giving thanks

My kids are always asking me what my favorite holiday is, to which my consistent answer, regardless of how many times I am asked, is Thanksgiving. After the gasps of "What? Why?!" I reverse the inquiry and get the response you would expect from most kids, "Christmas and Halloween, and then my birthday."  Holidays for children are the equivalent of a looting opportunity where you see individuals grabbing any and all items within arms reach simply because it's available. It's the chance to circle 42 pages of toys in the Sears catalog just because you can. You never know if this will be the year that Santa, Grandma Mildred or Uncle Joe decide to buy out the store and gift it all to you... As a kid you can dream big and hold tight to all possibilities.

For me, however, the possibilities lie within the magic that happens on Thanksgiving. It's a holiday that is simply about being together with family; appreciating one another without the stress and expectations of gift giving; cooking together, then enjoying a delicious meal and precious conversation. Time slows down and it becomes about togetherness and gratitude.

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happy Thanksgiving.

so...

So you act, so you feel, so you are!"

60 tips for a stunningly great life

I came across an article by Robin Sharma on how to live a stunningly great life. I found his list to be profound, inspirational and worthy of following.

1. exercise daily
2. get serious about gratitude
3. see your work as craft
4. expect the best and prepare for the worst
5. keep a journal
6. read "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin"
7. plan a schedule for your week
8. know the 5 highest priorities in your life
9. say no to distractions
10. drink a lot of water
11. improve your work every single day
12. get a mentor
13. hire a coach
14. get up at 5am each day
15. eat less food
16. find more heroes
17. be a hero to someone
18. smile at strangers
19. be the most ethical person you know
20. don't settle for anything less than excellence
21. savor life's simplest pleasures
22. save 10% of your income each month
23. spend time at art galleries
24. walk in the woods
25. write thank you letters to those who've helped you
26. forgive those who've wronged you
27. remember that leadership is about influence and impact, no titles and accolades
28. create unforgettable moments with those you love
29. have 5 great friends
30. become stunningly polite
31. unplug your tv
32. sell your tv
33. read daily
34. avoid the news
35. be content with what you have
36. pursue your dreams
37. be authentic
38. be passionate
39. say sorry when you know you should
40. never miss a moment to celebrate another
41. have a vision for your life
42. know your strengths
43. focus your mind on the good vs. the lack
44. be patient
45. don't give up
46. clean up  your messes
47. use impeccable words
48. travel more
49. read "As you Think"
50. honor your parents
51. tip taxi drivers well
52. be a great teammate
53. give no energy to critics
54. spend time in the mountains
55. know your top 5 values
56. shift from being busy to achieving results
57. innovate and iterate
58. speak less. listen more.
59. be the best person you know
60. make your life matter

11 things to do with your extra hour

loved this. borrowed from Mark Morford for this years daylight savings: 

1. sip more slowly
2. savor more deeply
3. recline more languidly
4. sleep more universally
5. breathe more numinously
6. rub more euphorically
7. adjust more patiently
8. progress less furiously
9. penetrate more profoundly
10. realize less decisively
11. slink more gracefully