Musings: What’s On Your List?
“I believe that all humans have moments of inspiration when we perceive truth. These moments usually occur when the mind is quiet–when we perceive the force of life through our feelings.” don Miguel Ruiz
Musings: What’s On Your List? Your heart’s list?
Seth Godin is one of my favorite marketing geniuses and an accomplished writer/blogger. Whenever I need to remind myself why certain things I choose to do matter, I go back to his writings and his blog for fuel. You see, Seth is not an advocate of the herd/bandwagon effect, he is more for finding our voice, following what matters to our hearts and damn the consequences. Now, I don’t mean that in a nonchalant way; as we continue to follow our hearts, what we do feels solid inside of us so, no matter which way the winds blow, we remain steady on our course. We might stumble or even fall down sometimes, but that is a test of our metier and can only make us stronger.
Recently, I received two posts from him that resonated with me. The first, What’s On Your List, poses two important questions: How often do you remind yourself of what’s on the list? If the first thing you do when considering an opportunity is consult the list, the list is the most important thing in your life, isn’t it? Basically, bucket lists are only good if we act on them. Another point is that many of us don’t respond spontaneously to opportunities that make us joyful because we are busy calculating our risk and wondering if it belongs on our list of “should-do”. The advice is to just go with it. Live. Dare to be different. We can learn to enjoy the liberating feeling of stepping out of our comfort zone because there is tremendous personal growth there.
“Some people wonder all their lives if they’ve made a difference. The Marines don’t have that problem.” Ronald Reagan
Musings: What’s On Your List? Fire Up your muse…
The other post is Do we have to pander? In this one, he exhorts us to stay true to what matters to us and to not allow shifting winds to distract us from our hearts desire. There were a couple of lines that stood out for me: “Restaurants serve chicken fingers to their guests’ kids, because it’s the only thing they’ll eat. Some comedians give up their best work in exchange for jokes that everyone will get.” and “Yes, you can have a blog that follows every rule of blogging and seo, but no, it won’t be a blog we’ll miss if it’s gone.” The point he makes is that we MUST go back to why we started it all and refocus on that original impulse: that impulse is what will sustain us. Why settle for sameness? Stay true to you. The fact is that we can’t be everything to everybody. I started this blog in 2008, and I recall that for many months I barely had any traffic. Then I had one subscriber, then another, and one committed blog friend and then another. Over time, it changed and has gotten infinitely better. I thank all who have supported this blog both outwardly and silently. Actually, the silent readers continue to be a surprising source of amazing grace too.
Two other bits of reading on my mind are Things To Stop Dwelling On from O Magazine and Mamakat’s prompt. In the magazine piece, Oprah offers advice on 10 things to stop sweating over and they include: whether or not someone is mad at you, doing better than you, and the rudeness of strangers… Rudeness is a pet peeve of mine and I had to laugh when I saw it on the list… Let it go! I encourage you to read the rest. Mamakat’s recent workshop prompt asks us to: List the 6 best things about being an adult. Making decisions and standing by them is adult for me. Honoring ourselves even if others don’t is another important one. When was the last time you treated yourself to something fun or pampered yourself? What’s stopping you? Other people’s opinions? What a waste of precious time, please go for it! The operative word for me this summer is FUN! Live boldly.
More below!
“If you could only sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to the people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.” Mr Fred Rogers
Musings: What’s On Your List? Dare to try… don’t become a dinosaur
As the summer days get hotter and hotter, many are taking time off for vacation, for some quiet time to rejuvenate and for some much needed R & R (rest and relaxation). In the summer time, we see a down tick in visitors and traffic, don’t despair, it is pretty normal as it picks up again in the fall. Personally, I think this is the best time to step out, step away from routine and learn/do something different. Like anything else, there will be growing pains but you know what I do? Whenever things get tough, I dig in deep and buckle down to learn as much as possible. Have FUN too!
