Raasch Thoughts

Our challenges shape us. How we use the lessons taught is another story. We could let the challenges bring us down and live our life wishing things were different.

The better option is to look at those challenges and find the lessons that will help us be spectacular human beings that soar in life. I want people to understand all challenges are not an ending, but a beginning. When we embrace the challenge over come it and find the lessons we will become amazing human beings that will do incredible things for our communities.

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I saw TED Talk recently featuring Megan Phelps-Roper. It was eye opening, heart opening and honest. I shared this on my Facebook page. I found most comments to be encouraging, suggesting that we have to find a better way to understand our differences and embrace those differences to make our world better.

One individual embraced the concept and then said, "example in point, anyone who still supports trump and republicans. after everything and despite everything." I Informed her that I am a conservative and support the Republican party and quickly labeled me, accused me of hurting the poor and vulnerable in our communities.

I thought to myself, did she even watch the video? The video spoke of opening your mind to differing views and finding ways to work together. To gain a better understanding of others. More importantly to not label people as bad people just because they view things differently. Our political world is s bastion of hate and discourse. It is time to change that. It is time for all of us to find common ground and work together.

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Why does it take the words you are terminal to get people to realize how important it is to live? Why do we wait until then to decide that now I want to be myself, follow my dreams, live unconditionally. Why?

We are all going to die. We just don't know exactly when that will happen. So let each of us start living today like it was our last. I know we hear that all the time, but it is true. We need to live each day like we are on our death bed and fixing all of our "wish I would have" and "why didn't I do that" thoughts running through our head.

Each of us has a purpose and gifts. We need to trust that voice inside that tells us what we need to be doing. Start listening today. Start acting on it today. Start being you and living your life on purpose.

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This past weekend my son played his last basketball game. What is sad is that my daughter played her last high school basketball game just a couple weeks earlier. My daughter is graduating from high school and finished her high school basketball career with a great season.

My son on the other hand finished his last middle school tournament team program and has decided not to play high school basketball next year. The ended their season with a tournament championship, which is always nice.

In the fall of 2006 my daughter started playing basketball with 3 other friends. And for the next 10 years between my son and my daughter we spent numerous weekends watching them play and cheering them on as they developed their skills on the basketball court, made friends and learned how to play as a team.

And now it is over...a sad reality but it reminded me about what is really important. The memories we made. Look back at your past 10 years and reflect on all the positives that happened in your life. It will help you truly understand what is important in your life.

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This week I share stories about the impacts of focus. Focus can be very beneficial to help us achieve our goals. However, I have witnessed first hand where focus creates a loss of awareness and tunnel vision.

We have a mission as humans to achieve our goals and be successful. But don't be so focused that important needs around you are missed or forgotten. Be aware of the impact that you can and do have on those around you is extremely important too.

Balance your focus on your goals and career with your awareness to be a good steward of your family, community and others that you meet. Be helpful and aware of needs. Use your gifts and talents to help others and together we make this world a better place.

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Leukemia is a tough, tough disease. I know. I battled it and one. I wasn't an easy fight and it is one that have mentally battled for years. Although I am seemingly healthy today, albeit a little gray and heavier than I would like, but healthy. As I read through blogs on the internet, I find all these 5 steps to success, 10 ways to peel a carrot and 147 small towns you must visit before you die type articles. And as I read them, most of them are common sense. So why do we need someone to remind us of the 17 steps it takes to properly brush your teeth each day? I'm not sure.

So I thought maybe I need to come up with a list. And here it is. My 5 lessons learned from battling leukemia. I took those lessons and applied them to the business world. These lessons are common sense and they can apply to any part of your life. Listen, enjoy and share this podcast. Maybe someone out there does need a little common sense boost today.

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This week I share a couple of stories that I experienced that had such profound impacts on me as a person. Each story revealed to me how just simple acts of kindness can change how a person feels, thinks, acts or responds to events happening in their life.

Imagine if we took this approach everyday. Not only in just our personal life, but in our professional life too. Think about those great mentors in your life. What was that they did to make such an impact on you.

Are you impacting others in a positive way just like your mentors did with you? When you take the time to get to know others and help them you will bring about real significant and positive change in this world.

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What is wrong with being different? Is there strength in different thoughts, views and believes? Sometimes finding out how different you are can be a struggle or create a moment of soul searching.

This week I share my experience of truly feeling different as I battled leukemia. It wasn't years after this moment in life that I found and appreciated the message. Now I want to share that message with you.

This was a hard topic to discuss because it gets to the heart of being vulnerable and still believing in yourself even when being judged. And in this case I wasn't judged in a negative way, I was judged in a way that finally made me feel like I was sick and my hope for survival was slim.

When we find people that "different" embrace them, show them love and caring. They have something to offer this world. It is up to us to help them use their gifts to make us all better.

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Have you ever gone to work or out in public and had no clue that you got dressed in an odd manner? I went to work once with a dryer sheet hanging just a half inch or so out of the sleeve of my shirt. It wasn't until nearly an hour in to my day that some else noticed it. I pulled out the dryer sheet and just laughed. How could I miss that?

What else have you missed? Where have you either lacked focus or been so focused that you weren't present or aware of what was really going on around you? It is very tough to be aware all the time. We do need a break on occasion. However when it really matters, we must understand how to become more aware and be present in the moment.

What are some moments when you lack awareness? When your co-worker is explaining a major issue to you, but you need to get that big email out. When your child is getting your attention to talk about an issue or just wanting to play but you have so much on your mind. When you are just sitting in a crowded room of people. Are you aware of what is happening or are you just there? It is time to pay attention to what is really important in this world. And for me that is people.

Become aware, be present in the moment and don't let some else tell you that there is a dryer sheet hanging from your shirt.

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In the art of Kintsugi pottery is broken and then put together using gold lacquer to make that pottery even more beautiful than before. Although not perfect, there is beauty in it. Just like the beauty of a walk in the woods in the fall. Leaves strewn every where, branches broken and fallen, trees leaning on other trees, no order whatsoever, but beautiful in it's own right.

We all have parts of us that are not perfect, yet those are the parts that make us unique and perfect in our own right. Maybe we have trauma in our past, maybe we aren't athletic or can't sing, but we can write stories that inspire the masses. Maybe we don't understand technology, but we are a great chef. We dwell on what we can't do and what makes us not perfect, versus finding our uniqueness and exploiting that gift. Because I assure you your uniqueness and gifts are exactly what this world needs to be better.

We need you beautiful imperfections that make our families, communities and world better for the future. So embrace your imperfection and beginning making a difference.

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