eRipples v4.04: Ripples of CATERPILLARS!

eRipples: a Quick Splash of Kindness
from Paul & The Ripples Project
eRipples v4.04: Ripples of CATERPILLARS!
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=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PEBBLE =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o

It is necessary that I support two or three caterpillars
if I want to know the butterflies.
-Antoine de St.-Exupery, submitted by E.R.

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

You have not lived a perfect day,
even though you earned money,
unless you have done something
for someone who will never be able to repay you.
-Ruth Smeltzer, submitted by Lin

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

This week I enjoyed a day-long training with the staff of Dane County
Credit Union and a breakfast chat with the Wisconsin Association of
School Boards. During both presentations, we discussed the
importance of connecting with people who are different than you.
That especially includes people who are DIFFICULT because sometimes
the only thing that makes someone DIFFICULT is that they are
DIFFERENT than you! They have a different personality or different
perspective or different background or different life experiences.
Spending some time with people who are different allows you to
consider new perspectives, enlarge your world view, and create all
kinds of new ripples of possibilities!

You may be good at creating ripples for the people you know and care
about, but this week make it your quest to create some ripples with
someone who is DIFFERENT than you and see if it doesn't make your
week a little better!

Peace,

Paul

eRipples v4.03: Ripples for DR. KING!

eRipples: a Quick Splash of Happiness
from Paul & The Ripples Project
eRipples v4.03: Ripples for DR. KING!
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=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PEBBLE =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o

Our lives begin to end
the day we become silent
about things that matter.
-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., submitted by Lois

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

The ultimate weakness of violence
is that it is a descending spiral,
begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy.

Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it...
Through violence you may murder the hater,
but you do not murder the hate.

In fact, violence merely increases hate...
Returning violence for violence multiplies violence,
adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.

Darkness cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., submitted by Marilyn

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

In order to honor Dr. King, I propose we all commit to speak up this
week! Choose a concern you feel strongly about and discuss it with
your friends, family or co-workers. Write a letter to your senator
or congressperson to let them know where you stand on an issue.
Challenge the status quo, ask the difficult question in a meeting,
disagree even if you're in the minority. Make sure your voice is
heard!

We can keep the spirit of Dr. King's ideals alive by each doing our
part to SPEAK UP!

eRipples v4.02: Ripples of THE BEST YOU!

eRipples: a Quick Splash of Happiness
from Paul & The Ripples Project
eRipples v4.02: Ripples of THE BEST YOU!
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=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PEBBLE =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o

If I try to be like him, who will be like me?
-Yiddish Proverb, submitted by Monica

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

You have to count on living every single day
in a way you believe will make you feel good about your life--
so that if it were over tomorrow,
you'd be content with yourself.
-Seymour, submitted by Laura

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

How are you? Really. I want to know how YOU are! And I want you
to try very hard this week to be the best YOU, the most amazing YOU,
the most YOU that you can possibly imagine. It turns out we don't
need you to be thinner or smarter or richer or faster or louder or
calmer or saner. We just need you to be MORE of YOU!!

eRipples v4.01: New Ripples for a New Year!

eRipples: a Quick Splash of Happiness
from Paul & The Ripples Project
eRipples v4.01: New Ripples for a New Year!
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=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PEBBLE =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o

If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light.
Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness,
selfishness, and fears.
-Glenn Clark, submitted by Mary

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

Welcome to 2002! I began the year with a trip to Fennimore, Wisconsin
and the campus of Southwest Technical College to help the faculty and
staff kick off their year. I mentioned that over 80% of New Year's
resolutions are broken within a few weeks. 4 out of every 5!

One of the best things you can do to increase your resolution success
rate is to focus on what you DO want instead of what you DO NOT want in
the coming year. Try this exercise and you'll see that I mean: choose a
spot on the floor and stand on it. If you wanted to move AWAY from this
spot, there are many directions to choose from to move away from it. So
many, in fact, that it can be overwhelming. While standing on this spot,
choose another spot you want to move towards. When thinking about
moving toward that spot, there is an obvious direction that will most
efficiently move you toward the new spot!

Choose your spot and MOVE TOWARDS IT!

Peace in 2002,

Paul