Category Archives: Personal

Take Ten

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I don’t travel long or far without a book to read in my car, bag or purse.  It may be a novel I’m reading for fun, a how-to book on writing or editing techniques or a business trend book.  Many times I have a variety of all three going at once.  Having these books handy means that if stuck in traffic I can get a page read, or by chance I’m early for an appointment, a chapter could be consumed, or if I’m at ball practice watching Cole, I might get a little reading done.  These opportunities give me minutes that I use to take in a story or information.  Why then, didn’t I mention the Bible?

Before we state the obvious, think of the books of the Bible in terms of the stories they tell.  Family histories, trials, triumphs, love, drama and a happy ending – the same kinds of stories we pull off the shelves in the fiction section.  The Bible provides the “how to” and “self-help” for any situation or season of life.  And yet, it’s not in our quick read pile.

Why not pick up the inspired word of God for a verse, chapter or book?   The Bible comes in all shapes and sizes.  It can be taken anywhere.  Yet, we leave by the bed, on a shelf or in the car only to carry into church on Sunday morning.

The one, five or ten minutes in traffic or waiting on others when we pull out our other reading materials, we could use to connect with God’s word and the people He used to teach us.  I certainly am not saying to exclude a good fiction or informational book from your reading.  I’m encouraging you to keep the Bible in your regular reading pile.  Treat it like the life handbook and great literature that it is.

Let me know how it goes.

All the best,
KK

Step outside your own perspective –

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From inside my house looking out I can see snow, lots and lots of snow.  Looking to our front yard I can’t see the landscaping wall.  It’s all blended in with nearly seven inches of snow.  The street and sidewalks are covered.  Looking out our window, it’s obvious that there is too much snow to go anywhere.  But I did.

I drove two blocks down to the main entrance of our neighborhood and the site was much different.  The road at the end of our street was clear.  It has a few wet spots, but for the most part is it was dry and easily passable.

Sometimes our perspective on things keeps us stuck where we are.  If I judged whether or not to go out based on what my yard and what the neighborhood looked like, I would be at home for the next month.  But a trusted source told me it was ok to venture out, in fact, once at the end of my street, things were better than they were in front of my house.  I would never had known or experienced the difference had I not left my driveway.

Have you limited your options because of your perspective?  Have you not trusted someone to help you pull out of your comfort zone to something better?

We have all done it – in our jobs, in our relationships (or fear of relationships), in our life experiences.  We have stayed inside our safe, warm homes thinking there was snow and ice everywhere, and not trusted those who have gone before us.

Sometimes at work if I’m trying to work out a problem or detail on a project I will sit on the other side of my desk in the visitor’s chair.  Changing my point of view, changing my perspective many times brings new ideas or fresh answers.

Be encouraged today to step out and explore a little, change your scenery and you might change your mind and heart about some things.  Let me know how it goes.

All the best,

KK

Things not to miss – be in the moment

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In our hurried schedules and rushing lifestyle, what are we missing?  One of the life lessons that has come to me recently is “being in the moment.”  Short of an emergency, I have the time to slow down when the opportunity presents itself to experience, truly experience something wonderful in a given moment.  There are times when multitasking is good and necessary.  For those other times let me encourage you to take a deep breath and look around.  Are you missing something?  Are you sacrificing the experience of life on the altar of productivity?

Recently I was hustling around running errands trying to squeeze in the opportunity to drop off dry cleaning into a packed schedule when a family of geese decided to cross the street.  They took their time with no regard for the long line of cars filled with professionals headed to the nearby office buildings.  It struck me that they really didn’t care about my schedule or any of the others.  The young geese have fluffy down coats and followed mom.  Her only concern was the safety of the young. 

As I slowed down to a stop and watch, a smile came to me.  The simplicity of their lives, the peacefulness of their way – reminded me to pay attention and take in the moment.

Yesterday on my way to work I saw a couple riding a bicycle built for two.  It was totally out of place crossing traffic at rush hour.  The site rattled my thoughts away from my “to do” list and onto something refreshing.

What have you seen lately that makes you stop and think?  Let me encourage you to not to miss what is going around you.  Is there something that is extra-ordinary, that gives you a smile or breaks your mundane thoughts and stresses of life?

