Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Repaying Gratitude

One can never pay in gratitude;
one can only pay "in kind" somewhere else in life.”
~ Anne Morrow ~

Shortly after reading this quote it was made clearer in my life by two separate incidents, and two different friends.

I needed some assistance in solving an important problem. I had run out of ideas, and it was more than I could handle by myself. I asked several people for assistance, with different replies and reasons why they could not help. At the 11th hour, I was blessed when someone I least expected stepped out of her own comfort zone to help me. It wasn’t a simple solution either. We met several obstacles, and she never gave up. She was committed to help until the problem was solved. I am deeply grateful to my friend for making my day end better than it started and I consciously look for ways I can repay this kindness to her. However, because I was feeling so much Gratitude for her kindness and friendship, a situation a few days later allowed me to pay it forward.

One morning after my meditation, another friend popped into my mind. We had recently emailed each other a few times about getting together soon and catching up. The urge to contact her immediately was very strong, so instead of emailing her, I called. She answered the phone with, “I sure needed to hear your voice right now.” Her car had broken down the day before at a location almost 100 miles away from home. She had spent the entire morning making efforts to find a way to get her car towed to its mechanic. The possibilities she could come up with, were costly, so she was concerned about how she would pay for getting her car moved on top of the mechanics charges to fix the car. She had even placed a call to her ex-husband, who took the opportunity to criticize her, which only added to her feelings of helplessness and frustration. She had just finished crying when her phone rang and my name appeared on the caller ID. She told me her dilemma, and my first response was to offer her the use of my Auto Club Card. As I had extended the mile towing service included on my membership, her car could be towed for free. All she had to do was call my Auto Club Card and set up the appointment to meet them at her car and have it towed to her mechanic. When we met for lunch so I could give her my Auto Club Card, I told her about what happened the day before, and I thanked her for the opportunity to pay it forward.

Sometimes we find ourselves in need of assistance and at other times in the place where we can give it. Sometimes paying it forward can be done anonymously.

Think about a time in your life when you needed assistance or support through a difficult time or event.

Take a few minutes to write a list of a few of those.

Then look at each one again, and see if you can find the connections where you were given the opportunity to pay it forward.

And then write how it made you feel, both receiving and giving.

Excerpt from The "G: Spot, the ecstasy of Gratitude
ISBN #978-0981523859
All rights reserved, Self Investment Publishing

Sunday, June 19, 2011

What Makes A Dad

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it ... "DAD!"

...Author Unverified

Happy Fathers Day

Friday, June 10, 2011

Learning Success - your personal style

Are you aware that we all have a different learning style. Some children and adults learn certain things faster and different. Some of us like visuals, like text and images; and others respond to hearing it over and again. some of us learn better when learning feels like play and others like to hunker down and stay focused for long periods of time. You could be someone who learns best when you're left alone to your owns schedule alone and others respond better when they are in organized teams.

Attempting to force everyone to learn the exact same way can actually be harmful to our learning process and maybe our self esteem.

Most of us have childhood memories of school. Some can recall great teachers who inspired them to learn and grow. Other adults can remember times as a child in school, when they just "couldn't get it", or worse, when they were punished for learning too easy.

I was one of the "learning too easily" kids who looked forward to school. For a few years anyway. I was constantly reading and wanting to know the answers. And then I would be excited when I knew I had learned it and I wanted to share my knowledge and assistance with anyone who would listen. Unfortunately I do have memories of elementary school where I felt like Hermoine in Harry Potter. I would get excited and raise my hand, but then be told to put it down and wait for the other kids to learn. It seemed they were getting the attention for not learning and I was being punished. My excitement for learning waned. Fortunately in middle school, someone noticed my quick learning and place me in advanced learning classes where I could again be challenged and stimulated to learn.

Today, we are more aware of the differences in our personalities, motivations and learning styles. How we are taught as children can effect us into adulthood.

For years I have advocated for self investment rather than self-improvement. When we focus on improving ourselves, we are condemning ourselves for where we are, instead of seeing that our behaviors are separate from who we are. We are doing the best we can with what we know, and what we have to work with - at that time. With different tools, training, experiences and mentors we may learn now ways of thinking and behaving. We may then make different choices that will then provide us with different results. Our thinking is changing, our actions are changing, and therefore our results must change.

I like sharing introductions to people who assist us in investing in ourselves.

This week, I met wonderful woman who saw the need to assist our children and us as adults in our learning so we can create the results we desire, whether learning the answers in school or achieving our goals. I'd like to introduce you to Mariaemma Pelullo-Willis. She developed a powerful solution to our learning profiles and started Learning Success Institute. She offers tools for students that help them learn through their personal learning style, plus tools for teachers and parents. And for those of us who are now adults and need the re-learning she offers workshops and consultations.


AUTHOR:
As a Solutions Consultant, Sumner Davenport works in harmony with her clients to assist them in discovering solutions, not just answers to achieve their goals.

She reminds people that Your "Self " is not what has happened to you and not who other people judge your "Self " to be, and your "Self " worth is not based on other persons' acceptance.

As a best selling author, Sumner is sought after as a speaker and is quoted often. One of her quotes was voted to be included in the Top 10 Healthy Thoughts of 2007. Her greatest passion is seeing people live the life of their dreams while assisting others to do the same.