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Welcome to AYD, and may this be the start of great things to come.
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"What can we do, starting today, to build lasting success?"...."We all want to be part of something. We all want to feel great about the choices we make."

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Awaken Your Day - May 28, In Youth We Trust

I answer the door to a beaming young man, excited to include my wife and I in his celebration.
"Come see my new car!" The day before graduation, and he is awarded with a gift any young man would be thrilled for.

"D" is our our neighbor's son. He is also our friend. He is also one of the most respectful young men you will ever meet. His parents should be very proud. We are just the neighbors ... friends of he and his parents... and yet, we are very proud of him.

As I search out my own inner leadership, and I begin to study great Leaders, I see before me in this young man, a Leader among men. He is bright and respectful; athletic and hard working; he is funny and admired, and he has values. He is the kind of young man you include in the conversation. Partially because he laughs at my jokes, but also because he offers his own stories of life as it is today ... and I find I enjoy listening. He is the kind of young man we boast about when other's complain about the young minds that will take over some day.

This young man graduates high school today. Taking a strong first of many great steps forward into manhood. With the great support he has around him and guiding him, along with the respect he commands just from being himself, we think he is going to be just fine. More than fine. He is a strong threat to lead by example.

I notice his life a little more maybe, because I now have my own son to watch over on his journey from babe, to toddler, to child, and teen.... and there are moments when the heart skips a beat and panic sets in. Fear of the unknown you may say. Will I make the right choices so that my son will know how to make his own when he needs to?

As I look at this young man taking this next step, along with his friends who would inspire you as well in their own ways, I constantly think of our boy. With all of my worries about this world, with all that we fear will influence our youth negatively and push them down the wrong road - I look at this young adult who is about to step up to a different starting line... ( I look up as he is a big lad ) and I see a Role Model for his time. To me this young man is Hope.

And, in a way, we get to share in his Celebrations. We have been cheering him on for a few years now; as neighbors and friends. But also as admirers of an inspiring "kid" that we enjoy knowing. I borrow some joy from his achievements, and I learn a little about how to give my son the best opportunity to become a stand out young man, deserving of other people's respect and support. Congratulations to his parents as well on a job well done.

Perhaps you know of someone who makes your worried anticipation of tomorrow just a little less worried because you know they are going to be there ... Leading by example.
Celebrate this someone ... and share it with them.

Have a great day "D" ... and thanks for making this worried father a little calmer and a stronger believer.

Good Morning.

Pierre Couturier
Father, Author, and Entrepreneur

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Awaken Your Day - May 27, 2009

"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer."
- Albert Camus

We stand and greet a day. Each of us has a feeling brought on from anticipation based on what we already expect from this day.

For some, there is a picture in mind of themselves, standing in a vast field...in two feet of snow, as the temperature hits -30 degrees, and the wind is so strong that it takes the chilling cold deep to the bone. Every step is into the wind, and each step is only one minute of the day before them.

Tough day ahead.

For others, there is a picture ... of a grey day. No sunshine, yet no rain either. No reason to look up and smile, no reason to curse the fowl weather for ruining premade plans. They anticipate this precious day to simply come down to just another X on the calendar. Another day that has come...and gone.

A 'What really matters?' day straight ahead.

And then there is... That Guy.
The forecast is what he decides it to be.

If Bill is knee deep in that snowy field and hating the world, this is the guy that comes by briskly walking ON TOP of the snow with his snow shoes (prepared) and says to Bill, "Come on Bill old buddy, only one more mile to go in this blizzard... and then this meeting will be over and we can go enjoy the warm fireplace. How good will that feel !?"

If Samantha is being smothered by the grey cloud she carries with her, and in her indifference she thinks she left her passion in the romance novel by the bed, this is the guy that comes by and charges up the defibulator simply by changing the batteries in the old seemingly worn out radio. And he reminds Samantha her nice red dress is just the splash of color the day needed. ( respectfully of course).

'Depth of winter' is that phrase that summarizes how you do not want to feel. The mental picture gives you the feeling without need of explanation. It just shows you in a flash of a second...the quicksand of negative emotion that threatens each and every one of us should we let it take over our moments.

Do you have a mental picture for an invincible summer?
Do you have the will deep within you to lay that picture over top of the well copied, winter smotherland image?

Victim or Victor?
Play the Passion card or Fold to the stressors.

How will you respond today...should cold air come knocking?
Will you reach for your gloves and ready yourself for the seemingly inevitable....or will you grab your beach towel and open the door?

Good morning,

Pierre Couturier

Awaken Your Day - May 26

"I do believe it is possible to create, even without ever writing a word or painting a picture, by simply molding one's inner life. And that too is a deed."
- Etty Hillesum

We have said many times, that you are the writer of your destiny. You create the story that plays out before you each and every day.

Like a television drama that keeps you in a state of anticipation, always coming back tomorrow...

What have you set up for yourself that today will have you reaching for more?

Good morning,
The mold is ready to be shaped.

Pierre Couturier
Father, Author, and Entrepreneur

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Awaken Your Day - May 25, 2009 - Miracles Happen

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."
- Albert Einstein

We could write essays analyzing and debating what we interpret this statement to mean to us individually. I am sure it has been done. But here.... Why?

Point blank, my view
... if you embrace more moments in your life with the same gratitude, and enthusiasm as you would if you had just experienced a miracle,
... if you give more moments the same value as we stereotypically do for the moments held in the presence of a miracle,
... if we forget all of our troubles more frequently because we are so focussed on the good that surrounds something in our lives, just as we do when we witness a miracle
... if you can make this connection, the quality of your life will drastically improve.
Because you chose it to.

If we choose to recognize and appreciate more moments or events with more passion and gratitude and the realization that there is so much in our lives that is a gift ... we expand our awareness to what we value, and our lives naturally become more enhanced in many ways.

It could be the birth of a child, a step toward a dream, the sun shining on a special day, or food on the table for your family ....

"Where there is great love, there are always Miracles." - Willa Cather

Picture something in your life ... and now you decide; will you embrace it with the same emotion as you would a miracle, some spectacular happening... or just view it as another part of life no different than yesterday? Which one adds color to the picture in your mind?

My life has been filled with Miracles these last 3 months; our son being born is certainly the biggest.
But I also felt the joy of a miracle when I heard from all the people that told me to get back to Awakening their day. I had been at a point where I questioned myself and if it really mattered.

I thank those people for helping me change my perception. Together, here, we will make things happen.

Good morning, and may you find a little miracle to lift your day.

Pierre Couturier
Father, Author and Entrepreneur