Essential, Random and Frivolous Thoughts of a Cabinet Maker

Although we can complicate the entire process of life with all of the information coming at us from so many different directions constantly, so much of our day-to- day distills down to this: Remembering.

Remembering what we already know from our own experiences.

Remembering what our intentions are in that moment.

Remembering to stay focused on the task at hand.

Remembering what and who is important to us.

Remembering to take it as it comes, to roll with life and that patience wins out over all.

Remembering what it felt like to be in your neighbors shoes not so long ago and every dog has his day.

Remembering the sun is always shining behind the clouds.

Remembering we’re only on this earth for a short period of time.

Remembering how good or bad the current situation is, nothing remains the same forever.

We are all blessed with skills and talents that others can find difficult to demonstrate themselves. However, many of us take our proficiency for granted because it comes easy to us.

Why are we so quick to cut ourselves down, yet we can find it quite challenging to genuinely and objectively assess our skills for what they are? Now, I’m not talking about arrogance. I’m talking about valuing what we have and being able to intelligently equate and compare that skill with the outside world and how it relates to your personal life, work life and other people.

There may not be a lot of people with the same emotional IQ as you have. So, in conversations with others you may be able to pick up on subtle emotions or queues that others may not. This may in fact lead you into a connection with that person others would not be aware of.

There’s enough negativity in the world today. So, maybe we can begin to build ourselves up little by little by recognizing our value with the skills we are blessed with and share them with the rest of the world in order to benefit everyone.

I know a lot of people who have a problem with celebrating their birthdays every year. And it seems the older they get the harder time they have. Maybe they’re focusing on the wrong thing. I would imagine it wasn’t a problem when they were a kid. In fact, if you want to follow the directions of how to celebrate your day? Watch a child.

Maybe we could choose to take a different perspective of how we view each and every passing year on this earth.

There’s no doubt, the older you get the birthday’s seem to arrive much sooner than in the past, but my gratitude has also grown for my time on this earth. You want to get a bird’s eye view of the gifts in your life, take note of all the people who choose to reach out to you on your special day to wish you well. The gratitude you have for these moments can deepen the relationships with the people around you and enrich each and every day to attract even more wonderful people into your inner circle.

I’d like to think we can see each and every day with breath in our lungs as a gift. And yes, this includes Birthdays.

I feel like I’m in a constant tug-o-war with my ability to remain in the present moment without wondering, “what’s next?”

I’m not quite sure how I got here, but I will tell you it’s quite a challenge for me to keep my mind still and focused with the tasks at hand.

Have we become completely incapable of being? Not doing. But, just being?

I hope we haven’t. Maybe we just need a reminder every once in a while. A time that we set everything aside and remain still. Only for a moment.

Over time, we can expand that time as we calm ourselves into the space we’ve chosen.

Maybe – just maybe – we can get back to a place we remember well and find peace and stillness in order to reset and rejuvenate ourselves. A place where we get back to who we are; human beings. Not human doings.

I have to be reminded quite often to stand in someone else’s shoes for even just a brief moment in time in order gain empathy for others in order to take focus off myself, my own problem and what I think is so important.

It’s oh so very easy to get stuck in our perspective of the world and never see otherwise. However, it can only take a second to choose to see the world from someone else’s eyes.

In doing so, we become more empathetic, a bit softer and maybe – just maybe more loving.

Who couldn’t use more Love? I know I can.