Worry for Chocolate

Worrying Accomplishes Absolutely Nothing.

Worrying is Not Good for You.

Worrying is the Opposite of Trusting God.

Worrying Puts Your Focus in the Wrong Direction.

 

 

 



When I was a child, the Lenten season almost always meant giving up candy or at the very least chocolate. (Yes, I developed a sweet tooth at an early age.) It was maddening. But I knew there was a light at the end of the tunnel and that in a mere 40 days, I'd be chowing down on chocolate eggs and bunnies till I was sick. This was the pattern--six weeks of deprivation followed by overindulgence.  From my innocent perspective, it made Easter that much more joyous--because it painted such a dramatic black and white contrast for me. Lent was sad and barren with no chocolate and Easter was happy and overflowing with guilt-free chocolate to my heart's content.

As an adult, I discovered another approach to Lenten fasting. This approach maintained that whatever you gave up for Lent, you simply gave up. You wouldn't revive it---or overindulge in it--once Lent ended. I found this theory very interesting but I just didn’t know if I could do it.  I had never met anyone who had succeeded in this approach.

 

Still the idea of changing a habit for good was intriguing to me, and led me to this Lent's extraordinary journey. Instead of chocolate, I decided to give up something that was even more precious to me than chocolate, but something that I could (and, in fact, wanted to) live without for the rest of my life. I chose to give up worry. I had no idea that it would prove to be far more challenging than any chocolate deprivation I had ever tried.

 

Now in case you're thinking that this is some kind of cop-out to the discipline of giving up sweets, you need to understand that I have long considered myself the "Princess of Fret" being the royal daughter of the "Queen of Worry." I never intended this moniker to be a self-fulfilling prophesy--but there is power in words. Claiming myself as a worrier contributed to my being a worrier. (It came close to serving as a kind of valid excuse. 'Well, you know, I am the Princess of Fret after all.) Worry felt like a part of my DNA.

 

Giving up worry was a total game changer for me. I found myself saying things like, "Well, I just can't worry about that because I gave up worry for Lent!" And I sincerely wasn't trying to be flip. I was just trying to practice of discipline of letting go and trusting. I was actually surprised to discover how many times the habit of worry had crept into my daily existence. It was far more prevalent than chocolate. So the clever response became my practice, and the practice began to change the way I viewed situations in my world.  

 

As often happens when one is in tune with the universe, I was given lots of signs and encouragement in my resolve to rid myself of worry. One such encouragement came in the form of a simple gesture that I learned in an online book group. It was proposed as a way to pray. A person was to think about something they were clinging too closely to and then close it tightly in one’s hand. The next step in the prayer was to open wide the hand and give it over to God. It is a gesture of trust and surrender, and a willingness to give up control. This, I knew was at the heart of my worrying.

 

I began to apply the gesture every time that I felt worry creeping in or whenever I felt that I needed to control a situation that was obviously out of my control. I simply make a fist and then open up my hand and send my worry on its happy little way.

 

I am marching forth into a future that has much less worry in it. Happy Easter!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When the sun shines within

On the merits of a personal holiday

There is something to be said for celebrating a quirky day that is your own personal holiday.

For one thing there are no social expectations that you "should" have a good day because it is Christmas or Easter for goodness sakes or possibly your birthday. Sometimes when those days roll around, you just can't get into the right spirit, and that makes you feel all the worse. You may feel guilty or decide to fake a good mood until the day is done. It is tricky to be joyful on demand.

But with a personal holiday, the world is a brighter place--because it is lit from within you. When the sun is shining in your heart--the external circumstances simply don't matter. The weather could be formidable, bleak and dreary. You could struggle with every task before you. But it would all look like you were viewing the world through your proverbial "rose-colored-glasses." The power of positive thinking cannot be understated!

Now people may criticize you for being so upbeat. They may call you a Pollyanna--someone who can only see the positives in each situation. And they will mean this as a put-down.

Who cares? It is just too much fun to see the lighter side of life. Yes, there is pain. Yes there are sorrows and trials and crosses to bear. But there is also hope and friendship and blessings at every turn. Both exist in this world. I just happen to dwell on the positives whenever I can.

So today, all has been right with the world. The birds sang a little sweeter. Lunch was a little bit tastier. I worked just a little more intensely during my exercise time. It was an ordinary day, made extraordinary by sheer perspective--and the thoughtfulness of many, many friends.

Thank you all for joining me in this annual celebration of March 4th. I am unable to suppress my smile!

That's what it's all about!

Hurrah!

Last week I learned that someone I recently met was encouraged and strengthened in a time of personal trial by the assurance that comes from March 4th!  Hearing stories like hers convinces me that March 4th is a gift to the world!

This new acquaintance and I are members of a book group that meets online. Since our group meets on Monday, I naturally shared with everyone about how I celebrate March 4th as "National Do Something Day" which falls on Monday this year. During our meeting last week,one of the women told me that she had clung to the thought of Marching Forth and it had helped her tremendously.

She was originally scheduled to begin her new job on March 4th. Anything new can be scary, but her transition was particularly difficult because of the treatment she received from the former employer. She shared me with how she just kept repeating, "I need to March Forth, I just need to March Forth." And that little mantra helped her get through it. All glory goes to God! I felt like a kid on Christmas morning. I couldn't have been happier knowing that I had a small part to play in this gift.

I am here to tell you that I have heard stories similar to this from people who have remembered March 4th--and found it to be a source of strength. I continue to tell people about March 4th because I have witnessed its power. It is similar to the North Star post from January.

If, at the very least, thinking of March 4th brings a smile to someone's face it is worth it. (Smiles are contagious you know, and quite therapeutic.) Small gift or large, I am more than happy to share March 4th with all of you and ask that you share it with others as well.

