Reading this morning from a book by Andy Andrews called “The Noticer”. My wife brought it home last night with a bag full of other books. (Someone gave her a $100 Barnes and Noble card…talk about happiness …she loves books and book buying) Many of you may be familiar with Andy Andrews most popular book, “The Travelers Gift”. This book seems to be written in a similar style with a wise traveler whose name is Jones who humbly goes about offering wisdom in candid ways that help people gain great clarity around their personal accountability and the choices that they are making.(or excuses)
I just intended to flip through the book but when I started reading on page 82… I forgot about flipping and was on p 112 before I knew it. Here are a couple highlights from those few pages. Wish I could share the full context… (but I’ll need to read from the beginning to get that myself)
Many of life’s treasures remain hidden from us simply because we never search for them. Often we do not ask the proper questions that might lead us to the answer to all our challenges. We are so caught up in fear and regret, that hope seems a foolish endeavor.
Proof of hope, however is not only possible; it is an overlooked law of the universe.
… even trying during trying times, it is important to understand that such times are a normal part of life’s ebb and flow-nothing to
be too alarmed about. After all, every one of us is always in a crisis, coming out of a crisis, or headed for a crisis. Crisis? That’s just a part of being on this planet.
Almost everywhere he appeared(Jones), because of his reputation for honesty and wisdom dispensed with a healthy dose of humor, a
crowd would gather to ask questions and listen closely to his answers. Everyone seemed to emerge from those encounters with a new perspective on their situation, which allowed them to regroup, take a breath, and begin their lives again from a different point of view. (WOW I REALLY LOVE THAT LINE… I think it’s a statement that reflects one of the most admirable traits of wise leaders and one I would suggest that we would all be wise to aspire to have and develop in ourselves)
Last bit from the book is on the importance of not dismissing the “small stuff”.
There is another character in the book who is in the habit of focusing on the big picture and letting what he considers the small stuff
take care of itself. But the details and small stuff he is neglecting is actually what is undermining his reputation, his integrity and the very fabric of his life. Here’s how it goes in the book.
Jones asks this character, “Have you ever heard the saying, “Don’t sweat the small stuff?”
“Yes” is the response.
“Well, ” Jones said, “I’m here to tell you that you better. See the small stuff is what makes up the larger picture of our lives.
Many people are like you, young man. But their perspective is distorted. The ignore ‘small stuff, ‘ claiming to have an eye on the bigger
picture, never understanding that the bigger picture is composed of nothing more than - are you ready ? — ‘small stuff.”
“Have you ever been bitten by an elephant?” Jones asked. “How about a mosquito?”
Great book… Kirk out
My oldest daughter recently introduced me Pinterest.com where I spent far too much time while laying up. But admittedly I enjoyed it. And it’s where todays blog images came from. My current image collection is at 
