It’s funny, but when I think about repeating myself I am reminded of a quick story. When I wrote my first book, “Speak Without Fear,” my editor said, “Deb, do you know you repeat yourself on the big ideas you have in the book?” to which I replied, “It’s because no one listens, so you have to say it over and over and in different ways,” which is fine for speaking, but not such a good idea for a book. I am in hopes that my second book, “Powerful People Take Up Physical Space,” will be out in a few […]
You Are What You Believe
For this blog I want to tackle two topics that I firmly believe you need to stop and pay attention to if you’re going to make a change for your life and those you love. My topic today is you are what you believe, and next week I am going to ask that you set aside your pre-conceived ideas and self-sabotaging stumbling blocks, and simply listen to my take on a word that I’ve not been a fan of in the past, but have come to see that for many it is all they have–the need to find a flicker […]
Burned
The text read, “Embers jumping over fire breaks–the mountain is on fire.” I live in the Carolinas, and the water for my community and many surrounding areas relies on a natural water source that springs from deep inside the mountains into a private, monitored reservoir within our secured watershed, and then the water is released to the plant where it is cleaned and piped to the community as safe, fresh, clean drinking water. So when the text on my phone read, “Embers jumping over fire breaks–the mountain is on fire,” that was not the news I was expecting from the […]
Stop turning your troubles into your excuses
Well, believe it or not, in a few weeks it will almost be time for you to consider writing down those crazy New Year’s resolutions. And while I am not entirely opposed to New Year’s resolutions, I don’t take them seriously anymore because I really don’t know anyone who sticks with them, so I find the whole exercise to be a great waste of valuable time…and, frankly, probably the number one reason I am a skeptic and a doubter is because, in the midst of all that self examination and belly button gazing, it’s always the same old story of […]
The Higher we Soar
“The higher we soar, the smaller we appear to those who cannot fly.”~ Friedrich Nietzsche Once again, a quote has grabbed me and will not let me go due to the truth that is so simply stated. This is where I find myself today, with a quote from Nietzsche who hit the nail on the head with this simple idea, “The higher we soar, the smaller we appear to those who cannot fly.” Don’t you know it! Those who continually jab at you for all your hopes and dreams and aspirations and can’t see their way out of a paper […]
First it’s impossible, then difficult, then done.
Have you ever looked at a task and thought, Wow, that’s impossible! Then you stop, or you start to find other ways to get the job done and you realize that it’s not impossible, it’s just difficult, and then you keep working and the difficult isn’t as bad as you thought. Now, it’s still hard but, before you know it, the job that was out of range—too hard to do, couldn’t figure it out—is now completed. Finished. Done. A while back I was having some quiet time; I was reading in a devotional book I really love about prayer and […]
Taking Care of Business
I am sure you have a lot going on in your life these days, but allow me a minute to gently remind you to make sure you’re taking care of business–the business of doing what brings you joy, happiness or simply what gives you a place or sense of rest, relaxation and good times for today and tomorrow. It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle of doing what everyone expects or demands, that sometimes we forget why we are doing what we’re doing, as life becomes routine and rote, and for many, boring. I don’t mean […]
Who Is Modeling You?
I would be interested to know who you model your life after, if anyone? Most of us grew up, I am assume, with a role model that we eyed sometimes with awe and wonder and sometimes with suspicion and regret; either way, we watched someone live their life and we either said, “I’m going to be like them,” or “I’m never going to be like them,” making the choice to model ourselves in a similar fashion but separate enough to maintain our sense of dignity, pride and individuality. I have always loved the artwork of Norman Rockwell. He seemed to […]
Don’t Be a Clapper
Recently in an interview session, I asked my client what was the best advice she’d ever received and she replied, “Don’t be a clapper.” What, I said, “what does that mean”? She said that all her life her parents had told her never to stand on the sideline of life but to jump into whatever opportunity came her way so she wouldn’t be one of the crowd, the audience or those in the stands, enjoying the action but never participating in the thrilling excitement of the game, the sweat and tears of the action. She said that those sideline people […]