Stay Inspired! What are your thoughts? What’s on your heart’s list? What are your summer plans? What do you do when things seem a bit unsure? Do share! Thank you. 🙂
*Please bear with me as I continue to catch up on your blogs and commenting… Thank you all for your patience! 🙂
Positive Motivation Tip: Whatever we have on our list, what matters most is that we are living and loving our lives in the present.
More Wellness Boosters/Affirmations & Resources
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All photos Two surfers, Mr Rogers Dinosaur, via Wikipedia and/or Fire Display by Gamp, via Flickr
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
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My summer plan is to go from the north of Europe to the south, very slowly 🙂
Good for you! Go do it and you know, that means more photos too! 🙂
Fantastic post, Elizabeth – I really like Seth Godin as well. Mind you in Ireland we’re not suffering from heat, I have to say! It’s raining and quite cold for June – still, that’s what you get when you have a temperate oceanic climate that doesn’t have too many extremes so I’m not really complaining! A lot of people in the world would love this weather – at least you can grow stuff and, God knows, we have plenty of water!
I love him too. Yes and you grow/make things that taste good too… I love Irish butter. TY! 🙂
There’s no denying we make great butter!
YES! 🙂
Elizabeth !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now i know Your name 🙂
Great Post ……:)
Loves it 🙂
🙂 🙂 🙂
Cat
Thank you Cat! 🙂
🙂 🙂 🙂
Thank You Elizabeth
I have always loved that name ……….
🙂
Risk-taking is something that must be practiced regularly and for many of us, it never gets easier. A quote I used to have on my fridege: “Sometimes a big jump is indicated. You can’t cross a chasm in a few small steps.”
My summer has already allowed me the time to visit friends I don’t see often and attend a juried Art Show that I’ve meant for years to visit. Later I’m heading to the sunshine state for more family, friends and the ocean. (And I’m hopeful for a career boost, as well! Fingers crossed!!)
Excellent Freedom and that’s what all of us need — Freedom! Keeping my fingers crossed for you too. TY! 🙂
I love making plans. There always has to be something to look forward to. Each day is a precious gift, and I hope to make the most of this gift, by always having a positive attitude. 😉
Good and it works for you; that is what matters. 😉
This part is very special to me “… as we continue to follow our hearts, what we do feels solid inside of us so no matter which way the winds blow, we remain steady on our course. ” You know why. So beautifully said! And what is it with rude people? I better go read that post because I’m pretty sure I need some anger management for that one! 😉
Love the dinosaur and the Fred Rogers quote! I hope he’s right. 🙂
TY Karen! I am grateful for all the lessons I have learned over the last few years as a blogger. What becomes more and more clear to me is that we must stay true to what we do. This is my format and my space and I am grateful for the grace that guides me. Rude people suck and I need to get away from them too. 😆
Great advice. I liked those Seth Godin blogs too, especially the one on pandering. Wonderful inspiration! 🙂
TY Karen and I know you are a huge Seth fan too. I loved his posts too. 🙂
This is why I have started posting on my blog only 2-3 times per week: so that I would not PANDER, would STAY TRUE TO MYSELF, and what have time to deep re-evaluate what is on my “list” each time I write a new post. Love this post–so extremely helpful and supportive of us who want to continue to follow our very own star!
You and me both… I’ve started to scale back because I do have other pressing demands on my time and I want to be faithful to my original intention when I started too… Granbee, I totally get you. TY! 🙂
EOF, the gravatar on this comment here today is quite complete: must have just been a “glitch” in the one yesterday! Sorry!
Must have been a glitch for sure. TY! 🙂
The word “pander” intrigues me…Looking it up I see “gratification of other’s desires”…Interesting…I have to say I have to write about what pleases me or it just doesn’t work…It’s like eating a food you like…Wonderful!…if not…it taste bad…too sour…too sweet…So I guess I don’t pander…I think I stay true to myself…~mkg
I believe you and I assume we all try our best to honor ourselves. It is an important subject and one we can pay attention to anyway. TY! 🙂
On my heart’s list… My husband, and my writing. In that order. Thank you for another great blog post Elizabeth!
