Change was the discussion during The Retreat lunch. Carey had been to a seminar where the speaker talked about change. Doing little things voluntarily really told how changeable you are. Put your toothbrush in a different hole. Turn the toilet paper around so it goes the other way. Drive a different way to work. Hold your coffee cup with the other hand.
These tiny shifts seem trivial, don’t they? When I returned home, I turned the toilet paper around. No big deal. Holding my tea cup in a different hand felt like my shoes were on the wrong feet. No biggie. I can get used to that. And then change happened spontaneously.
I was speaking to a group of business owners and employees. The cool night air chilled the large space in the warehouse set up for the meeting. Chairs and a long table for my materials were arranged beside the loading doors. Thirty minutes after group business it was my turn to speak. 45 minutes I had to talk on communicating among the generations.
A few minutes into the talk, the lights went out. It was pitch dark.
Men raced to turn them on. The audience shed light on the scene with the camera light from a cell phone and the flame on an i-phone. The audience was merry.
I could hear talking in the far reaches of the fabulous new gigantic warehouse and it wasn’t sounding good. Suddenly a heavy door slammed open against the wall. Bobby announced they didn’t know how to turn the lights on. He asked all to grab their chair and drag it into the warm, brightly lighted beautiful showroom.
Two clever men picked up each end of the long table and carried it into the showroom, tripping down unseen steps. I followed them, clueless about adjustments I had to make.
In the showroom I found my materials, remembered where I’d left off and saw the audience spread randomly among displays of beautiful tile. By the clock, it was wrap up time. One third of the talk was delivered and the audience was ready to leave. I was living the speaker’s nightmare. Quickly in the moment I revamped the talk and the remaining 35 minutes of material were compressed to 15 minutes.
Fred gave an affirmation on the power of good communication and its value. Applause from the audience was kind and much appreciated. Talk about change! I was ready for a stiff drink!
What was the deal about changing toilet paper?
Happy Birthday friend
The gloomy skies were endless until I got to Afton Mtn, 70 miles from home. There was enough sun to make a shadow! My faith was renewed that the sun really hadn’t gone away. Four days of clouds sure have hidden it well.
Anyway I was on the way to see my friend Anne. Her birthday present was carefully packed and wrapped, too fragile to trust anyone else with it and I hadn’t seen her in too long.
The trip was uneventful, just long. Finally I arrived at Anne’s home, a bungalow nestled on the edge of a ravine dropping to nowhere. We had a grand time talking about all kinds of things. We laughed about how our mothers played their roles and were so unavailable and role models of how not to be. We cherished our aunts who cherished us, her Aunt Anne and my Aunt Kate, our role models for life. Our fathers scared each other. Brothers were scary and so were the houses we lived in. And on our conversations went with laughs, grins and fond memories of life long ago.
Her present was received with hugs, laughs and beach stories. We’re both beach bums at heart with sand between our toes. Her present was a perpetual beach – a castle-shaped bucket filled with sand, shells and starfish gathered from many visits to the Outer Banks.
Did I mention we’ve been friends since kindergarten?
Anyway I was on the way to see my friend Anne. Her birthday present was carefully packed and wrapped, too fragile to trust anyone else with it and I hadn’t seen her in too long.
The trip was uneventful, just long. Finally I arrived at Anne’s home, a bungalow nestled on the edge of a ravine dropping to nowhere. We had a grand time talking about all kinds of things. We laughed about how our mothers played their roles and were so unavailable and role models of how not to be. We cherished our aunts who cherished us, her Aunt Anne and my Aunt Kate, our role models for life. Our fathers scared each other. Brothers were scary and so were the houses we lived in. And on our conversations went with laughs, grins and fond memories of life long ago.
Her present was received with hugs, laughs and beach stories. We’re both beach bums at heart with sand between our toes. Her present was a perpetual beach – a castle-shaped bucket filled with sand, shells and starfish gathered from many visits to the Outer Banks.
Did I mention we’ve been friends since kindergarten?
Handling Stress in Stressful Times
When a summertime beach lover gets a job in Daytona, life is sweet. Imagine getting paid to speak at a beautiful hotel on the oceanfront in October. Weather is clear and 80+ degrees. The beach is hard and wide - especially at low tide.
Today's Daytona 500 NASCAR race started right here. Finishing before the tide came in was always a challenge.
The warm water beckoned. Dodging kids on bicycle choppers I made my way to the water. Crabs and minnows fled by my steps through it to weak waves. Surf and boogie boards are tied to a variety of surfers. My fave is a tall bald headed guy sporting a massive beer belly. Altho' at least 55 yrs. old, he's only 24 in his mind.
Lounging now on the chaise is the best viewing on the beach. It's time to handle stress in stressful times by checking out the inside of my eyelids. Did I mention that I was speaking on stress?
Today's Daytona 500 NASCAR race started right here. Finishing before the tide came in was always a challenge.
