December 10, 2017
Clear Confident Leader Weekly Observer, Issue #58
From the Greenbelt of Boise, Idaho, Inversion Gray Days
Michael Hardison Photography
Human beings have enormous resilience. – Muhammad Yunus
It is not happiness that makes us grateful. It is gratefulness that makes us happy. Every moment is a gift. There is no certainty that you will have another moment, with all the opportunity that it contains…Most often it is the opportunity to enjoy it, but sometimes a difficult gift is given to us and that can be an opportunity to rise to the challenge. – David Steindl-Rast
The east winds were blowing 45-50 mph along the ridges last Monday night, when fire broke out just north of Santa Paula. In 90 minutes the fire had burned 2,500 acres. In the next two hours it would double in size twice to 10,000 acres and threaten both Santa Paula and Ventura. Six days later the fire has covered over 230,000 acres, and is now threatening the neighborhoods east of Santa Barbara.
My family has farmed and lived in Santa Paula for six generations now. My parents, aunt and three cousins there were all threatened. Four of the five households had to evacuate. One cousin's house was destroyed, and lots of trees have been lost to the fire. More damage is possible until electricity is restored, and irrigating can begin again.
We were lucky, everyone survived. Two months ago, similar circumstances occurred in Santa Rosa where my mother-in-law and another cousin live. Four months ago, my nephew’s in-laws were evacuating in the face of fire just east of Redlands.
For many of us living in the west, wind, drought and fires are occurring more frequently and later in the year. In other parts of the country it is hurricanes, tornados and other disasters from an evolving climate.
As has occurred in many places, homes will be rebuilt, people will be cared for, and our communities will evolve too. This depends on our capacity for resilience in living and working together effectively to rebound from adversity.
I’m grateful for all the emergency preparedness and response people and teams who have taken care of so many of us, and minimized damage where they could. I’m grateful for neighbors and community members who rise to the challenge, and take care of each other in these times of need. I’m grateful for my family who quickly pulled together to help each other during each of the disasters.
Developing our resilience and gratefulness help us deal with and recover from the adversity that arises in life. What practices do you use to develop resilience and gratefulness?
I work with teams and leaders to create better results through the conscious practice of leadership cultivating resilient effectiveness and compassionate action. Let’s create a better future today!
Clear Confident Leader Weekly Observer, Issue #58
From the Greenbelt of Boise, Idaho, Inversion Gray Days
Michael Hardison Photography
Human beings have enormous resilience. – Muhammad Yunus
It is not happiness that makes us grateful. It is gratefulness that makes us happy. Every moment is a gift. There is no certainty that you will have another moment, with all the opportunity that it contains…Most often it is the opportunity to enjoy it, but sometimes a difficult gift is given to us and that can be an opportunity to rise to the challenge. – David Steindl-Rast
The east winds were blowing 45-50 mph along the ridges last Monday night, when fire broke out just north of Santa Paula. In 90 minutes the fire had burned 2,500 acres. In the next two hours it would double in size twice to 10,000 acres and threaten both Santa Paula and Ventura. Six days later the fire has covered over 230,000 acres, and is now threatening the neighborhoods east of Santa Barbara.
My family has farmed and lived in Santa Paula for six generations now. My parents, aunt and three cousins there were all threatened. Four of the five households had to evacuate. One cousin's house was destroyed, and lots of trees have been lost to the fire. More damage is possible until electricity is restored, and irrigating can begin again.
We were lucky, everyone survived. Two months ago, similar circumstances occurred in Santa Rosa where my mother-in-law and another cousin live. Four months ago, my nephew’s in-laws were evacuating in the face of fire just east of Redlands.
For many of us living in the west, wind, drought and fires are occurring more frequently and later in the year. In other parts of the country it is hurricanes, tornados and other disasters from an evolving climate.
As has occurred in many places, homes will be rebuilt, people will be cared for, and our communities will evolve too. This depends on our capacity for resilience in living and working together effectively to rebound from adversity.
I’m grateful for all the emergency preparedness and response people and teams who have taken care of so many of us, and minimized damage where they could. I’m grateful for neighbors and community members who rise to the challenge, and take care of each other in these times of need. I’m grateful for my family who quickly pulled together to help each other during each of the disasters.
Developing our resilience and gratefulness help us deal with and recover from the adversity that arises in life. What practices do you use to develop resilience and gratefulness?
I work with teams and leaders to create better results through the conscious practice of leadership cultivating resilient effectiveness and compassionate action. Let’s create a better future today!