TY Petchary for your feedback! 🙂
Dear Elizabeth, This is a great post–packed with goodies. What a fortunate day it was when I found your blog!
The sentiments are mutual Naomi! I’m glad you like it. 😉
I agree that to create a list is not enough if you don’t act on it. Sometimes I just need the reminder. Thanks! Miriam
I need it too… I agree that endless lists and no action is not such a good idea. 😉
What an inspiring post Elizabeth and thanks for mentioning that less visitors in summer is normal – this is my first real summer and I’ve already seen a drop!
Yes, it is sort of a tradition with our dear friends at Google and in the blogging world in general. people cut back, enjoy the outdoors more, go on vacation. yada, yada, yada. 😉
THANK YOU for this post! I have had a rise in subscribers but a drop in hits and I was really puzzled until I read it. I should know by know, because it happens every year. In my defence, we have had no summer to speak of 🙂
Exactly! It happens every year… Up subscriber list, down traffic stream. Oy vey! 😆
Okay, I’ll make the first image as no. 2 on my top list. No. 1 is learn to swim in an ocean first. Must be amazing to surf and be one with the sea. Beatiful list that celebrate life in the most fun and exciting way. I would like to experience life’s surprises as they come. Today, as ask myself, “surprise me!” Perhaps, a trip to the beach….get wet…have lots of fun. Have a great weekend.
Good for you! I’m not interested in learning to surf but I sure love watching others do it… So go for it and share your photos. 🙂
I meant, today, I ask myself…
NO problem TY! 🙂
Wonderful post, Elizabeth. And I just love the line surprising source of amazing grace. I’m so putting that in my first book in the I’d like to thank part 🙂
Go for it Catherine! TY! 🙂
I may post less than twice a week every week, but it depends on what I feel the need to write. Sometimes it just has to be written.
Great post!
b
True! And you have been pretty consistent since we connected years back… I’m scaling back my pace a bit and that is okay too. 😉
The dino in the tie, Classic!
It was a funny picture to find and I’m glad he’s a hit. 🙂
🙂
Great post! I love making plans, making lists, but when opportunities arise where I could do something that wasn’t a part of the list, then who cares – do them anyway! Our experiences are what make us who we are.
Exactly! The list is only good if we use it… and if we can jump right into an opportunity, why not. 😉 TY for stopping by.
Great post, Elizabeth. No plans for me as the kids are still in school. We are on strike at the office. This means no work for a while so I am taking it cool at home.
Is the strike a gift? I hear you on plans… we have two in college so our focus is on them. Enjoy the down time. 😉
What a lovely and helpful post Elizabeth! I learnt quite late in life the pointlessness of having a list if I didn’t act on it. Haven’t looked back since 🙂
Reblogged this on Mirth and Motivation and commented:
“Summer means happy times and good sunshine. It means going to the beach, going to Disneyland, having fun.” Brian Wilson
What’s On Your List For Summer?
Here’s a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson on Summer Sun
Summer Sun by Robert Louis Stevenson via FamousPoetsandPoems.com
Great is the sun, and wide he goes
Through empty heaven with repose;
And in the blue and glowing days
More thick than rain he showers his rays.
Though closer still the blinds we pull
To keep the shady parlour cool,
Yet he will find a chink or two
To slip his golden fingers through.
The dusty attic spider-clad
He, through the keyhole, maketh glad;
And through the broken edge of tiles
Into the laddered hay-loft smiles.
Meantime his golden face around
He bares to all the garden ground,
And sheds a warm and glittering look
Among the ivy’s inmost nook.
Above the hills, along the blue,
Round the bright air with footing true,
To please the child, to paint the rose,
The gardener of the World, he goes.