And, if you happen to hear about any other inspiring stories related to March 4th, please feel free to comment below or post it on the March 4th Fan Page.

Marching Forth filled with joy!

(P.S. And you thought the hokey-pokey was what it was all about!)

A heart-felt thanks!

"And the greatest of these is love."

This is a shout-out to all of the wonderful people in my family who showered me with valentine cards earlier this month. The out-pouring of love was completely unexpected--I even received a Valentine from my niece's cat. It was such a pleasure to open my mailbox for nearly a week and search for a cheerful red envelope or two each day.

The women in my family are not outdone in their thoughtfulness. From silly to serious to homemade adorable, these were the best valentine's ever and the sweetest card shower I have ever received. I hope to "pay it forward" and instigate some future showers of my own.

Those who love have learned the most precious lesson of this fragile life. Love is the greatest gift of all. May the love you share come back to you packed down and overflowing!

Marching forth enfolded in love!

Let's do the time warp again

“Love is the food of life, but travel is the dessert.”

 

Having recently returned from a trip to visit my dear sister, I’ve been pondering the phenomenon of why time seems to slow down while I am on vacation. Even if I am visiting a loved one, and know that our time together will be over all too soon, it still has the effect of a luxuriously slower pace –an expansion of time. Even if I am away on business and attending lots of meetings, it still seems like weeks have passed when I return. Why is that?

What does the old saying, “Love is the food of life, but travel is the dessert” tell us. It seems to imply that it the sweetest part of our life. Since we don’t have dessert at every meal, it is a treat. And for those of us who possess a sweet tooth, it is very often the best part of the meal. At the very least, it is the part of the meal that we look forward to. So perhaps traveling—or more precisely—changing our venue provides that sweet complement to a savory life.

Now the travel part isn’t always fun (think airport security lines.) But the time spent in a different environment can bring about a recharge of the old “batteries”. With new scenery and new adventures, travel allows us to an opportunity to practice being in-the-moment. We don’t want to miss a single thing, so we are keenly aware of all that is happening. Food seems to taste better, the sky seems more spectacular, and our senses are sharpened.

In some cases, it is all so new to us that we really need to focus on what we’re doing. We are out of our comfort zone and must adapt to the changes with some new skill sets. And this doesn’t just apply to exotic travel or extreme outdoor adventures. It could be a simple as cooking something new for you in a kitchen that is not your own.

Ah, so maybe this is the key. When we focus on something, time slows down.  Haven’t you ever become so absorbed in something that you completely lost track of time? Perhaps this is a lesson that travel can teach us. Perhaps the art of focusing is something we could bring to our everyday life. It will never replace the sweetness of travel, but it could serve to refresh us on our daily journey.

Keep focusing on marching forth!

Hey! Not so fast!

"...modern life is moving faster than the speed of thought, or thoughtfulness." - Rebecca Solnit in Wanderlust: A History of Walking


I came across this quote in a book about walking and found that it captures exactly my feelings about the pace of the world I am living in. Now one could argue that as one ages, life seems to travel at an ever-quickening pace. But people of a “certain age” are not very inclined to believe that age is a factor in anything negative. So being of a certain age, I continue to search for a better explanation for the speed of life.

And here it is. It may just be that our rate of thinking is directly tied to our speed of walking. If I walk at 3 miles an hour--maybe my brain works at about the same speed. As modern technology spins at an increasingly dizzying rate, some of our minds just can't keep up. I like this theory, especially because it isn't necessarily connected to age. After all, people of varying ages walk at varying paces. I also like it because it connects the mind and body, which is quite holistic.

How we walk is how we think.

Years ago I read a delightful book, If You Want to Write, by Brenda Ueland. In it, she recommends that would-be writers spend at least 30 minutes a day walking out in nature to really unlock their creative juices.  At the time I read that, I thought it was a kind of strange remedy. I mean walking is so --pardon me for saying this--pedestrian! Certainly writers need a much deeper experience as a muse. But Ueland was insistent. It was considered non-negotiable. If you want to write, you must walk!

Now, I'm sure there is a famous doctor who would "heartily" agree with this prescription. (Oh my, another pun!) Dr. Oz continually adds to his list the numerous benefits of walking. Beyond the obvious physical benefits, studies are now pointing out the mental benefits of walking--something about preventing memory loss--if I remember correctly.

So walking is very good for our thoughts--but what about our thoughtfulness? I used to have a quote posted above my desk at work that said "The devil loves haste." I had it there to remind me that when I became too preoccupied with pressing tasks, I tended to become less tolerant of those around me. In other words, the busier I was, the nastier I became. It wasn't intentional. I didn't load up my plate just so I could be short-tempered and irritable. It didn't occur to me that productivity and thoughtfulness could be mutually exclusive. But I saw enough evidence of the pattern to post the sign as a reminder/warning.

It should come as no surprise then that thoughtlessness and bullying have increased in our fast-paced world. Perhaps we have traded consideration for efficiency. It’s almost as if we are on a wild ride that spins and loops so much that our thoughtfulness falls out like loose change from our pockets.

The solution may be right at our feet! It is time for us to march forth on a walk and let our pace reset our priorities.

 

Just keep swimming!

If fish could march

If fish could march they would march in groups for safety.

They understand the importance of community!

If fish could march they would be persistent—like trout swimming upstream.

They understand the importance of faith!

If fish could march they would keep their sense of humor.

They understand the importance of hope!

We could learn a lot from fish.
 

Just keep marching, just keep marching…

And if I were Miss America...

"Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me."


