Life Lessons Learned From Liam

Yes, it’s true! It’s possible to learn what’s really important in life as seen and shared by a 2-½ year old boy named Liam. Of course I’m rather partial, he is after all my grandson and “Grandma’s Little Man”.

Come along with me on one of our little adventures…

Liam and I like to go for a walks. It seems I always have a purpose in mind and Liam just simply enjoys the journey. While I’m focused on getting there, he has other ideas in mind. It becomes very clear Liam has yet to hear the phrase, “Walk with a purpose!” Not yet anyway, and you can be sure he will never hear it from me!

First of all we stop longer than we ever walk. We sit on the sidewalk (yes, it’s cold and yes I remember what our mothers told us about sitting on cold sidewalks) nevertheless I am the Grandma after all. Part of my job description is doing what ever my grandchildren enjoy. (Of course when he gets much older and wants to sky dive I will have to break my own rule and decline.)

After we have sat on the sidewalk for a while picking up stones, twigs, grass and yes, some unknown objects, then and only then we move on. A few short steps later and we’re picking up maple keys and throwing them up in the air. At first I just want to watch him as he squeals with joy. Liam on the other hand will have none of that! He insists we both throw them up into the breeze together. As I toss mine I am reminded of my childhood and how much fun this really is. Liam laughs spontaneously with a belly laugh so deep it would cause even the most solemn person to crack a smile.

A few more steps and Liam feels it’s necessary to bend down and touch all of the driveways as we cross over them. My job as I see it, is to point out whether they are made of asphalt or concrete. This becomes too much fun for him and we must repeat these actions over and over and over again. I have to say I don’t think I’ve ever had this much fun touching driveways, have you? It’s at this point that I am reminded that I had indeed promised myself to begin an exercise routine. Something that seems to skip my mind when I am not with him put pops up over and over again as Liam and I go on our adventures!

I now think I’ve forgotten what our destination was to begin with. I’m so wrapped up in watching the planes fly overhead and laughing with Liam at what tricks the birds seem to be up to. Everything is simply fascinating! After walking for about 35 minutes to a destination that could have easily taken 8, we finally arrive. Yes, that’s right, we are at Liam’s neighbourhood park.

While he is busy climbing up the jungle gym and then sliding down the slide I’m busy catching him and making a huge fuss over how great I think he is. Of course, I never need an excuse to sing his praises, that’s for sure. After countless repetitions we now embark on a much bigger project. In case you’ve tried to guess what our next task is, forget about it. You could never guess in a million years. Liam has decided that we need to cover a huge rock with as many dried leaves as we can find in the park. I have to admit it was actually fun. This is what they must do in the army known as camouflage. Liam is wise beyond his years! Why should the other kids that come to the park and find this rock so easily? He must believe he’s making it more fun for the other kids or why would he do this?

When it’s time to leave the park I illogically assume the trip home with be quick without any stops. How wrong could one Grandma be? After all, on the way to the park all the things we did were so much fun how could we not do them all over again and again. Of course this time with a detour into a muddy forest. Oh well, so much for my shoes. Liam was smart enough to wear his boots ☺

Lesson Learned:
Now I don’t focus on the destination or I will miss the fun along the way! When I’m out with Liam I do what he taught me to do, I enjoy new things. I make sure I look up and all around. I never realized how much I was missing until now.

P.S. Always check out what your grandchildren are wearing on their feet. This perhaps may give you a hint as to what you’re about to step into.

Check more from Diane Broos at her website www.dynamicliving4u.com

Courage For Living

Far too often we seem to focus on our weaknesses instead of our strengths. On what we cannot do instead of what we can. We look to others for their approval of our lives instead of looking inwardly in order to find out, “What’s the song in my heart?”

Each year around the globe men and women of every race, creed, religion and financial status are imprisoned. Sent by others to serve their appointed sentence behind bars. No matter what the crime a penalty is imposed due to behaviour considered by society inappropriate.

The statistics on the number of people incarcerated around the globe is astounding yet, there are millions more who because of wrong thinking have allowed themselves to become prisoners. Self-imposed by fears, insecurities, negative thinking, circumstances both (past and present), hurts, lack of self-confidence; the list is endless and so different for us all. Some people live their lives convinced that circumstances or other people have kept them down. The truth is simple, only we hold the key to our own success.

For many years I had given mental assent to this truth but nothing changed until the coin dropped. Only when the coin drops in our heart can we derive the truth in any given circumstance.

As a businesswoman I have found myself in countless corporate offices. One of the most prominent features is what I call motivational sayings. You know, the kind that excites your soul when you read them, make you feel like a winner when you hang them on your walls, or superior to others as you send them on their way via email. As if by the mere fact of having done so equates to success. Oh, if it were only that easy!

The only constant in the world today is change. With this in mind we shouldn’t be surprised when we face challenges, or as I like to call them opportunities for solutions.
One of my favorite quotes,” I am never down, I am either up or getting up!” People who have fallen short because of life’s circumstance and yet summon the courage to continue to move forward are extremely successful and valuable to the rest of us.

It is with this message in my heart that I will endeavor to speak with as many people who have faced adversity and continued with an unshakeable courage in spite of it. No one is exempt from pain or failure in this life; it is however what we do with the pain that counts.

For example, recently my daughter Jennifer sent me a link to this video on YouTube about Patrick Henry Hughes. WOW, what a testimony about the human spirit overcoming adversity. Not only about Patrick, but about his parents, especially his father. Enjoy the video above.

In the quiet moments of my life I wonder how I can get back to the so-called basics. As if to pull the slack out of us a day that will forever mark the history books occurs, September 11, 2001. Lives from that moment forever changed. After the initial horror even those of us who have looked on from a distance ask, how does this affect me?

I believe it is time for us to look inward and search our hearts. You might even be surprised by what you find there! I’m a firm believer that we all have been given gifts and talents that were meant to be used to help others. Some people have never measured success in this way and still others know the truth and have not summoned the courage to move forward in the direction of their dreams.

There are many ways pain can become a part of your life. Yet the greatest pain to endure is to continue day by day with your song unsung. However, you may find that when you begin to sing you’re singing solo. Continue to sing “the song in your heart” others will gather around you and begin to sing also!

Additional information at my website DynamicLiving4U.com