home safe and sound

Yes I realize it is a full week after returning from the famous vacation. And my promise to try to blog every few days failed when I got on the ship and we didn't have regular internet access. Todd did buy a package, but after i got booted off a couple times I gave up in frustration.

...so i will try to recap the high points....

It wasn't the vacation we planned, but if you have a sense of adventure, a strong will to have fun, and don't really mind not knowing what the next day will hold, I highly recommend jumping on a plane to a city destined for a hurricane in a few days. Not knowing if your ship will come in (literally to a closed port, lol) is highly recommended to help keep the sense of wonder in your trip. If you really like hanging around hotels and hoping they will let you stay another day, than this is the trip for you. (Thursday, we were told that they were all booked up and would not be able to stay another night. Todd had determined that he would homestead in the room if he had to. Finally, after getting word that we would be able to sail on Friday, we were also informed that there was a cancellation in our hotel, so we wouldnt have to become squatters.)

If you love jumping on to a ship full of grumpy passengers (What? I thought everyone would be as excited as us), and an over-extended crew (many were at the end of their contract and had to stay on because of the flight situation), to go on a shortened cruise, to a less desirable destination, into choppy, post-hurricane waters, (if you have fond memories of morning sickness, this will help you relive them) than this is definitely the trip for you.

But seriously, we had a super time! While on extended stay in NYC, we got to see 2 Broadway productions, Phantom and Wicked. Both were fantastic! and, though the cruise was shortened, they did not shorten the amount of entertainment. We got all the same entertainment that was planned for the 9 day cruise. It was practically round the clock!

Bermuda, our new destination, was an absolutely beautiful Island, and the people there were gracious enough to open everything back up for us, after the close of the season.

Norwegian Cruise line took wonderful care of us and graciously refunded us for the days missed of our cruise and offered us 25% off on our next cruise.

So. For high adventure... take a cruise in a hurricane. You'll never forget it....

I'd love to hear about some of your more adventurous vacations. Please share them by responding to this blog.

1 week

It's Thursday November 1st. The last we heard they should open the ports today. Our cruise has been down graded to a 5 day Bermuda cruise. I guess we could pout, but hey, we're in NYC, the most exciting place on earth.

Yesterday we went to the movies to see Argo (a must see), and then went to Madame Trousauds wax museum. (the only thing open in town for sight seers). With the transit systems limping along it would have been a nightmare to try to go somewhere outside of walking distance anyway. Some of the parks and other sites should be opening today, but I doubt we are going to want to get on a bus. There is a huge old public library right across the street from our hotel. I've been dying to check it out. I think it should be opening today. I hope. We may go see another play tonight. Maybe Wicked or the Lion King. We are going to try to get discount tickets though.

We're hoping for embarkation tomorrow. Keeping perfectly manicured fingers and toes crossed.

TTFN

New York. Winter is setting in.

It's 42 and dropping. We're at johns (in an old cathedral) having antipasto and pizza. All the sites are closed, do weRe having canolli and then going to the movies.

Well, we just found out that the Port is still closed. Our ship is still at sea, but they are going to port in Boston to refuel and let people off. The soonest we would be able to embark would possibly be on Thursday. We are going to stick it out because the airport is closed and trying to get us flight out would be a nightmare. Luckily we do have trip insurance, so we are covered for any extra expenses.

So we are making the best of it. As grandma suggested. We are considering getting plastered.

Time square today

Most stores are still closed. Most people are off work. Lots it delis and restaurants still open.

Sandy sandy,

You are ruining our vacation plans!

We spent the entire day hanging out in the hotel room and watching you on the tube. The highlight of the day was when I spent 45 minutes on the treadmill in the hotel gym

And for what, I ask you? You are causing all kinds of havoc for those poor souls on the coast. As for those of us in mid town Manhattan, you've been a major inconvenience. We had to walk a block and a half to pick up lunch at the deli today, because the only thing open on our street was a nail spa. Too bad I just got a mani & pedi. And for dinner... We couldn't even eat at the restaurant in our hotel, cause it was the only thing open on our street, and the wait was way too long, we had too walk around the corner to the same Irish pup we already ate at once this week.

(as I'm saying all this tongue in cheek, a report of 5 dead already comes on the news. My prayers are with their families. I realize that to us this is a little inconvenience. To others it is life or death. Not a laughing matter.).

According to our cruise line we will sail on Wednesday.

Please keep the people really affected by this storm in your prayers.

New York pics

Rain rain... Where are you?

It was suppose to start raining this morning at 5:00. Not a drop all day!! In fact we've been chasing that storm all day and it just keeps running from us. Oh well, we've had a great time anyway. Took a scenic tour of the uptown area today. And went to the top of Rockefeller Center and got a fab view of the entire city. Had New York pizza for dinner, and yes, there is a difference.

Got stuck in the elevator on the way to the room tonight. Soooo much excitement! Now we're having a relaxed evening in our room watching storm footage. Probably not boarding our boat tomorrow. I guess the people stuck at sea for an extra day aren't having as much fun as we are. Ha ha.

