Hi,
This is Theresa Conte,
And welcome to Day 23 of 30 Days of Gratitude to Inspire and Uplift You.
Today,
I'd like to share a quote from Barbara Kingsolver.
She said,
Thanks for this day,
For all birds safe in their nests,
For whatever this is,
For life.
And now,
A thought to ponder.
Have you ever woken up and wondered what your purpose is or lacked clear direction?
I think it's something we've all felt at one time or another.
Yet,
Our very existence is what gives life its meaning.
Many years ago,
When I was trying to figure out a career path,
I read a book called What Color is My Parachute by Richard Nelson Bowles.
One exercise I found particularly helpful was reviewing my life from childhood up until the present time,
Which for me was in the mid-70s.
The instructions were to highlight experiences that had brought me the greatest joy and satisfaction,
Because that was what I wanted to create in my work environment.
The process helped me to identify my talents and interests and the types of work I would find most fulfilling.
However,
As I looked back,
I also reflected on painful experiences as I thought they would provide me with useful information.
For instance,
I saw how the challenges in my early childhood and teens inspired me to become a good listener and develop a sense of open-heartedness and compassion.
For instance,
When I was a teenager,
People began sharing stories with me that they had never told anyone before because they said they hadn't felt safe enough but felt comfortable with me.
I was incredibly honored and gratified that they would put their trust in me.
So that was one important piece to discover.
Another piece was,
In spite of painful experiences while growing up,
There was also a lot of fun.
For instance,
My family would organize carnivals in our Queens,
New York backyard.
We had various forms of entertainment like pinball machines and marble games along with prizes and snacks.
And my father,
Although he was an introvert,
Would play the guitar and sing.
It was a blast and made a huge impression on me.
For instance,
I learned how important it was to create community and how we could join together to design something fun and meaningful and foster a connection among neighborhood residents.
It also sparked my creativity.
As I got a little older,
I played the flute in my grammar school's marching band,
Dressed as an Eskimo,
And sang a solo song at an after-school program,
Although I was completely terrified.
And as an adult,
I performed in an improv group for three years when I lived in Seattle,
Washington,
Which helped me think on my feet.
As I began attending personal and spiritual development programs a little later in life,
I was impressed by the facilitators and how they engaged participants.
It was something I learned in improv,
But this was a different venue.
While I was there for my personal development,
The programs provided me with informal training,
Taught me presentation skills and how to connect with an audience in a more deep and formal way.
It wasn't anything I had planned on or was aware of at the time,
But it was something I discovered as I continued to review my life experiences.
I then went on to complete a four-year program in spiritual studies as well as a degree in human services with a focus on counseling and organizational development,
Among many other programs.
I share all of that not to toot my own horn,
But just to say how our life experiences tell a story,
Help to shed light and guide us on our path.
The exercise I completed from what color of my parachute took a lot of time,
But it also provided me with insight and direction.
Perhaps it's something you might also find valuable.
If you're looking for clarity,
I invite you to think back on your life and where your experiences have been leading you.
Perhaps they hold the answer and are awaiting your discovery.
Wishing you a most wonderful day.
