May
31

15 Minutes

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Emma and Nora,

I guess the lesson to be learned here is that you just never know.

Right?

I mean . . . 15 minutes.  That’s not nearly enough time.  But at least I get the chance to do this.  Not many do.  And so, I’m going to leave you with this:

I love you.

More than anything.  Ever.  I love . . .  You are . . .  a part of me.  A big part.  And I could go on, but just know that, okay? I love you.  Hugely.   Immensely.  Powerfully.

And now, because I am, after all, your father . . . I just have to do this.  You know.  I can’t be here now, so I need to leave you with some markers.  Some landmarks.  Some light posts.

Live it.

All that sentimental stuff you read in poetry about every moment being sacred, and enjoy the journey and all that?  Sure it’s true, but, seriously . . . every moment?  Our brains just aren’t wired that way.  Just do the best you can.

Be aware.

You can’t stop it.  The world, the stress, the energy.  It’s all just here.  Swirling.  Open up to it.  Accept it.  Love it.  Enjoy it.

Because, really–you can’t screw it up.

So relax.  Just do the best you can, and search for the humor in it all.  There is power in humor.  More power than any of us can really grasp.  Follow it.  The path of whimsy is straight and I think it’s true.  And if it’s not, you can at least be sure it won’t hurt you.

It’s safe.  Trust that.

There’s much more to say here about humor, and I’d love to show you a way to attach it to forgiveness, but the clock’s ticking here and I need to get on to a few other big guiding principles.

Your mom is awesome. I love her too.  And I’d write her if I had more time.  My point is, listen to her.  She’s got a good head.  But she may not always be able to help.  And in those cases, when you’re agonizing over a decision, ask yourself which is the path of love . . . for others sure, but mostly—for yourself.

Love yourself.

Take care of yourself.  Be gentle.  Forgive yourself.  You’re fine.  You’re awesome!!  So please, for me, but mostly for you, don’t worry.  Live your life.  Seek and follow love, and humor, and light.

Understand also that there will be fear, and anger, and really—that’s okay.

It’s all good.  It’s all part of it.  Drill down and expose the fear.  Call it by name and bring it to the light.  Don’t resist it.  Tell the truth about it.  The sooner the better.

I absolutely love this from Joseph Campbell:

“We have not even to risk the hero’s adventure alone, for the heroes of all time have gone before us. The labyrinth is thoroughly known.

We have only to follow the thread of the hero path.

And where we had thought to find an abomination, we shall find a god.

And where we had thought to slay another, we shall slay ourselves.

Where we had thought to travel outward, we shall come to the center of our own existence.

And where we had thought to be alone, we shall be with all the world.”

–Joseph Campbell

Ooh, ooh and this one’s good too:

Come To The Edge–by Christopher Logue

Come to the edge.
We might fall.
Come to the edge.
It’s too high!
COME TO THE EDGE!
And they came,
and he pushed them,
and they flew.

Take risks. More often than not, you’ll surprise yourself with what you’re capable of.

And now my time (this time around) is up.  I’m sure we’ll bump into each other again.  We are connected and leaving you this time hurts.  But I leave today without fear.  I leave filled with hope.  And I know you will bring light into this world.

Dad.

(What’s this all about?  Fear not, just my response to a writing prompt.)

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May
30

Do you know what you don’t know?

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I love to end the year with my students by studying Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey. It’s a unit about personal growth, and change, and challenges, and transformation, and death and rebirth . . . and maturing.

In the early stages of the Journey we typically see “the hero” as naive. We define that as often not even being aware of what one doesn’t know.

Or, in other words: You don’t even know what you don’t know.

Which, as it turns out, describes most of us quite well I guess.


(just click to play)

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May
23

Dear Ford Credit: Don’t make my wife angry . . .

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. . .You won’t like her when she’s angry.