Tomorrow should be fun!

NYC The Perfect Storm?

Ok.  So first things first.  Since everyone is so worried about us, i'll just say we are safe, dry and having a great time.  The worse thing that has happened so far is our feet are killing us from all the walking?  We have gotten an update from the cruise line and the ports are scheduled to be closed on Sunday at 6:00 pm, which means that our ship might not be back in port on time.  This means that they won't sail if it's not safe to do so.  We are safe and dry in our hotel and can extend if we need to.  There is no threat of evacuation, floods or anything else other than heavy rains and winds at this time. If it gets threatening, we will leave.

Okay, now for the fun stuff.  We had an excellent day! After  a leisurely sleep-in morning.  We slept until. 8:30 (that's 5:30 Phoenix time!), we took a tour through down town.  From the top of a double Decker bus, we had an excellent view of all the major sites.  We admired the architecture of all the great old buildings like Chrysler building, Rockefeller Center, and the Empire state building, as we wound our way through all of the main Burroughs of Manhattan, SoHo,  and Greenwich Village, then ended up at the Statue of liberty.  After waiting well over an hour, being herded through an airport security type terminal, we finally boarded the fairy. By the time we arrived on the island we were tired and hungry.  We quickly took the obligatory photos, meandered the souvineer shop and got back on the boat.   We were in a bit of a hurry, because we had booked ourselves to go see The Phantom of the Opera, so we took the express bus back to Time Square.  This time our top deck ride was fast and cold.  We did get to see Ground Zero on the ride back, though.  That was neat.  

Back at the hotel, exhausted, yet short on time, we poured ourselves a quick glass of wine then got ready and headed to dinner and to the play.  If you haven't yet seen the Phantom of the Opera, I highly recommend it.  It is the longest running play in the history of Broadway.  That should tell you something.  

Well, we've got a big day of storm chasing tomorrow, so at that I will say good night.  

We're here!

Yeah!!! We're here.  We arrived in NYC late this afternoon and the first thing we got to see in this great city was the taxi stand attendant curse out a taxi driver on our behalf.  We ended up with a great driver who familiarized us with the city as he drove us to our hotel.  We had to have two cabs between the four of us because one could not accommodate all of our luggage.  I guess the other driver wasn't as informative and friendly as ours.

Once we got situated in the hotel we walked to a local diner called O' Casey's, which the concierge recommended.  I was a little wary about going to a place recommended by a guy paid to recommend them, but I must admit the food was very good and the prices were reasonable.  I enjoyed warm pork tenderloin salad which very delicious and more than enough food for one person.  I would definitely eat there again if  there were not so many other great places to try.

After dinner we took a walk down to Time Square, about 3 blocks from our hotel.  On the way we found a great little park called Bryant park.  (we stopped ther on the walk back as well) It had an ice skating rink and lots of little shops and food vendors.  After meandering for a few minutes there, we strolled on down to the Square.  I can't even begin to try to describe the scene there.  All I can say is, it's just like in TV, but on steroids.  There were thousands of people, but surprisingly, I felt very safe.

So, about the big storm.  It's mostly hype.  It was a beautiful, balmy night, without even a hint of wind or rain.  It does look like we could get some weather, but our ship is still set to sail on time.  We aren't worried at all.

Tomorrow we are doing the bus tour thing, and Sunday we are going to a play.  Not sure which one yet though.  I'll keep you posted.

(Please bear with me on any typos, as I'm using my IPad and having a tough time getting it to cooperate.)

The pork was

New York here we come

It's Wednesday. Only two more days till the big trip.  That's right, a cruise out of New york City.  We are flying into NYC Friday morning, spending 3 nights there doing the tourist thing, then catching the boat Monday for a 9 day Carribean cruise.  Woohoo!

So I'm going to try the life if the travel blogger and journal my trip.  My goal is to post a blog every few days.  We'll see if I can be that disciplined.  I'm looking forward to some fun and down time.  If you've ever been to NYC and have tips for a westerner, let me know.  I think I'm more excited about NYC than the cruise itself.

Bon voyage!

Lessons from a Toastmaster

At Toast masters this morning I played the role of Toastmaster ( basically the MC of the meeting).  I've done this role a number of time, and one thing that I noticed is that the nerves have really calmed down.  The first two or three times that I did it, I was literally shaking.  I stuttered and stammered.  I felt incompetent.

One of the things I love about being a member of a local TM club is the relationships that I've gained.  The beautiful thing is that each of us is there for very similar reason and  each of us feels incompetent  in the beginning.  As we fulfill the roles, complete our speech assignments and practice good grammar, we become better and more confident, not only in a public speaking situation, but also in every day life.  

