Monday Moment - From a Grateful Student

This Monday finds me in a rare and rather wonderful mood that combines a high from a great weekend conference and the physical and emotional stupor from expending myself fully.

The conference was held to honor my teacher, mentor, and friend Dr. Sidney B. Simon on the occasion of his 80th year on this planet. A community of people who have learned from Sid - from the 1930's through 2007 - gathered to attend sessions led by Sid and his students. It was magical - fun, heart-warming, thought-provoking, fully and totally alive!

Sid's message had to do with how one measure's a life - the friends one keeps, what one's children say behind one's back, finding one's gifts and sharing them in ways that help others, the work one leaves, the love one has given, prayers prayed for others, and on and on. (It occurred to me too late to add it to the Sid's list on Sunday, but I've also been thinking about the FUN HAD!)

There's no doubt that Sid - the man and his work - have touched people deeply. I've witnessed people speak their gratitude for lessons learned - and I've experienced it myself.

So in my own gratitude, I decided I'd attempt a list of 80 Things I Have Learned from My Teacher, Mentor and Friend Sid Simon. Somewhere around 23 learnings, I began to think I might have difficulty coming up with 80 - but that was a premature and silly worry. By #65 or so, it was clear I'd have a surplus. This is a man who has had much and will continue to have much to teach. So I opted not to worry that my list be complete. It will grow as memory uncovers learnings that have been packed away and as I continue to learn from Sid.

So here's my list. But be warned. These are learnings that one will gain most from by reading slowly and pondering deeply. Skim if you must - but to really soak up each gem of an idea, you'll need to think and feel and journal and speak your truths out loud. Or just sign up for the next workshop that Sid offers to start or add to your own list of what you've learned.