The other day, I had an interesting train of thought that I'd like to share with you. It all began when someone asked me what my top three most wanted wishes might be--anything, in the whole wide world. I jokingly asked if "world peace" was off the table. I was told that it could be anything. So I gave it due consideration.

In the end, I decided that my top wish is that everyone in the world might know their worth as a loved child of God. If we all really and truly believe how crazy in love God is with us, and live our lives in that knowledge, then world peace just might be achieved. We would have no need for ego or greed, or hatred or whatever else sparks discord the world over. We would be in right relationship with God, and with each other. It isn't just a lofty wish, or a socially appropriate answer. It is my heart's ardent desire.

So then I decided to ask someone else, what their top three wishes were. And guess what? World peace came out as number one again. This got me thinking. It has become cliché that runners up for Miss-America-type pageants often cite world peace as their fondest dream. The saying goes, "When in doubt, just respond 'world peace' and everyone will love you." Ball-gown-wearing-contestants aside, I began to wonder if world peace might not be everyone's secret hope. I confess I didn't conduct much research beyond my two case studies--so none of this has any statistical validity whatsoever. It just became the engine to a train of thought.

The next car on the train looked like this: If we, as a people, collectively long for peace in this world, then does it follow that the current lack of peace is weighing heavy on our collective minds. If you are like me, you will find person after person who is "so tired" or just kind of "depressed." Could this be a result of our deep, sub-conscious disappointment that we do not live in a harmonious world? We are connected more than we realize. Peace becomes an anti-dote to depression.

The last car on my train of thought brought me to how world peace might be realized, and I was reminded of a song I learned years ago. Peace has to begin with me. I must live each moment in peace. That is the simple, but not easy answer. There are so many theories that point to the idea that if something is possible for one, it is possible for all. So the song writer may be on to something. Seek after peace, and pursue it.

Marching forth one peaceful moment at a time...

The long and winding road

“Traveler, there is no road; you make the road by walking.” - Antonio Machado

Did you ever have one of those days when the same message kept appearing to you in different forms? In these past few days this one march-forth-y (c’mon, if I can make up a national holiday, I can certainly make up words to go along with it) message keeps occurring for me. In the spirit of serendipity I will share it for your consideration.

Yesterday, I was watching an amazing documentary, Rise and Dream (http://www.riseanddream.org) about these young people in the Philippines who set out to put on a concert. In an early scene they are scouting the area where the stage is to be built. It is an overgrown mess of a field. Someone asks, “Where is the path?” The answer comes, “There is no path—you make the path.” In this scene, it is literally true. They have to make their own way through the brush in the field—and avoid the dangerous copperhead snakes that infest it. But this statement also has profound implications for these young people who are working mightily to help pull themselves and their families out of poverty. They are creating their own life path.  

 

That message was reinforced today, when I encounter a quote placed quietly at the end of an email. You know so many people place quotes in their signature line—but I don’t always read them. This one caught my eye, because it echoed the theme of the message I heard in the film.  (For all I know, the person in the film may have been paraphrasing this actual quote.) “Traveler, there is no road; you make the road by walking.” – Antonio Machado. What an extraordinary thought! This takes the first quote one step further (no pun intended.) The road is made through the act of walking. Instead of looking for the road—we are already on the road, by virtue of our choices and direction and ACTION.

This brings me to the third message that came today in a blog I receive from the Center for Action and Contemplation. (https://cac.org/)  Fr. Richard Rohr says, “You do not think yourself into a new way of living as much as you live your way into a new way of thinking.” In other words, sometimes an inner experience prompts one to action, and sometimes an action reveals an inner experience along the journey. As someone who has the habit of over-thinking things, I wonder if I could choose to act and live my way into a new way of thinking. I just love the possibilities this idea opens up for me!

To borrow from the Nike tag-line, “Just Do It—And Become It.”

Marching forth on the road of my own making!

 

Every Day is a Gift

"Carpe Diem!
Rejoice while you are alive; enjoy the day; live life to the fullest; make the most of what you have." - Horace

This quote really captures what March 4th is all about.  Since we are about 33 days out, I thought it was about time I focused in a little more on the history of this amazing day. (For those just tuning in, this entire blog is devoted to the positive energy that moves us to march forth!)

I began celebrating March 4th many years ago. Initially, it was just a joke shared between two bored teenagers in music class at school. While passing a note we made the connect that the day was a command--March forth!--- and we struggled to suppress our giggles until class was dismissed.

While in college, I managed to send a few handmade cards to family and friends back home to mark the day, and to assure them that I had not lost my silly sense of humor amid the rigorous studies. When I moved even farther away from home, the cards became less frequent (handmade cards back in the days before sophisticated software were very labor-intensive) and calls became the norm. I relished getting calls and/or make-shift cards from those who might remember the day.

In all truth, March 4th became more popular than my birthday and I didn't mind it one bit. It made sense to me that although random dates are difficult to remember, a date associated with a pun--and a person made it almost impossible to forget! And so, my very own personal holiday was born.

And while March 4th is the day to, well, march forth and do something positive, it has by association made every day just that much more precious. Each day is a gift. May all of your days leading up to and following March 4th be filled to the brim with more blessings and joy and life than you could possibly imagine!

To those who came before us

Sometimes to move forward, it can be inspiring to look back and see just how far you've come. That can happen when exploring our roots. Today I was immersed in family genealogy. My creative imagination pictured the lives of those who have gone before me, and it reminded me that I come from strong stock.

Trying to put together the pieces of people's lives---'oh, that's how she ended up there'--or, 'how sad they lost their child so young'--makes them seem so real and so vulnerable. They are no less real because they are gone. In fact, to me they are very real because we share something together. We share family. Families live through the beautiful times and the hard times. Perhaps it is in the struggles where a family finds its greatest strength.

