tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24372606392169747962024-03-13T10:07:03.642-07:00Woman Wife Mom MeLaughing, Loving and Living La Vida Loca!Miscellaneous Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16427385454120193721noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437260639216974796.post-908872944414721942012-10-16T14:36:00.000-07:002012-10-16T14:39:24.338-07:00Don't Cry Because It's Over, Smile Because It Happened<strike></strike><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Recently, I was out with a group of friends having a good time and learned that one of them will be moving out of state soon. While I don’t know her well, we have shared a business/social relationship and had experienced a mutual respect and warming toward one another over time. I will be disappointed to see her go but the move will be a good one for her, and for that, I am happy. I relayed that this has been a reoccurring theme in my life. As a child I moved around a lot and didn’t mind it. I always saw it as a new adventure and a chance to meet new people and see new horizons. After becoming close with individuals over the years, the relationships come to an end either because they, or I, have moved away. Now with a family and with setting down roots being important to me, I am more melancholy with the coming and going of people in my life. I became emotional during the course of our conversation, stating that even when people have the best intentions, relationships do fade and change with distance and time. I am including a poem that I found that has a positive perspective about this ebb and flow our lives:
<blockquote>
SOME PEOPLE ~
By Flavia Weedn
Some people come into our lives
and leave footprints on our hearts
and we are never ever the same.
Some people come into our lives
and quickly go...Some stay for a while
and embrace our silent dreams.
They help us become aware
of the delicate winds of hope...
and we discover within every human spirit
there are wings yearning to fly.
They help our hearts to see that
the only stairway to the stars
is woven with dreams...
and we find ourselves
unafraid to reach high.
They celebrate the true essence
of who we are...
and have faith in all
that we may become.
Some people awaken us
to new and deeper realizations...
for we gain insight
from the passing whisper of their wisdom.
Throughout our lives we are sent
precious souls...
meant to share our journey
however brief or lasting their stay
they remind us why we are here.
To learn...to teach...to nurture...to love.
Some people come into our lives
to cast a steady light
upon our path and guide our every step
their shining belief in us
helps us to believe in ourselves.
Some people come into our
lives to teach us about love...
The love that rests within ourselves.
Let us reach out to others
and feel the bliss of giving
for love is far richer in action
than it ever is in words.
Some people come into our lives
and they move our souls to sing
and make our spirits dance.
They help us to see that everything on earth
is part of the incredibility of life...
and that it is always there
for us to take of its joy.
Some people come into our lives
and leave footprints on our hearts
and we are never ever the same. </blockquote>Miscellaneous Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16427385454120193721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437260639216974796.post-75400668427619622502012-08-13T12:16:00.001-07:002012-08-13T12:16:19.970-07:00Be Vulnerable!I've been running across several quotes lately that have made me stop and think about allowing ourselves to feel and be vulnerable. By letting down our guard, we are suseptible to feeling many things that include sadness, fear and pain to go along with our feelings of love and joy and that is scarey for many people. Ask yourself, what the worst thing is that can happen if you let go of expectati
ons (self-imposed, imposed by others or imaginary) ...maybe I will look foolish... or maybe people will think less of me... or maybe I will be rejected... or maybe I'll get hurt... or (insert your own fear.) It helps when we decide to stop classifying feelings as "good" or "bad" but just simply human emotions and allow ourselves to feel and process and grow from them and not getting stuck there. So Go Ahead, Be Vulnerable! Allow Yourself to Feel! ~Tele
"The walls we build around us to keep sadness out also keeps out joy." — Jim Rohn
"Resisting and avoiding pain sucks energy—and time...The more you let yourself feel those minute-and-a-half hells, the quicker you’ll start feeling those minute-and-a-half happinesses." — Leigh Newman (This quote copied from Oprah website)
"Be willing to vulnerable, naked and rejected. - Trust that you don’t need a fortress around your heart to be safe anymore. Whatever you think is protecting you from the slightest possible pain is actually what’s blocking the softest sweetest most gentle healing love from finding its way inside. The willingness to be a transparent human being is the most courageous act you can do with your life. Be willing to experience whatever level of exposure, nakedness, or rejection that you’re afraid to experience, and you’ll find that what you were really running from was only in your imagination." — J. Ozwald (This quote copied from the Facebook wall of: Lisa A. Rizzoli)Miscellaneous Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16427385454120193721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437260639216974796.post-50940790106585858632010-06-25T09:41:00.000-07:002010-06-25T09:41:27.436-07:00Create An Asset of ValueI believe that Consistency in your “Asset of Value” is key. Knowing that you can be counted on to be/provide that value on a regular basis allows others to build trust in you and what you bring to the table.<br />
