eRipples v3.39: Ripples of WE!

eRipples: Your Free Weekly Splash of Inspiration
from Paul & The Ripples Project
eRipples v3.39: Ripples of WE!

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PEBBLE =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=

We are being hurt by the myth that leadership is something reserved for a
few charismatic men and women.
 In fact, leadership is everyone's business.
-Tom Peters, submitted by Ron in Madison, WI

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= BOULDER =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=

Our lives, at times, seem a study in contrasts...
love and hate, birth and death, right and wrong...
everything seen in the absolutes of black and white.
Too often we are not aware that it is
the shades of grey
that add depth and meaning
to the starkness of those extremes.
-Ansel Adams, submitted by Ashlee

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PONDER =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=

I spent time this week at both Centralia College (near Seattle,
Washington) and Western Illinois University (near, er, not really near
anything!) at leadership conferences. During lunch at WIU, I was eating
with a group of participants who were posed this question: "How do you
define a leader?" As I listened to their diverse and thoughtful responses I
found myself struggling to compose a definition myself. I decided in the
moment that a leader's role is to bring together a group of people to
achieve a common goal.

It seems the U.S. has come together in a strong way over the past few
weeks to form a team. A growing concern is that our country has become
a "We" only because we are united against a "They." While I have certainly
been impressed with our ability to unite in the face of crisis, it concerns
me that we have demonized a "They" which is escalating the same kind of
dangerous hatred that culminated in the events of September 11. Here is
a challenge for our leaders: please help us find a way to come together
as a "We" without creating a "They!"

Peace,
Paul

eRipples v3.38: Ripples of PEACE!

eRipples: Your Free Weekly Splash of Inspiration
from Paul & The Ripples Project
eRipples v3.38: Ripples of PEACE!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~ PEBBLES ~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If we make our goal to live a life of
compassion and unconditional love,
then the world will indeed become a garden
where all kinds of flowers can bloom and grow.
-Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, submitted by Jennifer

Peace is not something you wish for.
It is something you make, something you do,
something you are, and something you give away.
- Robert Fulghum (originally rippled in Ripples v1.15)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~ BOULDERS ~*~*~*~*~*~*~

We who lived in concentration camps can remember those who walked
through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread.
They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that
everything can be taken from a person but one thing: the last of the
human freedoms . . . to choose one's attitude in any given set of
circumstance, to choose one's own way.
-Viktor Frankl, submitted by Phyllis

Deep peace of the running wave to you,
Deep peace of the flowing air to you,
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you,
Deep peace of the shining stars to you,
Deep peace of the gentle night to you,
Moon and stars pour their healing light on you.
Deep peace to you.
-Bill Douglas, submitted by Kevin (originally rippled
in Ripples v1.48)


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

I ventured into airspace this week to spend Saturday in Pennsylvania with
an amazing group of resident assistants (students who help their peers
survive and thrive in college). I ended the day with these words:

"Many of us are feeling totally helpless in this aftermath of horror: We ask
ourselves, "What can we do if we live far away from New York &
Washington?" It turns out there IS something very significant that we all
need to do: CREATE RIPPLES OF PEACE! Every kind act you commit
creates ripples that will reach beyond the intended target. Ripples will
reach everyone in your community. Ripples will reach New York. Ripples
will reach Washington. Ripples will reach the Middle East. Ripples will
reach Ireland. Ripples will reach everywhere in the world that needs
peace. And please remember that everywhere in the world needs peace!"

I urge you to spend extra time this week creating ripples of peace. Say
"thank you," forgive someone, wave at your neighbors, buy lunch for a
stranger, high-five your boss, look in the mirror and say "Hello!" If you're
feeling really brave, try sending a ripple of peace to someone who
"doesn't deserve it" and see how powerful that experience can be!

To expand upon a phrase I've heard frequently this week: "God Bless The
World!"

Peace,

eRipples v3.37: Ripples of SAYING IT!

eRipples: Your Free Weekly Splash of Inspiration
from Paul & The Ripples Project
eRipples v3.37: Ripples of SAYING IT!

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

Never be bullied into silence.
 Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself.
-Harvey Firestein, submitted by Lucia Patritto

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

What are the silences that you swallow day by day?
If we wait to speak until we are not afraid,
we will be sending messages back from the grave...
While we wait in silence for that final luxury of fearlessness,
the weight of that silence will choke us.
-Audre Lorde, submitted by Lin Hinds

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

There is a good chance you have been putting it off, and that is just not
good for your soul. Reach in and find your voice! This week is the perfect
opportunity for you to reach deep inside and uncover the Message you've
been wanting to deliver. It may be something you've wanted to say to a
family member, supervisor, co-worker, friend or maybe it is something
you've wanted to tell the world.

Take a deep breath, and SAY IT!

Peace,
Paul

eRipples v3.36: Ripples of SUCCEEDING!

eRipples: Your Free Weekly Splash of Inspiration
from Paul & The Ripples Project
eRipples v3.36: Ripples of SUCCEEDING!

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

Eventually you learn that the competition
is against the little voice inside you that wants to quit.
-George Sheehan, submitted by Brian Hughes

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

Success is the feeling you get when you know
You did something so special, you were the star of your show.
Its a fire that crackles and feels like it glows.
You get all excited right down through your toes.
It makes you so peppy, you can hardly sit still.
Your mind dances around you from ridges to rill.
You speak with conviction you believe in yourself.
You say what you're thinking, you jump off your shelf.
The people you meet stay on just to listen.
They stay all around you to learn how to glisten.
And later that day when you are alone
you find that you're smiling right through to the bone.
For success is the service, turned into esteem.
You did something for others, your lamp's on high beam.
You look on ahead not frightened or shy.
You can see more good coming, you know by and by.
That you've got what it takes to build on the past,
remembering highlights and memories that last.
Putting others out front, you turn inside out.
You feel what they're feeling. Their praises you shout.
You wrap it in presents, and still you get more.
You draw it in pictures, it comes in the door.
You keep on giving it and giving it away.
But success keeps on coming, and it stays
and it stays and it stays.
-Janie Jasin, submitted by Barbara Dorzweiler

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

I wrapped up another round of travels this week with a quick trip to
Parkersburg, West Virginia to help the Wood County Schools' Food
Service crew kick off their year, and a brief stop at the University of
Wisconsin - Superior for their new student orientation. My task at both
places was to help the participants create a year of success, and I
reminded them that it is important to remember that even though we face
many EXTERNAL obstacles along the path, it is our INTERNAL resources
that can help us find that success!

As our summers wrap up and we head into another autumn, I hope you
can reach INSIDE and discover some awesome resources that will help
YOU succeed!

Peace,
Paul