EVEN BIG KIDS "SPILL!" Affirming People In An In Your Face World © Lee Wise 2002 All rights reserved

It still happens -- even with adults. I know. I was culprit this time.

The glass "just appeared." My arm hit that crazy glass of of water. Almost instantly water was...

On table. On floor. "Messy."

But you know what? The rest of family didn't think it was a very big thing :)

"Water? What's a little water?"

AND I THOUGHT...

"That's kinda neat! Even big kids (like me) can feel okay when they spill their drinks!"

Why did I feel this way? I'll tell you: because for about thirty years we practiced saying something over and over again.

A COMMON PHASE

We had a common phrase we used around our house when one of children spilled a drink at table -- which, I'm convinced, must be in genes of *every* child: "You shall spill liquids. It's not only your birth right, it is your responsibility."

Back to phrase.

The phrase was simple: "That's okay. Everyone spills." Sometimes child might also hear words to this effect: "That's okay. Daddy help."

Then we'd just clean up and go on with meal. No big deal. AND THE OPERATIVE WORDS WERE...

"That's okay!"

I mean, why make a "little person" feel bad because she made a common mistake? It is a part of growing up process!!

And besides...

*People are more important than "process" -- right? *Everyone makes mistakes -- right? *It is good for family to help -- right? RIGHT

Yes, I repeated word "right" for a purpose. It is a good practice to:

I SEE... I MUST...I Will Three Key Words To Help Us Live Exceptional Lives © Lee Wise 2003 All rights reserved

A GREAT TRIO

If someone were to present a set of Olympic medals to top three finalists for key phrases that help propel us toward living an exceptional style of life, finalists might very well be:

*I see! *I must! *I will!

"I SEE"

I see is vision.

It is ability -- or sense -- of a "way we need to go." It may be an inner emotion that says...

"We should do this... and we can do this." It may be a burden on heart that won't go away. Or a dream that must be realized.

You just see it.

You see book produced, organization formed, children helped, homes built, or people energized.

Next comes...

"I MUST"

This is feeling that something *must* be done.

In this phase of living exceptional style of life, there is a strong personal *conviction* that is inherently present at beginning or developed over a period of time.

I see -- that's vision. I must -- that's conviction.

Then comes...

"I WILL"

No surprise here: final medallist that steps onto winners' block is *determination.*

As watching world expresses its appreciation...