AYD - Feb 28, 2014 - Small Effort Friday

“Pretend that every single person you meet has a sign around his or her neck that says, "Make me feel important." Not only will you succeed in sales, you will succeed in life.” 
- Mary Kay Ash

No long drawn out summary today.  It is pretty simple really.  You encounter many people from many walks of life. You can make a far reaching difference with very little effort. 

Start with your own reflection as you get ready to enjoy the day.

Good morning, greater day.
Greater you, is contagious.

Pierre Couturier
Husband, Daddy, and Author to my day.

AYD - Feb 27, 2014 - KISS

“I've learned, that not all worth is measured by price. I've found so many gems that didn't cost me much!”
- C. Joybell C

Keep it simple silly.

Thursday task - identify two things in your life that you like because they are not complicated.  Feelings, people, tasks, hobbies, or even possessions.

Sometimes it is the simplest things that bring alot of value, and we do not even really notice.

Good Morning, Greater Day.
Greater you, well ... that just spreads around.

Pierre Couturier
Husband, Daddy, and Author to my Day

AYD - Feb 26, 2014 - Just a Little TLC

TLC

He is five.  He is up for the fifth time in the short night. Runny nose.  Bad dreams. Not any one thing, but a few.  One thing for certain, as he stands sniffling and softly crying , he is asleep on his feet.  We, however, are not. 

Something in his tone, something in his “Mommy?”,  tells her there is a need for a certain touch.  And as tired as she is, not feeling 100% herself, she rises with slight urgency, but more so a much needed, “Yes baby?”

At this time of night, after his fifth venture into the dark to seek comfort yet again, she chooses the road often less travelled at times like these.  She reads the need and chooses the path of TLC.  A moment of dedicated attention, drying a tear and wiping a nose, and a tuck in like only mommy can do, and he is off to dream softly yet again.  Just…like….that.

It is not always easy to decipher the moments.  Those ones smothered by the haste, frustration, urgency and impatience of a busy or tired day.  It becomes so easy to be short and abrupt when dealing with moments that look more like an obstacle than a time needing closer examination.  Many times the weapon of choice to conquer a seemingly compounding pile of “AAAGGGHHHH” is a sharp tone or curt command.

Often we are caught in our Immediate Response and the launch button is punched before we take a moment to look at the evidence of any “offence”.  Be it a child in the night for the third, fourth and fifth time, or a co-worker that needs a little extra assistance again...  A guy in traffic that just doesn’t get it,  or a customer that cannot be satisfied.  Maybe even a husband that forgets to close the pantry door…again.

Opportunities for a different approach surround us.  Turning the other cheek is not always about taking abuse … sometimes it is about turning the cheek in order to get a better view of the path less taken. 

TLC of a moment is just as good for you as it is for those you apply it to.

Good Morning, Greater Day.

Greater You, opens the door for others to be greater as well.

Pierre Couturier

Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day.

AYD - Feb 25, 2014 - Small Steps, Big Travels

"Big, sweeping life changes really boil down to small, everyday decisions."
- Ali Vincent, Biggest Loser Season Winner

Life is funny.
It gives us tasks that seem connected to nothing, and then at some point we "Ah Ha" and connect a Life Lesson to some experience we have already been thru that gives it justification.

I used to sweep floors in a fabrication shop.  A very large fabrication shop.  I used to do this alone.  I started at one end, and worked my way all around the entire shop while work was going on. 

At first, it appears like an endless task, but with each section you look back and see not only the difference it made by comparison to what still needed to be done, but also I would see that it did not take a lot of effort to do a good job on a piece of the whole.  And then, I was more attentive to the next ... and the next.

I look at tasks I want to accomplish around the home.  And then I look at personal goals that will take time, and I top off my thoughts with work and duties and goals there that demand a percentage of my time inventory.  There simply is not enough time once I mix in family time and life etc. 

Or is there?

"Declutter" is one of my big sweeping life changes.   I am making a small decision, to attack one portion, each and every day.  Slow consistent progress will remove the item from my unfinished stress pile to the "In Process" pile, and will not infringe on my time commitments to other things. And it is measurable.  I discover there actually is time, and the progress I see proves it and feels more satisfying.  I notice the difference instead of the discouragement.

Do you have any big sweeping changes you want to address but dispel quickly because you think it takes too much commitment in a busy life?  Reevaluate.  Do a trial run.  Apply half an hour, or 15 min a day for a full week. 

You may be surprised what a combined 2.5 hours of focussed attention shows you on the achievement scale.

Good morning.
Greater day.
Greater you, might influence a sweeping change in someone else.

Pierre Couturier
Evolving Husband, More Well Rounded Daddy, and Author to my Day.