Think Your Circus Has Had A Tough Lineup?

The next time you think your circus is not going so well, remember Tsutomu Yamaguchi. He was traveling on business to Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945. While there he experienced the dropping of the first atomic bomb. He suffered severe burns and left the next day to go home... to Nagasaki.

Yes, that is correct. On August 9 he once again experienced the horror of an atomic blast. According to Japanese officials, he is the only person certified to have survived the two bombings. You can read more about Mr. Yamaguchi here.

So, as you are experiencing some bumps in your lineup this week, don't forget others have survived much worse-and lived to tell about it.

Wisdom From A Child

It has been an interesting 2 months around our home. Our family dog had puppies in early February and due to an unfortunate illness, she died when the puppies were just days old. Consequently, our family has been bottle feeding and raising them without a mother. They are healthy, fun and bring so much joy to my children.

My older daughter made an insightful comment just last week. She said, "It's kind of frustrating with the puppies. When they are young but can't do much, you have to spend so much time on them. Then, when they are older and are so much fun, you are so far behind on everything else that you can't spend all the time with them you want to." WOW! What a profound statement about the need for us all to be the ringmasters of our circus.

If we don't take care of our high priority items now, we severely limit our ability to get the most important things done later because we are always playing "catch up." What are you putting off today that may limit your choices of how to use your time and energy tomorrow?

Still The Ringmaster At 82

The Boston Globe recently ran a story about a sweet lady whose name is Marilyn Coyne. At 82 years old her life story is remarkable. According to the Globe, she survived the Depression with little food and no heat in her parents' flat in Portland, Maine. She married and sent four kids to college. She saw her husband and one of their children die. What an incredible lady!

Three years ago she was diagnosed with breast cancer and was recently told by her doctor that she had months to live. Looking at her final moments, she had one request-she wanted to Square Dance one more time. The video is touching.

Stories like this always bring me back to center. What would I do if I found out my time was limited... the truth is, that's the truth. There are opportunities with my time today that if squandered, can never be used again for such a purpose. At a younger age one MAY get the opportunity to do that something meaningful or special-but if we are honest with ourselves, we know there are no guarantees.

Now if you will excuse me, I need to get on the dance floor like Marilyn.

Another Reason You May Be Juggling Elephants

On a calendar in a doctor's office I saw the following quote:

The root of being uptight is our unwillingness to accept life

as being different, in any way, from our expectations.

I found it quite profound because it describes so clearly another reason some of us become so overwhelmed with life-our expectations and reality are not in sync. We just feel like if we make that extra "super human" effort we will finally achieve _________________ (you fill in the blank.) Rarely do things work out that way.

Does this mean we shouldn't give our best effort and expect the best from others? Does this mean we should settle for mediocrity in our own pursuits and accept less than others? Of course not. What it does mean is that we need to allow for mistakes from ourselves and others. We need to realize that everything may not work out the way we planned-but it worked out better than if no plan at all was in place. Ultimately, what's the purpose of your circus-to have such lofty expectations of yourself and others that you always feel like a failure-or to see yourself (and others) as a work in progress?

Excellent Quote For A Monday

A loving person lives in a loving world.

A hostile person lives in a hostile world.

Everyone you meet is your mirror.

-Ken Keyes Jr.