Toward SoulTime: Quick Week Underway

On October 18, 2021 By jeff ludlumIn Attitude, faith, Happy, Insight, mental health, parentingLeave a comment

Blessed to have another long weekend up ahead, taking a couple days off work to make it a long weekend on the coast.

Annual trip, maybe close to 30 years running, more or less. Same group of five guys, “The Mexicans” (my nickname). Early on in the tradition we went over the border to Mexico one year; we’ve called it “Mexico” ever since.

Soul Time, straight up. I’ve written about these guys, this annual gathering, several times.

This time helps me calibrate my perspectives; this time helps me broaden my awareness; this time fills my soul from hours on end with people I admire, learn from, love.

So so blessed.

Ándale!

Redux: No Fear

On October 17, 2021October 16, 2021 By jeff ludlumIn Attitude, faith, family, Happy, Insight, mental health, parentingLeave a comment

Several years back I wrote a piece about “No Fear” — at the time I mentioned “…in the face of the dragon…”, or something like that. I recall feeling strongly about the idea of standing up to things we might fear.

That theme has come up countless times, especially with my three kids, over the past five plus years. Fear comes up again and again. “I’m scared…”, it’s said all the time in our house.

What they sometimes mean is more, “…I’m anxious or nervous or uncertain about how things will go…”, something along those lines. Other times my kids are reasonably fearful, for one or another reason.

So fast-forward to more present time, I recently found this quite from the Brazilian author, Paul Coelho. I love it. It’s perfect. It’s on my facebook background. And now it’s also on the wall in our dining/living area at home too.

Let it be that we live this attitude every hour of every day.

“And one has to understand that braveness is not the absence of fear but rather the strength to keep on going forward despite the fear.”

— Paulo Coelho

SoulFull

On October 12, 2021October 11, 2021 By jeff ludlumIn Attitude, faith, family, Happy, mental healthLeave a comment

Great, SoulFull weekend a couple weeks back. A few days with friends I hadn’t seen in a while, a couple of years. Had never visited them in their home town.

Did. Four days was a good dose; a SoulFull dose.

And then this past weekend, a few other friends in town for a reunion. Made a plan for a morning coffee meet-up; instead ended up at the host’s house where they we’re staying — I knew that could too — and wound up hanging out until afternoon. Laughing, telling stories, enjoying their collective company.

SoulFull time once again.

Grateful.

Soul filled.

GOOD

Blog Like a Tweet: Sloggin’ Thru Sat.

On October 3, 2021 By jeff ludlumIn Attitude, family, Happy, Insight, mental health, parentingLeave a comment

Why so slow, touch and go, tick along, one thing at a time,

Easy, then not, happy then not, weird mood, struggle, the pot,

Call the kettle black, awhile, another trial, fun to the brim, bubble over,

Try again,

Tomorrow.

Weekend Night Muse, Have Some Sense: The Riff Continues

On October 2, 2021October 2, 2021 By jeff ludlumIn art, Attitude, faith, Happy, Insight, mental healthLeave a comment

Everything slows, anticipation no more, now here. Recollection, a muse from the not too different future follows, kids messing, heart beat slowing, weekend…

“What is our true place in the world? All around it comes at us: what to see, hear, feel, the big three, there like it or not, want it out not, it’s real and now.

What we do with it, how we respond to it, that’s up to us, each of us, each time.

Choose to make it GOOD. Here’s a sample from everyday, just a sample, what my senses say:

Winter lights on the front tree, shining bright in the pre-dawn darkness;

Warm coat against the biting wind on an early morning walk;

Shake of the head, each dog with her collar on, jingle jingle jingle;

Cold water, one big gulp, after a long walk, thirsty;

Crackle of the wall furnace, heat slowing pouring down the hall;

First taste of coffee, hot; first taste of beer, crisp;

Soft skin on my kids’ cheek when I kiss each goodnight, each night;

BLESSINGS.

Blog Like A Tweet: Weekend Night Slow

On October 2, 2021 By jeff ludlumIn Attitude, family, Happy, Insight, mental health, parentingLeave a comment

Weekend night slow, pace is different. Kids muddle about, so do I, a little more carefree, a little less stressed. Read a little more, stare a little more, exhale. #dadlife #dadslife #weekend

Glimmer

On October 1, 2021October 1, 2021 By jeff ludlumIn Attitude, faith, family, Happy, Insight, marriage, mental health, parentingLeave a comment

A glimmer of hope, that’s what I find;

That’s what I find when I look up close, when I’m open, eyes, arms, wide.

A bit of hope, a friendly tone, an unexpected embrace, literally, figuratively, over a screen, right in front of me,

Close to touch, pay gently, love gently, eternally, the glimmer will not die,

The glimmer in your eyes, in your heart, deep, will not die, remember,

Glimmer.

One Foot In…

On September 29, 2021September 29, 2021 By jeff ludlumIn Attitude, Happy, Insight, leadership, marriage, mental health, parenting, Vacation, voices, workLeave a comment

You might think this is a blog post around not being committed, “…one foot in, one foot out…”

But rather, it’s a quick nod to those who can successfully operate in multiple mindsets congruently. This particular skill set is valuable; this particular capability should be cultivated, nurtured, respected.

I’ve often thought and believed in the power of compartmentalizations. Of late I have a new appreciation for the mentality and related skills of multi-tasking.

“…one foot in both worlds…”,

GOOD.