Ending Reflections

Is it possible that another year is coming to an end?!  It seems like 2024 just began... and we were looking forward to the extra day (Leap Year:  February 29), Summer Olympics, and the Presidential Elections!

Now it is time to look back and reflect:

• What have we learned about ourselves?
• What could we have done differently?
• Did we show love, kindness and caring towards others?

Where has your heart led you?
(Photo: Heart in San Francisco Project - Larry Gardepie)

I have met many beautiful and wonderful people over this past year.  Our diversity in nationalities, cultures and faiths have helped me to understand something about myself:  I-Do-Not-Know-Everything.  Rather, I have so much to learn!

 

This simple admission on my part can open my mind and heart to accept another person's experiences.

What do people see in your reflection?
(Photo: Salisbury Cathedral Baptismal Font, England - Larry Gardepie)

Then, as I listen and accept others, I have found Curiosity-Becomes-Engaged.  I find that I ask more and more questions: no longer to judge against What-I-Know but to lessen What-I-Do-Not-Know.

 

I must admit, my ability to listen and ask Questions-Out-Of-Curiosity is not perfect!  But when I am aligned to a childlike quality of Wanting-to-Learn, I find life easier!

How clearly do you see The Real?
(Photo: Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, Haines, Alaska - Larry Gardepie)

The interesting part of being human is our ability to choose... to know or not know; to learn or not learn; to be kind or not.

 

In most situations, we have a choice in how we respond.  I wonder how often I -- or you -- stay on autopilot in this busy world and do not see the choices before us? 

 

As we end this Year 2024, I am curious:

• What have you learned about yourself and our world?
• What would you change or want to do over?
• How would you like to end this year and begin the next?
  

 

I would like to end this reflection by thanking you for your insights and comments this past year (through blog comments, personal texts, and emails).  I have learned from you!

 

May you stay safe over the New Year's celebrations... choose wisely!

Larry Gardepie

Dialogue San Diego Consulting

Holiday Projections

Memories.... nostalgia... regrets and gratitude.  It's that time of year when anticipation, excitement, and emotions mix and collide.  What-Was, What-Is, and What-Is-Hoped-For flow from mind to heart inviting us to reflect and project:

Reflect inwardly on what has been, and

Project outwardly the needs and desires of ourselves and others.

What do you project outwardly?
(Photo: Museum of Us, Balboa Park,
San Diego - Larry Gardepie)

As in most cities and towns, ours is decorated in holiday finery and music wafts through the air no matter where we go.  Neighborhoods are brightened by twinkly lights and cartoonish characters.

This season seems different than others throughout the year: light overcomes darkness; giving conquers miserliness; hope can defeat despair.

How do you light up your world?
(Photo: Christmas Lights, San Diego - Larry Gardepie)

But, even with all of the love and cheer, there is still loneliness, bitterness, and disappointment.  There are people struggling and still looking for a room to lay down their head.  

Remember, this is a season of anticipation, excitement, and emotions-mixing-and-colliding.

Our assignment -- if we choose -- is to:

• Notice what is happening around us;
• Ask questions based on our awareness; and,
  
• Listen to understand.
  

Can you accurately reflect what is seen?
(Photo: Seaport Village, San Diego - Larry Gardepie)

Listening provides insights and tools to reflect inwardly and project outwardly another person's needs and desires while aligning them with our own.

 

If you haven't looked at Eastern Idaho News' "Secret Santa" videos on YouTube (click here), there may be ways that we can help others... not to change how they feel, but to say that we see, hear, and care.

 

Let us reflect inwardly on what has been and project outwardly what is... or could be... if we but listen and understand.  It is that time of year!

 

Larry Gardepie

Dialogue San Diego Consulting

Stories Rebuilt

Some people are born Storytellers:  they know how to hold an audience with their words, expressions, and energy; they artfully weave together drama and humor; they listen and recount experiences that are relatable.  Timing is a part of their gift... when and how to unite us around Our Story.

An international audience witnessed the opening of Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral last week -- a centuries-old story of faith, triumph, destruction, and rebirth.

What story do you tell about yourself?
(Photo:  Notre Dame Cathedral facade, Paris, France - Larry Gardepie)

It was inspiring to see how the carpenters, painters, and artisans brought new life into the heart of Parish after the devastating fire of 2019.  The national pride and international celebration melted -- for a moment -- divisions that had separated us through religion, culture, and politics.

It was a blending of old and new: respecting the past by honoring earlier craftsmanship; infusing current methods to protect and strengthen; laying the groundwork to continue telling the faith story of Notre Dame.

What face do you put on your life's story?
(Photo:  Notre Dame Cathedral, July 2006 - Larry Gardepie)

Having been to Paris several years ago, I was able to understand the significance of this cathedral's place in French history.  Now, the world was being invited into this nation's story... uniting under a human story of hopes, dreams, and overcoming tragedy.

