When I heard that it would take only 10,000 hours to become very proficient at some skill I started dreaming of what I would do if I had a very long life. How many years it would take to get that 10,000 hours in to become an expert? That's just 9 years (at 3 hours a day). The average person has about 60 years to learn stuff (15 to 75, I'm being generous, because you all are above average). What kind of things would I like to be very excellent in?
I have always wanted to play the guitar, piano, or some normalish musical instrument. Then there's the idea of being an excellent cyclist. Maybe I want to learn to fly? I love being able to talk with people from around the world... how many languages could I learn? There's a long list of things I would like to be able to do, including being a repair guy, builder, architect, and so much more. I would love to live to be 999 years old (with great health), then I could learn a couple hundred things before I die.
There's a problem. It is more like 25,000 hours to become world class and the kind of practice you do matters. This is more like 3 hours a day of serious practice for more something like 22.5 years. But are you aiming to be world class or just have some fun learning?
What would your list of areas in which you liked to be an expert look like? And what if you lived to be 999 years old?
Here's a collection of Bucket Lists blog. I'm going to work through that list of 50 questions, seems like fun.
Wednesday, August 22, 2018
Bucket List
I searched bucket list and found these....
1. Run away for a day and join the circus.
2. Take a trip on the Orient Express.
3. Walk on water.
4. Build a tree fort with all the accessories.
5. Write a letter to everyone whom I love.
6. Visit the North Pole and see Santa's workshop.
7. Name a star.
8. Talk to a politician in Pig Latin.
9. Be in two places at once.
10. Compose a song.
1. Go to the fragrance department and test all those lovely perfumes, or at the very least test the scent of air-freshners in the supermarket!
2. Challenge someone to a duel using tubes of gift-wrap.
3. Make a very weird hat (perhaps suggestive vegetables) and wear it on "Casual Fridays".
4. Request a meeting with the store manager to discuss your dying wish to organize a marathon shopping cart relay race on the premises.
5. Smile and wave wildly to complete strangers, or if you're really daring walk up to them and say, "Bob/Beatrice...good to see you since that great looking nose job."
6. Visit your favorite store and ask a retail clerk if they have any "Weeples", "Shnurples" or "Fizwigs" (fake products that you begin to describe in pantomime or pig-latin).
7. Make a bumper sticker that says, "Honk if you're flawed!" and place it on someone's vehicle.
8. Sing rhymes nursery in the breakfast food section of your supermarket, and invite others to join in.
9. Make a reservation at a fine dining establishment for your "Naked Cycling Club".
10. Write a piece of bad poetry and present to your nemesis on his/her birthday.
Set aside some time read them over. And then, start working through them giving them each a lot of thought. Good luck!
