You'll Never Know

I will be brief.  Please remain standing.

I’ve taken a few risks in my lifetime.  Many have worked out quite well.  The others – at least I know they are not for me.

But my successes …

~I never knew I could write poetry until I started my poem blog site - A Time for Rhyme

~I never knew I could run an educational center until I became a regional manager for Sylvan Learning Centers.

~I never knew I could conduct orchestras until I stood on the podium the first time.

By now you get the picture.

My point -

P Michael Biggs

Up-Words Web Site

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

A 'No Rudder' Day

Today is a ‘no rudder day’ for me.  I am at home, alone, and have the whole day to myself.  It is to be a day of creating and so I have chosen to create with no rudder in hand.

Often, during my writing sessions, I have a specific blog site in mind that needs attention, or one of my future books on which I need to focus. 

Instead, here is what I’m doing.  On my computer, only one file is open – Blog Ideas.  As I read through these ideas that I have been capturing now for six years I am allowing my mind to be tossed about like a rudderless ship.  I have no sense of direction, no agenda, and don’t care if I write a poem, a short piece, or a life changing piece.

My objective for these moments is to free-float and free-form.  Already, after thirty minutes, I’ve written a poem, and two short blog posts that will see the light of day at some point in the future.

Now hold this idea loosely.  I’m not saying this is a life-style change for me.  I believe in rudders to guide us, goals to aim for, and dreams to build. 

However, sometimes I need a free-float day – a day to create with no strings attached. 

Sometimes, on our Saturday or Sunday outings, Carolyn and I will start our day with no agenda and no destination in mind.  We drive, we stop when we want, we eat when and where we want, we read or not … and you get the idea.  And in the doing nothing we sometimes create our best moments.

So that is what I’m doing in this moment of creativity.  I’m doing nothing but floating without a rudder.  I’m just wandering and wondering where my imagination will take me next.

This little side-trip is almost at an end.  Perhaps tomorrow I’ll take another ‘no-rudder’ adventure of the mind.

See ya!

P Michael Biggs

Up-Words Web Site

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

When You Fall, Get Back Up

I talked to my friend David today.  He lost his job in early December.  He is hot on the trail of two job possibilities as I write this. 

He fell, but he got back up.

I know at least 24 people who have gone

through a divorce.  “Gone through” is a significant turn of a phrase, for that is exactly what they have done, and they have come out on the other side and are making their lives in new and different ways.

They fell, but they got back up.

My friend Mark is in a new job.  He faces a learning curve every day with all the new computer programs he has to learn, new rules, new governmental guidelines and new skills that are demanded of him.  He told me recently he has fallen

often, but he keeps getting back up.  He reaches out to his work partner, Tom, who patiently teaches him where he went off course and how to get back on course.

Mark has fallen often, but he keeps getting back up.

Do you fall sometimes?  Do you stay down in your fallen state or do you rise up and try again?

That is the secret isn’t it? 

We rise up after a fall.

I like that a whole lot.

P Michael Biggs

Up-Words Web Site

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

We Notice

We notice.  Maybe you don’t think you do, but you do.

We notice when people smile or not.

We notice the treatment we receive in grocery and retail stores.

Let me explain.  On Sunday Carolyn and I went searching for a particular piece of furniture for our bedroom. 

Our best experience was in the first store we visited.  He was knowledgeable, he listened, and he showed us a very close example of what we were seeking. 

The second store clerk tried, but failed.  She kept showing us pieces that we had no interest in at all.  They were far from the mark of our original need and interest.  She didn’t listen. 

The third clerk was nice enough, but her worse offense was a most unpleasant case of bad breath. 

In a couple of stores, we waited longer than was prudent before being approached with a greeting and an offer to help.  We showed all the signs of needing help.  We walked in with purpose.  We looked around trying to get a sense of exactly where the furniture was that we were seeking.  And we had money to spend.

You see – we noticed.  We noticed the presentation from greeting to listening to seeing to leaving.

What do people notice about you?  Your smile?  Your kind and appropriate words?  Your confidence in presentation?  You pleasant breath or lack thereof?

Make no mistake – we notice the little things that can lead to buying confidence and trust in you as a reliable and knowledgeable person.

P Michael Biggs

Up-Words Web Site

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time