inspiration: Addictions...
- 04/12/08 02:29 PM
Addiction (n) defined as: The condition of being habitually or compulsively occupied with or or involved in something. The book "A Beautiful Boy" was just featured on the Oprah show and selected for sale by Starbucks . It's a story about the trauma of addiction in the life of family...primarily the painful relationship between a father and son. I am reminded of an unusual list I made a couple of years ago after hearing a comment from a speaker that went something like this... Addictions are far more pervasive than most of us would care to admit. They are not limited to what we traditionally refer … (36 comments)
inspiration: Insights From the Eye of the Tiger...
- 04/05/08 03:29 PM
There are many things that make the Tiger Woods story extraordinary. However, as a non-golfer who has been fascinated by the transcendence that Tiger Woods has brought to the game; one particular legend about his approach to his golf game has been very inspiring to me. It is said that Tiger Woods has recreated his game many times. One well know strategic reinvention of his winning golf swing occured when he was just 21 year old in 1997. After winning the Western Open, he announced that his near perfect swing was in need of a major overhaul. The world received the news with stunned surprise. How … (26 comments)
inspiration: Mastery...
- 03/25/08 02:49 PM
"Mastery requires the Need to be Present. The Need to Win Drains You of All Power." by Eckhart Tolle I hear these words while listening to a conversation between Oprah Winfrey & Eckhart Tolle on the web about his new book "A New Earth." I think that the tension between those two statements is an ongoing life challenge. To Master anything takes hard work... a lot of hard work. Yet, the drive to do so must come from a place which is beyond the lower level machination of competitive energy if it is to accomplish true Mastery. A difficult balancing act indeed. One of the most … (30 comments)
inspiration: What It Means to Live With Passion.
- 03/20/08 03:43 PM
Passion! Is the inspiration behind genius. Passion! Is purity which Loves for it's own sake Passion harbors gritty endurance That withstands the gale of withering opposition Passion is a nectar... Which provides sustaining grace in the face of extreme odds. Passion is the gift of insight which perceives a reality obscured to the casual observer. Passion plays center stage in it's own drama And dances to the beat of an unknown drummer Passion manufactures it's own joy... And nourishes it's own truth Passion understands it's own unique sorrows And endures to reap it's own peculiar Reward. ******
Copyright 2008 Audu Real Estate All Rights Reserved Click here to read more entries in the "What It Means Series" Photo courtesy of: luisa_m_c_m_cruz's photostream on flickr.com … (25 comments)
inspiration: Today My Winter Coat Became a Tired Old Habit...
- 03/14/08 12:52 PM
It was one of those gorgeous winter days in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I mean really nice...not just the blue sky with nary a cloud to mar the brilliant sunshine, but the weather was actually WARM...which for the Midwest in winter equates to above 50 degrees! It was a day in which winter seemed to be loosing it's grip although anyone who has lived in Grand Rapids long enough knows that she still has a couple more punches to throw. As I prepared to go outside, I put IT on without even thinking. IT, was my winter coat. I climbed into my car in … (16 comments)
inspiration: Why I Am Not Your Mother, Father, Instructor, Doctor or Therapist...
- 03/13/08 05:00 AM
Admittedly, it's taken me awhile to understand certain things. I'm of the generation of real estate agents who straddle the rapidly expanding divide between the "old school" and the "new school." My generation was hooked to the pager. Early in my career, I had a broker who demanded you answer it within 7 minutes or else the lead was gone. Poof! Given to someone else just like that. When I left, it took me 3 months to debrief from the trauma of that aspect of my experience. What I learned from that debacle is this: No one will DIE if I don't … (33 comments)
inspiration: What It Means to Walk Through the Fire.
- 03/07/08 08:12 AM
It's taken me a long time to be able to appreciate the value of Resistance. I can't say that I like it. But I've learned to understand it's role as a marker pointing towards a course of progress. Among the many definitions of resistance, one refers to the act of opposition; being resisted by another person or condition in a manner which generates antagonism. Resistance can be passive or active, it always tends to oppose or retard forward motion in one way or the other. As a child, I was mesmerized by the adventures of 3 young men who walked through a blazing fire. The story takes place … (19 comments)
inspiration: Can You Cry Tears of Joy...
