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Just a little “Wacky”~~

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Anyone who knows me, really knows me, would not be surprised if I said I was just a little “wacky”  🙂  I love all things bright , bold, and shiny.  I love a little bling on most of my clothes; even my workout sweatshirts!   I love my little red Volkswagen bug convertible, and I have entered contests for over 15 years ( and I win!). So, a tiny bit “wacky”~

My mother, embracing my personality, bought me a Calendar last Christmas called Dare to be Wacky…go figure!  As I read through the calendar I came to a few paragraphs that I loved and wanted to share them with you.

“This is the year, and now is the moment. Rekindle your passions, and multiply your talents.  Embrace your inner wackiness and redefine your world.  Stand up for something worth fighting for, and confront the challenges that come your way …especially if they cause you to be afraid.  Make a difference in someone’s life, and in the process, you’ll change your own.  Don’t wait for a “better time”.  It’s your life and your story. So dare to be wacky…and truly live a life worth loving.!”

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Sending a little whimsy your way hoping to encourage you! 🙂

Giving Myself Permission in 2013~

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PERMISSION ~ the authorization to DO something, to permit an ACTION.

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As I look toward the year ahead I am convinced that I don’t have a desire to create a list of New Year Resolutions; rather I am giving myself permission to think and act in a fresh way.

Giving myself “permission” allows me to shift my mindset from what I think I SHOULD do, to choosing what is right for me in this season of my life.  Doing the best thing, making good choices, and being mindful of faith and reputation are not discounted at all in this. Rather, I am giving myself the freedom to be more authentic, creative, balanced, and honest this year.

I am excited about this.

As a Life Coach I interact with many women and I often hear them say ” I just can’t seem to give myself permission to…………………..”.  So often we are fully engaged in being mothers, employees, partners, siblings, volunteers, church members, etc.  Stepping back to consider what we may truly want,  to re-ignight dreams that may have left dormant long ago, or to begin to create a different type of life schedule just feels foreign to us.  Perhaps, 2013 could be a different kind of year for you…IF you give yourself permission.

This year I give myself permission to:

1.  Set Boundaries.  Where am I needed the most?  What involvements line up with my values? For my limited amount of time, where are my gifts and talents best put to use? With this filter firmly set I give myself not to feel guilty when it is best that I say “NO” to good opportunities that would keep me from doing what is great!

2.  Have Sad Days. Seriously, sometimes I am just sad. Kids are grown, life is changing so fast, friends pass away, our economy is challenged, and there is constant uncertainty. I have a strong faith in God and His ability to care for me but life can still be challenging and confusing. Sometimes I get sad. This year I will not feel guilty for this but rather I will let myself acknowledge the sadness and take a day for some good Old Fashioned self care!

3.  Forgive.  Over the past few years I have truly begun to learn that allowing myself to forgive is a gift I give myself.  This year I give myself permission to forgive those who may have hurt me, misjudged me, or spoken ill of me. Truth be known, I have hurt others in my life ( intentionally or unintentionally), so I need the same mercy I give myself permission to give! I may move into those relationships with new cautions, but I choose to forgive.

4.  Explore New Ideas.   I have loved hearing of friends in their 40’s and 50’s who have chosen to go back to school ( nursing, teaching, etc). I love hearing about friends who have written books, run marathons, learned a new language, or have started an impacting non-profit! I give myself permission this year to do some exploring. What might be new and exciting for me? What might stretch and grow who I am? I simply give myself permission to explore!!

5. Make Some Noise.  This Christmas my mother gave me a fun, whimsical calendar!  Reading through it I was tickled by some of the writings there that captured a bit about my personality in this season.   “Now, be a good girl and don’t make waves!  That’s the most ridiculous statement I have ever heard! Not only do I plan on making waves, I am trying to figure out how to start a typhoon and really rock the world!!”   You just gotta chuckle.  However, this year I do give myself permission to be honest, to disagree when I do, and to give my honest thoughts even if they may not line up with someone else. ( Speaking the truth in love of course.)

Need to give yourself permission to make changes, re-assess your present choices and consider some new approaches?  Set aside a day in the week ahead to consider this question and bravely move forward.

Happy, wonderful New Year to you!!

The incredible VALUE of shared experiences~

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“But we can’t right now, our lives are too busy!”

  ” I know we have some money put away but let’s just wait and see how this year goes!” 

“I’m sorry but  this is a stressful season at work!”

All valid reasons, They all make sense but perhaps we could address the core issue.

I was blessed to be raised in a family where shared experiences: meals, game nights, camping, and many other options were a rich value. These experiences tended to be the glue that connected our hearts, caused laughter, and helped remind us that we were family, even during those tough teen years.

In like fashion, my husband and I have taken time and resources to build the tradition of shared experiences into the DNA of our family; it is our prayer that they will do the same with their own families.

However, I often hear from friends and colleagues that their lives are too busy, finances too tight, relationships too challenged, and ideas too hard to come by when looking into the possibility of a vacation, or other experience opportunities.

I used to have the idea that making memories could be something we can do “later on”, in a few years, down the road but after losing a precious family member last year my filter has done a 180 degree change.  None of us can count on tomorrow, nor can we count on the fact that we will always have all our family members or our health.

You might say that this is a fearful approach to life; pessimistic perhaps, but I would differ with you and would clarify that it is due diligence to “seize the day”.  Lay down those aforementioned excuses and plan a vacation, have game nights, go on hikes, cook together, dream together, do life together.  The real cost is your time and today is all you know for sure.

Over 24 months ago we took an untimely (and a kind of expensive) trip to Southern California to visit precious family there, went to Disneyland with them and had a very special shared experience with them all……   It was the last time I got to laugh with Christopher……………….It is more priceless a memory than I could have ever imagined!