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When I was a young single mother, with three children and open to a new mate in life, I recall taking inventory of myself and what I felt I had to offer in a relationship. I came to the conclusion that what I had to offer was ME and that my uniqueness and authenticity was special and something that could not be duplicated and money couldn’t buy. That sense of having something of value to offer made me set my standards in a new mate high. I was not willing to “settle” for less than I felt my children and I deserved. They were, after all, counting on me to make a good choice about who I allowed into our lives. That made me analyze what qualities I was looking for in a mate that I could grow old with. I did a lot of soul searching and came up with a grocery list of what qualities I needed that person to have. These were not shallow expectations but “real” ones such as trustworthiness, stablility, intellectual compatability, communication, integrity and several more including chemistry! After dating several wonderful people that had expressed interest in being part of my little family, but not feeling that level of connection, I recall praying, “God you know me and you know what I need in my life, but not only do I want you to give me what I need, I want to be what that person needs in their life as well.” The very next person that I dated was my husband of 16 years. He is someone that I love, trust and admire very much and I thank God for answering my prayer and sending him to me He has been a wonderful husband and a loving father to, our now, six children.<br />
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None of this would have come to be had I not believed in my “Asset of Value.”<br />
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INSPIRED BY THE FOLLOWING BLOG POST BY BOB BURG:<br />
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June 25th, 2010 by Bob Burg <br />
Sometime back I had the honor of sharing the platform with success coach and bestselling author, Mike Litman.<br />
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During his presentation, he suggested creating an “asset of value.” This is a part of you that you “bring to the table,” a way you can always add to the relationship.<br />
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What a great idea! And, an “asset of value” can include so many things. Among them are information, advice, referrals, introductions, names of great books you’ve read, retweets of quality on Twitter, a kind word, articles of interest, and much, much more, including your “way of being”…those things you do that are uniquely associated with you and that provide value just by virtue of being an extension of your personal values.<br />
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Come up with your unique “Asset of Value” and share it on an ongoing basis with those with whom you wish to establish mutually beneficial, give and take, win/win relationships.<br />
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You’ll become known for your “signature” asset of value and position yourself as a true center of influence; the type people seek out to do business with and refer business to.<br />
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So, the natural question is…what is your signature asset of value? And, if you aren’t able to fully articulate yours yet, feel free to share some examples of “assets of value” of others that have impressed you that you feel it would be good for us to know about.Miscellaneous Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16427385454120193721noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437260639216974796.post-49288353508162421332010-06-21T15:33:00.000-07:002010-06-21T15:33:43.612-07:00To Everything There is a Season . . . Turn, Turn, TurnTo everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8<br />
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It's official! I am now a Licensed Massage Therapist, fulfilling a life-long dream. I have been drawn to this vocation since my early twenties, but due to moves, raising a family and other factors, my dream kept being put on the back burner. As I went through boxes of papers that I had kept over the years, there was a re-occuring theme of brochures and information on the massage program at any location that I lived at since then, including Texas, Orlando and San Jose. I spent most of those years raising my family and in sales jobs, and more recently positions that entailed marketing. All the while, that calling to pursue a career in massage therapy remained a part of me. Looking back on it, I feel that those roles and years of experience and maturity have all helped to prepare me to be and have more to offer as I pursue my vocation. <br />
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With the encouragement and support of my family and friends, I have spent the last couple of years as a massage therapy student and also realized another dream of becoming a hospice volunteer. <br />
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This is an endorsement from my 10 year old daughter, Kaley:<br />
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"We wish that you have an enjoyable massage and that you know you are in caring hands in which you will feel like family and that you will be amazed at what this massage therapist can do to soothe you."<br />
