Friday Reflections

Never look down on anyone unless you're helping them up

Point to Ponder: "And my goal in life is to give to the world what I was lucky to receive: the ecstasy of divine union through my music and my dance." - MJ

STORY LINE: written by Rajiv Shah

I recently watched a film about the late Michael Jackson's life, THIS IS IT. I've been a fan of his for a long time – his music, his humanitarian work, and his capacity for compassion even when the world condemned him. One of the segments in the film touched me deeply and got me thinking about the theme of today's reflection.
            
Michael Bearden was hired as Michael's music supervisor on his last concert tour. A concert that never happened due to Jackson's untimely death. Bearden was recalling his strongest memory of Jackson- an encounter he had during their rehearsals together. The memory revolved around their shared first names, Michael.
            
Bearden and Jackson were working on a musical selection when Michael Jackson stopped and said, “Bearde, you know what our name means? Well, our name means one who is most like God.”
            
Bearden shook his head triumphantly and a cocky smile broke across his face.
            
Jackson was quick to stop him, “no, no, no, we got to be humble. We gotta be humble.”
            
Bearden could see Jackson sobering. “I am humble MJ. Why are you so serious about this?”
            
“Well, I don't want God to take our gifts away.”
            
Bearden shook his head, “I don't think that's going to happen. And I think your gifts are greater than mine.”
            
Jackson was heated, “no, no, no, don't say that. Don't say that.”
            
“Well, why MJ?”
            
“Because you're here with me and I'm here with you. And we have to use our gifts together to help people figure out what their gifts are.”
 

Bearden was speechless. Here was arguably the greatest entertainer of all time telling him that they were there to help other people discover their own gifts. Bearden would add that Jackson's humanity, his empathy, and compassion are what set him apart. For Michael, in Bearden's estimation, truly did care about people.

            
Reflection:
 
Much like Bearden, at first glance I misinterpreted what Michael had initially said about being most like God. Just like Bearden, I thought that Jackson was self-congratulating himself for his own gifts. That God had chosen them, to bestow onto them, these unique qualities and for that reason were better than others.

So I watched the segment again. And again. And the more I listened, the more I came to realize that Michael Jackson wasn't operating from the same motivations we sometimes do. Being like God didn't mean that they were to put themselves onto a pedestal, but his talent was a responsibility to help others find their own passion through the gift he was given - music.

How often do we use our talents and our gifts to exalt our own own needs? How often can we say that we used our strengths to help another shine? And if not, why? Why is it we feel there is only a finite amount of talent, a limited amount of joy, and why do we feel we must keep it only for ourselves?

So the next time we look down I hope it is not to look at how far we've risen past another, to congratulate ourselves, but is instead there to help another up – to use your passion to encourage another to discover their own 'gifts.'

 

Originally Published on April 8, 2010. Felt Appropriate to revisit the reflection now.

Happiness is a Choice

POINT TO PONDER

The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.  - Mark Twain

 

STORY LINE *

Bronnie Ware is an Australian nurse who spent several years taking care of patients in the last 12 weeks of their lives. She recorded her experiences with those patients and she found common desires among them. They were published in a book called "The Top Five Regrets of the Dying."

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.

It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.

2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.

This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.

By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.

We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

 Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again. When you are on your deathbed, what  others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.

Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.

 

*Originally published on August 4, 2103. 

 

In 2019, Please eat your lunch on time

Points to Ponder:  You can’t pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first.
"If you don’t take care of yourself, nobody else would." advice from one senior manager in my first company.(1975-83)

Story Line: It was four o’ clock in the afternoon. Having no meeting for that hour, I went to the break room in one part of our company building. While sitting on a sofa, I noticed a guy sitting on one of the tables in the corner, eating something. A few minutes later his coworker walked in and asked, “Eating an early dinner?” To which he replied, “No, eating late lunch.” They chatted for a short while and then she left.

