To Serve well

Serving with Excellence for a Life of Excellence

Inspiration

3 strategies to win the day

I am oftentimes reminded that we need to try to win each day, as tomorrow is never promised.

So, let’s jump in with some ideas around this thought!

  1. Start with what winning is to you! What brings you true joy? (Yes, that can include your career, school, etc.) Who are your “must haves,” as in I can’t imagine my life without [enter your closest friends and family names here]?
  2. Audit your schedule, specifically the last 90 days. Does how you spent your time line up with your definition?
  3. Align what your version of winning is with your next 90 days. Schedule that coffee date, start reading that book, connect with what or who fills your proverbial cup.

Here’s to a week filled with owning a life that allows you to full on seek and find joy.

When the student is ready, the teacher appears

One of the most remarkable movies of all time to me has been Karate Kid. Mr. Miyagi and Daniel “son” were the classic student/teacher duo. Mr. Miyagi’s creativity and patience were lessons for all of us on so many levels. But in this blog, to me, it was all about Daniel. He showed a desire to learn… He may have grown inpatient with the manner of which he was taught, but nonetheless, he showed up, was relentless in learning and his outcomes showcased the effort. The ideal example of possibility when we are ready.

One example in the “adulting” phase of life is the many important conversations that need had, or new approaches that need taken as we move toward our best self and best life. The need to dive into our own back story to learn how history and/or context may have shaped our initial thoughts and narrated our early opinion is essential, as it gives us context. This type of learning and the work that goes into it is always worth it in the end, but feels a lot like Daniel’s experience in being asked to “wax on, wax off…”confusing and grueling at times.

Most importantly, this is what I feel is the idea example of the Buddhist principle, “When the student is ready… the teacher appears.” We can only find this type of teacher when we are ready for it. The good news, the universe delivers us up some excellent teachers and they come in the forms of books, podcasts, movies, friends, family, mentors, colleagues, and of course professional help. I so love it when the world shows up for me just when I need it. (Chances are, they were there all along, I just wasn’t ready to listen.)

Is there any area of your life where you are ready for a teacher? You might not even know the answer. I know I want to elevate my financial understanding this year… investment options, etc. I have found that just when I started honing in on that, Twitter has served up some excellent resources and those have resulted in a couple of new books, podcasts etc. The world seems to shine right when you are ready.

If you have any similar examples or stories we’d all love to hear them! I hope that this idea is as useful for you as it has been for me. The old quote showed up in my world a few months ago and I knew I wanted to write about it, and it just keeps showing up. I’m hopeful that just the right person finds this to be a helpful sign at just the right on time!

You gotta fight…

Throwing it back to a post from this time last year that felt right as we head into the Super Bowl!

You gotta fight… for your right… to PARTY!

Who knew the Beastie Boys would come alive strong on Sunday night! A blast from the past, and a timely and on-point reminder brought to us by the Kansas City Chiefs post game celebration and Travis Kelce. Incredible! 

We all know this is true if you stop and think about it. We don’t just get to celebrate big – to toast to small or great wins – without first serving up some time, sweat and often massive effort (AKA, fight!). 

Winning during 2021 starts with a certain rigor, and the decision to not settle for anything less than excellence.

Excellence in our routine…
Excellence in our personal wellness…
Excellence on both large and small platforms…

It is indeed first a decision, and then a commitment to doing whatever it takes each day to bring us to our highest levels.

Where do you need to fight? Where do you need to go deep and build a strategy to ensure excellence? 

As you hopefully saw in Sunday’s historic and epic celebration… the ability to celebrate (or as Travis Kelce said this weekend, paaaaartty) makes all of our efforts absolutely worth every ounce of hard work.

Have the most incredible wrap to your week and let’s keep our health, energy and spirits high as we move thru winter!

Emerge energized: Getting to radical transformation

Have you ever witnessed a butterfly emerge from a cocoon? I had the opportunity this fall to see that process for the first time. It is incredible. (that I recall… my apologies to some amazing science teacher out there that likely taught me at some point).

Here are the basic steps:

  • A caterpillar is hatched from an egg.
  • The caterpillar, or at this point, technically a larva, stuffs itself with leaves…. growing and growing and thru a series of molts it sheds its skin.
  • The caterpillar stops eating, hangs upside down from a twig or leaf and spins itself miraculously a silky cocoon, the proper name: “chrysalis.”
  • Within that casing it goes through RADICAL transformation and one day, BOOM… it EMERGES as a butterfly! (Only 10-14 days in this phase!)

So, I asked a good friend what she thought of when I said the phrase, “Emerge Energized,” and with a science background, she expressed the thought through this lens. Of course it was brilliant so I totally stole the idea from her. But, here’s the real question: What happens during that RADICAL transformation? I mean, what in the world could happen in such a very short period of time to create such a stunning creature?

