TAC Simply Inspired

Inspired By Being There

"Discovery is not the things you plan to see, but the things you happen to see because you're there."

I heard somebody say this the other morning on tv while I was getting ready for work.  It struck me.  Once again, I was taken by the moment.  I know they probably didn't think it was so profound, but I did.  It made me stop, grab a pen and paper, and write it down as best as I could remember it.

As I pondered it, I thought, it's really all about "showing up."  That faithfulness seems a bit undervalued in our culture. We don't have to "be there." We can send an email, have a conference call, videotape the event or fax the facts.  And although all that technology can really come in handy at times, it's not the same as being there. There is no substitute for our five senses when it comes to really living. I can read about something that was communicated but if I am there in person, I can hear the tone of voice and the passion (or apathy) that it was spoken with. It makes a difference.  I can hear about the needs of people desperate from hunger, disease or the effects of natural disasters, but if I see them, hear them and talk to them firsthand, my heart becomes engaged.

My older daughter can call me and tell me what time she dances, what song they're dancing to and how long it will last.  Although that fills me in on a few of the details of her life, it is nothing compared to being there in person to watch her dance, feel her smile, see her eyes sparkle, hear the cheers of the crowd, or hug her afterwards. That is why, as much as possible, I try to be there. Not only do I get to experience the event, but if anything else "happens," I get to be an eyewitness. Words, then, are not needed to explain what the heart has grasped hold of. All of us have experienced those times when we try to communicate a series of events or retell a funny incident, only to end with the phrase, "I guess you had to be there!"

I want to be the kind of person who not only "shows up," but also delights in discovery. I want to "happen to see," exactly what I'm supposed to see because I'm wholly there.  I don't want to be absent when I'm present. Though I don't always love surprises... I think I could enjoy them more by looking for what I could discover. I want to keep my eyes and my heart open so that I can "happen to see"  and experience all the "moments" that make life special!

What about you?  Do you want to discover something new? I encourage you to venture out... away from the comfort of the parameters you've set for your life or your heart. Who knows... you may discover real treasure!

Discovering With You,

Debbie~

 

Tangible Thoughts

In honor of Mother's Day, I felt it was appropriate to share the last quote that my mom shared with me...

"We see human thought and feeling best and clearest by seeing it through something solid that our hands have made."       (Eudora Welty, Writer)

For those of us in the papercrafting industry, we can collectively 'second' that thought.  For all the people that photograph, scrapbook, journal, or document life in a myriad of other ways, we can say, 'it's why we do what we do.' We want those we love to see or read or in some way understand our thoughts and feelings toward them and about them. We want to know that it mattered that we were here and that we have tangible creations to prove it.

It's why mothers keep forever those tiny little inked footprints or the finger paint handprints. It's why they love every piece of 'artwork,' every awkwardly shaped clay object and cards filled with misspelled words. It is not the creation, it is the thoughts and feelings coupled with the eagerness to give, that fill our hearts with joy.

A friend of mine recently built a new home. I was invited over to see it and although I was thrilled with the opportunity, my main motivation was to see her 'studio.' She is an excellent scrapbooker and designer and I couldn't wait to see how she did everything! From the front door of the home to the layout, colors and design of each room, it was easy to see the thoughts and feelings that went into the decisions they made. Certainly the home itself was well crafted and thought out, but in all actuality, it was the dreams of this young couple made tangible that made the house so special. (Just for the record, the studio was any scrapbooker's dream come true!)

So what is it that your hands have made recently?  Did it give voice to your thoughts and feelings? It doesn't matter much if it is a set of finger paint handprints, a handmade card, a homemade mini-album or our dream house... those things that our hands have made truly reflect our hearts.

This season is filled with opportunities to share our hearts with others. From Mother's Day to graduations, weddings and Father's Day, it is a season to celebrate meaningful events with people we love. Through it all, I encourage you to find ways that inspire you to make your thoughts more tangible.

Thinking Tangible with you,

Debbie~

Taken By the Moment

This week I have come across dozens of quotes that I love and have breezed through a number of great inspirational gift books.  I have written many things down and have thoroughly enjoyed all that I read.  However,  when I stop and look back on my week and listen to my heart, there is one fleeting moment that stands out in my mind.  I have dismissed it a few times as I have searched about something  to write about this week but I keep coming back to it.

