Category Archives: Experience

You are an aperture through which the universe is looking at and exploring itself

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“You are an aperture through which the universe is looking at and exploring itself.”

—Alan Watts, 20th Century English writer, speaker, and philosopher

Image from Unsplash by infixed photo

My favorite time of day is the 30-60 minutes just before dawn.

With the dark skies on clear mornings just before my daily walk, I often stop in my driveway and gaze into the heavens to see the constellations and the phases of the moon shining down.

At such moments, I contemplate my place in the world and know in my heart and soul that millions of other people are doing the same. To experience my oneness and the oneness of us all is profound.

EXERCISE:

In what ways do you experience yourself as an aperture through which the universe looks and explores itself?

Take a plunge into your senses

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Take a plunge into your senses. Note what you are seeing, feeling, hearing, tasting, and hearing. What is the present moment offering you to experience more fully?

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Aaron Burden

Autumn is a perfect time to plunge into your senses. It’s not too hot or too cold to get outside and appreciate mother nature in all her glory.

Consider taking a walk outside at different times of the day from before dawn to after dusk to experience all the sights, sounds, and sensations available.

Be sure to leave your phone at home and consider traveling alone at a leisurely pace to take in and savor all the wonders many of us often rush past.

Make a few stops along your way to turn around and look up and down so as to not miss out on the show the world is always offering.

EXERCISE:

Share your adventure with someone close to you and consider taking them along on your next sensory outing to offer them a taste of the gift you just received!

It’s time to bet on wisdom

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“It’s time to bet on wisdom. It’s metabolized experience.”

—Chip Conley, American hospitality entrepreneur, author, and speaker

Image from Unsplash by Ava Sol

I’ve been fascinated by the pursuit of mastery and wisdom most of my adult life.

For me, a day without learning something new and useful is a waste. Please note that I’ve used the word useful!

Many of us seem to ravenously pursue knowledge with the idea that “more is better.”

Watching the game show Jeopardy is a good example of how many folks see how they stack up to contestants with seemingly AI capabilities.

Unfortunately, knowledge and experience do not necessarily correlate to wisdom.

Just because you ingest and can regurgitate information does not guarantee that it was digested and used to strengthen your ability to guide yourself and others.

EXERCISE:

How are you metabolizing your life experiences to expand your bank of wisdom?

Where are you placing bets on your wisdom and the wisdom of others to hit more of the jackpots of life?

“Don’t give up on your dreams. Your ability to persist and stay the course is being tested. Keep at it!”

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“Don’t give up on your dreams. Your ability to persist and stay the course is being tested. Keep at it!”

—Author Unknown

Image from Unsplash by Bo Zhang

How much of the Paris Olympics did you see? With three rainy days during our recent Pocono vacation this year, we saw a bunch.

Something we noticed was the number of athletes who have the Olympic rings tattooed on various parts of their bodies.

Clearly, the Olympic experience is a memory they all wanted to capture and keep for the rest of their lives.

EXERCISE:

Where in your life do you dream of greatness?

How successful have your efforts been to date?

Where have you lost the fire and given up on your dreams?

How might the obstacles that are stopping you be just a test to challenge you to press on and stay the course?

The wedding is an event, love is a practice. The Graduation is

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“The wedding is an event, love is a practice. The graduation is an event, education is…”

—James Clear, Author of Atomic Habits

Image from Unsplash by Brett Jordan

Full Quote: “The wedding is an event, love is a practice. The graduation is an event, education is a practice. The race is an event, fitness is a practice. The heart, mind, and body are endless pursuits.”

Too many of us rest our hopes and expectations on the big days of our lives.

We are constantly looking to capture and highlight moments to post on social media, to proclaim to the world we’ve arrived, or that we are at the top of our games.

But life isn’t just about peak experiences.

It involves the ordinary and often mundane daily efforts of doing our best even when few people ever notice. It definitely includes the rituals, routines, and daily practices that give our lives purpose and meaning.

EXERCISE:

In what ways do you sharpen the saws of your mind and body through your daily efforts?

What heart-based activities keep your life beating to the often-whispering tunes of your soul?

I try to be available for life to happen to me

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“I try to be available for life to happen to me.”

—Bill Murray, American actor and comedian

Image from Unsplash by Alexander Grey

What does it mean to be available to life?

What qualities would you possess if life entered and soaked you, body and soul?

Consider all the experiences we have with our five senses. How fully do we use them?

What if we had super senses like certain animals or plants, and how they magically take in water, minerals, and mix it with sunshine to make food.

How alive might we feel?

EXERCISE:

Where are you even more active as you happen to life?

Where do your intentionality and efforts infuse the world with your special gifts?

What are you bringing to the party?

“It’s time to bet on wisdom. It’s metabolized experience.”

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“It’s time to bet on wisdom. It’s metabolized experience.”

—Chip Conley, American hotelier, author, and speaker

Image from chipconley.com

In 2018, Chip Conley founded the Modern Elder Academy (MEA) — the world’s first “midlife wisdom school” in Baja California.

His work has been dedicated to helping students re-imagine midlife as a time for learning, growth, and positive transformation through immersive workshops, sabbaticals, and a variety of digital programs.

His education includes an MBA from Stanford. In 1987 Chip founded Joie de Vire Hospitality that managed 50 boutique hotels for 24 years. In 2013, he was the director of hospitality at Airbnb. His resume includes many other experiences he has metabolized over the years and is well worth a look.

EXERCISE:

Please consider subscribing the MEA Wisdom Well Blog — “A Daily Reminder of Wisdom and its Value”

Do not ask what it is. Let us go experience it

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“Do not ask what it is. Let us go experience it.”

—T.S. Elliot, one of the 20th century’s major poets

Image from Unsplash by Maria Oswalt

I tend to be a home body — I’m not into large events or running around to check things off my bucket list.

I do, however, go outside this comfort zone for the people closest to me — especially my children and grandchildren.

My daughter is constantly creating opportunities for her kids to experience new things. Being invited along for the ride, to watch the delight of our little ones, is definitely not to be missed!

EXERCISE:

How often do your find yourself living in your cave of comfort?

Where would FOMO be a good thing to get you off your seat and into the world you’ve been missing?

“When you feel the swell of life around you, simply drift…..”

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“When you feel the swell of life around you, simply drift…”

—Mark Nepo, Author of The Book of Awakening

Image from Unsplash by Osman Rana

How often do you feel the tender and inspiring aspect of life around you?

Who are the people, where are the places, and what are the things that lift you up and carry you through your days?

Where do you experience a strong sense of resonance and belonging that touches your heart and soul?

How long do you linger in these moments?

Explore this list to see if any of these events strike a chord:

  • The embrace of a loved one
  • Observing acts of kindness or generosity
  • Children playing
  • The many beautiful aspects of nature
  • Examples of personal excellence and mastery
  • Music
  • Art

EXERCISE:

Create a list of 5-10 moments in which you feel the swell of life. How can you linger and drift with these feelings more fully and more often?

There is no tomorrow, only a string of todays

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“There is no tomorrow, only a string of todays.”

—Mark Nepo, Author of Book of Awakening

Image from Unsplash by xandtor

A few weeks ago, I spent three days at Sea World in Orlando with my wife Wendy, our daughter Rachel, and our two grandchildren.

With a double stroller as our base of operations, we adults got in far more than our 10,000 steps as we took in all the sun and sights!

Peak experiences — including our hands-on interactions with dolphins and Beluga whales — kept our full attention, with plenty of opportunities for photos to save these moments for posterity.

EXERCISE:

How would living your life as a string of todays help you squeeze more satisfaction from all the todays and tomorrows to come?