Look, Connect, Live

“I can’t imagine what would have happened had we not met.”

Lisa Yeagle

Look, Connect, Live

I had five acres of Utah real estate listed for sale once almost ten years ago and received a sign call from a couple I had never met before.  Who would have known that a phone call from people I had never met would turn into an important relationship on many levels.  We have worked together now for many years and it is a wonderful, mutually beneficial relationship. 

When talking with Lisa earlier this week I thanked her for the help some of her employees had given me at my home that very day. “I don’t know what I would have done without knowing you,” I said.

“Who would have guessed this when we did our first transaction together?” She replied.  “I wouldn’t trust anyone else to do my real estate business with!  I can’t imagine what would have happened had we not met.” 

This caused me to reflect on the magic of meeting new, unknown people.

We all have people who are close to us; family, friends, work associates.  Can you imagine being born and having a relationship with only the people you meet during the first two years of your life?  How about the first ten years of your life, or even 20 years?  At the very least you could say that you would be living in a diminishing universe.  It would be a scary world to live in wouldn’t it?  Still, many of us are reluctant to meet new people and to build new relationships.

Relationships in life are critical to personal abundance.  They add youth, experience, talent, knowledge and wonder in a way that living a solitary existence never could.  If you doubt this just take a look at the “things” in your life.  Could you build the computer you use?  Could you write and perform all the music you listen to?  Could you have invented all the materials used to construct your comfortable home?  Can you grow and package all of the wonderful foods that give you life and enjoyment?  All of these things constitute personal and societal wealth.

If you owned the entire world and there was no other human being on the planet, would you be wealthy or poor?  If everyone else on the plant instantly disappeared and your life was extended many years, would your life become richer with each passing day; or would be it be disintegrating toward death?

Surrounding yourself with others and adding new relationships to your world is the path to life, joy, happiness and wealth.  Look forward to meeting new and interesting people every day.   Look for wonderful people to make a connection with.  Open your life to accept them.  Incorporate their goodness, talent and wisdom into your life.  Doing so will make your life rich beyond compare.

Being the One

“I was making phone calls asking for others to help when it dawned on me that I didn’t need to wait for them.  I could go do something right now.”

Jessi Butterfield

Being the One

My daughter Jessi is always willing to help other people in any way possible.  In talking with her the other day I was glad to see that this hasn’t changed.  When she packed a small bag, at home in Utah, and went off to chase her dreams in New York City, she knew she would be relying on lots of people to help her find success.

She slept on lots of couches and knocked on many doors as she worked to build a good solid business that would provide her with enough money pay rent and buy food.  She was touched by the kindness of others and she has never forgotten their goodness.

While she was working to help a good friend of ours not long ago, she was busily making phone calls and sending emails to her network of friends to gather support.  She called me and said, “It’s taking so long to get enough help together.  I wish I could make it happen faster!”

During this conversation I couldn’t see her face, but I could feel her earnestness.  Her sincerity swept into my heart with the speed and force of an avalanche sweeping down a steep mountain.  I could feel her pain. 

Then there was a quick change.

 “I just realized that while it’s taking a long time to gather all the help needed, I don’t need to wait myself.  I don’t need permission from anyone else to go give help right now.  The need is immediate and I can go help immediately!  I know I can’t handle all of it, but I can do something right now.”

When I heard those words come from her mouth it was as if serenity had suddenly consumed my whole being; she has learned the genius of the power of one.  She is the embodiment of individual freedom.  We can all become like her.

I talked with another friend earlier this week and he said, “I’ve never lived in a time where there is so much need.  I’m just one person, what can I do?”

We can all trust in our power of one.  This is what we can do individually.  We all have the freedom to make a choice to go out and help where we can.  One of us can’t help everyone at once.  But, if thousands of us go and help right now; offer what we have to others, it will have a huge impact.  No.  The world will not suddenly change overnight, but our hearts will.  Our hearts will become larger and more generous with each act of kindness we perform.  Will you be the one for someone else today?

