Wednesday, August 20, 2008

The Monkey Man and the Lightning Bugs

The Monkey Man knows that if you look around you can find lessons all around. One evening, the Monkey Man was sitting out on the porch relaxing. As he sat watching the sun fade below the horizon, he started noticing small flashing lights around him. What were these strange lights? A strange effect from something he ate? The Monkey Man watched closely and noticed that these lights seemed alive. He looked closely, his eyes wide open as the lights flashed around him. The realization came to him that this natural light show was being created by some small, friendly lightning bugs.
As he continued watching this amazing light show, he noticed something special about his new found friends. As each lightning bug would light up, it was always moving in the same direction, upward. This made the Monkey Man think. He positioned himself in his thinking pose, his elbows on his knees, his arms bent up so his chin could rest on his closed fists. The Monkey Man started thinking that in order for him to see these little friends, they had to show off their talent and share it with those around them.
The Monkey Man hopes you can learn that in order to shine, you need to show off your talents and abilities to those around you. When you do, you will move in one direction, upward!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Chin Up!

The Monkey Man was feeling really bad for one of the chimps in the troop. A situation arose which made it so the Monkey Man and the troop were separated and not able to see each other day in and day out. This was a real struggle for the entire troop, but especially for one of the chimps. Whenever the time came for the chimp to leave the Monkey Man, he would hold on to his bedposts, kicking his feet and crying that he didn't want to go. This distressed the Monkey Man so he started pondering ways to help the chimp not only overcome the struggle, but to help him while he was away from the Monkey Man. He explained to the chimp that he should hold his head high and be proud. He was the Monkey Man's son and no matter where he went or what ever happened to him, that would be the case. If he ever felt down, he should say to himself, 'Chin up!' and then lift his chin up so his head was held high. This became the Monkey Man and the chimp's code. Whenever they left each other, they reminded each other 'Chin up!'

The Monkey Man didn't realize how much this simple phrase would bond the two of them together and help both of them through some tough times. Recently, the chimp came to live with the Monkey Man. The chimp saw some similar separation struggles with a younger chimp in the troop. He leaned over to the Monkey Man and said, "Maybe you should share our 'Chin up!' secret with this little chimp to help her. I don't think we will need it as much now." The Monkey Man shared this phrase with the young chimp and saw a wonderful smile come to her face. Now whenever the Monkey Man sees this little member of the troop, a gentle reminder of 'Chin up!' rolls of his monkey lips and the smile returns to her face with a glitter in the chimps eye.

When you are going through struggles or need a boost, the Monkey Man hopes you will hold your head high and know that there is someone out there that cares about you. There is a monkey swinging from branch to branch whispering the simple words 'Chin up!'

Saturday, August 2, 2008

The Monkey Man and the Inchworm

The Monkey Man finds there are many lessons to learn, when we least expect them. Case in point. The Monkey Man found himself in a very long and boring meeting at a mountain retreat. As he sat hunched over staring at the floor, his hands poised on his chin, the Monkey Man noticed a small inchworm slowly making it's way across the floor. As quizzical as the Monkey Man is, he stared at the little inchworm, wondering where he was going, what he was thinking and wondering if he would make it to his destination.
The Monkey Man watched as the inchworm almost got squished as another primate shifted their foot and it nearly came down on top of the little critter. The inchworm continued on it's journey slowly meandering across the vast stretching floor. Then the little inchworm came to another obstacle, the leg of a chair. It paused on it's journey. The Monkey Man wondered what the inchworm would do. It slowly went around the leg of the chair and continued inching it's way along his path.
After some time, the inchworm made it's way in front of the Monkey Man, right to the base of his foot. The Monkey Man made a decision to adjust his foot to allow the journey to be a little easier for his new found friend. The inchworm paused long enough as to say, thanks for making my journey easier before crawling farther across the floor. There were many other obstacles the little inchworm came across on his journey, some bigger than others. The Monkey Man noticed the little inchworm continued on, meeting each obstacle and conquering it until it crawled to the far side of the room and out of the Monkey Man's sight.
The Monkey Man pondered about this little encounter and came to the conclusion that he should be a little more like the inchworm, continuing undaunted, conquering the obstacles in his life. He thought about how sometimes there are others that help move the obstacles just like he did by moving his feet for his inchworm friend. And just like his crawling friend, he should pause to thank those that help him in his journey.
To all those that have helped the Monkey Man, THANK YOU!!!