Daily Gratitude: “Arrive Alone; Leave Together.”

I heard this is a mystery novel and it was one of those things that just stick with you.

As I’ve been thinking of Vol State and how we all arrive in Tennessee and in many cases start out alone. But that doesn’t last long. Sure there’s the dinners and the bus ride but those are social events. The hard part is once we get going.

There are times in life when we feel all alone. But if you look around you and be open to receiving help from others, you’ll find someone to travel through life with…it may be just a slice of life but you won’t be alone.

What matters even more is that you keep your eyes open to those around you that may need help. Don’t expect them to be able to ask for help. Just reach out and offer it. And be aware they may just say “no” initially because they are embarrassed or don’t know how to accept help. Don’t believe them if you see something else in their eyes. Always pay attention to their eyes and your gut.

We all want to “leave together”. It’s just that some of us don’t really know it.

Be there for others.

Daily Gratitude: “If Today’s Date Was 12 September 2001, How Much Would This Matter?”

When things seem to be hopeless or as if a disaster is looming, stop, take a few deep breaths and ask yourself this question “if today’s date was 12 September 2001, how much would this matter?”

I’m not making fun of or diminishing the importance of anything you’re going through. And the answer to the question might actually be a lot. But, there is a distinct possibility that the answer would be “not much ”.

The point is that when something seems out of kilter, our minds go into microscope mode and everything we have is focused on that one thing. Under the microscope tiny tiny particles look gigantic. So anything we are looking at through those lenses seems gigantic. Our perspective is skewed since we’re looking through the microscope.

If we could just step back and let it be its real size and shape in relation to everything else in our existence, perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad.

This especially applies to that which we worry about – you know – those things that haven’t happened yet. The “what ifs” in our life. What if this symptom means it’s a brain tumor? What if the fact my friend is late means they don’t like me or maybe they were in a fatal accident? What if….

Well, what if it was the 12th of September 2001? What would it all look like then?

Let’s take our eyes off the microscope and put them back into everyday viewing mode. Look around you. What else do you see?

Daily Gratitude: “Friendship improves happiness and abates misery, by the doubling of our joy and the dividing of our grief.”

This is a perfect description of friendship. When two people are in sync, amazing things happen. Everything is more than doubled. It’s as if there is a rocket in each one of us but the fuel level is extremely low. Then when another person with the same level of consciousness comes into the picture, the fuel pumps are open wide and each rocket’s tank is filled to the brim. Combustion and lift off are then almost automatic.

There’s usually only a few friendships in someone’s life that are that powerful. But each of our friendships should have a special current running through them – a current that unites both parties and strengthens each.

Two people can solve problems together much more efficiently and effectively than one.

Of course it’s like a farmers field. A friendship, like his field, has to be cultivated and nurtured or it will go stagnant and won’t produce healthy crops. So make sure you take care of your field, your friendship. As with everything else inattention will destroy what you’ve built. That maxim applies not just to things but to human relationship as well.