1. What would you love to do or accomplish, before you die?
2. If you were to begin to achieve that/these, what is the first change you would start to make?
3. What would you need to include MORE of in your life?
4. What would you need to have LESS of in your life?
5. Rewrite your goal(s) so it is 'moving towards' something, rather than 'moving away' from something?
6. What is YOUR personal definition of success?
7. If you had to guess your life purpose, what would it be?
8. What daily habits could you replace with a better daily habit? List them.
9. What would a massive action 'look like' for you?
10. What action would you take, if you knew you could not possibly fail?
11. What has worked for you when accomplishing past personal goals?
12. What can you see about any past setbacks, which may actually benefit you?
13. What are you tolerating/putting up with?
14. What will you do, to completely erase petty things that are bothering you?
15. For what will you take 100% responsibility, from now?
16. If you were your own coach, what coaching would you give yourself right now?
17. Who and what are you listening to, most of the time? How will you change that, if it needs changing?
18. What do you keep saying to yourself that usually hinders your progress?
19. What could you now keep saying to yourself, to empower you?
20. What could you get done this week that you know needs doing?
21. For that task, what is the first step and the next step?
22. What could you put in your environment to remind you of your promises to yourself?
23. What could you include in each day to create and hold your vision for your future?
24. What have you 100%, decided to achieve?
25. What ways do you benefit by NOT deliberately moving toward what you want?
26. What activities and new habits will you deposit into your future, this month?
27. On a scale of 1 to 10, how excited to you feel about taking these actions?
28. What could increase that score?
29. What are your highest aspirations for this year?
30. What are the greatest lessons you have learned in life?
31. What is life asking you to do differently?
32. What are you now willing to do that you've been unwilling to undertake?
33. What non-negotiable decision are you willing to make for your life, and stick to?
34. What in your life needs immediate attention?
35. What strategies could you use to better manage your daily priorities?
36. What is perfect about where you are in your life right now?
37. Describe in detail, your feelings once all your goals are achieved?
38. Which books could you read, people could you call and places could you visit that support your goals?
39. In what way are you a better person this year than last year? What will be your answer, next year?
40. Where will you fine-tune your use of time in the next 24-hours?
41. Is there anything you are ignoring, to which you should be paying attention? Be honest!
42. What are you most excited about now? What are you looking forward to?
43. What ways will you will get more energy into your life?
44. What newly created, personal standard(s) will you abide by, come hail, rain or sunshine?
45. What are your greatest strengths and how will you leverage them?
46. What would you most like to be acknowledged for, so far in your life?
47. What do you need to give yourself so that you can give more to others?
48. What new belief could you take on to speed up your personal decision-making processes?
49. What do you already know for certain? Is that the truth?
50. List all the benefits that you got from completing this exercise, and what are your next steps forward?
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland (I think Disney World counts, too!)
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept in an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run/walk a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse (solar)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (well, I have been published in a magazine a couple times)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chicken pox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Have a baby
95. See the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit (class action, not personal)
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day
1. Run away for a day and join the circus.
2. Take a trip on the Orient Express.
3. Walk on water.
4. Build a tree fort with all the accessories.
5. Write a letter to everyone whom I love.
6. Visit the North Pole and see Santa's workshop.
7. Name a star.
8. Talk to a politician in Pig Latin.
9. Be in two places at once.
10. Compose a song.
1. Go to the fragrance department and test all those lovely perfumes, or at the very least test the scent of air-freshners in the supermarket!
2. Challenge someone to a duel using tubes of gift-wrap.
3. Make a very weird hat (perhaps suggestive vegetables) and wear it on "Casual Fridays".
4. Request a meeting with the store manager to discuss your dying wish to organize a marathon shopping cart relay race on the premises.
5. Smile and wave wildly to complete strangers, or if you're really daring walk up to them and say, "Bob/Beatrice...good to see you since that great looking nose job."
6. Visit your favorite store and ask a retail clerk if they have any "Weeples", "Shnurples" or "Fizwigs" (fake products that you begin to describe in pantomime or pig-latin).
7. Make a bumper sticker that says, "Honk if you're flawed!" and place it on someone's vehicle.
8. Sing rhymes nursery in the breakfast food section of your supermarket, and invite others to join in.
9. Make a reservation at a fine dining establishment for your "Naked Cycling Club".
10. Write a piece of bad poetry and present to your nemesis on his/her birthday.
PONDERING POOL QUESTIONS
If you haven't got a clue what to do, and haven't got a "bucket list", here are 50 things you can mull around and meditate upon.Set aside some time read them over. And then, start working through them giving them each a lot of thought. Good luck!