As if to place an exclamation point on the end of my experience, I attended a vigil Mass in a church that has beautiful stained glass windows bearing the names of my brother-in-laws ancestors. Even though they aren't my direct family, it gave me pause to think about all of the adventures and hardships these folks went through as they settled this land, and built an amazing house of worship to boot. Their names are literally etched into the stained glass---leaving a legacy for all of those who would follow them.

I have no idea what history will say of me someday. It doesn't really matter. What matters to me is that I can continue to march forth in my own way, and perhaps allow my own struggles to give me my greatest strength.

Marching forth to a history not yet made!

The gift of unexpected time

Feels Like a Snow Day

Snow days! For school children, the mere mention of it inspires unfettered joy. Children get more excited about snow days than scheduled vacation days.  Even students who love school relish snow days, so it must not be the lure of getting out of school that causes such elation.  And if we are honest, many adults who don’t have to work on a snow day, are delighted to curl up with a cup of hot cocoa and a good book. 

 Why do you suppose that is? I think it is because snow days are unexpected gifts. We planned on something and then are plans are magically changed—and we don’t even mind it. If you think about it, a snow day is kind of like Sabbath in that everything comes to a screeching halt. Often we are unable to travel and there are no obligations to visit people as is customary for a regularly scheduled holiday. It is just a gloriously free day.

We don’t get too many snow days where I live, so they are a cause celeb! I extend my apologies to those of you who have suffered through too many snow days lately due to our unpredictable weather patterns.  Sometimes too much of a good thing can just be too much.

The point I am trying to make is that there is something special about the gift of unexpected time. You may have experienced this at your work place when a meeting is suddenly cancelled and no one seems to complain. (People suppress big grins and stifle sighs of relief so that the boss doesn’t think they are just a bit too happy about it.) And even though we all ultimately fill up the free time with snowball fights and sledding on snow days, or catch up on work when a block of time opens up, the gift of time is no less precious.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could treat each new day as the precious gift that it is? What if we didn’t take the days for granted---if we learned to see the joy even amidst our normal schedules?  Snow days will always be special. I believe each day has a specialness all its own.

March forth into the gift of future days!

I gotta be me!

Be who you are and be that perfectly well. – St. Francis de Sales

 

If quotes were food, then this is my chicken noodle soup (with lots of chicken and thick noodles on a cold winter’s day.) It is that comforting to me. When I am reminded of this quote, a smile spreads across my heart, and I let out a collective sigh. What a relief! I just have to be the best me that I can be. How hard is that?

So many wise people have said the same thing in different ways over the years. Why do we constantly need to be reminded to just be ourselves? Well, for my part, growing up in a nation who economic base is strengthened by convincing me that I need such-and-such an item in order to be fulfilled, a sense of inadequacy just seems to come with the territory. I am smart enough to know that nothing good comes from comparing me to another—but I find myself doing it time and time again. And that innate sense of incompleteness and “not-good-enough-ness” breeds self-criticism and self-doubt.

What kind of transformation might take place in our world if everyone relaxed and appreciated themselves for who they were created to be? What if we saw ourselves as gifts—simply by virtue of who we are? What if we celebrated our unique ordinariness? It may sound to some to be just too good to be true. Don’t I have to strive for some kind of higher level of awareness? Don’t I have to constantly work toward self-improvement? What if who I am isn’t very good?

Ah, but you are good. And that is the whole point. I’m confident that St. Francis de Sales did not mean that we should be the best corrupt and evil individuals that we could be. I’m sure he is speaking from the position that we are all created good and are meant to contribute to the good in this world.

What is freeing is the understanding that being ourselves is the way we bring goodness to this world. Instead of trying to find the right path, we are already on the right path. Instead of trying to become someone great, we already are someone great. There will never be another one like us in this entire universe! Whatever we choose to bring to the world is just what the world needs.

Marching forth-- just as I am!

Can you hear me now?

"The first duty of love is to listen.” --Paul Tillich

The other day I was having a rough time. Some worrisome thoughts were taking up residence in my mind, and I found myself easily distracted. Despite the nagging troubles, I had made plans to meet a friend for lunch just to catch up.

As we hadn't visited with each other in a while, the natural questions arose about how life was going for each of us. I managed to deflect the attention from me with a somewhat moody, "I'm not that great, but I don't really want to talk about it right now." My friend was respectful and didn't push the issue. That opened the door for her to share, and I was secretly relieved and content to just sit back and listen.

About halfway through our lunch, the nagging worries returned and I felt myself becoming distracted from the conversation. I was so overwhelmed that I almost felt disconnected from the room. It was the closest I've felt to a physical experience of having my thoughts take me somewhere else. You know that expression--'you seem a million miles away'? That's how I felt! My friend's conversation was important, and I didn't want to miss it because I was losing focus. I really wanted to be there for her. I repeated to myself, "The first duty of love is to listen" and grace pulled me back into the space we were both occupying at the restaurant.

After our visit, she was so grateful for the opportunity to sort out much of what was on her mind. I found it an absolute privilege to be there for her. It is not always easy to listen--especially for an extravert like me. And it is extremely difficult to listen when your own thoughts are swirling around in your head and demanding your attention. But the act of love--true genuine care and concern for another--is a powerful gift. One of those gifts that is wonderful for both the giver and the receiver.

My friend and I parted company with the promise to get together again soon, and on that occasion she said it would be her turn to listen!

Marching forth with ears wide open...

In the middle of difficulty

 “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein

It’s been a really long day, so I will keep this short. Today I had the opportunity to travel to a city about 3 hours away to participate in a meaningful event. Even though the day was naturally extended by the early morning departure, it felt even longer because it took me out of my routine. Further, it took me out of myself to have the honor to share the day with deeply committed people who are sacrificing for what they believe in.

