On one of my early morning walks last week, I witnessed this beautiful sight. The photo doesn’t do it justice but the sun was shining in such a way that you could see the dew shimmering in the air. These water droplets were sparkling as they lightly floated toward the grass. Then just a few days ago I was enjoying my time playing with some children at a day care center, when a three year old little fella pointed up and said “Look!”. He was enthralled with the dust particles suspended in the air, that were illuminated by a ray of sun coming through the window. He jumped and tried to capture them, looking in his hand to see what appeared.
These encounters made me think about the magic and possibilities all around us, that we are often blind to until it is magnified by something or someone else. With that said, do you ever stop and wonder if you’re hanging out with the right people – those who want to shine the light on that which is amazing in you and awesome in the world? Do you believe you have the ability to choose who you spend your time with?
We all have people in our lives who are so consistently negative and small minded that when we see them coming, we look for a way to escape. Why is it that we expend energy tolerating negative talk or behaviors when we could be using that energy to cultivate the relationships that bring us joy and satisfaction? (I love the quote by Scott Stratten, the author of UnMarketing, “Don’t try to win over the haters; you’re not the jackass whisperer.”)
I know that as the seasons whip by at an accelerated pace, I am more mindful of how I spend my time and who I spend it with. Perhaps this is one of the many benefits of getting older – you have less energy so you think more about how you want to use it. Regardless of your age, consider taking an inventory of sorts around who you are spending your time with and why. Are these people who help you see the possibilities for yourself and make you feel more alive? If so, congrats! (and don’t forget to thank them) If not, try experimenting with realigning your time so the balance is in favor of those who are carrying flashlights.