Having overheard the conversation, I approached the guy to confirm what I had heard that he was eating his lunch at four in the afternoon was true. To which he nodded yes. Even though it was not be any of my business, I felt compelled to ask the follow up question, “Do you have a family?” He told me that he had a wife and a little girl. I could see the shine on his face when he mentioned about his little girl. He seemed to know where my line of concerns/questions was heading. So before I could say anymore, he told me that his work had to be finished because of an aggressive project deadline.

I told him, “God forbid but if you don’t take care and something happened to you what would happen to your family?” I noticed the degree of concern building up on his face. I continued “My friend, in case something happened to you, the company policy allows only seventy five dollars for sympathy items; flowers take up most of it, and some department managers who are fanatic about cost might insist that the money must include the sympathy card and the delivery cost. A few friends from work might stop by to see your family for the first few months and then follow up with occasional phone calls to your wife. But in the most cases that’s as far as it would go. “Please take care of yourself first” I said. I believe he appreciated what he had heard. We had a very warm handshake before going our own ways.

A few weeks later, I saw him eating lunch in another breakroom of the company. It was two o’clock in the afternoon. Upon seeing me, he immediately said, “Making progress.” And we both smiled.

The very last time I saw him was in the hallway at 12:45 in the afternoon. As soon as he saw me, he signaled Thumbs Up. I expressed my pleasure with a smile.

Reflection: Why this story came to mind now? Last Year, seven people I knew from my 40 years in industry left this world. Five between the ages of 59 to 72 from one company I had worked for and the two at 79 and 88 from the first company I had worked for. One of the common messages that two of them gave to the friends who had come to visit them in their last days was: You have to take care of yourself first.

Happy New Year to All Readers Around The World.

 

When What You are and What You Do are aligned…

La'ie Point, Oahu

Point to Ponder: May be the journey isn’t so much about becoming anything. May be it is about un-becoming everything that isn’t really you so you can be what you were meant to be in the first place. –Author Unknown

Story Line: In response to the Friday Reflection Be Yourself in late June, a reader Prasad Vepa commented as follows: Your cryptic reflection is sound indeed. It is similar to the last line of the advice Hamlet received from his father: “Above all, to thine own self be true!” The well known observation from Rumi points to the same insight: I kept knocking on the door until I realized I was inside! We generally knock on other doors hoping to find compatible shelters and voices until we realize we need to not knock — but unlock — our own door from within to find and uncover our authentic self in the cave of our own heart.

I would say that ‘Being yourself’ is necessary, but not sufficient. It is much more important to KNOW yourself. Otherwise one runs the risk of acting like one of our presidents who suffered from the illusion of being ‘The Decider’ and erroneously concluded that it conferred upon him the powers of a Nero and the wisdom of a Solomon! But he was being himself. The duty to awaken from our long, deep slumber of hazy illusion and to uncover the truth of our deepest self is the highest human obligation as Vedanta teaches us and as Shankara proclaimed. This truth will set us free and liberate us from suffering, which is really caused more by ignorance of our true self than by desire. When you know yourself you WILL be yourself. And your thought, word and deed will be aligned.--Your dear friend, Prasad Vepa

While reading his comments I remembered one of old colleagues and the choices he made about 18 years ago.

Reflection: I worked with him in late 90s. He was an engineer, easy to work with and very good at what he did. At the age of 38 he decided to return home to be with his aging parents; giving up on a very lucrative career, opportunities of Silicon Valley and all the rewards it could have brought him with his talent.

During our trip to Oahu in May, My wife and I spent two days with him reflecting on the time that had passed. His goal was to spend a few years after graduation on the mainland and then return home. Some would assume that he must have “Made It” in order to give up on the future rewards this growing industry would have brought. From what I know that wasn’t the case. He did what was consistent with who he was and what he wanted out of life.

Prasad Vepa’s comments and the story of my friend are appropriate to end the year; the time to reflect and also time to look forward.