by Kaley Raack, her daughter June 2010 <br />
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We live in a society where many see touch as "taboo" but I have experienced, first hand, how important human connection and positive physical touch means in the lives of those who may not otherwise be receiving it on a regular basis. I feel that it is a sacred priviledge and trust placed in my hands to do what I do.<br />
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This is my mission statement which I have displayed on the wall where I will practice my calling:<br />
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<a href="http://s801.photobucket.com/albums/yy299/TeleRaack/?action=view¤t=missionstatement-1-1-1-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy299/TeleRaack/missionstatement-1-1-1-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
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Through the years many have commented to me about a "magic" that they feel in my touch. I quote Bob Burg, a fine gentleman that I have the honor of calling my friend, "The most valuable gift you have to offer is yourself."<br />
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I hope to have the opportunity to share the gift of myself with those that are in need of relaxation and nurturing.Miscellaneous Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16427385454120193721noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437260639216974796.post-79772009379958712562010-05-28T21:16:00.000-07:002010-08-13T18:14:11.357-07:00My Dear Friend ~ Frank Modestini<a href="http://s242.photobucket.com/albums/ff205/polkadotaytay365/i%20lik%20u/?action=view¤t=001-1-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff205/polkadotaytay365/i%20lik%20u/001-1-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
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My daughter, Mandy, is Community Business Director at Atria Summit Ridge, an assisted living facility in Reno for Seniors. It was there that I made the acquaintance of a wonderful gentleman named Frank Modestini. We grew close as I visited, dined and attended functions with Frank over the years. Frank had a special way of making everyone around him feel like family. He enjoyed giving gifts of fruit and candy to show affection. He was a widower and did not have children of his own, but did have close ties with his nieces, nephews and many friends. The resident ladies at Atria especially loved Frank's company. The way he could light up a room with his presence and his loving, generous nature, make it no surprise that Frank was at one time the President of the Optimist's Club.<br />
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When I heard that Frank was having some serious health issues, knowing that the time he had left were short, prompted me to persue receiving training as a Hospice Volunteer. This was something that I had been wanting to do for a long time and I wanted to be prepared to be there for Frank in his time of need. I completed the training that I needed and have found it very fulfilling to be there and offer comfort for those who are nearing end of life. As I had known it would, the day came that I received a call that Frank was not doing well and he had been read his last rites. A very devout Catholic man, his faith was a very big part of Frank's life. I prayed that I would arrive in time. Several hours later, although weak, Frank had an appetite and I assisted him while he ate a big, juicy burger from "In n Out" and sipped a beer from a bendy straw. :) It was apparent that it was not meant to be Frank's time yet. He said, "I can't explain it, but I was overwhelmed with a feeling that I was a'gonner and I was going fast." Luckily, Frank was to remain in our lives for several more weeks. The next time I received, "the call" Frank's situation was much more grave. We did spend several days visiting, joking, and listening to music. I moved a crucifix that was on the other side of the room, closer to Frank's bedside so that he could see it and take comfort from it and shared a book of my mother's religious artwork with him, which he enjoyed very much. I also gave Frank gentle massage and touch to which he said with a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face, "You make dying a pleasure." As I caressed his face, he would burrow his cheek in my hand, much like a child would with it's mother. These are moments that I will cherish for the rest of my life. On the morning that Frank left us, I remember kneeling by his bedside with one arm under his neck & shoulder and my other hand on his cheek. He was no longer able to communicate but I knew he could hear me. I told him that I wanted him to feel comforted, at peace and to know that he was loved. I told him that I knew that he loved me too because he had told me so many times. I told Frank what an honor it had been to have him in my life and how much his frienship meant to me, I told him that he had done so much good for so many in his time here and that the World was a better place because he had been in it. I went on to tell him that it was time for him to take his place among the Angels in Heaven. At that moment I drew closer to him and recited the Lord's Prayer followed by a Hail Mary. Just as the last words were out of my lips, ". . . now and at the hour of our death, Amen", Frank peacefully took his last breathe as I held him in my arms. I know that when my time comes, he will be there to meet me and welcome me into Heaven.<br />
