On The Importance Of Things: Reflections of a Holiday Weekend or Turkey, Family, Fire, Yes!

The turkey was delicious. 
The family being together was precious.  
We shared the news that two will be three.
I worked tending bar and waiting tables at the local road house.
Our heat went out and was fixed. 
Our neighbors house caught on fire (but more on that later). 
I found my passport after three and a half years.  
I re-read my senior project thesis 'A New Vision For Leadership'.

I wake up the proud father of two smart, fun, and beautiful girls and honored husband to a strong, gentle and independent woman everyday.

There is no shortage of blessings in my life.  There are challenges, many, many challenges, but each opportunity to choose to see an event or occurence in a positive light is a choice and a blessing.  The enactment of this philosphy has been tested repeatedly lately, and each positive choice is its own reward.  

Example: The pan of turkey drippings (sorry if that's too graphic for any vegetarians out there) spilled all over the stovetop at the climax of Thanksgiving day feast preparation.  Where in the past I might have been unable to communicate in non-expletive English and felt the need to compound my folly tenfold, I was fairly calm and collected.  Sufficient drippings were recovered to make gravy, the production of which was delegated while I completed the plating process.  All is well that ends well.  (The lesson regarding the timely collection of a customer's credit card receipt to prevent said customer from inadvertently pocketing said receipt thereby negating any gratuity that may have been otherwise left required a little more effort to overcome, but was accomplished.)

This morning I awoke to a beautiful day, followed by emergency response personnel parking in front of our house.  Long story short the house across the street was on fire.  Despite my desire to be helpful, however, there was nothing to be done, but offer my sympathies, look on, and meet the neighbors.  My neighbor's perspective in the midst of a disaster of personal property was courageous.  The support of friends and neighbors was inspiring.

I am reminded of this great exercise in perspective (From the book 'Cash In A Flash' by Mark Victor Hansen and Robert G. Allen):

Step 1: Arm yourself with two stacks of mental sticky notes (the use of mental sticky notes saves paper, activates the imagination, and avoids all kinds of awkward interactions). One stack is labelled

"Important - Forver" and the other stack is "Stuff - Temporary"

Step 2: Now, as you go through your day label everything you see: clothes, your car, your house, cell phone, laptop, people/relationships, pets, etc.  Is it "important - forever" or just "stuff - temporary"?


Step 3: Enjoy the perspective.

Thanks for reading and have the best day ever!