When I am feeling discouraged I find myself consistently using the same tools to navigate myself out of that dark place.  I have learned not to let myself dwell on things that lead me to negative feelings about myself or others.  We all face different levels of discouragement.  Some are so deep it is difficult to function other times it is an inconvenience that interrupts an otherwise uneventful day.  It may be created by my own actions other times from the stress of being in an uncomfortable environment.  The moment I feel discouraged I look for an opportunity to clear…

I learn daily from things I do right, things I do wrong, and from being observant regarding what is going on around me.  I am grateful that I am able to choose a positive approach to most daily challenges.       I have learned not to dwell on any one situation.  I don’t allow myself time to worry.  I do, however, look for something I can learn that will move the situation forward.  Always looking for opportunities to grow from the “storms” that we experience.  Am I able to move through the challenges and be better prepared for the future? Hindsight…

How is it that we allow ourselves to get tangled up in assumptions?  Why do we stop short of asking the questions or doing our research? I remember a time when I was asked to take a look at a business opportunity.  I tend to be entrepreneurial and typically will listen to the pitch.  I have a few standard benchmarks the business has to pass before I will spend time evaluating an opportunity. This business passed the basic test and I was intrigued enough to find out more information.  The person pitching the business made a 30-minute presentation and…

This past weekend a very valuable lesson resurfaced as we celebrated Independence Day with our friends, family, and community.  Years ago a friend of ours started what has now become a family tradition of renting a golf car for July 4th.  It was Friday and the girls and I were anticipating the arrival of the golf car rental.  Hopeful that it indeed would arrive and that it would arrive in the fashion of a six-passenger.  We love to be able to take lots of friends and family to all the community festivities. When it comes to celebrating July 4th…