eRipples v4.21: Ripples of YOUR RIPPLES!

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

We are not primarily put on this earth
to see through one another,
but to see one another through.
-Peter DeVries, submitted by Lisa Vonfeldt <lvonfeldt@bryanlgh.org>

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

The accumulation of small optimistic acts
produces quality in our culture and in your life.
Our culture resonates in tense times to individual acts of grace.
-Jennifer James, submitted by Bee <rgh@NMSU.Edu>

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

I did it! Actually, the more accurate phrase is "WE did it!" I
travelled to Buffalo this week to deliver the commencement address
for Erie Community College's Class of 2002. Over 3,500 people were
in attendance....and I felt like another 6,000 were cheering for me
via The Ripples Project. I used the many replies from my request for
assistance a few weeks ago, as well as Matt's cool Dandelion story
that anchored eRipples v4.19.

If you would like to peek at the speech and/or the over 300 pieces of
advice readers offered to graduates, please visit a special web page
we set up: http://www.happyflying.com/p/Dandelions.html

Peace,
Paul

eRipples v4.20: Ripples of ENOUGH!

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

The secret to having it all is believing that you do.
-original source unknown, submitted by Sharman <sbushing@unlnotes.unl.edu>

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

The happiest people
don't necessarily
HAVE
the best
of everything,
they just
MAKE
the best
of everything.
-original source unknown, submitted by Sarah <sarahstobbe@yahoo.com>

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

I spent a few days last week in Indiana on the campus of IUPUI. In a
few of my presentations, we discussed that despite living in a
country with only 1% of the world's population and 98% of the world's
wealth, many of us still feel like we don't have ENOUGH! I believe
this feeling evolves from our pattern of spending beyond what we
make. The average American spends 10% beyond their income: someone
with $10,000 annual income spends like they make $11,000, and someone
at the $100,000 level spends as though they earn $110,000. That
means pay raises and job promotions usually don't bring satisfaction,
they bring more longing and even more debt!

If you're caught up in this cycle, I dare you to press STOP and
change your habits to create a budget as though you make 10% LESS
than what you do. The sense of having extra at the end of the month
creates a feeling of WEALTH even if you make less money than Bill
Gates!

Peace,
Paul
p.s. Next week I'll be sharing details from my commencement speech &
how you can easily peek at the over 330 responses I received from
eRipples readers! Send good vibes toward Buffalo!

eRipples v4.19: Ripples of DANDELIONS!

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

All the beautiful sentiments in the world
weigh less than a single lovely action.
-James Russell Lowell, submitted by Su


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

[An eRipples reader shared this story with me, and I had to share it
with everyone!]

I was heading home after spending about 5 hours in the library
working on a research paper, and I was NOT in such a great mood. On
my walk, I passed a couple with a 4-year-old child. While staring
down at my feet in my foul mood, I suddenly saw this tiny shadow in
front of me. I looked up to see the young boy smiling back at me.

He simply said, "This is for you," handed me a dandelion he had
picked from the grass, and ran back to his parents--smiling the whole
way. It instantly put a smile on my face and made me think of The
Ripples Project the entire walk home. When I got to my apartment I
stood the flower up on the banister next to the entrance. A half hour
later the flower was gone, passed on to someone else. Hopefully it
was able to put the same smile on another face as it had on mine.
That little boy was a living example to me of how the ripples concept
truly works. Something as simple as a dandelion from a little boy
was enough to completely change my mood, and possibly someone else's
too.
-written and submitted by Matt


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

I had a great experience last week in Lansing, Michigan with a crew
of credit union managers as we explored time management. I
encouraged them to alter their approach to time management from
"hurry up and get more done" to "slow down and figure out what is
most important!" Matt's experience reminds me that sometimes the
important tasks do not even take much time to complete--but can often
have a long-lasting impact!

I need a bunch of dandelions! In a few weeks I am delivering my
first commencement address and YOUR perspective is requested: If you
had the opportunity to say ONE THING to a class of college graduates,
what would you say? Everyone who responds by Friday will get a copy
of all the responses!

Peace,
Paul


eRipples: a FREE quick splash from Paul & The Ripples Project
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o
to leave: send a blank email to Leave@TheRipplesProject.org
to join: send a blank email to Join@TheRipplesProject.org
to submit: send a quote to Submissions@TheRipplesProject.org
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o
©2002 The Ripples Project

eRipples v4.18: Ripples of GETTING STARTED!

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

The secret of getting ahead is getting started.
-Sally Berger, submitted by Nancy

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

Can anything
be sadder
than work
left unfinished?

Yes;
work
never
begun.
-Christina Rossetti submitted by Donna

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

Have you been putting something off? Something that might make your
life easier, better, more fun? This could be the week to get
started! If we all start something now, we will create a wave of
momentum that will impact ALL of us. We need your ripple to help get
it started! Take some action this week on a project or goal you have
been procrastinating.....and after you've taken your first step be
sure to encourage someone else to get started on THEIR something!