Ripples v8.13: Ripples of PERSONAL FREEDOM!
3/27/06: your FREE weekly splash from Paul & The Ripples Project
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PEBBLES =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o
It takes courage to grow up and turn out to be who you really are.
-e.e. cummings, submitted by Lindsay B., New Berlin WI
The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely.
-Carl Jung, also submitted by Lindsay B., New Berlin WI
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= BOULDER =o=o=o=o=o=o=o
If you do your best
in the search for personal freedom,
in the search for self-love,
you will discover that it's just a matter of time
before you find what you are looking for.
-Don Miguel Ruiz, submitted by Sharri d.S., Eugene OR
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PONDER =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o
I enjoyed crazy travel adventures this week, first visiting managers at a Procter & Gamble plant in Louisiana (have YOU tried Apple Mango Tango Gain yet??) and then travelling to Moscow, Idaho where I participated in a human rights conference called "Finding the Center 2006." I had a great time in both places AND I cannot wait to arrive back home to see Grendel (for recent subscribers, Grendel is my new puppy that Ripples readers helped me name!).
Among the big batch of quote submissions we received last week (and thanks to ALL who submitted quotes because a constant stream of quotes helps make a better splash of Ripples!!), were the above quotes about personal freedom. Please note that I could not decide between two awesome quotes that Lindsay sent in so I exercised my own PERSONAL FREEDOM and included them both!
For me, personal freedom involves having a variety of options to consider and exercising the responsibility to making good choices and brave choices. It means being free not only of unreasonable restrictions from others but also being free from internal restrictions; having the courage to take positive action despite any fears or limiting beliefs. That is my definition; what does it mean to you? Would you please consider sharing your opinion about what PERSONAL FREEDOM means to you at our community discussion board:
http://theripplesproject.org/smf/index.php?topic=179.0 ?
I'm wishing you a week filled with Freedom & Peace,
Paul
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Ripples v8.12: Ripples of LAUGHTER!
Ripples v8.12: Ripples of LAUGHTER!
3/20/06: your FREE weekly splash from Paul & The Ripples Project
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PEBBLE =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o
At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities.
-Jean Houston, submitted by Gail H., Portland OR
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= BOULDER =o=o=o=o=o=o=o
A sense of humor can help you
overlook the unattractive,
tolerate the unpleasant,
cope with the unexpected,
and smile through the unbearable.
-source unknown, submitted by Chris P.
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PONDER =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o
Two guys walk into a bar.....
Ok, I'm no good at telling jokes so I won't even try. However, I think laughter is one of the healthiest exercises one can perform. It may not burn a ton of calories (which I need to do because last week I picked up my Girl Scout cookie order and I have been stuffing my face all weekend!), but it burns a ton of stress!
Here is a challenge for this week: think of the person with whom you laugh the hardest and make it a point to talk with them in the next few days. Share a joke, tell a story, make a goofy face, or if you have known each other many years, you may just need to start with "Remember that time we...." and let the chuckles commence!
My friend Kristen in Lansing will be getting a call this week from me....so stop reading this and go laugh with someone!!
Peace,
Paul
3/20/06: your FREE weekly splash from Paul & The Ripples Project
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PEBBLE =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o
At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities.
-Jean Houston, submitted by Gail H., Portland OR
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= BOULDER =o=o=o=o=o=o=o
A sense of humor can help you
overlook the unattractive,
tolerate the unpleasant,
cope with the unexpected,
and smile through the unbearable.
-source unknown, submitted by Chris P.
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PONDER =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o
Two guys walk into a bar.....
Ok, I'm no good at telling jokes so I won't even try. However, I think laughter is one of the healthiest exercises one can perform. It may not burn a ton of calories (which I need to do because last week I picked up my Girl Scout cookie order and I have been stuffing my face all weekend!), but it burns a ton of stress!
Here is a challenge for this week: think of the person with whom you laugh the hardest and make it a point to talk with them in the next few days. Share a joke, tell a story, make a goofy face, or if you have known each other many years, you may just need to start with "Remember that time we...." and let the chuckles commence!
My friend Kristen in Lansing will be getting a call this week from me....so stop reading this and go laugh with someone!!
Peace,
Paul
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Ripples v8.11: Ripples of SPEAKING LOUDLY!
Ripples v8.11: Ripples of SPEAKING LOUDLY!
3/13/06: your FREE weekly splash from Paul & The Ripples Project
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PEBBLE =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o
Who you are speaks so loudly I cannot hear what you're saying.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, submitted by Terry H., Franklin WI
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= BOULDER =o=o=o=o=o=o=o
The fact is, that to do anything in the world worth doing,
we must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger,
but jump in and scramble through as well as we can.
-Robert Cushing, submitted by Linn W., Milwaukee WI
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PONDER =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o
Next week I will be heading to Moscow, Idaho, home of the University of Idaho. The city and the university are hosting a special event along with their neighbors across the border, Pullman, Washington and Washington State University. \"Finding the Center: An Action Oriented Human Rights Conference\" is sure to be a full weekend of speaking loudly and listening clearly. I have been charged with kicking off the event and I hope to remind them that the most effective way to \"speak loudly\" is through their actions that encourage an appreciation of diversity. This is where I need some help from YOU!
The Ripples Project is about the gigantic power of tiny acts, so in addition to giving each attendee a Ripple card with an inspirational quote, I wanted to inspire them with YOUR stories of "speaking loudly." Can you take just 2 minutes to ponder and respond to just one set of these questions:
A. Can you think of a time when you said or did something to speak up for another person or group?
What did you do? Why did you do it? How did it turn out?
