Mantra: man-tra (noun) – (Originally in Hinduism and Buddhism) A word or sound repeated to aid concentration in meditation.
A Vedic hymn
a statement or slogan repeated frequently
I often thought the phrase Happy Monday was an oxymoron. For those in the corporate world, it’s the start of the work week and conclusion of the short two day break. The past thirty days has forever changed my perspective on life which will continue to ignite my pursuit in the better of humanity.
People have asked what changed? Did I attend a course on finding myself or attend a religious institution? Neither, but I experienced firsthand one of the most selfless demonstration of compassion from complete strangers that united from around the globe for Postcards For Parker, Relay for Life Challenge . In just 19 days, Parker Eckburg became a household name for 100’s, receiving 3,000+ Postcards and $14,500 raised in donation to Relay for Life. I never imagined one random thought to make a big difference. I’d like to shed some light on the night that changed my life.
Experiencing a restless night, I glanced through twitter stumbling across a tweet by Life Coach Jordan Bach. The post prompted me to spend hours more awake exploring different aspects of life. The Parker phenomena idea came to fruition the next day. I also have recently expanded outside my comfort zone by partaking in therapy. I view that time solely dedicated to challenging myself and at times facing uncomfortable realizations. From a career aspect I sought out a mentor who asked me the overly complicated simple question, what will be your brand in 5 years. All of these combined illuminated my mind, I felt like a single tree standing strong amidst a starry night.
Last Sunday I felt a deep personal connection to a quote by the Dalai Lama XIV. I felt every word resonate to my guiding principle, to use each day to make a difference in at least one person’s life. I was fortunate to shake the hand of the Dalai Lama while working task force at a hotel in 2004.
The next morning (last Monday), I began a ritual of reading the quote aloud as the start of a new daily morning motivation. I have no plans of memorizing the words, discussing with others, or speaking it aloud with others present. Somedays I speak the words twice to strike my core hard to ensure I remain mindful of my ability to impact the world around me.
“Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.”
~ Dalai Lama XIV
Challenge: When you awake you most likely find yourself thinking of the tasks at hand, schedule before you, dog to feed, kids to tend to. In the next week, find a word, a passage a quote that resonates with you. allow it to be your morning mantra.
(Photo: April 09, 2005, Mauna Kea Summit, Big Island)
Today’s Tuesday Takeaway is a quote by Michael Xavier.
Quote: The reasons we can’t sleep at night are usually the same reasons we don’t truly live during the day. Michael Xavier
Many of us, myself included, spend countless nights staring at the ceiling attempting to turn our mind off. Restful nights are few and far between. I think about my day, family, friends, interactions, work and try to rationalize situations.
Our society is more connected than ever before, notifications from Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, Instagram and the never-ending Email.
My question for you… when you were a child what kept you up at night? For myself, it was thinking about school the next day, will I forget my book bag and would I be bullied. Looking back on middle school and high school, I have no reason to return. I have kept in contact with the people who made a difference in my life, the rest is water under the bridge.
Challenge: When you crawl into bed tonight take a moment to give thanks for air in your lungs. Give thought to one thing you will do tomorrow to celebrate being alive. After all, each day when you wake up is a good day.
Motivation: Mo-ti-va-tion – The general desire or willingness of someone to do something. Today I ask for 2 minutes of your time in a challenge to motivate you to connect your mind with your body.
I remember my first flight to Europe, 1996 JFK-FRA on Delta Air Lines. Filled with excitement to arrive in Europe, experience such a larger jet, I found myself gazing outside the window for hours. Mid flight I noticed the ocean far below us lit by a beautiful full moon over the Atlantic. Thinking of that beautiful moonlit ocean, a glimpse often taken for granted by so many making the journey, the song Moon River resonates.
I have been very blessed to explore many incredible cities around the globe, of course I hold Paris as the most romantic city in the world. Amidst the chaos of the city I can visualize two people effortlessly dancing with elegance below a full moon on a roof top with the Eiffel Tower lit with it’s yellow glow in the distance.
Challenge: silence your phone, press play above, close your eyes, and allow your mind to drift for 2 minutes, imagine your Moon River. Give thought to your breathing, allow the filling of air in your lungs to connect your mind back to your body.
Mercer and Mancini wrote Moon River for Audrey Hepburn and her role in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. It received an Academy Award for Best Original Song (1961), Grammy Award for Record of the Year (1962), Grammy Award for Song of the Year (1962).
