Treasures For Now

Maybe just for me, but I won't be greedy.

Sometimes I’m able to capture moments of stillness in the day that allow me to feel like a pirate securing his treasure. The moments are short and sparse but most of the time rich with reward. And on rare occasions, there’s a bounty worth sharing.

My face when I find treasure. Phoenix’s face every 30 seconds or so.

Three pieces of gold for us today:

• Be kind to everyone.

  • The cashier clearly having a terrible day and putting that on you? Yes them.

  • The coworker who so obviously positions themself endlessly to get ahead? Them too.

  • The sibling that will not relent? Also them.

  • The hungry, homeless, addicted, abandoned, and neglected. Yes, yes, yes, yes, and also yes.

• Be able to teach.

  • You have something to offer, who can you bring along with you? Even when you don’t feel like it. Life is so much more than a feeling. If we waited until we felt like we had it all together, we would never move. Or for some of you, you may have a thought process that allows you to feel like you have it figured out already and so you move way beyond your actual capacity, understanding, and abilities. Let feelings play a part, but don’t be guided by them.

  • Embrace humility, recognizing that teaching is also a path to learning.

• Be patient with difficult people.

  • See the first point and do the same here.

  • There’s an interesting spectrum we have to walk, between giving away our time frivolously and being stingy with it. I’ve had leaders tell me before to avoid the people who require extra time, grace, and effort because the cost of return is much smaller than investing in the people who would reciprocate benefit back my way. Sounds like a business transaction rooted in greed and worry.

  • Being patient is being generous, and I'll choose generosity—with its inherent risks, spontaneity, and humanity—over hoarding 'what's mine.'

SEVENof52. Another Winter Walk. This time my parents joined us.