Marlow's Musings 5/5/24
Insights, adventures and fun stuff from this week.
Audio narration by David Marlow
My maternal grandmother used to say, “I have a notion,” when she had an idea or an inspiration. The idea of a Sunday notion spoke to me today.
Here’s one for us to ponder together.
It is amazing the extraordinary things that happen to you and what becomes possible when you decide to live by your own definition of success.
In my view, success is having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be. Then, living out your purpose in every area of your life.
I dropped into my old building this week to sign some papers at the credit union. The IT guys were using the office in the credit union, so the loan agent, Alicia, and I walked down the hall to the ‘quiet rooms.’ Unofficial offices anyone can use.
As luck would have it, the one next to where we landed was the very quiet room I received my ‘opportunity’ to retire early. I mentioned it as an aside to Alicia which prompted the loan agent to apologize if being there brought back bad memories.
“Don’t, it was the best thing that could have happened to me. No bad feelings at all.”
Moments before I ran into a friend who shared that the program I led was being restarted. Because the guy who replaced me and my team had burned it completely down and then got the boot, they were having to rebuild it from scratch.
For half a second I thought it would be exciting to come back and do it all again…this time as a contractor.
The moment passed quickly. I’m living my dream life now, the best kind of success.
Word of the Week
Notion (noun)
/ˈnōSH(ə)n/
a conception of or belief about something.
an impulse or desire, especially one of a whimsical nature.
Meaning "an opinion, a view, a somewhat vague belief" is from c. 1600; that of "a not very rational inclination, a whim" began in 1746.
The definition notes that one Irish interpretation speaks to aspirations or pretensions beyond what might be expected of one's social position or role.
In case you missed it…
This week’s Ikigai Thought for Today: To Make Your Soul Grow. How exploring creative interests and activities sheds light on your Ikigai.
In this post share one of my favorite insights about the process of uncovering Ikigai. Here it is…
Ikiquest+
This week's Coffee Contemplation: Productivity and Efficiency.
Ikiquest+ subscribers can listen to it in audio narration or read the transcription.
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Comment of the Week:
This week’s comment came from Gretchen on my short video of being present while making espresso.
I love that part of the journey is being present in the moment - It just clicked that how you explained the making of espresso is what makes me happy.
Sitting here with my own coffee, I’m thinking about how I recenter myself by recalling all the little things that bring me joy. I’m realizing as I write them down, they are all moments I’m present in. Thank you for that thought process this morning.
If you missed the video you can check it out here. There is also a connection to this week’s interesting thing.
Quote I’m Pondering
This thought is from Neil Gaiman…
“The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live as only you can.”
Interesting Thing I Saw This Week
Last week I made a video of my espresso machine grinding beans and making splendid shots of espresso. As noted in Gretchen’s comment of the week, the idea was to present a moment of mindfulness and being present.
I also noted that the machine was dirty because someone always brings it up whenever I do a video, and it isn’t clean. We’d been doing shots all morning, so it was definitely in need of cleaning.
Arnaly and I had some good-natured back-and-forth teasing about the cleanliness of the machine. Then she realized she had made a coffee-making instructional video and sent it to me.
Here is it complete with a monogrammed mug and a fun attempt at coffee art! Oh, and a spotless espresso machine.
Final Thoughts
My visit to my old office this week prompted some serious reflection. Had I stayed on, which I could have done, I’d still be a couple of years from ‘retirement.’
I would have missed out on four years of relationship-building experiences with my grandkids. My days would have been filled with soul-crushing work because it wasn’t aligned with my Ikigai.
And I would have missed out on becoming a published author, which I am in the process of becoming right now. That’s the big news I shared with the Ikiquest+ Moai last week.
Because I left corporate life and committed to writing, a well-known publisher approached me and asked me to write a book for them. It is a million-to-one shot to get a publisher to pay any attention to you when you want them to publish your book. I can’t even put odds on how unlikely it is for them to come to you and ask you to write one. However, that is exactly what happened.
It is nothing short of miraculous and a blessing I would have missed had I not ‘retired’ when I did. Becoming a published author, spending more time with my grandkids, and so many other blessings of living out my Ikigai—that is a success.
Quest well.
I love the concept of a "notion" being an idea or patterns of thought that we understand need further reflection and pondering to turn into something substantial. And that it is worth it.
I am also thrilled at your miraculous news of getting picked up by a publisher, David! This is one book I will be chomping at the bit waiting for its release.
Inspired! Thank you David and grandmother.
Never Had That Notion, by Peter Stipan, Copyright ©️ 2024, May 5, 2024
We found our time, sooner than later, for us, we were correct
Couldn’t wait for the perfect moment
We did what made the moment perfect
Finding you again, between us, many years
With more smiles and laughter, now bringing on happy tears
Our conception and impression was one of wild commotion
We knew what we thought we knew, but we never had that notion
Did this really happen or were we imagining things?
The sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in His wings
We found our time, sooner than later, knowing we were correct
We couldn’t wait for the perfect moment
We did what made each moment perfect
Right in front of us, all the time
The idea of us, a notion in a love rhyme
Our conception and impression was one of wild commotion
We knew what we thought we knew, but we never had that notion
Throughout our lives, we finally came to understand devotion
We knew what we thought we knew, but we never had that notion
Until now, we never had that notion.