eRipples: a free weekly splash of inspiration
version 2.51 [Monday, December 18, 2000]
PEBBLE ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
When life is difficult
it acquires a higher value.
-Edward Abbey, written above the desert exhibit at the North Carolina
Zoological Park
BOULDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The Meaning of Peace
There was once a king who offered a prize to the artist who would
paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The king
looked at all the pictures, but there were only two he really liked,
and he had to choose between them.
One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for
the peaceful towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue
sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that
it was a perfect picture of peace.
The second picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged and
bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain fell, and in which
lightening played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming
waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all.
But when the king looked, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush
growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built
her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat a
mother bird on her nest . . . a picture of perfect peace.
Which of the pictures won the prize? The king chose the second
picture. Do you know why?
"Because," explained the king, "peace does not mean to be in a place
where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. Peace means to be in
the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That
is the real meaning of peace."
-unknown, submitted by: Angela DiVito, Central Michigan University
PONDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Are you waiting for it to get easier? It probably will get easier at some point. It is definitely going to get more difficult at some other point. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and gently remind yourself that you CAN handle it. You can.
I believe in you!
Peace,
Paul
Monday, December 18, 2000
Monday, December 11, 2000
eRipples v2.50: Ripples of DE-STRESSING
eRipples: a free weekly splash of inspiration
version 2.50 [Monday, December 11, 2000]
PEBBLE ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Stress is good and bad.
Good stress creates poets, keeps deadlines and motivates.
Bad stress is that which you endure when you cannot turn challenging
events and other frustrations into good stress.
-adapted from a submission by Michael C. Copeland Jr.
BOULDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
An Everyday Survival Kit
1. Toothpick - to remind you to pick out the good qualities in others.
2. Rubber band - to remind you to be flexible.
3. Band Aid - to remind you to heal hurt feelings, yours or someone else's.
4. Pencil - To remind you to list your blessings everyday.
5, Eraser - to remind you that everyone makes mistakes, and it's okay.
6. Chewing gum - to remind you to stick with it and you can
accomplish anything.
7. Mint - to remind you that you are worth a mint to your family and friends.
8. Candy Kiss - to remind you that everyone needs a kiss or a hug everyday.
9. Tea Bag - to remind you to relax daily and go over that list of
your blessings.
-unknown, submitted by several eRipples subscribers
PONDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Many of us are facing STRESS this time of year and whether it comes
from final exams or end-of-year reports or holiday hosting it can be
ICKY! Remember that the right kind of stress in the right amounts
can be stimulating. Do yourself a favor and spend some time this
week thinking about your stress levels and plan some activities to
prevent or manage burnout. Take care of YOU!
Peace,
Paul
version 2.50 [Monday, December 11, 2000]
PEBBLE ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Stress is good and bad.
Good stress creates poets, keeps deadlines and motivates.
Bad stress is that which you endure when you cannot turn challenging
events and other frustrations into good stress.
-adapted from a submission by Michael C. Copeland Jr.
BOULDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
An Everyday Survival Kit
1. Toothpick - to remind you to pick out the good qualities in others.
2. Rubber band - to remind you to be flexible.
3. Band Aid - to remind you to heal hurt feelings, yours or someone else's.
4. Pencil - To remind you to list your blessings everyday.
5, Eraser - to remind you that everyone makes mistakes, and it's okay.
6. Chewing gum - to remind you to stick with it and you can
accomplish anything.
7. Mint - to remind you that you are worth a mint to your family and friends.
8. Candy Kiss - to remind you that everyone needs a kiss or a hug everyday.
9. Tea Bag - to remind you to relax daily and go over that list of
your blessings.
-unknown, submitted by several eRipples subscribers
PONDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Many of us are facing STRESS this time of year and whether it comes
from final exams or end-of-year reports or holiday hosting it can be
ICKY! Remember that the right kind of stress in the right amounts
can be stimulating. Do yourself a favor and spend some time this
week thinking about your stress levels and plan some activities to
prevent or manage burnout. Take care of YOU!
Peace,
Paul
Monday, December 4, 2000
eRipples v2.49: Ripples of LESS WORRIES!
eRipples: a free weekly splash of inspiration
version 2.49 [Monday, December 4, 2000]
PEBBLE ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles;
it empties today of its strength.
-unknown, submitted by Amy Sellers
BOULDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
We lie in our beds hoping for enough sleep
to repeat the do-do of yesterday.
We are propelled from our beds into a busy life.
Yet the real succulence occurs in the gaps, the in-betweens,
the unexpected moments of luxury in our souls.
-Sark, submitted by Elizabeth Russell
PONDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Okay, I'll admit it: I worry too much!
It is a nasty little habit that has so quietly crept into my daily
routine that I am sometimes more comfortable when I have something to
worry about than I am when I'm worry-free. Not something too big,
mind you. Something small enough to be manageable yet big enough to
keep me from completely relaxing.
My best friend sat me down last week and explained to me that while
some of my worries are "big picture" things that I need to be
thinking about, most of them are insignificant fluff. Or even worse:
I worry about things over which I have little or no control. "Let it
go," he said. "Let it go."
Of course he is right and of course it is easier to SAY than to DO.
But let's dive in this week, shall we, and try to worry less.
Peace,
Paul
version 2.49 [Monday, December 4, 2000]
PEBBLE ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles;
it empties today of its strength.
-unknown, submitted by Amy Sellers
BOULDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
We lie in our beds hoping for enough sleep
to repeat the do-do of yesterday.
We are propelled from our beds into a busy life.
Yet the real succulence occurs in the gaps, the in-betweens,
the unexpected moments of luxury in our souls.
-Sark, submitted by Elizabeth Russell
PONDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Okay, I'll admit it: I worry too much!
It is a nasty little habit that has so quietly crept into my daily
routine that I am sometimes more comfortable when I have something to
worry about than I am when I'm worry-free. Not something too big,
mind you. Something small enough to be manageable yet big enough to
keep me from completely relaxing.
My best friend sat me down last week and explained to me that while
some of my worries are "big picture" things that I need to be
thinking about, most of them are insignificant fluff. Or even worse:
I worry about things over which I have little or no control. "Let it
go," he said. "Let it go."
Of course he is right and of course it is easier to SAY than to DO.
But let's dive in this week, shall we, and try to worry less.
Peace,
Paul
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