10 Day Changers - #1

There are things I do and say that help make my days great. This 10 day series is about those things.

1. Begin with some silence. Each morning after I shower, dress and am ready for the day, I sit for a minute or two in the chair by the bed. With my eyes close, I remind myself of why I am living today, of the things that are important, truly important to me. Then I ask the Divine to make me aware of the design for my life and give me power to carry it out.

My Attitude Could Whip Your…

“The greatest discovery of any generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude.” –Williams James

                                                                 

I spent 8 years in higher education, 15 years beyond that as a pastor for a mainline denomination, and studied human psychology, pastor counseling and theology. It took a man with no more than a high school education and a background in construction to teach me something real about people, about me.

I was having a bad day and it wasn’t even 10:00 am. I’d had an argument with my wife. My children were not behaving the way I wanted them to, and my work schedule for the day was so packed that I knew I wouldn’t be able to get all of it done. My brain hurt, my back hurt and I pretty much hated everything and everybody at that moment.

My boss at the time took note of my very bad attitude and asked me to come into his office. I did. He listened to my story and then paused before saying, “You have two choices this morning. You can stay pissed and have a sorry day, or you can do something about your attitude.” He reached in the desk drawer and handed me a card* that resembled one of those “do not disturb” door hangers. On the front and back were a series of saying, positive affirmations. He told me to take it and if I wanted to change my attitude to read the saying out loud on the way to my first appointment for that day. My attitude wasn’t very receptive. I thought of all the psychological cliques that I knew. I thought about how what I was going through was much bigger than a few clever and witty sayings. I thought of a hundred reasons why his suggestion was, at best, inadequate. I didn’t challenge him. I took the card and headed for the truck. As I walked out of his office he said one more thing, “I bet you’re too chicken to try it.”

I smiled and for some reason warmed up to the idea of proving him wrong. On the way to my first appointment, I read them out load:

“I will win. Why? I’ll tell you why – because I have faith courage and enthusiasm.”

“Today I will meet the right people in the right place at the right time for the betterment of all.”

“I see opportunity in every challenge.”

“When I fail, I only look at what I did right.”

“I’ll never take advice from someone more messed up than I am.”

The readings continued, and so did the change in my attitude. There is great power in the words we speak to ourselves, and by the time I was done – I did feel better and begin to think on the things I could do to be effective and successful that day. I have never forgotten that lesson.

*The card is produced by Tom Hopkins International and can be found here: Shower Card

Tweeting for Mother's Day Because of My Mom

Today I sent some tweets about my Mother's wisdom. Part of the series is captured below. Find more via your twitter account by searching the #WhatMomDid hashtag.

7:38pm, May 09 from HootSuite

#WhatMomDid - a series of Mother's day tweets about my mother's lessons 2010

williamskim
7:29pm, May 09 from HootSuite

Sometimes you have to hike up you courage and take a chance.#WhatMomDid

desertlioness
5:22pm, May 09 from TweetDeck

RT @WilliamsKim: My mother taught me that laughter is always good for you and most of time acceptable. #WhatMomDid

williamskim
2:38pm, May 09 from HootSuite

If something is bothering you it's best to talk about it - #WhatMomDid

williamskim
2:36pm, May 09 from HootSuite

Taught me that God always has your back and mom always has your heart. #WhatMomDid

Poetic_line
11:40am, May 09 from Twitterrific

RT @williamskim: Mother taught me that forgiveness hurts less than hate. #WhatMomDid

williamskim
10:53am, May 09 from Twitterrific

#WhatMomDid - a series of tweets about a mother's lessons for Mothers' Day 2010.

williamskim
10:47am, May 09 from Twitterrific

Makes me laugh! #WhatMomDid often at myself

williamskim
10:46am, May 09 from Twitterrific

When you hurt so bad you want to quit life, surviving is the first step to thriving. #WhatMomDid

williamskim
10:44am, May 09 from Twitterrific

Mom showed me that life will often give you much more and less than you expect, and acceptance makes both work for you #WhatMomDid

williamskim
10:41am, May 09 from Twitterrific

From mom I learned that children should only do some of what parents do. #WhatMomDid

williamskim
10:39am, May 09 from Twitterrific

My mother taught me that laughter is always good for you and most of time acceptable. #WhatMomDid

williamskim
10:38am, May 09 from Twitterrific

From mom, I learned that my best and my worst - aren't.#WhatMomDid

andibob
10:35am, May 09 from Twitterrific

RT @williamskim: #WhatMomDid My mother gave me a love for poetry

williamskim
10:35am, May 09 from Twitterrific

Mother taught me that forgiveness hurts less than hate.#WhatMomDid

williamskim
10:34am, May 09 from Twitterrific

#WhatMomDid My mother gave me a love for poetry

williamskim
10:32am, May 09 from Twitterrific

Because of my mother I see more of nature's beauty. #whatmomdid

Familiar - On Knowing Your Muse

Familiar

who are you,

this creature with my face and eyes,

small and fleet running rampant on my soul?

what quest brings you here again

to devour my joy and chase away my peace

ever laughing as you go, flinging scorn and disdain?

come, troubler of spirits

rest here on my lap and tell me what fuels your frenzy

how comes your recent troubled flight into my thoughts?

sit with me

let us wait together for the rain

waterfalls often bring sprites in drops of tears and sweet dew.

for i know you like them so

abide here with me then - my familiar.

