For the last few years, I have been writing a weekly blog and producing a podcast, which stemmed from my Saturday radio show, “Encouragement for Your Life,” heard every week on 94.5FM. As we come into the holidays, I will be closing out this chapter of life–my weekly newsletter and podcast. That being said, after 250 shows/posts/newsletters – I will end my weekly dose of encouragement with the same encouragement that I started with almost five years ago. Please hear me loud and clear (and I am speaking to myself here as well): your only limit is you. And that […]
Public Speaking
Our days are happier when we give people a bit of our heart rather than a piece of our mind.
Recently, I overheard a heated argument in which one of the players was verbally harsh to the other and gave them what we’d call a standing down, told them off—and gave them a piece of their mind. It was so sad to see the immediate crush of the other person’s spirit. It was shocking and, unsettling and simply heartbreaking at the same time. I am not around people who yell. I didn’t grow up with anyone who yelled in our family—it just wasn’t allowed—and when I witness the outburst of anger that is carried by one’s raising of their voice, […]
Your Story Isn’t Over Yet
Your story isn’t over yet. In praise of the humble semicolon I know it seems odd to write a post about a punctuation mark, but recently, I was at a restaurant, and my waiter had a very pronounced semicolon tattooed on his arm, and I asked about it. He told me that the semicolon is now the symbol to recognize those who have struggled with depression, anxiety, addiction, and/or suicidal thoughts. I had not heard about this trend of using the semicolon as a symbol of hope. The waiter went on to explain that the semicolon represents “a sentence the […]
Sometimes you’ve got to ask…
I had a dear friend say to me one time, “You know, Deb, you can ask for help… it’s not a sign of weakness, and in your case, it might be a sign of strength.” I know I looked at her like she had two heads – a sign of strength to say you need help – I’m a little slow on that concept…you’re going to need to explain. So, she proceeded to tell me that as much as I like to help others and find a sense of community or friendship or profit from my time well spent… that […]
You are NOT responsible for how people treat you
You are not responsible for how people treat you, but you are responsible for how you treat others and yourself. Recently, I was watching a show about re-entry from death row prison to freedom. The man who was telling his story said that, through it all, his mother would tell him that no matter what happened in life or death, he was not responsible for how people treated him, but he was responsible for how he treated others and himself. A tear came to his eye when he recalled the words of the one woman who never stopped loving him, […]
Remember people are looking up to you – don’t let them down
There is a small church near where I live, and on the outdoor board that shows the church service times and the pastor’s name and other information, Recently, I saw that they had put up this phrase, “Remember, people are looking up to you – don’t let them down.” I really like that thought because it is so true. I know I speak about this a lot, but friends, hear me—you never know who is watching you, and you never know who is following your steps as they live their lives. You matter. Your words matter. Your actions matter, and […]
What will you do?
Well, it’s bound to happen, and it did…. I fell down some steps as I was going off the stage to write something on the whiteboard. It happened so quickly, and I went down hard and hit my head against the wall and my backside on the steps, and my shoulder took the brunt of the fall. Probably one of the worst things that can happen to a speaker – in the middle of a 2-hour session is to fall down. Luckily, I was able to regain my composure, and I quickly stood and said, “And now I will take […]
Feeling stuck is a FEELING, not a fact
If I have heard it once, I have heard it 100 times, “You know, Deb, I’m stuck in life, and I don’t know how to move forward.” Well, I say usually, one step at a time is a good place to start, and soon the feeling will pass, and you can get started again. Why? Because feeling stuck is a FEELING, not a fact, and, for many listening today, you’re wallowing in a feeling that is not based on anything but your emotions at this time and for whatever reason you’ve chosen to give. No doubt some days, weeks, or […]
Don’t Complain About Things You Are Not Willing to Change
I have just about reached my limit with people who complain about things they are not willing to change. You hear it all the time from someone in your group. They are the ones who whisper loudly that someone else didn’t do their job, or someone else didn’t tell them some tiny bit of useless information, or someone else said something to someone. And you know the rest of the excuses of the one person who blames their lack of accomplishments on everyone else but themselves. Today, I have a lot to say to those people. What are we supposed […]
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