I love the power some events have of bringing people of all types together. And very few events rival the ability the Olympics have. It is such a celebration of life. All of the athletes have worked harder than most can fathom and have done so to represent their country.
Honestly though, how often do so many countries and people come together, desiring the same thing, a gold medal and national pride. And how often do so many people of so many different ethnicities and walks of life come together to celebrate the same things?
These two commercials are my favorites from the Olympics that I got off of Youtube! The first is a much deserved and needed tribute to moms. I am where I am because of my angel mother and mothers everywhere play such a crucial role in life. I think the commercial is a beautiful representation of that. The second is just a motivating commercial that really brings the Olympic Spirit! [And I love the song! =D]
And this one came after so many beautiful saves by Ryan Miller and was teh reason for eveyone in my house to go crazy!! Haha
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Through A Child's Eyes
I have had the beautiful opportunity these past couple months to watch some of the cutest kids in the world. It has been so much fun and has brought so many laughs. Just the other day, the 5 year old was telling me about his birthdays and told me that "so far all of my birthdays have been on January 29th". Haha. Amazing! It has also opened my eyes and reminded me of how pure the world is through a child's eyes. It is unfortunate that we allow that purity to be lost as we grow older. I want to try to find it again! Who wants to find it with me?! =D
Here are a few short stories I found that make me smile and appreciate the beautiful and pure young children I am lucky enough to have in my life . . . There is so much for us to learn! =D
Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the old man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry."
Teacher Debbie Moon's first graders were discussing a picture of a family. One little boy in the picture had a different color hair than the other family members. One child suggested that he was adopted, and a little girl said, "I know all about adoptions because I was adopted." "What does it mean to be adopted?" asked another child. "It means," said the girl, "that you grew in your mommy's heart instead of her tummy."
A four year old was at the pediatrician for a check up. As the doctor looked down her ears with an otoscope, he asked, "Do you think I'll find Big Bird in here?" The little girl stayed silent. Next, the doctor took a tongue depressor and looked down her throat. He asked, "Do you think I'll find the Cookie Monster down there?" Again, the little girl was silent. Then the doctor put a stethoscope to her chest. As he listened to her heart beat, he asked, "Do you think I'll hear Barney in there?" "Oh, no!" the little girl replied. "Jesus is in my heart. Barney's on my underpants."
As I was driving home from work one day, I stopped to watch a local Little League baseball game that was being played in a park near my home. As I sat down behind the bench on the first-base line, I asked one of the boys what the score was. "We're behind 14 to nothing," he answered with a smile. "Really," I said. "I have to say you don't look very discouraged." "Discouraged?" the boy asked with a puzzled look on his face. "Why should we be discouraged? We haven't been up to bat yet."
"Whenever I'm disappointed with my spot in my life, I stop and think about little Jamie Scott. Jamie was trying out for a part in a school play. His mother told me that he'd set his heart on being in it, though she feared he would not be chosen. On the day the parts were awarded, I went with her to collect him after school. Jamie rushed up to her, eyes shining with pride and excitement. "Guess what Mom," he shouted, and then said those words that will remain a lesson to me: "I've been chosen to clap and cheer." "
"A lesson in "heart" is my little 10 year old daughter, Sarah, who was born with a muscle missing in her foot and wears a brace all the time. She came home one beautiful spring day to tell me she had competed in "field day" -- that's where they have lots of races and other competitive events. Because of her let support, my mind raced as I tried to think of encouragement for my Sarah, things I could say to her about not letting this get her down -- but before I could get a word out, she said "Daddy, I won two of the races!" I couldn't believe it! And then Sarah said, "I had an advantage." Ah. I knew it. I thought she must have been given a head start...some kind of physical advantage. But again, before I could say anything, she said, "Daddy, I didn't get a head start... My advantage was I had to try harder!" "
A little boy about 10 years old was standing before a shoe store on the roadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering with cold. A lady approached the boy and said, "My little fellow, why are you looking so earnestly in that window?" "I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes," was the boy's reply. The lady took him by the hand and went into the store and asked the clerk to get half a dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water and a towel. He quickly brought them to her. She took the little fellow to the back part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed his little feet, and dried them with a towel. By this time the clerk had returned with the socks. Placing a pair on the boy's feet, she purchased him a pair of shoes. She tied up the remaining pairs of socks and gave them to him. She patted him on the head and said, "No doubt, my little fellow, you feel more comfortable now?" As she turned to go, the astonished lad caught her by the hand, and looking up in her face, with tears in his eyes, answered the question with these words: "Are you God's Wife?"
Here are a few short stories I found that make me smile and appreciate the beautiful and pure young children I am lucky enough to have in my life . . . There is so much for us to learn! =D
Through a Child's Eyes
Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the old man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry."
Teacher Debbie Moon's first graders were discussing a picture of a family. One little boy in the picture had a different color hair than the other family members. One child suggested that he was adopted, and a little girl said, "I know all about adoptions because I was adopted." "What does it mean to be adopted?" asked another child. "It means," said the girl, "that you grew in your mommy's heart instead of her tummy."
A four year old was at the pediatrician for a check up. As the doctor looked down her ears with an otoscope, he asked, "Do you think I'll find Big Bird in here?" The little girl stayed silent. Next, the doctor took a tongue depressor and looked down her throat. He asked, "Do you think I'll find the Cookie Monster down there?" Again, the little girl was silent. Then the doctor put a stethoscope to her chest. As he listened to her heart beat, he asked, "Do you think I'll hear Barney in there?" "Oh, no!" the little girl replied. "Jesus is in my heart. Barney's on my underpants."