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These are posts that I made on Twitter during the days that I was spending at Frank's bedside:<br />
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Just got in from spending the day w/ a very special friend who lives in Senior Assisted Living. He is nearing the end of a rich, full life.<br />
10:04 PM Apr 17th via web<br />
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10:04 AM Apr 18th via web<br />
A dear friend is nearing end of life. It was hard to leave his side last night. Going back now to be with him & offer support to his family.<br />
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5:06 PM Apr 18th via Twitpic<br />
"Frank" is a beautiful man with Italian upbringing and a HUGE heart. We have had good times & great laughs together. I love him.<br />
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9:32 PM Apr 18th via web<br />
My dear friend, Frank Modestini & I share a birthday, May 26th. Today 04/18/10 while I held him in my arms, he left this world to take his place among the angels.<br />
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Frank was a member of Reno Optimist Club & Honorary Boy Scout. It was my honor to know him http://shorten.ws/508d86 http://shorten.ws/be08ce<br />
5:11 PM Apr 18th via web<br />
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Right before Frank's condition worsened and once since his passing, the picture that we took together has opened on my computer with no explanation. I feel that this is his way of still communicating his presence. Another way has been through music. The song that I played in honor of Frank in the days following his death is "Time To Say Goodbye" by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman: http://shorten.ws/84d12f <br />
During my last days of Massage Clinic while giving a massage, the Pandora music site randomly played this song which was very different than the usual New Age genre that was played during massages, when I heard it, I knew it was Frank letting me know he was there. More recently, Mandy & I stayed at a B&B in Petaluma to celebrate my birthday, which happens to be the same day as Frank's birthday. I left the television on during the night and in the wee hours of the morning I awoke to Frank's favorite song, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" http://shorten.ws/2e33a6 I smiled and said, Happy Birthday, Frank :)Miscellaneous Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16427385454120193721noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437260639216974796.post-86672298812285051482010-04-29T15:48:00.000-07:002010-04-29T15:48:46.792-07:00Let the Child Within Your Heart "Rise Above"I just read http://bit.ly/a2T7kE "Let's Get Naked" a post by Renee Ludwigs, aka @reneeludwigs on Twitter. She tells us, "Be true & authentic to the real you. Uncover your own naked truth."<br />
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Reading Renee's post on her blog, An Island Perspective, I was inspired to write about a wonderful memory from my childhood:<br />
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My favorite childhood "authentic self" moment was in Arizona where I grew up. I was watering a tree that we had in our front yard as I stood watching the most glorious sunset in the horizon over the mountains. I was filled with pure joy and inspiration that I let out by singing "America/My Country Tis of Thee" with abandon, at the top of my lungs! I remember feeling so "connected" carefree and just plain happy :)<br />
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I think it's important not to lose touch with that part of ourselves that was full of awe, wonder and believed that anything was possible!<br />
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Thank you Renee, for jogging my memory and guiding me back to that part of myself!Miscellaneous Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16427385454120193721noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437260639216974796.post-41020450149256599872010-02-28T10:46:00.000-08:002010-02-28T10:46:29.185-08:00Begin With the End In MindBegin with the End in Mind - Visualize where you want to be. Think of the “Vision” - Creative Visualization<br />
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I included this as part of a previous post about long & short term goals, but I feel the message is so important that it needs to stand on its own. <br />
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“He who spends time adorning himself knows he is going to a dance”. ~Kenyan Saying<br />
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Preparation is the key to securing your future. Are you adorning yourself? You should be, because there’s a dance awaiting you. The dance is the future that you were destined to live. Start adorning yourself. Invest in personal growth. Read books that will prepare you for the future. Develop yourself into the kind of person who will shine on the dance floor when destiny finally says, “Here’s your chance”. Get ready! The quality of dance you expect in your future determines the amount of adorning you will do today. Raise your expectations. You shouldn’t be expecting to go to some mediocre dance. Your goal should be to dance in the most sophisticated dances reserved for the ones who have invested heavily in themselves. <br />
