Message of the Day - The example of Odysseus

Good Morning,

 

This evening I spent some time watching some TV with my family. We generally watch Science and History channels and the occasional episode of Spongebob.  This evening we watched the adventures of the Greek Hero, Odysseus. This is the character depicted in ‘The Odyssey’ by Homer.

 

What was telling about Odysseus was his perseverance.

 

Through all of the twenty years he spent away from home, the first ten at the Trojan War and the second ten on the incredible journey home, Odysseus never gave up his focus of getting home to his wife Penelope and his son, Telemachus.

 

While he does get waylaid for some time with Circe and Calypso, he does keep moving toward home.  He faces trial after trial and must use brains and brawn to get through each of his challenges. Several times, Odysseus does what no man has ever done before in the ancient Greek world. He goes to Hades and back, he survives the island of the Sirens, and more.

 

Odysseus’ drive and perseverance can be an example for each of us who, in our own lives, no matter how mundane compared to the adventures in The Odyssey. That we can make it through what we are doing if we use our brains, and keep focused.

 

Of course this does not mean having to ponder through each of our challenges alone.

 

It means that using all that is available to us, that we should not give up. That we should keep pushing forward.

 

In my life, I am looking to get my second book written, and it has been a challenge with greater responsibility in multiple organizations as well as at my day job. I have never thought about giving up, and I have taken long hiatuses from my writing as you have no doubt noticed.

 

But, I do take hints and tips and advice from others to help me stay on track for my goal. Friends support me, and urge me forward. And when I hear how my writing has helped others, it gives me even more desire to get the next project completed.

 

I push forward, but I have to also understand that while I should  never give up, that there may not be a straight path between where I am and where my goal is.

 

Maybe, like the ancient Greeks, when I come to the inevitable barrier or obstacle, and it can happen daily,  I will remind myself of Odysseus who never gave up on his quest to return home.

 

I hope you will too.

 

Enjoy!

 

Sanford Berenberg

Sanford@berenberg.net
http://www.berenberg.net

http://sanfordberenberg.blogspot.com/
Follow Me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/sberenberg

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Message of the Day - We are on a Journey

Good Morning,

 

Yesterday as I was talking to a customer service representative on the phone, they commented that they liked my first name and while they were processing my order, I shared how I came to be named ‘Sanford’. As I finished they commented that they enjoyed the journey of the description.

 

That reminded me that life is a journey and not a destination, but even more so, many facets of our lives, in and of themselves, are not one time events, but are, in fact, journey’s themselves.

 

Later that day, I stood in for the Scoutmaster for our local Boy Scout Troop, I am one of the Assistant Scoutmasters, and like all meetings we end with a Scoutmaster’s minute, where we share a short bit of wisdom with the boys. So, having mulled over the thought about the journey, I shared the thought with them. At first I felt like an airplane going down with the blank stares until I made the connection with the card game most of them love to play, Magic the Gathering.

 

That the game itself is not a onetime enjoyment, that there is journey in the game. There is getting new cards, trading cards, sharing stories about the cards, and talking strategy and the game itself. All of these different parts of the whole comprise a journey. That, if one were to reflect on the different parts of it, they would find the journey they have been on.

 

There is a journey in each thing we do, each goal we pursue, and if we stop to smell the roses, we can see more about what makes each journey memorable, fun, painful (hopefully followed by a learning experience), etc.

 

On an even more basic level, there is a journey in performing the simplest of tasks. Within the perceived boredom of monotonous motions could be found elements of an enjoyable journey if we simply stop and look. For example, each day I walk my dog Bo. I am half asleep and usually dressed for the weather, although I cannot say my socks or shoes match that early in the morning. But, stopping and reflecting on the monotony of the walk, I have found elements of a journey which when reflected upon make the walk even more enjoyable. Noticing a new car, or a newly landscaped house, seeing rabbits run across the street, or ducks waddling by.

 

Maybe we should all take a moment and reflect on the journeys we find ourselves on each and every day. That instead of having to do the monotonous and boring acts, day in and day out, we actually get to go on a journey where we might find something noteworthy to remember and share with others.

 

Enjoy!

 

Sanford Berenberg

Sanford@berenberg.net
http://www.berenberg.net

http://sanfordberenberg.blogspot.com/
Follow Me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/sberenberg

http://learnandgrowdaily.com  Click here to order: "Learn And Grow Daily!"

502-533-9336

 

Message of the Day - More than Acting

Good Morning,

 

There are folks who talk the talk, and we question if they are just full of hot air.

 

There are folks who walk the walk, and we question if they are just going through the motions.

 

There are folks who walk the talk, and we think that they do what they say they do, but I think there is more to it than that.

 

I saw an actor working a temp job in a call center. He played a ‘customer service representative’ on the phone. He was able to talk the talk of a good phone rep using his acting skills. He was able to walk the walk and do the job of appeasing the customer with little to no knowledge of our product. He had only been with us a few days.  He was even able to walk the talk. He sounded sincere and caring as a dedicated customer service rep should, but in the end, it was acting.

 

Life, though is not just lived by professional actors. There are many more amateurs out there who are ‘pretending their way through life’ as well.

 

I notice people going through the motions of their day. They do their jobs, they perform their required functions, but there is little more than that.

 

·         There is no passion.

 

·         There is no commitment.

 

·         There is no deep-seated belief beyond going through the motions.

 

I bet you can find these people in our life every day. You may even find them by looking in the mirror.   All action, no passion, no belief.

 

It’s when we believe in what we do that we come alive.

 

·         Like a pastor who comes alive when he is sharing the Gospel. 

 

·         Like a car enthusiast showing off his newly reconditioned classic. 

 

·         Like a chef sharing their recipe with people who are thoroughly enjoying the meal.

 

·         Like a speaker trying to share information that will help someone in the audience improve their lives.

 

It’s when we do what we do with passion that the work we do comes alive, no matter how boring or mundane the work may seem to be.

 

And when it comes alive, it becomes more enjoyable, and we do a better job at it.

 

Its more than walking the talk, its believing in the walk and the talk and letting the passion flow through all we do.

 

So I ask you. Are you actors just going through your day, doing what needs to be done, and moving on to the next performance? Or is there passion in what you do and does it make you come alive when you get to do what you love?

 

And if it is the former, maybe take a step back and think about it for a bit. Ask yourself if there is anything you can like or possibly love in what you do? Or is it time to move on to what does fulfill you?

 

Something to consider.

 

Enjoy!

 

Sanford Berenberg

Sanford@berenberg.net
http://www.berenberg.net

http://sanfordberenberg.blogspot.com/
Follow Me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/sberenberg

http://learnandgrowdaily.com  Click here to order: "Learn And Grow Daily!"

502-533-9336