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I sat quietly Sunday morning listening to the chorus of birds chirping from the trees in the neighborhood. Rachmaninov and Chopin piano concertos played softly in the background. All were still. There were no motors revving over lawns. Children were still inside and there was quiet. In the stillness I began to think about people I have known and what they have done to add to my Life.
I decided to list their names and next the name, write what it is/was in the relationship that I appreciate and for which I have gratitude.
One friend came to mind because whenever I think of her and envision her in my mind’s eye, I think “joy, light, kindness, and love towards others”. She makes strangers and people who work in the capacity of serving, feel worthy.
What I hold dear is the living demonstration this person is for me to not take others for granted and to take time to add words of kindness and conversation to those whom I can overlook in my haste to complete a transaction.
This person has a remarkable gift that is brought to others. That is why it is uplifting to be in her radiant presence.
This week, I invite you to think about those individuals who have added to your Life and to practice awareness of others with whom you are in contact. Add a blessing to them in your interaction.
© Dr. Drayton-Craig, 2010
Monday, May 31, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
THE VALUE OF WHAT YOU SAY
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When my son was younger and was directed by me to do something, occasionally he would ask, “Why?” There were times when I would give him a reason and at other times I would respond, “Because I said so.” I might have added, “And for no other reason!”
Such it is with Life, you command your thoughts and actions and you go where your thoughts take you. There are days when we would rather not do something because we don’t feel like it. There may be times that we would rather do something else but we said that we would do an activity with someone. What to do?
There is power in doing what you said you would do – holding to the integrity of your word. People learn that they can count on you and you learn that you can count on you….because you said so.
This can be a useful tool to get something done when you rather not, or to elevate your mood when you rather give in and give up. Give yourself a command that positively states a desired outcome, or describes how you would like to feel. Because you said so, and for no other reason, do what is necessary to bring about the desired outcome. It may take practice, yet after a short time, you are likely to notice that you can leverage low ambition or desire into fruitful outcomes.
© Dr. Drayton-Craig, 2010
When my son was younger and was directed by me to do something, occasionally he would ask, “Why?” There were times when I would give him a reason and at other times I would respond, “Because I said so.” I might have added, “And for no other reason!”
Such it is with Life, you command your thoughts and actions and you go where your thoughts take you. There are days when we would rather not do something because we don’t feel like it. There may be times that we would rather do something else but we said that we would do an activity with someone. What to do?
There is power in doing what you said you would do – holding to the integrity of your word. People learn that they can count on you and you learn that you can count on you….because you said so.
This can be a useful tool to get something done when you rather not, or to elevate your mood when you rather give in and give up. Give yourself a command that positively states a desired outcome, or describes how you would like to feel. Because you said so, and for no other reason, do what is necessary to bring about the desired outcome. It may take practice, yet after a short time, you are likely to notice that you can leverage low ambition or desire into fruitful outcomes.
© Dr. Drayton-Craig, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
ENJOY YOUR BLESSINGS
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I was a keynote speaker this past weekend at a church women’s luncheon. In that speech, I explored daily practices that would encourage their spirit and ensure execution of their authority in the Kingdom of God so that they could produce the things they desired in their lives for the glory of the Lord.
In the list of things was my suggestion to: Enjoy the things with which you have been Blessed.
I asked, “What things do you own that you never use? Why? For what are you saving them? Do you own things that you find are too good to use? Finally, “What does that say about how you value yourself, or your trust in the Lord’s ability to add to you and to give you increase?”
I spoke about my grandmother who had a long, rose colored chenille bathrobe that was kept in a mysterious hall closet with a skeleton key, when I was a child. She would say, “That robe is for when I get sick.” Or, “in case I have to go to the hospital (she wanted to look good).”
She was basically in good health during her Life, yet, about once a year she would take to the bed with her rose robe and be ill for 3 or 4 days, with moaning, upset stomach, and everyone tending to her. The robe would never be used the rest of the year.
In her later years, it went with her to the hospital for the various times she had eye surgery – and she would moan and get into character of being really sick. Likewise, she had sets of towels that never got used because they were “for company”, or they were “for display”.
What do you have that could add to the fullness of your Life that is locked in a closet, on display in the china closet, or wrapped somewhere and out of sight?
You can’t recapture today.
© Dr. Drayton-Craig, 2010
I was a keynote speaker this past weekend at a church women’s luncheon. In that speech, I explored daily practices that would encourage their spirit and ensure execution of their authority in the Kingdom of God so that they could produce the things they desired in their lives for the glory of the Lord.
In the list of things was my suggestion to: Enjoy the things with which you have been Blessed.
I asked, “What things do you own that you never use? Why? For what are you saving them? Do you own things that you find are too good to use? Finally, “What does that say about how you value yourself, or your trust in the Lord’s ability to add to you and to give you increase?”
I spoke about my grandmother who had a long, rose colored chenille bathrobe that was kept in a mysterious hall closet with a skeleton key, when I was a child. She would say, “That robe is for when I get sick.” Or, “in case I have to go to the hospital (she wanted to look good).”
She was basically in good health during her Life, yet, about once a year she would take to the bed with her rose robe and be ill for 3 or 4 days, with moaning, upset stomach, and everyone tending to her. The robe would never be used the rest of the year.
In her later years, it went with her to the hospital for the various times she had eye surgery – and she would moan and get into character of being really sick. Likewise, she had sets of towels that never got used because they were “for company”, or they were “for display”.
What do you have that could add to the fullness of your Life that is locked in a closet, on display in the china closet, or wrapped somewhere and out of sight?
You can’t recapture today.
