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Tuning in… Becoming a Target for Inspiration

Jan 14, 2025

For most of my life,  moments of inspiration…the slaps…would come and go. They’d hit me out of nowhere, crack something open inside me, and then, just as quickly, they’d fade. I’d let them play out in my head, expanding on the thought, the memory, the empathy they stirred. And then… once played out, they’d evaporate.

But lately, I’ve started listening. Capturing. Writing. These slaps no longer fizzle…they flow. They tumble out of my mind, through my fingers, and onto the page. They become something tangible, something that doesn’t just live in my head but takes on a life of its own. And I love it.

The Power of Presence

These slaps don’t come when I’m rushing through life or distracted by noise or deadlines. They come when I’m tuned in, when I’m present. Like the other night on a date with Jenna…something I’ve been doing to reconnect, to rebuild. We were in a completely empty theater during a snowstorm, watching the new Dylan tribute movie. It felt like a perfect moment…quiet, intimate, surreal.

And then the flashbacks hit. The kind I’ve been wrestling with for years. But something clicked. Maybe it was the “Meditations” study, maybe it was the stillness of the room, maybe it was the work I’ve been doing to better understand myself. I talked myself out of it. I stayed in the moment…and then Dylan’s words in the movie at that moment  hit me like lightning…

“He not busy being born is busy dying.”

It wasn’t just a lyric anymore… it was a wake-up call, a permission slip, a demand. My mind has been racing ever since. That slap opened a floodgate.

Through deep work and reflection… I’m busy being born…re-inventing. And I realized that’s been the chronicle of my life: one reinvention after another. It’s not something to avoid or hide from but rather something to embrace.

My recent study of Marcus Aurelius' Meditations has had me pondering another truth…

"What stands in the way becomes the way."

The Tumble of Thought

When these moments hit, it’s not just about the inspiration itself…it’s about what it unlocks. Memories. Lessons. Experiences. Empathy. It all starts tumbling, like a snowball rolling downhill, picking up speed and momentum. When I sit to write about it, I enter a flow state. Time dissolves. Distractions fall away. It’s just me and the page, the purest connection I’ve known in years.

Becoming a Target

If I had my way, I’d make my life about becoming a target for these slaps. Almost inviting them. Choosing to live in a way that opens me up to those moments…whether it’s an owl in a tree, a mother holding her child’s hand, or something deeply sad.

Those tiny, fleeting moments are doors. They lead me inward and outward at the same time. They connect my past to my present, my lessons to my creativity, and my voice to the world.

What about you? Are there slaps in your life you’ve been ignoring? What might you notice if you stopped, tuned in, and let those moments take you somewhere you didn’t expect?

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Patterns in Motion: Insights from a Life Spent Paying Attention

If you’re in a position of authority at a Car Dealership…This is for you
The Car Biz a world full of noise, I’ve made a life by paying attention—spotting patterns, identifying undercurrents, finding the deltas, and making sense of the chaos. When I notice emerging trends, I call them Bobservations.

When these observations prove noteworthy and actionable, they evolve into what I call Manorisms—principles and strategies that demand action. These are the insights I share with you, turning thought into movement.

Freedom • Curiosity • Vision • Growth • Kindness • Grit • Loyalty

Bob Manor's Mission Statement

"To empower individuals and businesses by sharing three decades of unparalleled expertise and insights in the Canada-US auto wholesale market. My mission is to guide and inspire through the principles of the B4 Method, fostering a balance of professional success and personal well-being. I am committed to providing tailored, strategic advice and practical solutions that drive growth, efficiency, and resilience. By blending my deep industry knowledge with a holistic approach to life and work, I aim to help others navigate their paths with confidence and clarity, building lasting relationships based on trust, integrity, and mutual growth."