I chose the following books because they each offer a way of seeing the world that will stretch your mind like Silly Putty (remember Silly Putty???)…you don’t have to like them, but you may just learn something that you can apply to your life…that brings us back to asking, “What if…?”

In each newsletter, I will share about the gifts I have received – the people, organizations, relationships that have contributed to my life – and celebrate them by sharing a little of the story with you.  This is my way of being an example of what I think we all need more of: namely appreciation and acknowledgement for the good we contribute to our world, in big and small ways.  Contact information for each is in the Resources section below.

Here are mine – what are yours?
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These questions are designed for greater self-awareness and understanding of yourself and the lifestyle and workstyle you are living.

• What are you “putting up with” in your life?  In your business?  What little thing can you do now  to improve the situation?
• What adventure or indulgence are you looking forward to?  If you don’t have one, pause and daydream – doesn’t have to cost a lot of money!  Can be as simple as an ice cream cone with sprinkles!  The idea is to anticipate something, something that gets your juices flowing…and build that into a habit.  The trail ride might be a good choice.
• What values do you live by?  Which of your values seems to take a back seat to other, more pressing issues?  What action can you take to revive that value in your life, so that you feel connected to what drives you?  (Is it volunteering, or making a donation, or giving someone a hug, or patting someone on the back?  Do it!)
• When was the last time you felt connected to nature?  Actually feel the warmth of the sun on your face…gaze at the night stars….smell a flower…listen to rain or waves…and then just breathe in the experience.

I just came from a lovely pot luck picnic for volunteers at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum…my partner John goes every Monday to play with cactus and other specimens of desert plants.  It’s a marvelous place – even the ride there is spectacular!  It’s about an hour east of the Phoenix Airport, and well worth the drive.

I met a lovely lady whose lifestyle simply intrigued me. She and her husband have been retired for over 12 years and live an “RV life”, as she described it.  They literally have no address – can you imagine!  But imagine this:  they live six months at a time in a place they love or want to explore, and they traverse the United States to visit family, and pick the loveliest places to volunteer.  They are now living on the premises of the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, and can only do so for two stints (two winter periods) and as of May 1 they’re off to the Oregon coast to help restore and develop public lands there.
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