The Story of Yudhisthira and His Dog

 

Sully the service dog accompanies Bush one last time

POINT TO PONDER
You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him. -James D. Miles

STORYLINE by Rajiv Shah (Retold from the Mahabharata)
Yudhisthira finally stood at Indra's chariot. Indra loomed over Yudhisthira - a noble and skilled man - and his trusty companion, an ugly dog that had joined him one day on his trek while he was resting under a tree, alone and tired. He had lost his brothers on the journey - one by one they died - from starvation, the bone chillingly cold nights and the brutality of the heat during the day. One by one they were taken from him. It was when his last brother perished that he found himself at his lowest, under that lonely tree, when the dog appeared to him and never left.
They had been searching for Indra's chariot on that mountain to take them the final way to the gates of heaven. Yudhisthira and his brothers had heard finding this place, this paradise, would bring them peace. They were brave men and many believed they could make the journey through the treacherous mountains but in the end it was Yudhisthira alone, with his trusted dog, had made it.
Together he and the dog had passed over jagged rocks that cut them, hot sand that burned, painful thorns from unwelcoming bushes, and deep mud that threatened to suck them in and not let them go. When they found food - sometimes Yudhisthira finding it, sometimes the dog – they always shared it. When neither found food, they starved together. And as sometimes only loneliness can bring to two creatures, it brought Yudhisthira and his dog love. He trusted the dog with his life.
His dog was looking up at him and he patted his head. They had finally made it to the place they were searching, and Indra's voice bellowed out to him, “oh, you finally arrived! I have been waiting for you so long! It's a pleasure to have you here in my chariot, let's fly to heaven.”
Yudhisthira and his dog took a few steps toward the chariot when Indra raised a hand, “But... the dog can't come, look at it, it's old and thin. It's not worthy of my heaven.”
His dog stopped and Yudhisthira looked down at him. The dog laid down at Yudhisthira's side, resting its head on his cracked paws. Yudhisthira looked back up at Indra, “I'm sorry, if the dog can't come with me, we will turn around and go back now. I thank you for your invitation, but I cannot leave this animal. He has been my faithful companion during this journey.”
Yudhisthira headed back down the mountain, the long arduous path they had just come.
“Stop,” Indra cried out.
Yudhisthira turned and discovered not his dog on the ground where it had been, but the dog transformed back into its real shape: the God Dharma.
“Now you can come, this was your final test and you showed that you deserve to come with me.” Indra opened the doors to the chariot and Yudhisthira stepped in. Indra closed the door and off they went.

REFLECTION
The dharma, represented by the dog in this story is the representation of the only way a person can attain peace. And within this story, the path is found through righteousness not because of what Yudhisthira will attain but because of the intrinsic value of doing what was right.
This begs the question of whether we do good things because of what we feel it will bring us: appreciation or reward.
*I was inspired to focus on this story from the Mahabharata and the picture of the week after reading a moving article about a dog refusing to leave his owner, a fallen soldier. The story can be found here: Best Friend

Update: This story was originally published on Sept 10, 2011. https://fridayreflections.typepad.com/weblog/2011/09/yudhisthiraandhisdog.html

Being republished with a new photo after reading the following very touching story about President George H.W.Bush and his service dog Sully. Sully the service dog accompanies Bush one last time.  Sully

The readers comment in the original publication are also being republished in the blog comments.

"I'm gonna be like you, dad. You know I'm gonna be like you"

 

Points to Ponder: Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they repeat word for word what you shouldn’t have said. – Author Unknown
“And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me- He'd grown up just like me- My boy was just like me.” – from the song Cat's in the Cradle written by Harry and Sandra Chapin

Story Line: Some-time ago, in response to the reflection Teach Your Children/Parents Well , two readers; Levi’s and Paul Jaquette had suggested another meaningful song “Cat's in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin. Since then, I have listened to this song many times and I would like to share with you as the year is winding down. It has a very deep message for parents. Please spare a few minutes to listen

Reflection: Every-time I listen to this song, many childhood memories resurface. It is so true that childhood experiences have significant influence in shaping a person's adult life. In my childhood years, when our father returned home from work, we went out for evening rides and listened to many stories and also sang songs. When he returned home from business trips, we would gather around him and listen to enchanting stories of his experiences; people he met, places he visited, funny things that happened and also of his business dealings. For him, all business relations were personal ones. He treated every person and his job with respect. When we showed him the our grades report, he would look at it and ask "Do you need any help or you feel OK?". No other sermon.

