Add More Adventure to your Life
Volume 1 Issue 7 November 10, 2003
Idea for
the week:
Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees
it.
Respect yourself and others will respect you.
Things that are done, it is needless to speak
about...things that are past, it is needless to
blame.
--Confucius
Think about these three quotes
this week.
Did he really mean everything?
Will others really respect me if I respect myself?
Is it possible to NOT speak (or think) of things
that are done and NOT blame things that are past?
Take some time this week and look
at the things in your life that you don’t
see as beautiful and look for the beauty. Notice
how you are respecting yourself and how others
are behaving towards you – use them as a
mirror and take a look at how much time you spend
talking/thinking about things that are done and
how you are regarding things that are past.
Feature
Article: Responsibility
and Blame
I like to look at responsibility and blame as
an adventure in possibility.
Sometimes it is hard to differentiate
between responsibility and blame.
Responsibility comes from knowing and acting in
accordance with that knowing.
Blame comes from believing someone or something
should be different.
All of our actions or non-actions
in life have consequences. The responsibility
is ours to choose the actions and non-actions
that will bring the consequences we want.
Our actions also have an effect on those around
us, as we do not live in a vacuum.
Others actions also have consequences for them
and for anyone who is around them.
The tricky part is in differentiating
what is our part in any given situation and what
is not...without blame of someone else or ourselves.
Blame serves to make one person right and the
other wrong; it imposes our standards and beliefs
on another and does not allow for human error
or beliefs that are different. Understanding and
compassion are also not possible when one is blaming
another.
Accepting our part or responsibility is an opportunity
to see a situation differently and to open to
new possibilities for all concerned.
This does not mean that you give
up your beliefs or values either. It is possible
for all beliefs and values to co-exist when all
parties respect another’s right to their
view, opinion and actions. When the
need to be right is no longer present, neither
is the tension.
Join me next week for Responsibility
and decision making.
If you have questions or comments,
please email/call
me 406-222-1036.
Winter Wonderland
The last 10 days have been beautiful winter here
in Montana with temperatures below freezing day
and night. Today for the first time we reached
6 degrees above freezing and it was welcome to
see the snow begin to melt.
After two heavy snowstorms, we had an accumulation
of snow and it has been fun to play outside with
children. On a walk last Sunday, my 8 year old
suddenly announced that she was a penguin and
promptly dropped face down in the snow and flailed
around saying “Look, look I’m sliding
on my belly. I’m an Emperor Penguin.”
What fun!
Enjoy the coming of winter in the Northern Hemisphere
– a time to slow down (if that is possible
around the holidays) and remember the gifts of
cooler weather, indoor play and projects as well
as the gift of time in a warm room with a good
book.
In the Southern Hemisphere, enjoy the new growth
of spring and the warmth of summer just around
the corner.
Warmly,
Barbara.
I offer a 30 minute complimentary
coaching session to get you started and see how
coaching can further your progress towards more
adventure in your life. Call 406-222-1036 or email
me to set up your time.
