"Monday 5 Things" with D. Paul Graham
.....Graham. Paul Graham.....
Monday 5 Things…..Graham. Paul Graham…..
Ahhh yes. I can’t wait. I recently watched (with full disclosure, I may have re-re-re-re-re-watched) the trailer for the upcoming 25th Bond movie, "No Time To Die," that will be released in April of next year. I suppressed the urge to book an appointment at the Aston Martin dealership in Atlanta and at dinner opted not to pour an aperitif of a vodka martini. I’m more of a scotch man myself. I did however reflect on Bond's proclivity for said libation: "Shaken, not Stirred." As a twist to the famous Bond line, this morning’s M5T considers those things in life that cause us to be Stirred not Shaken.
1. Music.
It is amazing how music can stir one’s soul, pulling at our hearts with memories that can move us to tears or make us laugh out loud. Music stirs us to raise our hands in the air in joy or ignore speed limits in our cars. Music stirs us to sing even if we can’t carry a tune. Music can stir us to dance. Even if we dance like Elaine in Seinfeld.
2. Gratitude.
Simply reflecting on how much we have to be thankful for can stir our hearts, by focusing on the abundant blessings we have in our lives. Despite all the negativity we are bombarded with today, we still live in the best part of the world. Gratitude stirs us to realize we can go anywhere, do anything, be anyone. Gratitude stirs us to replace apathy, doubt, boredom and melancholy with passion, certainty, energy, and exuberance.
3. Serenity.
When we feel overwhelmed by the demands on our time, often the most proactive thing we can do is to slow down, step away and take time alone to think. Serenity stirs a sense of calm, centering our thoughts, revitalizing our verve and belaying a newfound peacefulness even during the most chaotic moments in our lives.
4. Learning.
Learning stirs us to inquire, expose, engage, examine, explore, and experiment. Learning stirs our curiosity. Learning motivates and focuses our dreams. Learning stirs our senses and pushes us to understand and confirm our beliefs, our faith and our values.
5. Inspiration.
Inspiration stirs us to challenge ourselves, to step out of our comfort zones and to see new possibilities. Inspiration moves us to create and to communicate, to transform our thoughts from negative to positive, and to willingly traverse and transcend the difficulties in our lives.
Here’s to a week of taking time to understanding what challenges you, what inspires you and allowing yourself to be stirred rather than shaken.
© 2019 D. Paul Graham, all rights reserved.
D. Paul Graham is passionate about people, culture, photography and business. He has embraced his wanderlust with his travels around the globe and is at peace with his need for spirited drives in all things automotive.
You can find M5T each Monday here on www.southmag.com and by friending D. Paul Graham on Facebook. Paul is also a contributing photographer to South Magazine. His photographic work can be found on Instagram @dpgraham and at www.imageGRAHAM.com. Your feedback is always welcome. Email Paul at dpg@imagegraham.com
