Climb that tree!

Trying new things can give you a real zest for life.
Pushing beyond your comfort zone in a responsible way helps you grow confidence and creativity that you can apply to your everyday life.
Do not let fear control what you do (or don't) do?
While taking risks can be scary, doing nothing is a big mistake, as it produces nothing fruitful within you.
There is a direct relationship between the things that we achieve and the effort we put forth to obtain them.
To reach the fruit, you have to climb the tree first!

Just Wanted to Share...One step at a time

Ever get discouraged and come up with every excuse in the book to NOT do something? I am sure when we get real with ourselves and take a good long look in the mirror, we have all been in that boat. I came across 23 things that are words of encouragement, to live by, or just to think about. I hope you will find this interesting.

1. The most useless thing to do...WORRY

2. The greatest joy...GIVING

3. The greatest loss...LOSS OF SELF RESPECT

4. The most satisfying work...HELPING OTHERS

5. The ugliest personality trait...SELFISHNESS

6. The most endangered species...DEDICATED LEADERS

7. The greatest "shot in the arm"...ENCOURAGEMENT

8. The greatest problem to overcome...FEAR

9. The most effective sleeping pill...PEACE OF MIND

10.The most crippling failure disease...EXCUSES

11.The most powerful source in life...LOVE

12. The most dangerous pariah...A GOSSIP

13. The world's most incredible computer...THE BRAIN

14. The worst thing to be without...HOPE

15. The deadliest weapon...THE TONGUE

16. The two most power filled words....I CAN

17. The greatest asset...FAITH

18. The most worthless emotion...SELF PITY

19. The most prized possession...INTEGRITY

20. The most beautiful attire...A SMILE

21. The most powerful channel of communication...PRAYER

22. The most contagious spirit...ENTHUSIASM

23. The most important thing in life...GOD


I really believe that sometimes we get in our own way and when we can get past that, there is nothing we cannot do or achieve. Remember the negatives posted here and strive for all the positives. No matter what happens, never give up...take it one step at a time and you will succeed in whatever it is you want!

Relationships

Here is something I came across this morning and wanted to share! This is an excellent way to develop better relationships with your friends, your business associates, even your family. I love the fact that if we take the focus off of what we need, what we want, how we feel....life just gets better and better!

I will catch up with "Tips for busy Moms and Grannies" Next week!


Excerpt from The 100/0 Principle, by Al Ritter

What is the most effective way to create and sustain great relationships with others? It's The 100/0 Principle: You take full responsibility (the 100) for the relationship, expecting nothing (the 0) in return.

Implementing The 100/0 Principle is not natural for most of us. It takes real commitment to the relationship and a good dose of self-discipline to think, act and give 100 percent.

The 100/0 Principle applies to those people in your life where the relationships are too important to react automatically or judgmentally. Each of us must determine the relationships to which this principle should apply. For most of us, it applies to work associates, customers, suppliers, family and friends.

STEP 1 - Determine what you can do to make the relationship work...then do it. Demonstrate respect and kindness to the other person, whether he/she deserves it or not.

STEP 2 - Do not expect anything in return. Zero, zip, nada.

STEP 3 - Do not allow anything the other person says or does (no matter how annoying!) to affect you. In other words, don't take the bait.

STEP 4 - Be persistent with your graciousness and kindness. Often we give up too soon, especially when others don't respond in kind. Remember to expect nothing in return.

At times (usually few), the relationship can remain challenging, even toxic, despite your 100 percent commitment and self-discipline. When this occurs, you need to avoid being the "Knower" and shift to being the "Learner." Avoid Knower statements/ thoughts like "that won't work," "I'm right, you are wrong," "I know it and you don't," "I'll teach you," "that's just the way it is," "I need to tell you what I know," etc.

Instead use Learner statements/thoughts like "Let me find out what is going on and try to understand the situation," "I could be wrong," "I wonder if there is anything of value here," "I wonder if..." etc. In other words, as a Learner, be curious!

Principle Paradox

This may strike you as strange, but here's the paradox: When you take authentic responsibility for a relationship, more often than not the other person quickly chooses to take responsibility as well. Consequently, the 100/0 relationship quickly transforms into something approaching 100/100. When that occurs, true breakthroughs happen for the individuals involved, their teams, their organizations and their families.

More Stress Busters for Busy Moms and Grannies!

Stress has been ingrained in our days and in our culture that you probably don't even recongnize it any more. This is the perfect time to slow down, relax, and just enjoy your day.

Just breathe...when a stressful situation arises, breathe in and out slowly and deeply for 10 breaths. Exhaling slowing decreases your heart rate and calms the body, helping to reduce stress.


So take a moment to really breathe and get focused. What a glorious day ahead of us!

Busy Moms & Busy Grannies!!

Ever had one of "those" days...you know the kind where you wake up, feeling great and then it happens. You step in the shower, drop the soap, get shampoo in your eye, rub your contact out trying to relieve the burning. Then you step on the cat (because you can't see) and the doorbell rings and you are standing there dripping wet and can't get there to answer it. You miss a visitor, ran out of coffee, and you just want to give up. DON'T...just laugh, where else would this happen...maybe on "I Love Lucy" or "The 3 Stooges". What a wonderful life we have.

