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“Santa here 11 to 1” stated the sign on the door to the neighborhood hardware store. After finding what I needed, I cruised the aisles to see what merchandise was there - and to find Santa.
Methodically I went up and down each aisle. There Santa was, snuggled among the festive Christmas gardenware like the Travelocity gnome. He was the usual Santa complete with the ill-fitting beard, red suit and twinkle in his eye.
“Santa, can you help me? If you’re taking orders for Christmas, will you bring me a boyfriend?" I asked. "And can you bring one that dances, please?”
Always politically correct “I’ll see what I can do.” was his reply. He continued, “Do you know where Farifax Station is?”
“Santa, I can find it, I’m sure. Why do you ask?” I said.
“Because I’m there on Wednesday nights with my dancing club.”
Call 2009 a Wrap
2009 was filled with activity, success, failure, surprises, change and bold moves. Many lessons were learned and ideas became new models and tools. Take time to review 2009, glean the priceless value it brought you and celebrate your successes.
1. What are your disappointments, failures, and breakdowns?
Let’s acknowledge what these are. This is an opportunity to let them go, carry them forward, or make a new promise. Make a list titled Disappointments, Failures, and Breakdowns and record them.
2. Make a second list titled Successes, Wins, and Accomplishments.
This is a chance to celebrate and own who you’ve become this year. Where did you step into your power and greatness? Don’t skimp on these. The little stuff counts. NO modesty here. IF YOU’VE DONE IT, IT ISN’T BRAGGING. Validate all your accomplishments. Look through your calendar and any notes to remind you.
3. What have you learned about yourself and your life? What insights have you gained? How have you changed?
True insights have the transformational capability of shifting you into a new, more alive place! This is the stuff that isn’t taught in MBA school. If it had been, you wouldn’t have believed it.
4. What are you grateful for?
This list might include some of the above and anything else you truly appreciate about yourself or any other area of your life. There is a basic principle. Whatever you appreciate and give thanks for will increase. .
5. How can you celebrate to honor your 2009 accomplishments?
What would be a fun, special thing to do for yourself to celebrate your success? You’ll want to include family, friends and associates. Brains are sexy.
1. What are your disappointments, failures, and breakdowns?
Let’s acknowledge what these are. This is an opportunity to let them go, carry them forward, or make a new promise. Make a list titled Disappointments, Failures, and Breakdowns and record them.
2. Make a second list titled Successes, Wins, and Accomplishments.
This is a chance to celebrate and own who you’ve become this year. Where did you step into your power and greatness? Don’t skimp on these. The little stuff counts. NO modesty here. IF YOU’VE DONE IT, IT ISN’T BRAGGING. Validate all your accomplishments. Look through your calendar and any notes to remind you.
3. What have you learned about yourself and your life? What insights have you gained? How have you changed?
True insights have the transformational capability of shifting you into a new, more alive place! This is the stuff that isn’t taught in MBA school. If it had been, you wouldn’t have believed it.
4. What are you grateful for?
This list might include some of the above and anything else you truly appreciate about yourself or any other area of your life. There is a basic principle. Whatever you appreciate and give thanks for will increase. .
5. How can you celebrate to honor your 2009 accomplishments?
What would be a fun, special thing to do for yourself to celebrate your success? You’ll want to include family, friends and associates. Brains are sexy.
8 things 2 say thanks for
Thanksgiving is a fond memory. Yummy food, a day in the 70s and family filled the weekend.
Three generations visiting our beloved legendary Santa carried on the tradition for one more year. There is so much to say thanks over. Here’re a few more:
1.Although a legend in my own mind, any auto accident I have will go unnoticed.
2.Little girls are beautiful in pretty dresses.
3.Colorful crisp leaves on streets and sidewalks to walk through and kick in the air.
4.Family travelers arrived at their destinations safely.
5.Santa said he’d do his best to bring me a boyfriend.
6.A long time desire to have the family at Tea at the Hotel Jefferson was fulfilled and more fun than thought.
7.My heart sings when my girls and I are together.
Three generations visiting our beloved legendary Santa carried on the tradition for one more year. There is so much to say thanks over. Here’re a few more:
1.Although a legend in my own mind, any auto accident I have will go unnoticed.
2.Little girls are beautiful in pretty dresses.
3.Colorful crisp leaves on streets and sidewalks to walk through and kick in the air.
4.Family travelers arrived at their destinations safely.
5.Santa said he’d do his best to bring me a boyfriend.
6.A long time desire to have the family at Tea at the Hotel Jefferson was fulfilled and more fun than thought.
7.My heart sings when my girls and I are together.
How goes your toilet paper?
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?
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.
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