I wonder if this rebirth is about ourselves as well:  letting light through the windows of our eyes and mind to soften our hearts?

How is your life colored by the beauty of other people?
(Photo:  Rose Window, Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris - Larry Gardepie)

As we practice how to dialogue and listen to one another, maybe we are invited to:

• Respect or honor the past;
  
• Allow current ways to change and strengthen us; and,
  
• Lay the groundwork to bring us together.

The story being told right now is one of division and separation.  Are you being called to be a Storyteller that unites and encourages?

Think about it... and begin the rebirth in you.

Larry Gardepie

Dialogue San Diego Consulting

Wait Patiently... and Observe!

Life changes... by the minute!  I was reminded of this recently when watching a sunset while at sea.  The day had been exceptionally cloudy, and we wondered what the sunset would be like that evening.

At first there was a dull red glow on the horizon... fuzzy but still ball shaped.

What were your first impressions
about something that happened today?
(Photo: North Pacific Sunset 4:50 pm - Larry Gardepie)

Do we stay and watch the sun fizzle below the horizon?  We decided to wait.

A few minutes later the waters became calm, the clouds started to break apart, and the red, fuzzy glow spread out along and above the horizon.  This is becoming interesting!

How long do you wait for change to happen?
(Photo: North Pacific Sunset 4:55 pm - Larry Gardepie)

Do we wait longer?  Will there be more changes to surprise us?

Within a span of 12 minutes the original fuzzy glow became a fiery display of wonder and glory.  It took a conscious decision on our part to wait (patiently!), stay present, and observe.

When have you been surprised by an unexpected outcome?
(Photo: North Pacific Sunset 5:02 pm - Larry Gardepie)

Isn't life like this:

• When we slow down, notice and reflect on a person, situation or problem... 
• Then Wait-Without-Expectations for what will happen...
  
• We discover something spectacular and Previously Unseen?

The Advent Season is about waiting... observing... and preparing for the unexpected.  

What are you waiting for?  What are you noticing?   How are you preparing?

Larry Gardepie

Dialogue San Diego Consulting

TMI

Are you confused with some of the new abbreviations used in messaging or texting?  Oftentimes, I must look up the initials so I can understand the response or context of a comment.  Like the difference between LOL and ROFL... AFAIK and LMK... JK and JW.*

I remember the first time I heard someone say TMI in a conversation... looked it up... and then wondered what information was too much?

It seems that modern life has introduced several short cuts... in expressions and language, getting to a desired location, and how we enter or nurture relationships.

Have you ever wondered how something
-- or someone -- developed?
(Photo: Palm Trees at Pu'uhonua o Honaunau
National Historical Park, Hawaii - Larry Gardepie)

Seeing a crooked palm tree among a palm grove got my attention.  I thought, "That's interesting!"  I wondered how it grew so differently than the others:  Had it been lying on the ground before being planted upright?  Was its crookedness intentional?  Was something wrong with it?  Was it diseased?

Then I began noticing other palm trees, Ti plants, and ferns trying to break through the hardened lava landscape.  The energy to survive and flourish! "Isn't that interesting?" became a mantra as I explored the sacred area around Pu'uhounua o Honaunau, a place of refuge for Hawaiians who had broken kapu.

What is revealed when we notice?
(Photo: Night Flight into San Diego - Larry Gardepie)

As I noticed my surroundings, I found that I wanted to learn more:  the TMI (Too Much Information) of our abbreviated lexicon soon transformed into That's More Interesting than the previous discovery.  I wanted to ask questions, understand the differences, and explore what was being revealed.

I believe that is what society and community is about: the opportunity to share information and learn from one another.

Are we interested in seeing what is hidden?
(Photo:  Full Moon among Palm Trees - Larry Gardepie)

Abbreviations may simply be short cuts in a fast-paced, modern world.  But, there could be a risk in using them exclusively:  the meaning might be hidden or misunderstood if the other person isn't aware.  After all, your TMI might be interesting to me!

JW... are there any shortcuts you use that are helpful?

Questions to consider this week:  when we TMI each other (Wow!  Now it's a verb!), are we...

• Asking the other person to stop sharing... or... do we want to hear more?
• Saying we don't care... or... that we are interested?
• Trying to stop communicating.... or... we are ready to move ahead?
  

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* You probably know many of the abbreviations cited above, but just in case:

• LOL = Laugh Out Loud
• ROFL = Rolling On The Floor Laughing
• AFAIK = As Far As I Know
• LMK = Let Me Know
• JK = Just Kidding
• JW = Just Wondering
  

Larry Gardepie

Dialogue San Diego Consulting