Tracks In The Dust

A Father's Advice About Learning the Mission of Life

Archive for the tag “moments”

30 Dec 2012

Our New Year’s Resolve

The new year is just around the corner. Every year it seems, it serves as a chance for people around the world mark a milestone on the path of their lives.

In reality the day after December 31st is just like any other day, but as the calendar changes to a new set of 365 days, it gives us pause to recall what we personally have accomplished with the year since the last calendar change. Some big victories perhaps. some big disappointments. It’s really about what we’ve done with them both that makes up where we are now.

When we were down, did we have the fortitude to plow though the adversity and make a difference in our lives? When things were going well, did we make efforts to grow and become better from it?

I tell my kids that even the small accomplishments could help lead to more. Never take for granted what you have and make sure you appreciate it – but take the next step to make the best of those. Accumulating small victories can truly be a richer experience than getting the bigger ones’.

So as the calendar turns, some will celebrate… but let’s hope we can all be accountable for what was good and what could have been better. Make sure you see the difference, reflect on it and build on what you can. Disappointment and sadness is surely ahead, but what you do when that happens will tell-the-tale on your new year.

“Resolutions” are the traditional thing to do at the beginning of each year… but resolve is stronger than “resolutions”. Resolve to be the genuine person you can be, fight adversity and take each moment as a milestone (not just midnight on December 31). Resolve to stay accountable to your values, resolve to stay strong through the tough times and build on the victories when they happen. Look for the opportunities to celebrate the new year each day as it comes.

Related Tracks-in-the-dust

Celebrate Milestones

Levels of Accountability

Finding a Purpose

Control Your State of Mind

Posted in Learning Lessons Along the Journey Of Life and tagged Change, Love, Memories, moments, New Year, New Year's Day, New Year's resolution, Reality Check, tracks in the dust, Who Are You

18 Dec 2012

Soundtrack of Your Life

Hey- I got stuck on this the other day. So many of my friends (both bloggy and non-bloggy) talk about how music is such a part of their lives.

I think music draws a lot into the motions of life, surrounding you with feelings and memories that are indelible.

Liberally borrowing from a recent Entertainment Weekly magazine I challenge each of you (if music is part of your life at all like it is for me ) to answer the following & post it back on comments or on your site and “share”.

What are the songs that make up the Soundtrack of Your Life?

The first song I was ever obsessed with:
The first album I ever bought with my own money:
The song that reminds me of my first love:
The first song I ever sang in front of people:
The artist people don’t know I am a fan of:
My go-to karaoke jam:
The album that reminds me of home:
The album that I will never get tired of, no matter how often I hear it:
The song(s) I listen to to get pumped up:
The song that I wish I had written (and would have been famous for):
The album I want played at my funeral:
My #1 favorite holiday song:

You can explain yourself if you want to as to why you chose it. Just play along! Their are NO wrong answers.

Go ahead. But be sure to share on your site or in the comments for others to see… and provide a LINK.

Posted in Life's Sound Track (Music) and tagged Christmas music, holiday song, Memories, moments, Music, Opinion, Postive Thinking, Rock music, Self-Awareness, Who Are You

29 Nov 2012

4 Comments

Closing Time

Closing Time (Photo credit: André Hofmeister)

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginnings’ end.” Semisonic “Closing Time”

The real-deal is that everything changes (time does that) and when something begins, it is always destined for an “end”. At least here on Earth.

Acceptance of change is often hard, and can lead to disappointment. It seems like so often disappointment a result of what we want to have happen- but doesn’t. We get stuck on the idea that if something doesn’t happen “exactly” like we imagined it should -then it seems wrong (we get angry or sad).

So hard to remember that. SO SO easy to let things get you down. Not like you can’t have plans or something, but they have to allow for the detours that life will deal us. Let one thing happen and be prepared to allow closure to the next. Hanging on to it can just make it harder.

So yeah- closing time… let it happen. Let it be the “last call” and the lights come up, because tomorrow is another day and “you can’t stay here” …..” in reality you wouldn’t want to any way. And that final “closing time” is somewhere in your future- you will go home to somewhere where forever is real. For now- keep moving. It’s gloriously more of an adventure that way – share it with the people you love on the journey ahead.

Posted in Life's Sound Track (Music) and tagged Acceptance, Change, Closing Time, Faith, life is precious, moments, Music, Semisonic

18 Oct 2012

2 Comments

Paint It Black

I see a red door and I want it painted black.

I look inside myself and see my heart is black
I see my red door and I must have it painted black
Maybe then I’ll fade away and not have to face the facts
It’s not easy facing up when your whole world is black

No more will my green sea go turn a deeper blue
I could not foresee this thing happening to you
If I look hard enough into the setting sun
My love will laugh with me before the morning comes

(Thanks Mick and Keith)

Black and Red. Kind of like there are those contrasting days, those moments that we come up against when things change. I think they are my favorite colors (is black a color anyway?)

It reminds me of the song in Les Misarables ( the great musical) Red and Black.

Red – the blood of angry men!
Black – the dark of ages past!
Red – a world about to dawn!
Black – the night that ends at last!

Change happens, sometimes for change-sake, sometimes because it has to. But it is.

You can change things from red to black. You may end up changing it back.

There may be times you just feel like painting it black – but red will have to do.

Posted in Life's Sound Track (Music) and tagged Black and Red, Change, choices, Les Miz, life is precious, mick and keith, moments, Music, Paint It Black, Rock music, Self-Awareness

24 Sep 2012

1 Comment

Another Change of Season

Its time again for a season change. Here in the US it is time for autumn. Fall. The time of harvest. In days gone by, it would have been the time to store up for the cold winter ahead. Celebrate the Thanksgiving day in America. But sincerely thankful for the great harvest that summer has brought. To bring the family together to share in the grateful bounty.

But these days it seems like it is more about reminding us that the holidays are upon us. We try to capture the “picture” of what it means. Autumn and Halloween decor is stacked on the shelves. There are a variety of gold,red, brown and orange objects filling the displays. Costumes and goolies all over the aisles for that all-saints night at the end of October.

Right around the corner are the Christmas lights and tinsel, perhaps dusted off from last year. A variety of Santa Claus figures and holly and ivy. Even artificial Christmas trees are lining the seasonal aisles of the big warehouse sized stores.

But what are we really wanting? That feeling of those colder evenings and crisp days. The fall colors of trees signalling the end of summer. That time to remember family and friends with a cheerful time that should be what we celebrate all year, but choose to find a holiday reason to make contact again.

I still remember the magic of those days when I was a child. Knowing that the holidays were coming and would mean a feast at Thanksgiving and songs and lights for the Christmas season. Going to pick that live Christmas tree with my dad that would smell so good when it got tied to the top of the car and later set in the stand in the house.

Autumn brings a lot of memories for the time and remember to be of thankfulness and good cheer. It would be great to have that all year around ( the spirit of God can do that if we want). We settle for less, we could do much more. But it is good to have the season don’t you think. It marks time and allows us to appreciate what the world has provided to us. Even in the midst of all of the world’s strife and conflict- we have each other- we have the seasons.

The Seasons and the Hot Summer Day