Tag: lessons learned

  • Take That Step

    Take That Step

    I know I’ve talked about this topic before but I think its worth visiting again.  The kind of effective long lasting change comes with taking one step in a new direction and being committed enough to it until it becomes a habit.  It doesn’t matter the area that you want to change. For example, in relationships, choosing to say I’m sorry to another even if you feel they were wrong. It all comes down to evaluating how important, whatever it is that you want to change, is to you.

    My journey began with taking physical walks. I was so stressed out financially, the walks were relief. I just wanted to find some peace.  Six years later, I still walk and I still find peace. As my passion for walking continues to grow it helps in bring about change in other areas of my life.  Your journey may begin by reading a book, reading a scripture or riding a bike, no matter what it is, stay with it until it becomes a must.

  • Time To Let Go

    Time To Let Go

    My husband and I, went to  watch my son swear in to the Army this morning. We were planning to stay with him until he flew out to his training facility.

    There were many young people shipping out today.  The Military Processing Facility was packed with family and friends to see them off.  As the recruits names were called, they would be ushered into a room for the official swearing ceremony that enlisted them into their designated branch of service. There were so many recruits they had three swearing in ceremonies.  My son was in the last group to be sworn in.  As the room started to clear out, the recruits remained. Many family members were leaving. I just watched them interacting with each other. No one looked too nervous.  Many of the conversations I overheard were about how anxious they were to get to started at training.

    At that moment, before the swearing in ceremony, I told my husband that we could head on home after the ceremony.  There was no need for us to stay.  I realized that my son was no longer my little baby who needed his mom to walk him through this process. He was a young man starting a new chapter in HIS journey.  My husband smiled at me and said, “he’s going to be fine, it’s time to let him go.”

  • What’s Not Working Here?

    What’s Not Working Here?

    I love to read personal development books! What I have to pay close attention to is getting sucked up in do all of what the author is recommending.  Like so many things out there, these books are recommendation that the author has shared with the reader.  It’s their life, their research or their opinions.  You still have to put action behind your own purpose and dreams in order for them to come to fruition.

    I am a firm believer in personal development but I am also a firm believer in creating a life of your own design. I take bits and pieces of the knowledge I read, and use what works and discard what doesn’t.  Reading does expand your thought pattern but if your not careful, you’ll begin to live the life of the author and not your own.

    I would never not recommend reading, I just recommend paying attention to how the book is making you feel.  If its not helping you but stressing you out, step back, breathe and see what’s working and discard whats not.

  • Time Out

    Time Out

    I have always enjoyed helping people build their business, especially using social media but at times we all face a period in time where we have to step back and re-evaluate our current situations. I had to do that a couple of times. The thing is not to consider it as failure but a re-alignment. I spent this weekend re-organizing my Facebook and Instagram accounts. I was sharing with a friend that I felt like I needed to do something but I just didn’t know what. Waiting for the guidance we need to move forward in life is a sign of strength.

    I that whatever I am doing at any particular moment carries it’s own blessing. It’s like looking out a window on cloudy day and still knowing the sun still shines. Trust your intuition.

  • A Reflection

    A Reflection

    mirrorMy grand baby will be turning two this year. The time has flown by and I have loved every moment I have had her in my care.  Despite the fact that I usually have her four days out of a week , I make it a point to continue learning and taking each moment I have to myself for self-care. I make time to read, take walks, exercise and connect with loved ones.

    What I have come to realize is that time passes whether I am out working or at home taking care of my granddaughter.   Life is a reflection of our thinking, the decisions we make and the activity we choose to engage in. Take a moment to find out what’s important to you and schedule time for it.  We either will find the time or simply make excuses.

    Photo source: Click here.

     

     

     

     

     

  • 58 Minutes

    58 Minutes

    Treadmill-Control-Panel

    I love walks in the park but this past winter I told my husband, “I am getting soft”. I just couldn’t handle walking in the cold anymore so I started going to the gym to walk on the treadmill. The maximum workout setting is 58 minutes. I would go in each morning, grab my hand towels, hit manual workout and start walking. One morning I was just watching the countdown timer, noticing the seconds turn into minutes over and over again. Then it hit me! I was spending 58 minutes walking on a treadmill. Those 58 minutes I would never get back again. In that moment, I realized every second of every minute is a gift.

    We all have this one precious life to live. Take a moment, stop, breathe and enjoy it.

