…heartbeat
of the positive revolution
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The Joy and Discipline of Balance Emails and phone calls poured in from friends and colleagues congratulating me on a job well done. Over and over, I was acknowledged for the sacrifices I made since August while volunteering for my chosen Presidential candidate. I gave up the daily walks that feed my soul, precious time with good friends, cooking healthy food and enjoying meals with my family, and the eight hours of sleep my body craves. You might say that I exerted maximum discipline to stay on target. Yet the day after the election, exhilarated and exhausted, I was struck by a different perspective. A TV commentator spoke of President-Elect Obama’s discipline, working out at the gym every morning during his campaign and talking to his daughters every evening. I was fascinated with the realization that my choice to say “no” to everything else was actually easier than juggling multiple priorities. It would have taken greater discipline to maintain balance, to apply at least some of my time and energy to what matters most to me. As I enjoyed a long, leisurely post-election walk, I found myself chuckling: I realized that my ego had had a great run. Like the workaholic days of old, my self-importance was cheering, feeling all pumped up from having contributed to a great achievement. With all the sacrifices I had made, gosh, you might even say I was running for the office of martyrdom! I wonder how the experience might have been different if I had employed a discipline of balance and continued to give ample time to my body, mind and spirit during the campaign. I made a pact with myself to find out. Next time. With Thanksgiving still visible in my rear-view mirror, I reflect on all that I am grateful for, including the extraordinary support of my husband and friends that made my singular focus such a joyful (albeit intense) experience. I am thankful for my business partners who continued to share our wellness approach so that I could give time to my community. And I am grateful for the challenge to exercise a discipline of balance the next time my passion drives me towards a singularity of purpose. May you feel an abundance of gratitude for all of the many gifts (obvious and not) and for the Presence in your life. With gratitude and newfound humility,
In the fall of 1998 while hiking in the Rocky Mountain National Park, the Spirit of John Denver sang this little ditty in my ear. It has become a frequent prayer I sing aloud, especially when feeling embraced by God’s majesty. Now, ten years later, I share it with you during this time of Thanksgiving. Thank you, God, for giving me Your stories are the heartbeat of the positive revolution. Keep them coming! A Revolutionary Mission Carol Judd has been a school principal for over twenty years. She is about to publish her first book, Principal Practices: A Human Approach to School Administration. caroljudd@sbcglobal.net School administrators often judge parents without really understanding the challenge of their delicate task to balance home, work, and educating their children. While writing about being of service to parents, and thinking about leaders’ judgments of them, I quickly thought of Marian’s book, Revolutionary Agreements. I selected a quote from her chapter I Agree to Honor Our Choices that expressed my thoughts perfectly: “Many years ago, a wise speaker made a life-changing impact on me when he said, ‘Unless you know a person’s complete history, all that he has experienced in the past and all that is intended for his future, there is no way you can judge him for what he does today.’” I have studied and learned from rich resources, especially 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, and Revolutionary Agreements by Marian Head. As per one of the seven habits, I created a mission statement that guides my life, which I review every week. After reading Revolutionary Agreements, I felt stimulated to revise that mission to include many of the Agreements that inspire me on my life’s path and guide me in my everyday roles, goals and relationships. My greatest desire is that my readers will find value in my book, in the same way I have learned from and been inspired by authors like Marian and Stephen. Like them I consider it not only an honor, but a personal responsibility to be of service and part of co-creating a more positive and peaceful global community. When I was 10 years old, my mother told me that reading a good book was like meeting a good friend. I didn't understand what she meant until I read Revolutionary Agreements. It was an election unlike any other I had seen. I watched people bounce back and forth like rubber balls as views and opinions created a political tap dance. It was a relief to finally vote. Now comes the hard part: becoming part of the solution I so greatly desire.
Peace – A Group Effort Now the shouting is done and the voting complete For history has shown that divided we fall Speaking our truth with compassion is great There’s power in numbers, let’s pull it together. You, me – the light? Meet you there.
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