Ripples v8.48: Ripples of ORDINARY DAYS!

Ripples v8.48: Ripples of ORDINARY DAYS!
11/27/06: a FREE splash from Paul & The Ripples Project
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PEBBLE =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o

No man needs a vacation so much
as the person who has just had one.
-Elbert Hubbard, submitted by Kathy L., Mendota Heights MN

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

So many mornings I'd say, "Mom, I don't want to go to school today."
And she'd push me out the door with my brother and sister and say,
"Don't you kids know
that life is made up of ordinary days
when there's no one to pat you on the back?
When there's no one to praise you?
When there's no one to honor you?
When there's no one to see how brave and noble you are?
Almost all of life is made up of ordinary days.
And it's how you live your ordinary days
that determines whether or not you have big moments.
Get out there and make something of your ordinary days.
-Ann Kiemel, submitted by Beth L., Baltimore MD

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

Welcome back from Thanksgiving! Many of our fellow Ripplers are students and instructors who are heading into their last stretch of the fall semester. Others may be wrapping up end-of-year reports and budgets at work. Almost everyone has some degree of stress over the holidays. I hope you can use these last few weeks of the year to make something of these ORDINARY DAYS at the end of the year! It might mean building in some time to close the door and play some of your favorite music (calming? energizing? whatever you need!). Or maybe you dive in and spend one solid hour with a big pile of STUFF--no phone calls or emails or distractions--just FOCUS!. Do what you have to do to hang in there: you can do it!!

Peace,
Paul

Ripples v8.47: Ripples of THANK-FULL!

Ripples v8.47: Ripples of THANK-FULL!
11/20/06: a FREE splash from Paul & The Ripples Project

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

Just for today, give thanks!
Put the THANKS back in your day and you will be FULL!
Those who give are thankful - while those who are thankful give.
-Sark, submitted by Sarah H., DeKalb IL

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

If you had read the front-page story of the SF Chronicle on Thursday, Dec.14, 2005, you would have read about a female humpback whale that had become entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines.

Hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to struggle to stay afloat weighted her down. She also had hundreds of yards of line rope wrapped around her body, her tail and her torso, and a a line tugging in her mouth. A fisherman spotted her just east of the Farralone Islands (outside the Golden Gate) and radioed an Environmental group for help. Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and determined that she was so bad off, the only way to save her was to dive in and untangle her, a very dangerous proposition. One slap of the tail could kill a rescuer. They worked for hours with curved knives and eventually freed her.

When she was free, the divers say she swam in what seemed like joyous circles. She then came back to each and every diver, one at a time, and nudged them, pushed them gently around and thanked them. Some said it was the most incredibly beautiful experience of their lives. The person who cut the rope out of her mouth says her eye was following him the entire time, and he will never ever be the same.

May you, and all those you love, be so blessed and fortunate----to be surrounded by people who will help you get untangled from the things that are binding you. And, may you always know the joy of giving and receiving gratitude and love.

-submitted by Kasie M., Bowie MD

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

For all our members, both long-time and recent,
for all the quote submissions, and
for all the kind messages I have received over the past 8 years:

THANKS!

Peace,
Paul

Ripples v8.46: Ripples of ECHOES & BOOMERANGS!

Ripples v8.46: Ripples of ECHOES & BOOMERANGS!
11/13/06: a FREE splash from Paul & The Ripples Project
14,797 subscribers

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

Life is like an echo.
What you give out is what you get in return.
-Elsie (last name forgotten), submitted by Terri L., Cranford NJ

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

The game of life is the game of boomerangs.
Our thoughts, deeds and words
return to us sooner or later,
with astounding accuracy.
-Florence Shinn, submitted by Dani S, Eugene OR

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

I spent the early part of the week with a group of folks who do the very challenging and important work of helping people at the end of life. These hospice, nursing home, home health, and hospital staff provide an enormous source of support to those who are dying as well as their loved ones. By the end of the week I was out in Phoenix to spend a few days with my good friends at the U.S. Tennis Association who develop and promote the growth of tennis.

These are obviously different groups facing different challenges and opportunities in fulfilling their mission, but the people I met at both meetings were filled with dedicated and talented professionals who are making life better for others. While my topics varied for each group, it was easy to convince them all that what you get out of life depends a great deal on what you are willing to put in.

I dare you to practice the art of ECHOES & BOOMERANGS this week by putting out a little more of what you want and trust that it will come back. If you wish the world had more peace than it does now, go out and make peace with someone you are currently in conflict with. If you need more money, try giving a few bucks away. If happiness is what you seek, then spend some time making someone else happy. I believe that some will come back your way soon!

Peace,
Paul

Ripples v8.45: Ripples of VOTING!

Ripples v8.45: Ripples of VOTING!
11/6/06: a FREE splash from Paul & The Ripples Project
14,606 subscribers

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

You do not have to be superhuman
to do what you believe in.
-Debbie Fields, submitted by Linda H., Manhattan KS

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

Live your life
so that your children
can tell their children
that you not only stood
for something wonderful-
-you acted on it.
-Dan Zadra, submitted by Kathy P., Osseo WI

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

You may be tired of the election-related commercials and the phone calls and the mail....AND remember that our democracy works best when we all participate! If you are eligible to vote, DO IT! If you are not eligible to vote, motivate your eligible family, friends, classmates, co-workers, and neighbors to take time this week to DO WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN!

Speaking of voting, we need you to VOTE FOR RIPPLES this month! During November, we are asking each Ripples subscriber to choose one action in support of Ripples:
- submit a really great quote for an upcoming issue (see below for instructions)
- convince one co-worker or friend to join Ripples (see below for instructions)

We lost several hundred subscribers because of our software glitches earlier this year, and we would really like to end the year above 15,000 subscribers. We need just 400 new subscribers to get there, so PLEASE consider helping us find one or two more!

Peace,
Paul