We are embarking on the doorway of summer!! Use this time to lay down the cell phone, computer, daily worries and make fresh memories and meaningful connections with those you have the privilege to love!! Make a summer list and begin today!

“Health” Club~~

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One of my favorite jobs these days is working with a great team at our local health club. It is in this role that we get to serve and support our members in various and often times, creative ways.  What I love the most is seeing the effort the members make to become or stay healthy; it’s inspiring…especially those amazing folks who are standing at the door at 5:15 am! Wow!

So what really is HEALTHY?

The Dictionary says “a sound and vigorous mind, healthy recreations, prosperous or sound, robust, good well-being, and restorative in nature.”

These terms churn up many thoughts as I take inventory of my own life.  Am I healthy?

1. Do I have a vigorous  mind?  do I allow concerns and fears to cause anxiety and restlessness within me? do I take the time to read, learn, dream, or try new things?

2. Do I have healthy recreations?  do I give myself permission to take time away from my diligent work to regroup, refresh?

3.  Is my life prosperous or sound?  do I make intentional decisions to use my time in a way that prospers my family, faith ,  and finances?

4.  Do I have a strong sense of well-being?  Do I surround myself with healthy people? do I speak encouragements to myself or do I feel critical of who I am?  Do I feel my life has value?

5.  Is my lifestyle restorative?  do I live a life that depletes me and those around me? do I run in a manic pace? or do I live life with a rhythm that allows me to work hard and yet still remain balanced?

Being healthy is so much more than what you weigh, how big your muscles are, or what your BMI is…though these elements do matter there is such a broader sense of what it truly means to be a healthy person.

Are YOU healthy?  Ponder the questions I have asked myself and if you see a need to make some changes then bravely do so!

This is your new healthy season! 🙂

Pinterest

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The first time someone asked if I was following Pinterest, I said “WHAT IS THAT?”.  As the site was explained to me I initially thought; “oh my, do I need another online distraction in my life?”  and then I found myself curious.

As I began to investigate this new phenomenon, I became fascinated! Thousand of individuals around the globe are finding items and ideas that identify what they like, what their favorite style is, gifts they’d love to give, ways to decorate that reflect their personal style.  These ideas are being “Pinned” to a wall and saved there–not only for themselves, but for those who would like the same options and would like to “Re-Pin” them to their own wall.

Recently I have received some precious holiday gifts. When I asked where the idea had been found the automatic answer has been Pinterest; I even snatched an Idea for a gift this year!  What a creative idea.

As I began to reflect on this concept I realized I like being able to look at the walls of those to whom I am familiar and smile because the choices they are making in the ideas and options they have “pinned” truly do reflect how I know them or reveal to me something new and interesting about them.  Often I have said to a fellow Pinner ” I thought you would have chosen that or “that idea made me think of you!”.

Being known & understood is something we all desire.  Being able to express who we are is an element of life that makes us unique from one another. Having our ideas “liked” builds confidence in our creative choices.  This crazy idea of Pinterest allows people that option.

We don’t have to wait to look on someone’s “Wall” to learn about their likes, ideas, and dreams however, sitting together over a grand cup of Holiday Coffee is a very tangible way to get to know all those elements for yourself.  While we have many online options to “learn” about each other let’s not forget to continue to connect face to face with the same interest in our ideas and uniqueness’s!

Enjoy this holiday season and take a little time out to get to know someone in a fresh way!  Now–off to “Pin” this new item I JUST found!! 🙂

Big Hairy Audacious Goal~

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I imagine every leader I have had the joy of coaching would  laugh a “knowing” laugh as they read the words “Big Hairy Audacious Goals” or “BHAGS” because every year around this time we have a fresh conversation about the new year ahead.  I am someone who firmly believes in setting goals, taking action, and  pursuing new ideas.  But, a BHAG , to me, is that vision, that desire, that wish, that hope , that is simply too big for me to attain on my own.  It is something that I can get excited about but also clearly know that without outside reinforcement; it could be impossible to achieve.

This is where it can get really exciting! As we allow ourselves to have fresh, big vision, to dream, to consider outstanding possibilities – we become hope filled afresh and anew.  When we allow ourselves to ponder a “BHAG”, we keep our eyes open, watchful for the possibilities, poised and ready to move forward should the opportunities present themselves.  When we share our “BHAGS” with those we know and love, and as we begin to pray about those dreams, passions, ideas bursting in our hearts things really begin to happen; I have seen it over and over and over in the lives of those I have been privileged to serve.  What joy it has been to look back over a year, where a “BHAG” has been regularly present in the life of a leader, and with astonishment we see the fulfillment of a fantastic vision, goal, or hope.

Perhaps your Big Hairy Audacious Goal is a great job, marriage, a vacation, to write a book~~ I could go on and on…the possibilities are limitless.  When you look toward 1012 would you allow yourself to dream again, to get excited about fresh possibilities?  Write your “BHAG” down, share it with others, pray about it, and remain poised to step into the possibilities that arise……You will be astounded at the result!

Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”

Matthew 7: 9-11 Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

Two years ago I had a Big Hairy Audacious Goal to go to France on my 50th Birthday. I talked about it, told my sister who resided in France at the time that I would see her soon, I even prayed that I would be able to have dinner in the Eiffel Tower.  Guess what? That very year one of my sisters won a trip to France and asked me to join her. What a thrill for us all as we shared precious memories in Paris and a fantastic meal in the Eiffel Tower!

What’s your BHAG for 2011?  I have some great dreams in my head and heart~ Can’t wait to see what happens. 

Believe again. 🙂