down in front of the TV and clicked upon a
documentary about one of my role models, John Denver. It was exciting to
learn about his path from the son of an Air Force pilot to a hit singer.
It was also quite disturbing to hear about his shadow side and I went to
bed thoroughly frustrated with his actions toward his wife and children as
well as the inconsistencies between his idealized songs and his imperfect
life.
I woke up the next morning remembering a definition that I had shared both
in Bozeman and Racine: a role model is somone who has SOMETHING you
admire, not necessarily EVERYTHING! I suppose it would be grand to believe
in these flawless heros who have affected our society. The danger is that
those pedestals make them seem so much removed from us "regular" folks.
Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Eleanor
Roosevelt all had something in common besides being heroes of mine. They
were HUMAN! They made errors of judgment at times and that does not have
to detract from their incredible achievements!
Spend some time this week being more patient with your imperfection. You
are in good company!
Paul
Monday, June 12, 2000
eRipples v2.24: Ripples of BIG & SMALL!
eRipples: a FREE weekly splash of inspiration
from Paul and The Ripples Project
version 2.24 [Monday, June 12, 2000]
see bottom for subscription information
PEBBLE ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Live like an oak tree with a mosquito's life span.
-original source: written on the menu at the Cateye Cafe in Bozeman, Montana
PONDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I arrived Saturday for my first trip to the awesome state of Montana where
I am giving some presentations at Montana State University in Bozeman this
week. I was still in awe at the huge mountains and the gigantic size of
this state when I walked in to the visitors' center and discovered how
small the world really is.
The helpful man behind the counter turned out to be a long-time eRipples
subscriber!
In addition to helping me find some great spots to eat and outlining some
sightseeing options, he reminded me that no matter how large the world
seems, there is always a friend out there waiting to help you in some
meaningful way.
Keep your eyes open this week! At some point on this big planet you are
going to find yourself in a strange situation when a friend will suddenly
appear to help you out. You may not recognize the person at first (you may
know her/him from a long, long, long time ago), but the assistance will
still be valuable--and it will remind you how small this place is after all!
I'm sending peace to you,
Paul
from Paul and The Ripples Project
version 2.24 [Monday, June 12, 2000]
see bottom for subscription information
PEBBLE ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Live like an oak tree with a mosquito's life span.
-original source: written on the menu at the Cateye Cafe in Bozeman, Montana
PONDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I arrived Saturday for my first trip to the awesome state of Montana where
I am giving some presentations at Montana State University in Bozeman this
week. I was still in awe at the huge mountains and the gigantic size of
this state when I walked in to the visitors' center and discovered how
small the world really is.
The helpful man behind the counter turned out to be a long-time eRipples
subscriber!
In addition to helping me find some great spots to eat and outlining some
sightseeing options, he reminded me that no matter how large the world
seems, there is always a friend out there waiting to help you in some
meaningful way.
Keep your eyes open this week! At some point on this big planet you are
going to find yourself in a strange situation when a friend will suddenly
appear to help you out. You may not recognize the person at first (you may
know her/him from a long, long, long time ago), but the assistance will
still be valuable--and it will remind you how small this place is after all!
I'm sending peace to you,
Paul
Monday, June 5, 2000
eRipples v2.23: Ripples of WORDS!
eRipples: a FREE weekly splash of inspiration
version 2.23 [Monday, June 5, 2000]
see bottom for subscription information
PEBBLE ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
When you speak a word, you are planting it.
Whether you speak words of life, love, peace, joy and blessings,
or words of profanity and cursing, you will reap what you sow.
-original source: Alfonzo King Surrett, Jr., submitted by Linda deVeer
BOULDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Did is a word of achievement,
Won't is a word of retreat,
Might is a word of bereavement,
Can't is a word of defeat,
Ought is a word of duty,
Try is word of each hour,
Will is a word of beauty,
Can is a word of power.
-original source unknown, submitted by Natasha Sorias
MOUNTAIN ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Keep Using My Name in Vain And I'll Make Rush Hour Longer" - God
For a list of humorous billboards from God, see "The.God.Billboards" at:
http://www.egroups.com/files/eRipples/Inspirational+Mountains/
PONDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
What words have you been holding back? Is there is someone in your life
that needs to hear some praise (or criticism)? Perhaps this week you
should take some time to communicate those words.
And while you are at it, if there are some words YOU need to hear.....you
do not have to wait for someone ELSE to say them. Write yourself a card or
send yourself an email and say what YOU need to hear!
Peace to you,
Paul
version 2.23 [Monday, June 5, 2000]
see bottom for subscription information
PEBBLE ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
When you speak a word, you are planting it.
Whether you speak words of life, love, peace, joy and blessings,
or words of profanity and cursing, you will reap what you sow.
-original source: Alfonzo King Surrett, Jr., submitted by Linda deVeer
BOULDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Did is a word of achievement,
Won't is a word of retreat,
Might is a word of bereavement,
Can't is a word of defeat,
Ought is a word of duty,
Try is word of each hour,
Will is a word of beauty,
Can is a word of power.
-original source unknown, submitted by Natasha Sorias
MOUNTAIN ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Keep Using My Name in Vain And I'll Make Rush Hour Longer" - God
For a list of humorous billboards from God, see "The.God.Billboards" at:
http://www.egroups.com/files/eRipples/Inspirational+Mountains/
PONDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
What words have you been holding back? Is there is someone in your life
that needs to hear some praise (or criticism)? Perhaps this week you
should take some time to communicate those words.
And while you are at it, if there are some words YOU need to hear.....you
do not have to wait for someone ELSE to say them. Write yourself a card or
send yourself an email and say what YOU need to hear!
Peace to you,
Paul
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