Action Mail Newsletter - Volume 15

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

Dan Thurmon is the President of Motivation Works, Inc, the author of Success in Action, and a nationally recognized professional speaker. He delivers "Speaking with Visual Impact" and helps individuals to transcend the ordinary, find balance and achieve breakthroughs in all areas of life. To learn more about Dan's programs, products, or services, visit his website at www.danthurmon.com.

Motivation Works, Inc.
2134 North Road Snellville, GA 30078 Tel: 770.982.2664 - Fax: 770.982.2665