For him, being able to work with people was the most important thing for success. He also had his weaknesses and faults. So many of these childhood experiences of every kind have carried on with me in life. This reflection was planned for this Friday (November 16) sometime ago and I realized only an hour ago that it coincides with the 26th anniversary of his departure from this earth. 

Special thanks to Levi's and Paul for sharing this beautiful and meaningful song that has rekindled so many memories. 

 

Be the Energy you want to attract

 

Point to Ponder: Always keep in mind that the strongest factor of your Feng Shui is You. - Stefan Emunds

Story Line: This short story is an excellent example on mindfulness. - Sent by Sujat Shah from India.

Zhao Zi Hao's made it big in business so he spent money buying a piece of land in the suburbs and built a three-storey villa.

He had an impressive swimming pool in the garden with a hundred-year-old Lychee Tree in the backyard to boot. In fact, he bought the property precisely because of this tree. His wife loved eating lychees.

During renovations, his friends urged him to get guidance from a fengshui master, just to tread on the side of caution.

Zhao Zi Hao's never quite believed in Fengshui yet surprising he took the advice to heart and went out of his way to engage a feng shui master from Hong Kong. The Grand Master was non other than Master Cao who's been in the profession for thirty over years, renowned in the Fengshui circle. They had a meal in the city then Zhao Zi Hao drove the Master to the suburbs.

Along the way, when cars behind them tried to overtake, Zhao Zi Hao would simply give way.

The Master laughingly remarked: "Big Boss Zhao, your driving is really safe." He spoke really fluent mandarin for a Hongkie.

Zhao Zhi Hao laughed at the remark: “Usually people who need to overtake have some urgent matter to attend to, so we shouldn't hold them up.

Arriving at a small town the streets grew narrow and so Zhao Zi Hao slowed down.

A giggling child suddenly darted out from an alley and as the child ran across the street, Zao still didn't speed up. Instead, he kept his gaze on the alley, as if waiting for something. Out of the blue, another child darted out, chasing after the child ahead.

Master Zao was surprised and asked: “How did you know there'd be another child following suit?”

Zhao Zi Hao shrugged: “Well, kids are always chasing after each other so it's impossible for a child to be in such glee without a playmate.”

Master Cao gave him a big thumbs up and laughed out loud: “That's really considerate of you!”

Arriving at the Villa, they got down from the car. Suddenly about seven to eight birds flocked from the backyard. Seeing so, Zhao said to Master Cao: “ If you don't mind please wait here for a little while.”

“What's the matter?" Master Cao was taken aback.

"Oh, there's probably some kids stealing lychees in the backyard. If we walk in now we might give them a fright, let's not risk anyone falling off the old Lychee Tree." Zhao replied humorously.

Master Cao stayed silent for a while before stating matter-of-factly: “This home doesn't need a fengshui evaluation anymore.”

Now it's Zhao's turn to be shocked: “Why's that?”

“Any place graced with your presence naturally becomes the property with the most auspicious fengshui.”

When our minds prioritize others’ peace and happiness, the one who benefits is not just others, but ourselves too.

When a person is considerate of others at all times, then this person has unconsciously accomplished Buddhood.

The Buddha is in fact a person who through benefiting others becomes enlightened.

Have a mindful week ahead.

Reflection: Many people view Feng Shui as about things and good fortune but in reality it is about us and the energy we want to transmit. For Zhao Zi; his believes, thoughts and actions were in harmony and radiated positive energy in the universe. In life one gets what one puts out.

As Master Cao rightfully said " When our minds prioritize others’ peace and happiness, the one who benefits is not just others, but ourselves too."

When someone does something wrong, don’t forget all the things they did right.

Point to Ponder: It is not mistakes but how they are handled defines persons and the culture of the organization.

