Not just a job

As you may know, I've been reading Seth Godin's latest book Linchpin (have blogged about chapters one and two and three previously).  Currently, I'm in the midst of the intense fourth chapter (which is remarkably long), but ran across a section in the middle of this chapter the other day that deserves it's own post.

This bit, on page 57, is entitled "Your Job is a Platform".  In this, Godin describes that a job is not the end - it is just an opportunity to create, to be generous, to express and create art.  This holds true for any job, I would argue - lawyer, accountant, waitress, soccer coach, each can find a way to give generously, express themselves and create unique art in their role.

In fact, this could be carried in to overall life - each of our lives is a platform, every day an opportunity to create opportunity and situations that no one else can.

Whatever you do, where ever you are, you can find opportunities to contribute in to the lives of others and grow your own strengths.  Every day, every interaction with someone else, is a chance to change the world just a little.

Thanksgiving

This weekend, October 11th, marks Thanksgiving in Canada - a longstanding holiday which we most people today tend to spend as a celebration of friends, family, food and all the things we are thankful for in our lives.

Through the years, though, Thanksgiving has meant many things.  In fact, this Wikipedia post (and we all know you can trust anything you find on Wikipedia ;) ) records the first official day of giving thanks back in 1578, which was about a happy and safe homecoming.

Later days of giving thanks, according to the post, were in connection welcoming neighbours, meeting new friends, celebrating the end of wars, rejoicing in health, and with each year having an officially proclaimed theme about which to be thankful each year.

And so this weekend, we will cook turkeys, eat pie, enjoy family and friends, and celebrate all that we have to be thankful for.

I don't know about you, but I have a lot to be thankful for.  Friends and family, laughter, health, my home and warm bed, freedom, opportunity... and so much more.

And so I plan to take many moments this weekend to celebrate, remember and be grateful for all of it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What I'm NOT thankful for

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day in Canada, a holiday traditionally designated to celebrate the harvest.  Now, it's often built around family, friends and good food - many of the things that make life great.

Many people's thoughts today centre around what they are thankful for - this holiday is a fantastic time to remind ourselves of just how lucky we all are.  And while I've done that as well today (and will also blog about it tomorrow) I was also reminded today of some of what I'm not thankful for - and finding ways that I can change those.

• I am not thankful for thoughts that allow people (including myself) believe we are somehow less or unworthy.  These feelings do nothing to enhance or improve our lives; they serve only to make it more difficult.  Not only that - they're untruths we tell ourselves (or allow others to tell us) that stifle potential.
• I am not thankful for apathy that surrounds the many issues our world faces.  There are challenges that we face, and responsibilities we all carry to address those - and ignoring those issues does nothing to fix them.  We are each responsible to vote, to help and love our neighbours and strangers, to think and read and share ideas... and so much more to make our world a better place.
• I am not thankful for the incredible amount of material things that overtake our lives, causing us to lose focus of what's really important - people.  Not taken with perspective, stuff and things serve to weigh down our lives, create false happiness and lead to stress and comparing ourselves to others - traits that serve no one well.  Of course, there's nothing wrong with stuff - I love shopping as much as the next person : ) - but too much just becomes to heavy to carry.
• I am not thankful for times when I forget how much I have to be thankful for.  There is so, so much in all of our lives to be grateful for... and it's worth remembering.  I plan to celebrate being thankful even more tomorrow, including with a post on that theme.

Even in these, though, I am thankful for much - including for the opportunity and power to change that which I am not thankful for!

So, to all my Canadian friends... happy day-before-Thanksgiving!

Take some time to think of what you are not thankful for this weekend - and to decide what you can do about it!

My blogging mission

We're all complicated people.  We like lots of different things, sometimes even things that conflict with each other or are incredibly diverse.

Certainly, I'm no exception.  My interests tend to include:

• running (learning to enjoy) and strength training
• autism (so incredibly diverse and varied that I may never really understand)
• baking (dairy-free, please)
• fundraising (which I am lucky enough to do every day)
• everything Calgary (because this city is amazing)
• nonprofits (in support of the essential role they play
• yoga (especially the hot kind)
• healthy (and not-so-healthy) food & eating
• thinking philosophical thoughts (which makes me feel smart)
• friends & family (with the belief people are more important than anything)
• reading, writing about & discussing books (such as Seth Godin's Linchpin)
• kids & teens (and all the stages we all go through to become 'grown-ups)
• Junior Chamber International aka JCI (specifically, JCI Calgary)
• Travel (so much to see & learn this way)
• Learning (formal education and life education)

This variety is what keeps our lives interesting, of course.  However, as it relates to blogging, all this has me feeling my blog is scattered - all over the map, in fact, since I began this blog 6 weeks ago.

So, I'm working to narrow it all down a little.  This will include picking a few topics to focus on and crafting a bit of a blog mission statement.

The challenge, of course, is about what to leave out... but choices are what make life interesting, no?

Help is appreciated!

What is the focus of your blog?  How did you choose that?

Or, what type of blogs do you most enjoy reading?