Top Down Living
Hi Friend
It has been a week of learning, growing, reflecting and deciding. Re-evaluating life, work, myself and the future has caused it to feel unusually difficult. I had a wide range of emotions which gives me practice navigating the tensions between feeling, thinking and doing. For the most part, I like how it (I) turned out.
Two fun things that occurred: First my wife got to go with me to the arcade I like to go to and play pinball. It also has skee-ball, basketball shooting and plenty of 80's games. (I got my high score on Ms. Pacman). Second, I flew to Tulsa and the car place upgraded me to a convertible. The weather was perfect for it.
While in Tulsa, I walked through the Gathering Place, which is like the biggest, most beautiful public park. It sits beside the Arkansas river, where they've created a "white water river run" that you can take kayaks down. It was unexpected and awesome. The sunset that night was spectacular, soothing and inspiring.
I was there over a year ago when the river work was being done. I didn't know what they were building at the time. It was just a mess. Do you know someone whose life is a mess? I bet it's under construction. Hopefully something useful, fun and unexpected comes from it.
TRAFFIC JAMS
Everywhere I go these days, road construction is happening. Traffic-jams, frustration and tested-patience seems to be the norm. I haven't seen one person sitting in their car laughing or extracting joy from the experience. I haven't had anyone yell out their window "Isn't this great!? I bet the new roadway will entirely be worth it. I'm so excited about the construction."
Isn't that true of us? You and I ALWAYS have areas in our lives that need updated, upgraded and repaired. We don't get to stop all other aspects to do it. The cars gotta keep moving while life stays in motion.
MINDSHIFT
What if we decided to be grateful for the revealed condition of our soul that needs work done?
ALONE TOGETHER
Whether merging lanes, slowing down or standing still, everyone on the highway is trying to get somewhere else. Not one person's destination is the middle of the interstate. We are all experiencing the exact same situation - that none of us created - but then get angry at one another for how we/they choose to navigate it.
Of course our response in those settings has nothing to do with anyone else. It simply reveals our own soul's potholes. Isn't that true of all our interactions? The paradox of us being together, yet feeling very alone, or even isolated, in our human experiences is incredibly unfortunate.
MINDSHIFT
What if we saw every person as a contributor - not a hindrance - to our own growth and progress?
TOP DOWN
The convertible completely changed my experience with stand-still traffic. I soaked up the sun and tanned while I waited. I want to live life with the top down. Have you met people like that - going through arduous challenges, but genuinely keep a positive disposition?
It's funny how those people can frustrate us even more. I saw people look at me with disdain. I was smiling, enjoying my music and the sun. They were sitting right next to me, not happy at all.
What would it look like for you to take the top down on your life?
Construction will never end. It will continue to be a part of our internal and external lives. Let's determine to use the slow-downs and messes as an opportunity to strengthen and grow.
SHIFTING
I hope this week you recognize a soul pothole that people and circumstances are giving you a chance to address. Also, that you'll utilize gratitude and faith to keep the top down as you go through complex construction zones. #ShiftAway