- 03/04/08 10:36 AM
Can You Cry Tears of Joy? A paradox that defies explanation Its essence arising from the depth of the soul Unleashed Unconstrained by the fragile tethers of circumstance Can You Cry Tears of Joy? A cry that cleanses even as it releases The spirit beyond time & space A cry that heals While giving a Gift The freedom to truly feel... What it is to be reborn...refreshed...revived Emerging beyond barriers and limitations Waves crashing through The false shaky barriers of temporary happiness Have You Cried Tears of Joy Will You?
Copyright 2008 Audu Real Estate All Rights Reserved
… (27 comments)
inspiration: Understanding How Your Unique Seasonal Cycle Can Improve Your Life & Business!
- 02/23/08 01:36 PM
Cycles of change are a normal part of life. Day transitions into night, summer transitions into fall and eventually winters' cold spell breaks up to reveal the freshness of spring. While we accept these cycles as normal in nature, we sometimes ignore the fact that cycles are evident in all aspects of life. As I look out my window and observe the snow cover, it's hard to imagine that underneath that frigid white blanket there is active life. But there is. It will not be evident for several months, but eventually, the ground will reveal what has been buried for it's own … (27 comments)
inspiration: What It Means to Truly Listen...
- 02/14/08 02:02 PM
There's a reason why we have two ears and just one mouth. A single mouth can easily over-power two perfectly good ears. It's always easier to talk than to listen. To listen we must be quiet...with our mouth And dull the roar from within the heart. Listening is hard work... Voices in the mind shout and jostle for attention.
Listening means that I accept that what you are saying right now is more important than... What I need to say right now, What I need to say next and... What I really wish I could say. Listening helps me to see with my understanding what I cannot observe with my eyes.
When I listen...I don't interrupt When … (40 comments)
inspiration: What It Means to Live Within Peace...
- 02/09/08 02:59 PM
You don't know you've lost Peace until you can't find it. Sometimes you don't know you've lost Peace because you've never had it. Peace is not an absence of challenge or trial. It is not a promise or guarantee of the avoidance of hardship. Rather it is the stillness which draws from a deep well spring the knowledge that all that really matters...is well. Peace is not about being popular or well-liked. In fact maintaining it will sometimes require doing things which are deemed disagreeable and opposed. However, Peace cannot be divorced from Truth and the Integrity to live a life which … (15 comments)
inspiration: Mothers Fighting For Others...An Irresistible Movement!
- 02/01/08 07:12 AM
Last year, I was introduced to a blog by an extraordinary woman and mother, Rocky Turner. Rocky has a passion for children...her own and the children of the world. She is a fighter...a warring angel who fights for the needs of others. Active Rainers may be more familiar with Rocky's husband, Jeff Turner who is one of Active Rains' resident tech gurus educating us about all things technical and video related and the owner of the popular Real Estate Shows network. In her unique way, Rocky affirms what it is to be a human being and to love other people with dignity. In addition to … (19 comments)
inspiration: Lusting Within Our Hearths...*A Peculiar American Love Affair!
- 01/29/08 05:52 PM
We talk about them, ogle them, reminisce about memories we have of them and worry about their welfare. In many ways, the American love affair with our homes is typical of the patterns in a troubled romantic obsession. Our rapt attention as we watch the object of our affection on numerous TV shows is indicative of how deeply we are in love with the "idyllic vision" of our homes. Recently Newsweek Magazine profiled a new book by Daniel McGuinn called "House Lust: America's Obsession With Our Homes." According to McGinn " The existence of the real-estate gossip columnist is just one more bizarre indicator of our fascination with homes, which … (56 comments)
inspiration: What It Means to Close Our Doors...And Open Our Hearts in Celebration of Life!
- 01/21/08 12:25 PM
In yesterday's sermon, my pastor juxtaposed two 24 hour periods which coincidentally occur next to each other at the beginning of this week. This past Sunday was the Sanctity of Life Sunday and today is the Celebration of Martin Luther King Day which commemorates the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. who was born on January 15th. In his sermon, our pastor mentioned these two significant dates as he shared his thoughts regarding what it means to Become A Child Again...and what it means to Receive and Release the Grace of Forgiveness. After the service, I was in conversation with a couple who were probably in … (28 comments)
inspiration: What It Means to Walk On Water...
