Celebrate moments / The human condition

Celebrate life and share. Today is the birthday of my best friend. He is no longer able to celebrate in person - because he has moved on. However, that doesn't keep me from celebrating for and with him. Although, I had started typing this blog at 11:41 pm, at 11:53 pm I took a break to submerse myself, literally, in the creek 200 feet away. At minight, in the beginning of January one doesn't usually find many people in the creek. As I looked up into the stars, from the cold water, I felt connected and at peace. I celebrated a moment for my friend and was very alive at that moment and the feeling stills lingers.

As I had started to say earlier, I am most fulfilled when helping to nuture, support and lift others. Curiously, I am noticing more public awareness, groups and organizations that are developing and declaring they want to help others as well. Maybe there is a threshold that is starting to be reached by our more global society to face our self-centered cultures and begin to reflect on the larger mankind. Recently, I have had both local and long distance clients bring up subjects of social consciousness and the greater good.

The clincher was an email I just received responding to a business question I had. Then another email, from the same sender, immediately followed that included a slide presentation. He explained that this presentation had been done for his friends this Christmas season. His touching and poignant presentation depicted human nature, the human spirit and the need we all have for compassion, introspection and the divine. People with messages like this need to stay in the gene pool to ensure that the voices of reason, decency and goodness in the human spirit are shared and spread. When we find some thing that was created through loving effort, for the benefit of others, we should say thanks and then consider how we can do the same.

Do it yourself

I have a purchased a rental property. My intent was to have someone quickly and affordably take care of some minor problems so that I could get it rented. You should know that I don't have deep pockets and thus, I am working on a budget as well. I cannot afford to pay the going rates of quality remodelers in this area. What happened is I used a local handyman to help me with some demo work and everything seemed fine. A few weeks later I had him return for the opposite of destruction - it's called construction (just in case you're reading this). I needed to have vinyl flooring installed in two small bathrooms.

He showed up late on the first day. After being there for about half an hour he answered his phone and said that he had to go but would be back in a couple of hours. Four hours later he re-appeared. He measured and cut a piece of luan as a smooth surface to adhere the vinyl to. He miscut and tried to force in his template into the small bathroom and it broke into many pieces. His second attempt was not a pretty sight either - it looked like the aftermath of a Lizzy Borden encounter. He said that he would come by the next morning at 10:00am to fix things up and finish the project. He never showed and never called.

What was I going to do? I decided to the job myself. I measured each measurement three times before I started cutting with the saw. Guess what? - It worked! It looks like a quality job. It's the type of job I would like to have someone do for me.

I learned something: Sometimes in order to get something done the way you want it done - you might just have to do it yourself.

Being truthful with friends

It's a well known idea called the truth. However, sharing the truth, in the form of constructive criticism, with good friends still isn't easy - especially if they are older and don't think they need someone younger and less experienced telling them how to do something. Although truth is always the best route - it certainly doesn't always seem the easiest.

Today, I met up with an older friend who I felt I needed to share some advice with. Because of my delicate presentation, I believe that I was able to introduce constructive criticism that ended in a genuine and positive discussion. Although my friend did agree that the behavior I was questioning could be questioned he explained his reasons for this behavior. Although, I could have seen these explanations as a rationalization, I remained open and was able to appreciate his reasoning.

There certainly was a chance of offending my friend. However, the fact that I called him on this issue, let him know that I had noticed, forced him to be accountable for his actions. I am glad I did. One might think it would have been easier to say nothing. However, I realized that if I had something that I felt was imporatant to say - and did not, because of a possible confrontation and resulting hard feelings, then I wouldn't really have been open and honest. And what kind of real friendship is that. (You shouldn't start a sentence with and - by the way.)

So today's lesson is - if you have something to say, and you say it from a position of caring and truly positive intention, then you are being true to your friend and more importantly to yourself. Now that sounds like real friendship.

Coincidences? Probably Not

This morning started with an unexpected (for me) visit from an acquaintance that really ought to be a good friend. He is one half of the one of the finest couples I have ever known. He is highly educated and has made a conscious choice to pursue his family, travel, knowledge and personal connections over the pursuit of money. How is this working out for him? Very well.

This evening, after working out and having dinner, I stopped by the Barnes and Noble and saw "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" lying on a display table. I began reading it while enjoying some Tazo brambleberry tea. (No, I am not getting compensated for that product placement) As I began to read, lights were turning on in my head. Why hadn't anyone, specifically my parents, told me about these concepts? Well, that would be because no one had taught them either.

