5

A few years ago, I was rushing through Goodrich Shoprite and happened to notice a book as I walked to the deli.  Now, if you've never been there before, they're known for a few things:

An amazing deli and meat department.
A HUGE wine selection.
And a unique gift department.

It's small compared to any Kroger and Meijer, but easy to stop by on my way home from work.  I make it a point to browse the gift area to see what's in there.  As I was saying, a few years ago, I found this book.. and then another... and well, you get the message.

It's not a book you sit and read cover to cover.  You read it in bits and pieces, letting it settle into the open spots of your brain.  The premise is Where will you be 5 years from today?  It makes you stop and think and wonder why you're on this planet, and what you want to achieve.

For whatever reason I needed a moment when I got home today and picked it up.  On days when all hell breaks loose at the rink, I find that I need to remind myself that my life is more that Suburban.

I need to remember that life isn't just about numbers and a bottom line.

In other words, I need to remember that in trying to inspire you, I inspire myself.  It's the ultimate Win-Win for me.

So I write.

When looking through this book again, it has you name your top 5 Values right off the bat.  Values are the reasons we get up in the morning and actually get out of bed.  No, coffee is not a value, but nice try.  Cookies aren't either... I looked.

Family, friends, faith, creativity, and love are my top 5, not necessarily in that order.  Any one of these things would get me out of bed, and inspire me to go that extra mile at the end of the day.  I find it amusing that work isn't on this list, and probably wouldn't make the top ten.

Work is what I do... It's no longer who I am, and for that I am thankful to know the difference.

I think we all need to evaluate our lives from time to time and see what important to us.  It keeps us in check and highlights the almighty perspective.  Decisions and choices are much easier when we are clear of our values.

I don't know what possessed me to pick this book up tonight, but I am extremely grateful that I did, and even more grateful that I walked down that aisle at Goodrich.

Call it Karma or Divine Intervention.... matters not.

I call it happiness.

And the fact that at the moment I wrote this post, my total views was at 4,555 was just another sign.

Have an amazing week!

Inspiration

I value inspiration.  I like to offer it to people, and I simply love to be inspired by something I see or read.  Or someone I meet.

Of course I value more than this, but my word for the week has been inspiration, and I've lived it for the most part. The trick was writing that word down and committing to it wholeheartedly.  Once that was done, decisions were easier, just like Disney said.

When faced with an hour of free time, I had to choose between going to Target (my absolute favorite time killer), or go to Biggby and write.  I'll have you know that I chose wisely, and have a pretty good handle on Chapter One now.  Inspiration, check.

So what did you choose this week?  Did it help you get through the day and feel better about your choices?  Or perhaps you're still trying on different values.  The beauty of this is, no two people are going to have the exact same values, and even if you did, you'd treat them differently.  In doing research for this post, I stumbled upon a website called Values.com.  It's a gem of inspiration (fitting), and might help you figure out what really moves you.  The picture above, is just one of many billboards they have, each one more inspiring than the last.  Check it out if you have time today.

Okay, that's my rant for the day.  Enjoy the beautiful weather we're having this weekend, and I will check in for week 6 on Monday!

Week 5: Value City

Congratulations!  You are half-way through the 8-weeks, and THIS might be the most important week of all.  I know, I've probably already said that, but this time I really mean it.

I'm calling this week Value City, because it's all about what really matters to you; Your Values.

"Your values are the choices you make about what's most important to you.  Living your life by your values is like establishing true north on a compass.  You may know what your values are.  You may believe your values are your guiding stars.  Bit if you aren't actually living your values - following your true north - chances are you won't ever be really happy, and your journey through life will feel spiritually off track."  ~ Kobi Yomada, 7

So, this week is about finding out what those values are since some of us don't ever think about them.  Is it health you want?  Is it your family you value?  Your career?  Relationships?  What is it that will get you out of bed other than obligations.

For the next couple days, I just want you to take a walk around Value City (It's much prettier than Pity City).  Look in the different shops and see if any of them call you to come inside and take a closer look.  You don't have to pick any yet, but just do a little window shopping.  

Look at the words here and see what moves you, but also feel free to find some of your own.  Basically you need to figure out what you want your life to be about, so you can start getting to the business of living.  

Living your life.  Doesn't that sound good?