What are the Odds?: Winter

Quotes

"You are what your deep, driving desire is. As your desire is, so is your will. As your will is, so is your deed, as your deed is, so is your destiny." Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 4.5 (Translated by Eknath Easwaran.).

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness concerning all acts of initiative and creation. There is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now." Goethe

" I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make a life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt, or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated, and a person humanized or de-humanized. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming." Goethe

"Being committed to place ourselves in an environment that we know will make us grow and teach us about our deepest selves builds character, strength, and courage. We soon find ourselves in the habit of growth and find that "we’ve arrived" by our mere presence on the path. We find ourselves at home in the heat of our own refinement." Scott Moore

"The last thing the world needs is another perfect Downward Facing Dog pose. What the world does need is another open heart." Judeth Lasater

Monday, February 28, 2011

Winter

Winter is not the easiest of seasons for me. I like it- I really do- but only for 2 months. After that, I'm done. Done with the cold, done with digging my car out of the snow to go to work in the morning, and done with being light deprived. So this year I invested in skiing. A ski pass, skis, and a couple of lessons. I figured with all my time off I could really put it to use. I am not sure I have accomplished as much as I set out to do... but I have made progress and I think it has helped. I realize I could do more than I have with my ski pass. But without it I am not sure I would have made it up there much at all. There is something about doing everything by yourself all the time that makes motivation more difficult- even when you love something. Why is it that most things are better shared?

I am definitely not to the point of loving skiing, yet. I am not sure that I destined to love skiing as much as my friends. Perhaps the patients I see during my work week make me a little more cautious than the average skier. All the broken backs, necks, legs, arms... There was one skier who we thought might end up with an amputated leg. But... I am enjoying having a better reason for the snow.

But it is March and I am really ready for the blah of winter to fade into the brightness of spring.