I hope.

From time to time in the years to come, I hope you will be treated unfairly, so that you will come to know the value of justice. I hope that you will suffer betrayal because that will teach you the importance of loyalty. Sorry to say, but I hope you will be lonely from time to time so that you don’t take friends for granted. I wish you bad luck, again, from time to time so that you will be conscious of the role of chance in life and understand that your success is not completely deserved and that the failure of others is not completely deserved either. And when you lose, as you will from time to time, I hope every now and then, your opponent will gloat over your failure. It is a way for you to understand the importance of sportsmanship. I hope you’ll be ignored so you know the importance of listening to others, and I hope you will have just enough pain to learn compassion. Whether I wish these things or not, they’re going to happen. And whether you benefit from them or not will depend upon your ability to see the message in your misfortunes.

Paraphrased from a speech by Chief Justice John Roberts

And then some

"When we have done our best, we can await the results in peace."
~Unknown

I don't know who said this, but I do know that they were right on target. Let’s look at goals for example. We set goals for many aspects of our lives. It keeps us focused on improvement and the important parts of our lives. Small goals or big goals. Personal, career, spiritual, family, or health.

We set our goals with unbridled enthusiasm. Some we meet, some we do not. There is a great feeling of peace when I know in my heart that what I have given to accomplish my goals is my best. Win or lose, sometimes it does not matter because we become even more prepared for life.

Committing to excellence is not an act, it's an attitude. It's an attitude that is captured in this short thought titled:                  And Then Some.

"And then some...
These three little words are the secret to success.
They are the difference between average people and top
people in most companies.
The top people always do what is expected...
and then some.
They are thoughtful of others; they are considerate
and kind...and then some.
They meet their responsibilities fairly and squarely...
and then some.
They are good friends and helpful neighbors...
and then some.
They can be counted on in an emergency...
and then some.
I am thankful for people like this, for they make
The world a better place. Their spirit of service is
summed up in these three little words...
And then some."

If we carry the attitude of "And Then Some"...throughout our life when our time on earth is almost gone, we will wait for the results in peace.

Slow down sometimes.

I’ve come to realize, more and more, that I’m always rushing.

I rush from one task to the next, rush through eating my food, impatient for meditation to be over, rushing through reading something, rushing to get somewhere, anxious to get a task or project finished.

I think it is not just me it is our society.

We see signs of it everywhere.

Parking at the entrance to the store, it saves you ten seconds. A car races around you, saves ten more seconds only to have you pull up next to them at the stoplight. Walk past all the cashiers for the shortest line only to come back to the first one. Save, save, save. Is it greed? Our time is more valuable than anyone else.

Simon and Garfunkel said it best, “Slow down your moving to fast, you have to make the morning last you.”

At the end of the day, how much time did we really save, and what do we do with all those extra seconds.

Smile, slow down sometimes. It is ok to take your time and just enjoy life.

Thankful musings

I am thankful for...

the mess and noise in my house this week because it means I have been surrounded by grand kids.

the taxes I pay because it means I live in the greatest country in the world.

a lawn that needs mowing, because it means I have a home.

singing in the shower because I can.

every one who says hi in the morning on the trail because it means I am walking.

all of the complaining I hear about Trump because it means we have freedom of speech.

My wife singing off key in the car because it makes me smile.

Sunday dinner with my family because it means we love each other.

the alarm that goes off in the early hours of the morning because it means I get to drink coffee and read the newspaper.

Seeing blue skies in the morning because it means I can see.

weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means I have been productive.

Thunder  because it means I can hear.

Listening to music because it changes your perspective.

I am just thankful.