Aha!: Bridge to New Possibilities

By Barbara Caballero Caballero

We all have Aha experiences where a great idea or breakthrough suddenly comes to us. What makes a difference is what we do with these Aha experiences. Do you write them down? Do you share them with others? I recommend using them to build “mental models” that will act as building blocks to how you approach similar situations in the future, how you remember them and use them to build a better tomorrow, to open yourself to new possibilities.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Oct 16, 2020
• ISBN: 9781664204348

Barbara Caballero Caballero

Barbara Caballero has written poetry since she was eight years old when her poetry was published in the local paper. She has had over one hundred poems published in local, regional and national magazines and has had two poetry books published: “Eat Tea, The Door to Celebration” and “The Woman I am Becoming”. She has led poetry groups and retreats, written book reviews, produced newsletters and written a bi-weekly community column for the Hampshire Review, the local newspaper. With this book she branches out to essays. Enjoy this book as a base camp for new possibilities. You may contact her through this publication.

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Copyright © 2020 Barbara Caballero.

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ISBN: 978-1-6642-0435-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-0434-8 (e)

WestBow Press rev. date: 10/05/2020

INTRODUCTION

Y ou may have read Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten or Everything I Need to Know I Learned from the Golden Books . But I would propose that everything I need to know I learned along the way. In our very first days we learn the value of a smile. We learn how to laugh. No better lesson will produce so much good in our lives and in the world. It is the first way that we make a difference.

Knowing that a smile makes a difference does nothing unless you actually smile. So the question becomes how we get from knowledge to action. I propose we do this with a plan. I call these mini-plans mental models. They remind us to use the wonderful things we have learned along the way like looking both ways before you cross the street. There are so many streets you will cross in your life. Wouldn’t it be nice if some of the things we choose to do just sort of came naturally?

The suggestions in this book are about models I have made from discoveries along the way. I offer them as possibilities to emulate and as ideas for building your own mental models. Enjoy!

SHARING OUR STORIES

Every story told carries branches of meaning.

I have built my mental models

To help guide my choices,

From the stories I have read or heard

Or seen played out.

We gather meaning through relationships.

We are called to work

With what we are given.

Our task is to listen

For the story, insights, even questions,

To seek our next teachers.

We see only fragments,

Rough cut gems, and

Work to understand their meaning.

Contents

BEGINNINGS

Make it A Great Day

Hour of Power

To Do Lists

Setting an Intent

ATTITUDE

Random Acts of Kindness

Response – Ability

Thresholds

Give Up Littleness

Nuggets and Chaff