If A Tree Doesn't Fall...

"If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"
If a pebble is tossed into a pond and no one sees it does it still make a ripple?

The scientific answer is of course, "Yes". But if no-one observes it, it can't be verified. I can be 100% certain though, if the tree does not fall down, there will be no sound. Similarly, if the pebble is not tossed into the pond, there will definitely be no ripple.  You have to make the effort to create the result you want. Sure, sometimes a chance random ripple will come along that may or may not be what you are looking for but if you toss the pebble, the created ripple will be positioned and directed by your aim. You decide how big a splash to make, you decide how near or far to start the ripple and your positioning gets to decide what receives the greatest impact of the ripple. This seems far for effectual than waiting for the random ripple to occur. 

Decide what it is you should be, must be doing and seize the moment. Toss that pebble into the pond to get the ripple going. Stalling and procrastinating is only delaying your dream.

Taking It Back

The other day, my son was sitting quietly on my lap when he turned to me and said he was watching the long arm on my watch spinning around. I suppose he found the smooth motion of the second hand was quite hypnotic. What stood out for me, was that for every smooth cycle of motion that long arm traveled through for each second was a second that was never coming back for him. It was a moment that he had and is now gone. Strangely, I've never thought of time in context with my children. Perhaps because the seemingly have a whole lifetime ahead of them. Even still, every second is still a precious moment.
I later bumped into  running/riding mate whom I hadn't seen in a while and found out had an aneurysm and the doctors had reported he is one of a few who have survived such a condition. I think I was getting a reminder message...

Last week, I was (to put it mildly) pretty angry with the world for various reasons but mostly because of the disappointment in how disgusting the human race can be. I found my thoughts constantly returning to 'the scene of the crime', plotting my revenge, stewing in my anger and being completely miserable. To steal a quote, every second spent in anger is a second lost that could have been spent in happiness. It's like allowing yourself to be robbed over and over again by staying in that place. Not only have you had your emotions upset but now 'It' continues to steal your joy. It's time to take it back. I would much rather spend a second in a happy place than in that place of anger.
Have your moment as it is a natural reaction but then start moving forward. If there is something to be done, do it and move on swiftly. Don't dwell in that space, move through it before you allow it to rob you of your happiness. You can choose! Deal with the things you have control over but don't brood over issues that you cannot influence. You are investing in something with absolutely no positive return for anyone and that is just plain stupid. Take back your happiness.

Check Your Anchors

So this week has been pretty tough to be the "Seize the Moment" role model and the thoughts I had yesterday would either have me arrested or institutionalised. Of course my commitment to write the Friday morning inspiration is on my mind during this 'full-moon' phase as well.

"What could I possibly write about when I feel so negative that would be of benefit?" 

Well, to answer my own question, it's that we will all go through trials that test the body, mind and soul and there will be cycles of highs and lows in each of the aspects of your make-up. That's obviously not the good news though. The good news is that it is completely normal!

When you are in cycle of a 'high', recognise what you are doing and purposefully add it to your memory store. When your 'high' starts waning and the shadows of the low start creeping in or even if it is a sudden cloudburst that struck without warning, revisit the memory of the high and start the move back into the sunlight.

Sometimes it is an injury that will limit the ability to exercise the body. Maybe a tragic loss or just an absence of motivation. It may be something that has a short cycle that requires some intense therapy or focus to resolve the problem or it may be a lengthy healing process. Perhaps this is a time to focus on another aspect that has been neglected.  

I believe when you have a balanced, joy of the mind, body and soul, that is when you are at your happiest. 

That sounds a bit new-age for a Christian, but we were created with a body that needs maintenance, a mind that needs stimulation and a soul that needs spiritual nourishment. If any are neglected, or in a storm, the others will either be drawn into the whirlwind or be strong enough to anchor you through the storm. When the storm hits, it's too late to start checking your anchors. Some may not even know how to use them, some may be so under-developed that the slightest breeze will put them under strain. Make sure the anchors are in place and in the best condition you are able to maintain them. When you need to use them, you know where they are, you are skilled in their use and you know you can rely on them to see you through the storm you are or about to face.

What's Your Trade?

I somehow feel that I wasn't meant to write this blog today:

• Firstly, I left my laptop at the office as I somehow thought is was Wednesday, but that's okay because I could use my wife's laptop and catch up on the emails when arriving at the office.
• Secondly, the morning alarm reset itself without allowing the 5 minute snooze I really needed, so I didn't manage to get up in time to for the limited moments of morning quietness before the raucous machine that is the Welch household, begins its daily grind. 

Being a person of discipline and having a somewhat stubborn character, I will not let such things break my pattern and in fact, I am more driven to get this piece written. I had (have) the title of this blog before I had the content arranged in my mind so that is a first and let's see how that works out...

What is your trade?

I am an engineer. This is my skill that I use to generate my livelihood. This is the classic definition for describing one's trade: any occupation pursued as a business or livelihood.
In my mind, I saw the word "trade" in more of the verb context: What are you exchanging or what do you have to exchange? This is different from my previous message of sowing, as a trade means a direct swap of one item for another. I see this with my boys swapping marbles at school; two junkies for a spaghetti or a fireball for a cat's-eye.  I believe we are continuously doing trades throughout our lives. The most common commodity used is our time.
Perhaps my question can be re-phrased, "What are you trading your time for?"
In this light, you have to ask yourself, "Am I getting back something of value for my trade?"

Most of my day is spent at work, because that is the way of the world. You have to work to generate an income. So the trade for my time is an income. I also hope to find aspects of my work that is involved in actually improving the world we live in rather than just the generation of money. Fortunately, the engineering field does offer numerous opportunities to explore that potential.
I also hope that my work-time allows me to speak into people's lives and be a source of encouragement, support or a sounding board to discuss matters that are concerning them. If my time-trade can be used to help people then I gain little in the physical realm but satisfies an inner desire to be a contributor to my world and perhaps, by making a small ripple in my pond, other ripples will be initiated by those in theirs until a greater wave is generated impacting a larger ocean.

The balance of my time is for my family. Hugely demanding but even more rewarding. While I was watching Matt sleeping last night, he packed up laughing (still asleep), as does, and says "He looks so cute", and then goes on sleeping. The pleasure of knowing that my child is having happy dreams is immeasurable. I will be presumptuous enough to take some credit in achieving that with the time I have traded with him. Did I get anything tangible in return? "No, I got something of much greater value!"

What is your trade? Exercise it wisely.