~Herman Najoli “How to Make Your Mark”Miscellaneous Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16427385454120193721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437260639216974796.post-50397829141673164812010-01-30T09:13:00.000-08:002010-01-30T09:25:43.360-08:00"Mom" FullbrightMy ex-husband's mother lived with us for many years and continued to stay with me and my children for a few years after our divorce. My husband was 20 yrs. older than me and his mother, Julia Louise Fullbright, was born in 1909 making her old enough to have been my grandmother. At a time when few women went to college, she graduated from St. Mary's University in San Antonio and was a school teacher who raised her children alone since her husband did not return from the Korean War after being captured and considered MIA just months before he was to retire from his career in the Army. She was a devout Catholic and helped many less fortunate during her lifetime. After being in charge of her life and responsible for others for so many years, most of that control was being relinquished. At one time Mom Fullbright would drive people to church who were homebound and now she could no longer drive and was living in a home where someone else made most of the decisions. She would comment to me about changes in her body and spoke about looking at her hands and not recognizing them as belonging to her. I was a young mother, in my early 20's back then and lacked the maturity and experience to have better appreciated her story. I wish I could have been equipped to have understood the stage of life that she was in and have realized what an honor it was to be witness to her truth. As time went on, “Mom” moved in with her son, I remarried and life and years went on. There was still contact and visits with the children and their grandmother which became less frequent when we moved from the East Coast in Florida to the West Coast in California. Our family grew over time and we took many family trips including one back to Florida, because my now husband, Kevin, felt that it was very important for our older children to see their grandmother while she was still living. I love and admire him very much for making that happen. We even picked up my ex so that he could spend time with us and fulfill an old promise to take the kids to “Gatorland.” Years later, I called the nursing home where Mom Fullbright was staying and asked to speak with her. It was clear that her memory had faded and she had no idea who I was. I continued to talk with her and told her at the end of our conversation that I loved her. She replied, “If you love me, that means that at one time I must have loved you too, honey.” I hung up feeling a great sense of loss and I cried and mourned her because I knew that the Julia Fullbright that I had grown to know and love was no longer with us. When the day came that we got the news that she had passed away, I was better able to handle it because I had already grieved her loss in advance. I know that she is in heaven, reunited with her husband, “Duke” and her parents and siblings who she loved so much in life. Someday I will see her again and she will remember me.Miscellaneous Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16427385454120193721noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437260639216974796.post-89224065161325431722009-12-12T11:01:00.000-08:002009-12-12T11:01:23.354-08:00The Blurred Lines on the Road Less TravelledDriving in the recent snow, at night, the usual road marks that help us “stay between the lines” were obscured and it wasn’t clear exactly where I should be driving. It required trusting my instincts and forging new paths in the snow. Approaching stops with extra caution so I could stop without sliding, having enough momentum in order to have traction going up the icy hill without losing control. Even the most familiar areas, that I travel daily, had taken on an unfamiliar look and feel, transformed under a blanket of snow. I was struck with how much it reminds me of the blurred lines that occur in life at times, where you have to take a leap of faith into the unknown, while still exercising good judgment, in order to blaze new trails. I communicated to my children some of the precautions I was taking as we went so that they could learn from the experience while at the same time I had to exude a semblance of confidence that we would arrive at our destination safely even though we might be taking the road less travelled. :)Miscellaneous Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16427385454120193721noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437260639216974796.post-13484920457419322232009-11-24T15:55:00.000-08:002009-12-11T20:34:33.762-08:00A Special Moment in Time That I CherishSeveral years ago when I lived in the Bay area, I was at a fast food restaurant in line to order food where there was a homeless man in line and everyone was keeping a wide berth around him because he was talking to himself and acting strange. I remember feeling slightly alarmed, because my young children were with me, but kept my place in line. He ordered his coffee and went and sat down at a table next to the entrance door. When I ordered, I got an extra meal to give him. I went over to him and as I put the food on the table, I touched his hand and said "this is for you" and he accepted. I sat at the table on the opposite side of the door but couldn't see him because there was a tall trash can between us. I remember vividly how he looked when he raised up in his chair and I saw him peek just over the top of the trash can, his hair was long and wild looking and he flashed me the most beautiful, toothless grin I've ever seen in my life, but more than anything, the steel blue color of his eyes has always stayed with me. I remember feeling like God had just gazed upon me through those eyes, the feeling was overwhelming.<br />