We all willing trudged from this venue to that venue to participate in all that was being presented. It wasn’t easy—pilgrimages seldom are. There were challenges at every turn—not the least of which was the challenge of dressing for both inside and outdoor events—layers notwithstanding. There were also many opportunities and blessings lying within our difficulties. There was much laughter, inspiration and camaraderie among all of us. In this day and age of apathy and cynicism, it is refreshing to find people who really care about a cause.

May you march forth through your difficulties to discover the opportunities that await.

Go lightly

Angels fly because they take themselves lightly. - G.K.Chesterton

Today I was productively making my way through my to-do list at work, when a co-worker called and asked me to help with a simple task. Being in a generous mood, I quickly said yes without giving it much thought. That is where I should have stopped.

Once I hung up the phone and began to "over think" the request, my mind swirled with a bunch of "what ifs." So I called my co-worker back and began my litany of queries about many of the details that I assumed I needed to know to fulfill this task. Let me be clear--I wasn't trying to go back on my word or get myself out of the commitment. I was just blowing it out of proportion and making it more difficult than it needed to be.

Then I was blessed with an insight. I knew that my co-worker was really busy on a number of projects, and that she had simply asked me to take on one thing. Now I was "obsessing" over the one thing she had tried to take off her plate. I was suddenly aware of how unhelpful I was being.

So, I said to myself, "You know what? I'm going to take this responsibility seriously and do a good job, but I am not going to take myself seriously. I will treat this lightly." I remembered that quote by G.K. Chesterton and I smiled to myself. I told my co-worker that I would be just fine with this task and then really left it at that.

What a joy to take oneself lightly and know that all will be well in the end. May you lightly and happily march forth!

On finding your quest

It only takes a spark...

Have you ever found yourself in the presence of someone who was so enthusiastically passionate about something that you couldn't help but share in the excitement? It is energizing and uplifting to merely bask in their zeal. I had that privilege this weekend. A friend of mine shared his personal quest with a group of us, and it was nothing less than inspiring. The focus, and the commitment, and the pure clarity with which this person explained his quest--his north star--filled us with a kind of collaborative joy. We wanted him to succeed, whether or not we believed in his quest, but because he believed in it so strongly.
 
The nobility of his purpose was not unlike the character of Don Quixote fighting windmills in Man of La Mancha. (Now I'm not saying that my friend is crazy--though others may think him so. Such may be the fate of those who follow the dreams that others may find impractical.)
 
For my part, I found it refreshing to hear someone share a goal that meant so much to him. It wasn't one of those "new year resolution" kind of goals--one of those "Someday, I really want to ________(fill in the blank.) No, this was a very intentional, very measurable goal, and as it happens, very unlikely to be achieved. Perhaps that is what made it so inspiring.  As realistic as he was, and as honest as he was about his doubts, he was absolutely sure that this was a goal that he wanted to pursue—no matter the outcome.

As a result, the room was filled with electricity as he spoke. When I had the opportunity to share his story with a mutual friend the next day, I relayed it with the same degree of excitement and vitality and the spark of energy was transferred to yet another person.

I believe this is what occurs when we have struck upon a true quest--an authentic north star--a raison d'etre if you will. When the simple sharing of our vision stirs and inspires others who have no previous invested interest or buy-in or when a new energy is created by just the idea, we have come upon something pure and true, and worthy of pursuit.

I encourage you to take some time to dream about what it is that you really want to pursue in this life and seek after your true quest. It doesn't have to be a quest in the traditional sense--a physical journey--but you will know you have found it when others are drawn to the energy of your purpose. This is powerful stuff.

May my friend march on his quest, and may we all seek and find quests worthy of marching forth!

 

Time keeps on slipping into the future

Awake, O sleeper!

My sister owns an alarm clock that has brought us much laughter over the years. It is in the shape of a whimsical cow sporting a pair of overalls. When the alarm goes off, you first hear the persistent clank of a cow bell followed by a voice that sounds to us just like Arnold Schwarzenegger saying, "Wake up! Don't sleep your life away." (Trust me. It sounds hysterical AND prompts you to get moving at the same time!)

Sometimes a life filled with responsibilities and expectations causes me to want to roll over in bed and sleep in. This is especially true on the those rare days when I don't have to get up. Now occasionally sleeping in is fine--a treat, really. But just like most treats, it should be used in moderation. I can hear the cow in my head exhorting me--"don't sleep your life away."

Even wide awake, we can sometimes "sleep" our lives away by not being present to the moment, or by simply going through the motions and longing for changes that we may be too afraid to make.
Life can be exhausting at times. Our blessing is to find the joy--even in the mundane responsibilities and risk the changes that will energize us. This is how we stay "awake" to all that this beautiful journey has to offer.

In the words of the Steve Miller band, "Time keeps on slippin', slippin' into the future." Don't let this life pass you by. Wake up and March forth!

http://www.timeanddate.com/countdown/party?iso=20130304T00&p0=403&msg=March+Forth%21&csz=1

Stumbling forward

"But never forget that you can only stumble, if you're moving."
- Richard P. Carlton

I love this quote! The practical truth of it is almost amusing. It is very difficult to physically stumble, if you are standing still. (I'm sure in my klutziness that I would find a way--but it would be tricky!)

Beyond the obvious, this is a very profound statement. It is very empowering to those of us who instinctively know perfectionism is unattainable, but strive after it none-the-less. It is OK to stumble. We are only human. After all, how many times did Edison fail before he finally invented the light bulb? Why is it OK? Because we are moving--progress is being made. We are at least making an effort.