The lesson that I learned today is the more you do something, no matter how challenging at first, the easier it becomes.  I'm a sales person.  Sometimes I have to make cold calls.  This is the reason most people are terrified of sales.  When I've allowed time to pass between cold calling sessions, the old fears are there to greet me.  But, when I make it a part of my routine and make the calls on a regular basis, it is as natural a process as can be.  The more I do it, the more the nervousness and fears diminish, until one day, I'll look back and ask myself, " what was I so afraid of?"

So, I ask you.  What are you so afraid of?  

You can beat that fear a little at a time.  You just need to look it in the eye,  set a plan, and begin to bite off a little chunk each day.  If you need help, I challenge you to join Toastmasters.  It's not just about public speaking, it's about confidence building.  

Bite Your Tongue

Life is all about choices.  Living a life on purpose means not always doing or saying everything that we feel.  We live in a free country and that means we can pretty much do or say whatever we want.  But...

That doesn't mean that we should. Sometimes it's better just to allow someone else to have their way or win an argument because that person means so much to us.  I'm not saying you should be a doormat.  What I'm saying is that sometimes its better to put our own feelings down and show the people that we love how much we love them by allowing them the privilege of being right.  (even if they are not).

After all, look at the people in your life.  People who live totally by their feeling are consider arrogant, spoiled brats.  Most people don't want to be around them and they end up alone a lot of the time.  After all who wants to hang out with someone who has to have their way all the time or make everyone else miserable because they didn't get it?

The point that I'm trying to get at is that life is give and take.  The best relationships are those where both people are allowed to have their way some of the time and are willing to let the other person have theirs too, without it becoming a big to do.

"Bite your tongue" is a pretty good idea from time to time.  Even when you know you are right.  It's called self control.

Your friends will thank you, your family members will thank you,  the world will thank you.



Just saying...

Gratitude journal

I'm so thankful...
For my life, my salvation in Christ Jesus and my personal relation with Him.
My marriage to my high school sweetheart, whom I love more than ever.
My kids and grandkids and that they are all healthy.  and that they love me and want to spend time with me.
My friends and family whom I love, and cherish our relationships.  And the new friends that I get to meet every day.
My good health, I'm so glad that I can run and exercise every day.
My awesome career that I'm getting better at every day.
A nice home to live in.
My brain that I try to nourish daily and my attitude that I get to choose.

Sales goal

I'm 15 med sups away from convention.  I have about 8 weeks total left to get it done.  That's less than 2 a week.  I know I can do 2 a week without much effort.  I want to have them done in 5 weeks.  Then it will be all gravy after that. 3 sales per week.  Including trips and holidays, that's all 15 by the end of November.  NO PROBLEMO!

Hawaii here we come.

I found out yesterday that I'm on track for convention in Hawaii.  I keep having this nagging feeling in the back of my mind that I'm not going to make it.  There is an old tape playing in there that I've got to get rid of. It's saying that I won't, can't, never have and never will achieve what I've set out to do.  The only problem with it is that it is a lie.  I have set high goals for myself and achieved them.  I've hiked the Grand Canyon, I've run a marathon, to name two of my biggest.  And yes I will admit that those were physical goals, which for some reason seem to be a little easier for me to achieve.  But one of the things that I learned during the experiences was to set small goals, and achieve those first before moving on to the giants. It's easy to conquer the little hills first.

I need to keep this kind of a mind set while working on achieving career and financial goals.  I also need to keep that long term goal in the back of my mind so that I don't loose focus along the way.  If I didn't have the grand canyon in my mind, I may have stopped at the achievement of summiting the white tanks, or Mt Humphrys or any of the smaller hikes in between.  Then I would have missed out on seeing the beauty of havasupai falls and the majesty of the view from the north rim.  It's not just the conquering of the goals that's important, it's also the trip along the way, the journey.  It's not always easy, but it's well worth it when you have great memories to look back on and new friends to share new experiences with as well as the rewards of the achieved goal. Whether they be financial, physical, spiritual, or personal growth and achievement.

I will be going to Hawaii in the spring.

The right side of the bed...always.

We all have to make choices every day. And we get to make choices very day. One choice that a lot of people don't realize they own is their own mood, or attitude. I believe to be true, because i do it all the time, that a person can take a minute, when in the throws of anger, depression, or any undesirable emotion, and redefine the next few minutes, hours, even days.

All you have to do is get alone, take a few deep breaths define the emotion you are feeling; give it a name ( ie; I'm feeling very angry right) . The very act of naming it defuses it to a certain extent. Then imagine yourself in the outcome you would like to be in or would have liked to have been in.

Take yourself all the way to the end of the scenario, then play it backwards in your mind. For example: as a salesperson I may have just been rejected for a sale and I'm feeling disappointed and sad. Now I get in my car, take 2 deep breaths, close my eyes and say "that hurt, I'm feeling sad about the way that guy treated me. Now I replay the scene in my mind the way I wanted it to turn out, starting with the end in mind. I visualize myself walking out of the house with a contract in my hand. Now I see myself smiling and shaking hands with the person, then I here him saying "yes" and "I agree". I feel the emotion of satisfaction and happiness and joy just as if it really just happened. This all takes place in about 60 to 90 seconds. When I open my eyes I actually feel happy and satisfied.