May 23, 2011

Customer Service Center
Ford Credit
P.O. Box 542000
Omaha, NE 68154-8000

Dear Customer Service Center:

I am so disappointed in your service! My husband and I bought a Ford Escape in 2001.
It was financed through your credit department. We paid off the loan in January of
2006. I do not have, in my files, a record of your response to our paying off the loan, so
when I sold the car on May 7th, I requested that your department send to me a copy of
the “No Interest Letter.”

I never received that letter. For some reason, I did not get the fax, which I was told
was successful. For some reason, I did not get the letter via the mail either. I called
multiple times and was told not to bother calling again until 10 days had passed since I
placed my request. So, I waited. On May 21st, I placed another call to Ford Credit and
was assured by a specialist by the name of Don, that he would place an urgent request
to fax and mail another copy of this letter to me. I was unable to stay home today to
make sure that the fax was received properly….so, for some reason ( and this may be
my fax malfunctioning), I did not get the fax…..again. So, now, I must wait for 2 days
for the letter to be mailed. And, I should not call again until the 10th day if I don’t
receive it in the mail! In the mean time, the gentleman who purchased the car from me
CANNOT drive it! This does not sit well with him. (Believe it or not, this does affect
your reputation as a car manufacturer!)

My question to you is…is this an efficient way of doing business in 2011? We have
access to immediate information at our fingertips with the internet. Cell phones can surf
the web…there is texting…emails….but Ford Credit requires 2 DAYS to put something
into the mail? ARE YOU KIDDDING ME? I like your vehicles, but your customer
service department sorely needs an update!

A very frustrated customer,

Lisa Wondra

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Apr
07

The Tao opportunity in Wisconsin

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Once, there was a farmer. He might have lived in Wisconsin, or he might have lived in China. I don’t think it matters much. The important thing is, the dude didn’t have much money. I mean he had to plow his fields with an old horse.

One afternoon, while working in the field, the horse dropped dead. Everyone in the village said, “Total Bummer! What are you going to do?.”

The farmer said simply, “We’ll see.” He was so cool about it, that everyone in the village got together and, admiring his attitude, gave him a new horse.

Everyone’s reaction now was, “What a lucky man.”

The farmer said, “We’ll see.”

A couple days later, the new horse jumped a fence and ran off. The villagers shook their heads and said, “Dude! That’s bad luck! You must be pissed.”

The farmer smiled, saying only, “We’ll see.”

Eventually, the horse found his way home. This time everyone was like, “Whew! You must be relieved, huh?”

The farmer said, “We’ll see.”

Later in the year, the farmer’s son went out riding on the horse, fell off, and broke his leg. Everyone in the village said, “Poor fella. He’s such a good ball player. And the season just starting too!”

The farmer said, “We’ll see.”

Two days later, the army came into the village to draft new recruits. When they saw that the farmer’s son had a broken leg, they decided not to recruit him.

Everyone said, “Man, that kid really lucked out! We totally did NOT see that coming!”

The farmer smiled again – and said “We’ll see.”

- Chinese Parable, as told by Eckhart Tolle (and then tweaked a bit by Chris Wondra)

Hang in there everyone! Try to remember, it’s not the losses or wins that you experience (or perceive that you experience) that matter–it’s how you respond to them.

Be patient. Have faith. Love each other.

Chris

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Mar
14

Got Power?

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Lots of people are upset.  That fine, for now.  There’s time for that.  The story awakens passions,  lights fires, awakens giants.  And that’s healthy.

As long as you remember . . . there is no power in drama.

You can march and shout and bang drums.  You can make signs and slogans.  You can chant and vent and gather.  You can write letters and make phone calls.

You can “fight”.

It’s all good.  Still, it’s all drama.

The real questions remain: Can you sign your name? Can you vote?  Can you stay informed?  Think critically?  Can you sign your name and vote?

And, can you vote?

Can you vote?

You are powerful. Know that. Harness it.

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Mar
13

–Lewis Carroll

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“There is no use trying,” said Alice; “one can’t believe impossible things.”

“I dare say you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen.  “When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day.   Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”

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