Be a Day Maker

How do you begin your typical day? Do you hit the snooze button and hide under the covers, expecting the worst? Or, do you jump out of bed with an attitude of gratitude, asking the Universe how you can serve?

We tend to get wrapped up in our own problems and challenges. But when you look at the people who are happiest in life, you find that they don’t focus on their own needs, rather they focus on the needs of others. They are the Day Makers; the people who let you cut in line at the grocery because they can sense you’re running late, the ones ahead of you at the coffee shop who surprise you by paying for your latte, the drivers in rush-hour who slow down to let you merge safely into traffic.

It’s these little, and not so little, surprises that send a ripple affect through our lives. Case in point; this amazing video which was filmed in the central train station in Antwerp, Belgium last March. Not to give away too much of the surprise, I can tell you that at 8:00 a.m., as people are rushing off to their destinations, a recording of Julie Andrews singing “Do, Re, Mi” begins playing over the public address system. The early morning crowd is then stunned and surprised as some 200 dancers begin to appear from the crowd. Click here to see for yourself what happens next.

What must it have been like to witness such an event? Enthusiasm is contagious and most likely every person in the train station went on to live a very different day than the one they expected upon waking that morning. Plus, I doubt very much they kept the experience to themselves. It must have been the highlight of their day and they went on to share the experience with their co-workers, friends and family, who then went on to have a great day too!

If you’ve been fortunate enough to cross paths with a Day Maker you know what kind of affect they can have on not just your day, but your life. If you haven’t yet experienced this phenomenon, maybe it’s time you become a Day Maker yourself. While this video is a shining of example of how one event can trigger and shape a day for yourself and others, it wouldn’t take a feat this big to have an affect. Try it for yourself this week and let us know what happens!

Kim, Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week

"You will rise by lifting others." ~ Robert Green Ingersoll

The Women Before Me

As I move through life I am more and more proud of the older generations of women that surround me. It may be due to the fact that now as a mother I know what they’ve gone through; the pregnancies, the deliveries, the sleepless nights, the cooking, the cleaning, the care giving. Or maybe it’s the fact that as I get older I’m more aware of what they’ve all had to endure as women; the responsibilities, the glass ceiling, the discrimination. But what I really think is the reason that I’m so proud is that as I get older I realize all they’ve accomplished and, more importantly, are still accomplishing.

While at a family get together last weekend my mom very nonchalantly said to my sisters and I, “who wants to go with me to get my ears pierced?” We couldn’t even believe it! My mom is 64 years old and has never had her ears pierced. The reason maybe a little bit of fear and a little bit of thinking my dad wouldn’t like it. With retirement and travel (and we hope because of Soulspring!) she has been blessed with a new sense of adventure; an “it’s never too late” kind of attitude!

It may seem silly that out of all the things my mom has accomplished in her life, her getting her ears pierced will be the one that make her three daughters the most proud. And not because she’s going to be a little bit more fashionable with some cute “danglys”, but because she’s officially adopted the philosophy that it’s never too late to do something that you’ve always wanted to do. And we, as daughters, will be so happy to be a part of this moment!

So, what have you always wanted to do? And what are you waiting for?!

Becky, Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week

“It's never too late to be who you might have been.” ~George Eliot

Life Lessons from an American Pastime

As my son began his sixth little league season earlier this summer, he took the field just as he did every other season. He hustled out to his position, glove in hand, cap pulled down low to shield the sun, wearing a smile that screamed, “I love this game”. I have to admit I became a little emotional; fighting back a tear or two I couldn’t help but begin a prayer asking God to bless us with a great baseball season.

Well, the season is just about half over and the boys have faced some pretty tough competition. They’ve won some games, lost some games, and even really lost some games. But in my eyes God has answered my prayer. You see I didn’t ask Him for a perfect season. Wins are nice but it’s in the losses, hot practices, long innings, where the life lessons are learned.

As adults we need to take lessons from these young ball players: Teamwork, sacrifice, encouragement, confidence, enthusiasm, endurance, and perseverance make us true winners.

Jenny, Sister of Soul


Soulspiration of the Week:

“It's easy to have faith in yourself and have discipline when you're a winner, when you're number one. What you got to have is faith and discipline when you're not a winner.” ~Vince Lombardi

Every Day is a Talent Show

Yes, I admit it. I’m a sucker for a talent show and the popularity of programs like America’s Got Talent keep me glued to the television. It’s interesting to see what people find entertaining and what the judges will have the patience to sit through.

But that’s not really why I watch. I’m looking for something different. It’s what you will see in acts like Susan Boyle , and most recently Kevin Skinner. If you haven’t seen their performances yet, you’re in the minority. Click on their names above and check them out now (trust me, they're worth it), and then read on…

I don’t know about you, but every time I watch their performances I am moved to tears. If we break it down blow-by-blow, here’s what we see. First, enter stage right; nothing special to look at, pretty average, right? Then they open their mouths for the first time for a little back and forth banter with the judges; again, not what was expected and you feel the judges, the audience, and maybe even yourself, begin to make your first judgments, preparing for the big “X”! Although you’re not physically there, you can feel the negatively charged energy exude through the television.

Then the performance begins and a hush spreads through the crowd. It’s as if everyone in the auditorium has been hit in the face with a big glass of ice water. It’s shock, it’s delight, it’s amazing! Suddenly the judgments made by the judges, the audience, and ourselves, begin to change. Where we first saw uncouth, unsophisticated and unrefined, now transforms into elegance, grace and pure passion, seemingly right before our eyes! Their outward appearances fall away in layers; we no longer notice her unibrow and outdated dress, or his scruffy face and raggedy attire. We’re riveted as they shine in that moment.

It appears to come so easy for them, doesn’t it? Their talent just pours out of them, seemingly without effort. Yet we’re shocked that instead of sharing their God-given talent with the world each day, they were living life as care-givers, cat-lovers, and chicken-catchers. But no more, the real-them has been revealed and they can’t hide any more, nor could they bottle their passions back up inside themselves even if they tried. From this day forward they live life as the soul they were meant to be; singers, performers and composers. Can you imagine what that must feel like? Bliss? Joy? Freedom? Yes!

Have you been living life as a Susan or a Kevin, suppressing your true calling and living life safe, small and average? So you can’t carry a tune and you have no desire to perform in front of an audience; that’s not the point. No matter what your talent, your strengths or your God-given gifts, you can experience the same sense of joy and freedom by living them daily. Every day is your talent show; what will you perform?

Kim, Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” ~Marianne Williamson