THE DAILY SPARK

STAY AWHILE

Trail on the Milford Track, Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

WHEN I AM AMONG THE TREES

When I am among the trees, especially the willows and the honey locust, equally the beech, the oaks and the pines, they give off such hints of gladness.  I would almost say that they save me and daily.  I am so distant from the hope of myself, in which I have goodness, and discernment, and never hurry through the world but walk slowly, and bow often.  Around me the trees stir their leaves and call out, “Stay awhile.”  The light flows from their branches.  And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say, “and you too have come into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled with light and to shine.”

Poem by Mary Oliver

REFLECTION:

  • Always in a rush… on to the next task?  When was the last time you took a walk among the trees?
  • The trees have a message:  Go easy… you have come into the world to be filled with light and shine.
  • Is today a day to take a walk among the willows, the oaks the pines?
  • Listen for the trees as they call out “stay awhile.”
  • If not today, when?

BETTER

A little humor to start your day... sign found in bathrooms in New Zealand

Giving better instructions gets better results.

REFLECTION:

  • How clear are you in providing instructions to another?
  • Has there been a time – in the past or currently where the outcome of efforts by another was different than you wanted?
  • How can you provide clearer instructions to get better results?

MORE HAPPINESS

A Staycation respite in Punakaiki New Zealand

A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness.

Quote by Albert Einstein

REFLECTION:

  • Are you in the pursuit of more… more success, more money, more things?
  • Has this created a restlessness in you?
  • What if you could embrace a calm and modest life?  What would that look like?