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After that day, I searched for him on many occasions and after some time had gone by, I finally caught up with him at nearby shopping center. I asked him if I could buy him lunch and we ended up having something from the ice cream shop (his choice) and talked a little. I found out that he liked going into a gift shop at the shopping center so I went there later and the shop owner said she was familiar with him, so I left some money with her and asked her to let him pick something out the next time he came in. At a later date when I checked back, she said he had picked a "King Frog" ceramic item that he liked. I found this kind of bizarre and touching at the same time, to think of him in that foo-foo store picking out his King Frog. I have an adorable metal King Frog of my own that ironically reminds me of the day that I felt like I was looking into the eyes of God. Although he will never know how special of an experience it was for me to have met him, I cherish it and will never forget it.Miscellaneous Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16427385454120193721noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437260639216974796.post-26804652766401716472009-11-20T06:21:00.000-08:002009-11-20T06:21:43.593-08:00“He who spends time adorning himself knows he is going to a dance”. ~Kenyan SayingPreparation is the key to securing your future. Are you adorning yourself? You should be, because there’s a dance awaiting you. The dance is the future that you were destined to live. Start adorning yourself. Invest in personal growth. Read books that will prepare you for the future. Develop yourself into the kind of person who will shine on the dance floor when destiny finally says, “Here’s your chance”. Get ready! The quality of dance you expect in your future determines the amount of adorning you will do today. Raise your expectations. You shouldn’t be expecting to go to some mediocre dance. Your goal should be to dance in the most sophisticated dances reserved for the ones who have invested heavily in themselves. <br />
~Herman Najoli “How to Make Your Mark”Miscellaneous Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16427385454120193721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437260639216974796.post-81189001881570099642009-09-28T09:44:00.000-07:002009-09-28T09:44:36.028-07:00"My 21-Day Consciousness Cleanse"Fall is my favorite season! I akin the seasons to life's cycle and considering I'm in the second half of my 40's, I would venture to say that I am living in what is the Fall season of my life. I want to experience it with the same wonder and zeal that I feel from it's crisp,cool breeze and it's beauty unfolding before my eyes. <br />
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I was told by Debbie Ford, author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061783641?ie=UTF8&tag=wowimome-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0061783641">The 21-Day Consciousness Cleanse: A Breakthrough Program for Connecting with Your Soul's Deepest Purpose</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=wowimome-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0061783641" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /><br />
that things are "Never a coincidence.... We're always in sync with the universe..." so, I find the timing of her book perfect for where I am in my journey in life.<br />
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According to Debbie, "the Consciousness Cleanse is designed to purify your mind and emotions, bringing you enormous amounts of strength, confidence, and deep inner peace." I am ready to open my heart, mind and soul to these possibilities. In preparation for my consciousness cleanse, I have read the first section of Debbie's book, which is "A Breakthrough Program for Connecting with Your Soul's Deepest Purpose." I have been reflecting on The Promise, The Process, The Preparation, The Practice and the Cleansing Tools that she outlines for the days ahead. <br />
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One of the most poignant statements that resonated with me from the first section of <b>The 21-Day Consciousness Cleanse</b> was that "Mediocricity in any area of your life is no longer an option, because either your pain is too great or your desire for having it all is too compelling."Miscellaneous Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16427385454120193721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437260639216974796.post-81668689785805447242009-09-19T21:14:00.000-07:002009-09-20T08:07:31.424-07:00MY GOALS - Short and Long Term<b>SHORT TERM GOALS: <br />
Incorporate “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” <br />
~Steven Covey</b><br />
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<b>“The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen”. ~Frank Lloyd Wright</b><br />
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<b>Be Proactive</b> - Assess situation and make it work. Problem Solve<br />
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<b>“Just Do It!” ~Nike Running Shoes Advertisement</b><br />
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Work around Obstacles. Ask for help. Choose to “Act” instead of “React”<br />
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<b>Begin with the End in Mind</b> - Visualize where you want to be. Think of the “Vision” - Creative Visualization <br />
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<b>“He who spends time adorning himself knows he is going to a dance”. ~Kenyan Saying</b><br />
