Terrie’s Tip – It’s always wise to remember that everyone is just as important as you…and wants to be treated as such.

This is so key to existing well in our day and age especially. Everyone else is a human. You are a human. Everyone has a past that has influenced them. You have a past that has influenced you. Everyone has a variety of feelings. You have a variety of feelings. Everyone has basic human emotions. You have basic human emotions. Everyone has different ways of responding and reacting to events or triggers. You have different ways of responding and reacting to events or triggers. Everyone has fears. You have fears. Everyone want to be liked and feel important. You want to be liked and feel important.

Your job and your accomplishments don’t really make you important. They may make you stand out so others see you but you are not more important than the person who cleans the hospital rooms or picks up your garbage. Those are labels, they are just jobs. They are not really YOU and they don’t make you more important than anyone else.

Everything you have or want is exactly what other humans have or want. It’s just a matter of what color or texture the gift wrapping is that makes us “look” different.

What you want to find out is what’s underneath that gift wrapping. Just know that it’s more valuable than any present you could imagine. The gift just may surprise you. If you can look past the poorly taped paper, the lopsided bow and the spilled coffee and just be grateful for what’s inside, you will view people much differently than ever before – and you will have a much richer and more fulfilled life.

Enjoy the gift of what’s inside that other human!

One of the best questions to ask (and probably many times a day):

“Is it really important?”

I started asking that every time I noted something that seemed to irritate me – the most common one that I was “sure” was put there just to tick me off – we have two – three stop signs on our 1.5 mile street. People rarely actually stop.

So instead of being irritated and subjecting my body to the “stress chemicals” released, I’ve just been asking that question and you know what? It really helps.

Use it in any situation and it will help focus your mind on what’s really valuable.

Another beautiful site I found on my walk. But it’s not just the picture but what it represents that really struck me. As I was strolling over to one of my favorite rocks to take a break, I looked up this road – and of course the temptation roared within me – not only was it a great hill I could use for training but more importantly the signs all said “private road! Do not enter” – we all know what that does to the innards of an explorer. But alas, I begrudgingly obeyed the rules.

However, still gazing down the road I noticed what this view really means. For some it will represent a religious experience, for others something else. I’m not particularly religious (what does that mean anyway) but am very spiritual and this view represents all I know deep in my heart.

At first look you see how long and steep the hill is in the distance. You think “wow” and depending on your purpose, outlook and mood you could follow:that thought with
“whew I’m glad I don’t have to go up that one” or
“nuts, I would love to try to train on that hill” or
“man, I wonder what the view is like at the top of that thing.”

But if you look up and to the left you’ll see something even more massive – the power lines. These lines carry all the power that you need to conquer anything in life. But often we miss it and stay stuck to the ground because we don’t look up. If we do lift our head, we’ll see that there is something greater outside of us that can travel inward and propel us up any hill or mountain we have to traverse. That power is there for us. It should be used wisely and safely but once recognized and harnessed we can overcome anything that stands in our way, no matter how insurmountable it seems.

The power without becomes the power within. Use it. It’s all around us. We just have to “ask” for its help and it’s right there above us. It will guide us down the path we need to follow and push our weary bodies up that hill so we can all revel in the view.

Have a powerful weekend.

Terrie