PEBBLE
As we transform our own experience and relationship to our realities, we cannot help but affect those around us in radiating circles into the larger culture. These moments of freedom and transformation begin to change and elevate the consciousness and awareness of the world.
~Larry Yang, shared by Pete in Colorado
BOULDER
If every single person who has liked you in your lifetime were to light up on a map, it would create the most glitteringly beautiful network you could imagine. Throw in the strangers you’ve been kind to, the people you’ve made laugh, or inspired along the way and that star-bright network of you would be an impressive sight to behold. You’re so much more than you think you are. You have done so much more than you realise. You’re trailing a bright pathway that you don’t even know about. What a thing. What a thing indeed.
~Donna Ashworth, shared by Rico in Two Rivers, WI and also Amy in La Crosse, WI
PONDER
Whenever I watch the Oscars or similar awards shows, I inevitably find myself daydreaming about hearing my name called and pondering how I’d spend my brief time on stage. I’m positive 45 seconds wouldn’t be nearly enough time to rattle off all the names of those who have supported me along my long and winding journey to that shiny moment. Most of the time, my imaginary acceptance speech ends up going in a different direction entirely. Here’s my latest draft:
“Thank you to the members of the Academy and to everyone who worked on this film. I promise to spend the next few months writing notes to the scores of people who helped me arrive at this particular moment so they can each know the significant ways they’ve impacted and improved my life. Right now, I’ll take this moment to thank every human being who is watching or listening right now, not for the help you’ve offered me, but for all the ways you have spent time and energy supporting the important people in your life. The world gets better every single time we rise above our fears and frustrations to focus on lifting up those around us. The world also gets better every single time we thank someone for the ways they’ve lifted us. I hope you’ll do some of each before you go to sleep tonight, and then wake up and do some more tomorrow, too. Thank you.”
I just spent more time than you can imagne tweaking and rehearsing this so it comes in right at 45 seconds. If you don’t believe me, I’m pretty sure there are several tables of folks here at the Cracker Barrel of Harrison, Ohio who can vouch for me. One lady may have even winked and quiet clapped for a second.
She just became a part of my Beautiful Network, so now I’ll need to track her down and write her a note, too.
Peace,
Paul