It is also very encouraging to those of us who might prefer to keep our proverbial boats safely tucked in a harbor. In other words, we don't want to venture out into the unknown, despite the fact that the adventures awaiting us may be delightful. What if we mess up? What if we go the wrong way? We just want to stay put. We don't want to stumble--or capsize our boats.

But if we do venture out and continue to move forward, and make the mistakes that ultimately happen along the way, we will have journeyed--and will find ourselves in a new place. Just as growth is essential for life, so stumbling is part of movement and growth. So, if you find yourself stumbling a bit as you go through life, be glad that you are moving and dynamic and joining in the parade of life that is very humanly marching forth!

The power of a picture

Disclaimer: Even though I love the outdoors, I'm not a particularly athletic type. I'm more like an accidental adventurer who is drawn to crazy adventures way beyond my comfort level. Case in point: rock climbing at Seneca Rocks West Virginia. Here's what happened...

Many years ago, while visiting some offices in Washington DC, I glimpsed a poster of a beautiful rock formation. Turns out it was a poster of Seneca Rocks. It also turns out that the poster belonged to a new acquaintance of mine who with his wife operates a wilderness retreat at Seneca Rocks called On Belay. When I heard that, I thought "No way! They are insane. I would never do anything like that!"

Fast-forward a few years--I am now friends with this couple-- and I find myself at their home politely flipping through photo albums of past On Belays. That's when it happened. I saw that the participants weren't these amazingly young and fit athletes that you typically see in rock climbing pictures. They were, in fact, all ages and all sizes. And I began to visualize myself among them. Slowly the idea crept into my head, "Well, gosh, I think I could do that, if they could do it."

Within a year, I was among the "insane" team who willingly trudged up the side of a rock face at Seneca Rocks that rises nearly 1000 feet from the valley floor. The night before our summit, I was making my way in the darkness of the campground from the bath house to our tents and I encountered one of the other new participants on the path. We both stood in silence for a while looking up at the peak looming above us in the moonlight, and finally we uttered in unison--"we must be out of our minds!"--and broke into laughter.

What would prompt a mild-mannered Midwesterner who had never climbed a rock face in her life to take on such a challenge? I am convinced it was the visualization of it. I pictured myself doing it, and before you know it I was doing it. There have been countless studies of visualization techniques particularly among athletes--you know, visualize yourself making the basket and such--but it was the first time in my life that it actually worked.

So, if an accidental adventurer can view forest-blanketed valleys from 1,000 feet up simply by visualizing herself doing it, just imagine what you might be able to accomplish if you begin to visualize your own goals.

Oh, and you may not be surprised to know that to this day, a poster of Seneca Rocks graces my office wall. A visual reminder to me that I can overcome obstacles and continue to (sometimes vertically) march forth!

How long is a new year new?

 

It all started yesterday, when I ended a note with the sameline I've been using since the beginning of this month--"Peace in the new year." As I wrote it I thought, "Does this sound dated? Is it still the new year?" Then today day I read a subject line in my inbox from a business that was promoting work out clothes that said, "Remember January 1?"--As if January 1st was sooo long ago.

People--it's only been just over two weeks! I can't even kick a habit in two short weeks (although I am happy to say that I'm on my 16th day of no diet Coke.) So it got me to thinking, how long is a new year new? In this day and age when time seems to move so quickly, and we all get easily bored, we have the tendency to say "That is SO yesterday!"

If one year represented a person's life and that person lived to be 100 years old, then 2013 is just under 5 years old--not even in real school yet. A five-year old in my book is very young--but would this person be considered new?

Just for fun, I looked up the word new and found 10 definitions. I offer them with a brief commentary for your consideration.

1. Recently made, created or invented
(Since God makes all things new, each day is created anew)
2. Not yet used by anyone else
  (Your life is being written as we speak---no one else is writing it)
3. Replacing existing one
 (Make 2013 qualitatively better than 2012--don't repeat the same mistakes)
4. Recently discovered or noticed
 (I love this one! Try looking at your life through the eyes of someone who knows nothing about you. Everything you see and do is fresh!)
5.With recently acquired status
(Giving a newfound importance to some aspect of your life actually makes it new)
6. Previously unfamiliar
(We know what we've planned for this year--but we don't know what we don't know. There will be surprises in store for us)
7. Unused to something
(Trying new things can make us uncomfortable, we are not used to it. But the discomfort is ultimately worth it)
8.Changed
 (see # 3)
9. Revived or different
(My second favorite definition. At any point in time we can revive our view of life and create a new environment to thrive in!)
10. Early: Appearing early in the season
(This is the time for the "first fruits"--but we can choose the season in which to gather them)

Happily marching forth into this new year!

Why not make yourself happy?

I like a small shopping center located not far from where I live. Included in the mix of little shops are a handy hardware store, a quaint restaurant that I like to frequent, and a reliable auto repair shop. (I can actually drop off my car for an oil change and get in a nice 60-minute walk roundtrip from my house.) The convenience of this shopping area means that I visit this neighborhood a lot.

Now directly opposite from the parking lot of this shopping area is a residential house. And posted in really big letters right over their garage are the following words: "Most People Are About As Happy As They Make Up Their Minds To Be." I smile every time I see it---and I see it often.

Is it true? Are we all just about as happy as we choose to be? Could it really be that simple? We hear and see ads all of the time assuring us we'll be happy when we--retire with enough money--find the perfect house (or bed or car or whatever)--simplify our lives. You name it. There appears to be a remedy for happiness for just about everyone out there. (I admit that I have accumulated quite a few books with some reference to happiness in the title.) Our current society is built on the premise that we have unfulfilled needs--that can only be met by whatever society is trying to "sell" us. No good can come from comparing our lives to others--but it just comes naturally to us, doesn't it?

