Our weaknesses can easily overwhelm us and give us plentiful excuses to not step up to the plate. Or… We can choose to find a way to soar. Ty Bennett, a mentor and friend, inspired this little gem (link to his Monday Morning Mantra in the comments). I hope you enjoy! SOARING WEAKNESS By Les Patterson That which I find weak Stops me from soaring When I fail to see greatness Inside me is growing When I shift my perspective…
Analyze, if you would please, the leaf diagram pictured. What do you notice? Perhaps you are wondering, as I did, what tree each leaf comes from. Trees are generally classified (is the right scientific terms?) as either deciduous or coniferous. Or in the very rare case “deciduous conifers” that take “characteristics of both” (thanks Vanessa Richins Myers for the education!). The key thing I noticed is each leaf is uniquely different. Each leaf from each and every tree has unique…
Sometimes the very best we can do it simply breathe and soak up the beautiful moments… SOAK UP THE MOMENTS By Les Patterson Soak up the warmth Even if the day is cold Enjoy the energy of youth Even if you feel kinda old Soak up the culture Even if you’re in a camion Enjoy being one with them Even if you’re not Amsterdamian Soak up the weather Even if it’s fleeting Enjoy the soft rain Even…
What did you dream, when you were a kid, of becoming when you grew up? If you believed the stereotypical, boys dreamt of becoming firefighters, police officers, and astronauts. And girls dreamt of becoming teachers, hairstylists, and secretaries. Kinda funny how stereotypical the stereotypical actually is! When I was a young kid, I had three core dreams I wanted to be when I grew up… army guy, cowboy, and racehorse jockey. And, in one way or the other, I had…
The raging storms of life come in many ways, seemingly perfectly tailored specifically for the course we are navigating. Along our journey, we are often nurtured, served, and loved by others who make our journey just a little less difficult. In turn, we also often blessed with corresponding opportunities to love and serve others who are navigating their own journey the challenging waters of life. An additional blessing of striving to simply serve and love people just as they are,…
WE ONCE WERE By Les Patterson We once were strangers Yet we choose to say hello We created connection We created a friendship We once were each unknown Yet we changed the status We did something about it We choose to be open and share We once were good on our own Yet we knew much more awaited We discovered we knew the truth We are greater as friends than not We once were simply friends Yet we knew there…
What are the beacons in your life??? To start with, let’s simply understand a beacon is a “light or other visible object serving as a signal, warning, or guide.” The mighty lighthouses providing guidance for ships at sea are beacons. A buoy floating in water indicating the presence of underwater hazards is a beacon. Airport lights guiding pilots to a safe landing are beacons. There are also those people we would call “Life Beacons.” Life Beacons are those people we…
Mrs. Hummel told me if I wanted to be a better writer I needed to read more. “Read more Mr. Les. Read more.” With her quirky soft smile and dainty eyes hidden behind her spectacles, my 9th grade English teacher Mary Hummel would look at me with that rare level of confidence found only in a few teachers (along with every mother) who saw something the rest of the world never could. I don’t know if she knew then the…
I’ve always felt connected to “flawed individuals” who choose to step into their confidence, despite the many reasons they have not too, and find a way to make an impact in life. Kobe Bryant was such an individual. He was “polarizing and controversial” at times, as my friend Brendan Cannon wrote on the news of Kobe’s tragic death yesterday. And Kobe was flawed with his share of mistakes. Though on the basketball court he was one of the superhumans, the…
Through tragedy The soul most broken is healed By the touching hand Of unseen angels – Les Patterson