February 23, 2012
Try this; do it for yourself, but if you can’t, then do it for me. Each time you say hello to someone or walk into a meeting today – take some ‘first day of summer’ with you . . . Living with or without a lifted spirit is more obvious than the clothes we wear or car we drive – it shows the world whether we are in an undesirable situation, or on a journey of joyous living. You know it’s true. You see it on everyone else, so don’t think they don’t see it on you! - Mark Kolke
February 22, 2012
Missed opportunities are opportunities not explored - once they’re gone, we never get them back. Or, maybe that explains efforts of grandparents, realizing what they’ve missed – being given second chances, or for those who missed out completely, a first chance all over again. I believe, for all of us, it is never too late to re-look, re-think, re-try. - Mark Kolke
February 21, 2012
Have you considered that life is a confidence game? Not con-game, but of genuine confidence – and, the more confidence we have, the more confidence we generate like filings to a magnet, good things are drawn nearer and then, the more confidence we radiate. I’m not certain this is some law of the world, but on days when things go quite well, my spine stands straighter and each new challenge seems less daunting. - Mark Kolke
February 20, 2012
Just as you acknowledge his/her path, don't YOU need to acknowledge YOUR path? Reading the lines, between the lines and interpreting what is meant, what is felt is the juiciest/scariest part of life and romance. - Mark Kolke
February 19, 2012
We need to be more like children – and in that, to teach ourselves as observers of our child-like glee . . as if we’ve recently arrived in the world – un-burdened by preconceived notions about people, situations, and objects we encounter. Like children, we need to wear our shoes … and play with them too, or use them as a chew toy. Well, not really, but you get my point, don’t you? Like a child, playing with a pot and a lid, immersed in the moment, seeing everything with open-mindedness born of un-knowing almost everything, open to learning everything without a single pre-conceived notion. The more we do that, we too can have a state of state of spontaneity, curiosity, and pure excitement about the world . . . can’t we? - Mark Kolke
February 18, 2012
Recognizing absurdity – comes, as if out of the sky, in the middle of a conversation – makes as much sense as saying Cincinnati in the middle of a sentence. But you see, it doesn’t need to make sense to anyone but me. Any more than your epiphany, when you have it, needs to makes sense to anyone else. - Mark Kolke
February 17, 2012
You know, I'll likely never win the lottery (I still buy a ticket every time) but you know, the best life-altering win I ever had was the day that __________ . What fills in your blank? Who/what came into your life to make it better than it would have ever been without them? .. and how are you? How is your life? - Mark Kolke
February 16, 2012
Whatever your day brings – however you spend it, consider this – spending life alone may be surely preferable to spending it with the wrong person, but spending it alone is not likely to deliver most of the things in life that make us smile - without ego or possession, just smile - because we know someone is near, who wants to be near, with you, or with me. This is my circumstance, not my quest, my reality, not my cross, my joy, not my loss.- Mark Kolke
February 15, 2012
We can consider all possibilities, or none. Sure, there is ‘considering some’, but that’s for people who sit back and ponder, deliberators, procrastinators . . . that’s not me. It’s all, er nuthin’. Choose all, every time. - Mark Kolke
February 14, 2012
I’ve learned a principle: what we think we had wasn’t always what we thought we had, but rather than be sad we can choose to remember how glad we were when we had whatever it was we had when we thought we had it . . . - Mark Kolke
February 13, 2012
When we turn things around, back to front, or upside down, we see things from an opposite angle, reflected, illuminated. Conceptually, that sounds easy, but really, it isn’t. Try getting dressed first, then have your shower. It will be immediately apparent that things are different. - Mark Kolke
February 12, 2012
Too far, too difficult, too impossible, too improbable – everything is. If it is good we want, if it is OK or adequate we want – that is easy to find. But, if it is exceptional we want, we need to do more than travel extra miles or float an incredible idea. - Mark Kolke
February 11, 2012
If you are feeling blue, exhausted, un-loved, under-appreciated, un-fulfilled or just plain weary of your week (or decade) or of life’s challenges – take the time, make the effort and spend a few quality hours with and watching your children in action. - Mark Kolke
February 10, 2012
Love and life is no rose garden, no picnic, no endless supply of laugh filled days and warm cozy nights . . . but we should never lose sight of that dream, never lose sight of what might still be the best days and nights of our lives. My prescription: love someone first, ourselves; love someone else, because we can, because it is good, because we want to. - Mark Kolke
February 9, 2012
