Do You Have A Couple Of Minutes

My third sister, whose #5 in the line of siblings has had such a big and powerful influence on my life it is hard to choose only a couple of lessons.  So, today I have chosen to speak about Laughter and Beauty.  Sometimes you hear things just at the time you need them or just at the time you are ready to really hear them, and they stick with you.  I remember in my twenties my sister told me about the importance of joy and laughter.  And that it was important o be intentional about maintaining joy and laughter in your life.  Her choice to be sure to get in some laughter at the time, was to watch the show "I Love Lucy.'  It was a show with a lot of comedy and and at the same time it shared practical life lessons.  At the time my sister shared the importance of intentional laughter and joy with me, we both had psychology degrees, however the field of positive psychology was not yet a field of study.  So my sister may have been a bit ahead of her time!  Today, the importance and impact of positivity, abiding joyfulness, and the intention and practice of joy considered an essential part of health and well being.

Another thing my sister enjoys is the beauty of nature and people.  There is something to the intricate design of nature and the variety of colors and scents.  There is also something really special about those places that have been designed as gardens to be enjoyed.  Spending time in the beauty of creation and taking time to really enjoy it, is good for the soul.  Being present to take in the beauty can bring excitement and calm.  It can bring joy and peace.  My sister has helped me to appreciate enjoying the beauty that surrounds us in nature and in people.  She is someone that seeks to understand people, see the possibilities and to encourage others.

So today, I want to remind you to take some time to be intentional about your joy and laughter - help others to experience it when you have the opportunity.  Also, take time to enjoy the beauty that surrounds us.  Gardens are great, and so is a walk through the garden and plant section at Home Depot or Walmart.  And, there is beauty in the people around us if we make the intention and take time to seek out beauty and goodness.

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My 5th sibling is my sister who is 6 years older than me.  She is compassionate, committed, opinionated, steadfast, loving, protective, loyal, a good friend.  She took me to the first high school football game I recall.  She was also a good student athlete. I have learned a lot from my sister, and my other siblings who really paved the way for me in many ways.  Today I want to talk about the importance of correction.  When I was a child the song "Why Can't We Be Friends" was on the radio quite often and I loved to sing.  When that song came on, I would sing the chorus loudly saying "Walkesleby said."  Well, I sang it loudly until my sister one day pointed out the words were not 'Walkesleby said', but "Why Can't We Be Friends."  I was a little embarrassed to have been singing the wrong lyrics, but ultimately I was glad my sister's correction and truth allowed me to get the song right. In my early twenties, I stayed with my sister's family for a few months while getting settled into my new job and locating an apartment.  At the time my sister had two young children, and I witnessed her being gentle, caring, consistent, and objective in her correction to her children with the goal of building their skills, knowledge, understanding, and application.  My sister has always been a straight shooter with a heart and mind for things to be the best that they can be.  Correction is for our good, though it can be uncomfortable at times.  Providing correction in a way it can be heard and applied is important.  Providing correction that can be fully understood and applied is also important.

When faced with the opportunity to provide or receive correction, ask what the gain will be for the recipient, and how they might best hear it.  When receiving correction, focus on the forward momentum that the correction will provide in the long term, even if it is hard to incorporate in the short term.

#DoYouHaveACoupleOfMinutes #Inspire # Liberate #Think # Learn #Grow #Corection #Goals #WhyCantWeBeFriends #Coach #Mentor #Amplify #Encourage #SiblingLessons 

Episode 3-229: Sibling Lessons - My second eldest sister has always had a bit of an independent streak.  And as a military wife of a chaplain and minister and a parent of three who has traveled around the world that is a a characteristic that has served her well. And as anyone knows who has made it into adulthood, there are many lessons to be learned on the path of independence.  I can remember when my sister got her first apartment.  I remember getting to stay with her for the night.  My sister is 11 years older than me, and I am guessing I was about 10 or 11.  My sister had found an excellent deal on a furnished apartment.  We thought it was interesting that the prior tenant had left some library books behind the couch.  A bit later, we notice the couch, that was a bit smelly, also now seemed to be lopsided.  The books had been serving as legs for the couch.  There were other revelations that came about that apartment and my sister was not there long. And while we can laugh about it now, it was part of a learning and growth process.  Learning about rental agreements, things to look for, things to not take for granted, and that experience provided some learning.  On another memorable occasion with my sister, she challenged me to a contest to see who could change clothes that fastest.  I was probably around 8 at the time, and in my excitement to compete, I lost focus on the task as I was focused on the time and competition.  That day I learned an important lesson about maintaining focus to get a task done.  The skills of learning, using learning to grow, and  maintaining focus are important skills that can serve us well in life.  Be intentional about your personal growth, take time to think about your everyday experiences and the learning you can take from them, and take time to maintain a clear focus on your goals.  Doing so will help you to align your decisions and action with your goals. 