This is something that you can also do prior to any situation that you know you will face. For example. I literally play out the desired outcome of a sale prior to the appointment. Amazingly, more times than not, outcome turns out very much like what I imagined in the first place. This way, when I walk into the meeting, I'm already feeling the joy and happiness of closing the sale. The customer doesn't know why I'm happy, but my mood rubs off on them and we end up becoming friend through the experience.

I challenge you to give it a try next time you wake up on the wrong side of the bed or "someone" put you In a bad mood. It may not be easy the first time. But the old adage practice makes perfect applies here. And it does get easier and quicker with practice. Let me know how it works for you.

A few summer 2012 memories

Some of the things that have been happening in my life over the last 4 months

1.  Started Insanity.  What's Insanity? You may ask.  Insanity is a video workout series that will seriously kick your butt.  My two daughters; Brook and Tara and I began the workouts in June and have been meeting in my living room at 4:45 every morning since then.  I will admit that the first week was insanely painful and I thought about quitting more than once.  But I'm proud to say weve completed the first round and are on to the second round.

2. Went to California.  We spent 5 lovely days in Huntington Beach with a couple of our best friends in the world.  We stayed in their families condo that has expansive panoramic window views overlooking the beach.  I ran on the beach every morning, which was glorious, because the conditions were perfect for running; cool temps, flat paved track that went as far as one would ever need and lovely views.  We shopped, drank coffee, dined, and relaxed.  It was soooo hard.

2.5 Ran a Half Marathon.  A few of my friends and I decided to run the a flagstaff half, kind of last minute.  It was a beautiful weekend in Flagstaff when it was 116 degrees in the valley. That in itself seemed like a good enough reason to enlist (or, I mean register).  Yes, it was much cooler up there, but along with lower temps comes higher elevation.  Let's just say it was not one of my fastest races.  But, I had a fun time with the girls and I will do this one again.

3.Went to Omaha.  I was one out of three people from my division who were selected to go to Omaha for "Grad School", which is a three day intensive training class that Physicians Mutual offers to as few people each years.  We were treated like royalty and given an emense amount of training and materials to help us grow our business.  I must say that Physicians Mutual is a class act.  It has been such a huge blessing to have found them when I did.  I had lots of other oppertunities, but there was something about the honesty that I got from the recruiter, the reputation of this company and the other agents and employee's attitudes that grabbed me.  I have never looked back.

4 .Funny speech contest.  I was recruited to enter a speech into our local toastmaster clubs funny speech contest.  The idea scared the bleep out of me.  What if nobody thought I was funny?!  I expressed this to Matt, who was running the contest, and he threw out some ideas and encouraged me to think about it.  I did, and decided to write my speech on the funny things that kids say.  After all I have four grandkids.  I was sure I could come up with plenty of material.  Well, long story short, I entered the contest and won.  It wasn't hard, there was only one other contestant.  (his speech was just as funny as mine, but mine was just a little more practiced).  I will now move on to do the speech at our area contest on Oct 5th.  Wish me luck.

Ok, it's been quite a while since I've posted a blog.  The reality is, my life is insanely busy.  I have a huge desire to write, yet my desire seems to wane in the evenings when I actually have some time to write.  After a long day of chasing down leads, making new friends, teaching, consulting and advising, I'm literally out of gas, both mentally and emotionally.  My fingers hover over the keyboard, and my mind produces a blank.

So why am I writing this now?  When I know that chances are, nobody actually will read it?  For me. I need the practice of writing, I need the discipline to write on a regular basis and I hope that some inspiration will come of it.

There have been so many blog moments in my life in these last 4 months that I wish I would have taken the time to write down.  Funny things, inspiring things, moments with my kids and grandkids that I will never get back.  I don't want to loose any more.

I don't want to write cliches. But sometimes you have to write the mundane first in order to get it out of the way and get to the good stuff.  So no excuses. I will write what comes out my fingetips and seed what happens.

3 rules of grandparenting.

There are so many small blessings in our lives and we don't always see them or appreciate them. 

Todd and I kept our grand kids for a long weekend this past week.  This was our first with these 2 for more than one night.  .  We were so sure that we would be able to get these precocious kids to transform into little cherubs in the 3 days that their parents were gone.  We just knew that our ways were so much better than theirs and they just didn't get it.  After all, we are all those years older and wiser, and we have all that experience of raising 3 kids of our own. (HA!)

What we had forgotten was the fact that little kids are full of energy and we (being in our 50s) aren't!

After a day of trying to corral them and fit them into our mold, unsuccessfully, we took a few cues from our kids (their parents). 

