Going Big, Generosity, and Living Fearlessly

Just when you think a problem is too big.

Just when you assume generosity doesn’t pay off.

Just when you stop acting because of fear.

What are you reading?

I’d love to know.  Seems with this new tag going on and Christmas coming up, everybody is looking for the latest greatest or the oldie-but-goodie.

So let me know - what are your reading?  If you are feeling generous, tell me why as well.

If you are feeling really froggy - consider yourself tagged!

Turn Around Tuesday

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”-Sir Winston Churchill, (1874-1965)

I hope everybody has had all the good food one can handle. Here’s also hoping the leftovers are just as good in your house as they are in mine. My mom still cooks the majority of our holiday meals. Those leftovers are wonderful.

We always have leftovers because Mom cooks for two armies - the one we know is coming and the one that might. Lucky for her, she has two refrigerators and a deep freezer. But we don’t usually have that many leftovers, being from the South and all.

I say from the South because I don’t know how they do it in the rest of the country. But down here, everybody goes home with a plate - either for yourself or somebody you know that couldn’t make it. Many times it’s both.

The end of Thanksgiving traditionally marks the beginning of Christmas. A season of gratitude followed by a season of generosity - what a wonderful tandem. I hadn’t thought of it until recently, but what better symbol of this time of year than the giving of leftovers.

The Christmas season can be chocked full of anxiety - business, personal, physical, financial, emotional - everything seems to be happening faster with a great urgency and significance.

Today I want to encourage you to remember that generosity provides the best stress reliever if we remember its true characteristics. It expects nothing, it can cost nothing, it can be just a little something, it can be a huge thing, and it is always born in your heart.

Talking about Toastmasters

While I was in the Navy, I had the unique opportunity to serve a tour as an electronics technician instructor. It was a wonderful assignment that involved a lot of standing up in front of people all the time. Did you know that is one of the biggest fears most people have?

Then I heard about Toastmasters - an international nonprofit that meets in groups to form a place where people can learn, support, and grow in the area of public speaking.

We are looking at starting one in Richmond Hill. Any takers?

Happy Thanksgiving

I would be curious to know how many Thanksgiving posts are published today. More importantly - I would love to know how many have been posted on other days of the year.

This bloggy journey has been a wonderful one. I have met some incredible people, I have made great friends, and I have learned a lot about myself. How very Thankful I am for all these things.

It is now time to finish up my to do list so that the rest of the day can be spent with family. However, I hope we will all decide that the flood of Thanksgiving post should not be limited to one day of the year. I for one have been too guilty for too long in overlooking the importance of a “just because” Thank you.

Turn Around Tuesday

“Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action.”
- W.J. Cameron

“There is no sincerer love than the love of food.”
- George Bernard Shaw

You get a “Thanksgiving Two-fer” in the quote department. Why? Because I couldn’t decide between meaningful and funny. Then I realized it was in fact my newsletter and I didn’t have to decide - you all would probably appreciate both.

I, like many others, have been incredibly busy lately. We knew this 2-3 day work week was coming…then the cooking…then the shopping…then the decorating…then everything else that comes with time of year. Makes me wonder about the madness of the holiday’s.

And therein lies the problem - we see the madness and forget the purpose.

Today I want to encourage you to be kind to yourself. The people who are thankful for you - and I am sure there are quite a few - do not feel that way because of your cooking skills, party planning ability, or dessert choices. They are thankful for you! Stress will only cause you to miss out on all the wonderful opportunities to enjoy each other as friends and family gather to remember how truly blessed we each are.

In other words - if you realize the smoke billowing out of the kitchen is in fact your prized turkey, don’t let your day be ruined. Grab a video camera, take some real funny shots, mail it to that video reality show and try to make a couple of bucks. Life is too short to let a crispy bird upstage your holiday time.

Let me tell you about some women I know

I was fortunate enough to receive an invitation to a Tupperware event organized by Christy Hurlebaus and her Grand Style group. Let me tell you - this ain’t your momma’s Tupperware.

The day was filled with consultant training and support. Time after time I heard women talk and share about growing their business, realizing freedom, living life on their terms, relationships, support, and confidence. What an awesome experience!

Thanks, Christy. I know I was there to speak to you all, but you all really spoke to me.

Turn Around Tuesday

” And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.” - John F. Kennedy,
Inaugural address, January 20, 1961

I like today’s quote for so many reason’s. Today, I’ll share two.

