eRipples v3.31: Ripples of IMPROVEMENT

eRipples: Your Free Weekly Splash of Inspiration
from Paul & The Ripples Project
eRipples v3.31: Ripples of IMPROVEMENT

PEBBLE ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

What you want to be eventually, you must be every day.
With practice, the quality of your deeds gets down to your soul.
-Frank Crane, submitted by Dave Wollschlager

BOULDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Plan for gradual improvement, not spectacular leaps.

Practically everything worthwhile in life is achieved in small steps.
Education is accumulated gradually, babies grow up a day at a time,
beautiful gardens are designed and grown slowly; talents are honed,
relationships are forged, deep affection is created, all very gradually.
Each of our lives is a series of gradual campaigns in all areas - job,
family, friends - to make a better life, and few campaigns move quickly.

Nature provides many guidelines here. A slow and steady stream of water
will, in time, erode the hardest rock; a small, insignificant sprout will, in
time, slowly and imperceptibly turn into a mighty oak; almost unnoticed, a
child will, in time, grow up to be an independent adult. Recognize the
gradualness of life and the power of 'in time'.
-David Campbell, submitted by Betsy Stone


PONDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

As my summer begins to wind down towards another set of fall
conferences, academic year kickoffs and related events, I am inviting
myself to practice "baby steps" of improvement. They are not daunting,
they are not scary. They also do not seem as significant in the short term
and my impatience sometimes rears its nasty head. In the long run,
though, 100 days of baby steps gets me further along my path than a few
days of big leaps!

There is something you are wanting to improve in your life....take a baby
step today and enjoy the increment!

Peace,

Paul