#DoYouHaveACoupleOfMinutes #Inspire # Liberate #Think # Learn #Grow #Correction #Goals #WhyCantWeBeFriends #Coach #Mentor #Amplify #Encourage #SiblingLessons #Focus

My second eldest sister is a genuine person.  When I was growing up she was the one you could count on to play board games, take the dogs for a walk, try something new, fun, and creative.  There is always laughter and good conversation when you spend time with my sister.  For as long as I can remember, she has  seemed to enjoy her work and has been a reliable and trustworthy employee. She always had interesting stories about people she had met.  She is also both an independent person and a person that loves people, and finds the good in people.  She treats everyone with respect and kindness.  My sister also enjoys cooking and is a great cook.  I have learned so many things from my sister, but one of the most important things is the importance of being genuine and hospitable.  My sister is generous with her means and her kindness toward others.  She has a knack for making people feel comfortable, welcome, and included.  When we help to allow people to feel included and meet them where they are, it can brighten a day, give people hope, and lead to greater opportunities of being better together.

So, next time you have the opportunity to make someone feel welcome and included, respected and appreciated, take advantage of that opportunity.  It may have a huge impact.  Too often we are in a hurry and miss our opportunities for real positive impact.  Practice hospitality.

#DoYouHaveACoupleOf Minutes #Inspiration #Think #Learn #Grow #Fulfilled #Hospitality #ShowUpOpen #Mentor #Coach #Liberate #Amplify

Episode 3-227: Sibling Lessons - My sister is a joyful person because she chooses to see the good in things.  She has taught me that it's important to enjoy the things that you have today, and to be hopeful for the future.  She also taught me about the ability to be a friend and the importance of friendship.  A few years ago we had an opportunity to surprise my sister on one of her milestone birthdays.  Many people showed up that had known my sister since her youth.  Each one had some unique story about how they met or some activities they were involved in with my sister.  The stories spoke to my sister's joyful nature and her ability to see the value in others and the value of friendship.  Even when recalling times past, or difficult situations that we pass through in life, there was gratitude for the experience and the learning and a recognition that we can have joy on our life's journey.  Joy doesn't mean that there cannot also be some sadness in reminiscing, but there is a satisfaction in knowing that life is a journey and we choose to see the good in things or the negative.  And friendships are one of life's joyful gifts that allows us to share with one another, sometimes briefly and sometimes for longer spans of time.

Choose joy for your journey and honor your friendships, they are the jewels of life.

#DoYouHaveACoupleOfMinutes #Inspire #Think # Learn #Grow #Fulfillment #Liberate #Amplify #ShowUpOpen #Coach #Mentor #Detrmination #HardWork #Encourage #Teacher #SocialWorker #PositiveImpact #PositiveChange #Joy #Friendship

Episode 3-226: Sibling Lessons - My Eldest Sister is the third of my siblings.  In high school she was a gymnast, a sport requiring focus, determination, and lots of practice continuing to get back up and try again. I also remember her working at a couple of fast food places while going to school.  I thought it was pretty cool that she worked at Orange Julius in mall.  She has also always been a faithful follower of Christ, with a heart for people.  She attended school to be a teacher and spent her career in social work and teaching, recently retiring from teaching.  As a teacher, she was often given the challenging students.  And this is because over the years she had gain a reputation of someone who was not afraid of hard, someone who was encouraging, and someone who genuinely cared for her students.  For a number of years my sister was a single parent, after the passing of her first husband.  I think both of these circumstances were things that allowed her to have even more compassion for her students and with all those with whom she interacts.

She is an encourager right where she is, helping people to overcome challenges and see possibilities. As a teacher, she helped children to do the hard work.  She is an encourager of independence, yet at the same time providing tools for success and a helping hand.  Her past students and their parents show her appreciation for the positive impact she has had on their lives.  And now she enjoys the role of grandma and lessons she can share and the encouragement she can provide.

Hard work is not something not shy away from, in fact it may be your calling for great impact. Encouraging others is an important gift we have to give that can positively change the trajectory of a life.

#DoYouHaveACoupleOfMinutes #Inspire #Think # Learn #Grow #Fulfillment #Liberate #Amplify #ShowUpOpen #Coach #Mentor #Detrmination #HardWork #Encourage #Teacher #SocialWorker #PositiveImpact #PositiveChange

My second eldest brother is also a great example of diligence, the importance of diligence and the impact of diligence.  Staying the course can be challenging and it can also be rewarding.   My brother is a person of good character and conviction.  Being a person of character and conviction rarely wins you a popularity contest, especially when it is inconvenient for others.  However, being diligent in actions and behaviors, does have positive impact over the long run.