    Photo Source: Click here.

  • What’s the Deal?

    What’s the Deal?

    Special Offer shutterstock_117843931I have been making monthly payments to a company for a couple of months.  A representative from the company called me about two months ago and asked if I would be interested in making a settlement payment that would “save me” money.  I asked the gentleman if he could call back the following month and maybe we could go from there.  The “discounted offer” was a welcomed surprise but I budgeted a set monthly payments until the debt was reconciled. The representative didn’t call back.

    I receive a call this week from my representative buddy. This time I have plenty of time to consider and budget their “discounted offer” if it works well with my budget.  He begins stating that according to his records, he was calling in the appropriate time frame to see if I was going to make a payment settlement or was I going to make a payment.  I was waiting to hear his offer but he never  clearly stated one. I told him I planned on making my usual payment. I never sought an offer so I don’t know why they are calling me (unless he just wants to hear my pleasant voice, I never get rude.)

    The representative reminds me of times when I used to sell crafts.  I never felt like I could never “close the deal”.  I wanted to ask the representative, WHAT DO YOU WANT? That’s when I realized, I could not “close deals” because I never had clarity.

    Photo Source: Click Here

  • What Do You See?

    What Do You See?

    Dandelion in the windMy yard does not have spectacular curbside appeal but my husband does maintain it. We do not spray chemicals to the kill dandelions. When my husband mentions spraying, I must admit I encourage him not to.  I guess you would say I am kind of environmentally conscious and I try to pay attention to my environmental footprint. As I stated, I really don’t like using chemical lawn treatments but I respect those who do.

    I remember growing up and running in large fields with lots of dandelions. I would gather them up and give them to my mother. She would smile and say how much she like them. I would also make wishes as I blew the dandelion seeds.  When my granddaughter was over the other day, she picked the dandelions in my yard just as I did, oh how those precious memories came back.

    Whether you spray or not is not the point.  It is recognizing the precious gifts that the universe offers up in each day, and there are many.  We can choose to look for the negative or the positive, it’s all up to you.

    Photo Source: Click Here

  • A Day of Relaxation

    A Day of Relaxation

    o-RELAX-SLEEP-facebookI watch my granddaughter four days out of the week.  On days I don’t have her, I try and make them my “Relaxation Days” but on most occasions, I get a feeling of restlessness.

    One Monday afternoon, on a day I didn’t have Charli, I just couldn’t sit still.  On most days, when I have “Charli Watch”, I start my day at 4 AM by listening to morning motivation videos on YouTube, do early morning stretches with Joanna Suh, and sit in mediation with Deepak Chopra and Oprah Winfrey.  By 5:30 AM, I am off to the gym for a date with a treadmill.  I make it back home with enough time to get my son up and off to school with a smoothie.  My morning is like a well oiled machine.

    My thinking days without Charli as “off days” , I feel I don’t have to put in work. I do not have to get up early and I do not have to put in the effort to take care of myself, I just want to “relax.”  I finally realized at self-care isn’t work, it’s necessary to have a balanced and productive day, no matter what is on the schedule. So I will put in the work , maybe just not so early in the morning.

    References:

    Photo Source: Click Here.  Stretching:  YouTube Channel  Meditation: The Chopra Center

  • An Audience of One

    An Audience of One

    20150812205130-microphone-public-speaking-mediaIt was about four years ago when I joined Toastmasters International or TI. For those who are not familiar with TI, it is a nonprofit, educational organization that operates clubs worldwide for the purpose of helping members improve their communication, public speaking, and leadership skills. The initial reason I joined was to become a better sales person because I talked too much.  I could not close the sale.

    Over the years, my reason for staying in the club changed. The last reason I renewed my membership was in order to become a paid public speaker. It didn’t quite workout as I planned but I did learn one thing.  I had the courage to get up and give speeches at club meetings and compete in local area contests which were all positives. However, no matter the size of the audiences I would speak in front of, the biggest critic in the room, was always myself until I focused on simply doing my best. The one person you most often have to please, is the one that lives within. As the famous African Proverb says:

    When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.

    References:

    Photo Source: http://workwithadam.blogspot.com/2015/10/5-marketing-strategies-that-dont.html

    TI Information Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toastmasters_International

    Quote source: https://www.inspirationalstories.com/proverbs/african-when-there-is-no-enemy-within-the/