Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Tip #64: Stop - Look - Go

As I reflect on the past year, I have to say that it has been a very generous one in every possible aspect. I have had an abundance of health and friendship, wonderful travels, far and near, and many interesting developments in my job, the main one being that I am now surrounded by an excellent team of caring people, who have become my teachers and my daily inspiration. I have also lost way too many friends from my support groups, but I'm very thankful that I had the opportunity to meet these caring, kind and brave women who have now become angels.

I know my presence in the blog has not been as frequent as last year and I'm not too sure why, but I think that it is a sign of my business with regular life, which I think it is ultimately a good thing. On the other hand, I do believe this blog helps me in ways I cannot know, so I'm hoping next year will be a slightly more prolific one. I will not give myself challenges or deadlines, but I will work on my discipline to get the things I feel I need for my well being done, but with ease, and mostly, with love.

Today I have a lovely TEDTalk to share with you, which contains a message worth repeating to myself: only by being grateful, we can be happy. The speaker is the Benedict priest David Steindl Rast. He has a simple but powerful message that he summarizes like this. In every situation in life we should do three things: Stop, look and go, just as if we were crossing a street. This is what he means, (as explained in his recipe for grateful living in 2014, found in his wonderful website):
Stop! -- so that you will not hurry past the gift this moment offers you.
Look! -- so you will recognize this gift: the opportunity available now.
Go! -- that means: Do something with this precious opportunity!
He reminds us that every moment offers an opportunity, and, as it is the end of the year, I'm thinking that we can apply that to 2014 as well. I'm hoping that this new year I will be able to recognize the gift I have been given just by being here writing this. Here's the link to his talk, as I'm unable to embed it here, but I hope you watch it and enjoy it as much as I did.

Happy New Year and thanks so much for reading my blog!

Comments (5)

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Pilar! HAPPY and GRATEFUL NEW YEAR!
I was doing dishes, and for various reasons I was feeling "blessed." Then that reminded me that I had noticed a blog post from you. So I stopped what I was doing and read your post. Well, it was so important that you included the brief description of what David Steindl Rast means by Stop! Look! Go!, because I was tempted to be satisfied with just your beautiful words and go back to the dishes (rush) because I didn't feel I should take the time to watch the video. HOWEVER, I decided then and there to heed the advice to Stop! Look! Go! and....... now I am so grateful that I therefore DID watch the talk!

I don't love the word "blessed" because of the religious connotations. I will now think in terms of being grateful, and I will exercise gratitude in as many "given moments" as I can. Given moments - another beautiful notion presented in this talk, so well articulated.

With tremendous gratitude and love for you, and best wishes for a wonderful 2014!
Jean
1 reply · active 587 weeks ago
Dear Jean,

Thank you so much for your lovely comment! I'm glad you did stop and watched the video. Happy New Year to you too!!

Un beso
Jan sister of Jean's avatar

Jan sister of Jean · 587 weeks ago

Thanks, Pilar
1 reply · active 587 weeks ago
You're welcome! Thanks so much for reading!
Marie Hulme's avatar

Marie Hulme · 585 weeks ago

Dearest Pilar,
I am blessed to call you friend and colleague. You are an inspiration to me and I look forward to ever more wonderful collaborations and moments together. I will be following this blog for all the delicious and healthy recipes and for your insightful, heartfelt thoughts. xo, Marie

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