1. What would you love to do or accomplish, before you die?
2. If you were to begin to achieve that/these, what is the first change you would start to make?
3. What would you need to include MORE of in your life?
4. What would you need to have LESS of in your life?
5. Rewrite your goal(s) so it is 'moving towards' something, rather than 'moving away' from something?
6. What is YOUR personal definition of success?
7. If you had to guess your life purpose, what would it be?
8. What daily habits could you replace with a better daily habit? List them.
9. What would a massive action 'look like' for you?
10. What action would you take, if you knew you could not possibly fail?
11. What has worked for you when accomplishing past personal goals?
12. What can you see about any past setbacks, which may actually benefit you?
13. What are you tolerating/putting up with?
14. What will you do, to completely erase petty things that are bothering you?
15. For what will you take 100% responsibility, from now?
16. If you were your own coach, what coaching would you give yourself right now?
17. Who and what are you listening to, most of the time? How will you change that, if it needs changing?
18. What do you keep saying to yourself that usually hinders your progress?
19. What could you now keep saying to yourself, to empower you?
20. What could you get done this week that you know needs doing?
21. For that task, what is the first step and the next step?
22. What could you put in your environment to remind you of your promises to yourself?
23. What could you include in each day to create and hold your vision for your future?
24. What have you 100%, decided to achieve?
25. What ways do you benefit by NOT deliberately moving toward what you want?
26. What activities and new habits will you deposit into your future, this month?
27. On a scale of 1 to 10, how excited to you feel about taking these actions?
28. What could increase that score?
29. What are your highest aspirations for this year?
30. What are the greatest lessons you have learned in life?
31. What is life asking you to do differently?
32. What are you now willing to do that you've been unwilling to undertake?
33. What non-negotiable decision are you willing to make for your life, and stick to?
34. What in your life needs immediate attention?
35. What strategies could you use to better manage your daily priorities?
36. What is perfect about where you are in your life right now?
37. Describe in detail, your feelings once all your goals are achieved?
38. Which books could you read, people could you call and places could you visit that support your goals?
39. In what way are you a better person this year than last year? What will be your answer, next year?
40. Where will you fine-tune your use of time in the next 24-hours?
41. Is there anything you are ignoring, to which you should be paying attention? Be honest!
42. What are you most excited about now? What are you looking forward to?
43. What ways will you will get more energy into your life?
44. What newly created, personal standard(s) will you abide by, come hail, rain or sunshine?
45. What are your greatest strengths and how will you leverage them?
46. What would you most like to be acknowledged for, so far in your life?
47. What do you need to give yourself so that you can give more to others?
48. What new belief could you take on to speed up your personal decision-making processes?
49. What do you already know for certain? Is that the truth?
50. List all the benefits that you got from completing this exercise, and what are your next steps forward?
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland (I think Disney World counts, too!)
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept in an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run/walk a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse (solar)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (well, I have been published in a magazine a couple times)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chicken pox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Have a baby
95. See the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit (class action, not personal)
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day
Thursday, August 16, 2018
House Rules?
I was asked the other day to weigh in on God's "house rules" for life... I don't think that saying God has rules, helps us understand the Bible very well, as that makes for some problems with legalism. Yes there are rules in the Bible, but it is not a rule book. It is a book that tells a story wherein some rules are placed as a part of the story of God's relationship with humanity. The big idea is there are somethings we shouldn't do, like reject God's wisdom for the knowledge a snake wants to share. The rules multiply when Moses shows up, but then Jesus drops the rules down to one, love God and oh, the second is love others.
The Sermon on the Mount is a good starting point for understanding how Jesus calls us to live. So that's found in Matthew 5-7.
I would say the difficulty in outlining all the ways we are called to live and love are multifaceted issues of culture, language, and mental/emotional development.
Culture reorders our understanding of priorities in how to love others based on the norms we are already immersed in. A good book that scratches the surface of culture's dynamic influence on faith is Strange Virtues: Ethics in a Multicultural World.
Language changes our understanding in much the same way as culture because it totally changes how we understand the world and it is embedded in our culture. When you learn a new language, you are learning a new culture. There is an article written by the New York Times that talks about how language changes our view of the world and the book The Geography of Thought is focused more closely on how Asians and Westerners use their brains rather differently.
As far as mental/emotional development, you can not understand some concepts or relationships until you mature, have certain needs met, and find yourself in a relatively safe place. Living in constant fear destroys certain abilities to reason and connect with others. Children cannot understand certain concepts like conservation of volume until sometime between the ages of 7 to 11. There are other maturing issues that are necessary as well to develop complex logic, reasoning, and healthy emotional attachment. Some resources that might help with how we think about how mental and emotional development affect our faith and relationships with others are the book The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt, and Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: It's Impossible to Be Spiritually Mature, While Remaining Emotionally Immature by Peter Scazzero.
There are likely more areas that could be shared, but this is a good beginning. If you know of other books or articles that speak to these ideas, please do share.
Thank you!
Links:
Facebook Live video: https://www.facebook.com/andrewthill/videos/10155779139625677/
Matthew 5-7: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5+-+7&version=NIV
Strange Virtues: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001OW5UVM
NY Times article: https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/magazine/29language-t.html
Geography of Thought: https://www.amazon.com/Geography-Thought-Asians-Westerners-Differently-ebook/dp/B0044R96OQ
Conservation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservation_(psychology)
The Righteous Mind: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0052FF7YM
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01HAKH3IE
The Sermon on the Mount is a good starting point for understanding how Jesus calls us to live. So that's found in Matthew 5-7.