Zig Ziglar said, "You never know when a moment and a few sincere words can have an impact on a life."

Earlier this week, my family and I were eating at a local restaurant.  As we were being seated, my husband recognized a man at the table next to us. He was a student who had graduated from the school at which my husband was an Assistant Principal. With him, he had his son who probably was about eight or nine years old. My husband shook the man's hand and motioning toward the boy, said, "Is this your son?" Beaming with the kind of pride that is generally reserved for adorable infants and toddlers, the man said, "Yes, he's a great kid!"  My husband complimented the man, affirming that he's probably a great kid because his dad is a pretty great guy.  He shrugged with humility and after a few other short niceties, both he and my husband went back to attending to dinner.

I was taken by the moment.  Sure, I kept my focus on my family, ordering dinner, etc. But I have thought of that brief encounter all week.  I was struck by the father's sweet response. How proud he was of his son! He didn't even tell us his son's name - all we learned is that he's a great kid! I thought of what I've known for years - the power of words, especially the power of a blessing.

Years ago, we saw my daughter's music teacher in the grocery store with her husband. She introduced my daughter to her husband as the best bass player in the school.  Okay, so she was the only bass player in the school.  She didn't tell that part. That didn't matter. She chose to speak a blessing in a quick thirty second encounter.

What are the first words out of my mouth when someone asks me about people I love? Their name? Their statistics? Their accomplishments? The latest "news?"  Or, am I able to speak blessing to them and about them?  It only takes a moment.

That moment and those few sincere words in the restaurant this week, did indeed have an impact on me. My guess, though, is that they had an even greater impact on that young boy.

It has been said that "All our talents increase in the using." (Anne Bronte)  What talents do you have that can be strengthened with a little more use?  How are you doing at blessing others? Are you known as one who gives "good reports" on the spur of the moment?  What an exciting and rewarding way to live as we look for 'moments' and a 'few sincere words'. This week, I encourage you to take a step back and realize what a blessing you can be. Then, take a step forward, and take a moment to bless someone!  I'll be doing the same thing.

Making "Moments" with You,

Debbie

Moving Closer to Our Dreams

I have heard it said that we are "one choice away from a new beginning."  That is encouraging.

New beginnings are good.  Lately, I have been thinking about the steps we take toward our dreams.  Our 2008 Seminar theme is "Just Dream," so my wheels have been spinning about many different aspects of how we make our dreams come true. The truth is, there's no 'just' about it. It takes courage and vision, heart and feet to make our dreams come true.  To really see some dreams come true, we need to move toward them, one step and one choice at a time.

With that in mind, my inspiration this week is my daughter.  She has big dreams.  Only once in a while does she ever step back into the reality of here and now and question whether or not they're too big.  One of her dreams is to run in the Olympics. Now that's a BIG dream. In the meantime, there's a multitude of High School track meets to run to work her way toward the bigger dream. One choice at a time - one meet at a time - she moves toward a dream.  This week, she was asked to run 4 different events. She had run all of them before and all of them well, but never at the same meet. For the first time ever she ran the 1600 (mile), 400, 800 and 4x400. At the beginning of the meet she told us that she was going to run all 4 events and that her goal was to medal in all of them. I was impressed before the races ever began. At the end of the day she had medaled in 3 of the 4 events and I was even more impressed.

I put myself in her place - not running - (if you knew me, you'd be laughing right now) but instead, asking myself if I could do the same thing.  Do I get "overwhelmed" when too much is on my plate, even if it's things that I love to do? Or do I break it down like Jenna did, assessing my level of strength and ability and setting goals instead? It struck me that before she pursues dreams like the Olympics, she's willing to do her best and set her goals in an obscure town in the center of Kansas. She wants to do well enough at Regionals to qualify for State. Even before that, she's willing to practice diligently every day, even if nobody else is watching.

After watching her that afternoon, I went home and wrote to her.  The qualities I saw in her, will help her a great deal in this marathon we call life.  I wanted to encourage her in that and let her know how proud we are of her... not just her running abilities.