I thought I would share some ways to have less stress in your life over the next several days. Hope this helps all you busy people as much as it has helped me...

Reach out, Develop a network of friends and family who you can rely on and confide in. A quick call or visit may help them as much as it will help you. Having someone to listen and being a good listener will get the focus off the stress and on to something great!

Enjoy a beautiful day and I am off to drop the soap, get shampoo in my eyes, and step on a cat!! :)

What Are You Afraid Of?

Are you afraid to try or are you afraid to fail?

A well-lived life is not for the timid. The world was never meant to be approached with extra caution and fear of making mistakes. Kids know that you have to jump in feet first and be willing to take some lumps on the head if you're going to have any fun.

When did we stop trying new things? Why did we stop taking risks? In large part, we're afraid of messing up. We've settled into our comfort zones and don't want to look like a fool to ourselves or others.

What's the price we pay for our pursuit of perfection? No growth, no sense of discovery, few real experiences. The sacrifice isn't worth it. Are there points in your life that you wish you could have back because you didn't pursue an idea or a new interest?

Those chances are gone forever--but you'll have more in the future to take full advantage of. It's been said that most people don't learn much that's new past their 20s. That's an awful long time to stay stagnant. The only mistake you should be afraid to make is not trying.

I am so thankful that I got a chance to try something that I was afraid of...it has made a huge difference in my life. The best part of it all, is I didn't have to do it alone. I have amazing support and the success that is here now is growing and growing!

To swear off mistakes is very easy. All you have to do is swear off having ideas...Leo Burnett

The Best Gift

When we were children, we often thought the best gift we could ever have was whatever toy was the most popular at the time. Then we grow up and find out that there are so many other gifts that mean so much more.

As a child I couldn't wait to get a bicycle, it meant freedom and fun; boy was I in for a surprise...it was more like bruises, and bandages. That bike sat in the garage for months, simply because I was scared to get back on it!

Teen years came and of course then freedom came in the form of a car or so I thought. With the car came insurance premiums, gas costs, repairs. No, the car didn't sit in the garage...my paycheck was always gone!

So much for those gifts...

I was blessed with 3 beautiful daughters and that was one of the most wonderful gifts a woman could ever get. Yes, there have been ups and downs, good times and hard times, but, I wouldn't trade them for all the bikes and cars in the world.

I love being a mom, a friend, a counselor, a chauffeur, a chef, a shoulder to cry on, a constant they can always depend on.

Then one of my gifts gave me the best gift...a Grandson. I never understood what it meant when others would say "Just wait until you have grandchildren". Now I know, there is no other feeling in the world, the pride, the joy, the complete happiness that a grandchild brings you!

I am so blessed that my grandson gets to stay with me some during the week. Being a stay at home Granny is awesome!
He is such fun and reminds me daily of how special life is at this stage. He plays by my side while I work from home.

As a grandparent, you have complete patience that you didn't have when your children were young. You realize that playing in the water is a lot of fun and it wipes up easily! You stop apologizing if your house isn't perfect. Life takes on a completely different perspective.

The best gift so far has been the honor of being a Granny and being home so I don't miss a thing!

It is never too late

It is never too late to be what you might have been, with the right attitude and just a little bit of ambition, you CAN achieve your dreams. Just start NOW!

It truly is the start that stops most of us in our tracks. What are we so afraid of? Is it fear of failure or fear of success? Most people stop before they really get started in anything...whether it is losing weight, raising a family, changing careers, starting a new venture.

I think that most of the fears are not the fact that we might make a mistake or fail...I think it is we might succeed and then what are we going to do? If we never start anything, we have already failed. So fear of failure should never come into to play, how can we fail at something if we never try?

I believe the biggest obstacle we will ever have in any aspect of our lives is ourselves. We all have such a problem getting in our own way. So move out of your way, put away your doubts, put on your running shoes and get after it...you have NOTHING to lose. Nothing ever changes if nothing changes.

The Best Day Yet

I am not sure where this following piece came from, but I have had it for several years and keep it on my desk. It speaks volumes to me and I just wanted to share it with you. I hope you will find a place in your heart or mind to keep the words close to you and always remember, today is here now!


Today is now here.
And with it has come the opportunity for you to move in the direction you choose.
If you have been knocked off your feet, today is the day to get back up and get going again.
If you have made choices that led to disappointing results, today is the day you can change your direction.
If you have been holding a treasured dream in your heart, you can begin today to make that dream happen.
If something has been holding you back, today is your chance to start moving beyond it.
All that you've done and all that you are, has now arrived at today.
In this day there are opportunities that have been building for a lifetime.
You've learned what works and what does not, experienced pain, joy, sadness and fulfillment.
Today you know, better than ever before, just which way to go.
So breathe deeply, feel the fresh air of real meaning and true purpose as it fills your spirit.
And make today the best day yet!