Author: Anne

When we refuse to work with our disappointment, we break the Precepts: rather than experience the disappointment, we resort to anger, greed, gossip, criticism. Yet it's the moment of being that disappointment which is fruitful; and, if we are not willing to do that, at least we should notice that we are not willing. The moment of disappointment in life is an incomparable gift that we receive many times a day if we're alert. This gift is always present in anyone's life, that moment when 'It's not the way I want it!”Quote by Charlotte Joko Beckhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joko_BeckREFLECTION:Are you willing to look disappointment in the eye?What do you resort to to avoid acknowledging disappointment - anger, greed, gossip, criticism, judgment?How can you see disappointment as a gift?"If it's not the way you want it", is there something you can do about that?

... And this is one of the great tasks of leadership for us, as individuals and citizens this year.  But even if we act to erase material poverty, there is another greater task, it is to confront the poverty of satisfaction - purpose and dignity - that afflicts us all.  Too much and for too long, we seemed to have surrendered personal excellence and community values in the mere accumulation of material things.  Our Gross National Product, now, is over $800 billion dollars a year, but that Gross National Product - if we judge the United States of America by that - that Gross National Product counts air pollution and cigarette advertising, and ambulances to clear our highways of carnage.  It counts special locks for our doors and the jails for the people who break them.  It counts the destruction of the redwood and the loss of our natural wonder in chaotic sprawl.  It counts napalm and counts nuclear warheads and armored cars for the police to fight the riots in our cities.  It counts Whitman's rifle and Speck's knife, and the television programs which glorify violence in order to sell toys to our children.  Yet the gross national product does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education or the joy of their play.  It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages, the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials.  It measures neither our wit nor our courage, neither our wisdom nor our learning, neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country, it measures everything in short, except that which makes life worthwhile.  And it can tell us everything about America except why we are proud that we are Americans.Excerpt from a speech given by Robert F. Kennedy at The University of Kansas, March 18, 1968For the full speech, https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/the-kennedy-family/robert-f-kennedy/robert-f-kennedy-speeches/remarks-at-the-university-of-kansas-march-18-1968REFLECTION:This speech was give by Robert F. Kennedy in March 1968.  The latest GDP figures (2020) are $20.94 TRILLION.As you reflect on his words, has much changed?What makes your life worthwhile? With the long Labor Day weekend ahead, reflect on what makes your life worthwhile.

Money is not the only way to improve life.  Instead of widening your margin of profit, widen your margin of leisure.  Instead of optimizing for money, optimize for time.  Instead of seeking efficiency, seek recovery.Quote by James ClearJames Clear is the author of  Atomic Habits and creator of the Habit Journal​REFLECTION:What drives your daily schedule ... Money? Being seen (ego)? Relationships? Play?When was the last time you experienced joy... wonder... amazement?Reflecting on this time, how can you have more of those "real moments" in your life?Are your priorities in the right place?Does anything need to shift?Examine and adjust as needed.