eRipples: your free weekly splash of inspiration
version 3.09: Ripples of TIDES!
Monday, February 26, 2001
PEBBLE ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
...Remember that the sun will rise tomorrow,
and remind yourself to breathe...
because you never know what the tide may bring in.
-closing lines from the movie "Cast Away," submitted by Lisa Carlson
BOULDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
When you get into a tight place and
everything goes against you 'til
it seems as though you could not
hold on a minute longer,
never give up,
for that is just the place and time
that the tide will turn.
- Harriet Beecher Stowe, submitted by Maryann Rapposelli
PONDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I had a quick trip to New York this weekend to a leadership conference
at Colgate University, and we spent part of our day exploring the
balance between reaching IN to take care of ourselves and reaching OUT
to connect with (and care for) others. As I read the above quotes, I
wondered: if it takes an external object like the moon to help the
earth seek the delicate balance between bringing the ocean tides in and
out, perhaps we also need to find something outside of ourselves to
help us maintain our equalibrium.
So many of the leaders and helpers I encounter in my travels seem to
forget that while we naturally let our ripples flow out and nourish
others, it is ESSENTIAL that our ripples sometimes flow inward to
nourish and heal our spirit. Check your tides: if you're at low tide,
do something really nice for yourself this week. When you find
yourself at high tide, remember to reach out to someone else and be
their "moon" to help their tide come in!
And by the way, if you think librarians are a stuffy crowd, you
obviously have never spent a day with the crew from the Appleton
(Wisconsin) Public Library. They are a bold bunch of people--they even
paint blue skies and big puffy clouds in their library!
Peace to you all,
Paul
Monday, February 26, 2001
Sunday, February 18, 2001
eRipples v3.08: Ripples of KINDNESS!
eRipples: your free weekly splash of inspiration
version 3.08: Ripples of KINDNESS!
Monday, February 19, 2001
PEBBLE ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
-Aesop, submitted by Stephanie Spaeth
BOULDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The teacher asked her pupils to tell the meaning of loving kindness.
A little boy jumped up and said, "Well, if I was hungry and someone
gave me a piece of bread that would be kindness; but if they put jelly on it
that would be loving kindness!
-original source unknown, submitted by Larissa Melton
PONDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
This weekend I had the opportunity to hang out with some emerging
leaders at Nebraska Wesleyan Univresity, and we discussed the
importance of smiles. For most of us, the natural look on our face
is perceived by others as serious, troubling, or even sad. This may
be true for you if people frequently ask, "Is everything okay?" or
"Are you upset?" when they pass you in the hallway. In my many
airport adventures, I am astonished at how serious and troubled every
one looks!
As I flew home to Wisconsin, I was determined to smile as much as
possible on my layover journey between concourses (which are always
planned by airlines to maximize the opportunity for exercise!). Most
people didn't even make eye contact, and when they did it was just a
brief glance and then a return to their own hurried journey. At one
point, however, as I travelled along a moving sidewalk with my bags
resting on the platform, my eyes connected with a woman who was
moving in the opposite direction. As I smiled and nodded at her, the
most amazing thing happened: she smiled back! Not a quick forced
grimace, nor was it a big, creepy smile that would surely have
frightened me. Instead, a wide, genuine grin spread across her face
and for a brief instant it was as though two old friends had
reconnected. In a flash the moment had passed, but for the rest of
the trip I felt all warm inside. I felt important, I felt
acknowledged, I felt connected.
So, do me a favor and change the world this week by putting jelly on
your face: smile!
Peace,
Paul
version 3.08: Ripples of KINDNESS!
Monday, February 19, 2001
PEBBLE ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
-Aesop, submitted by Stephanie Spaeth
BOULDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The teacher asked her pupils to tell the meaning of loving kindness.
A little boy jumped up and said, "Well, if I was hungry and someone
gave me a piece of bread that would be kindness; but if they put jelly on it
that would be loving kindness!
-original source unknown, submitted by Larissa Melton
PONDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
This weekend I had the opportunity to hang out with some emerging
leaders at Nebraska Wesleyan Univresity, and we discussed the
importance of smiles. For most of us, the natural look on our face
is perceived by others as serious, troubling, or even sad. This may
be true for you if people frequently ask, "Is everything okay?" or
"Are you upset?" when they pass you in the hallway. In my many
airport adventures, I am astonished at how serious and troubled every
one looks!
As I flew home to Wisconsin, I was determined to smile as much as
possible on my layover journey between concourses (which are always
planned by airlines to maximize the opportunity for exercise!). Most
people didn't even make eye contact, and when they did it was just a
brief glance and then a return to their own hurried journey. At one
point, however, as I travelled along a moving sidewalk with my bags
resting on the platform, my eyes connected with a woman who was
moving in the opposite direction. As I smiled and nodded at her, the
most amazing thing happened: she smiled back! Not a quick forced
grimace, nor was it a big, creepy smile that would surely have
frightened me. Instead, a wide, genuine grin spread across her face
and for a brief instant it was as though two old friends had
reconnected. In a flash the moment had passed, but for the rest of
the trip I felt all warm inside. I felt important, I felt
acknowledged, I felt connected.
So, do me a favor and change the world this week by putting jelly on
your face: smile!
Peace,
Paul
Monday, February 12, 2001
eRipples v3.07: Ripples of LOVE!
eRipples: your free weekly splash of inspiration
version 3.07: Ripples of LOVE!
Monday, February 12, 2001
PEBBLE ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Your fear of love is the only thing holding you back right now.
Trust that you are lovable, and the love offered you shall prove to be real.
Accept the love of the universe, as well as the love of those around you.
-Dawn Williams, submitted by Larissa Melton
BOULDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Do you want me to tell you something really subversive?
Love is everything it's cracked up to be.
That's why people are so cynical about it...
it really is worth fighting for, being brave for.
And the trouble is, if you don't risk anything-
you risk even more.
-original source Erica Jong (we think!), submitted by Jennifer
Holdsworth
PONDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
As we approach St. Valentine's Day, remember that regardless of your
current relationship status there is someone very important you need
to acknowledge this Wednesday. YOU! Some of us who are single may
feel a little left out of all the fuss, and we need to happily join
in the acknowledgement of love in the world! Everyone can take a
moment and acknowledge any love that has swirled around us in the
last year....from ourselves, from our friends & family, and our
romantic interests.
This Ripples sent with Love,
Paul
version 3.07: Ripples of LOVE!
Monday, February 12, 2001
PEBBLE ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Your fear of love is the only thing holding you back right now.
Trust that you are lovable, and the love offered you shall prove to be real.
Accept the love of the universe, as well as the love of those around you.
-Dawn Williams, submitted by Larissa Melton
BOULDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Do you want me to tell you something really subversive?
Love is everything it's cracked up to be.
That's why people are so cynical about it...
it really is worth fighting for, being brave for.
And the trouble is, if you don't risk anything-
you risk even more.
-original source Erica Jong (we think!), submitted by Jennifer
Holdsworth
PONDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
As we approach St. Valentine's Day, remember that regardless of your
current relationship status there is someone very important you need
to acknowledge this Wednesday. YOU! Some of us who are single may
feel a little left out of all the fuss, and we need to happily join
in the acknowledgement of love in the world! Everyone can take a
moment and acknowledge any love that has swirled around us in the
last year....from ourselves, from our friends & family, and our
romantic interests.
This Ripples sent with Love,
Paul
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