I learned something important this week that I wanted to share—or, I should say, re-learned a lesson because it’s something I have to keep reminding myself, which is that intrinsic rewards always beat extrinsic ones.

Here’s the difference in a nutshell: the personal satisfaction of a job well done (intrinsic) versus creating something in search of external validation (extrinsic).

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WITHOUT GREY
Poem by Heather Harrington

Without grey, I wouldn't miss the sun.

Without cold, I wouldn't long for warmth.
Without heat, I wouldn't look for coolness.

Without sadness, I wouldn't recognize happiness.

Without loud, I wouldn't want quiet.
Without silence, I wouldn't welcome noise.

Without age, I wouldn't ponder youth.

Without heartbreak, I wouldn't enjoy love.
Without loneliness, I wouldn't miss friends.

Without struggle, I wouldn't know success.

Without sickness, I wouldn't relish health.

Without difficulty, I wouldn't appreciate ease.

Without time, I wouldn't savor today.
And without grey, in all its beautiful shades, I wouldn't appreciate living.

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For years I lived a shadow life.

I didn't even realize I had lived this way for the longest time.

I first learned about living a shadow life from reading Steven Pressfield's Turning Pro: Tap Your Inner Power and Create Your Life's Work.

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Sometimes when you put a question out into the universe, it responds.

While on vacation, I was wrestling with a decision. I asked for a sign that I was making the right choice.

I then took a walk on the beach with my daughter. While walking, we came upon a Blue Heron in our path (I have always loved herons). We turned around; we came upon another one on our way back. I hadn't seen any on the beach before this walk, so I thought this was odd and looked up their meaning.

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Oceans apart, we watch.

Helpless at what unfolds.

The unimaginable is happening.

Cities destroyed.

Families separated.

Lives lost.

Through the horror, a strong will emerges.

A heart of a country and the will of its people to survive.

For themselves, their children, the world, and the future.

War cannot destroy love or the will of its people.

Deep it runs like the waters of the sea.

Though the distance between us is far, we stand with you, heart in heart.

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Just when I least expected it. It came.

Small. Unforeseen. But worth the work.

A win.

Sweet like the icing on a freshly baked donut.

Its tiny sprinkles symbolic of the efforts put in.

I could plow right past it. And move on to the next challenge, hungry for a new win.

Or I could pause. Pour a glass of cold milk and enjoy the goodness of the moment... and a donut.

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