Ripples v5.38: Ripples of FEATHERS IN YOUR SOUL!

Ripples v5.38: Paul's Free Weekly Splash of Inspiration

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PEBBLE =o=o=o=o=o==o=o
Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all.
-Emily Dickinson, submitted by Michelle S., Green Bay, WI

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

But hope isn't a choice, it's a moral obligation,
a human obligation, an obligation to the cells in your body.
Hope is a function of those cells, it's a bodily function
the same as breathing and eating and sleeping.
Hope is not naive, hope grapples endlessly with despair.
Real, vivid, powerful, thunderclap hope, like the soul,
is at home in darkness, is divided;
but lose your hope and you lose your soul,
and you don't want to do that, trust me,
even if you haven't got a soul, and who knows,
you shouldn't be careless about it.
-Tony Kushner, submitted by Lin H., Normal, IL

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

You know what hope is! It is that magical feeling that allows you
to survive all kinds of difficulties because somehow you just KNOW
that tomorrow or the next day or the day after that, things will get better.
The secret to finding hope? It is to CREATE hope for someone else!
Think of someone you know who is having a difficult time. Better yet,
keep your eyes open for an acquaintance or a complete stranger who
appears to be having a difficult day. Step in to help them in some
small way and that will remind them there is good in the world, which
will give them hope, which will in turn give YOU hope. Try it.
I dare you.

Oh, one more thing: keep your eyes and ears open for someone who
does something nice for you. One Ripple reader is going to win a
thousand bucks next month for reporting a ripple they received.
Details to follow....

Peace,
Paul

Ripples v5.37: Ripples of IDEAS THAT TICKLE!

Ripples v5.37: Paul's Free Weekly Splash of Inspiration

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

Begin doing what you want to do now. We have only this moment,
sparkling like a star in our hand--and melting like a snowflake.
-Marie Beyon Ray

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

Little ideas
that tickle
and nag
and refuse to go away
should never be ignored,
for in them lie the seeds of destiny.
-From the movie Babe, submitted by Michelle S.

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

What ideas do you have lurking around in the back of your mind?
Do you have creative longings that your soul whispers at night as you
drift off or shouts to you in the morning just before your eyes open?
Your mission this week is to listen and then ACT on those ideas!
Take a baby step or a giant leap and then email us so we can
celebrate with you!

Peace,
Paul

Ripples v5.36: Ripples over the Rocks!

Ripples v5.36: Paul's FREE Weekly Splash of Inspiration
(PLEASE forward if you like it!).

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

The brook would lose its song if we removed the rocks.
-source unknown

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

Life is a series of problem-solving opportunities.
The problems you face will either
defeat you or develop you-
-depending on how you respond to them.
-Rick Warren, submitted by Nancy P., WI

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

I love the mountains and I love fall; so hanging out with my
credit union friends in Utah with the first signs of autumn color
was an absolute treat. Getting there was another story.
(I have promised to keep Ripples to a 60-second read and the
story is a DOOZY!) Suffice it to say I arrived in Utah without my
 luggage after being badly mistreated. This threatened to ruin my
travels until I began my ascent into the Wasatch Mountains.

I seemed to enjoy the adventure even more than my last visit to Utah
and that initially surprised me. I gradually realized that it wasn't in
spite of the difficulties, but BECAUSE of those difficulties that I was
so determined to enjoy the magical mountains.

If you are facing challenges of any size this week, I hope they will
eventually allow you to enjoy the GOOD STUFF in your life even more.

Peace,
Paul

Ripples v5.35: Ripples of SWIMMING OUT TO IT!

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

If your ship doesn't come in, swim out to it.
-Jonathan Winters, submitted by Judith G.

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

How we define success is important in shaping our lives. So, how should we define
success? Success is generally defined in terms of achievement, fame, recognition,
material possessions, and wealth. In a word: outcome.

Significance on the other hand, while less tangible, concerns the process. Significance is
importance, meaning, essence, relevance, and value.

Success drives us by a desire for tangible things; significance guides us by a desire for
something greater than just what is tangible.
-Larry S. Julian, submitted by Steve F.

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

This weekend here in Madison we hosted an Ironman Triathlon where almost 2000
athletes decided it would be a good idea to jump in Lake Monona at 7am on a Sunday
morning and swim 2.4 miles and THEN jump on a bike and ride 112 miles and THEN
jump off the bike and run a full marathon of 26.2 miles. Our friend Eric was excited to
participate (despite my observation that it would be much easier to simply DRIVE the
route), and until I observed the race I assumed that the participants' primary motivation
was the competition. Once I arrived at the event, however, it was obvious: the vast
majority of the athletes seemed much more focus on testing their limits and expanding
their potential than on how fast they finished or who won.

I don't plan on doing an Ironman anytime soon, but perhaps Eric and his compadres can
inspire us all to view our upcoming week as a challenge that we can conquer with sheer
determination!

Peace,
Paul

Ripples v5.34: Ripples of WORTHY LABOR!

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

Those who remove mountains begin by carrying away small stones.
-Chinese Proverb, submitted by Mary R.

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

The strongest oak of the forest is not the one that is
protected from the storm and hidden from the sun.
It's the one that stands in the open where it is
compelled to struggle for existence
against the winds and rains and the scorching sun.
-Napoleon Hill, submitted by Catharine S., Greensboro, NC

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

I hope you are well-rested from a relaxing Labor Day weekend, and I
hope even more that you are ready to tackle some good work! As some
of you prepare to begin your fall semester of classes, others of us
have moved from summer mode into more serious work mode. This is a
great time of year to commit your time and energy to a worthwhile
task. Take some time this week to ponder your goals, choose a
specific objective to concentrate on, and then jump right in and GO!

Peace,
Paul