Do You Get Paid For That?

I am the newly appointed Area E3 Governor for Toastmasters in District 35. I have to say, I am honored to be entrusted with a role that requires me to be the "go to" person for six clubs! Not only am I honored, I am excited!

Before I get to far on my personal feelings there, I want to share the answer to one of the first questions I was asked after learning that I was nominated and appointed, "Do you get paid for that?" Simply put, no. At least, that's what some people would say. I wish that weren't the answer I gave at that moment because it really isn't true. In fact, it is far from truth! The answer is a resounding, "YES!" However, for the time being, I do not collect any personal financial benefit. That is what was being asked of me. Yet, I need to share the reasons why I love this volunteer job.

First and foremost, as Area Governor, I am able to help the six clubs I oversee. That means, if there are any troubles, I step in and help to the best of my ability. If there are things I don't know, I have people above me to reach out to. At the same time, I am a resource contact. If someone is looking to go further with their Toastmaster experience or if clubs are looking for ideas, I can help them. How can each club better itself? How can I help them reach their goals?  How can they grow? There is such a vast array of information that fits right here, that I get excited thinking about the possibilities!

Secondly, serving and helping others helps me to feel good. Have you ever experienced the joy that sweeps across a person's face when they were struggling and suddenly a light is turned on? Perhaps it isn't even so much a struggle, but a lapse in understanding. Oh. My. Goodness. The joy found in helping people in ways that can help them grow is phenomenal! Simply calling the clubs to set up visits was fun! They were happy to hear they had someone to help them. Perhaps volunteering is an all-around natural anti-depressant. I find joy in helping. Other's find joy in knowing they have someone to help them. Win-win!

As if anti-depressant isn't enough, I feel good about myself when I help other people. This is where it gets slightly tricky because I know I need to be careful to set up boundaries. When people like me tend to say, "Yes," other people like to ask them to do things. I know I need to set time aside for my family and me. I've learned a lot about setting those boundaries in the past few years. Now that I know my boundaries (or at least a rough estimate thereof), I can serve with a full sense of self-confidence. Ka-ching!

Much like any other job, learning comes along with time in service. Because I am newer than others in the club and because I want to do the best job possible, I have spent hour upon hour reading all that I can to learn about various programs, dates, and resources that are available to all of us. It is my pleasure to learn all I can to provide a good service. Yet, at the same time, I am learning valuable skills that can be used in many places in life. Volunteering could help me to advance my career. Not only do I get to learn through service, but also through reading, networking, and watching video clips. All of that time and effort could really help me out in many different areas of life - whether that be at home, at work, or in the community. Ka-pow!

And to bring this to a near close - can you imagine the networking opportunities that exist as a direct result of working with 6 clubs from Marquette, MI down to DePere, WI? That, in and of itself, is hundreds of people! When you factor in the meetings that I will have outside of those six groups, the number increases exponentially! Those meetings will be with people throughout the state of WI who hold higher leadership levels than I do. Combined, there is a lot of opportunity! Ba-da-boom!

If you haven't sensed it already, I view volunteerism as a great way to have fun and the perfect place to learn. Already, Toastmasters has provided me with some really fantastic friends. I am thrilled to get to know some of the other Toastmasters. While having fun, I will gain a sense of fulfillment as I am able to pursue my passions with some great supporters.

What do you think? How do you view volunteerism? After reading what I had to say, do you agree that volunteers (in most, if not all volunteer agencies) really do get paid even if it isn't in the financial realm? It wouldn't be right if I didn't close this writing before asking... "Would any of you like to attend a Toastmasters Club with me?" There are several meetings in the area that we could plan to go to and I'd love to have you as my guest!!!

Grateful for Sacrificial Love

I just had a fantastic weekend away. I attending the District 35 Toastmasters Conference in Neenah, WI. Toastmasters International is a world leader in communication and leadership development. As any endeavor we set out to do, Toastmasters is what you put into it. I have been blessed to find a club full of determined members. In the past year, I have watched my club members grow in their speaking and leadership skills exponentially.

