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Motivation Mondays: Father’s Day #mondaymotivation

13/06/2016
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“My father used to say that it’s never too late to do anything you wanted to do. And he said, ‘You never know what you can accomplish until you try.'” Michael Jordan

Motivation Mondays: Father's Day #mondaymotivation - Honoring all Dads!

Motivation Mondays: Father’s Day #mondaymotivation – Honoring all Dads!

Being a father has been, without a doubt, my greatest source of achievement, pride and inspiration. Fatherhood has taught me about unconditional love, reinforced the importance of giving back and taught me how to be a better person. Naveen Jain
My father always used to say that when you die, if you’ve got five real friends, then you’ve had a great life. Lee Iacocca

What does Father’s Day mean to you? Each year, as this special day, which started on June 19 1910 and has been attributed to Sonora Smart Dodd, rolls around, we stop and give thanks for our fathers. Why bother? Some folks might ask. Why Not!? We can use the occasion to remember everyone who plays or has played a fatherly, mentor role in our lives, and make an effort to be a mentor to someone else. If we stop to think about the people who have motivated and encouraged us, we would come to understand that it takes a village to raise a child; every hand lifted in kindness is an inspiring soul helping many kids to grow into productive adults.

When I think of Father’s Day, I remember my Dad and each year, I experience his absence differently. My dad passed away suddenly and so the memories are quite stark. Some years, my memories are wistful, and other years they are introspective. No matter what memories come to the surface, one thing that stays constant is my gratitude for his influence on my life.  While our individual narratives of our Dads might vary, my hope for each of us is that  we use those memories of our precious relationship to make a positive impact on someone’s life. How has your Dad motivated you to make decisions in your life? Happy Father’s Day to all of you!

A Story – Become A Lake (Advice a dad would give)
An aging Hindu master grew tired of his apprentice complaining, and so, one morning, he sent him for some salt. When the apprentice returned, the master instructed the unhappy young man to put a handful of salt in a glass of water and then to drink it.
“How does it taste?” the master asked.
“Bitter,” spit the apprentice.
The master chuckled and then asked the young man to take the same handful of salt and put it in the lake. The two walked in silence to the nearby lake, and once the apprentice swirled his handful of salt in the water, the old man said, “Now drink from the lake.”
As the water dripped down the young man’s chin, the master asked, “How does it taste?”
“Much fresher,” remarked the apprentice.
“Do you taste the salt?” asked the master.
“No,” said the young man.
At this, the master sat beside the young man who so reminded him of himself and took his hands, offering, “The pain of life is pure salt, no more, no less. The amount of pain in life remains the same, exactly the same. But the amount of bitterness we taste depends on the container we put the pain in. So when you are in pain, the only thing you can do is to enlarge your sense of things… Stop being a glass. Become a lake.” Source The Little Zen Companion

 

“Dad, your guiding hand on my shoulder will remain with me forever.” ~Anon

Motivation Mondays: Father's Day #mondaymotivation - Honoring all Dads!

Motivation Mondays: Father’s Day #mondaymotivation – Honoring all Dads!

To My Father
You might not be here
But I know your spirit’s near
Each tear and smile … caught

Whenever I’m down
Your comforting light appears
Telling me: Be Strong!

Happy Father’s Day
My light on the fearless path
Guide me every day © by E.O-F

How do you celebrate Father’s Day? Every year, I try to find new ways to honor my Dad’s spirit. For years, I donated altar flowers at my local church. Then I planted trees and gave donations to charity. As a blogger,  I’ve used my posts to show my appreciation for the abundant love my Dad and many other fathers share. One year, I wrote on the gift of  education he gave me; on another I shared some of the wisdom Dads pass on. Last year, I reflected on the fact that, over several years, my father’s love for learning, public service, and our family history had seeped into my life and become mine. So, as we approach yet another special Father’s Day which falls on June 19th,  I have come home to the idea that my father’s dreams have continued as my dreams for my kids… What about you and your memories of your dad? Happy Father’s Day!

A Story – Advice A Dad Would Give
Soyen Shaku, the first Zen teacher to come to America, said: “My heart burns like fire but my eyes are as cold as dead ashes.” He made the following rules which he practiced every day of his life.
In the morning before dressing, light incense and meditate.
Retire at a regular hour. Partake of food at regular intervals.
Eat with moderation and never to the point of satisfaction.
Receive a guest with the same attitude you have when alone.
When alone, maintain the same attitude you have in receiving guests.
Watch what you say, and whatever you say, practice it.
When an opportunity comes do not let it pass you by, yet always think twice before acting.
Do not regret the past. Look to the future.
Have the fearless attitude of a hero and the loving heart of a child.
Upon retiring, sleep as if you had entered your last sleep.
Upon awakening, leave your bed behind you instantly as if you had cast away a pair of old shoes.
Source: Zen Flesh, Zen Bones
The details for Motivation Mondays are below. Join in! The themes for  May and June 2016 are:

MAY
05/02 – 1 May Day, 4 Star Wars Day, 5 Cinco de Mayo, 6 National Teacher’s Day, 8 Mother’s Day, 8 VE Day, WW II
05/09 – 13 Friday the 13th
05/16 – 20 Armed Forces Day
05/23 – 24 Victoria Day (Canada)
05/30 – 30 Memorial Day

JUNE
06/06 – 6 D Day, WWII, 6 Ramadan begins
06/13 – 14 Flag Day, 14-15, The United State of Women Summit, 19 Father’s Day – third Sunday, 19 Juneteenth Day
06/20 – 20 Summer Solstice (The longest day of the year!), 20 World Refugee Day, 21 International Yoga Day, 23 Int’l. Widows’ Day
06/27 –  26 Day against Drug Abuse/Illicit Trafficking

Are You Looking for Ways to Stay Creative in 2016?