As I was driving home from work one day, I stopped to watch a local Little League baseball game that was being played in a park near my home. As I sat down behind the bench on the first-base line, I asked one of the boys what the score was. "We're behind 14 to nothing," he answered with a smile. "Really," I said. "I have to say you don't look very discouraged." "Discouraged?" the boy asked with a puzzled look on his face. "Why should we be discouraged? We haven't been up to bat yet."
"Whenever I'm disappointed with my spot in my life, I stop and think about little Jamie Scott. Jamie was trying out for a part in a school play. His mother told me that he'd set his heart on being in it, though she feared he would not be chosen. On the day the parts were awarded, I went with her to collect him after school. Jamie rushed up to her, eyes shining with pride and excitement. "Guess what Mom," he shouted, and then said those words that will remain a lesson to me: "I've been chosen to clap and cheer." "
"A lesson in "heart" is my little 10 year old daughter, Sarah, who was born with a muscle missing in her foot and wears a brace all the time. She came home one beautiful spring day to tell me she had competed in "field day" -- that's where they have lots of races and other competitive events. Because of her let support, my mind raced as I tried to think of encouragement for my Sarah, things I could say to her about not letting this get her down -- but before I could get a word out, she said "Daddy, I won two of the races!" I couldn't believe it! And then Sarah said, "I had an advantage." Ah. I knew it. I thought she must have been given a head start...some kind of physical advantage. But again, before I could say anything, she said, "Daddy, I didn't get a head start... My advantage was I had to try harder!" "
A little boy about 10 years old was standing before a shoe store on the roadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering with cold. A lady approached the boy and said, "My little fellow, why are you looking so earnestly in that window?" "I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes," was the boy's reply. The lady took him by the hand and went into the store and asked the clerk to get half a dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water and a towel. He quickly brought them to her. She took the little fellow to the back part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed his little feet, and dried them with a towel. By this time the clerk had returned with the socks. Placing a pair on the boy's feet, she purchased him a pair of shoes. She tied up the remaining pairs of socks and gave them to him. She patted him on the head and said, "No doubt, my little fellow, you feel more comfortable now?" As she turned to go, the astonished lad caught her by the hand, and looking up in her face, with tears in his eyes, answered the question with these words: "Are you God's Wife?"
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
I had the wonderful opportunity of watching the Opening Ceremonies last night and they were amazing. Vancouver did a great job!! It was also a wonderful tribute to Nodar Kumaritashvili, whose life was unfortunately lost in a luge accident Friday. Having ties to the Republic of Georgia, I was so saddened to here the news, but was relieved to see how well of a job they did last night honoring him. I was motivated and inspired to watch the Georgian athletes proudly march in, honoring their fallen teammate. The athletes were given a charge to honor him by carrying his Olympic Spirit. I love how the athletes of the Olympics have that special ability to bring life to all those who participate, cheer, and watch using their abilities.
Likewise we can come together and use our various and unique abilities to bring life to all of those around us. There are few greater feelings than the feeling of unity brought upon by the Olympics. When our world comes together as one, the power and potential is endless!!!
One of my favorite parts of the broadcast was when they showed the video of the remake of my favorite song, "We Are The World". I love the new version!!! Here is the video . . .
" . . . We are the world, connected by a common bond. LOVE. The whole plant singin along . . ."
Likewise we can come together and use our various and unique abilities to bring life to all of those around us. There are few greater feelings than the feeling of unity brought upon by the Olympics. When our world comes together as one, the power and potential is endless!!!
One of my favorite parts of the broadcast was when they showed the video of the remake of my favorite song, "We Are The World". I love the new version!!! Here is the video . . .
" . . . We are the world, connected by a common bond. LOVE. The whole plant singin along . . ."
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Mother Teresa
Here are some of my favorite quotes from one of the greatest Humanitarians of all time.
Food for thought . . . =D
"People are often unreasonable, irrational and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you;
Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight;
Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten;
Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway."
-Mother Teresa
[From Jul]
"Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing."
-Mother Teresa
At this time of year especially, we speak so much of love and loving one another. I think the greatest aspects of love and loving others are the simple things. Giving a smile where one is needed. Sharing joy with everyone you see and meet. Saying "hi" to random strangers [how many times has your day been made by a random person smiling and saying hi? =D]. But most importantly, what we can do to best love is to be our best self. By being the best Jason I can be I am making sure I love all of those I come into contact with the best that I can.
"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift." [Prefontaine]
Be your best self. Smile. Have Joy.
LIVE.LOVE.LAUGH.
"People are often unreasonable, irrational and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you;
Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight;
Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten;
Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway."
-Mother Teresa
[From Jul]
"Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing."
-Mother Teresa
At this time of year especially, we speak so much of love and loving one another. I think the greatest aspects of love and loving others are the simple things. Giving a smile where one is needed. Sharing joy with everyone you see and meet. Saying "hi" to random strangers [how many times has your day been made by a random person smiling and saying hi? =D]. But most importantly, what we can do to best love is to be our best self. By being the best Jason I can be I am making sure I love all of those I come into contact with the best that I can.
"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift." [Prefontaine]
Be your best self. Smile. Have Joy.
LIVE.LOVE.LAUGH.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Everything we do, we do for a reason. There are motivations behind everything. Most of us feel responsible for a group of people or things that pushes us to work harder, be better, and love more. As I've thought about that I've taken time to decide what my motivations are. Why I want to be my best self . . . What makes you want to be your best self?? =D
FAMILY!!!!!
FAMILY!!!!!
FRIENDS!!!!!
MY FUTURE FAMILY AND MY RELIGION
THOSE IN NEED IN OUR WORLD!
SERENITY
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