- 01/16/08 11:51 AM
I've always been fascinated by the Apostle Peter. Perhaps, because I find it so easy to relate to his impulsive, talkative nature and his propensity for speaking from his heart. My favorite story about Peter is related in several different gospels. But only the Gospel of Mathew actually tells us about Peter's water walking adventure. The other two gospels only focus on Jesus walking on the wingtips of the waves. Here's a brief recap of the tale if you're not familiar. The disciplines have just finished cleaning up one of those monumental miracle events for which Jesus was famous. A Dinner created and multiplied from 5 loaves and … (32 comments)
inspiration: Are You Keeping Your Eyes On the Right Ball?
- 01/11/08 04:01 PM
I've been a Soccer Mom for at least a decade. With two boys involved in sports, we've watched countless games and travelled to different areas of Michigan and the country for games. But, regardless of whether the game was soccer, football or basketball...you always heard someone yell this from the sidelines: KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE BALL! Invariably some kid was doing something other than concentrating on the focus of the game. Consequently, points were lost and the coach or in many cases the parents were reminding the players about what was important: FOCUS. When Focus was regained and the players once … (16 comments)
inspiration: Starving Uglicious...A Tale of Resolution. Part 2 ~ The Discovery
- 01/03/08 08:57 AM
*The Starving of Uglicious Begins here... The dying red embers of sunlight cast an eerie glow on the clearing. Relieved, Uglicious realises that his intrusion has not been detected. The subject of the observation however, seems unaware that that it is being watched. Perching himself on a low protruding stump, Uglicious strains to observe the creature partially eclipsed by the brush. A slight chill wrestles its way across his exposed mid section. He feels a shiver of nervous angst course down his torso. By adjusting his ungainly form ever so slightly, he can see the creature. It's back is turned, but there is enough waning light to outline … (6 comments)
inspiration: Starving Uglicious....A Tale of Resolution
- 01/02/08 01:47 PM
I don't know if you've met him, but he visits from time to time. Most visits occur after dark in the waning drafts of a days end. Short and squat with beaded eyes darting to the ground, the Little Uglicous is always alert...to signs of trouble. Trouble with what someone said, or didn't say. Anxious about being chased. Worried. So he must run. Faster than his little legs can possibly support; his strangled lungs gasping for air. And all this because someone wants his stuff! Stuff he's determined to keep at all costs. After all, a reputation is not easily acquired and the little jealous freaks are always sniffing … (18 comments)
inspiration: Adventures of A Different Kind...
- 12/28/07 10:23 AM
Gifts come in all sorts of different ways. Sometimes they walk into your life through a dozen pairs of feet. The first pair belonged to the sleeping baby carried by her Mother. Then 4 kids ranging in age from 9 ~ 13 each removed their shoes, carefully wiping off the snow. Finally, their Father entered the foyer and extended his hand to introduce his family. Thus we welcomed to our home for Christmas Dinner a family whom we were meeting for the first time. They had recently moved to the Grand Rapids area. Our party was an eclectic collection of family, friends and brand new acquaintances. As introductions … (27 comments)
inspiration: Are You A Virtuous Shopper...A Different Take On Compassion
- 12/21/07 02:10 PM
I was introduced to this website by Amy Miller, a real estate agent with ReMax Sunquest here in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She said she knew I would love it! She was right. TED is an inspired network of the spoken word. Launched as a Free Site to the public in 2007, TED stands for Technology Entertainment, Design. It's a place where you can experience the power of ideas by inspired thinkers and visionaries. The video below is a talk by Daniel Goleman, the author of the book Emotional Intelligence. Goleman's perspective of the story of the Good Samaritan is presented in a way that … (15 comments)
Grand Rapids, Michigan real estate information including houses for sale, rent and home buyer/seller tips. Also includes wisdom and insights from Lola Audu, CRS Associate Broker.
Grand Rapids, Michigan Real Estate
Grand Rapids Real Estate
West Michigan Real Estate
Buying A home in Grand Rapids, Mi
Selling Your Grand Rapids, Mi Home
Downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grandville, Michigan Real Estate
Relocating to Grand Rapids, Michigan
Addiction (n) defined as: The condition of being habitually or compulsively occupied with or or involved in something.
;)
;)
;)
