Marlow's Musings 3/31/24
Insights, adventures and fun stuff from this week.
Audio narration by David Marlow
Whether, like me, you observe Easter as a part of your faith journey or see it in the context of the rebirth of Spring, there is one thing we can all draw on from this time of year.
Hope
The past several years have been challenging. We have turned a corner in many ways this year, and there is a reason for hope.
With that in mind, I share these hopeful thoughts with you today.
Have a blessed Sunday...
Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come.
Anne Lamott
"In the midst of the sorrows is consolation, in the midst of the darkness is light, in the midst of despair is hope, in the midst of Babylon is a glimpse of Jerusalem, and in the midst of the army of demons is the consoling angel."
Henri Nouwen
"If you feel that there is no hope, then it is time that you create more."
Daisaku Ikeda
Optimism is not false hope; it is a strategy for living.
Louis Rossetto
On Easter Day, the veil between time and eternity thins to gossamer.
Douglas Horton
Word of the Week
Rise (n & v)
(rīz)
1: (v) Move from a lower position to a higher one.
2: (v) Get up from lying, sitting, or kneeling.
3: (n) An upward movement, an instance of becoming higher.
4: (n) An increase in amount, extent, size, or number.
Rise is both a noun and a verb from the Old English risan, meaning to rise from sleep, get out of bed, stand up, rise to one's feet, and be fit and proper.
The richness of this word includes elements of increase and abundance as well as an act of defiance against the default. Something well aligned with becoming renewed and living out the life you were created for.
In case you missed it…
This week’s Ikigai Thought for Today was Better Than Answers…
You don't have to know everything or have all the answers you only need these three things.
This Thought for Today has a bonus section with reflection questions for Ikiquest+ subscribers.
Ikiquest+
This week’s Coffee Contemplation for Ikiquest+ subscribers was One in One out…a reflection on reducing the clutter in our lives.
Ikiquest+ subscribers can listen to it in audio narration or read the transcription.
If you aren’t yet an Ikiquest+ Subscriber, give it a try for free by clicking the box here.
Comment of the Week:
The comment of the week comes from Jon on celebrating the second anniversary of Ikiquest…
You bring forth so much to this group of readers and sharers and questors, David. You connect us to something…unknown and yet known.
Nothing makes me happier than hearing something like that, Jon. Well, maybe my grandkids, but nothing else for sure!
Quote I’m Pondering
This thought is by Jordan Castro in a recent article from Harper’s Magazine
Life, not death, is the ultimate reality.
Interesting Thing I Saw This Week
We have a white squirrel in our immediate area. I’ve seen it several times in the past few weeks. While I have witnessed it do many interesting things; its behaviors have been largely limited to standard squirrel stuff.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered this white squirrel can levitate! As evidenced by this picture.
Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
This week, my wife heard a funny sound behind the refrigerator, like water flowing.
Now, we hadn't had any ice from the ice maker all day, so there'd have been no need for it to draw more water. In checking, I found a hose leaking behind the fridge.
What ensued was a series of mishaps, misadventures, misfitting, and all kinds of other things to fix this tiny leak that deposited anything but a tiny amount of water on the floor and basement.
This week, marking Spring and rebirth, reminded me that the old me would have fussed, fumed, worried, and been in a constant state of churn until the problem was solved.
The new me didn't do those things.
Sure, I still had to solve the problem. While working to resolve the issue, there was peace instead of stress.
That doesn't mean I wasn't frustrated with the local hardware stores; I was. Otherwise, it was pretty calm. That's a change, a new me, and a rebirth that I want to celebrate.
Quest well.
Two things I especially liked from this:
Create more hope.
&
"Optimism is not false hope; it is a strategy for living."
We often hear in business "hope is not a strategy". Well, Ikigai tells us that business is a part of life, and life requires hope as a component. Wishing something would be without taking any action toward it is not the same thing as hope.
I hope you add a great Easter Sunday and the season lasts 50 days…more to come!