March 2025
Thank you, Ms. Marissa Locke, AP Literature instructor extraordinaire at SPHS, for this contemplative prompt…
May 2025
Dear Caleb James,
I love you…Inspired both by Polonius’ advice to his son in Hamlet and your love of language, the following highlights wisdom tenants that I have collected throughout my lifetime. My hope is that a few of these are already imprinted on your heart. Regardless, these are my own soul truths, unique to my journey and perspective. Your path will lend itself to new truths, unique unto you. And as all things in life go, pack only the essentials and leave the extra weight behind…
Follow your inner compass. Almost everyone “will have an opinion”- some well-meaning and others self-serving. Your job, as a human connected to something greater than yourself, is to follow your truth, your inner compass. All of us have a “deep knowing within us- trust that voice and allow it to take the reins. The more you honor your inner truth, the stronger that voice will become.
If you pause when making a decision, listen to your body. If you drop into your body, the path forward will always be clear. Your choice will feel congruent and will never be rooted in scarcity or fear. The path forward is often led by a small flutter in your heart- a palpable excitement- a life force- something that yearns. Listen to this flutter. It is a felt experience not a list of pros and cons. Our western culture doesn’t always honor this truth, but your somatic experience is your best guide. If it doesn’t feel right, it isn’t. If it seems too good to be true, like an Audi Q6 with 42,000 miles for $500, it is too good to be true. (Note: I looked up “fancy German car models” on Google.)
Don’t let people shit in your garden. People will project their fears, insecurities, and negativity, especially when they are unaware and struggling within themselves. Remember- you have a choice whether or not you allow others to shit in your garden. Boundaries-internal and external- are necessary to protect your peace. If someone treats you poorly in order to feel powerful or belittles you when they feel threatened, that is a defense mechanism that highlights their insecurities and character defects NOT your worth. Read that 1000x, it will apply- I promise…and if someone shows you who they truly are, believe them the first time…
As the universe echoed a few days ago, strive to live open-handedly. Allow the butterfly to land in your hand without clenching it. Attaching yourself to an outcome or a story takes you out of the present moment. If the metaphorical butterfly flies away, connect to the awe that it landed, albeit for a brief moment. If it stays, care for it with intention.
Cultivate daily gratitude. A wise seminary professor once said, “all brokenness can be linked to a lack of gratitude”. I have thought about this gospel tenant (no pun intended) many times over the years; and it has survived reality testing time and time again… Gratitude is truly the foundation of contentment and joy. We live in a culture that divides; screams the word “mine”; and often rejects interconnectivity. Everything from your breath to your newly hemmed pants is a gift. Nothing truly belongs to you- our job is to receive life’s bountiful offerings and steward these gifts well- from our health and relationships to our belongings. If you work hard to earn money and then purchase your German dream car, connect to gratitude- not only for the car but for your physical ability to work and the opportunity itself. If you do not connect to gratitude, you will drown in empty entitlement and your bucket will always run empty. Sometimes our culture is akin to toddlers screaming “mine” in the sandbox while parents stand by and think, “Sweet Love- I bought that Tonka truck and gave it to you- please share your truck with Miles and stop throwing sand at Ocean…”
Every time you fall down or feel defeated, see it as an OPPORTUNITY to practice getting back up;) Learn from your “oops”; integrate the lessons; and level up…Avoid writing a story that your stumbles constitute failure. This is absurd and will keep you small. Furthermore, always own your mistakes. If you intentionally or unintentionally harm someone, “saying sorry” is not the solution, make it right by doing what needs to be done in order to “repair” the rupture. .
When you travel, find the hidden paths. The real gems in every city or village are rarely tourist attractions. You will find abundant awe and beauty in the local folks’ wisdom- seek it out.
Notice and appreciate daily glimmers. Glimmers are defined as bite-sized moments of joy that we experience in our daily lives. Examples might include eating a warm chocolate chip cookie; watching Sparky roll onto his back like a baby Beluga; or catching a glimpse of a BMW M1 (had to look that up on ‘the Google’ as well);)
ALWAYS write thank-you notes and express gratitude, regardless of the gesture or gift. Not only does it fill the giver with goodness, it fills your marble jar as well. Expressing gratitude changes the heart…
Laugh at yourself. We are beautiful messy humans and embracing our messiness is an essential part of being alive. When we can laugh at ourselves, we allow radical self-compassion and acceptance to take root and grow. Laughing at ourselves is a sign we have let-go of our need to be polished and perfect- we have found beauty in the dusty corners. It also reflects that we understand our part in the shared human experience- we are not above it or below it- we are part of it. Our contradictions, hypocrisies, idiosyncrasies, and complex feelings are exactly what makes us human.
I could offer a novel here, but in the spirit of brevity and your selective attention span (it takes one to know one), I will wrap this up with a few honorable mentions:
*Try is not a word. Do it or don’t do it. Try indicates lack of commitment. Thank you, Michele Downing.
*Never eat leftover seafood.
*Always do your best work! Show up to every task with your best self, whether you are washing windows or interviewing for an internship. This will be the foundation of your character and work ethic.
*Show respect for others by honoring time commitments and thus planning accordingly.
*Never kill spiders. People have a tendency to harm what they fear- please don’t be that guy;)
*Never prioritize your agenda over stopping to help someone in your path.
*Never dim your light to accommodate another person’s shadow.
*Tip generously- an extra 10-20% elicits a positive butterfly effect;)
*Dance and/or sing every day.
*Value people over profit and treat everyone with respect, especially those that serve you.
*****Most importantly, text or call your mom often;)
Love, MOO MOO