Story Line: It was my first job. Our team was working long hours to get the new production line operational. One day with my boss Charlie nearby, I dropped the entire lot of production lot in a very stupid way. As the silicon wafers broke into pieces, I saw my dreams of having the job and get permanent residency in USA shattered away. I apologized. That afternoon I saw the boss going into the General Manager’s office and then the doors shut. Needless to say I couldn’t sleep that entire night and also called my parents and told them that I would be coming home soon.

The next morning when the boss came over and asked if I had a minute, all kinds of thought went through my mind. He reviewed my plan to expedite the replacement production lot and approved it. Not a single word was mentioned about what had happened the previous afternoon.

Late evening on that day while I was on the production floor, the general manager of our division came asked “Have you had dinner?” We went to his favorite Chinese (Jade Garden). That interaction; scene and words have always stayed with me. I told him “Dave, I am sorry for the mistake.” Before I can say further he said “Haven’t we all? How do you think I got where I am at? Without mistakes?” I sincerely offered to pay for the lost production wafers. He laughed and said that mistakes bring experience and to learn from them. He told me that Charlie and he had talked about this incidence. Their conclusion was that I was working too long hours and seemed exhausted. (My routine work hours were from 7AM to 9/10PM every night plus a few hours on the weekend)

With a smile he suggested, “Take a few hours off for extra rest. Work only 12.” Dinner didn’t conclude until he highlighted one by one many valuable contributions and emphasized that I was an asset to his organization.

A few weeks later, my boss called me in his office and handed a piece of paper. That was my first exposure to performance appraisal. He said it was “out of cycle” and the attached piece of paper had some numbers that seemed like my new salary. There was huge % increase number with a note: Policy Exception. I have treasured that note for lifetime.

Reflection: That incidence and many similar ones in my early career are not only unforgettable but they shaped the work philosophy and approach for the career that followed.

The years later I spent 20 years with another company. The founder of that company had told us something very profound in the new hire orientation “When something goes wrong, focus on the problem not the person.”

Being in the industry that pushes the envelope and develops state of the art technologies and products, the problems arose on regular basis. Many of them with potential impact of millions of dollars, two with impact in billions, many relatively smaller and most requiring great sense of urgency.

It was so wonderful working with the people who understood that culture. The time was spent finding real solution to the problems. No finger pointing, no stories about people getting fired in the hallways. Focus on Solution not the persons. That company went on to become world’s #1 in its field.

As you sow, so shall you reap.

Points to Ponder: At work or in the personal life always remember The Golden Rule


THIS POSTER IS USED WITH PERMISSION BY THE CREATORS AT SCARBORO MISSIONS.*

Story Line: 300 senior ministers (aka managers) from all over the world had gathered in a large hall for the beginning of a leadership summit called by the person who had been crowned the new boss of the organization upon retirement of the previous boss. As it normally happens in such gatherings, after glorifying introductions, the new boss takes the podium to share his vision of the future. Things seem to be going well for the first few minutes until the new boss put up a poster that contained the strategies of his predecessor marked with a huge X over it. Attendees guessed: “Down with the old, Follow the new” was the message. However it puzzled some attendees:

Why did the new boss have to undermine the very person who chose him for the job?
Also anyone who had attended the farewell ceremony of the retiring boss had seen that the legendary Chief Executive of the company and many of the current senior executives had shared their fond memories of the retiring boss and highlighted his immense contributions to the company. In addition the company had asked the retiring boss to stay in the advisory role.

The common sense would indicate not to undermine someone who was leaving with so much respect and also the one who had chosen him as his successor. Why not focus on the future instead of talking about the past?

What kind of example it sets for the employees? More so when it was in the leadership conference that had many sessions emphasizing things like High Ethics, Uncompromising Integrity, Gratitude, Professionalism with examples of the great leaders of mankind.

And even after few years, some members of his staff took opportunities to criticize the strategies of the previous boss; still wondering whether their intent was to please him or to misguide him.

