raise the common denominator

A quote about poetry by Judson Jerome

Really like this quote posted at writersonlineworkshops.com:

"Poetry is more fundamental than written language.... It is one of the characteristics that defines us as human.... Where there are people, there is speech; where there is speech, there is poetry."
—Judson Jerome, The Poet's Handbook

A quote to start your new year

This quote from author Karen Lamb has helped keep me motivated during a busy end to 2008 and start to 2009. May it inspire you to do the things that matter most to you.

"A year from now you may wish you had started today."

When life gives you whipped topping...

I know what I'm supposed  to do when life gives me lemons. But what about whipped topping?

We hosted many family members this past weekend for festivities that included a huge Sunday meal of my wife Susan's amazing baked ziti.

This meant leftover ziti for my Monday lunch. Yum!

Trying to get a head start on the week, Susan packed my Monday ziti in an empty Cool Whip container.

But something happened on the way to the office. Famished, I prepped for my late lunch. Cool Whip container in front of me. Fork in had. I flipped off the lid and prepared to dive into leftover-ziti bliss, only to discover instead of the pasta my container was filled with white, fluffy Cool Whip!

I  filled myself that lunch hour with ample portions of laughter and smiles. Much more nourishing. And the ziti made for a great Monday supper!

A poem a day...

Write a poem a day. That's a great way to lighten and enlighten your life. But where do you go for daily inspiration and the discipline to help you achieve your goal?

Reading good poetry and reading about the lives of poets and writers may inspire you. Subscribe  to  Garrison Keillor's Writer's Almanac podcast or e-mail newsletter. The Almanac not  only shares a poem a day, but also features biographical information and stories about poets and writers. Also,  bookmark and regularly visit the Library of Congress Poetry 180 site that features a poem a day during the school year.

Join a poem a day writer's group,  challenge  or contest. This month, I've stayed inspired and motivated  by Robert Brewer's Poem A Day Challenge featured on his Poetic Asides blog. It's  been a delightful month and I've written poems I couldn't even have imagined before the month and the challenge began. I think part of my motivation comes from knowing I'm a member of an amazing community of more than a hundred writers who have also taken the challenge this month. It's been great fun to read their daily poems. And I'm humbled by the talent that surrounds me.

Mr. Brewer promises to share tips and ideas on to help keep  our  Poem  A Day community  going after this month.  Looking forward to this. Because in just 28 days,  this challenge has already enriched my life.  Thank you Robert Brewer!

So, find your way to try to write a poem a day. And send your own tip that inspires you to keep writing. Next, I'll share some ideas on how your poem a day habit may enrich the lives of others.

Happy writing!

Season's Greetings

May your season be filled, with peace, joy, warmth and light.

Accepting what we cannot change

Copywriting and direct marketing guru Bob Bly shares this thought 
from Shambhala in his latest e-newsletter:

Author David Richo says the key to happiness is to accept difficult realities, drop our resistance to them, and even embrace them.

According to Richo, the 5 realities of life we must learn to accept are that:

1. Everything changes and ends.
2. Things do not always go according to plan.
3. Life is not always fair.
4. Pain is a part of life.
5. People are not loving and loyal all the time.

Source: "Shambhala," Autumn 2007, p. 2.

A season to give and forgive

Yes, it's the season to give. But the holidays are also a time to reflect and discover opportunities to forgive This Mayo Clinic article offers valuable suggestions and thoughts on the practice of forgiveness.

My life-success steps

I don't often achieve this path, but when I do, life is pretty good. Anyway, it's not really about the achievement. It's about the practice:

1. The Golden Rule
2. Good humor
3. Respect
4. Responsibility
5. Listen with an open mind
6. Loving kindness

360-degree parenting

Our son turns 12 next month. He's amazing. As I've told him since his first day on earth, he's my hero. I've learned so much about life, courage, friendship and strength by being his dad.

Still, I'm conscious that with the preteen and teen years come waves of change within him and likely to our relationship. My goal is to ensure the core way we treat each other, love each other and listen to each other remains strong and even grows stronger. This new adventure will be the best yet.

Reflecting on this, I went back to thoughts on parenting I'd written down about five years ago:

360-degree parenting

If we teach our children to fear us, we must accept that this fear may evolve into hate. If we teach our children intolerance, we must realize that someday they may not tolerate us. If we fail to listen to our children, we must understand that one day they may stop listening to us.

Remember, we are raising people. Measure our discipline with respect. Challenge ourselves to be better parents. Ask for help when we need it. Realize that we will make mistakes. Bask in the innocent, forgiving nature of our children. They don't expect us to be perfect. They do anticipate our love.

Simple advice for successful living

I've been thinking lately about how we complicate our lives. We often create our own barriers to happiness and success.
We could do worse than following Helen Nearing's advice. 

"Loving and Leaving the Good Life" by Helen Nearing:

  1. Do the best you can, whatever arises.
  2. Be at peace with yourself.
  3. Find a job you enjoy.
  4. Live in simple conditions; get rid of clutter.
  5. Contact nature every day; find the earth under your
     feet.
  6. Take physical exercise.
  7. Don't worry; live one day at a time.
  8. Share something every day with someone else; help
     someone else somehow.
  9. Take time to wonder at the world and at life; see some
     humor in life where you can.
10. Be kind.

Share your secrets to successful and happy living.