I would say the difficulty in outlining all the ways we are called to live and love are multifaceted issues of culture, language, and mental/emotional development.
Culture reorders our understanding of priorities in how to love others based on the norms we are already immersed in. A good book that scratches the surface of culture's dynamic influence on faith is Strange Virtues: Ethics in a Multicultural World.
Language changes our understanding in much the same way as culture because it totally changes how we understand the world and it is embedded in our culture. When you learn a new language, you are learning a new culture. There is an article written by the New York Times that talks about how language changes our view of the world and the book The Geography of Thought is focused more closely on how Asians and Westerners use their brains rather differently.
As far as mental/emotional development, you can not understand some concepts or relationships until you mature, have certain needs met, and find yourself in a relatively safe place. Living in constant fear destroys certain abilities to reason and connect with others. Children cannot understand certain concepts like conservation of volume until sometime between the ages of 7 to 11. There are other maturing issues that are necessary as well to develop complex logic, reasoning, and healthy emotional attachment. Some resources that might help with how we think about how mental and emotional development affect our faith and relationships with others are the book The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt, and Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: It's Impossible to Be Spiritually Mature, While Remaining Emotionally Immature by Peter Scazzero.
There are likely more areas that could be shared, but this is a good beginning. If you know of other books or articles that speak to these ideas, please do share.
Thank you!
Links:
Facebook Live video: https://www.facebook.com/andrewthill/videos/10155779139625677/
Matthew 5-7: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5+-+7&version=NIV
Strange Virtues: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001OW5UVM
NY Times article: https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/magazine/29language-t.html
Geography of Thought: https://www.amazon.com/Geography-Thought-Asians-Westerners-Differently-ebook/dp/B0044R96OQ
Conservation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservation_(psychology)
The Righteous Mind: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0052FF7YM
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01HAKH3IE
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
When Wronged
Someone treats you poorly... what will you do?
Do you return poor treatment with more of the same or do you find a way to lower the temperature of your own thermostat and maybe theirs too?
Proverbs has a great suggestion, speak kindly to them and see if their heart doesn't drop the fury and find something different. Children as young as 5 months experience cognitive dissonance (they get confused) when they see things that don't match their expectations. They won't play with a toy that abuses another toy in a puppet show, while preferring the toys that help other toys. Very young children are always sifting and sorting through relationships and we continue to do it as we age.
If you answer poor treatment with harsh words, you are sure to get an escalation, fire on fire, pain for pain, and the world ends up bleeding and broken. Jesus says we are to be radically generous with our personal ability to absorb pain, give away possessions, and bless other people, even those people. However, I do believe boundaries are necessary and healthy. Jesus didn't say to go back to your abuser daily and receive more abuse from them, he only taught that it is in the moment of the event that we might show them love by going beyond their expectations.
You can pray for your enemies while setting boundaries to love them without regular abuse. Jesus did teach his followers to step out in faith, risk everything, but if not received to walk away and shake the dust from your Chacos or Tevas or whatever the sandal or shoe is you are wearing. And for those barefooted ... just wipe the dust off of your feet, I guess. Whatever your foot-covering-preference, you do not need to fight. Love God, love others, love yourself, and walk away.
This message brought to you by:
Proverbs 15.1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt: https://www.amazon.com/Righteous-Mind-Divided-Politics-Religion-ebook/dp/B0052FF7YM
Matthew 5.38-48 and 10.14
Live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrewthill/videos/10155774363000677
Do you return poor treatment with more of the same or do you find a way to lower the temperature of your own thermostat and maybe theirs too?
Proverbs has a great suggestion, speak kindly to them and see if their heart doesn't drop the fury and find something different. Children as young as 5 months experience cognitive dissonance (they get confused) when they see things that don't match their expectations. They won't play with a toy that abuses another toy in a puppet show, while preferring the toys that help other toys. Very young children are always sifting and sorting through relationships and we continue to do it as we age.
If you answer poor treatment with harsh words, you are sure to get an escalation, fire on fire, pain for pain, and the world ends up bleeding and broken. Jesus says we are to be radically generous with our personal ability to absorb pain, give away possessions, and bless other people, even those people. However, I do believe boundaries are necessary and healthy. Jesus didn't say to go back to your abuser daily and receive more abuse from them, he only taught that it is in the moment of the event that we might show them love by going beyond their expectations.