1. A little sugar goes a long way! (eggs instead of cereal on the 2nd day made all the difference.
2. Kids need to run and jump and scream and splash and have fun.  (they cant help it, it's their nature.)Pools and parks are a wonderful thing.
3.  Bed time is when they are tired, not when we are.  But, once we figured out what their routine was, it made it so much easier. 

Once we got the rules down, we found a world of pleasure in spending time with our little cherubs. 

Expect GREAT things and decide to make it an awesome day.

Debbie

the business of living

Wow! Have I been gone for a while! 

Sometimes we get so caught up in the busyness of our lives, that we dont stop and enjoy the business of living.   I stopped writing in my blog for a while because I have been caught up in the busyness.  It's time to stop being so busy and start really living. 

I read an article this morning written by Arina Nicotina. A Survival Guide for Beating the Busyness In it she points out 15 little ways to stop and smell the flowers (so to speak).  I have already started to do some of them. 

Life is so precious.  And it goes by so quickly.  We must remember to enjoy the small treasures as they come along: splashing in the pool with your grandkids, listening to the birds sing, walking barefoot in the grass.  Our Lord loves us so much that even these small moments in our lives are important to Him.  Take the time to thank Him for them, and savor them.

Remember to...

Expect Great things and decide to have an awesome day.

Debbie

Lather rinse repeat

I had an awesome week last week.  Stayed super busy at work, made lots of sales, got in 4 runs, gave a speach in Toastmasters about the Gladiator run (which I will share on this blog soon.)  Stayed positive, focused and up-beat.  Now I just need to clone the week and do it all again.  Lather rinse repeat.  Lather rinse repeat. 

Have an awesome week.!!!

Expect great things and decide to have an awesome day.

Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success. Always be on the lookout for ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success. Always be on the lookout for ways to nurture your dream. ~ Lao Tzu in Lao Tzu

I start my day out every day with intentional optimism. I get up an hour early so that I can read positive things; the Bible, inspirational blogs or articles, watch inspiring videos. It helps me have a better day. I decide every morning to be happy, to fill my mind with good thoughts and reject negative thoughts.

 I know I'm probably not the most optimistic and successful person you know. And I'm not trying to toot my own horn. I'm am just suggesting happiness and success are a state of mind. Every person has their own definition of what that means. I believe we all have a choice to be or not to be what ever that means to us.

History has proven, that when a person focuses singlemindedly on something, they will achieve it. It's not always easy. It usually takes some hard work, but the results are well worth the effort.

Expect GREAT things and decide to have an AWESOME day.

Debbie

PS. The picture is of me and my friends after the San Diego Rock and Roll marathon in 2009

...perfect Saturday ...

What a perfect Saturday morning.  I got to sleep in until 7:30 when I woke up on my own, a nice slow awakening, no alarm clocks, no telephones…. Ahh….  There was nothing pressing to get up for so I just lingered in bed for a little while until I was ready to get up.  Laying there contemplating my blissfully empty day, I remembered my mom had loaned me her foot bath/massager.  I have been wanting to give myself a long leisurely pedicure.  So I filled that baby up with the hottest water I could get out of the tap and let my tootsies soak and vibrate for a full hour while I had my morning quiet time and devotional.  It was heaven. Afterwards I filed, buffed and polished them into the most glamorous piggies in the whole house! Which wasn’t hard, since it’s just me and my honey now.

After a couple of hours of glamorizing my feet I was ready to get up and do something.  About that time Todd came in and invited me to go to the bookstore with him.  This is one of my favorite places to hang out, so of course I accepted.  Ours has a nice little coffee shop inside.  So as soon as I found the book and magazine that I wanted to get, I got me a little cup of coffee and found a quiet spot to plant myself.  I leisurely began to read this most intriguing magazine.  It was about blogging and journaling.  I was of course drawn in immediately.  Todd came and found me after he’d gotten the books he was looking for, but I was not ready to go.  So we sat together and enjoyed another hour of quiet contentment.  How blissful…

Everyone needs a day like this from time to time.  I think I could be quite happy with one a month…  I’m already looking forward to the next one. 

Expect GREAT things, and decide to have an AWESOME day.

Debbie

Paint a vivid picture...

Paint a vivid picture of what you like to achieve, and the chances of achieving it are much much greater. Today I want to talk about visualization. If you are going to dream , whynot dream big? Fill in all the blanks. Think about the smallest, tiniest details. Paint a beautiful picture for whatever your dream or vision is.

If you are planning a vacation, think about the place where you are going. Fill in all of the details about the place you will stay. Think about the sites, that sounds, the smells. Who will share this experience with you?The more real it is in your mind, the more real it will be in reality.

If you are working on a resume for a new job, think about the exact perfect job that you would like to have . Think about the type of work you will be doing, the location it will be in, the perfect boss, the perfect company, and every other detail that you can come up with. Be specific. Make your dreams your reality in your mind first. Then it will become a true reality.

I guess the point is, in order to achieve it, you have got see it first. That is the starting point... Somewhere I read, "my people parish for lack of vision"...

Expect great things and decide to have an awesome day.