OR
B. Can you think of a time when someone said or did something to speak up for YOU?
What happened? Why was that important to you?
OR
C. Can you think of a time when you WISH someone had spoken up for you or another person/group?
What happened? What could the person have said or done?
You can post your response on our community discussion board:
http://theripplesproject.org/smf/index.php?topic=177.0
OR just hit reply and send us an email.
Thanks in advance for sharing your voice, and as always I\'m sending you a bounty of....
Peace,
Paul
3/13/06: your FREE weekly splash from Paul & The Ripples Project
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PEBBLE =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o
Who you are speaks so loudly I cannot hear what you're saying.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, submitted by Terry H., Franklin WI
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= BOULDER =o=o=o=o=o=o=o
The fact is, that to do anything in the world worth doing,
we must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger,
but jump in and scramble through as well as we can.
-Robert Cushing, submitted by Linn W., Milwaukee WI
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PONDER =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o
Next week I will be heading to Moscow, Idaho, home of the University of Idaho. The city and the university are hosting a special event along with their neighbors across the border, Pullman, Washington and Washington State University. \"Finding the Center: An Action Oriented Human Rights Conference\" is sure to be a full weekend of speaking loudly and listening clearly. I have been charged with kicking off the event and I hope to remind them that the most effective way to \"speak loudly\" is through their actions that encourage an appreciation of diversity. This is where I need some help from YOU!
The Ripples Project is about the gigantic power of tiny acts, so in addition to giving each attendee a Ripple card with an inspirational quote, I wanted to inspire them with YOUR stories of "speaking loudly." Can you take just 2 minutes to ponder and respond to just one set of these questions:
A. Can you think of a time when you said or did something to speak up for another person or group?
What did you do? Why did you do it? How did it turn out?
OR
B. Can you think of a time when someone said or did something to speak up for YOU?
What happened? Why was that important to you?
OR
C. Can you think of a time when you WISH someone had spoken up for you or another person/group?
What happened? What could the person have said or done?
You can post your response on our community discussion board:
http://theripplesproject.org/smf/index.php?topic=177.0
OR just hit reply and send us an email.
Thanks in advance for sharing your voice, and as always I\'m sending you a bounty of....
Peace,
Paul
Sunday, March 5, 2006
Ripples v8.10: Ripples of HAPPY RIGHT NOW!
Ripples v8.10: Ripples of HAPPY RIGHT NOW!
3/6/06: your FREE weekly splash from Paul & The Ripples Project
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PEBBLE =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o
Without happiness we cannot be a refuge for others.
Ask yourself, What am I waiting for to make me happy?
Why am I not happy right now?
-Thich Nhat Hanh, submitted by Kalea B., Chico CA
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= BOULDER =o=o=o=o=o=o=o
There is a story told about a dog who discovered that happiness was in his tail.
He kept trying over and over to get it, but all he could do was run around in circles.
Exhausted and frustrated with this endless pursuit, he eventually stopped.
And then he discovered that if he would just go on about his life,
it would follow him wherever he went.
-altered from unknown source, submitted by Jen M., Mt. Pleasant MI
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PONDER =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o
I send a huge thank you to the dozens of members of The Ripples Project who weighed in on the naming of my new puppy. It was such a blast to have your input! If you are curious about which name I chose, I encourage you to visit the "Streams of Consciousness" section at our community discussion board: http://theripplesproject.org/smf/index.php.
On the subject of this week\'s theme, HAPPY RIGHT NOW!: I hope that you can do take a moment right now to pause and ask yourself Thich Nhat Hanh\'s question: \"Why am I not happy right now?\" It may be tempting to respond that you\'re not happy because of some situation you\'re in or a problem you have or a certain person you have recently argued with. Even if they are truly yucky, events or people are not causing your unhappiness. With a little effort you can remember that happiness is a choice. Of course there are extreme situations of crisis or distress where happiness is nearly impossible to experience; I am more interested for you to experience happiness in your daily crazy merry-go-round of deadlines and to-do lists and meetings and errands. Give it a try!
Peace,
Paul
3/6/06: your FREE weekly splash from Paul & The Ripples Project
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PEBBLE =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o
Without happiness we cannot be a refuge for others.
Ask yourself, What am I waiting for to make me happy?
Why am I not happy right now?
-Thich Nhat Hanh, submitted by Kalea B., Chico CA
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= BOULDER =o=o=o=o=o=o=o
There is a story told about a dog who discovered that happiness was in his tail.
He kept trying over and over to get it, but all he could do was run around in circles.
Exhausted and frustrated with this endless pursuit, he eventually stopped.
And then he discovered that if he would just go on about his life,
it would follow him wherever he went.
-altered from unknown source, submitted by Jen M., Mt. Pleasant MI
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PONDER =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o
I send a huge thank you to the dozens of members of The Ripples Project who weighed in on the naming of my new puppy. It was such a blast to have your input! If you are curious about which name I chose, I encourage you to visit the "Streams of Consciousness" section at our community discussion board: http://theripplesproject.org/smf/index.php.
On the subject of this week\'s theme, HAPPY RIGHT NOW!: I hope that you can do take a moment right now to pause and ask yourself Thich Nhat Hanh\'s question: \"Why am I not happy right now?\" It may be tempting to respond that you\'re not happy because of some situation you\'re in or a problem you have or a certain person you have recently argued with. Even if they are truly yucky, events or people are not causing your unhappiness. With a little effort you can remember that happiness is a choice. Of course there are extreme situations of crisis or distress where happiness is nearly impossible to experience; I am more interested for you to experience happiness in your daily crazy merry-go-round of deadlines and to-do lists and meetings and errands. Give it a try!
Peace,
Paul
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)