Innovation failed. Missed the boat, missed the train, never found a good way to explain. When it is over, when it is done, really, what would you do, what then? Go on, go forward or go back? - Mark Kolke
February 8, 2012
There is nothing but time, all the time, but each day – no matter how well I seem to use it – at the end, there is so much left to do, and my time runs out. I often write about time; woven in everything – our ambitions, our lifestyles, our dreams, our pairings – never part of finding our bearings, but inseparable from our actions. - Mark Kolke
February 7, 2012
Some friends, ones who’ve given up, have said, while shaking their heads, they can’t understand why I keep trying, keep going, keep getting back in the saddle of life’s ride in search of love and hope and joy. I ask them, why not?, and wonder why they are not. - Mark Kolke
February 6, 2012
Finding love, for me, has been a many storied journey – far more pleasure than pain, in search of the gain of one person who, together with me, will be one pair for the ages, one stellar celebration. It is here, or there - somewhere for me, for she . . . we’ll have to find each other somewhere yet. - Mark Kolke
February 5, 2012
Experimenting without being reckless, exploring without a compass isn’t dangerous – we don’t need to leave breadcrumb trails is we never turn back, never go back – do we? - Mark Kolke
February 4, 2012
Burn bright. Don't quit. The end, for all of us, will come one day, but no need to hurry it. We need to keep rushing through life so we can do as much as we can and, if we are lucky, some of us will stay behind as our legacy; some word or work or deed that impacts someone or many - we'll leave that behind.- Mark Kolke
February 3, 2012
I’m ready – to close this deal, take possession of my future. Maybe today is the day, the day for seizing all the carpe diem I can handle. - Mark Kolke
February 2, 2012
Opportunity, or life itself, can slip away easily, before we know it – in moments, right in front of our eyes, there can be no knowing in advance. What then can we do? I think we can be prepared for it, anticipate it, expect it. - Mark Kolke
February 1, 2012
Be born, live, love, eat, sleep, wake up, take tums, sleep, work, play; repeat. - Mark Kolke
January 31, 2012
As I see it, life lands us in the dirt sometimes. We can get up, run, and hide. Or, we can get back in the game, back on life’s ride, re-gauge and re-calibrate as we go, and re-build our momentum. Momentum is something we make mo’ of , mementos are things we keep, moments are something we seize, or not. Seizing moments, like grasping (or is it gasping?) for air . . . trying to catch the next butterfly going by, trying to fly through the air, without a net. - Mark Kolke
January 30, 2012
Everybody wants it, don’t they – to get their wish, to be liked and loved for who they are, in spite of all factors and circumstances, frailties and failings? Sometimes that’s all we need; and sometimes. For some of us, that is never ever enough. - Mark Kolke
January 29, 2012
Future is hard to see when the present is in chaos; that’s exaggeration, not so much chaos as seismic shift – things changing, moving too fast, roadblocks and issues seem to be crashing . . . when it is time to stop. Pause. Rest. Breathe. Think. And time, helps everything. - Mark Kolke
January 28, 2012
Imagine, if this morning, you had one chance, just one last chance to alter the future? Silly, I know it. We NEVER run out of chances or choices until we run out, until we run out of time – and, we never have only one choice. When choices are entwined with someone else’s life, with their choices, how can we, simply, do anything? - Mark Kolke
January 27, 2012
Sometimes I seek things, people, ideas – but mostly, lately, I seek peace. Peace, not driven, not anal. Calm is not frenetic. Serenity is not achieved at a flat-out pace. I get wrapped up in too much cerebral solution-seek mode sometimes – or wallowing in emotional malaise – where is the balance, am I losing sight of the goal, the prize? An easy relaxed existence would be nice. - Mark Kolke
January 26, 2012
Though I often fail, I try not to judge what others do unless I am prepared to invite that same level of scrutiny of my own actions – therefore it makes little sense to critique in others that which I am not prepared to address in myself . . . because that’s the hardest part. It feels like work, because it is work and it is far from simple. - Mark Kolke
January 25, 2012
On a beach once, warm water washing in and out, swirling at my feet, I stood there so appreciative of the universe, magnificence, so much immense-ness, I wondered about the relevance of anything I might worry about or struggle with. And I thought, how could it possibly matter? - Mark Kolke
January 24, 2012
Of course I want to know how the world got started, and why, but I am for more interested in relevant, closer to home, questions that fill the cracks in experience lined faces, that fill out and fill up our understanding of lust and trust - I must know, just gotta know what makes me tick. Some days, it feels like I’ve scarcely begun. Because I have. - Mark Kolke
January 23, 2012