So  maybe, as we go along, we need to keep our dreams within view, but concentrate on the daily things that will help us get there.  We may not get any medals along the way but one step at a time... moving in the right direction... maybe slowly, but ever so surely, we will be people who are pursuing their dreams!

Chasing Dreams With You,

Debbie~   

"Sometimes our light goes out but is blown again into flame by an encounter with another human being. Each of us owes the deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this inner light."  -Albert Schweitzer

Who You Are Does Make a Difference

"It's wonderful how we all can inspire each other when speaking from our hearts."  - Joe

I recently heard Maria Shriver talk about the thoughts and life circumstances that led up to the writing of her new book.  Though she lives a life that most of us wouldn't even dream of, it was interesting to see that as she shared from her heart, it resonated with hundreds of other women.  It wasn't her circumstances they could relate to, it was her thoughts and feelings.

Speaking from our hearts... it's not necessarily an easy thing to do. For some of us, it may feel scary or risky or leave us with an uncomfortable sense of vulnerability.  For others, it can bring strength and affirmation to who we are. If it should happen to be real and authentic, it can also bring a great deal of satisfaction to see that it resonates with others. Whether it's Maria or me, Joe, or any one of you, we can inspire others when we speak from our hearts.

In this amazing journey that we call life, who you are really does make a difference. We give much time and attention to what we do, but in the end, it's really who we are to others that remains. If you have children, you may have been struck by the things that they remember. It is not necessarily the trips and toys that we work so hard to provide for them. That enjoyment is only temporary. What I have found that our girls remember are traditions, situations that we found ourself in, or characteristics of any one of us that stood out in time. We have some great lines that we all remember too.  What they all have in common, however, is time we spent together, just being who we are.

There are really no adequate words to express true love or deep sympathy.  We do our best and may from time to time look for just the right card or gift,  but there is no substitute for the person's presence and their willingness to communicate those feelings from their heart.

So this week, I encourage you to speak from your heart. Stay true to who you are, with the understanding that who you are is good enough. Show up everyday. After all, an authentic life is one of the most inspiring things of all!

Continue to take good care of each other.

Abundant Blessings,

Debbie~

Debbie's mom passed away on Saturday, April 5 at 4:55 a.m.

There will be no Simply Inspired post on Friday, April 11.

Stronger Together

I did not think I would be posting a blog today.  This week has appeared to be the end of the journey for my mom.  Family has come in, friends have stopped by and we have been riding the waves of grief and joy. But, for today, my mom is still with us, and so I feel I must be faithful to post what is on my heart and pray it can be an inspiration to you too. Once again, I apologize for being so personal.

One thing has been clear.  Along this journey called life, we are stronger together. We can be strong on our own. We can determine to buck up and do whatever we need to in the circumstances we find ourselves in. My mom is a very independent woman and as a result, she has raised each of us 4 children to also be very independent. We can do things on our own, we are up for adventures, and we can all make even tough decisions, when necessary.  The truth is, however, we welcome each other's company. It's easier to divide the work and responsibility, It's more fun to share the adventures.  Even the tough decisions aren't nearly as tough when made together.

And so it was that I was struck by an e-mail message that my sister's team leader at work sent us yesterday from California.  He wrote with thoughtfulness and compassion and as his closing, signed, "With love, in support of your love, Joe."  I "got it" immediately but still read it three times. It touched my heart and truly made it feel like he was with us and understood. Our family's love is strong, but it's even stronger when it's reinforced by the love of our friends, co-workers, and church family.

Three of our mom's friends stopped by within a half hour this morning.  Each time, we could sense the extra strength that they brought to us and that we brought to them by being together.

My daughters have been struggling as they have watched their grandma slip away. Last night, our 19 year old called about 11:30 asking for an update. I told her the truth. We were still at hospice and, though we were exhausted, none of us wanted to leave for the night. She called again at 12:30 a.m., crying and telling me how sad she was.  I told her to come home. We had just walked in the door after deciding that just one of my sisters would stay with our mom and call if there were any changes. Hannah came home, we cried together and then I encouraged her to stay and spend the night at home. I walked upstairs with her to her room, where our younger daughter was only half asleep. As we walked into the room, Jenna lovingly and excitedly said, "Hannah!"  They laid down together to try to get some sleep, with a box of kleenex inbetween them. They too were stronger together.

