Ripples v5.07: Ripples of MISSING DROPS!

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

If the world is cold, make it your business to build fires.
-Horace Traubel, submitted by Monica M., Waverly, IA

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

We ourselves feel that what we are doing
is just a drop in the ocean.
But if that drop was not in the ocean,
I think the ocean would be less
because of that missing drop.
-Mother Teresa, submitted by Andrea D., Superior, Wisconsin

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

What a crazy week it was for me! I began in Las Vegas with a team
from Novartis Animal Health and then bipped over to Indianapolis to
spend a day with Duke Realty's Diversity Council. My last stop was
Buffalo State College in New York. Whew! The most challenging
presentation of the week was on Friday evening to a group of students
who arrived at a mandatory meeting clearly dreading the idea of
sitting in a giant auditorium with a "motivational speaker." They
were tired, I was tired, even the sound equipment was tired (it
stopped working half way through the talk!). We all made it through,
but I wondered if it had been a complete waste of time.

On Saturday after a few more talks I returned to the Buffalo airport,
excited to be heading home and feeling mostly good about the
presentations. Well, except for that one. While standing in line to
grab some fast food before heading to the gate, I decided to "let it
go" and realize that I don't always get to have that "WOW!" feeling
after every presentation.

As I was ordering my food, one of the employees came up and said,
"Lunch is on us!" I looked at him to see if he was joking, and he
smiled and said "You were at my school giving a presentation last
night, right?" It turns out that at least one person in the group
thought it was a great use of his time. All I can say is that the
rest of my trip home was filled with that "WOW!" feeling!

I dare you this week to remember that you are a valuable drop of
water and we need your ripples!

Peace,
Paul

Ripples v5.06: Ripples of HANGING IN THERE!

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

All things at first appear difficult.
-Chinese Proverb, submitted by Roberta B., Eden, UT

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

I've read that I flew up the hills
and mountains of France.
But you don't fly up a hill.
You struggle slowly and painfully up a hill,
and maybe, if you work very hard,
you get to the top ahead of everybody else.
-Lance Armstrong, submitted by Ezra A., Land O'Lakes, W

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

I journeyed this week to Nashville, Tennesse to spend a day with a
crew from TDS Telecom (and squeezed in lunch with my good friend
Alana!). We talked about the existence of good days, and the
inevitability of bad days. We will have many of each kind in the
time line of our lives and the trick is to get through the "poopy
days" (that is the technical term for bad days) by remembering that
they are only a temporary experience. As my grandma used to say to
me "This too shall pass, Paulie, this too shall pass." So whatever
difficulties face you this week, just imagine Lance Armstrong and my
grandma cheering you on!

Peace,

Paul
editor, Ripples

Ripples v5.05: Ripples of ENTHUSIASM!

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

Leadership is the ability to go from disaster to disaster with
unflagging enthusiasm.
-Winston Churchill, submitted by Leslie M., Madison, WI

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

Enthusiasm is the key not only to
the achievement of great things
but to the accomplishment of anything that is worthwhile.
-Samuel Goldwyn, submitted by Monica M., Waverly, IA

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

I ventured back out on the road this week with trips to Minnesota to
hang out with a crew from US Link and then out to Salem, Oregon
(where it was 50 degrees and sunny!) to help out with an incredible
symposium for community organizers. With both groups we explored
personal empowerment techniques that could fuel our enthusiasm. I
think some people view enthusiasm as a personality trait that some
people have and some people lack. I believe enthusiasm is a
behavior, a skill that you can deepen with practice.

Do you need more enthusiasm in your life right now? Might having
more enthusiasm for a particular project make it easier to tackle? I
dare you to practice being enthusiastic toward that project today.
Even if you have to just pretend at first, I think you'll find that
enthusiasm is contagious even within yourself. GO FOR IT!

Enthusiastically Yours,

Paul
editor, Ripples

Ripples v5.04: Ripples of TOGETHER!

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

Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.
-Maya Angelou, submitted by Lin H., Normal, IL

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

We need each other,
whether we realize it or not,
whether we are willing to acknowledge it or not.

Another set of hands pulled you from your mother's womb at birth;
another set of hands changed your diapers, fed you, nourished you;
another set of hands taught you how to read and write.
Now another set of hands grows your food, delivers your mail,
collects your garbage, protects your city, defends your nation;
another set of hands will comfort and care for you when you become
sick and old;
in the end, another set of hands will lower you into the ground when you die.
-James C. Hunter, submitted by Jean S., Milwaukee, WI

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

If your soul is finding it difficult to grasp yet another tragedy in
these crazy times, I propose you focus on something that can create
hope. Take some time this week to strengthen your connections to
other people. Whether it is a seldom-seen family member, an
estranged friend (or a friend who is strange?), or a co-worker you
barely know, you can invigorate your heart by reminding yourself and
people around you that we are not alone. Coming together is one of
the most effective healing remedies for grief and you will find it
impacts you AND the people you reach out to!

Peace,
Paul