A Busy and Fulfilling Day: Coping With Stress: Freedom from the Tyranny of the Urgent 11/7/12

Image: "Cumbria: Windmere Dawn" by Tiim Blessed

My Gratitudes for Wednesday:
1. I had a great session with a new client.
     My fourth new client in
the past two weeks. I love what I do. I enjoy helping others.
      The time was intense, but good. After this session I was tired,  they can take a lot out of me. My profession requires that I maintain balance. The draining nature of my work led me to the next gratitude.
2. I came home after my morning work, changed clothes and cycled twenty miles in one hour and 15 minutes.
      It felt great putting in a longer ride.  The sand was packed on the south shore of the island where I live, due to recent rain.  It made cycling over it easier.
3. I had a terrific time with two men, while enjoying dinner.  The time was emotional----I had no idea it would be.  I liked the authenticity, openness, love and content we covered while we spent time with each other.

The Tyranny of the Urgent
      Tonight, I spoke before an audience.  I covered the indispensable role of prayer and meditation plays in us maintaining our sanity and serenity.  I mentioned how such moments allow us to pause and get perspective.
      I shared, as I have here, that if we are going in the wrong direction, it does not help, running the opposite way, if we are on the wrong bus.
     Prayer and meditation allows me to get off of the hectic bus of life and PAUSE. This is a much needed antidote to the hurly burlyness of modern day living.  My quiet time, connecting with the God of my understanding, gives me perspective.
      Instead of reacting to life, like animals do, my reflective, spiritual time allows me to sort out the important things that God wants me to do and do them.
     Often what He beckons me to do are not urgent---but they are definitely more important. Hurray for freedom from the Tyranny of the Urgent!
4. I love public speaking, I had fun tonight. Best, the gathering enjoyed the topic and responded afterwards, during the open discussion that followed. I enjoy making my life count.
5. After the evening's event, several of us went to a local restaurant and had coffee.
6. I'm meeting with an intern who will start working for me this Friday.  I look forward to strengthening my business, as a result of our efforts.
7. I'm going to bed after posting this.  I'm bushed.  Cycling has a wonderful way of creating a delicious, healthy exhaustion. I look forward to a fantastic night of sleep, knowing that today, my best efforts were good enough.
How About You?
What are your three gratitudes for today?