by Dr.Mani on December 31, 2008
As kids, over the Christmas holidays, all of us cousins would head to grandpa’s home. With 13 grandkids, and 16 years separating the eldest from youngest, it was predictable bedlam. Good times. Year after year.
Until we grew up, one by one. Moved apart. Had our own families. And lives.
This afternoon, by a very strange and providential coincidence, 6 of us met over lunch.
One cousin had come from Australia, another from the U.A.E. My sister had traveled 300 miles to be there. And a dear childhood friend, one whom we had all lost track of for the better part of a decade, was there too.
Most of us brought our kids. It was the first time they were all meeting at the same time.
Life had happened in the intervening years. Two of the six were divorced. One was already a grandmother. For a few hours this afternoon, we were all children once more.
We excitedly relived the happy, halcyon, carefree days of our childhood and youth. Like wine, the memories had grown richer with age. Recollecting our shared escapades and antics was soul-nourishing.
My face hurt with all the laughing and smiling!
On the verge of a new year, as I look with hope and anticipation to the challenges and excitement of the next twelve months, I cannot help but realize how where I come from has influenced where I’m going.
Keeping in touch with our roots, our past, is such a critical component of our growth and development in the future… because it impacts, affects and influences a lot of what we do every day.
The trick is to nurture our past, without being trapped in it.
Happy New Year.
by Dr.Mani on December 30, 2008
It’s the RECESSION.
Money’s getting scarce – and so is MANI
In December 2008, I had a LOT of fun. Wrote 27 blog posts. Built 16 Squidoo lenses. Tweeted an hour or more on many days. Spent time networking on forums. Co-ordinated a group project. Wrote a book (well, actually, a short story).
And that was intentional. While not directly ‘money spinning’, these activities all generated something more important – good relationships with people in my network.
But now, it’s time to focus more time and attention on the two things important to my life – carrying out heart operations funded by the Dr.Mani Children Heart Foundation, and raising the money needed to keep it going on for a long time.
The first will keep me engaged for one-half of my working time. The second will hinge on the growth of my brand new mentoring program, “The SMILENAIRE Way”.
Both will require me to make changes to the way I’m doing things just now. Changes like:
* limiting my Twitter use to two blocks of 5 to 10 minutes each day
* participating on one private forum for 10 minutes most days
* checking and handling email twice every day
Most of my online time will be spent on
* engaging with members of my PRIVATE GROUP
* teaching members of “The SMILENAIRE Way”
* working on 5 major niche projects
* fine-tuning fundraising efforts for my CHD Foundation
That’s why I’ll be getting scarce. My blog, my Twitter and other areas of my networking will become ‘limited access only’. Hopefully, once everything reaches ‘critical momentum’ within the next 6 months, I’ll be able to shift gears once again.
Until then, I wish you and yours a very happy, prosperous and fulfilling New Year, 2009.
As you walk your path of life and love
guide yourself into spirituality
Be patient with yourself;
there is no rush when it comes to
advancing on whatever path you choose.
We have chosen to come again,
A new day dawns as we awaken
to the marvel of heaven on earth.
We are spiritual beings
wearing human cloaks.
Trust yourself and go within.
As the rambling begin to quiet,
listen to the whispers of your
inner self; your intuition; your spirit.
Keep what is good for you.
Love All unconditionally.
One becomes a Way of Life.
– Mayan Code of Honor