 Debbie

2 Emotions...

Did you know that you can't hold 2 emotions at the same time. You can't be thankful and angry at the same time. When you are upset about something, when someone does something to inconvenience you. Even something small, like being cut off in traffic can be enough to push some people's buttons. If you will just stop and think of a few things that you are thankful for.. It will not only take your mind off the negative situation at hand, it will literally elevate ,your mood. But what's really cool, is that thankfulness breeds thankfulness. The more you express your thankfullness the more thankful you become. Next time someone is rude to you, think something like this... "That guy was kind of a jerk, but I'm so thankful that I have plenty of time to get to work. In fact I'm thankful that I have a reliable vehicle to get to work in, as a matter of fact I'm thankful that I have a job, a healthy body, mind etc." If you practice this you will find it gets easier and easier to find things to be thankful for. You will also notice that your little annoyances and inconveniences are really no problem at all. In fact, you might not even notice them any more. It's amazing how quickly a negative situation can be defused with a smile and thank you. When you thank someone several things happen. 1. The person you thank feels appreciated. 2. You get a feeling of satisfaction. 3. You are opening a door for more good things to happen. I was having a not-so-great dining experience in a local restaurant recently. The waitress was rushed and flustered. What started out to be a bad experience was quickly turned around, when my dining partner took the situation in hand. The next time the waitress came by our table he said, "I've noticed that you are working very hard to take care of all these people tonight. I just wanted to say thanks for your hard work and for taking good care of us. We really appreciate it." needless to say, our service was excellent for the rest our meal. Practice thankfulness. You'll be glad you did. Expect great things, and decide to have a great day. Debbie

Why am I doing this?

I believe that God laid on my heart to create a blog.  I have now started one and find myself avoiding it.  I knew that it was going to be an awesome responsibility.  And I hoped that I would be inspired every day to write something that would help someone. 

As I journal, I often wonder if someone else may be going through the same things that I am going through.  When I think those thoughts; that is when the blog comes to mind.  Lately I have been contriving to inspire and motivate someone, when I should be journaling my life experiences. Out of that may or may not come something to share on my blog that day.  That is what I strive for from now on.  Live life to the fullest. Gather good information, good experiences, and inspiring moments every day.  Suck them in.  Savor them. Enjoy them.  Use them.  Share them.  That is my motivation.

Today I’ve got a beautiful  7-year-old’s birthday party to attend.  Let’s see what inspiring moments I can gather there.

Expect Great things and decide to have and Awesome day.

Debbie

You must work every day to stay inspired and motivated. Do it. Believe in yourself. Fill your mind with with truth. Fill it with happy, good inspirational thoughts. Read something inspirational every morning. Set up pop up reminders on your smart phone or computer with motivating quotes or bible verses. You'll find these little nuggets will be just what you need from time to time. I also like to check out you tube for a quick pickmeup. Never count on someone else to make you happy. Create your own happiness! Expect something GREAT to happen and it will. And decide to have a great day and you will....just sayin' Debbie

Five years from now.

I just watched an excellent u tube video. It is one of the best pieces of advice ever. "Do something for the person that you will be five years from now". It's just a couple of minutes long, but the wisdom found there is life long. Here is the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk4t0E0ZkZk&feature=youtube_gdata_player If it doesn't work to click on it, copy and paste it into your browser. Then let me know what you think. Expect great things and decide to have a great day. Debbie

Habit is habit and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs a step at a time.

Mark Twain

Habits are breakable!!!! But dont expect to change them over night!  We just have to do it little by little.  We must start in our own mind.  Start thinking differently about ourselves  Then we must begin taking very small steps.  When we do this, we begin to form new habits that will take us to the next small step. 

There is a process called Kaizen method. The word Kaizen  is Japanese for "improvement".  It is the process of making small incremental changes which focus on  and bring about continuing improvement. 

It's a great way to begin changing your habits.

There are books, classes, audio and videos on the subject to help you do this.  Many manufacturing facilities in Japan and now all over the world have adopted the process because it works. 

Habits are breakable.... If coaxed gingerly... 

Let's start breaking one today!

Expect GREAT things and decide to have and AWESOME day.

Debbie

Please share your thoughts or suggestions on the subject.

Negative thoughts lead to negative behaviors, which lead to negative results.  Science has proven that you are or become what dominates your thoughts.  If you have a problem in a certain area, it just might be because you have allowed your mind to go there in a negative way.  For example;  If you allow yourself to think about an ice cream cone, most likely you are going to have an ice cream cone before the end of the day.  Not that eating an ice cream cone is a negative behavior, but if you allow yourself to do this every day, you will end up with a negative result.

 The good news is that the same is true for positive thoughts. They lead to positive behaviors, which lead to positive results.  And the better news is that we all have control over our own thoughts.  A person can change a negative thought into a positive one.  It might not be easy at first, but it can become a habit if we want it to.  We have to decide for ourselves if it is worth the effort.  Here are some practical steps to making that happen.