All the best,
KK

Just go ahead and embrace it…

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Someone once said that there are only two things you can count on:  death and taxes.  Well, I am here to tell you that there is one thing grossly missing from this list – change.  The last two years have more than proven to me that death and taxes happen far less than change.

As one of those individuals who loves a good checklist, and never lets the first week of January end before my goals are written, change didn’t come smoothly.  Changes in our lives can be good but even good can be stressful.

Don’t get me wrong, I am all about personal growth and improving ourselves.  But sometimes external forces bring us situations that cause change in our path, attitude or situation – all of which can be embraced and really used as a life learning opportunity.  Easier said than done, but let me encourage you to take a look at where you are in life and consider what the last five years have brought. 

Did life happen and did you struggle through?   Having done this little exercise, I can tell you that I made some mistakes, and a lot of things changed in my world that weren’t on any list or in any of my goals.  I’ve learned more about myself and what I want in this world and my purpose in this world.

What better way to embrace change than to take advantage of the opportunity to check ourselves and ride the wave of change.  Fighting it may get you caught in the undertow.  If that happens, just stand up, the water may not be that deep.

Think about it.

 All the best,
KK

Can we COEXIST?

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Recently I have noticed a bumper sticker with the word COEXIST on it written in symbolic letters representing different genders, religions and beliefs.  The first couple of times I saw it, I tried to figure out the symbols, but then I saw it on three more cars in the same day.  This made me think.  Is it possible to truly coexist?  It is my hope that those who know me see that I try to live my faith and beliefs.  But what if my faith and beliefs disagree with yours?  Can we work together or be friends?  Can we respect one another and our differences?  The answer is yes.

 I will not compromise to be your friend, but I’m mature enough to agree to disagree.  Actually, I will respect you if you live your beliefs even if I disagree with you.  At least you are being consistent and true to yourself.

I might share with you my beliefs and invite you to make them yours, but don’t take them unless you are really going to live them.  Be yourself don’t lose your self trying to be my friend or anything special to someone else.

There are people very close to me who disagree with my political views.  Over the last several months of election and change of administration, we have had several conversations about politics and the priorities of each party.  We bantered back and forth several times making various points that made the other think a little, but neither changed sides.

Coexisting with different beliefs spiritually or politically is one thing among friends or co-workers, but it’s a whole other issue when it’s a dating relationship.  I do believe that a couple needs to have similar spiritual beliefs to make a relationship work.  Relationships are hard.  Marriage is a blast, but has its challenging moments.  In those times – those seasons – that aren’t all chocolates, roses and googly eyes, you have to have a belief system that follows the same guides.  Otherwise, when it comes time to figure it out, one of you is going to come at the problem from one side and the other from a whole other direction.  If your convictions are weak, you may cave in.  When you do that, you are losing part of your self.

My encouragement to you is to respect others and accept them where they are.  But don’t get sucked into believing something you have no good reason to believe.  Do your own research and choose your beliefs wisely – be it moral, spiritual or political beliefs.

All the best,
KK

What goals and resolutions?

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Approximately 60 days ago you started January with new hopes and the typical new years feeling of a new beginning.  You wrote goals and resolved to do things or change some bad habits.  So, how’s that working for you?

 

If you are like 90% of Americans the resolutions and goals have gone by the wayside.  After a few weeks or a month, something happens to throw you out of focus of that goal.

 

There is a story of a farmer who teaches his son to plow the field to prepare for planting. He explained to the boy to keep his eyes straight, to choose a spot on the fence on the other end and drive toward that spot.  The farmer warned that if his son looked back that the row would have a wave in it and that would mess up the planting.  It’s simple, just stay focused and you will accomplish the goal.

 

If only it was that simple.  We start off with reasonable goals, and time, but then something happens; life happens and we get distracted and lose our rhythm.  Or we start seeing our success in an area and we look back and we lose focus.

 

Have you lost focus?  Let me encourage you today that as we look forward to the new beginning spring bring, to refresh your dedication to that which you want to accomplish in 2009.  It’s not too late, it’s never too late.

 

Let me know how it goes.

 

All the best,

KK