I was pleasantly surprised to see Don Ritter called to the stage to present the target speech for the Evaluation Contest. His speech was an outstanding message about sacrificial love. He carried us through a gamut of emotion - from laughter to crying. Don went through to the semi-finals in a quest to win the World Champion of Public Speaking. Over 25,000 people compete for this title annually. Don was in the top 86. This would have been his speech for the final round of competition. It was a gem.

Katie Thiel was one of the contestants in the Evaluation Contest. The state level contest was Friday night. She came in 2nd! Without excellent speech evaluations, we wouldn't improve like we do. What a great example Katie is for us!

Two of my club members were session presenters: Jim Hanson shared how storytelling can be applied to make any message stick. Forget all the data heavy presentations that bore us all to death! Angela Brandenburg told us about her journey to a dream. She inspired us to move forward in our achieving our dreams. Both of these sessions were standing room only. In fact, some people had to either skip the session or find another to attend because the sessions were too full!

Behind the scenes, there were several people who worked diligently so that everything flowed practically flawless. I don't dare list all the names, lest I forget one. Katie Thiel and Julie Ritzman were recognized at the banquet for all of their hard work. These ladies are first year members of the group, jumping in with both feet, chairing registration and finances. They were simply amazing. Not only that, we had record attendance this year!

These are only a few of the people from my club that participated. There are several others who sacrificed in various ways to help with the conference. We work as a team, continually encouraging one another. The end result is exactly what Don Ritter talked about in a club sense - sacrificial love. We have all learned the benefit of Toastmasters. Not all of us want to be speakers or leaders in the typical sense of the word. We have members at all levels, which is a beautiful thing. Some of our members simply want to be comfortable around other people! Some of our members aspire to lead. And others long to speak as a profession.

Toastmasters, as I know it, is full of love and joy. It has been and continues to build my self-confidence. I am a new person because of my time with the clubs. I have a dream and a passion. I know I can follow it. If I fall on my face in the midst of it all, I know that I can dust myself off and try again. In the meantime, I will continue to grow as I chase my dreams.

We would love to meet you if you are interested in some fun self-improvement. All you have to do is ask and I will share all of the info you need. I hope you consider coming with me to a meeting.

Fears Rejected

Fear. We all face it. But why? What is it that we fear most? I was asked to write about my top 5 fears. I came up with only 4. They are here in no particular order:

Fear of failure. 
Fear of rejection. 
Fear of losing a loved one. 
Fear of dying an awful death of pain and suffering. Could I come through that gracefully? and honorably?

What I notice is that each of my fears is incredibly self-centered. Then again, aren't all fears self-centered? I am thankful that these fears really don't have any control over my life. I am encouraged when I remember the messages the Bible has to offer. There are two passages that really stand out to me when I start to question. 

Hebrews 12:1-3 tells us, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Fear is one of those things that can easily hinder us. When I feel it creep in, I turn to the sources that help me most to fix my eyes upon Jesus. Generally, that means playing piano and singing praise and worship music along with prayer. 

I am further encouraged to know what 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." I don't need to be afraid. I can be bold, knowing that I am wrapped in my Savior's arms of love and that He has given me the power and self-discipline to carry on and seek Him out time and time again.

I praise God for the faith that has been instilled in me. I hope and pray that my reading audience can be as assured as I am. If you aren't and are seeking the peace that I have, please don't hesitate to ask me or someone else that you know is grounded in their faith. It's a wonderful place to be. It isn't always easy, but when you experience the peace that passes all understanding, it is a treasurable place to be too.


Many blessings to you, my friends!

Oh, the possibilities...!

The questions posed to me in my writing challenge for today are: "Where have you traveled?" or "What is something you could never get tired of doing?"

It was interesting to me that they fell together because I would have to say that I never get too tired of traveling. Of course, it is nice to be in one spot for awhile, and it is nice to return home for awhile too. When I have the opportunity to travel, I get excited! I love to explore new places, see new things, and meet more people.

I have been to 20 states so far.  I have actually driven through five additional states, but unless I did something of significant value in the state, I didn't count it. I would love to see all 50 and travel outside of the country as well. I have been to a few parts of Mexico and I have been to a couple parts of Canada.