The connection between the morning's visitor and the book is that both brought me some knowledge that I was silently requesting just a day ago. These events were a specific response to a non-verbal, internal request I had made for some new ideas and guidance the day before. I will definitely read the rest of the book now. I recognize that some would attribute this coincidence to the law of attraction while those with a religious background would attribute this as one of the gifts described in the teachings of Abraham.

I am not going to say exactly what it was that I was requesting. What I will say is that maybe you should consider trying new ways of doing and seeing things - if you are looking for new and positive changes in the coming year. Keep you faith grounded, but your mind open. There isn't much that is going to be able to present itself and be appreciated to a closed mind.

January 2 - To do List and Listening

Today, as the first official business day of the year began, there was a long list of things to do. Although many things on the list did not get done, many things that never made the list did get done. There was a lot of energy at the starting gate. Still, it's an ambiguous start, I'll admit. Deep introspection to analyse that will not be necessary.

Friends and family are checking in. They have their own resolutions that also include keeping in touch with the ones they care most about. A good friend, that I hadn't spoken to a long time called. Rather than multi-task for efficiency, I put my pen down, kept the phone to my ear, leaned back in my chair, pushed away from the computer at the desk, and let myself be there completely for the conversation. Can I afford to do that all the time? With the ones we care about - shouldn't I? Truly, if I don't listen, who will?

We wonder why it seems people aren't listening to us. Maybe that's because we're not fully listening to them either. If you can't afford to really listen 100%, because of simultaneous demands, and time contraints, just acknowledging you registered the message may genuinely be enough - if it's not an issue that needs your continued attention at that point. However, if it is about making a meaningful connection, do the right thing and drop your distractions long enough to fully hear what's being said. Later, they will remember that you listened, participated and shared. Isn't that what it's really all about anyway?

Since no actual New Year's resolutions were made here - none can offically be broken. Having said that, there are still some good intentions that I will try to nurture and foster. One of these is to write daily. The results may not appear on this site directly, but the process may provide some positive effects. This, only time will tell. As an encouragement to the rest of you - stick to your resolutions, tough it out, and you will be rewarded. Remember - run the good race.

January 1, 2007. New Beginnings.

New Year's day, more than any other it seems, offers each of us a clean slate - a chance to begin anew. It's seems a magical day where the possibility of making our dreams, desires, intents, hopes and wishes, come true actually tangibly exists for us.

The truth of the matter though is that any day you choose can be your New Year’s Day. The adage that “Today is the first day of the rest of your life” is as true now as the day it was first uttered.

Take stock of your life, realize that you are an amazing being and set high expectations for yourself. Apply some discipline, some imagination and a consistent positive attitude of real expectation for your aspirations and you will bring your dreams alive. It's the law of attraction - what you give your energy to you will attract. Just remember:

* Believe and trust in yourself
* You can’t win if you’re not in the race.
* Luck favors the prepared.
* Failure to plan is planning to fail.
* Set your goals high. Even if you only get halfway there, you’ll have made an amazing difference.
* Don’t listen to neigh-sayers.
* Don’t forget to enjoy the journey on the way to your destination.
* Be thankful. A thankful heart is a happy heart.
* Those with the simplest pleasures are most happy.
* Help others along the way.
* Smile, live, laugh and love !

Once again, Happy New Year for 2007 !

Welcome 2007 !

2007 is here! It’s only a few minutes old and I can hear the celebrating as I type. Does this mean I am missing it? - not at all. I rang in the New Year with a toast and am watching the continuing fireworks and listening to the celebratory gunfire in the neighborhood as I write this.

I am wishing all of you great things this year. Although you could do it alone, we’d love you to share your experiences, knowledge and gifts at ThinkThunk.com. We are a community dedicated to helping others. Please be a part of the solution and contribute.

Have a Happy New Year, from ThinkThunk !

2006 was a very good year !

2006 was a very good year. Although Think Thunk did not formally exhibit the traction we desired, we strongly believe it is in a latent period of development with the potential for some real action in the new year.

On a personal note, Hilton Head Island, S.C. averted the hurricane season; there were no family emergencies; and a new nephew was added. No actual vacation travel occurred, yet there was a wedding in St. Louis, just enough family visits to make us feel quite connected to the ones we love most, and the resultant joy of enjoying our home life.

We look forward to 2007 with great anticipation. Your input and contributions are vital. Please contact us at think@thinkthunk.com and help us help others. We appreciate your support and wish all of you a Happy New Year!