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– Join the Daily Post Post-a-day or Post-a-week Challenge.

 

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— Join the BlogHer Writing Lab

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“My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.” Jim Valvano

Motivation Mondays: Father's Day #mondaymotivation - Honoring all Dads!

Motivation Mondays: Father’s Day #mondaymotivation – Honoring all Dads!

Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad, and that’s why I call you dad, because you are so special to me. You taught me the game and you taught me how to play it right. Wade Boggs
One of the greatest titles in the world is parent, and one of the biggest blessings in the world is to have parents to call mom and dad. Jim DeMint

Some Lasting and Lingering Memories: One of the best gifts my father gave me was an education; he taught me to appreciate the value of an education and my love of learning has passed on to my children. We still live in a world where many kids, and about 62 millions girls, are denied an education globally. With an education, we can open doors that otherwise would be sealed shut. I believe every child deserves an education and should be encouraged to contribute to the growth of their native land. I thank my parents and teachers for mine. On this coming Father’s Day, I will remember Dad’s spirit and lasting legacy. Dad loved learning, philanthropy vis a vis community service, and documenting our family history – his dreams are now mine. What are your memories? How will you honor this occasion on June 19th? Happy Father’s Day!

A Story – The Boat Of Life
“The boat is coming to take me home because I have failed in my studies here at the monastery,” said the boy to his teacher. “What can I say to my family?”
“Say that you did your best and that is as much as anyone can do,” answered the teacher.
“But I wanted to be a famous monk and teach others.”
“You can.”
“How?” asked the sad boy.
“Live from your heart. I will show you. Do you see that boat making its way across the lake with the sun setting behind it?”
“Yes.”
“Do you see its wake spreading across the lake?
See how the boat looks like the apex of a golden triangle as the wake fans out from its bow.”
“Sort of.”
“Squint,” said the teacher. “That boat is you as you leave the monastery. The lake is your life. The wake
is the effect that you will have on the world. Each ripple triggers another ripple, which triggers another. By constantly striving to live as wise and loving of a life as you can, you can teach the path of love to everyone you meet simply by being yourself; a few of these people will pass on your good example to others. Thus the expanding golden wake of good works begets other good works. Most important, notice how each ripple catches the sun and bounces its light back to heaven…”
“Would you come home with me and explain all of this to my father?” asked the boy. Zen Stories

A Story – Attention, Attention, Attention!
One day a man approached Ikkyu and asked: “Master, will please write for me some maxims of the highest wisdom?”
Ikkyu took his brush and wrote: “Attention.”
“Is that all?” asked the man.
Ikkyu then wrote: “Attention, Attention.”
“Well,” said the man, “I really don’t see much depth in what you have written.”
Then Ikkyu wrote the same word three times: “Attention, Attention, Attention.”
Half-angered, the man demanded: “What does that word ‘Attention’ mean, anyway?”
Ikkyu gently responded, Attention means attention.”
Source The Little Zen Companion
Any Zen Antics stories via Goodweb.cn

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Positive Motivation Tip: Our parents lift us up from birth through adulthood, then we lift them up… Cherish yours.

Motivation Mondays is open to anyone who wishes to share a motivational quote, photo, personal challenge or a post that encourages others to start the week on an upbeat note.
Basic Instructions: Each week, I will have a motivation word to help us create a response. (See listed words for the months above/below)
Email address: You may email or share your post as a comment and I will add it to the round-up of related posts. email it to: contact(@)mirthandmotivation(.)com
Category tag: – Share your post using Motivation Mondays
Twitter hashtag: – Use this on Twitter #MotvnM
Dedicated Page: There is a dedicated page for Motivation Mondays. It has the same instructions and will include other helpful tools and a link to the round-up
Facebook Page: MotivationOnMondays Join our page and add your post and/or any motivational piece you think will be helpful to others.
Facebook Community: We have a Facebook community forum to compliment the page. It serves as another way to share uplifting posts and thoughts. Please join in and add your voice.

Badge: – I created a fun badge using PicMonkey’s free photo editing tools. You can create your own, use WordPress’ integrated tool on your blog or you are welcome to use mine. (see dedicated page)
Tag: – Motivation Mondays
Hashtag: – #MotvnM
Related Posts

PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS:All Photos –  Father’s Day, Family, via Wikipedia and Father and child, Happy Father’s Day, via Pixabay 

Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet

 

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from → Global Events, Motivation Mondays, Positive Advice, Posts & Photos 2016
33 Comments leave one →
  1. Peachy @ The Peach Kitchen permalink
    25/06/2016 3:33 pm

    Father’s Day is really a great way to honor and celebrate the dads in our lives. The heroes that do everything for their family.

    Reply

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