No July Fireworks Inside

Falling plate in a local restaurant

Jennyffer

No July Fireworks Inside

July in Utah is a time for fireworks.  The month kicks off with Independence Day and then builds to a climax toward the end of the month with our “Statehood Day” celebration on the 24^th.  On these days and on the days around them, many Utah homes are busting with illuminating colors and sparkle day and night.  It is a time of joyous celebration as we show gratitude for our freedom and for those who sacrificed to provide it for us.  It is a time to feel the comfort of tradition with the people we love.

One tradition my family enjoys is to go to one of our favorite restaurants for an early dinner.  It is a time for us to relax and enjoy each other’s company.  This year was no exception to this tradition and we were having a nice time mingling at our table when our server came over and picked up an empty plate.

She snatched up the plate with a smile and whirled to her left as she began to leave.  Her movements were fluid and easy.  That is, right up to the time when the plate squirted away from her hand and connected with gravity to hit the floor.

As the plate landed, we all looked at each other in anticipation of an assumed explosion of anger from her lips.  But it never came.  When it didn’t come our expressions changed from a cringe to surprise.  The surprise continued to grow when an upsurge of laughter burst from her mouth in an expression of realized humor.

I watched the sparkle in her eyes expand and never fade as she reached down to scoop up the plate and its mess.  She saw an opportunity to laugh at herself and she seized it with joy.  I saw an opportunity to learn from her as I saw how she singlehandedly turned a potentially negative experience into one of uninterrupted happiness.  There were no fireworks inside.

This delightful waitress caused me to issue an inside challenge to myself as I saw her example of laughing at oneself.  Everyday occurrences present many opportunities to make a choice to respond in anger or to lighten the day with laughter.  We can choose to live in joy or to feel the pain of exploding over the insignificant.  You can live your life with a broad smile and a sparkle in your eyes if you’ll only laugh at yourself at every opportunity.

From the Ashes of Disaster

“I asked myself, what have I done to deserve this?”

- Dan Gray

From the Ashes of Disaster

There was a news flash across my screen.  When I saw it my blood ran cold and my right hand instinctively grasped my phone and I began to touch the number a friend and client.  I was quite sure a major fire was burning its way to his home, in the foothills of Salt Lake County, and wanted to make sure he knew his family was welcome to take refuge in my home.  Luckily he answered his phone and I was assured of his safety.  Sadly not everyone was as lucky as my friend and they lost their Utah homes to unquenchable flames.  We live in a world where all of us are burned by the flames of disaster at one time or another.

Personal disasters come in all types and sizes and sometimes they also come in bundles.  In talking with my friend Dan Gray about some of the challenges he has faced in the recent past he said, “I asked myself, what have I done to deserve this?”  We discussed this very question for a few minutes over sandwiches and Dan taught me how he’s been able to overcome the pain he has had hurdle to free himself from a cascade of tragedies that engulfed his live during the span of one year.

“I knew I had to remove myself from the place where everything was a constant reminder of what had happened.” He said.  He talked with me about how the kind people all around him offered comfort and care.  But, they also served as a constant cue to his pain.

His move to Utah provided him with another cue.  He moved to where he had family so he could surround himself with comfort and helping kindness that would act as a salve to his heart.  As a result, he has been healed and his heart as been enlarged by the additional love he has exchanged with his support system.

Part of his support system was a business network and enterprise that allowed him to put his heart and soul into a cause he believes in.  “I have met so many great people and have tried to help as many people as I could through my association.”  He revealed to me.

Our conversation also revealed that Dan did nothing to deserve the tragedies that befell him and, it disclosed that he has moved past the hurt.  “I went back to my old neighborhood last week and I could walk the streets without any emotional turmoil!  I’m ready to move forward with my life now.  I’m excited about the future!”

I looked into his eyes as he spoke.  They had a certain sparkle in them.  No.  They had that old fire back in them.  Not a fire of destruction.  It’s an inner fire that assured me of his future success. 

You can have the same success.  If you’ve faced personal tragedy like my friend Dan, take hope from his story and example.  Use time, place, relationships and heartfelt giving to heal your heart.  Doing so will enable you to create beauty and success from the ashes of disaster.