Story on a Restaurants Wall - The Mexican Fisherman

Yesterday, as I was sitting and having a sandwich, I looked up to read a story that was framed on the wall. I wanted to share it with you all. It speaks to remembering how much of life we miss because we are so busy working to hard at it. Enjoy!

The Mexican Fisherman
A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village. An American tourist complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.
"Not very long," answered the Mexican.
"But then, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?" asked the American.

The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.

The American asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

"I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta with my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs...I have a full life."

The American interrupted, "I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you!

"You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat. With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers.

"Instead of selling your fish to a middleman, you can negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York City! From there you can direct your huge enterprise."

"How long would that take?" asked the Mexican.

"Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years," replied the American.

"And after that?"
"Afterwards? That's when it gets really interesting," answered the American, laughing. "When your business gets really big, you can start selling stocks and make millions!"

"Millions? Really? And after that?"

"After that you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta, and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends!"

Yoga for Dummies

I am sure there is a book out there for people like me, but I am learning a bit of Yoga through the Wii system and I like it.

Now don't laugh as i am sure it isn't really close to what happens in an hour class, but maybe some day I will feel comfortable enough with my balance to actually attend a real class.

I guess what I am finding is how learning how to pay attention to your balance and breathing is hard work! I never knew Yoga had that in it...well maybe I did as I know a Yoga Instructor and she keeps telling me that. Anyway, as I was trying the poses tonight I was forced to clear my mind and think only my balance and breathing. Kind of cool just clearing the mind after a long week and paying attention to something I do more than anything else....breathe.

My posture improved, my mind was calm, and my body stress was released. Maybe that is why so many people have said I should try Yoga! Wait!! That would mean they know something about me that I refuse to agree with! Okay, you got me. I can be a little stressed and a little fast moving in body and mind.

Ah Yoga---breathing and balance. Sounds a little like positive living to me!

When will I learn?

One of my goals of living a positive and purposeful life is to pay attention! Viewing all that is around you allows you to figure out where you need to make minor adjustments to gain a better balance and a more positive life.

Last night I went Cross Country Skiing. Yes it was fun and yes it was a learning moment, but I forgot one important thing, a good hat to cover my ears! I froze my ears a few years ago and every time I am in a cool wind or cold weather I wear something warm over them. I have learned, well I thought I had learned.

This morning I get up with a crazy ear ache and bells ringing galore all because last night I didn't wear an appropriate hat over my poor little ears! So when will I learn?

I guess it was a great reminder of why I have hats and ear muffs in every coat I own. After having to come home today because of the headache I got from the issues with the ears, I thought again--learning moment!

So, when you start looking at positive and purposeful living remember it isn't always about epiphanies or major events. Some days it is about remembering what you learned and following the learning.

Here's to my ongoing joy of learning!

Minor Adjustments!

Good morning everyone. Nice to see you still here, or at least I hope I still have a few readers.
Today I wanted to talk about making minor adjustments. This concept came to me this week with the creation of a Biggest Loser team - TEAM LIFE MATTERS!

There are 20 of us working to support each other during our individual quest for healthy living. The response has been amazing and fun and even though it has been only one day, I have found myself excited to have friends in healthy living passion.

This morning when I woke up I was thinking about what has made the difference this past week as we all started planning our attack to the challenge and it came to this - Minor Adjustments!

I could have a goal of losing 40 pounds, eating fruits and veggies galore and going to the gym 6 times a week. Yes, I could and for a long term goal those are great, but how do you start when you are faced with a seemingly daunting task of 40 pounds? How do you think day to day about 40 pounds? Well you don't!

Life isn't about losing 40 pounds overnight it is about making minor adjustments. Adjustments on walking up the escalators or just riding, adjustments on eating a seconds or not, adjustments about watching someone else workout or actually working out, adjustments about going once a week to the gym or not at all.

Most of the time, life isn't about making dramatic changes it's about making minor adjustments! Adjustments to the day to day things that happen around us. Taking the stairs, eating less, walking an extra block or thinking a positive thought. Very minor adjustments with great impact!

So today I vow to pay attention to my ability to make minor adjustments every day. In thoughts, words, and actions. Won't you join me?

House Cleaning

The house, like my life, needed a good cleaning out! Getting rid of the clutter, scrubbing the dirt, throwing out old habits and putting meaning back into the day.

I love long winter days just for this reason. A time to look around and house clean. What means something to you? You keep. What doesn't matter to you? You get rid of. What is holding you back? You let it go. What is dirty and not healthy? You stop.

The past few weeks I have been in this mood. Now I was told "it's about time" but it took me some time to get to a point that my physical environment life caught up with my personal self life. You have to get to this point on your own and Lord knows I have arrived.

Old furniture, old carpet, old self, old clothes, old everything is gone. It is a new day and a new life.

So what has been happening since this change? Well I started a Healthy Living Team - Team LIFE Matters, I have started on a number of books and video projects, I have went ice fishing twice and have more planned, I have begun to look forward at the next home on the water, I have changed, yes, I have changed.

I have gone through the winter quiet and come out with a spring renew attitude. An attitude that puts me on top of my world and ready to see every day as an opportunity to improve. It is a great feeling. It took a long time to get here again, but the journey has taught me so much. I have changed.

Sometimes just hearing others story of 'getting it' helps others move forward, so today I share my story of house cleaning inside and out!

Is it cold enough to go fishing?

Silly question if you live in Minnesota right now, as -30's is making some really good ice!

I am always amazed at people who think I am just crazy for going out in zero degrees to fish, but it just is my thing. It clears the mind to watch and wait for bobbers to go down and flags to go up. It isn't about the cold or catching, but the true giggly feeling I get when I get a bite!

I am excited this week as I joined "The Fishing Fanatics" here in Minneapolis. A group of 104 people who plan trips out year round just to fish. I love it! They also do a lot of education for newbies in the sport which is again, right up my alley! What a perfect group for me to join!

So, tomorrow fishing with friends, next weekend fishing tournament, weekend after that a quick trip to Fargo, and then three more weekends after that of tournament and plan old good time fishing! Ah, I love winter!

Videos are coming soon so stay tuned!

Are you lying there because you don't want to be somewhere else?

There is a quote from the movie Serendipity that goes "Maybe we’re lying here because you don’t wanna be standing somewhere else."

It is said when one of the main character is looking for a woman he met and he travels across the states to find her rather than stand at the alter with the woman he is engaged to marry.

I like this quote because it speaks to how much we need to take changes and never settle. If you think something is better for you out there, then lie there rather than stand somewhere else.

All of us have those times in our lives that we wish and dream for something different. We may get lucky enough to get a taste of that dream or wish, but how many of us would fly across the states and go after it? How many of us just stand somewhere because it is safe, because it is planned, or because it is comfortable?

When it comes to that time when you can either stand where you are at or lie down at something new are you willing to give yourself permission to go and try. Go after your dreams? Go after your purpose? Go after your passion?

Yes I know the world puts all sorts of restrictions on how we live but the world cannot put restrictions on our dreams and wishes. The world cannot decide if we will stand where we don't want to be or lie where we think we should be. It is up to you! It is up to me! Each of us responsible for our position.

You want to make your dreams come true? You want to change your world? If so then think. "Maybe we’re lying here because you don’t wanna be standing somewhere else."