• Blog
  • Inquiry Archive
  • About
Menu

Inquiry Of The Day (IOTD)365

  • Blog
  • Inquiry Archive
  • About

How have cultural expectations shaped you?

April 30, 2017

People like us don't do things like that. You should or shouldn't do what you are about to do.

Our culture provides an onslaught of must do's and better not's, but are they really for our good or just a set of guidelines to be considered.

I am a fan of "men being men" and the differentiation between the sexes, but what did the common refrain from the John Wayne era movies, "boys don't cry" actually deliver? Did the fruit of this mindset give rise to the silent veteran forbidden from openly...

Read More
In Life Operating System Tags Inspiration, Cultural, Expecations, Stereotype, Love, Self-Awareness
Comment

How do you notice the invisible?

February 12, 2017

The food court kebob joint was backed up. After placing my order, I was immersed in the impatient, receipt looking, foot tapping vibe, radiating from those awaiting their meal. The food looked good and smelled wonderful, but we struggled as the nearby burger, salad, and taco joints quickly delivered their bounty, in mere seconds.

We waited as the flames slowly cooked the skewers of protein. The staff hustled to prepare the plates of salad and rice while avoiding eye contact with the restless customers.

A reluctant mother dodged glaring looks and pressed her way to the front of the pickup line. Her young daughter recognized the young woman behind the counter, from her neighborhood and wanted to say "hi." This pint-sized, etiquette-breaking little girl...

Read More
In Inspiration Tags Inspiration, Friendship, Notice, Engagement, Caring, Self-Awareness
Comment

Why do you stop short of the hard question?

February 6, 2017

The conversation flows between you.

The dialogue bubbles as smooth as a leaf dancing down a swift current.

As the exchange deepens, the navigation gets tougher to dodge the whirlpools.

You hear a statement, and the pivotal question springs to your mind. It is the obvious question that will lay bare the situation. Your eyes lock, and you both know the inquiry must be asked. The answer will bring insight at the expense of embarrassment, discomfort or pain.

Do you choose to ask the difficult question and engage, or do you...

Read More
In Inspiration Tags Questions, Self-Awareness, Care, Inspire, Friendship, Parenting, Parents, Work, Teamwork
Comment

Who doesn't deserve your unity?

January 25, 2017

The soldier's life ebbed into the foreign soil.

She knew the risks, but the siren call to dedicate her life in service to the United States was the call she answered. The fabric of her country is diverse in color, texture, strength, density, and weave; no swatch is the same.

She loved her republic in spite of the stains, wear patterns, snags, and tears which strain the seams. The inner beauty of her people's shared purpose, freedoms, independence, and charity amplified the physical beauty of the land.

Under the armor, her heart pulsed with hope. The possibility...

Read More
In Inspiration Tags Unity, Sacrifice, Self-Awareness, love, Inspiration, truth bomb
Comment

How do you prepare for trials?

January 22, 2017

The U.S. spent $100B to ensure the swing of a second hand turning the millennium, did not crash the modern computer infrastructure during the run-up to Y2K. Pending hurricanes quickly clear store shelves of plywood, batteries, bottled water, milk, bread, and toilet paper. Insurance and financial advisers pitch solutions to mitigate catastrophe and reach personal goals.

How do you prepare for the storms of life during...

Read More
In Inspiration Tags Trials, Self-Awareness, Struggle, planning for the future, Friendship, Vulnerability, Inspiration
Comment

How is your dash?

January 21, 2017

Humanity expends considerable resources to cancel the effects of aging and fighting death. To date, there is not a remedy. Dwelling on death provides motivation for today.

You and I choose every moment how to use the minutes that comprise the dash between our dates of birth and death.

Picking out a handsome headstone this weekend will calibrate our thoughts about the time invested in replying to the click-bait opposing political comment on social media. The anger infused passionate argument is justified at the moment.

You click "submit" and your time is gone.

Is it worth investing your precious life on this post that will be buried in tomorrow's deluge of bickering? Your dash isn't big enough to include a cut and paste of your carefully crafted witty comment.