I don't really have a specific plan of how I will get to all of the places I would like to go, rather, I plan to take advantage of the opportunities as they arise. I look forward to seeing things like the Grand Canyon or even revisiting states that I haven't seen nearly enough of like California. That is such a large state, the offerings are diverse. I hope that someday I can go to places like France or Germany to experience the historical culture. I'd like to go to Africa to see the people we sponsor. Travel to Australia and New Zealand has been long on my list. The Asian countries hold intrigue as does South America. How can a person possibly choose what they would like to see? All of it excites me! I had a tough time just stopping with the locations I did list!

I'm really not sure how a person like me could accomplish all of that world travel. I may have to settle for internet pics and living vicariously through others, but one thing I do know is that we live in an amazing world! If nothing else, I will have it on my bucket list to visit all 50 of the United States. I think that is an achievable goal. Wouldn't it be grand if I could also say that I gave speeches in all 50 states?!! I have no idea how I am going to manage to sleep now that I am so excited about travel and all of the possibilities that exist!

What if my dreams could begin to come true right here on my blog??? Are any of you interested in hiring a speaker? I'd love to discuss the possibilities with you! My hot topics right now are pursuing your passions, trusting in God, and overcoming adversity. I come complete with some fantastic references. Your audience is  sure to be inspired!

Can You Afford to Take the Risk?

Wayne Gretzky once said, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." 

When I saw that quote today, it rang out loud and clear. It was exactly what I needed. For the past year, I have been chasing a dream, or perhaps better stated, preparing to chase my dream. You see, about a year ago, I made a choice to pursue public speaking. It is a passion I have had for quite some time - one that has continued to grow with increasing opportunities to speak and abundant support from friends and colleagues.

When I returned from my trip across the country (Savannah, GA to Shreveport, LA) this summer, one of my fellow Toastmasters suggested that I apply for the Toastmasters Accredited Speaker Program. His suggestion was seconded by several. As I researched this potential opportunity, I learned that this is an elite designation for those of professional speaking caliber who have demonstrated their abilities to speak through the five major speaking categories: Informing, Persuading, Motivational/Inspirational, Entertainment/Humor, and Seminar/Discussion Leader.

I was honored to have been encouraged so greatly! I decided to move forward in this quest, gathering the necessary information and recording a CD. Thankfully, I had speaking engagements lined up in the short month I had to work with before submissions are due. There was one presentation in particular that stood out as the perfect opportunity to record. The day came and I couldn't have been pickier about the way it turned out. I was attacked with thoughts and feelings that the presentation wasn't good enough. In fact, I've hemmed and hawed about it all week because I really wanted to achieve this goal.

I was blessed yesterday to listen to a podcast. In it, Jana Barnhill, an accredited speaker, addressed my fears. She mentioned that people who are professional speakers are critical of their own work. They constantly want to improve. So true! Today I read the quote above, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." 

Can I afford to take the risk? Yes! I am going to take the words of Mr. Gretzky and the encouragement of Jana Barnhill to heart. I am going to take a deep breath, set my perfectionism aside and submit my work for consideration into the accredited speaker program. I know I have the ability. I have spoken to thousands of people. I have garnered wonderful feedback. I can't let my perfectionist spirit get in the way. Besides, what's the worst that could happen? I would just need to try again and that would simply mean that I am growing in experience and ability - both great things to strive for no matter what happens.

What about you? Do you have goals, hopes, or dreams? Tell us about them. I'd especially love to hear about your dream come true. Show us how/why we can afford to take the risk of pursuing our passions. What better way is there to teach than through example?

Spooktacular Spiders?

Years ago, I was taught to look to nature to learn various lessons. Today is one of those days. I thought of the spider. Spiders often keep themselves busy, but when you think about their web, what kind of things come to mind (beside the fact that you don't want them in your house!)?When I think of it, I think about how carefully placed they have to be. If the spider doesn't use careful planning, it is not going to get food. Or worse, the spider could miss out and have the web and possibly it's own life destroyed!

