Sometimes life delivers a lesson, an image, a jolt that makes such a profound impression that it lasts a lifetime. This is a story of a simple act of generosity over 30 years ago that indelibly impacted me, materially and spiritually.
This past November I was heading for California on my motorcycle for a 3-day training workshop. All the early-winter storms seemed to be happening elsewhere, leaving me with decent weather for my journey. The return trip along the California, Oregon and Washington coast was spectacular.
As I rode south, I thought of earlier journeys. I recalled a solo motorcycle adventure the year I first became a grandfather.
Two Boys and a Blind Man
That particular journey started in Eastern Canada and took me through Mexico and Central America.
The ability to accept the flow of life without judgment is one of the secret ingredients to happiness. Acceptance does not mean that you have to like what you see, but denying reality never brings happiness to you or your community.
One of the realities we all need to practice accepting is that each generation is a little different from the generations that preceded it. The process is the same in every culture, no matter how much those in charge would like it to be otherwise. My stories below are from my own culture; make up your own if you are from a different culture
I am disappointed when I see or hear of someone being unable to accept the normal behaviour of a generation behind them. Then I get really irked when an establishment or service provider or government official goes along with the intolerance.
After some much-needed family time, my first post of 2007 is to set a direction for 2007 and to invite you to come with me. In the past my first article has been about making resolutions and setting goals: how do you maximize your chances of manifesting your personal dreams for the new year?
This year I’ve been thinking about a more expanded approach, a big-picture approach to the new year. I’m not talking about your personal resolutions. Rather, I am talking about our collectively holding an intention, a larger vision for our community.
"Community" can be whatever you decide: your family, your neighborhood, your town or city, your country or even the global community.
My five top wishes for 2007 are below. Please join me in considering the big picture. Add your own big wishes to the Comments section below. With a clear direction there is something big or small that each of us can do to move our communities in that direction.
A judge in the Province of Ontario recently ruled that it could be offensive to some minorities to place a Christmas tree in the courthouse, and so ended a long tradition. I call this "bizarre." So I got to thinking about other erosions of traditional celebration in the name of political correctness.
I realized something else had been bothering me. I would start to wish someone a Merry Christmas. Then I would find myself qualifying my well-wishing with "I know it’s not politically correct to say this, but…"
What I found interesting was that without exception everyone I said this to expressed similar frustration with the pressure to be politically correct. The universal refrain was "Why can’t I just wish someone well in my own tradition?"
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As I rode south, I thought of earlier journeys. I recalled a solo motorcycle adventure the year I first became a grandfather.
