Inspiration

reflections on the path to wellness of body, mind and spirit

Meditation: I encourage you to spend time each day in meditation. The heart of meditation is connecting with God, self, and others in your world. I will be sharing thoughts that will enable you to have a meaningful time of meditation on your path to wellness of body, mind and spirit.

"THE BEST IS YET TO BE"

Recently I heard a prominent newscaster state "the year 2012 has a nice ring to it." I am sure there are those who are excited about moving into the land of beginning again. A New Year is a time for new beginnings. It is a time to walk on new ground. It is a time to establish new goals and work toward making those goals a reality.

These words came forth from a friend at the YMCA. "I had a great Christmas. I love the Christmas season yet there is something depressing about going into a New Year. I can't put my finger on it. I am not excited about the future. My life is filled with so much uncertainty."

These are two ways people view 2012. I would hope those who read these words would be filled with hope and expectancy as we enter a New Year.

So the question surfaces, "what can we do to make sure 2012 the best years ever?" I am not referring to the accumulation of material things. I am not equating being successful in our endeavors with having the best year. I am referring to having a life characterized by meaning and fulfilment. Le'ts explore some of the pathways to the best year ever.

First of all there must be the resolve to live life to its fullest. Each day will bring new opportunities to grow strong in body, mind and spirit. Living a full and meaningful life is connected to living a balanced life. There must be a commitment to spending time taking care of our physical, emotional-mental and spiritual well being. It is indeed the balanced life that enables a person to be fully alive.

I believe the building of durable and meaningful relationships is vital to having the best of years. Too many of us relate to one another like balls on a billiard table. We hit and we bounce off. Relationships that enhance life are like eggs on a billiard table. Sometimes they get "messy" but in the end they are not afraid of taking the risk of being vulnerable.

It is also very important to know where we are going if we are to experience a year that could be the best ever. What are we going to do with the gift of life? There are many opportunities to make the world a better place. Knowing where we are going with our life enables us to be part of the solutions to the problems of this land rather than part of the problems.

HAPPY 2012. I pray it will be our best year ever. The "Heartpath" to a full and meaningful life awaits our willingness to take bold steps, possibly for the first time. The first step is always the most difficult. It's time to take that step. HAPPY JOURNEY.

"IT'S HOW YOU SEE IT?"

In recent weeks our family has experienced a very special blessing. My wife Margaret and Daughter Jenny have opened a new business. For many years I have listened as they expressed their dream to one day own a business. Margaret and Jenny are partners in their new business "Uniquely Chic." Jenny is Chief Executive Officer, Margaret is Chief of Operations, and I simply do what I am told to do. Uniqely Chic is located in "Treasures Old and New" directly behind the Quick Trip on Highway 34 Newnan, Georgia.

I am inspired daily as I witness the passion Jenny and Margaret have for this new venture. Each day they go searching for "Old Treasures" that become "New Treasures" in the eye of the beholder.

Jenny and Margaret have the gift of touching that which is old and enabling it to become attractive to those who view it. I have told them on many occasions "they have the magic touch." They see things in the old that I would never see. They see possibilities I could never imagine.

Yet as I have observed them and their magic touch of transforming the old into the new I have learned many life lessons.

First of all never discard something old. This is especially true of human beings. I discover with each passing day a deeper joy in life. Growing older must never become equated with a life void of worth, meaning and happiness. Our aging population makes many contributions to improving the quality of life of others.

I have learned that things discarded and viewed as useless can be restored by the human touch. There are so many people today who feel discarded, rejected. They are waiting for an encouraging word. They hunger to hear an expression of affirmation. They yearn to hear, "I am blessed to be in your presence." Each day we have opportunities to make the least of these feel significant. All it takes is the human touch and an encouraging word.

I have learned the value of something is in the eye of the beholder. Two persons look at a piece of furniture, one sees junks, the other sees treasure. I would hope all of us would come to see that when God created human beings they were not junk. We all must continue to learn that every person is made in the image of God. I love the old adage, "Two men looked through prison bars, one saw mud the other saw stars." It is all in the eye of the beholder.

"Treasures Old and New" have brought many hours of fulfillment to two very special people. They have become experts in taking things that were broken and making them strong in the broken places.

A Word for Leaders

All of us have responsibilities of leadership. We are leaders in our home, places of worship, community. Reflect upon these principles of servant leadership.

Have a positive attitude toward self, others and your responsibilities.
Don’t be timid about the challenges confronting you.
Believe the best about the people with whom you work.
Empower others to empower themselves.
e careful to act rather than react to the challenges before you.
Don’t ask others to do what you are not willing to do.
Practice integrity in all that you do.
Seek the wisdom of others.
Continue your educational journey, seeking to learn something new each day.
Communicate with clarity.
Let others on your team know of your confidence in them.
Reward the accomplishments of others.
Be visionary.

Personal Resolutions for 2012

1. Pray daily for family, friends and clients.

2. Help broken people put their lives back together again.

3. Live a balanced life of body, mind and spirit.

4. Make each person I meet know that what happpens to them makes a difference to me.

5. Celebrate with my grandson "Mihai" the joy of life.

GUEST POET: HALEY McMURRAIN

ONE KIND OF A MOM

She is the warm cinnamon candle.

She is cook in the kitchen 24/7.

She is a muscle and bone healer.

She is a sunrise beach walker.

She is the juggler of multitasking master.

She is the warm fire in the living room.

She is homemade as fresh lemonade.

She is the "House Blend" Starbucks coffee in the morning.

She is flower pot gardener.

She is Mrs. Clean.

She is my Mom.

Haley McMurrain. Haley is the daughter of Laura McMurrain a Physical Therapist at Georgia Rehabilitation and Imaging of Warm Springs Medical Center.

Heartpath Reading List

Tony Campolo, Margot Starbuck, "Small Things With Great Love."

Laura Hildenbrand "Unbroken". A World War II story of survival and resilience of the human spirit.

Tom Brokaw, "Time Of Our Lives"

Andrew Weil, "Healthy Aging"

Eric Metaxas "Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy."