The Perfect Vacation

September 13, 2015 my13daychallenge

I had a perfect weekend. It was the type of vacation that I wish I could bottle up for those days that aren’t so fun. I spent time with dear friends and family just enjoying the simple things in life. Celebrating my cousin’s graduation. Eating Indian food. I love Indian food. Going for a walk around a lovely park. Laughing. Loving life. Singing Beatles songs where the Beatles actually sang their songs. Listening to stories and telling a few of my own. I love stories. Eating more food. Can you tell I like eating food with the people I love? Watching people get chopped on a reality TV cooking shows. Going to a book store and just browsing. Getting back in time from vacation to attend church. Laughing some more while viewing the photos. And not checking my work e-mail for 3 whole days. It’s amazing what not checking your work e-mail messages does for your emotional health. This was a perfect vacation.

If you haven’t taken a perfect vacation for a while, my challenge for you is to go take one. Every body needs a day off.

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I got an award!

March 18, 2015 my13daychallenge1 Comment

My car is a place for deep thoughts and for pretending I’m a famous singer. Today was a deep thought day. I’ve been reading a book about external versus internal motivation. External motivation includes prizes and praise from others. Internal motivation occurs when the individual sets and reaches a goal without the external prize. Internal motivation sounds noble. It says, “I always do what I’m suppose to do, because I just do it for the right reason”. Here’s the reality for me. I’m intrinsically motivated sometimes. There are many other times where the prize is my goal.

I like congratulations. We’ve had contests at work where the winner gets a Starbucks gift card. I don’t drink coffee but I’m really motivated to get that card. If all external motivation suddenly stopped, I might read books, watch movies and take long bubble baths all day.

In true external motivation fashion, I made myself an award button. The cashier at the grocery store thought it was funny.

Where do you fall on the external and internal motivation debate?

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Get Moving on my Newest Challenge

October 14, 2014October 14, 2014 my13daychallenge

Sitting is bad for your health. At least, that is what is I read in a magazine one day while I was sitting in the doctor’s office waiting room. In order to negate this risk,we need to move. I’ve decided to make movement my next 13 day challenge. My plan is move 13 times each day. Movement can be simple as standing up for a minute after sitting at work for an hour. It can be walk around the block after dinner. It can be taking a bike ride or doing ten situps during a commercial break while watching TV. The goal is to move, move and move for the next 13 days.

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Wonder Women: Meet Karilee

August 31, 2014September 2, 2014 my13daychallenge

Have you ever met someone who is a builder? I have. Her name is Karilee.

Karilee and I met in high school. She was an imaginative soul who loved to host parties at her home. She could also build things, loved science-fiction and ride motorcycles. As a kind person,Karilee went out of her way to ensure that everyone who entered her presence felt loved and welcomed. She continues her kind acts of love and creative projects today. Karilee is a builder of a cool international project. She organized an effort to ship, share and deliver two LOST related teddy bears, George and Ginger, around the world in a year. Her web sites to track the bears are very impressive. Check it out here and here. Karilee and her husband dreamed about building their own home. I love the image of Karilee teaching her five active children to use power tools as she and her husband Jason work together to build their own home. Karilee also builds others by donating blood to the Red Cross and donating her long hair to Locks of Love.

Karilee is a builder. Karilee is a Wonder Women.

Remember every women’s success can be my success if I let it.

Uncategorized · Wonder Women

Wonder Women: Meet Kim

August 24, 2014August 24, 2014 my13daychallenge

Have you ever met someone who is brave? I have. Her name is Kim.

I met Kim when she started dating my brother Stephen. I was rooting for her the moment we met. I’m glad Stephen saw Kim’s goodness as well so she can be my sister-in-law. Kim is brave. She will send back food in a restaurant that doesn’t meet her expectations. She asks for discounts at stores and gets it. Kim is a go-getter. She wanted to move up at work so she applied for a better position. In addition to her bravery, Kim is kind, intelligent and plays the guitar. She is a very busy person, but still has time to help my brother in making movies.

Kim is a Wonder Women. Despite the challenge of working, attending graduate school and expecting a baby, she cultivates the beauty of her soul with activities that build her.

Remember every women’s success can be my success if I let it.

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Goal Tree Update

July 27, 2014 my13daychallenge

Each year, I set up New Years Goals. This year I did something different. I get a leaf every time I do something to work on my goals. Here is my tree so far. I’m on my way to being happier, healthier and more whole as a person.

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The Bed Bugs that Came to Sunday Dinner

July 18, 2014July 19, 2014 my13daychallenge

It started off like any other family dinner. We talked about life, everybody’s health, the status of the world and politics. Then my sister asked, “So, what did you learn at Church today?” I was thinking I would hear a report on prayer or the importance of service. Nope, Mom and Dad began talking about bed bugs. My head started to itch. Apparently, the US is experiencing an increase in bed bug infestations so my parent’s congregation held a special meeting for the adults to talk about how to recognize bed bugs, prevent them and how to get rid of them should one of the pesky hitchhikers end up at your house.

My skin kept itching as I learned bed bugs are in restaurants, movie theaters, library books, buses, hotel bedding and maybe even in your house right now. By the time my folks were done educating us, my brother and sister were laughing at me. I was itching my arms, legs and head. My head continued to itch until I could get home and check my mattress. I was relieved to see nothing but a tag that says not to remove it.

In case you should find yourself needing this information, here is the government’s web site about bed bugs. You might get itchy reading it though!

Musings · My Creative Challenges · Uncategorized

Ants

July 5, 2014July 5, 2014 my13daychallenge

Ants love to bite me. Most folks have been bitten by ants while doing yard work. That is understandable, because we are invading their natural home. I get bit by ants doing yard work too, but I also get bit while sitting in my bathroom, walking around national monuments, reading a book at the library and a bunch of other places that should not be ant friendly.

Today, I was bitten by another type of Ant. I got bit by the type that attacks your thoughts. A.n.t is an acronym that stands for Automatic Negative Thoughts. The idea comes from a great book called Feeling Good. I was having a bad day and A.N.T.S were running all over my head with the accompanying feelings of anxiety and inadequacy. Here is the funny part. I was trying to remember what I read from the book about how to replace my negative thoughts with a realistic positive statement when a real ant came and bit my foot. I just started laughing. My A.N.T was interrupted by an ant.

I’m pretty excited. This is my 100th blog post.

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Wonder Women: Meet Holly

July 1, 2014July 1, 2014 my13daychallenge

They are all around us

And we unaware let them

Smile, serve and soar without fanfare

But sometimes the hero needs a friend.

I’ve started a new thing for this blog. We are going to meet super, awesome, amazing women. They are all around us everywhere. We just have to look.When we hear about them, we should share their success. Every woman’s success can be my success if I let it.

Meet Holly. Holly and I met in 8^th grade. We became friends. Unfortunately, we went separate ways for high school so I didn’t see her again till registration day at the community college. I was walking across the dead grass with my stack of books and there was Holly. We were so excited to see each other again, because we are both Elfish, magical creatures that stop to examine the beauty of the flower growing in between the sidewalk crack. When she is not raising her six kids, Holly works with her Mom to design and sell jewelry on the internet. She also still writes poems and takes photographs. Here is her work.