Sendai: People

I think my regular readers already know this, but I Love Sendai!

The people here are amazing, warm-hearted and open.

They’ve accepted this outgoing, British woman into their town and loved her.

Where are the people you love?

Look closer

when you look at this picture what do you see?

It doesn’t matter whether you see the heart, or the people, but what truly matters is that you can’t see everything with just a glance.

Somehow, many of us live our lives that way. Just glancing at people, places and things. Thinking you know what you’ve seen, and forgetting that it goes much deeper than that.

how closely are you really looking at people?

Fortune’s Favour.

I’ve found that I really have Fortune on my side.

I have a house, a job, great friends, and a wonderful church.

 

Why do I have so much? I think part of it is that I don’t see fortune as money I can get for myself. I see fortune as time, people and resources that I can use to help others.

I think that having savings is a good idea. but should it be at the expense of our beliefs?

If you have something you truly believe in, try giving to it.

Reasons I often hear and used to use myself…

I can’t spare the money (and by the way have you seen my new DVD?)

I haven’t got the time (oh yeah, did you see that tv show? I never miss it!)

I can’t find the right charity/church/organisation (but I’m not really looking anyway)

I found that once I dedicated my time, effort and yes, even my money into a cause, that I have been more fortunate than I could have imagined when I used those same reasons not to give.

I have a great spirit from doing what I know is right, I have more energy from using my time effectively, and I have more money left over than before.

I’ve found that in helping others to be more fortunate, I’ve been blessed with fortune myself.

What can you do to be more fortunate?

…Try, Try Again!

If at first you don’t succeed… try, try again!

It’s the same for things you don’t like! I sometime get way to set in my ways, but I’ve been helped to realize many times recently that I shouldn’t be so hung up!

Three examples.

1. Vinegar. Once I realized that the taste made me feel sick, I just avoided all dressings, sauces and anything that might possibly have vinegar. Recently I had a great salad with Thai dressing, it had a lot of vinegar in it but after trying it, I loved it. I decided to try things with vinegar in from then on.

2. Coffee. This week I tried coffee twice.  The first time was very strong black Italian coffee, I didn’t hate it as I usually do, but it was way too strong and bitter for me. And tonight I tried vanilla caffè latte (I think). And I loved it! Even my mum and sister were surprised after I posted on Facebook and Twitter about it.

   

3. Church. My whole life I was prejudiced against it.

   Thinking it was boring and quiet and only strange people who shout at you in the street go there. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I found Jesus Lifehouse so surprisingly active, loud and full of bright people who actually listened to what I had to say. I was so overwhelmed that I’d decided never to go back. Eventually I did, my prejudice was overcome, and now I love going!

So what are you being too stubborn to try again?
Relationships?
Church?
Coffee?

I love my job

So many people just think of work as a necessary evil or just something that needs to be done. I think that it’s possible that those people have the wrong job!

I love my job, and spending my time doing what I love most. Of course I can’t say that every day is happy happy joy joy, but I do my best to see all the good things. Ok, so sometimes life feels like: work, eat, sleep, wake up, work eat and sleep again, but why not embrace the work part? Think of the fact that there are people there you can connect with, and what you are contributing as a person to something larger than yourself!

I’m going to do my best to embrace every day at work and look forward to it. What are you going to do?