Gratitude is the gift I give myself. When I pause to appreciate and remember gifts received, I experience the feelings again in real time. This is especially true when I remember the gift of unconditional love.

This is love given freely and without expectation or obligation. My first remembered experience with this kind of love was from my second-grade teacher, Sr. Bridget, an IHM sister. I was having a hard time learning to read and my mother pleaded with the principal not to hold me back. Sr. Bridget volunteered to work with me for 15 minutes after school each day. I was skeptical but Sr. Bridget acted like I was worth her time and effort. Within weeks I became a voracious reader and still am to this day. Each time I think of her “gift” I feel I am worth something all over again.

What grateful memories do you have?

One of the harshest judges we have to contend with is our own self. The counter-balance to this negative tendency is positive self-regard, also referred to as unconditional self-love. That’s a tough one for those of us raised to think of self-love as selfish and self-centered.

But, can we truly love another if we do not embody the same love for ourselves? Are we not made in the image of God and therefor deserving of love?

Airplane safety videos give us the best way to describe what this looks like. “Put the oxygen mask on yourself before trying to assist someone else.” Because you can only give what you have to give.

When is enough, enough?

When we eat ice-cream?

When we play solitaire?

When we run a marathon?

Yesterday was Valentines Day and at 7 AM I was sitting in a doctor’s office with my sister-in-law for her appointment following cataract surgery. I saw a steady stream of grey-haired, one-eyed pirates accompanied by their grey-haired sleepy drivers.

At 8 AM I was in the local big box store with scores of men and women, young and old, looking for the right amount of flowers in the right colors and with the right price tag. It seemed to me that age correlated with size. One young women had a teddy bear with a big red heart that filled her entire grocery cart.

When we love someone, do we ever ask if it’s enough? Did Jesus Christ ever ask himself that question?

What do you think?

It is Superbowl Sunday in America. The contest begins in a few hours. On national TV we will crown the winner. Who will score the most on-air minutes and attention, Taylor Swift or Donald Trump?

Emperor Titus started the Coliseum games in 81 AD.. Roman Citizens were admitted free for life. The theory was that keeping the general public busy with this blood sport would distract people and reduce the chance of a revolution or overthrow. This was a real concern for Roman Emperors “Et tu Brutus?”

So, regardless of who you are cheering for, remember the over-arching purpose and,“Go Blue, Go Red!!”

I spent the past few months refining my Powerful Question workshop for participants in Vistage, a peer-to-peer support organization for CEOs. I have now completed four workshops for Vistage and the reception has been very encouraging. Just a week ago two new Powerful Questions emerged during a workshop and seeds were planted for others. Turns out, there is a great sense of urgency in that group around the idea of purpose.

When you believe strongly that something is special and beneficial you tend to talk about it, and, talk about it more. I attend art classes when I am in Chicago and during a recent one, as usual, I ended up talking about the Powerful Question approach to meaning and purpose. I am now helping two women from that class, and one of their adult sons, find their Powerful Questions. The art teacher already had his and proudly features it on the first page of his website.

If you have found your Powerful Question, do you talk about it? Why? or Why not?
Please share your experiences.