What I find particularly interesting about the quote over the garage is that it has been attributed to Abraham Lincoln. Having just watched the new Lincoln movie that's out, I can see that Mr. Lincoln did not exactly live a life that would promote happiness. He and his wife struggled to find happiness throughout their married life. There is even a point in the movie when he tells his wife something along the lines of "We need to try to be happier."

So making up our minds to be happy has little to do with our circumstances, and more to do with our attitude. I know that most of us know this--but it is just too easy to forget. Remember when our moms told us "It takes more muscles in our face to frown than to smile"? Today, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) which is a psychological practice that uses language processing to consciously change the way we respond to reality puts it this way. From Mark Shepard, a certified master NLP practitioner:

"You can make yourself happy, or you can make yourself miserable. The amount of effort is the same. So if it takes the same amount of effort, why not make yourself happy?"

Happily marching forth!

Don't give up...You are loved!

It one month until Valentine's Day---so I thought we could all use an early Valentine message. Over the weekend, I was listening to a CD and the song "You are loved (Don't give up)" by Josh Groban came up. I love this song--and it is a great message for all March 4thers!

We can move forward because we are loved. Love compels us, it sets us in motion. Please don't ever doubt that you are loved! Let that love fuel you to continue to persevere--even if it is a Monday in the middle of winter.

Fr. Richard Rohr puts it this way:

 "If you keep listening to the love, if you keep receiving the love, trusting the love—even with all your limitations, with all your unworthiness, with all your limited intellect or whatever you feel holds you back—you start to experience within yourself a sense of possibility."

Here's to the possibilities and to marching forth!

Perseverance is a great element of success

"Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody." - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Just today I attended a meeting, where each participant was asked to share something about their holiday break--can you tell this meeting included teenagers? I didn't have much to report, so I shared how I had embarked on a new daily blog all about March 4th. One of the adult participants asked how anyone could write daily about such a topic. My astonished reply was, "How could you NOT write daily about such an important issue?"

It reminded of me of a recent commercial about teeth whitening that states "If you aren't whitening, you are yellowing." This is a shadow of the more emphatic quote from the movie Shawshank Redemption, "Either get busy living or get busy dying." To me, this means you are either heading in one direction, or you are heading in the other. There is no standing still. There is no status quo. If this true, then I personally choose to march forth.

As I write this, I realize just how overly dramatic I sound. But as if to reaffirm my conviction in the power of positively moving forward, when I returned home from the meeting I opened my latest issue of The Intelligent Optimist magazine and saw that the issue was devoted to the topic of persistence! In fact, the Longfellow quote is from an article in that issue.

Since I have only begun this blogging journey, history may prove my esteemed colleague right. I may find myself running out of things to say. But I just don't see it. Everyday can serve as a reminder of the power of positive thinking that is inherent in the celebration of March 4th. So, happy marching forth!

PS--In addition to the Shawshank Redemption, other movies that vividly portray persistence include Amazing Grace and the new Lincoln movie.

You are braver than you believe

Some years ago, I was on a spiritual retreat in beautiful Snowman, CO. The landscape in the valley was simply glorious, and I was anxious to get out and enjoy a hike. When free time finally rolled around, a few us of asked the retreat leader for some good trails to explore. He casually remarked there was an "easy" hike up to the top of a nearby peak that afforded some impressive views. Four of us jumped up and set out for the adventure.

The trail seemed easy enough, and the climb was gentle. But when we drew closer to the top, we discovered that the path to the peak was completely blocked by thick and painful sticker bushes. Without a guide, we couldn't figure out how to get to the point on the hill. We knew the path was allegedly easy, but which path should we take? We finally agreed upon what is known as a "goat trail"--a very narrow pathway that only a sure-footed animal would attempt. It was located on the side of the hill, with very little margin for error.

I won't lie to you, it was scary. The ground itself was crumbly and one slip would send you rolling down the hill in an instant to a very hazardous, if not fatal end. I tried to recall every hiking tip I'd ever learned. How to position my feet, where to apply the weight--even the "don't look down" advice was applicable in this situation. Slowly, and cautiously we made our way out to the point. It wasn't a knife edge--it was the edge of the knife.

We all made it out and back without any accidents, but none of us felt very comfortable about the path we had chosen. You can see two of my hiking companions making their way along the goat trail in the photo below. Why did we move forward? Something in us really wanted to succeed--and success for us was reaching the very top of that hill. And upon reflection, I believe I moved forward because I believed I could do it. The retreat master had told us it was an easy hike. I can DO easy hikes!

"You are braver than you believe,

stronger than you seem,

smarter than you think." - Winnie the Pooh

I  felt brave that day because I moved forward, even though I was afraid. And isn't that what courage is all about. In life, when the way seems scary, try to remember that you are, in fact, braver than you believe--and keep marching forth!

Be yourself...everyone else is taken

I was raised in an atmosphere where I felt encouraged to be unique. This may have been due in part to the fact that I am the middle child of a seven children, so claiming uniqueness was my way to try to "stand out in the crowd" of my family. (You who are in the middle, know of what I speak.)

Whether or not it was identity survival, or the milieu  of my generation which promoted a rebellious attitude toward anything "established", I must have taken the message to heart. I distinctly remember being the speaker at my eighth grade graduation. My self-selected topic was "You put the U in Unique!"

So today I find myself questioning the appropriate method for developing this blog. I have been scanning other blogs to determine topic focus and length. I debate whether or not I should blog daily, weekly or just when I have something even remotely interesting to say. In this age of information overload, do I really have anything more to contribute? Are my thoughts unique and fresh, or are they merely the rehashing of thoughts that are already floating around out there in cyberspace?