For those with a tie to the South, an interesting connection to Savannah and Huckleberry Fin.
I’m crossing you in style some day
Oh dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you’re going, I’m going your way
Two drifters off to see the world
There’s such a lot of world to see
We’re after the same rainbow’s end
Waiting ’round the bend, my huckleberry friend
Moon river and me
In March, Jane Mitchell an Atlanta based flight attendant, kicked off fundraising for the annual Delta Airlines Jet Drag team benefiting Relay for Life. Jane’s donation link: http://j.mp/Relay4Life4Jane . What is a Jet Drag? A Jet Drag lasts only seconds involving a team of 20 people tugging on a rope to get a 757 to move a set distance. The 757 is my top domestic plane for her design, speed, power and climb.
I donated $500 to Jane’s effort in memory of Glen Mikesell (Age 27, died in 2013) and James Steen, both courageous people who lost their battle with brain cancer. I pondered on how could I donate more but in a way that would unite strangers for a larger cause, allowing my cousin, Parker Eckburg to see the places of the world we have been so fortunately blessed to explore.
Parker the superhero sporting a Superman shirt thanks to Barner (4/21/15)
See Parker Eckburg is only 14 but this brave young man is now in his second battle with brain cancer. Medulloblastoma is a fast-growing high-grade tumor. (medulloblastoma). Parker was diagnosed on March 23, 2013, having surgery to remove cancerous tumors on his brain, and then daily radiation for 6 weeks followed by 6 months of chemotherapy. Unfortunately, Parker went into remission until January 23, 2015 with the cancer back with a vengeance. Parker’s most recent MRI’s show the brain cancer has not grown but is not reducing in his size. Parker’s family has been told a cure isn’t available since he relapsed, they pray for it to stop (or slow down) spreading as it is very aggressive.
Parker being brave, catching up on his games (March 2015)
I thought back to when I was 14 and my worries of the world were homework, being home before the streetlights came on, and recovering from the loss of my mother who took her life in 1993. Having lost my mother so young at age 13, I have never lived a day to take life for granted. I was determined to find a way to share the world with Parker.
My solution was simple, for each postcard Parker Eckburg receives by the date of the Delta Jet Drag, 5/1, I would donate an additional $1 up to $500 giving a total donation of $1,000. On April 10th, I launched the Facebook group, Postcards 4 Parker, Relay 4 Life Challenge. (http://j.mp/Postcards4Parker) .
1 Postcard = $4 Donation to Relay for Life
The Human Element of those around us has never shined so bright with the outpouring of support, posts of encouragement, photos of journeys, postcards, books, Green Bay Swag, T-shirts and now contribution matching. Since launching the Facebook group just 12 days ago, three fellow Delta Diamond Medallion Flyers have jumped in to match my donation, now up to 1,000 cards, $1,000 per person, $4,000 total. Thank you to Barner Golumbfskie-Jones, Shane Rixom and Timothy Allen , your contribution to Relay 4 Life will help so many others.
On May 1st, we are all PULLING 4 PARKER!
Jane Mitchell is to be thanked for her allowing of me to partake in her fundraising efforts with my launching of this challenge. Jane is one of the most courageous woman you may ever meet, a flight attendant, grandmother, mother, and also the rock for her daughter who is now back to battling brain cancer too.
Join the Postcards 4 Parker, Relay 4 Life Challengetoday!
A month ago someone asked me, in 5 years, what will your brand be. Not an MBA question nor where will you be working, what will YOUR brand be.
This thought provoking question left me also slightly unnerved. What would my brand be? In 5 years, what would my life have shaped up into?
For several years I have engaged in lengthy conversations on The Human Element (THE). This is not our evolution to the automation of processes to reduce human error or our impact to global warming but an innate connection that draws mankind closer.
The people you engage with everyday, or once in your life. Taking that connection beyond an electronic device, celebrating the good times and forgetting the bad ones. The Human Element expands beyond person to person interactions but expands also to engaging with companies that one feels so passionately for, a true advocate due to a demonstrated yet individualist feeling of a personal connection. As society has evolved, this element is often missing.
Google Defines Human Element:
How I break it down, characteristics essential for human beings.
I will continue to expound on this topic, seek examples, it may be random seldom updates, it may have no readers but I open this journey to anyone.