Not everyone knows they are loved, or feels they are loved – but the person doing the loving - that person, is never mistaken. They might find their loving not returned - but that is no reason for feeling naught, or for feeling anything other than very good. Worse, than not being loved, is having no one to give your love to. I believe we should not give it carelessly, but when we do, we should give it fearlessly and foolishly – deeply, wholly, and holy-cow-man all the way deeply, off the cliff, over the top, without reservation. - Mark Kolke
January 22, 2012
I have troubles. Bushels, but so many have so many more. Everyday bleak is so bleak, that bleakness looks - when one pair of eyes peer at it – so dark; but, add more eyes, shed some light . . . suddenly it isn’t so dark. Glorious sunshine takes longer to reach, but where there is willingness . . . and love . . . light can shine. - Mark Kolke
January 21, 2012
Living leaves marks (sometimes, Marks), impressions; scrapes and bumps - nothing compared to those on brain, or heart. No one’s fault I remind myself. I’m not to blame. I could rationalize all day long why everything that went wrong was not my responsibility. But I own that. Can’t blame anyone else. That’s their stuff. I’ll focus on mine. - Mark Kolke
January 20, 2012
Old clichés, about making a path where there is none, fit as well as any other description. Each time we venture, to something new; we might crash, or burn. Or be consumed by glory blazes of joy. Indelible impression left, like trail to follow – surface scar for everyone to see or, more often, internal, deep, meaningful - leave us forever changed. - Mark Kolke
January 19, 2012
In golf, we stay clear of areas labeled ‘ground under repair’. Wounded areas need time to heal, to re-grow, to be safe from heavy traffic and activities that leave divot scars in the landscape. People ought to come with such signs- warning us, wearing labels or signs that say danger, stay out, turn back etc.. Most often they don’t – but we’d likely ignore those signs anyway if they did. I know. I have. - Mark Kolke
January 18, 2012
We all, feel lost sometimes. We are not alone. It just feels that way. We wander – chase ideas or people, chase unrealistic dreams, chase hope, chase joy . . . only to find ourselves feeling lost, and alone, again. I don’t ‘look for signs’ but when they show up, we should notice! - Mark Kolke
January 17, 2012
Have no big strategy, no master plan - don’t know where I’m going, or how I’m going to get there. Don’t know when I’ll be leaving, don’t know when I’ll arrive. How hard can it be, really? It’s just about making lists and doing tasks; a project with steps and objectives and I can’t see it through this feeling, can’t I? Today I will. For sure. Today will be better, tomorrow – even more better fine. - Mark Kolke
January 16, 2012
Sure, I want to live a huge long great life – but I might not get to choose my ‘best- before’ date, so I’ll keep reminding me that it is always my move, my turn, my step, my next action that is the most important thing for me to do – and in that way, I’ll never be found sitting on my tuchus waiting for someone else to say or do something or to grant some blessing to allow me to do what I am aimed to be doing. - Mark Kolke
January 15, 2012
Opportunity, obligation, weave in and out of my landscape – friends, associates and clients come, they go … spectacular connections arisen from innocuous beginnings. Gifts of friendship are not givens one can expect but so many exceed expectations. Still, one cannot please everyone, one cannot meet every expectation, cannot begin to say thanks enough for kindnesses . . . cannot ever repay the kindness and generosity. I can only try . . . feeble installments never can make up for gifts given to me. But I’ll keep trying. - Mark Kolke
January 14, 2012
I'd be lying if I didn't admit to selfishly wanting things to work how I want them to work; I couch it in words I use with others - without admitting I want it to be easy for me. I do want things to work out – to enjoy successes, achieve more than we believe ourselves capable – and to experience maximum joy with minimal trouble. Such wishful thinking is mind-candy, it is surely not going to happen with only minimal effort. The efforts of others is huge - makes my work seem pale - but I know I can help. I know I can be valuable to those who need me, count on me. I want to be there, for those who matter to me, on the easy days, and I need to be in their corner on the wretched days too. I will be. - Mark Kolke
January 13, 2012
Every morning we have it – all of us, pure potentiality – this day, each of us – that is what we are. Is there anything we can’t do, or anyone else responsible for the doing? I wonder, whether if there is a correct way, for everyone or anyone. It probably doesn’t exist; we just need to do the best we can. - Mark Kolke
January 12, 2012
There are countless priority conundrum’s in my life – perhaps in everyone’s life. How do we sort them out to get a winning combo, how do we manage our efforts – to organize our efforts – really, toward an end we want, with other things being incidentals along the way; in other words, does the way we set priorities, determine the outcome more than it should? - Mark Kolke
January 11, 2012
