The Lighthouse

In The Change Workshop we discover that we do have the ability to find peace in each moment. Many of you may be thinking, "You must be kidding. You haven't lived my life - the stress on the job, the demands of family, the responsibilities I have. How can I find peace?" My friends, it is a fair question. The pace of our lives is often breakneck speed - one stressful thing after another happens. Just driving to work can test our nerves, no less our serenity. Yet I encourage you to find space to breathe, pause, center. The light you can bring to each moment not only calms you, it spreads light to those around you.

Think of the work of the lighthouse. It spreads light to guide the lost to their destination. When is it most needed? In the darkest night, during the fiercest storm, in the densest fog. Where are lighthouses built? Right where the storm will rage, at the edge of the vast ocean - there is one in France that sits solitary on an island, constantly batter by huge waves. Think about it - What good would a lighthouse be in a city full of lights?

These times we live in call for those who bring in the light. There are wars, natural disasters, poverty and crime in the world. Yet, in our everyday lives we face constant battering, too - angry people, judgment, expectations - fear abounds. I encourage you to be a lighthouse -- at work, with family, with friends. Expand your heart to let light in. Then spread that light where it is sorely needed.

New Book on "Our Life's Work" from Bill Jensen

Bill Jensen, the author of "Work 2.0" and "The Simplicity Survival Handbook," has a new book out called "Our Life's Work." The new book, which will be available May 1, "captures the intimate exchanges between mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and caring teammates and friends — all talking about what matters at work, and in life. It's a collection of letters from us to our kids." According to Bill, at its heart the book is about questions that tug at all of us:

* Do the people closest to you know what your legacy is?
* How would you describe to them how you want to be remembered?

Bill's work is always insightful, compelling and truly useful. I encourage you to pre-order the book from Amazon (www.amazon.com). To learn more about the book, Bill, and his company, The Jensen Group, go to the companion website http://www.ourlifeswork.com/

Change In The World Today

This week we've had two events that have changed the world.

We saw the beloved Pope John Paul II laid to rest indicating the Catholic Church will have a new leader that could continue John Paul's leadership or bring a change to that religion's role on the world stage. If you are a priest, bishop or cardinal you might have some trepidation about who will be the new Pope. For millions of Catholics who revered John Paul, this next month will be one of anxious vigilance.

This week Prince Charles layed to rest (symbolically) his former wife, Princess Diana, once and for all when he wed Camilla Parker-Bowles. His and her children, the Queen and all the royals appear to be embracing this change with reconciliation. Shouldn't we all see this as a time to forgive a man who made a terrible mistake and is trying to make it right? How many of you are still angry that Charles and his family seduced Diana, a beautiful young girl, into believing she was in a fairly tale while expecting her to be an heir-producer and tourist attraction?