Posts Tagged ‘relationship’
Tune in to the Goodness
Tune in to the Goodness I’m very deliberate about not hovering over our kids or trying to control them. Rather, I want to give them the space to manifest the ineffable song that plays in their hearts. I’ve resolved that “parents” are what we call the “chief influencers in our early development”. So my efforts go…
Read MoreFaith & Patience
Faith & Patience Recently I wrote about my 2017 New Years Intention to become more patient. Obviously, that’s an ongoing process, and now I’m working into some deeper elements. Ultimately, I’ve come to the conclusion that patience not only requires one to have faith, it also implies that you have faith that what you want or…
Read MoreTaking Our Holidays Back
Christmas, Thanksgiving, Valentines Day, birthdays, anniversaries and other holidays have exponentially grown to revolve around consumerism and excessive behavior. We feel we have an obligation, rather than an opportunity to give. This leads to stress, resentment and spending beyond one’s means. That may be about as far removed from the original purpose of these holidays…
Read MoreWhat Does Your Trail Look Like?
Relationships are what I care about most. I believe relationships are most profoundly influenced by your level of care. It’s how others experience you. I talk to Francois (our son) quite often about his reputation, and his trail. How do people experience you? What do they remember about you? What is your story to the…
Read MoreBe Bold In Your Kindness
People expect most conversations will remain on the surface and that you won’t stray from the norm; that you’ll keep it safe. When you make a bold comment about someone’s new look, weight loss, attitude or lifestyle, it rattles them a bit. This level of engagement can be remarkably profound. I used to be embarrassed…
Read MoreAppreciating The Unexplained
The more I experience life, the more I appreciate the unexplainable. I’ve been trying to teach Francois some of the nuances of the love I feel for my wife. Not an easy task, especially when explaining to an 18-year-old Rwandan boy from the village that’s never experienced love. When he asked me what it’s like…
Read MoreHow To Win Friends
When I was a kid, my father introduced me to the principles of Dale Carnegie’s “How To Win Friends And Influence People”. It was one of the greatest gifts (among many) that my father ever gave me. Now, as an adult, I start out every year by listening to this book on my iPod. It’s…
Read MoreBe the Attitude
Gandhi famously and profoundly posited, “be the change you want to see”. This practice of being the change is just as applicable to relationships, leadership and many other facets of life as it is to good will towards mankind. The best leaders are ones that inspire and lead by example. They are on the front…
Read MoreLove Manifests Love
I realize how blessed I am to have a happy marriage, to a wife I admire and respect, that inspires me to be a better man, and that I am madly in love with. We have an adopted son, Francois, from Rwanda that we love dearly. He calls me “father”. I am teaching him to…
Read MoreSweet Discipline
I believe that most anything worth having or achieving typically comes as a result of discipline. I work out daily because I want my body to perform optimally. Optimal performance helps me achieve the things I believe are most important. When I was learning Kinyarwanda, I disciplined myself to speak it when it was much…
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