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I
won't keep you long. I know this Thanksgiving week you are in a
hurry to relax. Me too. But before you go, I hope you will stop
- just long enough to share a friendly reminder. We all need reminders.
And this one will help you make the most of your time off
and, perhaps, even the moments before and after.
The
only way to find peace and contentment in life is to find peace
and contentment in the process of living. That process is often
messy, frantic, demanding, surprising, and (at times) downright
maddening. If we wish to have any sense of peace in our lives,
then it is imperitive we find stillness in the chaos.
Capturing
Stillness
Why
is stillness so elusive and rare? What can we do to capture meaningful
moments more readily? It's simple. We must be still. Stop. Pause.
Do nothing. When we muster sufficient courage to cease doing something,
our awareness of everything increases.
"You
must learn to be still in the midst of activity and to be vibrantly
alive in repose."
Indira
Gandhi
Time
for Action
1.
Find peace and contentment in the process of living. Even if life
seems crazy, try to see it as exactly right.
2.
Stop moving long enough to experience something wonderful. Stop
your body. Stop your mind. Simply observe the wonder around you.
3.
Give thanks this week for what you have, not what you hope to have.
I
know you are entirely capable of counting your own blessings. But
allow me the privilege of helping you get started. Be thankful for:
Your
family, your senses, your mind, your mobility, your education, your
faith, your country, and your very life. You are alive! That one
fact means you have an all-access admission ticket to the greatest
show on Earth. As my dear friend the sage and songwriter Eddie
Coker says, "You are special just because you're here."
Sheilia,
Eddie, Maggie, and I are starting a drive today to Paris, TX to
visit Sheilia's parents. On Thursday, after our Thanksgiving meal,
I will make a mad dash to the Dallas airport, fly back to Atlanta,
and deliver a Friday speech for 2,000 attendees of the National
4-H Congress. Friday night, immediately after the program, I'll
take the last flight back to Dallas and make a midnight drive back
to Paris. You see, we are celebrating my in-laws' 50th wedding anniversary
on Saturday with 40 friends and relatives. By the way, this party
will be a full scale Renaissance Feast complete with costumes, games,
and entertainment.
Life
is full ... and wonderful. And, even in the moments of chaos, stillness
is ours for the taking. But we need to stop, look, and listen.
Wishing
you stillness in action,
Dan
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