Ripples v5.49: Ripples of LIFE'S WISDOM!

Ripples v5.49: Paul's Free Weekly Splash of Inspiration
for over 10,000 Members (and their friends!)

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

Upon every expressive horizon, life reveals her mystery and to live is a gift,
to feel is a blessing and to take part in her beauty is a miracle
renewed each day.
-Francisco, submitted by Ines P., South Sound YMCA

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

Life is both more and less than we hoped for,
both more comic and tragic than we knew.
Comedy ends in happiness, while tragedy yields wisdom.
We want, I suppose, to be happily wise and wisely happy.
Only then can we know the full blessings of our imperfect lives.
-Philip Simmons

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

As we prepare to wrap up a phenomenal year of growth here at The
Ripples Project, I have spent time this week reading through our
archives (it is FUN; you should try it:
http://www.TheRipplesProject.org/eRipples ). Ironically, I was
looking through our past when I discovered that I often encourage
readers (and myself) to focus on the present. I think the end of the
year is a good time to spend a few minutes glancing backward at the
last twelve months and recalling the joy as well as the lessons we
learned from the difficult stuff. Grab your appointment book, PDA,
or calendar and a yummy warm cider or hot cocoa and treat yourself to
a quick visit down memory lane.

Enjoy your holidays and we will see you next year!

Peace,
Paul

Ripples v5.48: Ripples of TOMORROWS!

Ripples v5.48: Paul's Free Weekly Splash of Inspiration
for over 10,000 Members (and their friends!)

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

Learn to wish that everything should come to pass exactly as it does.
-Epictetus, submitted by Tracy G.

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

Finish each day and be done with it.
You have done what you could;
some blunders and absurdities have crept in;
forget them as soon as you can.

Tomorrow is a new day;
you shall begin it serenely
and with too high a spirit
to be encumbered with your own nonsense.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson, submitted by Jacquie M., Hazel Park, MI

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

As we sail through these last few days of 2003, I dare you
to practice these simple (yet not so easy) tasks:

1. honor your yesterdays without regret,
3. enjoy your todays without worry
2. anticipate your tomorrows without fear.

And may peace gently cover your little spot of the world.

Ponderously,
Paul

Ripples v5.47: Ripples of YOUR PATH!

Ripples v5.47: Paul's Free Weekly Splash of Inspiration for over
10,000 Members (and their friends!)

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

In the path of our happiness shall we find
the learning for which we have chosen this lifetime.
-Donald Shimoda submitted by Kimberly D., Indiana
(Isnt' Donald Shimoda a Richard Bach character? -ed. note)

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

Any path is only a path.

There is no affront to yourself or others in dropping it
if that is what your heart tells you to do.
But your decision to keep on the path or to leave it
must be free of fear and ambition.

I warn you: Look at every path closely and deliberately.

Try it as many times as you think necessary.
Then ask yourself and yourself alone one question.
It is this: Does the path have a heart?
Does the path have a heart is the only question.
If it does, then the path is good.
If it doesn't, it is of no use.
-Carlos Castaneda, submitted by Elizabeth R. Portland, OR

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

If you are feeling stressed out right now as the end of your _______
(semester, fiscal year, etc.) approaches, you are not the only one.
It seems every person I have spoken to lately has a path filled with
the craziness of deadlines, tasks, chores, and plans. I urge you to
take a moment today to let the above quotes sink in and then let some
of your stress drain out.

Two-minutes to tranquility: for the first minute, close your eyes,
take a few deep breaths and recall a peaceful walk you've taken in
nature recently; in the second minute, open your eyes and send a
quick postcard, email, or voicemail to someone who deserves a "thank
you" from you. Then jump back on your path, hopefully finding it a
little more manageable and a little less crazy.

Peace,
Paul

Ripples v5.46: Ripples of HEROISM!

Ripples v5.46: Paul's Free Weekly Splash of Inspiration for 10,422 Members

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

Knowing is not enough; we must apply.
Willing is not enough; we must do.
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, submitted by Mike M., Portland, Oregon

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

True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic.
It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost,
but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.
-Arthur Ashe, submitted by Karen F., New Milford, Connecticut

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

A huge THANK YOU to the people who responded to our challenge of
supporting The Ripples Project through a purchase from our online
store. We raised over $1,000 that will help us do some REALLY cool
stuff in the new year!

We need a few more "shopping heroes" to visit our online store and
consider making a small purchase that will allow us to maintain our
FREE weekly splash of inspiration and add a few goodies for next
year. Peek here: http://www.TheRipplesProject.org/store/browse.cfm

Peace,
Paul