Years ago when my daughter was young, she liked to watch a children’s TV show on CBC called: The X. The show was famous for the weird, creative antics of the childhood stars. One month, in the late fall they organized an outdoor concert and show in Toronto. The main event was cooking the world’s largest batch of Poutine.
My daughter really wanted to go so we drove the hour to Toronto and attended the event. The weather was really cold, rainy and dreary and the music was really loud. They did in fact, cook up the world’s largest batch of poutine but we had to stand in line a long time to get it. And like all poutine, it was disgustingly greasy and unhealthy for my cholesterol levels.
At the end of the day, huddled in bed with the chill still in my bones I asked what did I get from that poutine besides an upset stomach? Was there any meaning in it?
The answer I got was of course very obvious: poutine gave me an opportunity to connect with my daughter and share in her excitement about life.
I saw clearly that as we are busy trying to achieve success in life something deeper is occurring. And that something is meaning. Once the thrill of accomplishment is gone life can become dull and boring if the meaning of it all is missing, because in the end it’s not so much the achievement that remains, it’s the new awareness, the improved abilities and the wisdom we gained, that nourishes us on a soul level.
So after that epiphany, I started a routine of finding daily meaning. If you like, you could call it:
The Poutine Routine
I’d like to share it with you.
1. Every night before you fall asleep, review the significant events of your life.
2. Ask yourself these kinds of questions:
- “what did I learn from this? “
- “what new understanding did I gain? “
- “what new abilities did I develop? “
- “what brought meaning and fulfillment to this day? “
- “As a result of what I learned what can I do differently tomorrow?”
3. Do this for a week every night and see if you notice these things happening in your life:
increasing levels of gratefulness, fulfillment, optimism, self-connection and willingness to be in your life”
Then do it as an evening practice and I guarantee it will uplift your daily experience.
Be you to fullness
Russell Scott
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