As I sit here on my computer, there is a sizable snow storm blowing around outside. I have maybe a foot of snow or so right now, and it isn’t supposed to let up for another day. I am also sick, so the thought of going outside to shovel hasn’t appealed to me. I figured I would worry about it tomorrow since there’s little chance my low-to-the-ground car would make it out of the neighborhood anyway.

Someone on my little block decided to come around and snowblow everyone’s driveways (including mine)! Why is he doing this for all of us? Maybe he just wants to use his snowblower. Maybe though, he just wants to help everyone out since I am pretty sure most of us only have shovels. The thought occurred to me, do I go out there in my sweats and disheveled hair and thank this kind stranger?  If I do go out there, what will he think if he sees me in this state? That I’m lazy? Stinky, maybe? (Ah the thoughts that go through a woman’s head)… I decided against the potential embarrassment and instead came back to my computer to post my thought: that sometimes there is goodness in people that has nothing to do with personal gain or compliments or brownie points. I highly doubt he’s looking for all of us to come running out of our homes to thank him, and I while I’m pretty sure I know which neighbor it is, I don’t know him personally. I’ve never spoken to him once in the two years I’ve lived here; he would likely not even know who I was if I went to his house later to thank him (which I might do anyway).

Once thing I know is that I appreciate this neighbor today, not just for taking care of my driveway, but for reminding me how wonderful a random act of kindness can be. Paying it forward in some way will be my next, most immediate goal. As soon as I can get out of my house and into the rest of civilization, that is. This is now not nearly as far off as it seemed to me this morning, when my driveway was buried. Maybe a new goal to have would be to perform one random act of [purposeful] kindess each week, and then grow on that. I can think of few ways better to spend my time.

It’s so easy to remember all the instances each day where someone cuts us off on the freeway, or doesn’t yield to pedestrians walking into grocery store. Those moments beg the question “what is wrong with people these days”? My neighbor is a good reminder though, that it is far more important to remember and believe that there is goodness in everyone, just as there is selfishness. More often than not “selfish” moments on the freeway or grocery store are not indicative of the person behind the wheel, but rather is a symptom of an emotional state or moment in time.

A stranger’s momentary lapse of reason which causes them to say something rude, yell at a cashier, or cut someone off in traffic is taken out of context by our judgment-forming mind because we have only the one thing with which to make such a judgment. In reality there is so much more to that person; things we’ll never see. If we consider for a moment that we’ve all done something like this, we can also knowingly say that that moment was not who you are, it was something else entirely. No sleep the night before, a fight with your significant other… whatever.

So, the point of my rambling? Only that we should remember that there is goodness in everyone, be grateful for it when it shows up! More importantly, we should remember when we encounter strangers at their worst that we all have those moments and that doesn’t make us selfish or bad. Just human.

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This is an older post that I felt was relevant this week. I think, generally speaking, this advice still holds true.

Valentine’s Day is tricky. It’s not A trick, but it is tricky. Do you get something, or don’t you? If you do, will it be taken the wrong way? If you don’t, will he/she be offended or hurt? I think that a lot of that depends on the status of your relationship, but generally speaking there are a few things that should never be given, no matter what.

1. Anything that you know you like more than him/her. So, don’t buy your girlfriend an HDTV if you’re the one who watches it.
2. Things that insinuate sex. Its no fun to realize that the gift you got is less about you and more about a certain activity. Unless of course you’re a guy, and then its probably okay.
3. A house utility. I don’t care if he’s been talking about a new lawn mower all year, or if she bitches about the vacuum cleaner every week, don’t do it.
4. A box of chocolates. You might as well just say, “I didn’t really put any thought into you this year honey. Love you!”
5. Any high ticket items. That is just silly. Say I love you for real, instead of with your paycheck for the next 3 years.
6. A pet. Nothing says I love you like a lifetime responsibility of vet visits, poop, and obedience school.
7. Singing telegram. No one really wants to be embarrassed at work. Really.
8. Perfume or cologne. This seems like a nice idea, but no one wants to feel obligated to wear some expensive stuff that they think smells like an old lady in an elevator.
9. Exercise equipment. This one I think needs no explanation.
10. A card with a promise for something later. Again, this seems like a great idea, but you better actually BUY the thing for later (e.g. a gift certificate for a hotel stay on the beach). If you promise it for later, and there’s no “proof”, it’ll end up to be one of those things that never happened. The expectation of something only to have it not happen is almost worse than getting nothing at all.

So, I hope all of you out there with significant other have a good Valentine’s Day. To all of you who don’t, after reading this list, you can revel in how uncomplicated your life is.

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Everyone needs a little inspiration, a little motivation, to keep themselves on track. I do many things, but one of them is finding things like quotes that inspire me and remind me of what I’m doing and why. Here are my 5 quotes that are currently on my vision board, which I make a conscious effort to go over every morning at my desk.

I am the Peace that I Seek. -(My Personal Mantra right now)

Security is mostly a superstition. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. -Helen Keller

Risk more than others think is safe. Care more than others think is wise. Dream more than others think is practical. Expect more than others think is possible. – Unknown

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw of the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the  trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. -Mark Twain

The mark of an Authentic Life is when we are no longer willing to contain our Greater Self just to avoid discomfort. Your life has a higher purpose than seeking approval. If you offer your life to your grandest vision, it will free the genius within you. -Josh Cohen.

These quotes remind me of the the fact that I am hear for a reason, that doing what feels right to me may be risky and considered foolish by others, but that I will regret not following my heart in the end if I choose to be guided by the judgments of others. These are important reminders for me right now, as I have made many drastic changes to my life. If ever I am in doubt,  I have my board to remind me what I’m doing.

Got any great quotes that are guiding your through your journey?

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