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Preparation is the key to securing your future. Are you adorning yourself? You should be, because there’s a dance awaiting you. The dance is the future that you were destined to live. Start adorning yourself. Invest in personal growth. Read books that will prepare you for the future. Develop yourself into the kind of person who will shine on the dance floor when destiny finally says, “Here’s your chance”. Get ready! The quality of dance you expect in your future determines the amount of adorning you will do today. Raise your expectations. You shouldn’t be expecting to go to some mediocre dance. Your goal should be to dance in the most sophisticated dances reserved for the ones who have invested heavily in themselves. <br />
<b>~Herman Najoli “How to Make Your Mark”</b><br />
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“If you’re going to be thinking, you may as well think big”. ~Donald Trump<br />
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<b>Put First Things First</b> – Prioritize, Organize, Discipline<br />
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<b>“Are You a Wandering Generality or a Meaningful Specific?”~ Zig Ziglar</b><br />
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Put a goal-oriented purpose and focus to my personal, professional and business life. Identify goals, obstacles, resources and support groups. Make choices based on my priorities. <br />
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<b>Relentless Dedication</b> - In order to become a meaningful specific, you must be relentlessly dedicated to making your dream come true. What are you doing on a daily basis that is adding value to your ability to fully become who you were born to be? Are you being true to the voice within you that is calling you to perform at your optimum level? <br />
<b>~Herman Najoli “How to Make Your Mark”</b><br />
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<b>Steady Focus</b> - Steady Focus comes from always having your vision right in front of you. Think about why you have immense success driving every day - the windshield is right in front of you and you are always looking out through it! It’s the same thing with your dream. You must keep it right in front of you. There are many ways that you can do this. Write it down and recite it throughout the day. Design your environment to remind you of your vision every day. <br />
<b>~Herman Najoli “How to Make Your Mark</b>”<br />
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<b>Think Win/Win</b> and <b>Seek First to Understand and Then to be Understood</b> - Both people benefit<br />
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<b>NAMASTE’</b> – The Divine in me recognizes and honors the Divine in you and in that recognition lies the place where you and I are ONE.<br />
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<b>Synergize</b> - Synchronized Rhythm – Ebb and Flow<br />
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Flow is the natural, effortless unfolding of our life in a way that moves us toward wholeness and harmony. Things fall into place, obstacles melt away, and whatever is necessary—money, times, work, people, opportunities—appears as needed. <br />
<b>~The Power of Flow: Practical Ways to Transform Your Life With Meaningful Coincidence by Charlene Belitz and Meg Lundstrom</b><br />
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“As individuals, we have control over the frequency of our energy through our thoughts and feelings. If we predominantly focus on good thoughts and feelings, the law of attraction will match those “like” energies to us. We will attract people, circumstances, and events into our lives that will bring positive experiences to us, and we will not be attracted to negative events”. <b>~The Secret</b><br />
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<b>LONG TERM GOALS: </b> <br />
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<b>“Sharpen the Saw”</b><br />
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<b>Eat Well, Exercise, Sleep, Take Care of Yourself, Take Care of your Body, Do Your Personal Best</b><br />
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<b>Reduce Intake of Caffeine, Refined Sugar, Alcohol, and Processed Foods</b><br />
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Stay away from industrially processed food products and food with trans fats and hydrogenated fats. Eating a combination of lean protein and complex carbohydrates will give you the energy you need.<br />
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<b>Eat Several Small Meals a Day</b><br />
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By eating more frequently you are then increasing your metabolism, which helps fuel the only thing in your body that can actually drive burning fat in calories.<br />
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<b>Portion Control</b><br />
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You don’t have to count calories in this diet, but it is important to get your body familiar with portion control. “Don’t eat until you’re stuffed. Eat until you’re satisfied,” <br />
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<b>Drink More Water</b><br />
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Don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink water. If you are drinking enough, you should never get thirsty. Schedule your hydration into your day if you must–and without enough water, your body will not lose weight as quickly as you want.<br />