First, it speaks to the honor of servicemen and women. What a great thing to remember as we complete our observance of Veteran’s Day and everyday. It speaks to them because they acted on President Kennedy’s charge. They agreed to ask, “What can I do for my country?” Then they followed through with the request.

Second, it is others centered. If you are anything like me, those times that remind you to forget about yourself and focus on other people are welcomed. In our busy lives, we tend to lose track of the opportunities to do things for others simply for the sake of doing them. They don’t need to be big, expensive, or organized by a committee. I’ll tell you, the biggest look of appreciation that I see fairly often is when someone with a lot of groceries lets someone with just a few get in front of them in line. Simple, free, generous, and appreciated.

What better day than today to ask yourself, “What is the one thing I can do to make another person’s moment better?” There’s nothing earth shattering in that. You, one person, one moment. That’s a cup of coffee, a load of dishes, a lunch run, a traffic let in. You’d be surprised at what a difference small, random acts of kindness will make.

It’s a R.O.C.K Sock Hop

Raising Our Children Kindly (ROCK) invites you to come out Saturday, November 17th at Savannah Toyota to kick up your heels at the Sock Hop.

ROCK is dedicated to the education, awareness, and prevention of child abuse. Want a cause to get behind? There’s one for you. You can find all kinds of information of services they offer and what you can do to help on their website.

Also, the nominations are coming in for Making Life Work for You and Blogging Richmond Hill profiles. I am going to start making calls this week, so keep them coming! We ALL know somebody that deserves to be profiled.

I Do Whatever I Want To

I am putting it out there. My dreams are mine, I am feeling a little excitable, and life is decorated with pretty bows just for me. I will share them with you - but, these are mine.

Let me slow down a bit…but try to move with me, I have a lot going on in my head.

I think Kirsten Harrell is the cat’s meow. I have just added Corinne Edwards to that list also. Today they are my heroes of inspiration. It is a wonderful thing to know you are not alone.

Let me figure out how to explain all the tangled strands that have begun to create a beautiful web…

I was in the Navy for 11 years. Of that time, I spent 3 doing something I loved. I had the unique opportunity to become a Master Training Specialist and an Instructor. The rest of the time was spent being places I did not necessarily want to be and doing things I really did care to do.

Note - not complaining…I LOVED the military. I volunteered for it, I knew how it worked, and it was a great experience for me.

After a deployment to the Middle East did not sit well with my children, it was time to leave that calling for someone else. In the short time that followed, I had two more children, reactivated my real estate license, bought some real clothes, and discovered blogging.

Real estate is wonderful because you are your own boss. Such is the life of a client based independent contractor. I met wonderful people and learned what seems like small things

• I like people even more than I realized
• The real estate market is more cyclic than I knew
• Blogging is addictive and should be approached with extreme caution
• ipopins are infectious
• Bubble wands make me giggle
• Coaching people is a full contact sport
• Writing will keep me sane while driving me crazy
• and…

I am not defined by what I do because
I can do whatever I want

I am not settling. I can go big. Dreaming is a good thing - especially when done with a magic bubble wand.

But doubts happen. You start to question yourself and hope you don’t look and sound like a complete idiot. You start to think, “Maybe they are right. Maybe I am too much, do too much, want too much.”

What do they know?

I have folks like Kirsten who sends me wonderful encouragements that help get my mind right when the real estate market gets…different. Maybe should hedge myself against those market trends - I do have four kids to feed. Then Lani tells me that I am a big old weirdo and that if anybody can do it - I can.

At some point, Priscilla Palmer creates a list, Valeria Maltoni creates a list, I think it’s Liz that puts me on both, the blogs blow up, and I am getting phone calls to do development training. But, this is the business of one of my dear friends of whom I do not wish to encroach upon. No problem…she says I can work with her.

In the meantime, editor of the local paper says, “Nice blog. Wanna write a column?” Ummm…lemme think…DUH! Well, column turns into a business page and we debut a week from Wednesday.

Last night at a roll out party for Kathy Ackerman’s new Pilate’s/Yoga Fusion DVD, somebody asked me what I did…and I answered, “Whatever I want to.”

I am a real estate agent, a blogger, a coach, a columnist. Some call that multiple streams of income and it is. But these are things I am great at, a, passionate about, and make me thrilled to the toes to do.  So, I call it Making Life Work for Me.

