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June 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Displaced Bridge Troll

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June 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Happy Birthday Jamie

Today’s letter goes out to Jamie (@InspiredMess) as it was her birthday on Wednesday. I did actually send this to her on time but I’m finally posting it now that everything is back up and running. If you haven’t yet, wish her a happy belated birthday.

Dear Birthday Girl, Today marks the day that the world changed forever. It marks the start of an era when an inspired mess reaches out and leaves a lasting imprint on ever life that she touches. I'm not sure if growing up you dreamt of encouraging and inspiring a kid from Canada, but that's exactly what you've done. Your warmth and openness shine through every activity you plan for your family and every blog post you share. Today is your birthday and we are all so lucky to be within your reach.
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June 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Dammit! I wish I had a burrito.

Dear Brosef, As you roared passed me on your Harley, the only thought that went through my head was "Damn, I wish I had a burrito to throw out the window right now". My best friend Baxter (he's a dog) would be sitting on the seat beside me and I'd have an epic moustache that would make Tom Selleck jealous. I wondered if the situation would unfold like it did in the movies. Would I hit you with the burrito, knock you off your bike only to find out that you were Jack Black right before you punt Baxter off a bridge? Man! I wish had a burrito. Instead, I watched your tail lights fade as you sped into the night none the wiser. Me? I still have a huge smile on my face, still wishing I had a burrito. Here's the real crazy thing: you made my night. I'm in a better mood, and you have no clue that you played a huge role in that. How often do you think that happens? We honestly have no clue how our actions impact random observers. What would happen if we lived conscious of that? Would it change the way we act, behave or even treat people? I sure hope it will. -I'm Ron Burgundy?
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June 2, 2011 By 1 Comment

Shaping a generation, one soccer game at a time

Dear Proud Soccer Dad, I can only assume that the lunch spread you had laid before you was a victory meal. Judging by the smile on your son's face and the shinpad clad legs happily swinging under the table, there was no other place your little boy would have rather been at that moment, and it wasn't because the soccer game was won. In fact, I'm sure that didn't even matter. It says a lot about you and the role in which you've played in his life. There are a lot of fathers who don't get the chance you have, and some who simply choose to play no part at all. But not you. You're choosing to shape and form the next generation. Keep going. You are making a difference. -Dave
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June 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Will Your Thinking Change My Actions?

Dear Lone Strider, Something struck me as I watched your relatively emotionless body head down the sidewalk to God knows where: I have no idea what you're thinking. This may seem like an obviously dumb thing to say, but I'm serious. I have no idea if you're happy or sad. No idea if you just had lunch with someone you love or if you just lost your job. I have no idea if you're shocked from just winning the lottery or if you're somber as you're about to end your life. The big question for me is if I have this knowledge, would it change my actions? Would I stop to congratulate you on recent success? Would I stop to encourage you if life took an unexpected downturn? Would stop and try to find you help if I knew you couldn't take this life anymore? What I realized is that we ignorantly carry on from day to day as the world passes us by. It's unrealistic to think that an individual can be there for everyone, but what if it was just a handful. I'd like to believe that part of our roles as humans is to look out for one another; and this extends beyond those immediately around you. I truly hope you're having a good day. And who knows, maybe next time I see you, you'll have some good news to share. -Dave
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June 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Reclaim Your Voice

Dear Voiceless 3 Year Old, I love watching your face light up as your left dimple sinks into your perfectly round cheek as you mouth the words “I have no boice!” What you don’t realize at your young age as you’re busy learning your ABC’s and watching the same episode of “Dora The Explorer” for the 3rd time in a day, is that you have just articulated what most in our society have failed to even recognize. We have lost our voice. I don’t mean that we’ve lost the ability to speak, far from it. But what we’ve lost is our own cadence: the flavour in which we express our dreams, our passions and the deepest parts of our souls. You’ve barely found your voice yet you’ve already lost it. Thank you for reminding me that I still have a voice. -Dave
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June 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Moments We’ll Never Miss

Dear Door Holder, I appreciated your gesture; I really did. The few moments you took out of your day to wait for me to catch so I didn't have to open the door myself was not lost me. It was actually contagious as I the door for the next person. One thought did strike me as interesting though. Taking time out of our day and holding a door is something most of do as a gesture of goodwill, yet most of us are fully capable of opening doors ourselves. We do it because inherently, we want to help others and because it's convenient. But what would happen if we took those moments and helped someone with something they can't do for themselves? What if we even went out of our way? Maybe it's as easy as helping a single mom load her groceries while she takes care of her kids. Maybe it's more elaborate like cooking a meal once a week for someone who is unable. As I passed through the door you kindly held for me, I realized that you'd never miss those moments. You'll never ask for them back. How many moments do I have in a day that I can give? -Dave
Filed Under: Humanity Tagged With: ,
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June 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Blind Beauty

Dear Sightless Stroller, Time seemed to stand still as watched you swiftly make your way down the sidewalk, feeling every bump, crack and obstacle with your white and red "eyes" that swung back and forth from side to side. I imagined what you the world must be saying to you as the breeze dances across you skin and the rustling leaves whisper in your ears. Just seeing you, unable to see, made me acutely aware of the beauty that surrounded me: the leaves are turning green, flowers are starting to bloom, the spring breeze that seems to be welcoming in the new season. Then gone. The world snapped back to the blur in which I am accustomed; the life of blissful ignorance as I take for granted the beauty that I can only imagine you long to see, if just for a moment. I'd say it's fair to say that your ability to see, I mean 'really' see, is far better than mine. -Dave
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June 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Are You a Quitter? (I Hope So)

Dear Contemplative Quitter, I can see you teetering back and forth from a mile away, being pushed by the winds of exhaustion and perseverance. Will you quit and move on or dig in and push forward? It's kind of a loaded question. Society has taught us that we can't fail. We need to finish what we've started. We need to strive for perfection, spoon feeding us the bullshit that perfection actually exists. The real question that needs to be asked is this: Is not quitting holding you back from starting a project that will change the world? I can't answer that for you. It's something you're going to have to decide for yourself. If it is, quit. Start another project. Do something that inspires you. We all have things that we've failed at. We're just really good at hiding them from the ridicule of our culture. Let the wind blow you where it will. Don't fight either force. You will end up where you're supposed to be. -Dave
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June 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

What Have You Handcuffed Yourself To?

Dear Anti-War Activist, I find it funny that while I sit here writing, the picture I have in my head is of shirtless guy among thousands of others handcuffed together with a slogan scrawled across your chest, veins bulging out the side of your neck as if they're about to burst while you yell and chant at the top of your lungs, sitting outside a 50 story office building with every passerby staring at you. Our society has made activists out to be these crazy nut jobs simply move from one demonstration to another hoping not to get arrested that day. But we're all activists aren't we? We are all passionate about something aren't we? Some may have more global significance than others but that doesn't matter. What matters is that we stand up for what we believe in. You said something that stuck with me. You said that if we are going to have a future on this earth, we need to start valuing human life and stop killing each other. I agree, and while you're out there being kidnapped in war torn countries and risking your life, I'm here, hiding behind a computer, writing a letter you're probably never going to read. Thank you for standing up. -Dave
Filed Under: Humanity Tagged With: , ,
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