Oprah's No Phone Zone - Expanded

So, Oprah has proclaimed a "No Phone Zone" for texting, talking and such while driving to work.

This is good. However, I've been thinking lately about having a "No Phone Zone" in my personal space - i.e. what if we all said, if you are talking to me don't check your phone, write/read text messages, or email. Take the few minutes or hour of our conversation as a No Phone Zone. Let's remember how to focus, listen and be with each other.

I may just start by observing it myself. What say you?

All Alone - A Poem About Solitude

All Alone

silence, worse still
the echoes of my own thoughts
voices cascading
endless cackling

senses strain to see
hear another here
amid the cavern of craving
infantile cries

then all certainty
more than breath
within the contractions of this case
another is with me

belief.

Brookgreen Gardens Series - Chapter 3, Native American bronze

The collection of statuary at Brookgreen Gardens is the single largest exhibit of American statuary in the world. Most of the larger pieces are exhibited outdoors.

This piece show the variety and beauty of the settings. Numerous fountains, pedestals, walkways and live oaks make a natural backdrop.

Winter Music Saved My Life

Winter Music saved My Life

When I was a young adult, music saved my life in many dimensions. perhaps we can all say that music has saved our life, our sanity, our being at some point or another, and that is what I am saying. Today I am celebrating the music that educated me on the possibility to appreciate music as it occurs naturally in nature.

The Paul Winter Consort, founded in 1967 and lead by Paul Winter is an assembly of musicians with strong influences of Jazz and Blues. The group's work is still very much alive and won Grammys as recently as 2005, 2007. I first heard The Paul Winter Consort when he played at Wofford College in 1978 following the release of their album Common Ground. I still have the vinyl album with the group's autographs...somewhere.

The striking thing then and now about the music lead by Paul Winter is the incorporation of animal sounds, recorded in nature, into their music. I was able to hear the true music of the wolf and the whale and experience the gentle continuance of their song through the haunting rifts of saxophone and lumbering rhythms of percussion. It was through Winter's music that I began to develop an affinity with the planet and those with whom I share it.

If you can stop for a moment today, do yourself a favor and turn out the lights, turn up the sound and let this group take you on a journey into your very own world - lead by the voices of nature and the music of masterful musicians.

Wolf Eyes

Lullaby of Mother Whale

The Puppet Man

The Puppet Man

pull the string, watch the dolls dance

blood runs from my finger tips

maybe this time it will change

calm my fears or ease my pain

see my marionettes take your stage

watch your laughter, feel your rage

safely sitting

program in hand

three cheers for the puppet man

pull the string, watch the dolls dance

blood runs from my finger tips

maybe this time it will change

calm my fears, ease my pain

i see your faces, swoons and frowns

watching fixed, puppet take puppet down

they're not real, you carefully remind

while i silently die standing behind

pull the string, watch the dolls dance

blood runs from my finger tips

maybe this time it will change

calm my fears, ease my pain

with human hate they dance for you

showing the worst the we can do

superb! delight! encore' you shout

so once more the toys come out

pull the string, watch the dolls dance

blood runs from my finger tips

maybe this time it will change

calm my fears, ease my pain

the lights are gone, empty isles now

i fall broken, wondering how

these hands will heal, gather strength again

so, you can watch through my gift, friend

pull the string, watch the dolls dance

blood runs from my finger tips

maybe this time it will change

calm my fears, ease my pain

see my marionettes take your stage

watch your laughter, feel your rage

safely sitting program in hand

three cheers for the puppet man

*note: i wrote this poem a few years back while struggling with managing the internal demands that i often felt from others' external behavior around me. i think as children we often take on the role of performing for the 'big' people in our world - and although maturity requires us to grow more autonomous, we many of us struggle well into adulthood to perform for others... it is only a problem when the price is our very health, peace and well being.

**Photo used by permission

Bound - A Poem about Moments of Self Doubt

bound

the knot tightens

the grip of self within self

constricting fists of self hate and loathing

mauling my soul

doubled over in pain

breathless from the impact

blows of fury born of hatred and distrust

disemboweling my being

healing hands, where are you?

gentle touch of truth, come

come, come

release me, untie me, free me

i am weary with waiting