You are what you do, not what you say you’ll do. I don’t know about you, but one thing in life that really chips me off is when people tell me they are going to do something and then never get around to it. Now, I’m also preaching to myself today because I made a list of things I had promised other people but never got around to doing. I had to go and make things right. Now, some folks had moved on, and when I didn’t keep my word, they did other things. At that point, I could just […]
Encouragement for Your Life
The Most Dangerous Place
I have come to believe that the most dangerous place on the road is the intersection. And I think that is because at that place, within seconds, someone has to make a decision. And isn’t that just like life? You come to the intersection, and then you have to choose which way to go, how fast, and still (out of the corner of your eye) be aware of those around you. I do prefer an intersection to a roundabout. In other countries (where they don’t drive in between the lines), the roundabout can force you to go round and round […]
Practice the Pause
“Practice the pause. Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you’re about to react harshly, and you’ll avoid doing and saying things you’ll later regret.” ~ Lori Deschene Oh, if I had only learned this earlier in my life, I would have saved myself from myself. I probably have too many stories to regale you with from all the times I spoke out when I should have practiced the pause, mentally and verbally. Even now, I catch myself chatting away when, in reality, my brain tells me I should just be quiet and let the conversation hum […]
Sometimes Your Only Available Transportation Is A Leap of Faith
I love this thought for today – Sometimes Your Only Available Transportation Is A Leap of Faith I have had a lot of different experiences in my life and have taken chances that might not have seemed so smart on the outside. Okay, they probably weren’t so smart on the inside either, but who knew? I jumped in anyway because I have this theory about life—you’ve got to go and do what you want to do in case the world changes and those one-time opportunities disappear. I fundamentally believe that we are not meant to live a boring life. This […]
Not My Rodeo. Not My Bull.
Could there be a more perfect phrase? Not My Rodeo. Not My Bull. When you feel yourself being pulled into someone else’s drama, repeat these words: Not my rodeo. Not my bull. I also like the phrase, not my circus; not my monkey – it’s all the same in its meaning of “Be wise, my friend, and don’t let yourself get caught up in other people’s drama.” I laughed out loud when I saw this quote the other day because I love the rodeo. (My mom grew up in Wyoming, so I come by it honestly.) “Not my rodeo… Not […]
Carpe Diem, My Friend
Carpe Diem. Seize the day… Make your lives extraordinary. It’s the fourth week on my topic, and I am just as excited and motivated by my themes of Commitment, Excellence, and Action as I was when I first introduced them to you a few weeks ago. When I started writing about these three themes you often hear about, they kept revealing themselves as much deeper than one-and-done. Commitment, Excellence, and Action seem so simple, yet so hard to master if you don’t lay the groundwork to get it right the first time…or the first ten times. It’s hard to put […]
Discover Who You Are
Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze you; they’re supposed to help you discover who you are. If you ask your friends and family what are some challenges they are facing today and how they plan to overcome them, most of your peers will look at you with a blank expression, and suddenly, you will see a quote cloud form above their head that says, “You need to find someone else to talk to. I don’t want to go that deep today…or tomorrow or ever.” Now, it’s not because they didn’t understand the question; it is because no one–and I […]
You Have Permission to Rest
You Have Permission to Rest Almost every health official or wellness magazine suggests that we all need to slow down and rest, and yet most of us refuse until our bodies force us to stop and take care of ourselves. The million-dollar question is, why don’t we take such good advice? And the ten-cent answer is that, for many, it seems selfish to stop and take care of ourselves when so much needs to be done in the world, our community, and our own homes. Like most of my friends, I was under the weather this week. Not really sick […]
Attract What You Expect
Attract what you expect, reflect what you desire, become what you respect, and mirror what you admire. In Pennsylvania, I was speaking with those planning to run for public office. I teach Your Campaign Speech and how to engage your audience to listen to your message. And in Maryland, I had the wonderful opportunity to speak at the Spouse Program for members of Congress. I must say they were both wonderful groups to spend time with, and my thought for today is a direct result of what I saw that week. If you’re in public office or would like to […]