All Good Things Come To an End

If you've been reading this blog over the last couple of months, you
know that I've often rang the margin bell - do less, relate more. The
thing is, I don't take my own medicine.

I was contemplating naming this post "Less Work, More Fun," because I
realize that slowly, yet surely, the sheer volume of work that I'm
trying to accomplish is in fact killing me. I'm always tired, I never
rest, I can't seem to get it all done. If I can't get it all done
working 18 hour days for months on end, then there is obviously too
much to do, this blog included.

These last couple of months spent writing posts daily have been a
worthwhile and thoroughly enjoyable experiment, but an experiment
nonetheless. I won't say that I'm shutting it down permanently, but
I'm definitely taking a sort of hiatus. I'll post occasionally, but
not daily. To do so would turn a labor of love into a labor only.

Here's to less work, more fun, and a healthier life because of it.

The Reunion

On at least three different occasions in the last ten days I've witnessed a reunion. People meet and reconnect after being away from one another for a period of time. The emotion and excitement that accompanies the reunion is always refreshing, and anyone who witnesses the act of people being reunited with one another can't miss it.

We are all aware of those people in life who have been away for a while, but are returning. Wouldn't it be worthwhile to experience the emotion and excitement of reunions more often? We get excited when we reconnect, and it brings us joy. Our love for one another is put on display and becomes an encouragement to those around us. Couldn't we benefit from more joy and love in life?

Who can you reunite with today? Have you been away for a while and are now traveling back? Don't you want to have an exciting reunion upon your return? I certainly do. The reunion - an opportunity to display joy and love to those around us who may not know it otherwise.

Memorials and Markers

Today is Memorial Day in the U.S. It's a day when we memorialize and remember those who have given their lives in service to our country.

I've visited Arlington National Cemetery often. The image that we typically associate with Arlington is one of rows upon rows of white markers identifying those who are buried there. As I think about Memorial Day today and the markers that we set up in life to remind ourselves of important events and people, I'm reminded of how the two types of markers overlap.

Memorial Day is itself a type of marker. It marks a day of remembrance for those who have died in service to this great nation. It stands year after year as a reminder, and recalls to the forefront of our minds the actual cost of freedom.

We all have markers in our lives to remind us of important people and events - birthday's anniversaries, holidays, etc., but I often wonder if the larger markers like this Memorial Day serve to remind us of the smaller markers like the white ones in Arlington National Cemetery? Of all days, today is a day to remember the white markers.

Keep Your Freakin' Promises

If you promise me that you're going to do something, do it. If you promise me you're going to be somewhere, be there. If you promise me you're doing to deliver, deliver.

Don't blow smoke. Give it to me straight, and keep your word. Why?

Because if you don't, I'm going to tell people the truth. You didn't keep your word. You don't keep your promises. You're not dependable.

I get it. I know that stuff comes up, plans change, life happens, and I can give a lot of latitude for life circumstances, but if you promise a kid that you're going to be at their piano recital or promise a friend that you're going to be there when they come out of surgery, you had better damn well be there. If you decide to go get a facial instead, I'm going to rat you out. Deal with it. It's your screw up and you're responsible for cleaning it up, not me.

Keep your freakin' promises. It's a start to keeping your integrity.

I Love It When Old People Talk Trash

So, I'm sitting in a restaurant recently and the table directly across from me is populated by three senior citizens. They've been there for a while and are enjoying a leisurely breakfast and some conversation together.

A couple in the far corner of the restaurant has finished their meal. They get up, pay for the meal, leave the restaurant, and walk out into the parking lot.

The old people at the table across from me immediately go into gossip mode. They talk trash about this couple for five minutes straight, only pausing to take another bite of eggs or bacon. Nothing is off limits - clothes, accessories, car. Every small detail of their lives is critiqued and criticized by these seniors.

Now, I love it when old people talk trash. For starters it's just funny. You find yourself pondering the same question I pondered as I observed this particular exchange. The question goes something like, "Really, let me get this straight, you're going to talk trash about this couple because of the way they look and what they drive? Did you look in the mirror this morning? Your pants are tucked into the mismatched socks that you put on before heading out in your orthopedic shoes to drive your '76 Cadillac to the local restaurant, but you feel good enough about your appearance to talk trash about these two?" Second, you realize that they don't mean any harm by it, it's just a way to socialize with one another, and they've probably earned the right to be politically incorrect because of their years.

What do we learn when old people talk trash? We learn that it's actually pretty refreshing to accept the comedy and political incorrectness that only the old seem to be able to get away with. If only we could all be a little bit off our rockers...

Charity

"Charity is a virtue of the heart, and not of the hands." - Joseph Addison

"He is truly great who hath a great charity." - Thomas a Kempis

"Every charitable act is a stepping stone towards heaven." - Henry Ward Beecher

To be charitable is to give and give abundantly, even if it means exceptional personal sacrifice for the giver. The interesting thing about charity is that we all have been the recipients of someone's charity along the way, yet we can choose to be charitable or not. How can we refuse charity to those around us when we've been the recipients of charity that others have extended to us? It's hypocritical to refuse to extend charity. Everyone I know has experienced the charity of someone else who has given out of personal sacrifice so that the recipient might be better off. Charity truly is a virtue of the heart.

"Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your acts of charity have been remembered in God's sight." - Acts 10:31

...But She Has a Great Personality...

Personality matters. In fact, personality matters more than many other character attributes or physical traits. I travel all over the world, and I get to see lots of different personalities.

Yesterday I boarded a plane in Dallas. The lead flight attendant was a super cute blonde about 5'10". She was bubbly and welcoming, and I was expecting an enjoyable hour of flight time in her section.

Here's the thing, also sitting in her section were two elderly people with hearing loss and a passenger commonly referred to by the airlines as an unaccompanied minor, a six yer old girl who was traveling alone. Cute blondie got increasingly frustrated when the older couple couldn't hear her ask for their drink order, and she completely ignored the kid for the entirety of the flight. Cute blondie ended up being not so cute after all.

Personality matters. Good looks, killer talent, and other superficial stuff won't carry you forever. The essence of who you are at your core is how people will remember you. Cute blondie would have been way cuter and way cooler with the addition of a great personality.