posted
Life is complex at times. There are certainly always things going on in our lives which effect us greatly. And on most days we don't have major things happen. Its about the little things.
Little things cumulate to effect our moods and ultimately determine how our days 'go'.
What happens at work is a big part of this as well as what happens at home.
I like to take great joy in the little GOOD things that happen throughout the day. I make special note of them and celebrate them... hold on to them.
Allow me to tell you of a typical day.
For me my commute is a 200 foot walk out to the shop. On the way out to work I appreciate the grand old trees which we enjoy on our property. I especially enjoy the massive walnut tree which shades my walk to work. In the fall a fresh walnut is a wonderful treet. If its sunny I dawdle a bit enjoying the view. In the rain I tend to hurry... a downpour is cause for some vigorous excersise.
I try and smile a big old smile every time I walk out to my shop. While the building was completed a while back and was a HUGE milestone, I try and appreciate it EACH TIME I go there. When I unlock the door and go in its another kick that makes me instantly smile. It more than offsets the 25 years I simply dreamed and wished for such a facility.
I sit at my desk, look out at the gorgeous view and am instantly grateful for the beauty I get to enjoy right outside my window. I flip on the stereo with my favorite, upbeat music.
I always am grateful for some email, and celebrate each new job and challenge I get to face... for its what I love to do. And I even get to make my living at this wonderful game.
When I'm at my design table and a creative idea pops into my head, I celebrate the moment. When it has been a challenge to get to that point it is even sweeter. It doesn't get better than that.
My days include employees, and there are always moments through the day which give me joy for they do great work too, and bring reality to my visions... often making them better than I imagined in my head.
Family is a big part of my daily life. A kind word from Janis, a hug and smile from Phoebe is cause for celebration.
Even a trip to the deli and getting a center piece of platz - without asking (Donna appreciates this one too!) is cause for a quiet joy.
Riding the lawnmower in the sunshine, a cheerful wave from a neighbor, a phonecall from a distant friend to say hello.
There are a thousand things that happen each day to make me smile. When you think about it they massively outnumber the small number of non-important things that go wrong.
Each of us has so much to be thankful for, so much that happens in our lives that should make us happy. Celebrate whats good in your life!
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8739 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
One of the things I enjoy most is a post by Grampa Dan. Whether it's amazing us with your talent or a post like today's making us think. I always look for your posts first.
-------------------- Dennis Goddard
Gibsonton Fl Posts: 1050 | From: Tampa Fl USA | Registered: Apr 2000
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posted
Many that see me ask how I'm doing, due to recent changes in my personal life. I always beam with passion and exclaim, "Life is GREAT!"
I have hurdles every single day, but I don't know if it's imbedded in me or ?, it's so easy to override the bad stuff and choose to enjoy the good. I am addicted to feeling good!
A couple days ago I approached a food sampler person in Costco. He asked how I was and I took the time to ask him the same. He smiled and broke into conversation about how most people are so nice, but it's the 5% that can destroy it all. "You have to get away from those type, they just drag you down! I'm so glad most people are good."
I believe that too. That's why I hang with good people. Customers have to qualify as well.
Yup, I agree, Dan's posts are uplifting. Easy to get hooked on that feeling, isn't it?
posted
....what's a platz? Sounds like a sound Juanita makes when she sneezes. Love.....Jill Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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SONGPAINTER Original Sign Music by Sign People NOW AVAILABLE on CD and the proceeds go to Letterville's favorite charity! Click Here for Sound Clips! Posts: 1974 | From: Orleans, MA, Cape Cod, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Jill, a platz (pronounced plouts) is a german desert which is a moist sweet white heavier cake base, with fruit baked inside and a crumble topping the whole thing. They come in nearly any flavor fruit possible, peach, rhubarb, blueberry... they are so good! No more donuts here!
The pieces tend to get tougher on the edges when baked. So when you score a center piece, (I've asked for one before and have been denied LOL) it's like winning the lottery!
posted
I guess I was typing at the same time as Donna...
Platz is the most wonderful fruitcake in the world. Its sorta heavy and sweet, with a crumbly top layer. It comes in many flavors - apple, peach, plum, rhubarb, rasperry and blueberry. If I get an edge piece I eat the brown crust first, saving the soft middle part for last. If it's my lucky day and I get a middle piece, every crumb is enjoyable.
It's best not over done - and rationed to one delicious piece a day.
I fondly remember platz from my youth, but its been many years since my momma baked it for me. The best deli in the world which happens to be less than a block from our house makes it fresh daily - just as good as mom. They smile as I burst in the door each day around coffee time... they know what I'm after, and I don't even have to tell them the flavor I desire... they just know.
Platz is a wonderful reward for projects already accomplished, or a wonderful break from things that don't go quite as well. How could anything go wrong after a treat like that!
Platz is brought into our shop to celebrate, to welcome guests, to raise spirits, and just for good eating.
Its one of life's wonderful small things.
Someday soon when I hold a little meet in our shop platz will be one of the highlights I'm sure.