Fast Forward: a few years later…

Only senior members of the organization were called for a meeting. A new person had been appointed to lead that organization. The old boss (his new job "to be defined") was to report to the newly appointed boss and he was asked to be in the meeting. Some of the very members of his staff who in past had helped develop and praised his strategies termed those very strategies as Failures. One of his staff members even went as far as praising the very first boss (the retired one) and talked about the mistake of abandoning some of his strategies.

The old boss did not return to the meeting after lunch break and left the company soon thereafter.

Reflection: You may ask: Why this article and Why Now? In the last thirteen years of these reflections, occasionally I have received notes from the readers stating that FR covers stories that are positive in nature, pump up spirits type etc but “are there stories that are negative sounding and we can learn something from them too?” So here is one with many lessons about work and life.

But the message that stands above all is: The Golden Rule

*This poster is available to purchase from Ontario Multifaith Council and Interfaith Marketplace.

 

 

 

Humble Warrior- Transformations always occur during moments of crisis.*

Point to Ponder: “Tragedy depends on the way you see it. If you chose to be a victim of the world, anything which happens to you will feed that dark side of your soul, where you consider yourself wronged, suffering, guilty and deserving punishment. If you choose to be an adventurer, the changes - even the inevitable losses, since everything in this world changes - can cause some pain, but will soon thrust you forward, forcing you to react.”- Paulo Coelho Warrior of the Light

Story Line: A week ago I received the following message and responded to it.

October 3rd was the second anniversary of our first meeting, the day Shawn knocked on the window of our car and informed us that the mattress he was moving had hit rear side and done some damage. We were impressed with his honesty as well as with the utmost Integrity (Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching) he demonstrated in resolving the entire issue. Since then we have become good friends, share our experiences and family stories, and we have also met for lunch with our spouses. Learning more about his life journey in past two years of association, we realize that his faith and good values have helped conquer many challenges.

Reflection: With Shawn's permission I am sharing his own Reflection a year ago on the fifth anniversary of the founding of his business.

“5 years ago I was unemployed and my wife was 8 months pregnant... She had gotten her maternity leave papers from her Dr. to hand to her boss... before she could hand over the papers, her boss gave her a termination letter.... we were both unemployed and our baby boy was a month away ... being the man of the house, the provider, I felt embarrassed that we were scrounging anywhere for food... our main diet was living off the free costco samples just down the street...I remember praying to God that I just want to eat, I just want to be fed... then I turned it around ... I started to pray that I wanted to feed others, I wanted to feed many...

By the grace of God, I started a business... Today is the 5 year anniversary.... these are the 8 men I call THE HUMBLE WARRIORS in the photos... I told them to meet me today on their day off to do a very large side job and that I needed all hands on deck... we met at a costco parking lot, the very same one that my wife and I used to live on the free food samples...we had a quick meeting and I told them a few nice words about all of them and showed my gratitude towards them … then I proceeded to tell them about the origin and motivation of this company... I then told them to please forgive me, that I had been lying to them... and that we are actually not working at all today... I am delivering on God's promise to feed many and that they all are getting a $500 shopping spree to the same costco that fed my wife and I free samples years ago... the caveat was to get some stuff for others as well and to pay it forward just as I have...

I will never forget their faces, the energy, the joy I felt… an honor to do so for good people... as I was reflecting on the 5 year anniversary and thinking about some of my favorite days… it was not all the (business) accounts we got… it was not every time we purchased a new truck… it was the 8 days that I found the 8 HUMBLE WARRIORS…

I am sharing this story to inspire, to help others, to stretch the God given imagination you have been blessed with… to be humble, to be selfless, to think beyond just yourself… to reach out and touch somebody by speaking through the heart.”

The life story of someone we just met by accident (literally) has so many good lessons. It has touched and inspired us. I like to sum it up with a paragraph from Warrior of the light by Coelho: “This miracle is in the small things of daily life; we must live in the understanding that at every moment there is a way out of each problem, the way of finding that which is missing, the right clue to the decision which must be taken in order to change our entire future.” 

*from The Winner Stands Alone by Paulo Coelho