Ripples #779: Our Puzzle, Your Piece.

Ripples #779: Our Puzzle, Your Piece.
For our tribe of busy people who believe in
unleashing Ripples of compassion & kindness: uRock!
28 Apr 2014

PEBBLE:
There are no extra pieces in the universe.
Everyone is here because he or she has a place to fill,
and every piece must fit itself into the big jigsaw puzzle.
-Deepak Chopra

BOULDER:
When we feel passion for something,
it is because we are remembering what
it was that we came here to do.
The more passion we feel,
the more in alignment with Source we are,
allowing this energy to pour through us
with no hesitation.
This is the way it was meant to be.
-Karen Bishop

PONDER:
So yeah, folks: it turns out that we need your particular piece of this vast and wacky puzzle of life.  Keep your eyes and your heart open for the projects that make you feel most alive, and be curious about how that may be leading you to fulfill the highest version of your purpose here on earth.  If you’re having trouble identifying these passions, notice what you long for, what you daydream about, even what movies, books, and people you’re drawn to.  Perhaps keeping track of these in a journal can lead you to recognizing the shape and texture of your particular puzzle piece.

Speaking of your piece of this puzzle, I need a big favor to help keep the Ripples flowing. I used to be a little better about encouraging people to submit awesome quotes so that Ripples could continue being a group effort, and while a few loyal ripplers still occasionally pitch in, I find that I need a regular stream of fresh inspiration to unleash the ripply magic.  I would absolutely love it if a few dozen of you spent a few minutes digging up a couple of fresh and fabulous quotes that speak to you.  Ideally, you would share who said/wrote the words along with your first name and hometown so I can included, “shared by Linda in Manhattan, KS”.  Are you in?  Please, be in.  

Peace,
Paul

Ripples #778: The Earth Delights!

Ripples #778:  The Earth Delights!
For our tribe of busy people who believe in
unleashing Ripples of compassion & kindness: uRock!
21 Apr 2014

PEBBLE:
In every walk with nature
one receives far more than he seeks.
—John Muir

BOULDERS:
The miracle is not to walk on water.
The miracle is to walk on the green earth,
dwelling deeply in the present moment
and feeling truly alive.
-Thich Nhat Hanh

Forget not that the earth delights
to feel your bare feet,
and the winds long
to play with your hair.
-Kahlil Gibran


PONDER:
I’m thrilled that so many people embrace “Earth Day” to honor this precious and tender and valuable resource we call Home.  In addition to recognizing the important environmental issues we’re facing at this time, I would LOVE it if you made Earth Day about honoring nature, celebrating nature, and most simply ENJOYING nature.

Appreciating the Earth is an essential component of preserving it, so please enjoy today by enjoying our Home!

Peace,
Paul

Ripples #777: Infinity of Choices.

Ripples #777: Infinity of Choices. For our tribe of busy people who believe in the power of uRock: unleashing Ripples of compassion & kindness 14 Apr 2014 PEBBLE: You and I are essentially infinite choice-makers. In every moment of our existence, we are in that field of all possibilities where we have access to an infinity of choices. —Deepak Chopra BOULDER: The golden opportunity you are seeking is in yourself. It is not in your environment; it is not in luck or chance, or the help of others; it is in yourself alone. -Orison Sweet Marden PONDER: It is sometimes so tempting to focus on options taken away from us: we don’t get a job that seemed like a perfect fit, the other person ends a relationship we thought was worth pursuing, or even something simple like a beloved dish being removed from the menu of a favorite restaurant (are you listening, Cactus Pear?). When someone else removes an option, we have a tendency to concentrate on that which we can no longer choose, often ignoring a bounty of other possibilities that still exist. Of course it is appropriate to spend some time grieving a lost opportunity, but remember that infinity minus one is still infinity. The sooner we finish saying goodbye to that which is no longer an option, the sooner we can turn around and say hello to the options that are still excitedly whispering, “Ooh, pick me! Pick me!” What choices are available to you today? Peace, Paul

Ripples #776: Presence.

Ripples #776: Presence. For our tribe of busy people who believe in unleashing Ripples of compassion & kindness: uRock! 7 Apr 2014 PEBBLE: I and mine do not convince by arguments, similes, rhymes; We convince by our presence. -Walt Whitman, shared by Marc in State College, PA BOULDER: There is a quality in a few unique individuals which I can only best describe as acceptance. In the presence of such persons, I feel safe, at home, and eager to share and learn. Their attitude toward life is gentle and affirming, and this in turn brings out the best and the deepest in me, and makes me feel, somehow, capable of all the good I have ever hoped to accomplish. -Alex Noble, shared by Bruce in Milwaukee, WI PONDER: When my buddy Bruce shared this week’s Boulder a few weeks ago, I immediately thought of two gals in my life: my aunts Miriam and Florence who happen to be nuns and who also happen to be two of the wisest, funnest, sassiest and awesomest people I’ve ever encountered on this planet. Whenever I’m around them, I feel accepted for precisely who I am at the moment and at the same time invited to learn and grown and expand myself and my possibilities. They make it easy to laugh and cry and ponder and explore and discuss, sometimes all at the same time! As luck would have it, I was able to visit them unexpectedly last week; as usual, I returned home with a replenished spirit and a renewed outlook on my work and life. I hope you have people like this in your life, and I hope you can take a moment this week to acknowledge their presence. Visit them in person or send a note of thanks with a specific example of how your life is better with their presence. And don’t just ponder this one….I dare you to follow through and connect with them. Peace, Paul P.S. If you really want to honor their presence, make sure that in addition to HAVING people like this in your life, you also strive to BE that person for others in your life.