What some might view as a negative transition, I choose to look at as an opportunity. I have always had faith that when one door closes another one will open with more opportunity than the last. Through numerous job changes and company closings, I am fortunate, in hindsight, to see how each roadblock became an important part of my journey. My transitions did not always result in a higher salary or higher levels of management, but always a better fit for my lifestyle at that time. There are moments when I get discouraged during transitions in my life. I quickly…
I was reminded this past weekend of both the importance of community and the effects of lack of community. All around me, there were signs of how valuable the right community can be for people. Signs of appreciation regarding the community, signs of helpfulness within the community, and signs of togetherness throughout the community. Not only did I feel a sense of community, but others were talking and writing about it also. It was a week filled with people observing the strength of the community, the benefits, and the disappointments regarding the lack of community. As I walk through the…
Appreciation, when used appropriately, is a gift. It is something we can give that costs nothing but our personal awareness. It means that we are aware of what is going on around us and within us. It means we are grateful for the positive influences in our lives. Appreciation of others is something my parents instilled in me from the beginning of their teachings. Being aware of the feelings and opinions of others has always been a high priority for my parents, it is a high priority for me, and hopefully for my children. Making others feel important and special…
I try to surround myself with people who follow through with what they say they will do; people who keep their word. “Let’s get together this summer,” is one of those catchphrases that make me smile. When I hear myself speak those words I make a mental note that I best put something on our calendar regarding my suggestion. I find it refreshing when someone follows through with their intention; I also find it a bit out of the norm. Following through on your word shows commitment and dedication. Being true to your word is important in every aspect…
There are so many things that we want to accomplish each day, why sweat the small stuff? When it comes to raising children, I often hear people say, “You have to pick your battles.” I tend to agree with choosing to focus on the things you feel are most important. Allowing some of the smaller less important things to go and focusing on the more important issues at hand. However, it is important to make sure you focus on some of the issues. Picking your battles does require you to choose items to focus on! For me, when we lived…
Honesty is a very tricky thing. On the one hand, we want to be honest with others and on the other hand, sometimes honesty can be very hurtful. Honesty is important and should be heartfelt, taking into consideration how we would feel being told the same information by someone else. One of the most crucial points is how honesty is delivered. Being honest to a fault can be tough on friendships. It can be hurtful, ugly, and yet sometimes necessary. It gets difficult when there is a fine line between being honest, not saying anything, and lying. Sometimes these are…
Sometimes our feelings of rejection are real, other times the rejection is perceived. Either way, it is a terrible feeling and one that we hope rarely or never happens to anyone. Unfortunately, it happens to most of us all too often. Welcoming people into our circle of friends is a risk, particularly those who were once rejected. We normally welcome people of like minds who have similar values as ourselves. However, it is more difficult to accept people who have for some reason been an outsider or lost their rapport with the group. Not being aware of people feeling rejected…
Just as the moon shines light through the darkness so does hope. Sometimes the moon shines bright, other times it is difficult to find. Hope also shines bright at times and at other times one has to search for signs of hope. Although we don’t always see it, the moon is always there. So too, hope is always present. During the dark, difficult times, finding hope can be a struggle. But hope is present for those who choose to have faith. I can remember times when hanging on to hope was difficult, but it has always paid off. One…
More often than not the anticipation leading to an event is equally as fun as the event itself. As a family, we love to anticipate what adventures are ahead of us. We think about, plan, and dream about what might occur at the actual event. I love that my girls find joy in thinking about what might happen, and are able to dream about different possible outcomes. Not only does it enhance the imagination, I believe it strengthens our overall ability to enjoy the event. As a family, we talk about various places we would like to go and think…
With spring comes all the beauty of new blossoms and beginnings. Just as we are getting restless with our old winter routine, renewed life and beauty arrive. In comes spring! Allowing yourself to blossom and reach your potential is something that we all have an opportunity to learn. It takes a conscious decision to do things to help us achieve our potential. We can choose to live our lives at our current potential or to take ourselves to the next level. Often we look to reading self-help books, listening to motivational podcasts, and reciting daily affirmations to help us…