My mom is leaving quite a legacy. Among the most important lessons we have learned is that it matters who we surround ourselves with, that friendships are worth the time it takes to cultivate them - that good friendships are of the utmost importance, and that there is no substitute for loving family.  Thank you mom, for all that you have taught us.

All four of us kids remember mom admonishing us when we were arguing or not getting along . "One day, when you're all grown, you're going to love each other!" She is happy to know that we really do love each other and that, because of that, we are stronger together.

This weekend, take care of each other.

Abundant Blessings,

Debbie~

Life is a Schoolroom

Life really is an incredible teacher.  It provides us daily lessons in a variety of subjects, with its curricula disguised in as many different circumstances as there are books in a bookcase. Tough lessons are intermixed with touching stories.  Just when we think we have aced a particular subject, a pop quiz comes our way to test not only our knowledge, but our hearts, Even some of the wisest people I know didn't get straight A's.  So it is, that we learn what we can, hopefully when we should. If not, it seems inevitable that we are given the homework to do over again. As we learn, we grow.

So what did you learn today?  Here are some of the lessons I learned...

It matters how a person says something, not just what they say.  It's possible to be full when it comes to vegetables, but not full when it comes to a piece of cake.  Some weeks we really need Saturday on a Wednesday.  It may not matter what happened last week.  Life is easier when we trust people. Recess can be the best part of the day.  It's a lot harder to laugh when you're by yourself.  A little kiss can make a big difference.

On the other hand, what did I teach today?  This list didn't come as easily, and isn't nearly as long, but asking the question will make me even more aware of how I live tomorrow. Hopefully I taught...

Family comes first. Sometimes it is important to just keep going. It doesn't take much to help someone else. Faith matters. Your best is good enough.  No one likes to be left alone.

So, what about you?  How did this day at school go for you?  What did you learn and what did you teach? For me, answering those questions will help me appreciate the lessons that come my way, whether they come easily or are hard-fought.  After all, sometimes we remember more from a class we worked hard in and received a "C" from than one that came without effort in which we received an "A."  This weekend, may we listen carefully, participate fully, enjoy our recesses and learn what we can!  Abundant Blessings!

Studying Alongside You,

Debbie~

Amaze Yourself

At the risk of sounding a little silly, I have to tell you that one of the things that inspired me the most this week was watching Marley Matlin dance on Dancing With the Stars.  I know, it sounds funny.  I don't watch a lot of tv, and even missed most of that program that night.  I "just happened" to turn the tv on shortly before it was her turn to take the floor. Maybe adjustments were made to the dance so that she could have more eye contact and physical guidance from her partner and teacher.  Nevertheless, she thoroughly impressed me, and I think, many others. Her partner briefly explained how they went about taking on such a task together, which helped explain part of it.

The question that has stayed with me all week is... how do you dance to music you can't hear?  And, perhaps even more importantly, what kind of spirit is it in her that takes on such a challenge? What is it that rises up in her, full of joy and vitality to take on something that many of us would write off as impossible? Is she just a unique individual that defied all odds or do we all have the ability to overcome the odds (and/or critics) and accomplish great things? We have all heard countless stories of people who have overcome incredible odds to do amazing things.  The one thing they have in common is a "can-do attitude."

A fun, creative writer known only as SARK, once said, "I heard so many voices in my head that said, NO! I amazed these voices by shouting YES!  Invite your fears in, then tell them to sit down and shut up!"

As we enter the Spring season, I can't help but think of new life.  What a great season to say YES to something new, that we may have thought we could never do before. What a great time to have that challenge and accomplishment  breathe life into our hearts, our spirits and our days. What a great time to face a challenge with a heart of joy instead of being overwhelmed by it. What a great season to say YES to life! You may know exactly what it is you're supposed to pursue or the challenge that you're supposed to face with confidence. If not, I encourage you to be still and quiet your heart. Don't worry, it will come to you. You'll just know.

Even if you can't hear the music, I encourage you to dance!

Happy Easter and Abundant Blessings!

Debbie~