In short, cells are organizing… They use the substance surrounding them, a protein-rich “soup” if you will, to fuel the rapid growth and form their best selves. This is where today’s primary message is directed.

Just how do us humans get this magical protein-rich “soup” to help us accelerate our growth… to help us have that spiritual, financial, relational, focus we so desire? (So many other categories, but those are strong contenders.) Folks, to me this points directly to the importance of community and surrounding ourselves with the people that are helping us become better people. I’ve shared this before, but it bears repeating... Are your closest friends and family bringing you closer to your best self? Is your spiritual life better because of their presence? Are they moving you closer to or further from your health goals? Do they elevate you and of course likewise? Do you encourage one another? Hold each other accountable? In short, do they make you better?

We CAN emerge energized. We can in fact, become stronger at this “life game” every day, but we cannot do this on our own. We need to be focused on who it is that speaks into our lives and we need to bring in those that can help us if we don’t have those people today. As we start the year, it seems the ideal time to run thru this exercise in each of our key categories of focus, such as those listed above, and then if we have a gap, develop an intentional strategy to ensure we have the right people on our team. I can assure you it’s worth your time. I have a bit of work to do and honestly I’m excited about new conversations and continuing to learn.

*This seems like a good time to throw this out there… so glad Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill and others are on our TEAM! GO CHIEFS!

Let’s AMPLIFY together in service to others

Happy New Year! The energy the turn of a page brings cannot be understated. The opportunity to start fresh is powerful, regardless if you are moving from second to third grade, into a new career or simply turning the calendar day over, launching into a new year ahead. A full 365 days to move toward your dreams and calling.

I was so inspired over the past few days while reading “Our Better Angels,” written by Jonathan Reckford the CEO for Habitat for Humanity. I am well aware of the organization, but have not been involved and honestly had no idea of the stories that he unfolded in the book. Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Ruth, have been vested fully in this work for many years, and their work on homes while well into their 90s was enough to give me a swift kick in the pants (as my grandmother used to say).

Sometimes, we all need to a bit of a shake up to realize we can make a difference no matter what resources, circumstances or age we find ourselves at.

The title came from President Lincoln’s first inaugural address, he expressed hope that we could all remember our shared unity if we would hearken to “the better angels of our nature.” I felt like that was a solid statement as we launch into the year. My mind tends to go to the “What ifs.” As in… What if we all chose 2021 to focus on each other... for us all to make a commitment to serve others every single day? What if we all found ourselves stopping by a nursing home with a cheery card for the resident who needs it most? What if we stopped to listen, made that call, committed to sending messages of appreciation out each day? What if we truly went on a mission to understand poverty –– how it happens in our country and what needs to happen for us to collectively and meaningfully move toward a better world? What if?

I am in the midst of my 2021 planning and I don’t know yet how often I’ll blog, but I do know that God continues to call me to do so. I have changed over the years from 3 times per week to 2, for example. I would love to hear any feedback you have so I can learn from it!

What I do know is this idea of “To Serve Well” was a God-delivered title and a focus that I will likely always have. I may finally push my small book off to print this year. The manuscript has been sitting dormant for I think 2 years now… I’m not sure what the world needs, but I do know that I hope to do my part. I would love nothing more than to know I served well. It is my belief that we were all put here to do just that and to live out being the hands and feet of Jesus to all that God has placed in our path.

Have a truly great celebration this week, regardless of how small it might be… I’m praying that the intimacy of the moment as we transition to the new year brings you great joy.

Don’t miss the present –– the now

Today is the opportunity we have been granted.

This month is a great time to recommit and be fully awake to what is going on around us, and be completely open to living in the moment.

Tom Peters has a thought that “Excellence is the next 5 seconds…”

I want to be excellent. I want to be IN this moment, not OUTSIDE of it.

I want to be fully aware of the lights on the tree, the anticipation from the children for the holiday festivities, the tears that are hidden behind my friends smile, the extra-tight hug that shows a friend needs a little extra support right now… all of it.

I want to be fully awake. Don’t you?

I believe that if we can get better in this area, we will be closer to being fully alive.

Who’s with me on this?

(Rewind! This is a throwback post that felt like just what we needed right now.)

A day of honor: Veteran’s Day 2020

Today is always one of my favorite days of the year. I don’t think anything captures the heart of America like Veteran’s Day.

The men and women who have served, their families, and the communities that circle around to honor them, all give me pause and the inevitable lump in your throat response. One of the most powerful scriptures says that “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)

Today, we honor your great sacrifice, your willingness to immerse yourself and your families in what truly is the greatest display of love.