1.       Realize that you have just had a negative thought.

2.       Say out loud “I reject that thought” (ok, think it if you are in public)  

3.       Reverse it:  if the thought was “I’m fat”, say “I’m thin”

4.       Repeat the new thought several times in as many different ways as possible: I’m lean, I’m healthy, I work out, I enjoy healthy eating, I have a healthy lifestyle.  (Do this out loud if possible.  This way you are hearing it as well as thinking it.  This reinforces the new thought.)

5.       Imagine yourself in the exact situation that you would like to be in.  Visualize it in vivid detail. 

When a person takes control of their own thoughts, instead of allowing them to wonder here and there, that person takes control of their life.  The potential is endless.

Expect GREAT things and decide to have an AWESOME day.

Debbie

PS.  The Gladiator Run was really fun.  I got muddy, sore, and bruised.  But it was worth it.  I finished 7th out of 23 in my age group.  (I'm now patting myself on my shoulder).  I recomend you do something outside of your comfort zone.  You'll be glad you did.

I didn't want to do it, I still don't want to do it.  My friends talked me into it and now I'm on my way to my first Gladiator Rockin run.  3 miles of 17 obstacles, mud, ice water, walls, tires and I don't know what else.  I don't like to be cold or wet. I especially don't like to be muddy.  But sometime you've gotta go out on a limb and try something new.  I'll let you know how it turns out.

Expect Great Things and Decide to have and Awesome day.

Debbie

Pre-Determination

I listened to an audio CD yesterday by Andy Andrews called the Lost Choice.  He told a story of a little boy who rescued a little girl that was stuck in a drainage pipe. Her head was bobbing under.  She was gasping for breaths and drowning.  He jumped into the pipe and dove under to where her foot was lodged. He worked it free and got her out.  When asked later what made him risk his own life to save her, he replied.  “I didn’t think about it.  I just did what I had decided a long time ago, which was that If I was ever in an emergency situation where I could help someone, I would do everything that I could to help”.   And because he had made up his mind a long time ago, he did what he had predetermined, no thoughts, no worries, or no arguments.  He saved a life. 

Is there something in your life that you have predetermined and because of it, seen a positive outcome? I’d be interested to hear your story.  Please comment.

Expect Great things and decide to have an Awesome day.

Debbie

“A single conversation across the table with a wise person is worth a month's study of books."
Chinese Proverb

I thank God for the wise people in my life, (and the cracked-pots).  I’ve been blessed with awesomely wise parents, sisters, mentors and friends. (as well as a few nuts) All of whom have added so much to my life.

You know who you are.

With you and through you I am learning to grab hold of life’s lessons from the tiniest moments to the grandest accomplishments.

I’m learning how to appreciate the hard knocks, (the sharp rocks, the monstrous mountains, the cavernous canyons, blisters, headaches, door slams, hang-ups….) for through them my character is growing  (Though it could use a band-aid from time to time.)

 I've learned how to appreciate and analyze each failure (oh joy!!).  For if it weren’t for the failures there would be no successes. 

I’m learning not to give up (or run screaming to the hills of Montana), but to press on with determination (like the little engine), when everything in me wants to throw in the towel.

I’ve learned that….

Laughter, Tears, (or laughter to tears), Encouragement, Wise words, and Good conversations; spent with a wise person, a good friend, a trusted confidant…

…..are worth far more than a whole library of encyclopedias. 

Thanks you guys.

Expect GREAT thinks and decide to have and AWESOME day.

Debbie

Hitting a wall?

I'm a runner.  I started doing longer distances about 6 years ago.  I had heard about "the wall", but had never experienced it until about my 3rd half marathon.  I literally found myself at a full stand-still at about mile 10.  I was totally ready to throw in the towel and call my husband to come and pick me up. 

What I realized from that experience, as well as several "walls" since then, is that the run, the game, the fight, the sale, etc., is part physical (the doing) and a larger part mental.  Yeah, I know it sounds a little cliche', but I am so serious. 

I know because I'm smack up against a wall right now! 

I'm in sales and I haven't made a sale in 3 weeks.  I can feel my resolve to be strong and work through the wall diminishing.  I have literally thought about getting a part time job at McDonald's to help pay the bills!  But then I know what the competition for those position is like right now, and that sort of stopped me.  (LOL). 

Anyway, I'd like to know if you have any suggestions for me, or if you have had a similar experience, what it was and how did you get out of it?  Please comment

Expect the best and make it an AWESOME day.

Debbie

Practice

Practice means to perform, over and over again in the face of all obstacles, some act of vision, of faith, of desire. Practice is a means of inviting the perfection desired.

- Martha Graham

 I find it interesting yet apropos that physicians and attorneys have practices, not "perfects".  They can go on for 30,  40 or more years and still have a practice.  I think this is right.  There is no perfection. It is the striving for excellence that drives a person toward their goal.  Yet when the word perfection replaces excellence, the connotation turns negative.  A person can actually be driven into a state of lethargy, for the fear of failing to live up to their own desire for perfection. 