The warm water beckoned. Dodging kids on bicycle choppers I made my way to the water. Crabs and minnows fled by my steps through it to weak waves. Surf and boogie boards are tied to a variety of surfers. My fave is a tall bald headed guy sporting a massive beer belly. Altho' at least 55 yrs. old, he's only 24 in his mind.
Lounging now on the chaise is the best viewing on the beach. It's time to handle stress in stressful times by checking out the inside of my eyelids. Did I mention that I was speaking on stress?
There is no such thing as work life balance.
Headlines about work life balance scream what every woman wants. Surveys affirm work life balance is among the top 3 challenges for professional women. Work life balance is as individual as each woman. What works for one won’t work for another.
Work life balance is a myth. There is only life balance. What a concept! Think about it.
In the total world of your life there are many parts besides work. A tool I give coaching clients is a circle divided into 8 parts representing family, career, fun, finances, etc. Work is only one of the segments.
How do you know when life is out of whack? Some signs are missing doing things you used to do, working too much of your life and being tired all the time. If you’re getting sick, you could be burned out. You can be crispy around the edges or cooked thoroughly. Your body will make you stop because it will stop.
Several years ago I was spending the month of March in China. I didn’t want to come home to unfinished home renovations or tax preparation. So I spent January and February finishing renovations, doing taxes and working, of course. Because I knew they were short term goals I was committed to executing them. If an invitation came up, I accepted it if it didn’t interfere with the final outcome.
Sound unbalanced? For those two months it was perfect balance for me. My goal was short term and doable with focus. And a month in China was a fabulous reward. Coming home with those projects behind me was exhilarating.
Balance is like standing on one foot. It’s changing and adjusting regularly to what works. You really do know when your life isn’t working. What do you do then?
• Pay attention to what your body and family are telling you.
• Hire a coach.
• Get a friend to help you make tiny changes.
• Plan some fun rewards – like a foot massage, time out to read, etc.
• Take one small step toward what’s missing.
• Reward yourself everyday by doing something nice for you.
Changing habits is hard especially when you just gradually slid into them. Remember balance is what you decide it is. Have fun and enjoy your rewards.
Work life balance is a myth. There is only life balance. What a concept! Think about it.
In the total world of your life there are many parts besides work. A tool I give coaching clients is a circle divided into 8 parts representing family, career, fun, finances, etc. Work is only one of the segments.
How do you know when life is out of whack? Some signs are missing doing things you used to do, working too much of your life and being tired all the time. If you’re getting sick, you could be burned out. You can be crispy around the edges or cooked thoroughly. Your body will make you stop because it will stop.
Several years ago I was spending the month of March in China. I didn’t want to come home to unfinished home renovations or tax preparation. So I spent January and February finishing renovations, doing taxes and working, of course. Because I knew they were short term goals I was committed to executing them. If an invitation came up, I accepted it if it didn’t interfere with the final outcome.
Sound unbalanced? For those two months it was perfect balance for me. My goal was short term and doable with focus. And a month in China was a fabulous reward. Coming home with those projects behind me was exhilarating.
Balance is like standing on one foot. It’s changing and adjusting regularly to what works. You really do know when your life isn’t working. What do you do then?
• Pay attention to what your body and family are telling you.
• Hire a coach.
• Get a friend to help you make tiny changes.
• Plan some fun rewards – like a foot massage, time out to read, etc.
• Take one small step toward what’s missing.
• Reward yourself everyday by doing something nice for you.
Changing habits is hard especially when you just gradually slid into them. Remember balance is what you decide it is. Have fun and enjoy your rewards.
Ten Ways to Shift from Summer to Fall
Summer is my fave season. There’s a freedom in the air ~ altho’ hot ~ that says travel, a lighter flavor to foods, swimming, reading on the beach. My early Sept. birthday signals for me more than a year of good living. It means time to shift rhythms, start school, put flip flops away, and get ready for cool temperatures, nature’s tree color show and Monday night football. To help you ease into this transition here are 10 ideas.
• Wear a long sleeve blouse with shorts.
• Turn the AC off and open the windows and doors.
• Change out the tired summer annuals in your garden with bright fall mums.
• Open the sun roof in your car and put the windows down.
• Have grilled cheese sandwich and soup for lunch.
• Plan a 4 day get away to see foliage in October.
• Use orange and yellow paper for memos and copies at the office.
• Put together a new outfit from all the clothes you put away last spring.
• Put a bouquet of fresh fall flowers on your desk at work.
• Entertain outside in the cool evening air.
• Get back to the gym.
• Make plans with a new friend to do something you haven’t done before.
• Take a class on something you need to know for your career.
BONUS: Make your reservation for the Smart Woman’s Club Birthday Bash on Sept. 29 here.
COACHES DARE: Have fun challenging a friend to pick one and do it before you do. Let me know how you do.
• Wear a long sleeve blouse with shorts.
• Turn the AC off and open the windows and doors.
• Change out the tired summer annuals in your garden with bright fall mums.
