Three Things

So as my quest for reinvention still lives only in my radically untrained and self-indulgently scattered thoughts, today I thankfully received three opportunities to disengage from my own personal melodrama and think a little more about purpose.

One is from the pen of actor/author Chazz Palminteri regarding the inspiration from his father for A Bronx Tale in the form of the phrase “The saddest thing in life is wasted talent.” When asked for autographs following the performance of this play, now back on Broadway after 20 years, Palminteri instead signs a card printed with this saying. It is his hope to see if he can inspire and change some people's lives and have them realize that the talent inside of them will bubble to the surface if they have faith in themselves and persevere. Talk about thinking outside of yourself! I printed myself one of those cards today.

The second comes from Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project blog, and is a list of thirteen tips for dealing with a bad day. No revolutionary information here, but on days when it feels like the world is out to get you, it is a refreshingly nuts and bolts reminder of how to avoid the funk and some of the poor choices that can go along with it. I’m posting it both in my office as well as at home as a reminder of HOW to sweat the small stuff.

The third comes from my friend S. A Bishop in the Free Episcopal Church and a wealth of real-world advice for traversing a spiritual path, she helpfully forwarded me A Lenten Prayer: How to Fast. In a twist on the Lenten staple of fasting, with suggestions such as “Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation” and “Fast from lethargy; feast on enthusiasm” it provides a compelling new road map for the next 40 days. (Thanks S.!)

All three of these opportunities encourage the act of doing to overcome some of the struggles of being. Maybe this is where I’m floundering. Hopefully they will offer a little traction to my spinning wheels.