Noise hits us from every direction daily. The noise I am referring to is all the different distractions that pull us away from what we intend to do. Staying on track and reaching your final destination without being temporarily derailed is something to rejoice about. Noise might be from our electronics, co-workers, boss, children, spouse, friends, social media, and so much more! If not careful I can get off track walking from one room of my home to another. I make a conscious effort to stay on track through prayer. I ask God to help me filter through the…
One of the most difficult things I had to learn how to do was to accept help from others. For someone independent and self-sufficient, learning how to accept generosity from others was and still is very difficult. For me, there was a sense of pride in being able to take care of myself and my family. I struggle when I have to accept help. Sometimes I accept help because I need the help. Other times I accept help because it is the right thing to allow someone the opportunity to be kind and neighborly. I never thought I was…
It is a priority of mine to make sure that I set myself up to have a great day. I find that with a little preparation, the odds of that happening increase significantly. 1. Give Thanks Every morning when I get up I give thanks to God. I have found that starting the day with the right mindset is important for me and prepares me for the day ahead. I don’t allow myself to think about anything disruptive to a good start to the day. As I begin my daily exercise routine, I thank God for what I can…
You need to love yourself before you can find fulfillment. It starts from within. Courage It takes courage to begin self-evaluation. Taking a look at what you like about yourself, and what you wish you could change, can be very challenging. Looking at yourself with an open mind and a clear perspective is essential. Some tend to take an overly negative approach to self-evaluation and some lack the ability to see their weaknesses. Stepping back and looking at yourself takes courage, I always pray for clarity in that process. Happiness Joy and happiness start from within. To experience…
Sometimes all we need is a change in our perspective. Changing one’s perspective is not easy, but it is a choice that you are able to make. You can choose to focus on all the things that went wrong or you can choose to focus on what is good. Sometimes finding what is good takes time, sometimes it takes creativity, other times it takes perseverance. The key for me is to FOCUS on the positive, the good. That is often very difficult; but if I don’t look for the good, I often find myself drowning in negativity…
The wonderful thing about mentors is they come in all different packages at various times in your life. I have had mentors of various ages, occupations, and cultures. I have had mentors who took me under their wing and taught me their expertise and I have had mentors who never knew I was following their journey. I have had mentors who taught me positive building blocks to prepare me for life and I have had mentors who I followed from afar. Mentors who elevated me to a new level of competence and mentors who taught me what not to do…
One of my biggest realizations was understanding how many people are not getting enough attention in their lives. When I taught junior high and high school I realized the need to give attention to kids, but as I progress through life I realize that need continues. There are those of us who have family members who provide the needed attention that keeps us fueled. Others do not have that support network. For those of us who have a large circle of friends and family, this may seem like a foreign concept; but numerous people are starving for attention. The type…
“Pay it forward” is something that is talked about often, but until you experience both the giving and receiving I don’t think one fully understands the true impact. During a VERY icy, snowy wintery day, on the way home from an appointment one of my girls and I stopped at the local fast food restaurant. The line for the drive-through was long. As I was waiting, I saw three people get out of a car to go into the restaurant. Two of the people were walking together, the other was walking alone, on the ice, using…
As a boss and parent, I always make it clear that mistakes happen. When mistakes happen, if we all know about it we have time to solve the issue. Nothing good comes out of hiding mistakes. One of the biggest projection mistakes I made in business was when I was running a nonprofit. The team knew to put me in the loop regarding issues or problems so we could proactively figure out a solution. The biggest part of my job was solving problems. This particular day a manager came into my office and sat down. After the manager gathered composure…
Living in the moment is what summertime is all about for our family. Enjoying all the quality time that summer allows and capturing those lifetime memories. For me, I love summertime. I love that people are out of the house and walking around the neighborhood. I love that the kids are out and about exploring the woods and all there is to find. I love to look around and take in the moment and all the joy of green grass, blooming flowers, a great rain shower, a bike ride, a good book on the beach, a walk around the neighborhood…