I've been sitting in front of my computer quite a bit today. It's quite apparent by the fact that I currently have fourteen tabs open in my browser! I also have in front of me: two open Word documents, two sheets of paper that I have been taking notes on, and a few more that I printed off. This is precisely the type of situation I was referring to the other day when I wrote about being a squiggle. It's been a fairly unfocused day, yet, I have learned a lot of information as I bounced from one subject to another.

At the end of the day, perhaps the biggest thing I need to admit is that I really prefer when my days are planned out and orderly. (Don't get me wrong... I LOVE to be spontaneous!) For the past couple weeks, I had been so focused on making it through my day yesterday that I wasn't well enough prepared for orderly work today. I had everything in my head, but without an actual action plan.

That being said, I have come up with a plan! I want to use that lesson from the spider. I want to have this area of my life planned. I really want to have a big picture in mind before I continue writing with no apparent focus. I have plenty of things that I want to write about, but before it looks like I am writing without a purpose, I am going to step back. I am going to continue to work on my personal goals that will soon tie in with my blog writings. Until that time, I will be here simply writing about myself.

Spiders may be creepy, crawly, scary things, but they have lessons we can learn. What better time to learn from a spider than at the end of October! Take a moment to reflect on your planing in various aspects of your life: Spiritual, Financial, Relationships, Hopes, Dreams, Physical, etc.Are you throwing caution to the wind and simply going with whatever seems to work? Or do you have plans - short and long terms? You'll be pleased by the spooktacular results you see when you make time to create an action plan. This, too, will become one of your life's defining adventures.

Please, Don't Send Me to Africa!

I am a member of Toastmasters International. For those of us who do a lot of public speaking, Toastmasters offers an Accredited Speaker Program. It is an elite designation for those of professional speaking caliber. It is a program that I learned of recently. My fellow Toastmasters have encouraged me to apply for accreditation.

I spoke for the Sunrise Optimist Club in Green Bay, WI today. To apply for phase one of accreditation, I need to send in an audio CD of one of my presentations. This is one I might consider.

I'm curious to know what others think of this particular presentation.The video is about 28 minutes long, but if you have the time and are willing to write a comment, I would love the feedback!

If you happen to be looking for a motivational or inspirational speaker, of course, I'd love to discuss that with you as well!

When Life Gets You Down

What do YOU do when life gets you down? I'm an upbeat person and pretty easy going. I don't let too much get me down. My friends are often tell me they are amazed at how well I deal with things. Somehow, that always catches me off-guard and surprises me that people view me that way.

Life doesn't always deal us a "fair" hand - or at least not one that we really "want" at the time. I will be the first to admit that I definitely did NOT want all of what has been dealt to me over the past three years! Both of my daughters were involved in a near fatal car crash. One of them sustained major head trauma. The stress put on a family after the period of hospitalization is phenomenal. As if that isn't enough, added to our mix is the fact that our girls have become young women. Let's face it - transitioning from teen to young, responsible adult hasn't been the most graceful period of anyone's life!

The last time someone asked me how I manage to stay so upbeat, I decided to take more time to observe my own behavior. I noticed that when I get hurt, I begin to withdraw. I've noticed that over time the hurt feels deeper and comes more quickly when talking about my daughters. I try to choose my words carefully and sometimes use even fewer words than I would in normal circumstances. There really isn't anything extraordinary about my behavior. I think it is much like the way anyone else might react given the same situation - withdrawal, possible depression, etc. However, there have been some lessons learned.

Lesson #1 - I need to take time to spend with God. We may not all have the same relationship. Some of us may want to read the Bible; others may want to pray. And some, may want to run the other way! For me, it is most effective to begin with a time of playing praise and worship music on the piano. I might start with something more somber and work my way into singing and playing something more upbeat. It is then that I find myself longing to spend time with God - talking to Him and wanting to read more Scripture.

Lesson #2 - I must spend time with other people. These are people who will lift me up and encourage me - not people who are going to interject their opinions, but those who are willing to simply listen, pray, and encourage.

