While on vacation, I thought I’d use a past Life Tip that had elicited many readers’ comments.  But, lo and behold, the trampoline set up at my sister’s vacation home proved too enticing an experience to ignore, compelling me to pen a new Tip.   Watching my grandsons’ and nephew’s buoyant bouncing was fun in and of itself, and who could resist the invitation to join them?  We laughed ourselves silly at my first feeble attempts at jumping, but their shouts of encouragement and gales of laughter, spurred me on.

Once off the bouncer, my mind kept focusing on how it offered too perfect a metaphor to pass up, so it’s time to share these trampoline-inspired thoughts:

·         Who cares how many times you fall? – what was learned by constant repetition or trying out different moves as part of the learning curve?

·         Find your “sweet spot” – on the trampoline, it’s the circle in the middle which gives you the springiest bounce; where in your life is the best place to take off, the launching pad from which you can soar?

·         Who’s your cheering section? – rare is it to have three adorable boys to root and direct you, but whatever the age of your cheerleaders, never underestimate the power of love,  support and fun; after all, what are friends for?

·         So what if you can’t dunk – you probably guessed it, the boys added a portable basketball hoop to hang over the trampoline- a challenge for me, but second nature for them.  Nonetheless, I did make a basket while jumping (albeit, not a dunk), but it’s the attempt and practice which brings satisfaction and then (hopefully), mastery.

·         Embrace the simple pleasures – what better way to put things in perspective when considering how life’s small joys and satisfactions really do make a difference in your days, weeks, months and years?

·         Keep learning from kids – toss out that adult brain and focus on: fun, laughter, abandon,  camaraderie, fun, exuberance, encouragement, giggles, taking turns, creativity, and did I mention, fun?

And remember, taking action is the catalyst for change!