Category: Inspiration
I was traveling not that long ago and stopped in the airport for a cup of coffee at a placed called Caribou Coffee. I couldn't help but notice the distinctive cups and immediately believed that this company must know a little something about Shining.
The cup - number three in a series of seven - read, "Life is Short, Stay Awake. What do you stay awake for? (We asked, you answered and the best made the cup)"
Here were some of the answers:
Do nothing days * the symphony of crickets * Chines food and Kung Fu movies * The grande finale of the the fireworks show * My son taking his first steps at my grandmother's 90th * That evening trip to the gym to bulk up the guns * Fresh Pow Pow in the Colorado Rockies * Eating tomatoes right from the garden * Chocolate Fondue * The all-night monster movie marathon * the hint of summer at the end of March * Scrabooking * The pursuit of my hole in one * The giggly girls whispering in their bedroom * Stepping foot on all 7 continents * Dancing to the beats that move my feets * Mulligans * To zig when others zag * Yoga
I couldn't help but wonder how I might answer that same question, "What do I stay awake for?"
The crunch of fall leaves * Book time with my boys * Writing tomorrow's post * Checking my mailbox * Talking to my mom on the phone * The thrill of cleaning off my desk * Sharpie markers * Sending packages * The hope of reconnecting with long-lost friends * The chance to wear my cool red cowboy boots * walks in Parr Park * lazy weekend mornings * entries in my journal * tomorrow's cup of coffee
How about you? Visit us in the Comment Section and tell us something you stay awake for...
Shining off until...
You have heard me use the phrase before: "More than fill your present space." I heard it long ago, but the idea has stuck with me, perhaps because it perfectly embodies the spirit of Shine.
More than filling your present space can be applied to virtually any situation - big or small. At work you can more than fill your present space by taking initiative to develop new systems or by solving problems that the organization didn't know it had. At home, more than filling your present space might mean making the entire kitchen spotless instead of just loading the dish washer. And, on your block, more than filling your present space might mean not just politely waving at your neighbor as you pass to and from work. It might mean hand delivering half of your freshly baked chocolate chip cookies or hosting a holiday gathering at your home.
When someone more than fills their present space it is almost immediately obvious to everyone around them.
Yesterday I went to lunch with Kim, an old friend, along with two other women she knows. The three of us had never met, but Kim brought us together because she thought we would enjoy each other's company. One of those women more than filled her present space and it changed the entire tone of our lunch.
She brought something with her - an interesting book that immediately created common ground and sparked interesting conversation among the four of us.
Time flew while we spent our lunch hour engrossed in conversation - the same way old friends immediately connect when they are reunited.
The rest of us did what most people do - show up believing that just keeping the commitment and being on time is sufficient enough.
And it is.
Unless you want to Shine. Then you do what this woman did - come prepared with a fun tool that facilitated our getting to know one another.
By more than filling her present space, this woman very obviously turned our simple lunch into a memorable occasion.
A small example of how simple it is to Shine. So how about you? What do you have on your docket today and how might you more than fill your present space?
Shining off until...
Indulge me while I draw out, just a little bit further, an analogy that I made last week.
I reminded you of a beautiful pink Crepe Myrtle tree at a park in my neighborhood and the way that Crepe Myrtle brought out the Shine in everything around it. It made the green grass greener, the blue sky bluer, and the white soccer goal whiter.
I likened that tree to people who Shine; people who bring out the best in others by recognizing, utilizing, and celebrating the talent of those around them.
Then I shared a picture of that same Crepe Myrtle one year later, after having weathered the worst drought Texas has seen in 44 years.
And I used the stark contrast as a sober reminder - a reminder of how hard it is to Shine when you are not getting what you need to be healthy and strong.
On Monday I passed by the tree again and, again, it made me think.
Except this time when I passed the Crepe Myrtle there was a maintenance truck from Grapevine Parks and Recreation next to it. Attached to the back of the truck was very, very large water tank and a generator. The Park's employee was driving through the park watering trees, one by one.
He was helping the Crepe Myrtle get what she needed at a time when she could not help herself.
Again, that Crepe Myrtle delivered a powerful message...
Sometimes the only way to Shine is to accept help when you need it.
Shining off until...