© Dr. Drayton-Craig, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
WHEN THE BEST THING TO DO IS NOTHING
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Every so often I notice that I run into an extended period where things break and require repair – with altered daily routines that invariably throw me off-track. There are complications with business transactions, contracts, and accounts during this time period and there are external delays for promised goods, services, or whatever is needed.
Over the past two weeks, I have experienced several of these in addition to the revelation that an out-of-state relative was ill, but uncooperative to any intervention and assistance from others. While action for him was required, no action could be taken except speculative communication by and among extended family members scattered about various states.
It felt that every avenue was blocked to me during this time period. While necessary steps to get things repaired were underway, it was going to take a week. Projects were on hold because necessary input from others was not forthcoming. There were two disappointments with business endeavors, and so on. I even began to notice how frequently my path was blocked while driving during this period. Frequently, road repairs required detours that added to my drive time. I noticed that although I was driving in a relaxed manner and not rushing, a vehicle would turn into the road just before me and go at a much slower pace. I understood, with a smile on my face.
I have been here before. It is frustrating to say the least. There were moments during this time that I expressed my anger, as well. There were moments of sadness at the impact some of these events had, and there was quiet laughter at the spectacle of the whole thing – because I understood. Most of all, there was a lot of prayer, quiet time, a declaration that God was working things out in His own time, and there was the morning last week that I realized, “The best thing I can do today is nothing about any of these things: absolutely nothing.”
I did not attempt to do any business or solve any problems, and I let others handle what they needed to handle. I took a mental vacation and spent the day outdoors. I planted flowers and walked in the park. In the evening, I went to the mall to browse, came home and watched television, then went to bed early. Each day since then I took a break from doing business projects and filled my days with relaxing activities. Already, three things have resolved themselves.
Sometimes the best thing you can do is nothing.
© Dr. Drayton-Craig, 2010
Every so often I notice that I run into an extended period where things break and require repair – with altered daily routines that invariably throw me off-track. There are complications with business transactions, contracts, and accounts during this time period and there are external delays for promised goods, services, or whatever is needed.
Over the past two weeks, I have experienced several of these in addition to the revelation that an out-of-state relative was ill, but uncooperative to any intervention and assistance from others. While action for him was required, no action could be taken except speculative communication by and among extended family members scattered about various states.
It felt that every avenue was blocked to me during this time period. While necessary steps to get things repaired were underway, it was going to take a week. Projects were on hold because necessary input from others was not forthcoming. There were two disappointments with business endeavors, and so on. I even began to notice how frequently my path was blocked while driving during this period. Frequently, road repairs required detours that added to my drive time. I noticed that although I was driving in a relaxed manner and not rushing, a vehicle would turn into the road just before me and go at a much slower pace. I understood, with a smile on my face.
I have been here before. It is frustrating to say the least. There were moments during this time that I expressed my anger, as well. There were moments of sadness at the impact some of these events had, and there was quiet laughter at the spectacle of the whole thing – because I understood. Most of all, there was a lot of prayer, quiet time, a declaration that God was working things out in His own time, and there was the morning last week that I realized, “The best thing I can do today is nothing about any of these things: absolutely nothing.”
I did not attempt to do any business or solve any problems, and I let others handle what they needed to handle. I took a mental vacation and spent the day outdoors. I planted flowers and walked in the park. In the evening, I went to the mall to browse, came home and watched television, then went to bed early. Each day since then I took a break from doing business projects and filled my days with relaxing activities. Already, three things have resolved themselves.
Sometimes the best thing you can do is nothing.
© Dr. Drayton-Craig, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
WORDS MATTER
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I am reminded this morning that words matter. The very young children at our church service put on a lovely musical to complement the sermon. One of the songs they sang said that words matter. Just yesterday, I read something by Julia Cameron who has written several books on creativity. She, too, stressed that words matter.
It is important to us to be diligent in the words we choose because we try not to offend others in how we communicate. Yet, it is more important that we show due diligence in our words because we are vulnerable to our own descriptions of events, actions, and situations. Self-talk can especially damage our esteem and limit how we play in the game of Life. Words have pejorative connotations and perspectives that easily render us defeated before we rise to the occasion of challenge.
In working with numerous colleagues in grass roots community endeavors, it is amazing to watch an individual become confused, fearful, unable to provide leadership, break down and back out at the last minute before an event or presentation, and show limited creative solutions to problems – all because of the frequent statements of “I can’t” to express doubt and fear.
We certainly want to be kind to others in our use of words. However, we really need to be kind to ourselves with how we label and describe situations. It can mark the distinction between effort vs. struggle; power vs. ineffectiveness; clarity vs. confusion; hope vs. defeat.
“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)
© Dr. Drayton-Craig, 2010
I am reminded this morning that words matter. The very young children at our church service put on a lovely musical to complement the sermon. One of the songs they sang said that words matter. Just yesterday, I read something by Julia Cameron who has written several books on creativity. She, too, stressed that words matter.
It is important to us to be diligent in the words we choose because we try not to offend others in how we communicate. Yet, it is more important that we show due diligence in our words because we are vulnerable to our own descriptions of events, actions, and situations. Self-talk can especially damage our esteem and limit how we play in the game of Life. Words have pejorative connotations and perspectives that easily render us defeated before we rise to the occasion of challenge.
In working with numerous colleagues in grass roots community endeavors, it is amazing to watch an individual become confused, fearful, unable to provide leadership, break down and back out at the last minute before an event or presentation, and show limited creative solutions to problems – all because of the frequent statements of “I can’t” to express doubt and fear.
We certainly want to be kind to others in our use of words. However, we really need to be kind to ourselves with how we label and describe situations. It can mark the distinction between effort vs. struggle; power vs. ineffectiveness; clarity vs. confusion; hope vs. defeat.
“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)
© Dr. Drayton-Craig, 2010
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