About four years ago, when our website was called "highlowaha" I miscalculated the date of our first post and inadvertantly added an extra day. From my happy mistake was coined the phrase "Spirit of 218" (Snow, H. 2009).
For years we assigned the phrase "Spirit of 218" to people who made time for life's simple pleasures or who unwittingly turned ordinary moments into memorable occasions.
The Spirit of 218 became our mantra for busy parents struggling to slow down and to live in the moment,
for supervisors intent on managing the frentic pace and making the workplace pleasant and enjoyable,
and for friends, neighbors, or service providers who learned how to stop rushing and to make time for moments that most of us are convinced we don't have time for.
It was a phrase symbolizing how we would spend our time should we be lucky enough to discover an extra day. Twenty-four hours gifted to us from out of nowhere.
Today, Leap Day, seems like a good time to revisit an idea that seems so full of Shine.
It is only every four years that February 29 rolls around. So what will you do with your extra day? Treat it like every other or squeeze in time to embody some of the Spirit of 218?
Visit us in the comment section and share.
Shining off until...
A week away at Leadershape with 60 motivated college students, serves as a nice reminder of what it means to Shine.
Maybe we can assess our own Shine Quotients by looking at a few of the qualities that make York University's students so impressive. These students were:
Daring enough to sign up for a week-long program, with as many questions about what to expect as there were certainties.
Hopeful enough to have a vision, not only for their own futures but for the future of the world we live in.
Willing enough to share themselves, even when what we were asking for was the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Tursting enough to make themselves vulnerable and with no guarantee that others would reciprocate.
Open enough to welcome 59 other people into their circle of friends - people they would otherwise never know.
Curious enough to ask thoughtful questions.
Confident enough to face bindspots.
Relaxed enough to have fun.
Generous enough to share compliments, affirmations, and a healthy dose of support.
Committed enough to be present and to disconnect from technology.
Courageous enough to confront personal incongruencies between one's walk and talk.
Hardworking enough to start each day at 8:00 a.m. and to end each evening at 11:00 (or later)
and,
Caring enough to teach me a thing or two.
Not a shabby list of attributes and plenty of reason to feel good about this next generation of leadership.
Shining off until...
Below are messy, unrefined, and unplugged reflections from the last two pages of last year's journal:
No bells and no whistles: It feels good to be moving into year five with no bells and no whistles, no ceremonies, no flashing lights. The unassuming continuation is quiet recognition that this is where I am supposed to be. I am at peace.
What you focus on will expand. My ability to flex that muscle and to see shine wherever I go is directly impacted by how often I use it. I like myself more when I am writing.
Ruts. Hang onto something for the wrong reason and it begins to get in the way of your authentic self. Letting go of the daily post was hard. Not writing daily was harder than writing every day. It felt like defeat. But, in the end, letting go has allowed me to Shine in other ways.
Being present. Because I am not lugging my computer to Leadershape and on family vacations, I am more physically and emotionally available. There is a delicate balance between being disciplined and being present.
Disappointments. Even the hurt that comes with the greatest disappointments will pass.
Life's Purpose. You know you are getting warm when you care so much it hurts, but the idea of walking away hurts even more.
Reflection. Walks and quiet time has been critical to my feeling like I have anything important to say.
Leadership. There is a difference between having people follow because they are inspired and inspiring people to take action. The latter is far harder.
Ideas. There is no shortage of good ideas - just the time, talent, and compulsion to see them through to the end.
Gratitude. Deciding to walk through life with the philosophy of Shine has made all the difference. My heart feels full because I get to carry this message.
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