You can pray for your enemies while setting boundaries to love them without regular abuse. Jesus did teach his followers to step out in faith, risk everything, but if not received to walk away and shake the dust from your Chacos or Tevas or whatever the sandal or shoe is you are wearing. And for those barefooted ... just wipe the dust off of your feet, I guess. Whatever your foot-covering-preference, you do not need to fight. Love God, love others, love yourself, and walk away.
This message brought to you by:
Proverbs 15.1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt: https://www.amazon.com/Righteous-Mind-Divided-Politics-Religion-ebook/dp/B0052FF7YM
Matthew 5.38-48 and 10.14
Live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrewthill/videos/10155774363000677
Monday, August 13, 2018
You Do You
Let's not be crass about this, but let's be honest.
Some people will never understand you.
There's an endless number of reasons two people won't see eye to eye on things. Sometimes it is history, as in they grew up in a different place and time (because we all did, yes even those identical conjoined twins have a different perspective and experience of life, even though it is just inches apart).
Maybe these people are not happy, are jealous (or maybe you're jealous), or maybe they have some other issue in their life. Maybe they need to fix the world, you happen to be in view, and you don't fit their expectations. Or maybe the two of you just don't mix, you are like oil and water. They want fish and chips and you want Chipotle. Preferences, personalities, and maturity levels all play a part.
But in reality, you need to do what you do as best you can and grow as much as you can while doing it. This other person may be able to help you, if only through their stance as a critic. But there are many times you should not focus on them, you should do the best you you can do.
As the amazing theologian Taylor Swift sings, "Haters gonna hate ...so shake it off." So do your best to love them from a distance and move on with life, if you have learned what you need to from them.
Here's a link to Seth Godin and Simon Sinek on Facebook having a great conversation that brought this to my attention. Check it out around 24:00 and watch until Seth finishes talking about "it's not for you" which will take about five minutes.
"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." - Romans 12:18 (NIV)
This is one way to live at peace with everyone. Love them from a distance. You do not need to be best friends with everyone. You need to love them and sometimes it is from across the room, across the street, or even from across the world.
Links:
1. https://www.facebook.com/sethgodin/videos/10155184345706300/
2. https://seths.blog/2014/06/its-not-about-you-2/
3. My Facebook Video of this blog: https://www.facebook.com/andrewthill/videos/10155772506245677
Some people will never understand you.
There's an endless number of reasons two people won't see eye to eye on things. Sometimes it is history, as in they grew up in a different place and time (because we all did, yes even those identical conjoined twins have a different perspective and experience of life, even though it is just inches apart).
Maybe these people are not happy, are jealous (or maybe you're jealous), or maybe they have some other issue in their life. Maybe they need to fix the world, you happen to be in view, and you don't fit their expectations. Or maybe the two of you just don't mix, you are like oil and water. They want fish and chips and you want Chipotle. Preferences, personalities, and maturity levels all play a part.
But in reality, you need to do what you do as best you can and grow as much as you can while doing it. This other person may be able to help you, if only through their stance as a critic. But there are many times you should not focus on them, you should do the best you you can do.
As the amazing theologian Taylor Swift sings, "Haters gonna hate ...so shake it off." So do your best to love them from a distance and move on with life, if you have learned what you need to from them.
Here's a link to Seth Godin and Simon Sinek on Facebook having a great conversation that brought this to my attention. Check it out around 24:00 and watch until Seth finishes talking about "it's not for you" which will take about five minutes.
"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." - Romans 12:18 (NIV)
This is one way to live at peace with everyone. Love them from a distance. You do not need to be best friends with everyone. You need to love them and sometimes it is from across the room, across the street, or even from across the world.
Links:
1. https://www.facebook.com/sethgodin/videos/10155184345706300/
2. https://seths.blog/2014/06/its-not-about-you-2/
3. My Facebook Video of this blog: https://www.facebook.com/andrewthill/videos/10155772506245677
Sunday, August 5, 2018
Car Wash Day
Trying to wash the vehicles today... me to kiddos:
"Stop spraying everything! I said you could get wet, not take a bath in those bubbles. How many times are you going to wash the hood of the car. Stop throwing the sponge on top of the car. Don't throw the sponge at the car. We aren't trying to use up all the soapy water, just wash the car."
