Awaken Your Day - June 3 - Game On

Would you like to play a game?

The idea is very simple. And it will be even better if you don't feel like it. Better still if you are having a difficult start to your day. Let's for now call it distraction with intent.

As you go thru your day, stressed or not, and you come across people...the first part is to look for those people that are smiling as they pass by. This is important. Just the smilers. We play a different game with those non smilers later.

Now, is the smile on the lips only?
Are their eyes smiling too?
Are they off in space?
How deep does it go? Can you tell?

And the game begins.
What are they smiling about?

You get to create an idea in your mind based on what you see in a quick first impression...as to just what they may be smiling about.

You get to be creative, simple, silly and even far reaching. You only have a few seconds as they come close and then they go by so you must think on your feet. You can carry your thought thru long after they are gone if you wish, and in fact.... I encourage it. But you have to come up with a reason for that smile quickly at first.

I used to wonder as a kid when we would travel and you would see people in other cars you pass...I would wonder, what would it be like to be you for 5 minutes... just to find out what put that smile on your face. Or what made that person bounce and dance in the driver seat with so much silly abandon...my first exposure to "Dance like no one is watching." And I would think..."can I have some of that?"

So...do you want to play?

The smile could be anything really. A good cup of coffee. Feeling awake. A good meeting. A thought of a child or loved one at home. Holidays coming soon. Just a good energy. A shared brightness. Maybe no reason at all.

I ask you to think of what makes another person smile. Create it quickly.

Part two. Do you find yourself relating to any of the reasons you may have found? Do you share any reasons or did you touch on a personal thought as you explored the possibilities for someone else's happiness? Did your thought of THEIR reason suddenly go to your own?

You win this game...if you can come up with enough thoughts that put a smile on YOUR face.
You see...the idea is to become a smile that everyone else is examining too.

Did you think you were the only one playing?

If I have things my way,
We will all be players in the game of -
"Would you like to guess a happy thought?"

And please...if you don't feel like playing,don't trip another player that is off in the clouds creating thoughts for someone else...

Good morning and welcome to a great day.

Pierre Couturier
Father, Husband, Author and Entrepreneur

Awaken Your Day - June 2 - Going Crazy, Wanna come?

"Sometimes the appropriate response to reality is to go insane."
- Phillip K. Dick

Have you ever done something that was not like you?
Have you ever heard of someone referred to like, "Oh, he is just so crazy!"?
Ever done anything spontaneous?
Have you ever been really passionate about something, like a new relationship, that you just did things a little more loopy than usual?

Insane is a just a descriptive word to describe doing something necessary to bust out of the routine of our created reality. At least, that is what "insane" means here...today.

Insane is a descriptive state of mind for the passion we grab hold of and chase to bust loose of the flatline pattern we find when we sit and daydream about the

What If's....

and the

Gee, it could have been so...

and mostly the ...

I wish I could...

It is the start of the week, and ahead of you may lie some of the same old same old. But also ahead of you is the majority of the time in the week to spice it up...to change it...to maybe go a little insane.

Make an effort to kick the day off with a little more energy, and then share that energy with others. Infect them with your smile, or your wit. Become passionate about your day by redirecting the energy from "reality" to something more.

What are you passionate about in your life? Now...like a successful business person, speak it, love it, live it. And put that energy into your everyday functions.

Be the one they speak fondly of and smile when you are not around as they then share that detail about you...

"Oh Yeah!! He is so crazy!"

Good morning, you nuts.

Pierre Couturier
Father, Author, Entrepreneur

Awaken Your Day - June 1, 2009

Short and Sweet and to the point this morning.

Opportunity Monday.
You have not heard that expression for a few months from us here.

So what happens when you hear something you have not in a long time. You remember your connection to it from somewhere in the past. Memories and maybe emotions of a moment gone by get rekindled...you relive, you revisit something.

Opportunity Monday.

What will you pick up today, now that you remember what this day can do for you right now, and for the rest of your week?

You should write to us here and share your best Opportunity Monday story.
Good morning, and who is that knocking at the door?

Pierre Couturier
Father, Author, and Entrepreneur

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