Our country has been built on the backs of men and women who have served with honor. There is no doubt in my mind that this required pushing through fear and all manner of stress as they faced the unknown. That level of commitment and honor for America is why we are all in a free democracy today, in what I believe is and always will be the greatest country in the world. My heart is overflowing with gratitude. I hope that we will all let this day live on day after day as we strive to serve well with love for our country.

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Let us run

“Let us Run.” This has always been one of my favorite scriptures because to me it brings action to mind. If you need a reminder…

“Let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”

Hebrews 12:1

I am not a runner, but wish I was. I do, however, identify with the idea that in order to truly live that we have to get up and move forward, regardless of what is going on.

At work, I have the honor of working with seniors. I love them. Just this week I was talking with some of our patient ambassadors and they were sharing stories of their lives, including struggles with diabetes, cancer, family, etc. Their unified message was that you have to get up and move. They also shared about the faith and friends that have provided them strength during their “race.”

That had me thinking, that the first part of this scripture, is often not quoted… This part from my perspective fills in the key part of the truth.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And, let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

Did you get that “surrounded” part? Envision a stadium – better yet, ARROWHEAD – where the loudest fans in the world are supporting you. Put yourself on the field and throw out any excuses, pain and discomfort, and make a decision to move forward in FAITH. You have a universe cheering you on no matter what position life has you in today.

This is a throw back post from 2018 that just felt right. I hope you enjoyed it!

Wise words at just the right time

I was listening to a podcast earlier this week called “5 more minutes.” As in “It will be 5 more minutes, honey,” or “I am caught in traffic… just 5 more minutes.”  The host, Levi Lusko, shared this story about Ruth Bell Graham, wife of Billy Graham:

Long before she became bedridden, she was driving along a highway through a construction site. Carefully following the detours and mile-by-mile cautionary signs, she came to the last one that said, “End of Construction. Thank you for your patience.” She arrived home, chuckling and telling the family about the posting. “When I die,” she said, “I want that engraved on my stone.” She was lighthearted, but serious about her request. She even wrote it out so that we wouldn’t forget. While we found the humor enlightening, we appreciated the truth she conveyed through those few words. Every human being is under construction from conception to death. Each life is made up of mistakes and learning, waiting and growing, practicing patience and being persistent. At the end of construction – death – we have completed the process.

I absolutely love this truth. I love her bravado in actually putting this on her head stone and am sure I would have loved her spirit. Anyone who has lived quite a few decades knows deeply this reality. 

As our family continues to push through these long days, this message helped me to navigate how my mom would have not only gotten a good laugh out of this, but she would adamantly tell you how true it is. Construction of any kind requires patience, planning, inspection, modification often and the need for ongoing maintenance. She was on this “building” trajectory until she became ill… She was becoming more beautiful with each day and season. 

We have been working on updating the Chicken House on my friend’s hobby farm this weekend. Every step of the way, the symbolism in this message has shined through. One insight today is that stopping to appreciate these steps –– even the “yikes” moments such as nails flying or a missed hammer strike –– can really transport you to the value of work in creating a strong and beautiful foundation for which you build your life on. 

***By the way, getting outside is so important right now! The fall weather is perfect, whether you are getting your hands dirty or just soaking up the afternoon sunshine and being mesmerized by the leaves falling, it is all a balm for the soul.

Have a crazy amazing week and know that your comments and support and prayers have all stopped me in my tracks and literally carried me through this week. My love overflows.

Leading with expectancy…

This one may take a few to register… Lead what? A bit of a narrative shift is how it was presented to me: “Choose this day to NOT lead with limitation or lack.” It was in the category of fitness, but seemed to resonate across the spectrum of life. If you do a “thought check” during a workout, or even during the work day when you are facing a tough situation or challenge, you may find that your mind has shifted to your limitations. Especially when it comes to physical challenges, you might find your mind reciting over and over again that you can’t reach the next level, “after all, you are doing amazing work just showing up to run/bike/hike, etc… so take it easy on yourself…” (Sound familiar?)

I also heard this week in an entirely different situation/conversation, that we actually only perform physically at about 40 percent of what we actually could. I was shocked by that number, thinking for sure it would be closer to 70 percent. Next time you think you can’t go any further, press forward… you can achieve far more than your mind wants you to believe.

I love this artistic photographer, Meg Loeks. This photo is beautiful in so many ways, but I especially love the spirit of this little girl –– running ahead, wind in her hair, joy on her face, expectant for whatever comes ahead, and fully confident in taking on this day.

Let’s go into our days with that level of expectancy. We are stronger than we believe, we are capable, we are brave and we are designed for greatness.