Archive for May, 2010

Courage

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

A close friend recently ended a relationship with the man she loves because he really isn’t available to her.  Their connection was compromised from the beginning but over the two years they were “together” she developed a strong emotional connection to him.  Basically, she just chose to appreciate what was working and ignore the rest.  Well, not any more.  She finally decided to stop the madness and walk away and I think she is brave.  She didn’t walk into another relationship.  She walked into nothing and nothing isn’t easy.  She’s alone and she is missing what she had.  Most of us are too chicken to do that.  Most of us would rather have something that works OK than take a chance on the unknown.  She told me she is worried that no one will ever really love her because she’s 46 and has made some mistakes.  She may have even used the word “baggage”.

Please don’t ever think that way!!!!  A great friend recently told me that “flawed” people are the best because they have humility and compassion and perspective.  It’s never about where you’ve been.  Life is always about what you have learned and where you are headed.  So have some courage and get excited about the possibilities.

A little nature

Saturday, May 22nd, 2010

I woke up early yesterday to the sound of rain, threw on my running shoes and headed out to High Cliff State Park.  I knew the rain would keep people away but I also knew the canopy of the trees would keep me dry.  I have done this run many times.  I love the sounds created by a spring rain.  There is nothing better for my soul than running in the woods listening to the concert created by the rain falling on the leaves and wind blowing the branches above.  After a while you know you are part of something bigger. 

All we need is a little nature…it’s free therapy :)

Is temptation a gift?

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

I have a personal training client that I see three times a week.  He is about 100 lbs over weight and struggles with some compulsive eating behaviors.  He is also a man of God and told me this morning that from his point of view, temptation is the devil at work.  So I suggested to him that maybe temptation is a gift from God.  Initially the idea was a stretch for even me but the longer we talked about it, the more sense it made.

Temptation is an opportunity to make the right choice…walking away from the ice cream in the freezer because you want to lose weight is the right choice.  I like to think that doing the right thing moves you closer to what you believe in…over time, it defines your character.   We need those challenges, those tests of character to grow our souls and reach our full potential. 

Temptation is part of the design.  It’s a lesson we learn over and over again throughout our lives.  We aren’t faced with temptation so we can fail…we are continually faced with temptation so we can learn to succeed. 

I think it is a gift.  What do you think?

Why bother with a note?

Sunday, May 16th, 2010

I have to confess that I have NEVER been good at sending snail mail.  I often neglect to send birthday cards and sympathy cards…let alone thank you cards.  And these days it’s even easier to be lazy…we can just send an e-mail.  That doesn’t mean I’m not grateful.  I just haven’t made writing notes a priority and consequently that simple little consideration gets away from me.  Eventually, I figure it’s been too long.  Bad form.

I must not be alone because the number of “E-cards” I get these days is steadily growing.  Apparently a lot of people like the convenience of on-line etiquette.   So much so that when I received a card in the mail the other day from a friend thanking me for taking care of her dog…I was shocked.  She had already thanked me in person and on line so really, it was kind of redundant.  Or was it?  Truthfully, I loved getting the card and I knew she really meant it. 

So that’s it…I decided if I REALLY am thankful, I should send a handwritten note.  I could send a million.  But instead, I committed to spending 5 minutes every night before bed to write one note.  I address it in the morning and put it in the mailbox on my way out of the house.  I’m three days in and I like it.  It feels good.  A thank you is worth 5 minutes of my time…if I really mean it.

Try and Try Again…

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

I have another new look for my website…third change in the last year.  Goes to the saying, “If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.”  That saying seems to be a recurring theme in my life :)  

This time the goal was to upgrade my site to better represent my speaking career.  I was given a referral to www.adamhavens.com from another speaker who thought Adam offered a lot of quality for a reasonable price.  Plus he had done many speaker sites.  I’m impetuous most of the time so I jumped in without even talking to Jason at  www.sporkmarketing.com who did everything I asked and more the last time.  Jason’s a master at SEO among other things and could have done this work for me.  But I didn’t have vision so I put Adam in charge. 

Then, when it was time to go live, I needed them to work together to save time and money and simplify all the changes including e-mail and hosting and bunch of stuff that I don’t understand.  That could have been awkward as I never gave Jason a heads up, but he was great and the two of them worked together like they had known each other for years, proving there are “Go-givers” all over the place…even some who have never heard of the Bob Burg book by the same name :)

I’m lucky…and very happy with the result.