Lesson #3 - I must be willing to give. I can't spend too much time wallowing in self-pity or focusing on "the problem". It is wise for me to accept the cards that were dealt, figure out what to do with them, and make the best of the situation. Once I can do that (and sometimes even before I do that), I turn my attention toward someone else. How are THEY doing? Is there someone who needs help? How can I help?

Life's defining adventures aren't always about pursuing dreams and finding success. Sometimes it is learning through life's trials that defines adventure and helps us to find the success we dream of.

Life of a Squiggle

I confess. I am ...a squiggle! I am a person whose brain can sometimes go 400 mph while I attempt to do 20 things at the same time. I'm the person who can jump from A to M without taking all of the steps to there.  I am the personality type who some label as disorganized. Yet, in a squiggly kind of way, I still managed to get a lot done today. 

I've enjoyed learning about various personality types, so I decided to dive in a little deeper tonight. This is the paragraph that sums up squiggles the best: These individuals [squiggles] tend to be exceptionally creative, flamboyant, dramatic, and witty and, are the messiest and least-organised of all the Shapes. They can however, be very motivating people to be around.

Then I noticed a side panel with a listing of various shape parings. I saw that squiggles were in the mix so I thought, "why not take the test"?! To my surprise, my results came back as a circle/triangle combination! No squiggle at all! Hmmm... I'm not so sure about that. 

I've decided that we probably all have some mixed traits. I think it is important for us to work toward understanding various personalities - not only in the workplace, but also to aid in our personal lives. It's fun to learn about the various traits others carry. But in my quest, I think that it has helped me to embrace the positive qualities of others vs. allowing the quirks of different personality types stick out as an irritation.

The site I used tonight is: http://www.psychometricshapes.co.uk/index.php, but a simple Google search will pull up more information than you can dig through in short order! Expand your horizons by reading various explanations because each one will shed a different light in your understanding.

What Do You Think?

I've heard that many people have dreams but most don't achieve them. How do you feel about that statement? Do you agree or disagree?

I'm going to keep this post just about as simple as that this morning because I really want to hear from you! As I build upon my dream and speak to others about pursuing their passions, I would like to learn about one or all of the following questions:

1.) Do you agree with the statement, "Many people have dreams but most don't achieve them."? Why or why not?
2.) Do you have a dream? How are you doing on accomplishing it? Do you think it's just a fairy tale dream or do you plan to accomplish your dream? OR
3.) Perhaps you have already had a dream come true. Are you willing to share the dream and a brief summary of your accomplishment(s)?

Sunday Reflection

Sundays are a great day to not only rest, but also to spend time with family and friends! One interesting quote that stands out as I think about that is, "You become like the 5 people you spend the most time with. Choose carefully."

I had a great time today. I got to spend time with my husband and my daughter as well as some other family members. Our conversations can get interesting. But what I noticed is that each person tends to talk about the people they are closest to. Why is it that we talk about them? I have to believe that it is because on some level we admire them or long to acquire some of their traits.

Who is it that you want to be? Where do you want to go in life? Are you making the choices that will help you get there? Are you spending enough time with the people that are most able to help you accomplish your dreams?

When my girls were young, I tended to choose friends who parented or had lifestyle choices similar to that of me and my husband. As my girls grow older and I look to my future, I tend to look more and more to other people - people who are already doing or are on the path to doing what I long to do. That doesn't mean that I cherish my earlier friendships any less. We may not talk as much, but those are relationships that I will cherish forever. The new friendships are necessary to help all of us grow.

We are all in the process of defining our life's adventures. Once your passion is identified, set your goals, share them, have a treasure map, and develop the relationships necessary to get there. You are on your way to discovering a whole new you. The fun is just waiting for you to discover it!

Time to Rest or Keep Going?

This has been quite a week for me! It has held a lot of excitement, both good and bad. Both suck the energy right out of me, but I am a driven individual. I have hopes and dreams - goals that I want to meet. I have my eyes set on what lies before me. Whether it is a short or a long term goal, I keep pushing on.

