Ripples v9.26: Algebra & Unpaved Roads!
6/25/07: a free weekly splash from Paul & The Ripples Project

____________________PEBBLE ____________________

When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to your youth, think of Algebra.
-source unknown, submitted by Dixie S., Valley City, ND

____________________BOULDER ____________________

Some people try to
turn back their odometers.
Not me, I want people to know
why I look this way.
I've traveled a long way and
some of the roads weren't paved.
-source unknown, submitted by Dixie S., Valley City, ND

____________________PONDER ____________________

Our society tends to obsess over youth and as a result many people feel discouraged about growing older. While we certainly benefit from the enthusiasm and fresh perspective of young minds, it is also true that we can benefit tremendously from wisdom and experience. It takes many years for an individual to acquire a decent amount of useful information and another 3 or 4 decades to amass a trove of lived experiences that will help distill the information into wisdom. Every day you get older is another set of experiences and hopefully some more new information. Trust me, these will prove immensely valuable for you and the people around you!

Peace,
Paul
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Ripples v9.25: Persistence!
6/18/07: a free weekly splash from Paul & The Ripples Project

____________________PEBBLES ____________________

Energy and persistence conquer all things.
-Ben Franklin, submitted by Sarah B., Selma NC

Paralyze resistance with persistence.
-source unknown, submitted by Andy F., Erie PA

____________________BOULDER ____________________

Virtually nothing comes out right the first time.
Failures, repeated failures,
are finger posts on the road to achievement.
The only time you don't want to fail
is the last time you try something…
One fails forward toward success.
-Charles F. Kettering, submitted anonymously

____________________PONDER ____________________

I have had two weeks of fantastic adventures: visiting a summer camp I attended as a camper and counselor (many moons ago!) to help out with staff training; heading east to again help my friends at Plymouth State University prepare new students and their parents for the transition to college life (and seeing my friend Maura in Vermont!); and ending my crazy travels with a return home to help kick off the 2007 Wisconsin Leadership Seminar which is ALWAYS a blast.

In talking with camp counselors, new students and high school leaders, I found myself encouraging ALL of them to remember that school, work, and life include many challenges and that PERSISTENCE is an essential component for success. We do not like it when things do not go as we hoped or planned, and it can certainly be tempting to just throw up our hands in frustration and walk away.

WAIT! Don't give up just yet! Whatever project you're working on this week that is taking more time and energy than you would like, I wonder if you could muster enough energy to stand up, brush yourself off, and jump back in with the knowledge that just a little PERSISTENCE can go along way in moving things forward.

Peace,
Paul
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Ripples v9.24: Patience!
6/11/07: a free weekly splash from Paul & The Ripples Project

____________________PEBBLE ____________________

Eventually all the pieces fall into place. Until then,
laugh at the confusion, live for the moment,
and realize that everything happens for a reason.
-source unknown, submitted by Sarah W., NJ/PA

____________________BOULDER ____________________

Patience serves
as a protection against wrongs
as clothes do against cold.
For if you put on more clothes
as the cold increases,
it will have no power to hurt you.
So in like manner you must grow in patience
when you meet with great wrongs, and
they will then be powerless to vex your mind.
-Leonardo da Vinci, submitted by Anne R., Concord MA

____________________PONDER ____________________

Sometimes you need to take action,
make decisions, push the envelope.
Other times you need to sit back
and practice PATIENCE.
How do you know when to do what?
That skill will grow,
if you could just be more, well, PATIENT!

Peace,
Paul
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Ripples v9.23: Small Steps!
6/4/07: a free weekly splash from Paul & The Ripples Project

____________________PEBBLE ____________________

I long to accomplish a great and noble task,
but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they are great and noble.
-Helen Keller, submitted by Sarah Z., Fond du Lac WI

____________________BOULDER ____________________

One smile begins a friendship,
One handclasp lifts the soul.
One star can guide a ship at sea,
One word can frame a goal.

One step must start each journey,
One word must start each prayer.
One hope will raise our spirits,
One touch can show you care.

One voice can speak with wisdom,
One heart can know what's true.
One life can make the difference,
You see it's up to you.
-adapted from a poem attributed to Cindy O'Connor, submitted by Linda K.,

____________________PONDER ____________________

I have just wrapped up a simultaneously invigorating and exhausting weekend at NACURH 2007, a conference best described by Zachary from Oklahoma State who wrote in his Facebook profile that he is pooping rainbows because "NACURH is the happiest place in the world."

Enthusiastic college residence hall leaders from all over the U.S. and Canada gathered at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and the conference theme was "One Small Step" which is pretty close to our ripply idea that small actions have big potential. I wonder what would happen if all of us decided this week to take one SMALL STEP to do some unexpected nice thing for someone else without explanation, without acknowledgement, without expecting anything in return. Let's find out, shall we?

On your mark, get set, STEP!

Peace,
Paul
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