My brother has shown me through his actions and words that intention and conviction matter.  He has also shown me that sometimes there is a price to be paid for your convictions.  And he has taught me that being diligent in learning is important to living a full life. 

It's not always easy to stick to things, but when something is worthwhile, being diligent is the price we must pay for forward progress.  

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My second oldest brother has now retired from a successful career in civil engineering.  From as early as I can remember, my second eldest brother has always been a deep thinker.  As a youngster he was accomplished in formal debating.  In addition to those things, my brother has always had a knack for looking at things a little differently than others, in addition to a person who enjoys the outdoors and exploration.

My second eldest brother always brought unique gifts.  I don't ever remember getting a simple toy from him.  I do remember getting a picture he had taken of an abandoned cabin I think he happened upon while hiking, it was affixed to a piece of wood that acted as both a surface for mounting the picture and a frame.  He took pictures from different angles, with different lighting, which allowed others to see something they may have otherwise missed.  Another time on the occasion of my birthday, I remember awakening to a present by my pillow and it was a small music box with a bird on top. I still have that music box and it is special because of who gave it to me and the thought that went into it. My brother once gave my mother a picture frame with a felt background, some moss used to make a tree and a pounded out piece of gold as the sun - at least I think those were the components!  That was one of many gifts and keepsakes my mom proudly portrayed in her China cabinet, used for keepsakes not china - well china was underneath.

My brother has always had an appreciation for nature and for taking time to really see it and enjoy it in it's uniqueness and beauty.  I've always appreciated how my brother lives out the importance of perspective.  He was OK with trusting his perspective even if it differed from others. He is also a good example of  the importance of experience influencing changes in perspective.  Finally, his life demonstrates how sharing our unique perspectives can have great impact.  Take time to see things, anew, to see the nuances of things, situations. of people and personalities - it's important.

Yesterday I shared one lesson learned from my oldest brother and today I'd like to share another about him.  I think I was in about the first grade on this occasion occasion.  I recall it was mid-afternoon just after school.  It must have been early in the school year, if not the first day of school.  Anyway, I had come home very excited and was looking forward to talking with my eldest brother.  At this point he was college age and if he wasn't working, going to school, or taking care of some other obligations, he was usually in his room tinkering with electronics.  He had an electric soldering tool and would work on what seemed to be radios or other electronics.  I had many a warning about that tool being off limits and dangerous. His tinkering and interest paid off as he has had a long career as an accomplished electrical engineer.  While he was working on his electronics he would let me watch and we would talk.

This day, I burst into the house shouting my brother's name, and there was no answer.  I went in his room and he was not there.  And then my mom gently reminded me that he had gone off to college.  For those few moments, I had forgotten.  And in that instance, the change hit me, and there was this bit of loss and sadness that I was not able to share with him what I intended.  That day, I learned a little bit about the impact of change, about needing to move on, and about things moving on in the midst of change.  Change is a necessary part of life.  Things are always changing, never exactly the same, and we can progress and grow through change.  As I have grown older, I have been grateful for the beauty of the relationship I had with my brother as a child and for the opportunity to use my experiences to support growth and change.  And with my parents and five other siblings, there were still plenty of people for this little sister to engage with at home! 

#DoYouHaveA CoupleOfMinutes #Think #Learn #Grow #Inspired #ShowUpOpen #SiblingLessons #Change #Loss #Progress #Growth #Mentoe #BigBrother #OldestBrother #RoundTuit #StopProcrastinating

My eldest brother is a very talented, smart, funny, and personable guy.  He's 15 years older than me, so as a child I kind of hung on what he had to say and really looked up to him.  I recall he always made feel equal, even though I was so much younger than him.  On birthdays he always sent two birthday cards, one was funny and one was more sentimental.

On Sundays, my brother was responsible for leading some youth programs at the church we attended and he had a knack for teaching lessons in a way that was very understandable and applicable.  One day, he gave out round buttons to all the children with the letters T, U, I, T on the button.  It was the kind of button you could pin to your shirt.  It was  the "Round Tuit" button!  I remember him sharing a lesson about procrastinating and putting things off, saying that we would do it when we got around to it.  He told everyone that today they now had a round tuit so they could no longer use that excuse.  I just loved that lesson..

It was a great lesson about excuses, and taking action.  It's up to us to get around to it.  It's up to us to decide to take action.  One thing is for sure, from that day forward, the phrase about getting around to it was gone from my vocabulary, because I had been given a Round Tuit button!  Today, I want to give all of you a virtual round tuit button.  Whatever you've been waiting on to get something done, the wait is over.  Take steps to move forward, your getting around to it time has come!