all in all an abundant life

I’ve overtired, returning late last night from a couple of days in New York City for business. Did make my pilgrimate to Dumpling Man [cf. blog], absolutely delicious, and stopped in at an incredible Italian dessert dealy in East Village called Veniero’s. But I missed out getting indigenous foods like New York Strip and New York Cheesecake. What I like to do on the road is eat what the locals eat; indigenous, not franchise. Oh, I’m thrilled to see Starbucks come out with a probable winner, Green Tea Frappuccino, after a coupla duds like breakfast sandwiches and Chantico.

Listened to a recent Chip Anderson talk at Mosaic, in which he shared high times and hard times in his life. I’d first heard Chip talk about his aliveness theory, as a foundational issue in motivation for student retention in college, but very much true for motivation in all aspects of life. (cf. some great articles he wrote about the theology of strengths) And here he is, telling his story, having lived through terrible abuses, bad relationships, and most recently, cancer diagnosis with a prediction of maybe a month to live. Yet he’s still walking humbly with God, and having a great time being alive.

Those heart-wrenching stories give me perspective on my life, which occasionally gets clouded, as if my feelings were shouting loudly and distorting my perception of reality. (Now there is some validity to my feelings and emotions, but not as much as its intensity would justify.) I really have it good, counting my many blessings: family, friends, health, home, work, soberness, intellect, growing numbers of website visitors, more material goods than what I know to do with. If only my feelings could catch up more quickly.

Plus, my Daily Commute Podcast from tonight’s commute.

[update 7/15] Thanks, Gerardo, for letting me know about Chip’s homegoing on 7/5. His memorial service was earlier this week, and there’s a memorial web page: In Loving Memory of Edward “Chip” Anderson.