Everything is Personal

One of the least astute cliches someone can use, when delivering bad news is "Don't take it personally".  This ineffective catch-phrase, is at best, a time-filler, in an uncomfortable conversation to let the hearer know that she/he was not selected for a job, promotion, continued employment or other important roles.  

The way that we perceive each moment, day, week, month, year, decade and lifetime is uniquely personal.  And, thankfully our perceptions are as unique as we are.  Since everything is personal, we have an opportunity to selectively share with appropriate audiences of, 1 to millions, our ideas to improve the world our way.

Perfect Timing - Planned or Uniquely Presented

Today, while running an errand, I fortuitously or divinely, ran into a dear friend whom I generally see only a few times a year.  As soon as I saw her, it was obvious that something was quite wrong.  Another few seconds at check-out or any other diversion would have caused us to miss the chance to visit.  And neither of us had ever visited this store during our lunch hour. Though neither of us expected this opportunity, it was perfectly timed and definitely meant to be.

When work trauma presents, it's often helpful to have an interested third party available as a biased, but helpful adviser.  In just a few minutes, we were able to construct a productive action plan.

Though it worked for us, we don't have to rely on fate or divine intervention, when we are overwhelmed.  Those who care about us are willing to find time to help us sort through life's issues.

Perfect timing can be planned or uniquely presented.

Tiny Matters

It's easy to forget how big tiny things can be:
a smile
an ant bite
a wave
1 degree from freezing or boiling
a lucky penny
1 test point between letter grades
a spec in your eye
a bang trim
a splinter
an encouraging word
a seed
pepper between your teeth
a thank you
a minute before or after a filing deadline
a split second between first place and second

Everything's connected and it all matters.

When Nothing is Everything

Sometimes nothing means everything:

• nothing is wrong
• the lab test results were negative
• there were no findings of wrong-doing
• nothing is more important than you
• there were no wrong answers
• it was an accident - no one is to blame
• there's nothing left to do - it is finished
• it was all you! I had nothing to do with it
• it's gone! you are cancer free!
• it was nothing more than a misunderstanding
• it's perfect! there's nothing more to say
• it's nothing!  That's what friends do
• nothing will ever come between us
• nothing ventured... nothing gained
• it's nothing more than you would do

Everything Matters

Who we know and who knows us matters.
What we know and how willing we are to share the information matters.
Where we are and where we are going matters.
When we are actively engaged matters.
Why we want to be involved matters.
How we are able to connect matters.

Bizarre Dream

I rarely remember my dreams.  Recently my vividly recalled dream challenged geography, time, reality and the compassion of others.  My take-aways are:

• Everything matters - though we may not think of the significance, others might
• Everyone matters - I'd not seen the only person I recognized in one segment since I graduated
• Every idea matters - context and content are crucial

Tiny Matters

Tiny, like most other descriptors is relative. Tiny, for anyone dealing with miniaturization, nanotechnology, microbiology or any other precise science or technology, is only as importantly small as the last discovery . 

But tiny also matters in normal life. Anyone who has loved a newborn baby, realizes the perfection of each tiny feature. 

Fractions of an inch make a difference between well-groomed and shaggy for buzz cuts, bangs and fingernails.

An athlete who is tenths of a second faster will claim Gold.

And anyone who has suffered a paper cut or ant bite knows that a tiny incident causes irritation far out of proportion to its size. 

Just as is the case with the major impact of any of these tiny things, tiny sustained improvements make an enormous difference.  Faith, health, endurance, love, patience, savings, skill, strength, understanding and wisdom can or grow or wither with every tiny opportunity to act or react. 

Everyone pays attention to the big things.  Those who also pay attention to tiny things achieve positive differentiation that far exceeds the initial input, action or restraint.

Not only is everything connected; every tiny thing also matters.