Counting my blessings…

Morning!

No matter how things are going in our lives they could always be better, but it sometimes takes a tragedy to make us realize they could also be worse. Just put yourself in Port Au Prince right now and I think you will get my drift.

I met a woman a few years ago in the Dominican Republic. Her standing home structure was about the size of two tiny rooms and a new cinderblock structure was being built around it about two maybe three times the size. She showed me her home with great pride and talked about what was to come with a glad heart. Her pride in her tiny garden that had a growing lemon tree and mint leaves shone in her eyes.

She went out of her way to welcome us. She had black sweet coffee, a Dominican favorite, and offered us some. Not wanting to put her out in any way, I thanked her but declined. Later on, we talked a little more about coffee and I mentioned that I liked milky unsweetened coffee. My husband told her he only drank tea. We continued to talk with her husband while she excused herself and moments later appeared with a hot cup of milky coffee for me and tea for my husband. She had slipped away to borrow a can of evaporated milk from a neighbor and picked leaves from her garden for my husband’s tea. Tears still come to my eyes when I think of this. I made a pact from that day on that I would always be hospitable to unexpected guests and never think of my home as not enough.

We do that often in our lives without thinking. We feel that others have so much more than we do. Better homes, better husbands or wives, better jobs, better lives. Our want lists get bigger and bigger, making us always feel dissatisfied with what we have. We find ourselves always looking to the next big thing that we can get and then wonder why it still doesn’t make us happy when it’s in our hands.

Stop and take a moment to really appreciate all of the things in your life right now. I mean really take the time and look at everything with a new eye. Appreciate that you woke up on the right side of the dirt this morning. You are breathing. You are here in this moment. So many people in Haiti are so very thankful today for just that, so ask yourself, “What could I possibly be complaining about?”

To help the people of Haiti:

Yele Haiti
http://www.yele.org/
To donate $5 --Text “Yele” to 501501
To donate $10--Text “Haiti” to 501501

American Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org/
To donate $10--Text “Haiti” 90999

Fill Your Cup

Morning!

Yesterday was one of my worst days ever. Why? Because I forgot that Superwoman is not my middle name. I am not alone; most women suffer from this syndrome. Men seem to have a mechanism that does not allow for this kind of foolishness.

We have to remember that if we don't take care of ourselves in the midst of taking care of the world, we will eventually suffer a breakdown, mentally and/or physically.

What should we do?

Take time out for you, and I am here to tell you that shopping is not a part of this agenda. Think about this. If you didn't have a dime, what could you do for yourself? Last night I put on some relaxing music and sat quietly in meditation and gratefulness. Then I moved on to a bubble bath with candles and music. Add to that an early bedtime and you've got the makings of a great morning, but don’t stop there.

Spend some time with yourself. Get out and enjoy nature--it doesn't cost a penny. It doesn't matter if it is cold, raining, or snowing; just take a moment to marvel at the universe and its workings. Stay off the phone, shut down the computer and just be alone with you. Don't think, just breathe.

It's amazing how little it takes to refill your cup and feel whole again, but doing this regularly is required. And please, don’t make the mistake of waiting until your cup is empty. Take a few moments and make a list of what you can do for you right now. My sister just recently went ice skating, something she has not done since she was a teen and the result was not only exhilarating, it was empowering.

Now just like you take care of everyone and everything else, take the time to take care of you. Your cup is waiting for a refill.

6 R’s to Revive Your Dying Resolutions

Morning!

Do you know where your resolution is?

We are seven days into the first week of January and statistics show that 25 percent of people that make resolutions have already abandoned them. The numbers only go up from there but there is hope. Here are six steps that will revive your resolution and make achieving the goal a given.

Resurrect

Don’t give up. Resurrect your goal and this time, put you in the picture. Try to do this at a time where you will not be disturbed.

Close your eyes and imagine that you are hovering above, observing yourself. You have finally reached your goal. Now take mental notes:

• What does success look like?
• What is your facial expression?
• What are you wearing?
• Where are you?
• How do you feel?
• What do you smell--flowers, perfume, a spring day?
• What are you thinking?

Gather as much detail as you can. Enjoy this moment with every fiber of your being. Replay this scene twice daily, preferably upon awakening and before going to bed.

Revise

When your current actions are not working for you, revise them. For example, if your goal is to lose 10 pounds in 4 weeks, you might need to choose a weight-loss plan instead of doing it on your own, empty your home of everything that might derail your plan, and decide what workouts you will use.

If your goal is to stop smoking, you may want to decide upon your method whether cold turkey, a patch, hypnosis or some other method. You will also want to decide how you will deal with triggers and what action will replace the lighting of a cigarette or eating at a party.

Reschedule

Reschedule your actions to times that work for you. Maybe trying to make an exercise class at 6 pm just isn’t working for you. Try an early morning workout or a lunchtime walk. Try working out at home. Schedule them and reschedule them until they work. Make it a priority.

Reinforce with Reminders

Write yourself a note on a post-it or index card to remind you first thing in the morning about why you are doing this and the steps you need to take today. Motivational speaker Zig Ziglar says, "People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily." Put it on the bathroom mirror or some spot you will see immediately upon waking.