When was the last time you walked through a cemetery and considered the shortness of life? Where are you wasting your life? What changes need to be made to make the most of your time?

Soon, you will exhale, and the stone cutter's hammer will rest with the dash complete.

How can you create beauty that will outlast you and me?

In Life Operating System Tags Self-Awareness, Death, Beauty, Time
Comment

How do you look beyond your current trial?

January 21, 2017

Being stuck in the middle of the storm sucks.

It is scary.

Uncertainty abounds.

The feeling of everything you have is slipping away and never to return spikes the urge for fight or flight. The need to lash out at those closest to us causes long-term damage. Shortness of breath and the inability to sleep sends us deeper into the death spiral.

However, popular memes and business seminars quip...

Read More
In Life Operating System Tags Trials, Suffering, Hardship, Seneca, Inspiration, Process, Self-Awareness
Comment

What is one thing you did right as a parent?

January 8, 2017

Parents can quickly explain parenting failures and desires to have parented differently. But that is not the question; what is one thing you did right?

The moment of holding your first newborn and realizing you will be taking the bundle home is an explosion of relief, joy, and terror. Thankfully, you and I were not the first riders at this rodeo.

We depend on multiple resources to help guide and shape our care of our children. Everyone tries to be helpful, although some advice misses the mark. A shot of whiskey...

Read More
In Inspiration Tags Parenting, Inspiration, Reflection, Self-Awareness
Comment

How quickly do you laugh at yourself?

January 7, 2017

I have been looking forward to writing this post for a long time. One of the greatest gifts I have encountered has been on the receiving end of mockery by good friends.

First, a bit of clarification. I have always called it mockery until I did research for this post and found a better collection of terms, thanks, Merriam-Webster!

The definition of raillery is "good-natured ridicule." Whereas mockery...

Read More
In Inspiration Tags Humor, Laughter, Self-Awareness, Mockery
Comment

How do you employ humor?

January 3, 2017

Humor can tear down walls when properly wielded and build walls and destroy relationships when improperly handled.

A cashier dug up some coupons to give me a deep discount after bantering some funny comments back and forth. In another case, after presenting a briefing and cracking a joke, the General winced, and the joke fell flat. In the end, it worked out for the best, retelling the story was far better than the joke.

How do you use humor throughout your day? Are you able to handle...

Read More
In Inspiration Tags Humor, Laughter, Self-Awareness
Comment
The Latest RSS

Latest & Greatest

Featured
Sep 14, 2018
The Home Of Inquiry Has Moved
Sep 14, 2018
Sep 14, 2018
Apr 30, 2017
How have cultural expectations shaped you?
Apr 30, 2017
Apr 30, 2017
Apr 23, 2017
How do you fast?
Apr 23, 2017
Apr 23, 2017
Apr 16, 2017
What are your family memories?
Apr 16, 2017
Apr 16, 2017
Apr 9, 2017
How are others showing love to you?
Apr 9, 2017
Apr 9, 2017
Apr 2, 2017
How do you know your commitment will last?
Apr 2, 2017
Apr 2, 2017
Mar 26, 2017
When do you expand your vocabulary?
Mar 26, 2017
Mar 26, 2017
Mar 19, 2017
How do you forage for positivity?
Mar 19, 2017
Mar 19, 2017
Mar 12, 2017
What are you encouraged about?
Mar 12, 2017
Mar 12, 2017
Mar 5, 2017
How can you use your constraints as an advantage?
Mar 5, 2017
Mar 5, 2017

Engage

These INQUIRIES are here for you.

My intention is for you to ask better questions and think deeper.

Our fast paced, always on, society provides little time for reflection. 

After answering the initial inquiry, dig a little deeper and follow-up with a bit more thinking:

What do I think about it?

How can I make it better/worse?

How does this influence my life and those around me?

How can I be more generous?

© Kenneth Woodward and Inquiry Of The Day (IOTD) 365 (IOTD365), 2016.

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kenneth Woodward and IOTD365 with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Give me a chance to say "Yes".

Powered by Squarespace