Tag Archives: love

A thoughtful gift is a manifestation of love

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“When it comes to gifts, it’s hard to overstate the value of thoughtfulness. A thoughtful gift is a manifestation of love.”

—Stephen St. Amant, artist and writer

Image from Unsplash by Hamish Duncan

I have been reading Stephen St. Amant’s daily Savenwood blog for over three years. It amazes me how he consistently comes up with thought provoking and engaging posts seven days a week.

I’ve reached out to him numerous times over the years to acknowledge his efforts and we even had a couple of zoom calls to get to know one another better. He is indeed a very thoughtful man whose daily gifts contribute greatly to those of us who look forward to his many nuggets of wisdom and insight.

EXERCISE:

I encourage you to check out and subscribe to Stephen’s blog and other creative works at savenwood.com.

Children will not remember you for the materials things you provided

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“Children will not remember you for the material things you provided but for the feeling that you cherished them.”

—Richard L. Evans, 20th Century writer, producer, and announcer

Image from Unsplash by Ben Wicks

Do you have children or grandchildren? If your do, how many of them remember the gifts you gave them during the holidays last year?

To what degree do your little ones light up when you walk in the door empty handed but with arms wide open for some big hugs?

In what ways do you agree with the statement, ”The best things in life are not things”?  How do you show the people you care about the most that you cherish them?

EXERCISE:

Consider reading or re-reading The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman.  Over the years, he has expanded his work to include books related to children, teenagers and other groups.

“Love, like the ocean, continues beyond the horizon. And life, like the sun, shines where we cannot see.”

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“Love, like the ocean, continues beyond the horizon. And life, like the sun, shines where we cannot see.”

—Author Unknown

Image from Unsplash by Aaron Doucett

A friend and client named Doug sent me today’s quote in a condolence card upon the passing of my father, Marvin, in early March.

Since my dad’s passing after a remarkable 94 years, I have noticed many significant signs that it was only his body that died. His spirit and soul are still very present beyond the horizon we can see with our mortal capacities.

As I was preparing my breakfast the day after Dad died, I looked out the window and saw a cardinal.

I’ve been told that when God sends a cardinal, it’s a visitor from heaven. Cardinals appear when loved ones are near. When you keep seeing a certain type of bird, it is usually a heaven-sent messenger of love for you. `

EXERCISE:

Take some time today to reflect on some of the important people in your life who have passed away. Note examples of how they continue to shine and show their love in your life.

Please reply to this post if you wish to share your own perspective and experiences.

“We are the warriors of light. With the force of our love and our will, we can change our own destiny and that of many other people.”

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“We are the warriors of light. With the force of our love and our will, we can change our own destiny and that of many other people.”

—Paulo Coelho, Author of The Valkyries

Image from Unsplasy by Dewang Gupta

To process today’s quote, consider yourself one of the heroic characters in the Star Wars saga. Armed with your light saber—and of course The Force,—what causes and quests have your focus?

Where are you taking a stand for matters that align with your values and core principles? What friends, colleagues, and family members share these views you consider worth fighting for?

EXERCISE:

How can and will you more fully demonstrate your love and will to realize your destiny for yourself and others in your communities?

Friday Review: Love

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Friday Review: Love

Happy Valentine’s Day! Here are a few posts about love you may have missed. Please be a peach and share them with someone special in your life!

 

“Love is a fruit in season at all times and within reach of every hand.”

 

 

 

“Because of a great love, one is courageous.”

 

 

 

 

“Love the giver more than the gift.”

 

 

 

 

Friday Review Love

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FRIDAY REVIEW: LOVE

What does “love” really mean? How does it affect your decisions and life? Here are a few posts about love you may have missed. Click the links to read the full messages.

“Love is a fruit in season at all times and within reach of every hand.”

 

 

 

 

“Love the giver more than the gift.”

 

 

 

 

“At the end of our lives we will ask, ‘Did I Live? Did I Love? Did I Matter?’”

 

 

 

 

 

live love matter

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“At the end of our lives we will all ask, ‘Did I Live? Did I Love? Did I Matter?’”

—Brendon Burchard, American Motivational Author

Thinking business woman looking up on many bubbles with question marks on a grey background

Image from careerconfidential.com

Don’t wait a second more!

Ask these questions immediately. Don’t stop asking them until you discover the answer and do something about it, if your answer is not to your liking.

Take some time to deeply explore what it truly means to live, to love, and to matter.

Consider taking a look at the people you respect and admire, who could set an example for you to follow. Start spending more time with these people and let their expansive efforts, living, and loving soak right into your bones.

EXERCISE:

As you continue to live more fully a life with no regrets, how can you help others you care deeply about do the same?

Love will draw

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“Love will draw an elephant through a key hole.”

-Samuel Richardson, 18th Century English Writer

Image from quotesgram.com

Image from quotesgram.com

The image of an elephant being drawn through a key hole is difficult to grasp. How could the largest land creature, whose weight can exceed ten tons and whose heights reaching almost four meters, get through such a tiny opening?

The power of love is without question the source of miracles that often cannot be understood from a place of normal reasoning and logic.

When Lawrence Anthony, author of The Elephant Whisperer, passed away, the herd of wild elephants he had lived with for years came to his home to mourn him—a clear sign of their love for him, and their awareness of his passing.

EXERCISE:

Where have you observed the miraculous power of love in your life?

How and where would demonstrating even greater love in your world make the biggest difference?

Love the Giver

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“Love the giver more than the gift.”

-Brigham Young, founder of the Latter Day Saints

QC #965Years ago, I read The Five Love Languages to enhance my relationship with my wife Wendy. I still recommend this book to coaching clients who wish a better understanding of their partners. The gist is that there are different ways to show love. We almost always choose to show love in the way we like to receive it.

By tuning into the offerings of others, we can embrace their gifts in the way they are intended, instead of missing the message because we are not speaking the same love language.

EXERCISE:

How could you fully love the givers in your life by embracing every gift they have to offer, in the love language that fits them?

You Cannot Master

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“Though you can love what you do not master, you cannot master what you do not love.”

—Mokokoma Mokhonoana, South African Philosopher and Social Critic

Photo from makesafetyfun.com

Photo from makesafetyfun.com

Generally, the people who experience the greatest success and fulfillment in their professional lives demonstrated three key factors:

  1. They are enthusiastic and passionate about their work. Many would engage in whatever it is they do even if the monetary rewards were more modest.
  2. Because they love what they do, they commit massive amounts of time to the practice, and eventual mastery, of the skills involved.
  3. The final piece that accompanies this love and mastery is often the value ascribed to it by the meritocracy in which we live, and the rewards we often receive. How much is it worth in dollars and cents?

EXERCISE:

How and in what ways can doing more of what you love lead you toward a life of greater mastery and success? Consider reading one or more of these books, which speak in one form or another, to the spirit of today’s quote:

What to Do When it’s Your Turn by Seth Godin
Linchpin by Seth Godin
Happier  by Tal Ben-Shahar
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Ruben