I know there are some folks out there doing it their own way. Heck, I think I am going to print out Corinne’s as a road map. I am thinking of a few people in particular…Phil, Rosa, Chris, Anne, Tim come to mind immediately. And you too? Tell me about your great life…doing it the way YOU want to.

How are you defining what you do and who you are?

What’s Your Theme Song?

I have decided I need a theme song.

Ok - that’s not true. I realized last night I already had one.

Love those Country Music Awards. Especially when Jamie Foxx and Rascal Flatts are doing a duet. But, I digress…

On the CMAs, Sugarland won an award. On their walk to the stage, “Settlin’ “was playing. I have heard this song a million times. This time it struck me - that’s my theme song! Sure, she’s talking about a relationship and I’m talking about life - but other than that, it is perfect!

Find what it means to be the girl
Change her mind and change her world
I ain’t settling for just getting by
I’ve had enough so so for the rest of my life
Tired of shooting too low, so raise the bar high
Just enough ain’t enough this time
I ain’t settling for anything less than everything

I feel better already - of course, music does that to me.

Alright - what’s YOUR theme song?

Turn Around Tuesday

“I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”

Christopher Reeve (1952-2004)
Superman

Let’s talk about Superman. Raised on a planet not his own around people who were not like him and would not understand. He was able to adapt only by keeping the biggest part of himself secret.

Let’s talk about Christopher Reeve. He was Superman. Maybe not in real life, but real enough to many who loved the action hero. Faster than a speeding bullet, man of steel - in one moment, one point in time, confined to a wheel chair for the rest of his life.

Christopher Reeve will forever be associated with the comic book hero he brought to life. Understandable when you take a look at some of the similarities. Both put forth of themselves to better others. Both faced big odds in the process. Both had difficulties on their life’s journey. Both did it anyway.

Do it anyway. That’s the mantra that answers the fears, apprehensions, difficulties, and uncertainties of any task. This is where perseverance comes in. This is the point where grit your teeth tenacity happens. You have it in you to be harness that inner strength. You have it in you to be that strong.

What can we learn from Christopher Reeve, Superman, and his alter ego, Clark Kent?

- You are never truly out of your element. Make wherever you are your own. Bloom where you are planted.

- Something as simple as wire glasses can be an incredible disguise. Make sure you aren’t hiding behind something that is preventing the world from seeing your greatness.

- Good deeds don’t always require recognition. Doing the right thing is just the right thing.

- Everyone has their own weaknesses. What defines us is our ability to work through and overcome.

- Life can change in an instant. Practice the art of resiliency.

There is a superhero in all of us!

Be on the look out and let’s expand

There was a great response to my call last week to those in Richmond Hill for the profiles on Blogging Richmond Hill. I am looking forward to the upcoming articles and introducing you all to some wonderful people.

I am fortunate to know many wonderful people. I am betting you do too. And that thought gave me an idea.

Nominate someone -yourself even. I would love to introduce the wonderful people we know.

Making Life Work for You is all about those strategies that make life great. Few things do that like knowing great people.

Why nominations coming from you instead of me? Because I say what I think all the time. Sometimes it means more coming from someone else.

Email me and let me know who needs to be recognized and why. Go ahead…do it now. Make somebody’s Tuesday.

The Chaff of Sameness

We started talking about separating the wheat from the chaff early in the week. This has become the idea with priority in my brain. Funny thing is it seems to be easier to do when coaching others that when coaching yourself. Maybe it falls in to the same category as, “Someone who is his own attorney has a fool for a client.” At any rate…

I so appreciated the comments. They were great springboards for continued thought. Robyn, Rosa, Brandie, and Karen had great points on saying no, loud clutter, and cleaning it all out.

So, let’s get started on some radical moves. I realize my brain needs to be defragged. I don’t think it is a problem with the multitasking - I think it is the problem with stagnant multitasking.

The first thing designated as chaff is sameness.

Today I am going to attempt to do things in a different way. I am not quite sure what that means just yet. But I know that there are some things that I am doing that are spot on…others are good - but they could be different. Variety is the spice of life - how spicy do you like it? I am kind of a mild girl myself…but I can handle a bit.

There has to be some type of movement, some change. If not, where does the catalyst come from? I had the opportunity to talk a few minutes with a friend of mine. Deborah Crespo helps people live their lives - when she talks, I listen. “Do you ever feel like you are just standing on the cusp of something great?”

YES!
Do you?
Then what?