• Open the sun roof in your car and put the windows down.
• Have grilled cheese sandwich and soup for lunch.
• Plan a 4 day get away to see foliage in October.
• Use orange and yellow paper for memos and copies at the office.
• Put together a new outfit from all the clothes you put away last spring.
• Put a bouquet of fresh fall flowers on your desk at work.
• Entertain outside in the cool evening air.
• Get back to the gym.
• Make plans with a new friend to do something you haven’t done before.
• Take a class on something you need to know for your career.
BONUS: Make your reservation for the Smart Woman’s Club Birthday Bash on Sept. 29 here.
COACHES DARE: Have fun challenging a friend to pick one and do it before you do. Let me know how you do.
Saying YES to Life
Writing the book is a project of untold proportions. Just when I think a chapter’s finished, another point comes up to be included. The last chapter is Smart Women Say YES to Life. So I’m going to tell about Beverly Morano, a mother who ‘jumped on a grenade’ because her daughter, Sarah Murray, asked her. It concerns Black Dog, a savvy, rouge with dreadlocks who first made headlines in Richmond about 9 years ago.
Black Dog evaded dog catchers and city officials trying to catch him. As officials’ attempts were reported daily, fans in the area cheered him on. Everyone loves a winner, especially when it’s a ‘dumb’ animal against authorities.
He 'walked' frequently with me ~ at a distance. Attempts to befriend him were met with loving, kind eyes as he stood stone still or backed up as I stepped closer. That was the Black Dog way ~ you can see me and you're not touching me.
Sarah Murray was instrumental in bringing attention to the city’s pursuit 9 years ago. She and neighbors created T shirts noting his success with proceeds going into a fund to care for him should he need it.
Sadly, Black Dog was killed July 2. It was a blow to the community who reported sightings on his Facebook page and among neighbors. You can read about him at http://tinyurl.com/lesoxk.
When a few fans decided to memorialize him with another shirt using funds Black Dog never used, Sarah asked her mother, Beverly, to take on the project of taking and filling orders.
I called Beverly to order my shirt and met a smart women saying yes to life. She also kept food and shelter available for Black Dog when he chose to use it. She shared stories of her experiences with Black Dog ‘walking’ with her and her family. With no idea of what she was getting into, she said yes and ‘jumped on a grenade’.
Beverly has talked to fans in FL and a judge in western VA who gave his chamber’s number to call when his shirt comes. The second round of shirts are in progress and she’s having much fun talking to Black Dog fans. Bev is saying YES to life.
Have to go now and get my shirt that just arrived. I get to meet smart woman Beverly Morano, whose kitchen is filled with Black Dog shirts.
Black Dog evaded dog catchers and city officials trying to catch him. As officials’ attempts were reported daily, fans in the area cheered him on. Everyone loves a winner, especially when it’s a ‘dumb’ animal against authorities.
He 'walked' frequently with me ~ at a distance. Attempts to befriend him were met with loving, kind eyes as he stood stone still or backed up as I stepped closer. That was the Black Dog way ~ you can see me and you're not touching me.
Sarah Murray was instrumental in bringing attention to the city’s pursuit 9 years ago. She and neighbors created T shirts noting his success with proceeds going into a fund to care for him should he need it.
Sadly, Black Dog was killed July 2. It was a blow to the community who reported sightings on his Facebook page and among neighbors. You can read about him at http://tinyurl.com/lesoxk.
When a few fans decided to memorialize him with another shirt using funds Black Dog never used, Sarah asked her mother, Beverly, to take on the project of taking and filling orders.
I called Beverly to order my shirt and met a smart women saying yes to life. She also kept food and shelter available for Black Dog when he chose to use it. She shared stories of her experiences with Black Dog ‘walking’ with her and her family. With no idea of what she was getting into, she said yes and ‘jumped on a grenade’.
Beverly has talked to fans in FL and a judge in western VA who gave his chamber’s number to call when his shirt comes. The second round of shirts are in progress and she’s having much fun talking to Black Dog fans. Bev is saying YES to life.
Have to go now and get my shirt that just arrived. I get to meet smart woman Beverly Morano, whose kitchen is filled with Black Dog shirts.
What Bra Sizes Really Mean
Have you ever wondered why A, B, C, D, DD, E, F, G, and H are letters used to define bra sizes? If you have wondered why or couldn't figure out what the letters stood for, it is time to be informed! From the ethers of the internet the mystery is solved.
{A} = Almost Boobs
{B} = Barely there
{C} = Can't Complain!
{D} = Dang!
{DD}= Double dang!
{E} = Enormous
{F}= Fake
{G}= Get a Reduction
{H}= Help me, I've fallen and I can't get up!
{A} = Almost Boobs
{B} = Barely there
{C} = Can't Complain!
{D} = Dang!
{DD}= Double dang!
{E} = Enormous
{F}= Fake
{G}= Get a Reduction
{H}= Help me, I've fallen and I can't get up!
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