Ever think like this?

Disney author jeff noel
Writing last night at Magic Kingdom, Day 100. Moments later, the woman in green sat on the step behind me (where the camera sat to take this photo.)

 

Little did i know the self-timer would catch the 86-year old woman (in green) as i was chronicling Day 100 of an impossible one-year writing challenge.

We spoke for 15 minutes and several times i mentioned i must leave to make the short trip home for dinner with my Family.

Even mentioned having an annual pass to add context for why anyone would leave Magic Kingdom at 7pm on a Friday night.

Later last night, the realization that not once did she ask anything about me.

When we age, do we become self-centered? Do we become lonely?

This brief experience is an opportunity to question ourselves and look in the mirror. Are we more like, or unlike, her?

Does it even matter?

 

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This website is about our spiritual health. To read today’s post on my career health website, click here.

 

If the phone doesn’t ring, look in the mirror

Medical pediatric doctor office visit app
Yesterday in Allergist’s waiting room, a TV piece on a new app letting you visit with a board certified pediatrician via smartphone.

 

Ever pray when you wonder why you don’t hear from family and close friends for a long time.

Do you pray that they understand when they are feeling the same way, that they, and you, realize that someone has to go first.

In the absence of deciding who’s responsible for initiating calls, let’s assume neither has enough interest or time to be the leader.

But almost everyone has time to be the follower.

 

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This website is about our spiritual health. To leave this site to read today’s post on jeff’s career health website, click here.

 

i do not worship Hayward Field

Hayward Field website
The spirit of Hayward Field is real.

 

i do not worship Hayward Field.

(Reading the photo’s text will help this post make sense.)

i should mention that Bill Bowerman (mentioned in photo) was University of Oregon’s head Track & Field Coach long ago.

Bowerman was also the 1972 Olympic USATF Head Coach in Munich.

One of his famous runners, Steve Perfontaine (“Pre”), got 4th in the 5,000.

Pre is also the only athlete Nike has immortalized with a life-sized bronze statue.

By the way, Bill Bowerman used his wife’s waffle iron and some rubber mixture to “bake” the soles of his athlete’s shoes – because he could make them lighter.

From this, he is co-founder of Nike (with Phil Knight).

So yeah, Nike started in a kitchen with a waffle iron.

Vin (from today’s MLC post photo) also happened to be Oregon’s Track & Field Head Coach until 2012 when he got promoted.

More US National Championshios and Olympic Trials have been held at Hayward Field than any other track in our Country.

i do not worship Hayward Field, but i do dig the spirit.

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This website is about our spiritual health. To leave this site to read today’s post on jeff’s career health website, click here.

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

 

Here’s the thing i struggle with

Wendy's service motto
Because i walked to the gym while my car was being serviced, i noticed this.

 

Wendy's service motto
Zooming out to add content.

 

My career has been spent serving others, like most people.

A decent percentage of the 14k blog posts (milestone reached Nov. 29, 2016) center on helping others and being of service.

Here’s the thing i struggle with.

i’m a facilitator, not a doer.

We have a saying at Disney, “Don’t do anything for the trainee that they can do themselves.”

i can’t compile your to do list, make recommendations for who to use, make the calls, and schedule your appointments.

Well, i could, but that’s not the highest and best use of my time.

You’re an adult.

i can’t go to the gym for you and do your workout.

You’re old enough and experienced enough to have systems and processes in place to manage (and anticipate) life’s stages.

Sure, it would be wonderful to step in and just do something for someone.

It would also be wonderful if every adult did the hard work to figure out what needs to be done and then do it.

Life is hard for everyone, even for those who might look like life isn’t hard.

 

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This website is about our spiritual health. To leave this site to read today’s post on jeff’s career health website, click here.