It is with no small measure of relief that I have decided I don't care if I am doing this incorrectly. The main thing is that I am doing it. I will reclaim my youthful perspective that I am, in fact, a unique voice in this cacophony of thought. And so, in my own quiet way, I will march forth!

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Setting a new mark

 "A man must set himself to a new mark directly the old one goes."  - Sir Ernest Shackleton

As a promoter of March 4th as National Do Something Day, it is hardly surprising that one of my heroes is Sir Ernest Shackleton. He was a man who definitely marched forth amidst great trials and adversity--all in the Antarctic!

Just yesterday I attended a workshop on the book "Who Moved My Cheese." One of the messages that I took away from that workshop, was that if your cheese is gone, you go looking elsewhere for more. In other words, if the current situation is not going according to plan, you devise a new plan.

This was Shackleton in spades! If you know nothing about him, take a few minutes to check out the video clip below. Books have been written about his unique leadership style. If you want to learn more about his amazing adventure, I highly recommend the book Endurance by Alfred Lansing. You can also rent and/or buy the movie Shackleton to gain deeper insights into this very human hero. You will find that he was not perfect--not by a long shot--as he made numerous mistakes. But he just never gave up! His number one quality of leadership: OPTIMISM. Gotta love that!

Just so you know, his birthday is February 15, in case you want to celebrate. In the meantime, happy marching!

 

http://www.hallmarkspiritclips.com/films/shackleton?utm_source=123112free&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=shackleton

These strawberries are delicious!

Whenever I find myself in one of those situations that I didn't plan, and am forced to "go with the flow", I am reminded of the story of the man who was hanging off the side of a cliff.  Rather than worry about how he got there, or what would happen in the future, he simply plucked a wild strawberry off the bush he was clinging to and declared "These strawberries are delicious!"  I am paraphrasing the original story, but I heard it in the context of how to be mindful and just live in the moment.

Now I admit that I am bit of a planner--full disclosure a controller--so I need constant reminders to be mindful and appreciate what is right before me. Yesterday's lesson came in the form of a computer shut-down for nearly an hour, right at the time that I conduct most of my computer-related business. Those of you who are computer dependent will immediately relate. First came the feeling of frustration--but very quickly I adapted and read an article in a magazine that I had been wanting to read. And it was delicious! 

Happy marching forth and while you are marching, don't forget to enjoy the strawberries.

Always Forward, Never Back

"Always forward, never back" - Blessed Junipero Serra

It is a week into the new year---so how are all those resolutions coming? Over the years, I haven't been very good about keeping resolutions, except for the years when I've resolved NOT to make any resolutions. Last year, I finally wised-up and was able to achieve three out of four resolutions. What was my secret? Well, first off, none of them included weight loss. Secondly, they were simple and quantifiable, so it was easy to tell if I was successful or not. Thirdly, I was really easy on my self. In my opinion, the point of resolutions is to move toward self-improvement. And in my book, any improvement is cause for celebration.

For example, one of my resolutions was to write in my journal at least once a week. Not feeling pressured to write everyday made it very doable. When more than a week would go by without an entry, I would just pick up and move foward with an entry anyway. Is this cheating? Maybe so. Maybe my resolution became "try to write in your journal at least once a month." But I felt it was OK to renegotiate the terms. Do you know why? Because I found myself writing in my journal all year long--and happily so. No guilt. No regrets. Just moving forwards with new entries when I was able to get to it.

Here's what I know. We live in a world of instant results and information overload. It can be tempting to view resolutions in black and white and say to ourselves..."well, I really blew that one--so I'll just let it go." That is an option--but I prefer the courage of continuing to move forward with imperfect resolutions that can be re-imagined every day.

The one resolution of 2012 that I didn't achieve? It has become my new resolution for 2013: to participate in a 5-K run. Hey, hope springs eternal! Thanks for taking the time to read this and happy marching forth!!

Be what you seek

Be What You Seek

Today I celebrate the Epiphany! This is when the three wise men--who were really paying attention to the signs of the times--went in search of and ultimately found Jesus.  I wanted to post a picture that I accidently found about six months ago. It showed the three wise men racing across the desert toward their goal. What an image! Oh, that we would all race toward our goals with as much zeal and enthusiasm. If I find the picture, I will post it later.

In the meantime, please consider this celebration as a gentle reminder to be a light for others in your world. Whatever you may be seeking, while you are seeking, you can "be" that which you seek. You can be a light for others. This was posted in our local paper on Christmas day--it has become my mantra for 2013:

"Travel light, live light, spread the light, be the light. And forgive."

As the kings marched forth to Bethlehem...as you march forth to your dreams, may we all be sign-posts lighting the way for others!

now it begins

Established 05 January 2013

A journey begins with the first step!

While there is nothing particularly magical about today--it is 57 days until March 4th,  so it seems as good a time as any to begin this March 4th blog.

Why March 4th? It is my belief that March 4th is the only calendar day that actually tells you to do something--namely, march...forth! (Puns rule!) Truth be told, I've been celebrating this day for quite some time and have found it to be nothing less than a gift to the entire world--at least to the entire English-speaking world. Countless testimonies have been shared with me from people--some of them complete strangers--who have been blessed by this day and its meaning.

I would love March 4th to become officially known as "National Do Something Day" but this is just the first step. I invite you to join with me in exploring the riches of this quirky holiday, and maybe in 57 days you will have discovered your own personal way to celebrate! Stay tuned.

http://www.timeanddate.com/countdown/party?iso=20130304T00&p0=403&msg=March+Forth%21&csz=1