Reward

Plan a real reward for yourself. Make it something you will truly enjoy. Write down all the details needed to make it happen and once again, schedule it.

Repeat

Lather, rinse, repeat. Repeat the 6 R’s daily--Resurrect, Revise, Reschedule, Reinforce, Reward, Repeat-- and your vision will soon be your reality.

Okay, I’m done with the R’s. You can Relax now.

Adding Value, Not Just Noise

Morning!

Happy New Year, it's 2010—that’s pronounced Twenty-Ten. Not sure who is making these rules but this is what I’ve heard. Another thing I’ve heard all my life is, “If you don’t have something nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.” When I read some of the comments on line, I would have to conclude that most people have either not heard this bit of wisdom or have chosen not to subscribe to this thought. The raw meanness of some people just continues to surprise me.

After a story about the accidental death of a child, I found comments blaming the parents, others saying the child deserved it, somehow linking the death to the Obama administration or being the fault of the Republican Party, and let’s not forget the obligatory links to the alleged Angelina Jolie sex tape or some dating or magic weight-loss solution site.

What, may I ask, is wrong with people? Could it be the anonymity that encourages people to spew whatever small thought is residing in the depths of their little minds or see it as an opportunity to give their totally unrelated business venture a plug? Frankly I don’t know, and really I don’t care. What I do care about is that the new year is already in full swing and if there is any truth to the rumor that the world is going to end in 2012, then we’ve got a lot of work to do before meeting our maker.

Let’s start by altering that time-worn saying I mentioned to “If you don’t have something of value to say, then don’t say anything at all," because 'nice' suggests giving feedback that is less than useful. It's okay to disagree, but spend time on your post supporting your position and ideas instead of bashing. Even if you agree, say why and support your position.

Let’s all be mindful and ask ourselves before we post, “Am I adding something of value to this conversation or am I just making noise?

Comments of value are welcome here.

Leap of Faith Challenge

Morning!

Staying safe is nice. It's comfy and cozy, but even a baby knows it must try new things that don't always feel safe. Observance of a baby can teach us everything we need to know about life.

They laugh when they are happy, cry when they are not; they learn quickly and don't stay stuck in a moment. They don't hold grudges or feel stupid and are always open to learning something new.

Think about what it must take for a baby to learn to walk. They constantly fall down and yet they never give up. They just jump out there and try until they get it. If they get hurt, a few minutes later, they are trying again. This is the way we should live life.

It is almost the end of the year. We don't have to wait until January to resolve to do things differently. Let's start now taking those baby steps toward something we really want to do. Imagine your joy on January 1st when you know you are not just making those empty resolutions. You know you have already started taking baby steps and it won't be long before you are walking strong.

I am challenging myself and you to take a leap of faith toward the life you really want to live. As Oprah says, "What kind of life do you want and how close are you to living it?"

I am taking the leap. How about you?

Lions and Tigers and Quotas Oh My!

Morning!

November is National Novel Writing Month. During this month, a contest called NaNoWriMo encourages fiction writers to write a 50,000 word novel by midnight, November 30th. Now I am not a fiction writer but I am writing a book and I feel inspired by this contest to not only write more but also, to write more often than I have up to now. In fact, I've given myself a minimum quota of 1000 words per day.

I can't tell you how much this quota has helped me. Now let me clarify that meeting such a quota does not mean you are necessarily writing anything of quality, but it is forcing you to write, to pull out all stops and the end result is that even if you have a bad manuscript, the bottom line is that you have something to edit. If you write nothing there is nothing to edit and your mind piles on even more excuses for not writing. I in fact had put my book on hold, but I am happy to say, I've pulled it out and am working diligently on it.

So I offer you a bit of advice that in some form, was handed down to me. If you want to get something done, create a quota. If it is writing, how many words did you write today? If it is to get a job, how many resumes went out today? If it is to lose weight, how many calories did you eat today? You get the picture. The days results must fit in a very small space. The numbers will tell the tale in the end and can even predict the future. There is no space for stories or excuses.

Set your quotas and watch how even after just a few days, your life begins to change and if you are interested in participating in NaNoWriMo, visit www.nanowrimo.org.

Grounded or Anchored?

Morning!

Dreaming is essential to life but you should also be grounded in reality. Yes, you want to follow your dreams but the reality is you’ve got to achieve them in the now. Some people let that thought kill their dreams. Those people might as well have an anchor tied to their ankle. They let life define them instead of designing the life they want. Their conversations are full of words like but, I can't, that’s impossible--you know the drill.

There are others that dream of pie in the sky, but there is nothing in the now that says they are working toward getting the ingredients let alone baking the pie. They are blowing in the wind like a runaway balloon.

And then, there are those that are grounded and at the same time dreaming a conscious dream. They can see the dream and yet, they ground themselves knowing or learning what they need to do to reach it. When the opportunities present themselves, they take them. The best visual of this is imagining that you are a small child standing on a bus looking up at the strap and when you see how high it is, you know you've got to grow before you can reach it. Get it? You've got to grow to reach your dreams. Now untie that anchor and do something today toward the life you dream about.

Get grounded.