The sun crept over the horizon and lodged itself above the coastline, bathing the beach in a comfortable, morning glow.
Solitary clouds dotted the backdrop, lazy lollygaggers moseying across the sky, unhurried, white-haired philosophers gazing down at the busy-ness below.
I raced a pair of dragonflies down the road, glanced at the workers finishing the roof of another million-dollar home, noticed the new fishing boat parked in the driveway of one of the waterfront rentals.
Abundance everywhere, abundance of beauty, abundance of fortune. Another day in paradise.
For me, this poses a disturbingly fascinating question. Why some yes and some no?
Why do the builders of luxury high-rise condos live in dilapidated trailers?
On the other hand, why does material wealth cause such lack in relationships?
No one can deny our universe's resilience, its amazing regenerative powers and continued ability to provide. Flowers grow, vibrant, colorful, glorious, mere minutes after the tornado blows through or the floodwaters recede.
We live surrounded by an endless fountain of plenty.
How does it all flow?
Can the person that makes $25,000 a month be ten times smarter than a $2,500 earner, and the financier that brings in $250,000 in the same period ten-fold wiser yet?
That makes no sense.
How does a crammed household full of hand-me-down furniture and kids piled upon kids, share joyous meals of Mac and Cheese seasoned with laughter, even though the rent deadline has long since passed?
The mind boggles and scrambles.
Let's look at the environment.
The tide ebbs and flows.
Winter turns to spring.
Summer crops become fall plantings.
The moon comes out at night and has since time immemorial.
Let's look at the money thing.
Some of us have a bunch, some of us don't.
Some of us make a lot, some of us barely scrape by.
Unless you live on a mountaintop, a quick spin around the neighborhood reveals varying bank account sizes without much of an impact on the happiness quotient.
Those who sit in first class more often seem grumpier than the rest of us in coach.
Go figure.
Without positing a solution, let's at least state the obvious:
Prosperity, in all its incarnations, comes from the inside.
How it shows up and decorates our world, well, that depends on us. I believe that we can learn the skill sets to create wealth, though the discipline must come from inside.
Most of us have the muscles to wear a smile, though the impetus emanates from inside.
Trappings bring only fleeting glee, while lasting joy grows from the heart, a living, breathing, active organism that can only survive in one place-inside.
How much effort do you put into your inner life, seeding, nurturing, cultivating, harvesting and celebrating your own bounty? If we judge our tree by the fruit it bears, then only you decide whether your current harvest matches your expectations.
If not, you know where to turn.
That's A View From The Ridge?
Ridgely would love to hear from you. Email him at ridge@aviewfromtheridge.com and visit his website at ridge@aviewfromtheridge.com to sign up for his FREE weekly column...
tidy up service Glenview ..Do you still keep that all important 'Inner Spark Alive'?... Read More
The most under rated method to achieve success is: The... Read More
Remove these words from your vocabulary!The words "If only ?"... Read More
"Perseverance allows you to get back on track when you... Read More
1. Differentiate yourself using a Personal Value Proposition. A PVP... Read More
Pops first set the goal in high school, but when... Read More
How many of you have ever thought about the link... Read More
I once heard a speaker use the statement, "I have... Read More
Are there any universal laws that most successful people seem... Read More
However there is one success secret that costs nothing. And... Read More
When you are in business every person you hire gets... Read More
Success could be just about making money, but I think... Read More
Do you want to achieve your most important goals in... Read More
Visualize success, and what you'll do to reward yourself A... Read More
Recently, I have been riveted by the amazing reality show... Read More
I confess, I love westerns. There is nothing like those... Read More
Have you ever had this feeling? You're standing in front... Read More
1. Open your mind to new ideas: Positive behavior change... Read More
Not so long ago, I impressed the daylights out of... Read More
As kind of a hobby I like to watch people.... Read More
Freedom is the deeper meaning, the foundation behind all of... Read More
A farmer in Pennsylvania decided to sell his farm, but... Read More
Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a... Read More
Lets face it, no one enjoys rejection. But the reality... Read More
Coaching is about living great lives. It's about living lives... Read More
maid service near Winnetka ..Whenever I'm feeling stuck in a rut, I go out... Read More
How do we define success? Webster's dictionary defines success as... Read More
In this week's New Age Notebook, I am going to... Read More
I've been coaching for a few years now, and the... Read More
If you are sick and tired of the dreaming phase... Read More
Want more success in your business or professional life? Here's... Read More
Q. My problem is that I have trouble keeping my... Read More
Over the years many people have offered their models of... Read More
Walt Disney coined a special phrase for persistence and determination;... Read More
I've just sent an email to my mailing list based... Read More
Something happens when you come to the intersection... Read More
I have been studying several books lately that deal with... Read More
Most of us fear change, because - as we've all... Read More
When entering second adulthood, many women will begin a journey... Read More
Thomas Edison wrote his quote " I have not failed,... Read More
Success is not something that only a chosen few can... Read More
I succeeded. I achieved my goal. I am successful. I... Read More
What is Optimum Performance? This question raises different responses from... Read More
Lesson 1. Category Well Being Plan to do this.Stop blaming... Read More
Something For You To Consider?How To Create What You Want... Read More
I would like to use this medium to introduce my... Read More
IntroductionSuccess - we all read about it, hear it on... Read More
Do you sometimes feel that you're living a boring life?... Read More
One of the most common refrains I hear from people... Read More
If you are wishy-washy and undecided about you want and... Read More
Success |