Polar Bears In the Desert

Polar Bears don't function well in the desert (shocker, I know). Why? It is a simple issue of environment.

Polar Bears are simply not wired to operate in the desert. This is not an indictment on the Polar Bear nor is it an indictment on the desert (just ask the Gila Monster...they love the desert). It is a question of right environment.

You can be a skilled worker, full of valuable insight and ideas, but without the right environment (co-workers, job description, resources, etc) you may find yourself stalling and frustrated. You may even be a loving and caring parent, but when the life and household of the family are out of order you may find your patience tested beyond what you can handle.

Pursuing the right environment may sound selfish, but the effects reach far beyond mere individual benefit. When you are in the right environment your co-workers thrive because they get your best ideas. When you are in the right environment at home your children thrive because they get your full attentive self.

When the environment and it's inhabitants are in sync an amazing thing happens...the entire ecosystem thrives.

So please, pay attention to your environment. Ask yourself, "What are the conditions I need in order to be the best doctor, store manager, or parent I can be?" Then, seek out that environment; work to create an environment that allows you to thrive and do what you do best.

Van Gogh ReMixed

One of my son's assignments in art class this year was to create his own rendition of Van Gogh's Starry Night. So, in typical "boy fashion" my son re-mixed Starry Night into a sweet fire-breathing dragon epic of awesomeness.

If the wisest king in all of Israel was correct (and there really is nothing new under the sun) then we need to become masters of the re-mix. We need to learn from what was done before and allow it to inspire us to create something new.

Bike Riding Donkeys

Remember the game "Telephone" we used to play as children?

A group of children sitting in a circle; one thinks of a phrase like "Fuzzy monkeys like yellow bananas", whispers it into the ear of the child sitting next to them, and then that child whispers it to the next until the phrase goes all the way around the circle. The last child says out loud what they were told:

"Busy donkeys bike with bandannas"

Everyone laughs because they realize that's not what the 1st child originally said. It's a great illustration on how communication breaks down when it gets passed around from one person to the next; each time traveling further from the source.

It's hilariously funny with a group of kids at a party, but terribly destructive with adults in everyday life. When we pass along misinformation and misunderstandings we contribute to the breakdown of trust in relationships. This happens at work, in families, and in our friendships. Being a trust-worthy and life-giving person means that instead of calling others, you dial the source directly.

The next time you hear something that you are curious about, sounds a bit off, or you need clarification on, don't pass it along the circle...go to the source, assume the best, and you just might be surprised at what you actually hear.

A Decade Old

Creative.

Silly.

Insightful.

Goofy.

Adventurous.

Compassionate.

Energetic.

Sensitive.

Tenderhearted.

Fun-Loving.

a Gift.

Dont' Be A Ball Hog

One of my soccer coaches used to say:

"I don't care if you score the goal, I care if you get the assist...

...your job is to make your teammates look good."

Being a key player on a team means setting those around you up for success. A generous player brings out the best in others in such a way that their own weaknesses get minimized (which is greatly needed if we are going to contribute anything worth-while in this world).

Conversely, it is the "Ball Hog" who, convinced that they are the ones who will "save the day", end up doing everything, running all over the field with little direction and clarity, and in the process greatly minimizing the role of their teammates.

One creates an environment where others see the value of their play and look forward to contributing; giving way to new insight and possibility. The other creates a fractured state of frustration in which the team is nothing more than a group of uninspired individuals who have no stake or care in the direction the team is headed.

What kind of player are you? Are you going to keep insisting on doing it all yourself at the expense of your team and your common goal? Or, will you work in a way that inspires others to contribute their best because you were quick to pass the ball.

Wait In Line

Next time you find yourself in a line try something...

Wait.

You may be thinking, "Isn't that kind of obvious?"

I don't think so. Just take a look at how many people fill their time waiting in line on their mobile devices. People playing Angry Birds, checking email while listening to Green Day (that would be me), or Tweeting about how lines at the grocery store make them crazy.

You can fill your time in line with so much mindless consumption that before you know it it's your turn at the check out, and you can think to yourself, "man, time flew by".

"Waiting", in these circumstances, is really nothing more than mindless interaction with the illusion that we are actually accomplishing something so that we don't feel like our time was wasted.

While we may be completing some minor tasks, the constant influx of data keeps our mind bouncing from one thing to the next without ever having to stop, pause, reflect, and assess. Moments in our day where we are forced to wait can actually become sacred spaces for us to disconnect from life's hurried pace and take a bird's-eye-view of our day or even our life.

In our true waiting we can be free to observe the people and situations around us, as well as observe where our day has been and where our day is going. Waiting can help us connect to life's bigger picture. Waiting, emptying, pausing are often the canvas for new thoughts, ideas, and discoveries.

So whether you are at the grocery store, doctor's office, or in the parking lot of your kid's school, try using your time in line to simply wait.

Post It on the Refrigerator

Your art doesn't have to have wall space at the Guggenheim to capture the imagination of others. It doesn't need to have it's own exhibit at MoMA to create a following. And it certainly doesn't need to be hung next to a Rembrandt at the Louvre to shape the world.

The refrigerator will work just fine.

We all have a forum in which to share our thoughts, our ideas, our art. It might be the corner of a local coffee house outfitted with a stool and microphone, a bulletin board in the break room at work, or a kitchen table surrounded by family and friends.

We all have a refrigerator in which to bring our art to the public.

And so your family, friends, and co-workers; those who share the same niche interest as you are waiting. Waiting to hear from you; waiting to see just what you will post on the refrigerator that will shape the way the rest of us view the world.

What will you post on your refrigerator?