-grampa dan
[ October 22, 2005, 03:44 PM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8739 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I had the pleasure of first meeting Dan 15 years ago. He was an upbeat, positive guy back then too, but with age comes a certain mellowing and wisdom. It has been a real pleasure getting reaquainted with him. Life isn't always wonderful for any of us, but Dan chooses to accentuate the positive and loose the rest.
I consider it a real priviledge to call you a friend, Dan, and I thank you for bringing a consistant upbeat note to this forum. It takes courage to expose your emotions here on a regular basis, but I think you provide inspiration and positive guidance for many.
Carry on
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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Dan, I really appreciate someone who's a glass-half-FULL-kinda person like you. There are a lotta people in this world who have'nt quite found this to make perfect sense . . . but positive thinking DOES make a difference . . . regardless of how you learn that fact . . .
I shur can't say everything is 'hunky-dory' all the time in my life, but I know, partly due to severe experiences, but mostly due to faith, that whatever happens from here on out, is 100% directed.
Therefore, (unlike many years ago when I had a chip on my shoulder the size of Texas, and I was 10ft tall and bullet-proof)... I can now appreciate simple things everyday, but most important, I have even begun to appreciate the difficulties that come around too.
Meanwhile, my shop has'nt become my dream-shop (yet), but there's not a day that I don't walk in there and feel thankful and amazed at having it. I'm also extremely thankful everyday for a washer and dryer, AC or heat, a roof over my head, a nice truck and other material things we call 'necessities', but if I did'nt have these things, I'm thankful that I can still be thankful.
And moreover, every morning when my eyes open, I'm incredibley thankful to be alive and always assume the day holds something special for me to do for someone, simply because I woke up... and, I will be alright with not wakin' up one day too . . .
In the meantime, life is very exciting. My only one regret is, probably running out of it before I accopmplish all the things I have to do, will do, and would love to do . . .
-------------------- Signs Sweet Home Alabama
oneshot on chat
"Look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, work like a dog" Posts: 5758 | From: "Sweet Home" Alabama | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
Yea, yea, Dan. But you don't live in the REAL WORLD like the rest of us. We don't have those perfect customers and a great shop with all those tools and great employees that do just what you tell them and work for almost nothing. If I had been born with all that money and had people just handing me all those great machines and customers that didn't care how much it cost I would have that kind of attitude too. Down here where I live you can't get those kind of prices. Everybody just wants a cheap price and will stab you in the back for a dollar.
Just thought you might like to hear something besides a pat on the back. There's one in every crowd.
By the way....I agree with everything you said. Just like it is the little things that can make your day, it can also be the little things that ruin your day...it all depends on your attitude.
Also, just remember...you're not the only person in the world with cute grandchildren. And some of us have more than ONE...so there.
[ October 22, 2005, 06:17 PM: Message edited by: Raymond Chapman ]
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Thanks again for a thoughtful, positive post Dan. But just for the cynics and pessimists among us, what would constitute a REALLY CRAPPY day for you?
-------------------- www.signcreations.net Sonny Franks Lilburn, GA 770-923-9933 Posts: 4116 | From: Lilburn, GA USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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posted
Thanks Dan, as above. I always remember a saying I read somewhere to the effect that the only thing you can control is your own attitude. That's always been true. A positive attitude & gratitude will get you a long way. (or at least get a lot of people here following your story )
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
Believe me Sonny, I have my days that don't go as planned.
Janis & I have long had an agreement that only one of us can have a bad day at any one time. And wouldn't you know it, every time things seem to be going really bad for me I start to tell her about it... and without fail, every time I just get started she gently reminds me that it isn't my turn to have a bad day.
There are many days when I can't seem to make any deals go together. Some days people don't return my calls. Customers are late in paying us sometimes. I have many days where there are so many interruptions I don't seem to get anything done that I want. On any given day I pretty much always bang my thumb when I hammer (I have no depth perception). Tools break in my shop- some days more than otehrs. Tires go flat on my vehicles. I hurt some days (I have chronic back pain) I do silly things which cost me needless money. My life is not charmed. I have employees. Things go wrong in my life all the time. On some days there see to be a lot of things that go wrong. That's life.
Although we are blessed beyond compare at our house, there has never been a surplus of money. Many days I wonder how we will make it at the end of the month.
Why should my life be any different than anybody elses?
I live by faith (combined with hard work)... and we have never gone short.
I could easily spend more time dwelling on the things which go wrong in my life. But worry doesn't change things. And getting down about the negative things seems to multiply the importance of them. Instead I focus on the small positive things which happen throughout every day of my life. We try to make positive choices which will build a future. I enjoy the moment. THAT'S what my life is about.
I really believe that my cup is full to the about the same amount as everyone elses... right about half. And I'm kinda glad my cup isn't fuller than that... for I'd just spill it anyway as I dance around with joy in this wonderful journey called life.
-grampa dan
[ October 23, 2005, 02:25 AM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8739 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Dan, youd make one helluva inspirational speaker! I love the way you think! And Jill, you made me laugh until pop came out my nose. I drank it an hour ago.
-------------------- Maker of fine signs and other creative stuff. Located at 109 N. Cumberland ave. Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-837-0242 Posts: 4172 | From: Ages-Brookside, Ky. Up the Holler... | Registered: Jul 1999
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