Painting, to some, is fine art. To others, a bucket, tray and roller. Portraits of real life, not still life, must be a combination of these two. Yes? In my past I’ve made many promises. Failed to keep many of them, most of them. Some, I didn’t really think were promises, but they were; easy rationalization to think otherwise. Others, obviously were solemn commitments when I made them. But time passed and circumstances changed, so I excused these relationship failings, blamed partner or lack of communication as the villain. That was all partly true, but when I dig deep – it was all me, making a promise, and then not staying true to it. I’ve resolved to change that. Baby steps, big ones too – taking some risk that dealing with ‘tings differently will produce different results. I’m depending on it. I’ve made it a practice to stop making so many promises. At work and at play; I think they cross over. It’s so easy to make a promise and too easy to forget them.- Mark Kolke
January 10, 2012
Truth is not a statement, or timing, or vantage point – illumination comes slowly, both harshly at times and beautifully at others. And life happens. If we are here for only a moment in the annals of time, don’t we owe it to ourselves and to everyone we know to do our best to make it a pleasant visit, make it a great ride and leave a little less mess than we found. - Mark Kolke
January 9, 2012
Recently tested, I have what it takes to make the best future I can imagine. The best life I can make. The best way of life I can invent for myself. One step, or a hundred, one step or thirty-nine, one step or twelve; one step at a time, one day at a time, if I just focus. Focus ….. is concentration of thought, of effort, on a singular idea or subject at a time; and even if we focus Einstein-like our whole lives, in the end, it is just a moment in time – a flicker quiver in agelessness of the universe and things that never wear out. - Mark Kolke
January 8, 2012
Thinking rooted in being really clear on who we are, what our deepest hopes, dreams, desires and motivating factors really are – and when we get clear on those, it is easy to navigate through a day by measuring each choice against clearly held values and beliefs. To be genuine, have your heart in it. That’s all. No date with destiny, just our nose at some grindstone – like glacier on mountainside, that’s how we move mountains. We can rush, but since the world’s not in a hurry, why are we? - Mark Kolke
January 7, 2012
Best finds – any day, anyway, at work or play, at home or office – gifts that keep giving, conversations months or years apart that first connected us to someone - connective tissue, maybe Kreskin-esque quality humans have not yet fully developed. Days like this - we need more than coffee or Hawaiian dreams to warm us. When alone or just feeling cool, or cold, or discouraged - best is yet to come. - Mark Kolke
January 6, 2012
Where is the bottom of this? Some problems we can solve. Some problems are difficult to define. some problems, we just need to leave behind, move on. I have a problem I can’t seem to deal with effectively. Can’t move on, can’t leave it behind. Not like a car-lemon, or relationship from hell. Those would be easy, but, this one just won’t leave me. Can’t get away from it. I carry it with me, wherever I go; there it is. I wonder, whether I’ve really defined the problem; maybe, if I try harder to do that, I’ll get to the bottom of it. - Mark Kolke
January 5, 2012
We can say nice words, but it is our actions that provide proof, far more than and often in contradiction of our words – the words we use for making promises and expressing ideals. - Mark Kolke
January 4, 2012
I know changing routines, changing planning processes …. at least illusion I have changed some things has always brought me heightened energy, fresh perspective and produced results I never expected. Funny, how change must be so fundamental if we are to trust it – as true change. Which begs this question: whether we change everything – or just one thing, what is the purpose of it? As I examine my changes, what part is really new, really different? Very little actually. Change – fundamental change, deep down change, basic change – that’s a far more complex matter. Or, is it so simple I fail to see it on the first few passes? - Mark Kolke
January 3, 2012
From the most mundane routines of domestication or the routines of work-a-day droll, there has to be a reason. Do we do it just for a paycheck, is it just a vehicle to get their daily bread and pay rent? Or is there a purpose that causes us to do our thing, one thing – career, job, business, venture – that is identifiably ‘the reason’ that we do it? - Mark Kolke
January 2, 2012
I think none of us ever see ourselves as average, typical or stuck in some statistical middle-ground. Maybe we are all, most of us anyway, lumped together in the big hump of the bell-shaped curve . . . moving a little left or right, but mostly huddled in the middle. Still, as we strive for better, maybe we want to be a little more average than the next guy. I think breaking free from ‘average’ is a great struggle that is worth even the smallest measure of differentiation. - Mark Kolke
January 1, 2012
And you there, elusive one, far away one; one I’ve not met, one I’ve not yet known about but I know you are out there – waiting to meet me. Isn’t that the way? The person who will most influence my life and my writing is out there – waiting to make me work for it. Maybe Ray Bradbury’s the one, or Chekov, or Shaw . .or some lady with a little dog; who would know? - Mark Kolke
