Marlow's Musings 7/30/23
Insights, adventures and fun stuff from this week.
Audio narration by David Marlow
By mile 5 of the run, the soles of my Sauconys were proving no match for the searing heat radiating off the road.
Summer was full on in Wisconsin.
Two energetic girls had set up a table alongside the road.
A lemonade stand.
If you are a regular reader, you know I ALWAYS stop at a kid’s lemonade stand.
“Would you like some lemonade?” the oldest one called out.
With no money, my mind searched for ways I could encourage them without buying any lemonade.
Thank you, no. It looks fantastic, but I don’t have any money with me.
“It’s free; you look like you could use some.” The younger girl poured a cup.
Something a pastor friend of mine taught me immediately came to my mind.
“To refuse a kindness robs them of their blessing.”
How could I refuse their kindness?
“Thank you,” I said after the last sip, “this is just what I needed to finish my run.”
The girls smiled.
As the youngest took my cup, a car filled with kids pulled up and ordered several glasses.
“Enjoy your run,” They called out.
And I did.
When you decline offered help or refrain from expressing what you need, you inadvertently deprive the other person of the blessings they could have received.
Running in the heat this week reminded me of the kindness those little girls showed me and made me aware of something.
I’ve been depriving you of your blessings.
I haven't expressed a need, largely caused by fear - fear of rejection, fear of judgment, and fear of being perceived negatively.
Despite rarely being apprehensive about such things, I find myself grappling with these fears now.
“To refuse a kindness robs them of their blessing.”
In the spirit of practicing what I preach, I will be expressing the need and am working through this week how best to share it here.
More to come.
Word of the Week
inspirit: (v)
in·spir·it / īn-spīrit
1: to bring forth, to bring to life
2: enliven.
3: to instill courage or life
Inspirit is a combination word:
from ‘in’ which in original Old English means into, upon, and influence.
and ‘spirit’ which comes from the Old French espirit and the Latin spiritus which means breath of God or of life.
Imagine the most beautiful garden you’ve ever seen. Such a garden is brought to life with intention. With focus, dedication, and discipline.
“Only with absolute fearlessness can we slay the dragons of mediocrity that invade our gardens.” George Lois
Life happens and our gardens are all too often invaded by the dragons of mediocrity.
People expect things to just happen, to be organic. A patch of weeds and a garden are both organic. One is organic with purpose and intention.
💥 When we embrace our purpose we bring forth the life we were meant to live.
💥 We do the things we were meant to do.
💥 We impact the people we were meant to impact.
That is only accomplished with absolute fearlessness, which is the third aspect of inspirit. To instill courage.
Words of Purpose
This week we also learned...
In case you missed it…
As part of the Ikigai Lexicon, I’m sharing posts about the 47 Big Bold Beautiful Benefits of Ikigai.
Here are the latest. Increased Focus and Enhanced Motivation
Ikiquest+
This week in Ikiquest+…
The ‘Coffee Meditations’ continue!
I created these for Plus subscribers this week.
Cheers!
Quote I’m Pondering
If we abandon tradition, how will we know our past?
If we cling to tradition, how will we embrace the future?
Yonason Goldson
The reflection here has me pondering not so much right and wrong, good or bad. Rather looking for ways to bring harmony into whatever we do.
Comment of the Week:
The Language of Purpose post on Quondam generated many heartfelt comments and reflections.
Quondam means ‘one-time, former, having been formerly.’ Iris shared something that summed up the thoughts of many…
We are more than who we were!
We aren’t defined by our careers, careers end. We are indeed so much more than we ‘were.’
Final Thought: Fun Things I’ve Seen This Week
Thought I’d blend final thoughts and fun things this week.
Two quick things I took time to notice while being present and aware.
My grandkids love to snack on crackers. As a result, we often have half-eaten crackers here there, and yon in the house after they’ve left.
The one in the picture was by the front door so I threw it outside rather than the trash thinking it would break down naturally in the grass. Little did I know.
Look at the interesting pattern the ants made as they ‘broke’ down the cracker.
As I ran today, I couldn't help but notice a distinct line of clouds stretching for miles, resembling brush strokes carefully painted across the sky.
I paused my run to watch them for quite a while and was so captivated by the view that I might have missed the perfect photo opportunity.
My focus was on savoring the moment as the clouds began to break up, as clouds often do so this picture will have to do.
Every day life sends us miracles and wonders if only we pay attention.
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Inspiring highlights! Focusing on what’s important defines and elevates us! Non nisi te domine 😎
I can imagine the feelings of internal "terror" surrounding the prospect of expressing a need and I applaud your courage to say it out loud. When need is shared from a pure and confident place, there is no fear, because there is no expectation or dependence on the outcome. Our inner sanctuary of divine connection allows us to fearlessly share, because we have already acknowledged and released the need in that sacred place of inner communion.... there is no agenda in expressed need, rather, an opportunity for connection between sharer and hearer. *Full confession: this comment was born from my own struggle to challenge my triggered, deconstructing self, to listen for opportunities to be a blessing, and be blessed (cue tears)🥲