 Therefore, seek not perfection, seek only excellence.

Expect GREAT things and decide to have an AWESOME day.

Debbie

The High Street

One day my 6 year old grand-daughter was telling me about her little friend that was not treating her very nicely.  She said, "Grama, she was being really bossy and I just wanted to go home and not play with her any more, but...  I chose to take the high street."  I think she meant the "high road".  I asked her how it made her feel when she took the high street, she said it made her feel "really, really good". 

Have you ever had someone cut you off on the freeway, or treat you rudely for one reason or another.  Has someone in your family, neighborhood or at work wronged you?  Is there someone that just doesn't like you, and you cant figure out why? 

May I suggest that the next time you have the opportunity to get back at them, or just not acknowledge them at all,  that you take a thought for a moment and do what my grand-daughter did.  "Take the high street".  It just might make you feel "really, really good.".

Expect GREAT things, and decide to have an awesome day. 

Debbie

"Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure." Napoleon Hil

No matter what, never, never never throw in the towel.  Today might just be that break-through day!

Expect GREAT things and dicide to make it an AWESOME day!

The way to Sweet Sleep

Wisdom, Sound judgment, Understanding, Discernment?  Not something we talk about much in today’s popular conversations. 

What is wisdom?  Is it a vast amount of knowledge? No because the internet has a vast amount of information that anyone can access, yet the human virtue of wisdom is not found there.  Solomon of old asked God for one thing, wisdom, when he could have asked for anything! Power, riches, love?  He asked for wisdom.   God was so pleased in his request that he granted him all the things that he could have asked for, as well as wisdom.

 I did a quick google search and found the following definition: (from Wikipedia) Wisdom is a deep understanding and realization of people, things, events or situations, resulting in the ability to apply perceptions, judgments and actions in keeping with this understanding....

But why?  What’s the big deal? 

How about some awesome payoffs…. I count at least 16…

Proverbs 3 says, “Blessed is the man who finds Wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she (Wisdom) is more (1) profitable than silver and (2) yields better returns than gold.  She is more (3) precious than rubies: nothing you desire can compare with her.  (4)Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are(5) riches and (6)honor.  Her ways are (7) pleasant ways, and all her paths are (8) peace.  She is a (9) tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her (10) will be blessed. By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; by his knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.  My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be(11)  life for you, and an (12) ornament to grace your neck.  Then you will go on your way in (13) safety, and your (14)foot will not stumble; when you lie down, you (15)will not be afraid; when you lie down, your (16) sleep will be sweet.”

Ahhh… sweet sleep.  Sounds pretty good to me.

Expect good things and decide to have an awesome day.

Debbie

Eye on the prize part 2

Science says that the body cannot tell the difference between a vivid visualization, thought or dream and a real experience. 

For example: Take the “120” medal.   I visualize myself projected into the future on a certain day, say May 1^st. I see myself receiving that “120” medal. 

1.       Scale:   I mentally see myself standing on the scale that morning. I allow myself to feel how I felt when I saw the reading of 120. I savor the moment.

2.       Backwards Walk:   Now I begin the backwards walk in my mind.

3.        Skinny Jeans:    How it felt to put on those skinny jeans that I’d been waiting to wear.  I see myself in the mirror.  I check myself out. 

4.       How does it feel? What did I do to achieve that goal?

5.       The food I ate that day, all very healthy meals.  I imagine smell of the food, the feeling of the food in my mouth.  How it tasted. I imagine myself chewing it, swallowing it, enjoying it.

6.        Exercise:  I visualize myself exercising, allowing my body to actually feel the blood rushing through my veins, as my core temperature rises.

7.       Mental State:     What was my mental state? My positive responses to temptations to eat or drink something that was not on my plan.

8.        Everything I see in my mind is in the best possible scenario.  All Positive.  I work backwards in fast motion from that moment to the present.

9.        Hour by hour, day by day, all the way back to the present day. 

10.   With the present day being the most vivid, it’s almost as if it was a memory. 

11.   Now I slow the tape down and begin to play it forward in real time from that moment on. I begin living out what I just mentally practiced. 

I asked myself, “If I were to do this every day, for every one of those medals, what are the chances that it just might work out the way I visualized it?”  Hmmm?

Well there is another part of that scripture that I didn’t mention before.  Here Paul says: “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.  I beat my body and make it a slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”               

It’s not just talking about focusing the mind here.   It’s talking about DISCIPLINED FOCUS.  Yes, this type of visualization must become one of my daily disciplines.  

But it’s the ACTION, the “Strict Training”, and the actual practice of doing those things that I vividly visualized that will get me the outcome that I want. 

I came up with a simple formula to help me remember.  And I invite you to use it as well:

 A Vivid Vision + Valiant action = Victorious Results.   Or in other words,

“Run in such a way as to receive the prize..