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<b>Boost your Metabolism With Exercise</b><br />
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There is no better way to increase your calorie burning than to gain lean muscle. A pound of muscle burns approximately 50 calories a day, while a pound of fat burns approximately two calories per day–you do the math. Incorporate three, 30-minute strength-training workouts a week.Miscellaneous Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16427385454120193721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437260639216974796.post-4075691360957854492009-09-11T13:53:00.000-07:002009-09-11T13:53:48.495-07:00Twitter That!The benefits of being on Twitter have been many for me. From a socializing aspect, I have connected with and met many quality individuals both in and out of my local community. They include professionals, professors, artists and other mom's with whom I have things in common. I have become friends with several of my "Twitter Buddies" both on and offline. For a stay at home mom, it has been a wonderful way to socialize and stay on top of what is going on.<br />
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A local Twitter user posted about a lost Kindle that was left in a local park. He had the name of the person that it was registered to but was unable to locate contact information for them. The person that lost the Kindle had a name that was not very common, so by using search engines online I was able to find a phone number and address for her in Anchorage, AK. I left a message about finding the Kindle and received a call from her enabling me to put her in touch with the good samaritan that posted about it on Twitter. After a couple of Tweets (Posts) & DMs (Direct Messages) the owner had her Kindle back in her posession. :)<br />
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When I first started using Twitter, my family liked teasing me. They don't poke fun at me so much any more since I have won a variety of prizes, ie: water park tickets with cabana, concert and ball game tickets from local tv, radio stations and casinos. I've also won gaming accesories and gift certificates. When tickets were sold out for the Aces game in Reno on the 4th of July, I jokingly posted that I was looking for 12 tickets if anyone had some to spare. Within minutes, I was given the information of a local business that had some general admission tickets left to sell. My family got to enjoy the game and see the fireworks that night thanks to that kind of involvement. <br />
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Twitter has been a great way of communicating about everything from deals and events going on to sharing news from power outages and "traffic jams" to avoid. :) An Amber alert that was posted recently spread like wildfire. Luckily, it turned out to be a hoax and no child was in jeopardy, but had it been real, Twitter was an instant way of getting the word out. <br />
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There are many new to the Twitter community that post things like: "trying to figure this out" or "I don't get it." You can create any kind of experience that you want on Twitter based on what your interest are and who you follow. You have access to users who you can relate to and who specialize in many areas right at your fingertips!Miscellaneous Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16427385454120193721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437260639216974796.post-37802900894355040242009-06-08T14:49:00.000-07:002009-06-10T18:03:54.938-07:00Eat That Frog!Meet my froggie. I keep him on my desk as a visual reminder of the lessons I learned reading "Eat That Frog!" by Brian Tracy. If the number of highlighting and underlining I made in this book is any indicator, I LOVED it and found it's messages to be applicable in all aspects of life. I have been recommending it to everyone I know. It is a fast read that you will find hard to put down!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vbKJsqK75AU/SjAGCuSDUhI/AAAAAAAAADo/f9NH7VdXAPs/s1600-h/013.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345779401542029842" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vbKJsqK75AU/SjAGCuSDUhI/AAAAAAAAADo/f9NH7VdXAPs/s400/013.JPG" /></a> Brian Tracy is a leading authority on the development of human potential and personal effectiveness. Among other titles, Brian is also author of:<br /><br /><a id="static_txt_preview" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1576754227?ie=UTF8&tag=wowimome-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=1576754227" jquery1244495691320="5">Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time</a> .<br /><br />Excerpt from the Introduction:<br /><br /><em>The Truth about Frogs</em><br /><br />Mark Twain once said that if the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, you can go through the day with the satisfaction of knowing that it's the worst thing that is going to happen to you all day long.<br /><br />Your "frog" is your biggest, most important task, the one you are most likely to procrastinate on if you don't do something about it. It is also the one task that can have the greatest positive impact on your life and results at the moment. Think of this as a test. Treat it like a personal challenge, and resist the temptation to start with the easier task. If you eat it first, it'll give you energy and momentum for the rest of the day.Miscellaneous Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16427385454120193721noreply@blogger.com0