**Photo: Sunset over the harbor and Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, February 2015
After a fight between mom (Hallie) and her 20 year old son (CJ), formerly in the military, the mother created a campaign to have his ashes spread around the world. I hope you enjoy the article as much as I did.
Where CJ’s life has been celebrated. With the Hallie’s rules –
They have to tell him that his mother will always love him.
They have to tell him that she is sorry.
“YOU MUST AGREE TO SAY THAT,” Hallie posted on Facebook. (Near the Hollywood sign in California.)
“Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.”
Enjoying Helen today and as it approaches to 1am, I have spent a few minutes of time reflecting on that day in history, 9/11. A day that for our generation will be paramount similar to where were you during Pearl Harbor or when JFK was shot. No doubt you remember where you were when you heard the news, but my story I often try not to think about as it all seems too surreal to fathom.
My good friend is a flight attendant for United Airlines, at the time we had all plans to visit NYC, explore the city, and return home on 9/11. Through my connection with Hilton, I managed to secure a Junior Suite at the Hilton WTC (the narrow black building you see in many photos). The room was situated some 49 floors above the city, this would be my first trip to NYC. The excitement built. Flying on a buddy pass is not always easy, our odds were much better to travel through Newark.
Where I spend some time pondering, we were to spend the night in NJ, and fly home from Newark on Flight 93. This all would have occurred had one thing that summer not change. Dr. Bhatia, my stats professor refused to let me take my final early. The professor was clear that taking any test early could potentially harm others knowing the questions being asked, and the validity of his tests.
Looking back, who could possibly think that his eagerness to not let me depart for NYC as planned, would forever change my path. With the last minute change in plans, the hotels were changed to check into the WTC Hilton on 9/12. I awaited for my vacation to start, and spent the night prior in San Diego.
Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning) – Alan Jackson, Written in memory of 9/11
Where was I on 9/11? I awoke at the Hilton Mission Bay in San Diego to the sound of fighter jets flying over the hotel. It seemed so unusually loud and eerie. I turned the TV on, and the hotel information TV noted “Due to Presidential Order, all airports are closed”. I thought, this couldn’t be possible, why would they be closed. I called the Front Desk, in which the Front Desk agent in a very somber voice, said “yes, yes sir, they are closed”. I thought to myself, how strange and will this impact my vacation to NYC tomorrow (9/12).
I walked to the desk in the room and turned on my cell. My phone quickly lit up, voicemail box was full. Several messages were marked urgent, the first I heard was from my father.
“Hey Doug, it’s Dad, you may have not seen it yet, turn your TV on, there has been a terrorist attack on an airplane in NYC, I Love you”
The messages after that from my dad was a blur. Messages were left from colleagues, unbeknownst I changed NYC dates, frantically asking where I was, if I was okay. I changed the channel on the TV, to see footage of the second tower to start falling. The TV came up, and I fell off the side of the bed and sat on the floor, weeping. I had no clue to understand, how could someone do that in the US. Imagining the people in the building, the jumpers, the planes igniting so quickly as they passed through the building. The families on the news, asking if they found their loved one, to please, please call. Pictures of brothers, firemen, employees, EMTs, etc.
Here is a video you may not remember, from Budweiser Superbowl saluting 9/11.
With my travel and love of aviation ever increasing through the years, 9/11 has continued to grow to be more of something I accept but at times, cannot imagine. Imagining those on the planes, altitude dropping so quickly, and the unforgettable flight 93. Looking back on that day that forever changed the world, I pause in a moment of reflection and appreciation of those that lost their lives for our freedom. I pass along the memory of that day, and my love and support to those who have left us as a result of these acts.
Last month, during a work trip to NYC, we toured the 9/11 Tribute under construction. Besides the buildings being beautiful, the tribute site itself was moving. From the names of the flights, towers, pentagon and the previous attempt on WTC, to the lone tree that survived the collapse, and then survived the bad weather in the nursery. The church directly next to the WTC has some memorabilia that is most moving, and will make you heart cry for the families that posted the search papers and pictures.
9/11, it may have passed but it will never be forgotten.
Enjoying Helen today and as it approaches to 1am, I have spent a few minutes of time reflecting on that day in history, 9/11. A day that for our generation will be paramount similar to where were you during Pearl Harbor or when JFK was shot. No doubt you remember where you were when you heard the news, but my story I often try not to think about as it all seems too surreal to fathom.
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