Focus

While Aiming to be Interesting, Show Others How Much You’re Interested

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A dear friend of mine likes to say, “it’s hard to see the whole picture when you’re in the frame.” There is a lot of truth and perhaps a gentle “ouch” in that statement. Think about the last time you took a picture with a friend, family member, or other groups of people. What determines the quality of the photo (in your opinion)? It is, of course, how good YOU look in the photo!

Sure other people may have their eyes closed, mouth open, or other unflattering poses, but if the picture of you looks good, it is a “great shot.” From a very early age, all of us are always consciously aware of not only our appearance but also how others perceive us, at almost any moment in any day. This doesn’t make you a bad or vain person; it makes us human beings.

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Does Your Life Highway See Only Mile Markers or Guarantee Focus on Milestones?

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This is an unplanned second installment of a personal memoir that I began in last week’s post. I am writing to you, my friend, but at the same time, I am writing to myself. I know you will benefit from it for the same reasons that I am benefitting from it. As I learn to live more authentically as the person I believe God created me to be; I hope to help you do the same.

This week, I want to talk metaphorically about driving slower through life. This sounds easy, but I can tell you for me, and for just about everyone that I have the pleasure of interacting with, it is not. In fact, I spent most, if not all, of my adult life speeding through one thing after another. Granted, I checked a lot of things off of my “To-Do List,” but I stunk at taking time to check out my surroundings. 

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Is the Shouting Deafening Your Ability to Listen to the Whispers?

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We are all aware, or if you have somehow been able to avoid the news, you don’t have to look hard to discover that there is a lot of anger, divisiveness, and judgment pervading our society today. With hopes that the future can and will always be better, I write today to encourage you to practice kindness and goodness.

Moreover, I encourage you to turn any anger you have into acceptance, any disappointment into hope and any hurts you have into healing. Each and every one of us has the ability to change the narrative and the future. As is so often the case, my motivation, and my words today are a result of a quote I came across recently. 

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Embrace Your Past to Promote the Present of a Bright Future

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As I alluded to in last week’s post, I have recently been spending a fair amount of time learning the intricacies of the Enneagram. While I still have a great deal to learn, for me one of the most interesting discoveries I have made about myself is where my mind is generally focused.

For those of you not familiar with this centuries-old description of personality types, there are nine different types divided into three triads. For each of the three types in each triad, the people in each are generally focused either on the past, the present, or the future. Where do you fall?

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Turn Home Alone into A Beautiful Life

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Home Alone. Hard to believe that movie is 30 years old. It was a household favorite of ours when my children were little. Who knew that a then 10-year old Macaulay Culkin screaming and running through the house 30 years later would symbolize millions of Americans more or less left home alone for over four months?

If you’re like me, much of the distancing I have been doing for months now feels like a lot more than just social. It’s emotional. It’s mental. And it’s psychological. But just like young Kevin in Home Alone, we have to learn to adjust. We may have to psyche ourselves up a bit, but in the end, we will learn a lot about ourselves and come to appreciate others more.

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