Where's Your Super Human, Super Hero Suit?

When my son was 4 years old, he created an invisible lightening suit that he put on when he wanted a little super human, super hero strength (adult translation:  confidence and verve).  Like a flash, he would stop what he was doing and make the motions of putting on the suit:  draping the hood and mask over his head; putting his arms through the sleeves, and of course, taking his super human, super hero position (lightening sound effects included) as if he were ready to take on the bad guys and conquer the world.  

I would smile as he would transform himself and then I would marvel at the real life power this imaginary suit held for my little guy.  It gave him certainty, confidence and inner strength.  And it was always there, for play or purpose.  It was a game changer in the best possible way and I secretly hoped that he would always have that lightening suit in his life and at his ready. 

It's been a while since I've seen him put it on so I asked, "Where's your lightening suit these days?"  In the most natural, matter of fact manner, he told me, "It's not gone.  It's always with me."  We talked about it a little and he told me that the lightening gives him special powers.  He went on to say that the suit just turns on "like, if there's a mean kid or bully or something."  I asked if it ever turns on at hockey and he said, "sometimes, if I have to go super fast or Coach needs me to do something really hard or something." 

It took me decades to figure out what my 6 year old innately understands:  when you give positive energy a tangible form, you can see it, seize it, and make anything possible.  It's not make believe; it's real.  So, where's your super human, super hero suit?  Put it on today, or just try one on for size. You may discover a whole new road to remarkable and you may have a little kid to thank for it. RELAX.  SET.  GO.

Remembering 9/11

I look out my window as I write this and stare at the perfect blue sky in NYC . . . the same one we all remember on 9/11 and the one that can transport us back there, if even for a moment, during an otherwise regular day.  But today isn’t regular.  The memory of 9/11 is always there but it comes crashing down, each year, on the anniversary in a way that is still so raw and painful.  

I realize that we have to go on with celebrating life and that everyday activities have to happen, even on 9/11 but I also recognize the need to go there;  to allow ourselves to feel something or everything.  I am for moving on but I am not for sanitizing the enormity, anguish and sadness of that tragic day.   I watch the coverage and in an instant, emotions come rushing back as I remember details with a clarity that I can’t even apply to what I did last week.  Then the veil of numbness sets in as I go about my day.

Living in downtown NYC evokes very personal memories but none are more personal than those of the people who were at the WTC, lost loved ones that day, or involved in the massive aftermath.  My prayers are always with them but especially on this day, my heart is theirs.

Are You In a Busy Rut?

No matter how busy you are, do you ever feel like you should be doing more (or doing more productive things)?  

It’s easy to fill a day with busy and busy is easy to justify.  It usually means doing a lot of stuff that is necessary but it’s not necessarily what you need to do in order to feel productive about what your doing.  And if what you’re doing feels like you’re running in place, then the place you’re in is a Busy Rut.    

You can’t walk away from busy but you can bust it up a bit.  Don’t make busy your excuse and by all means, don’t make it your epitaph (she was too busy to live).  Believe me, busy is a slippery slope and what slips the fastest are the years gone by and the woulda, shoulda, couldas.  So put a little busy aside (you can find the time if you make it a priority) and do something that breaks the pattern.  It’s different for everyone so you decide what you need to do . . .  and use a little RSG to bust up your busy rut. Get out of your comfort zone and get off the treadmill that’s keeping you captive.  You may still be running, but you will at last, be going somewhere.  RELAX.  SET.  GO.