“Until one is committed there is the chance to draw back; always ineffectiveness.  Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation) there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans:  That the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would not otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man would have dreamed would come his way.”  by W.H. Murray

Have you made a definite commitment to something?  Do you speak of it to others?  Speaking about it solidifies your commitment, and helps you to be more accountable to it.  If you say you are a writer, and you’re committed to being one, people begin to expect you to write.  Funny how that works!

When you’ve made a commitment about what you’ll do or who you’ll be, and it’s one made with great force, the resources to make it happen will come about.  It’s about the power of intention; understanding that you hold this power makes anything possible.

Coach Charrise

Last night I spent some time with my great-nephew, Ethan.  He is three and a half years old, and quite remarkably brilliant for a boy his age.

We had a thunderstorm, and then a beautiful, fully formed rainbow.  As I took Ethan outside to see the first rainbow he will remember in his lifetime, his eyes sparkled and he smiled.  I could tell he was really thinking about something.  He turned to us, and said “Maybe I could climb up the rainbow and slide down it and gets lots of gold!”  He was so certain that this was possible.  He wanted a boost, so he could reach it.  He was mesmerized by the rainbow, and by the joy that it could bring him.  He may not really understand what gold is, but he knows it’s good.

Later, we read books.  He is not yet reading, but he tracks with his eyes while he is read to, and will probably be reading within a year or so.  I read to him a book that I have from my childhood; my favorite story.  It’s a book called “Miss Suzy”, by Miriam Young.  The story is about a female squirrel who lives in the tip, tip top of an old oak tree. She makes tea in her acorn cups and sweeps her moss carpet with a broom she’d made from maple twigs.

Miss Suzy was ultimately chased out of her home by a band of red squirrels, and subsequently found a new home in a dollhouse in a nearby attiic.  She opened a box and found 6 toy soldiers, who came alive and ultimately rescued her old home by chasing the red squirrels away.

This story is magical, and Ethan was again mesmerized.  I told him that Miss Suzy actually lives just outside, in the tip tip top of OUR old oak tree.  He looked out the window and asked me which tree.  I told him we weren’t sure; that it was difficult to know, but that we knew she was there.  He was curious if her house was there too.  Of course I said yes, her house is there too.

Ethan’s reactions reminded me about the wonder we feel as a child.  Eventually, we lose that sense of wonder and replace it with skepticism.  The good news is that we can get some measure of it back; spending time with children reminds us how precious imagination can be.  When we read to children, we have the opportunity to get inside the story and feel the way the child feels as the story unfolds.

Whether it’s rainbows or storybooks, adult dreams or wishes, our sense of wonder is still inside of us.  Re-visit it and nurture it, and your imagination and creativity will flourish!

“If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in”.  by Rachel Carlson

When is the last time you set out to make someone’s day? We all have the power to do so. What do we get back for that?

Each time you do kind and thoughtful things, you feel good about yourself. You make the other person feel valued and loved. You create positive energy which bounces off of them and comes back to you. You are reinforcing the fact that there are good people in this world.

How cool would it be if you chose to be intentional about making someone’s day, each and every day? Making a commitment like this pushes you to make a difference in quantifiable ways. It drives you to be your best self, and stimulates productive thought processes that may lead to something even bigger.

The best way to make someone’s day is to do so without revealing yourself. Random acts of kindness are needed in this world. Sometimes, making someone’s day is as simple as acknowledging them for something good that they do. Making direct eye contact and smiling at people allows important human connections to occur, and perpetuates a happy world.

Coach Charrise