They ask twenty times, "Can we wash mom's can? Can we? Mom can we? Dad can we?"
Me: "Okay, we can wash the van. But not in the garage. Stop throwing your sponge on top of the car. I said we aren't washing the van inside the garage. I have to back it out first. Stop spraying everything. We don't need to wash the inside of the car. The hose doesn't go in there. Get out of the car. No, I'll wash the top of the car. I said we aren't washing the van in the garage. Quit washing the hood of the car. Stop putting soap every where. Leave the bucket alone. We aren't washing the van in the garage. Wait till I pull it out."
The price one pays for children helping.
The price one pays for children not helping... no relationship. Lack of help later. No joy at their crazy antics. And no hosing them off just for fun.
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
Power, Love, and Self Control
There's a quote that has helped me in dealing with fear.
"For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control." 2 Timothy 1.7
I remind myself as often as needed, which is sometimes quite frequently, that the Spirit of God lives in me and it is God's power, love, and self-control that moves me. When I am in agreement with God's Spirit then I am moving in step with God and have nothing to fear, no reason to be timid, no reason to feel shame or guilt... which motivates me to live fully in God's grace provided by Jesus in his victory on the cross.
Praying you can walk with God's Spirit, move beyond your fears, and into power, love, and self-control. And if a 5 second tool helps, then so be it. Define your fears and walk through them in power.
A TED talk that gives a tool for defining fears and moves you to embrace life.
A YouTube song by Matthew West singing about the above quote.
"For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control." 2 Timothy 1.7
I remind myself as often as needed, which is sometimes quite frequently, that the Spirit of God lives in me and it is God's power, love, and self-control that moves me. When I am in agreement with God's Spirit then I am moving in step with God and have nothing to fear, no reason to be timid, no reason to feel shame or guilt... which motivates me to live fully in God's grace provided by Jesus in his victory on the cross.
Praying you can walk with God's Spirit, move beyond your fears, and into power, love, and self-control. And if a 5 second tool helps, then so be it. Define your fears and walk through them in power.
A TED talk that gives a tool for defining fears and moves you to embrace life.
A YouTube song by Matthew West singing about the above quote.
Wealth Distribution!?
Who gets to decide how much money the wealthiest people should have? Who decides about CEO salaries compared with the average worker?
Jordan Peterson says there will always be inequality because it is a law of nature. The Pareto Principle (edit: better to say Perato Distribution) applies to stars, cities, and salaries. You can't get away from it. The distribution of wealth will be terribly uneven.
But you can change the culture and therefore change expectations of the wealthy and society as a whole. LeBron James has started a school and given away millions in scholarships to change the lives of the at risk kids in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.
What if all the wealthy athletes, owners, CEOs, and anyone else with loads of money started a school? What if the wealthy had a kingdom model that inspired them to be generous, blessing others, and bringing about the shalom of God?
Jesus said you will always have the poor with you. He also said those that have will get more and those that don't have will lose even the little they have. Does this mean we are locked into a society that is terribly unjust? Or could it mean we have to constantly recalibrate society towards a kingdom mindset?
Let's focus on you and me and changing the culture around us. How can you be generous? Maybe you won't start a school, but could you volunteer at a school? Maybe you won't offer scholarships, but could you help with tutoring or housing? How can you be rich towards others?
Jordan Peterson says there will always be inequality because it is a law of nature. The Pareto Principle (edit: better to say Perato Distribution) applies to stars, cities, and salaries. You can't get away from it. The distribution of wealth will be terribly uneven.
But you can change the culture and therefore change expectations of the wealthy and society as a whole. LeBron James has started a school and given away millions in scholarships to change the lives of the at risk kids in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.
What if all the wealthy athletes, owners, CEOs, and anyone else with loads of money started a school? What if the wealthy had a kingdom model that inspired them to be generous, blessing others, and bringing about the shalom of God?
Jesus said you will always have the poor with you. He also said those that have will get more and those that don't have will lose even the little they have. Does this mean we are locked into a society that is terribly unjust? Or could it mean we have to constantly recalibrate society towards a kingdom mindset?
Let's focus on you and me and changing the culture around us. How can you be generous? Maybe you won't start a school, but could you volunteer at a school? Maybe you won't offer scholarships, but could you help with tutoring or housing? How can you be rich towards others?
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