Lily scrunched her nose: Mrs. Parker's expression and demeanor were so opposite to statement. Lily found it very exhilarating to imagine and embrace new lessons available to each of us daily.

How often have we heard "You learn something new every day"? What have we believed about that statement?

Think for a moment.

Tell me, what did you learn today? How about yesterday? How about on January 16 (or pick any random date)?

Abigail Adams said, "Learning is not attained by chance. It must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence."

As people seeking to make a difference in world, first place to start learning is within our own lives. Being conscious in realm of learning is simply being alert and awake to all possibilities that surround you daily.

For example, I scan newspaper everyday.

I had an assignment in a class I was taking to read newspaper and find two articles which are especially interesting to me and add them to a scrap book for future reference.

Now when I scan newspaper, I am looking for headlines that light something within me. Sometimes my local paper does not cut it, so I subscribed to New York Times Headline email service. Today one of articles I chose to study was about bus service in Atlanta.

>From that one article I can do several things to grow my business and positively impact my life.

We went to library this week. Emma, at four, has a penchant for Non Fiction. She got a book about Space and a book about Nature. I also slid in "Green Eggs and Ham" by Dr. Seuss because I enjoy reading it and she enjoys listenning.

I also picked up a book by one of leading authorities in world in field of Creative Thinking. "de Bono's Thinking Course" leaped off shelf and into my hands.

Reading it was like attending a class reunion. The words were so familiar! The language and expression reminded me of what happens whenever I go back to Dana Point and talk to someone who speaks Southern Orange Countese. Somehow I start saying things like "No way!" with that certain almost surferesque lilting quality.

One of first exercises is called The PMI. A very simple attention directing tool which takes away prejudgement and automatic thinking, it is a tool that can be used in almost any situation be it requesting consideration of an idea at work or deciding upon a restaurant for dinner or assessing where to go to college.

The PMI stands for Plus, Minus and Interesting.

No, I did not say Pros and Cons.

Pros and Cons attach judgement while PMI steers clear of any sort of prejudgement. It simply states what is. In fact, often times one statement can fit in all three categories. The PMI is about looking at question. It is about surveying it for information, for clues, for subtleties. It is not something to get stuck in or bogged down by however.

It is a quick thinking tool that can shift you into balance OR it may show you what is really truth.

Today at church I walked right past a bulletin board.

There were pictures on it from last week's skating party. I vaguely remembered a flash bulb in my face, so I around and looked more carefully.

Sure enough, there Sam and I were in all our Skating Party glory. All I could see after crooning over Sam was that I decided my smile lines made me look old. I decided in that moment "YUCK! And that is being seen by everyone who walks by! How humiliating!"

I continued on my walk towards sanctuary where Sam and I sang and listened and prayed.

After worship I visited with many friends, including Glenda, who has recently joined ranks of those of us in our fourth decade. Like me, she has several preschoolers. She looked really great so I complimented her newly svelte figure.