When the World Spins 'Round

Cars are whizzing past. I've promised myself not to speed so I just pull over to the right as trucks and cars move by at an accelerated rate.

The urge to keep pace is tapping at the corner of my brain but taking the world at my own rhythm is satisfying too.

I'm headed South and it's twilight. As I drive, I can see the ocean and the military tents that are set up along the coast. Hmmm, must be some sort of exercise.

The intro of Brian Johnson's Philosopher's Notes is playing and I listen as a woman talks about losing her husband 3 years ago and focusing on learning from the Philosopher's Notes to work through her grief and get unstuck. Brian replies. I can't quote it word for word but here's a paraphrase.

Think about when you were a child and you spun and spun and spun until you fell down. Now, think about when you spun and looked around the room you felt sick and you couldn't get your balance.

Try this, spin and spin around and then stick your hand in front of your face and stare at your finger tips. If you focus on them you no longer feel sick and having that focus allows you to regain your balance so much more quickly. When the world spins around and you feel out of control you just need to find something to focus on so you can regain your balance quickly. If you don't -- you feel sick, you fall down, etc.

The sky has turned a grey blue and the sun has set. I drive in the slow lane past truck weigh stations and lagoons and way sides and scenic views. And I think - sometimes we like it when the world spins. We start the spin and we spin and spin and spin and laugh when it ends.

Sometimes without our permission, our world is spun for us -- and it throws us because we weren't ready. And sometimes it's just spinning too fast and we need a moment to slow down. To focus. To regain our balance.

A CHP car zips by. Lights flashing. I continue on watching it from behind as it becomes smaller and smaller chasing the sports car that had zipped by before it.

Sometimes, No. Most of the time - going at your own pace is pays off - despite what everyone else doing or saying or what we see around us. It's just nice to have a reminder. I smile and let the world spin on.

The Topless Ladder or the Endless Web

The mature gentleman on NPR talks about seeing people as they claw their way to the top and if they're good people, he'll catch them on the way down. We always hear about the ladder of success.

CUT TO: EXT. A Cafe in Culver City

The owner of a lighting company and his wife sit across from me. He talks to me how we have it all wrong. Life is not a ladder but a web. Some people start at the center. Others are on the outskirts. But the web is level. We're just on different parts of it at different parts of our lives and we can actually move between the center and the outer edge. No one is more superior or higher up.

He explains that he doesn't consider himself more important than his employees. In fact, he's actually made less then some of his employees because he'd promised holiday bonuses and he wanted to hold to his word.

I listen rapt with the plethora of information I'm digesting along with the salad I'm eating.

He says he doesn't make to do lists or a list of goals that goes top down. He actually writes them sideways.

"Sideways?' I ask.

"Yes, because when you write them sideways it's like a timeline and that way it's not a matter of working your way up to completing the task or goal. It's just a matter of time. It will happen. Time has no choice but to move forward."

Aha! I like the way this man thinks.

There is not a limit to the amount of success or fortune that's available to us. If one person has success he or she does not make less of it available for the rest of us. There's plenty to go around.

At the end of the meal, I thank him profusely. The nuggets of wisdom he provided for the meal feed me long after the meal itself. I leave sated and satisfied.

Joy vs. Happiness

The room is cold, cold, cold. It's my impression that the Pastor keeps it that way to keep everyone awake despite his claim that it's because the lights are a lot warmer on the stage.

As I pull the collar of my shirt over my nose and wrap my jacket even closer around me I listen...

"Happiness is based on Happenstance. It's fleeting because we're happy only if something happens. It's situational. Joy is based in God. Joy is deeper and it's eternal. You can have Joy even in the midst of grief. It doesn't go away if bad things happen. It's there to support you especially when bad things happen."

My mind is reeling. It sounds so contrary but I get it. It makes sense. It's the bittersweet. The positive and the negative sharing the same space even though it sounds impossible.

And as my bones begin to ache from the cold I think I'd be happier if he'd turn up the heat. But I'll just sit here in my Joy and listen. Sometimes it's nice to be happy.

The Job Search vs. The Job Get

A new college graduate walks in for a job interview. She's nervous and has massive amounts of energy exuding from her. She's prepared and her essence is giving off the vibe I want to be a _______. If you hire me I'll be a great ________.

30 minutes later a woman walks into the interview room. Grounded. Nothing to prove. Her essence exudes competence and she's giving off the vibe I am a ________. And I'm a great _____. And I've been doing _____. It is who I am take it or leave it.

The college graduate gives away her power. The second woman owns her power and already has it so she doesn't even need to take it.

It's the difference between wanting to do, hoping to do and doing. It's the difference between talking about it, thinking about it and the action of actually doing it. One is potential. The other is action. The world needs more action. The world needs more people who own their power. As the Nike ad says...Just do it.

Big and Little Thoughts that Rock My World

The sound of the windshield wipers offsets the pounding rain and the voice coming out of the car speakers talking about value and integrity.

I find myself drifting into thoughts of what I've learned in my life from others whether it be through books, workshops, seminars, sermons, classes, podcasts, or having coffee. Then, I thought, wouldn't it be great to have it all on one place so you can refer back to it? Ta-da. They're now going into my blogposts. Please be aware that not everyone will agree with everything. But I'm not doing this to get anyone's approval. So here it goes...