Take a little picnic away...

So, it's been a crazy busy week here in my little world. So many men...so little time (just kidding - do you remember that song from the 80's?). It's actually a case of so much to do...so little time.

Conversely, last Wednesday, Brad and I had the opportunity to drive up to King's Canyon and had a day in the mountains...a day sitting by the river. Can you hear the late summer not-so-in-a-rush water flowing over the rocks? Can you see the sun peaking out from behind the clouds forming over the mountain? Can feel the breeze gently chilling you as it passes by? Ahhh...how it soothes the soul. I got to take a long walk by myself. It reminded me of my high school days in New Hampshire. I would come home from school and take little hikes through the woods or meander down our secluded road...some days it would even be snowing. Oh, how I loved those walks. It was my way of getting away from it all. I walked, I dreamed, I contemplated, I processed. It was good.

Brad and I love to take day trips to the mountains or the coast. We love to cast ourselves into nature. If you're like us, funds are a bit tight right now but all it costs us for a day away is the gas to get there and back. Our little "picnics" away from it all allow us to dream and contemplate. It never fails on our drives to and fro (I've started bringing a hand-held recorder to capture these moments) - We dream. We create. We brainstorm. Good stuff happens. Visions are planted. New ways of thinking emerge. Energy flows.

The creative juices flow when we take the time to get away. I dare you to step away from the desk, the email, the cell phone, facebook, the rat race...I dare you to step away from it all every so often - be intentional. Get away for the day or even just for lunch - just make sure you take time to "get away". Let it flow...all that stuff that stays trapped on the treadmill of life. I dare you to plan your little picnic away. I dare you to put it on your calendar today.

Contemplating and implementing our brainstorms on our day away,
Cindy

P.S. I met this cat on facebook. He's a cat that's not daunted by stereo-types. He's sees what he wants and goes for it. I dare us to do the same.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UTdhK0lwuw

and THAT's the rest of the story

Paul Harvey died on Saturday. That's a sad thing for those who loved to hear the "Rest of the Story" - but the good news is he's with his Angel (his wife's name) in heaven. Here's a sweet (and behind the scenes) article written about Mr. Harvey that I found on CNN this morning.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/03/02/greene.harvey/index.html

Paul Harvey was skilled in his craft of writing and telling "The Rest of the Story". As I read the article from his friend/colleague it got me to thinking...

What's the rest of my story? Do I have the power to write it? Clearly, some of the rest of my story is out of my control but I do have power over my attitude, my priorities, what's important, my choices, and my action.

What's the rest of your story?

So, the dare. I dare you to spend some time this week contemplating your life in terms of a Paul Harvey moment. Fill in the blank to "...and THAT'S the rest of the story."

What is the THAT? What will the rest of your story look like? How do you want to write it? What are the key elements that must be told? What do you envision? Will your dreams come true?

Take some time to picture it. Write it down, if it helps you. Draw it. Capture it in a collage. Just be sure to be participate in the REST of YOUR STORY. Make it the story you want it to be.

Contemplating the Rest of the Story,
Cindy