I came to a realization this week. I learned that I really thrive on "the chase." I'd never really thought about what that means. But as I was challenged to think about it, I realized just how true it really is. I thrive on goals - especially larger goals that stretch me. I get excited when I start to see progress. An outright accomplishment is even more fun.

I also realized that there is a certain "let down" period that follows a "chase." If you have ever participated in something big, something you have had to work your way up to, then met the goal, you know what I am talking about. After traveling with my daughter for 100 days this summer, there was a period of let down for me. It was a much bigger time than I expected. It was close to a full two weeks of rest that was needed and an even greater period of adjustment that followed.

As I began to reflect on all of this, I started thinking about what the Bible has to say about rest. First, I was impressed that it is mentioned well over 500 times! We have barely gotten into the Word before we see it for the first time. Genesis chapter 2 tells us that God finished His creation, He blessed it, and He rested! Is it a coincidence that we were gone 100 days, which is divisible by seven 14 times and we needed to rest approximately 14 days? Somehow, I don't think so. We took that day each week, but it is interesting that the rest we needed was really equivalent to one day for each week we were gone.

A couple of my other favorite Scriptures on this topic are Psalm 127 - where it tells us that God gives rest to His loved ones - we don't need to be anxious or work so hard that we don't rest. He will take care of us. And the other is in Matthew 11:28 where Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

Throughout my times of staying focus and being driven to meet a goal, I find it increasingly important to find time to spend alone with God - a time to talk with Him - to learn more about Him - to develop a trust and faith relationship with Him. As I do that, I feel the excitement & the anxiety start to subside. I begin to rest in Him. I trust in His everlasting love. 

There will always be deadlines, goals, and emotional ups and downs, but there will never be a time so sweet as the time we take to rest in the Lord. Somehow, when I rest in Him, I experience a joy. a peace and a calm that cannot be experienced in any other way. What about you? Will you take time to rest? Or will you just keep going?

Pole' Pole'

I learned a new phrase this week: Pole', Pole'. (po-lay)

My friend Paul was telling a group of us about his climb up Mount Kilimanjaro. The group he was with was led and instructed by a couple Swahili guides. They explained that in order to reach the summit, they must travel "pole' pole'" - or slowly & carefully, step by step. It's easy to imagine having to climb an extreme mountain slowly & carefully, step by step, but is that really how we tend to face everyday life?

This summer my daughter and I set out to walk across America. The number one question asked was, "How can you do that?" There was only one answer I could give. One step at a time. You see, to me, it didn't matter how far we went each day. That wasn't our goal. Our goal was to talk to people and share our lives with them as we traveled. So, if we walked 13 miles, great! If not, I knew we could talk to those around us, accomplishing the primary goal. I knew that each step we took would take us a step closer to the goal.

Life is like any walk or any climb we take. The only way we can accomplish what we set out to do is by taking things one step at a time, pole' pole'. No matter what we have our eyes set upon, there are steps necessary to get there. One step of encouragement may include treasure mapping - visualizing what it is that we want. What does it look like? How is is going to feel? Who can help us accomplish the goal?

Find pictures to help you identify what it is that you are seeking after. Keep the ideas in front of you - be sure the ultimate goal is the center point or focal point of the collage. Set it up in a way that you can see the milestones. How will you celebrate the little accomplishments on the way there?

Pole' pole', my friends! What will your next defining adventure be? I'd love to hear about it!

Determination!

There was once a student who, when given an assignment, wrote down his dream. He dreamed of a luxurious horse farm. Not only did this student write his dream, he took the time to draw every detail of the dream - the layout of the buildings, what was inside them, etc. When the teacher saw the completed assignment, she returned it with an "F", saying the dream was unrealistic. She agreed to change the grade if he wrote about a realistic dream.

I can imagine how heart broken this little boy was. Not only that, I can empathize with him because I have had people like that in my life. These are people who want the best for me. People who love me deeply, yet don't understand my dreams.

We all long to have the love and support of those we love. But we must realize that they don't always have the ability to understand our dreams or passions. Maybe it is because the dreams we have are bigger than when they can comprehend. Perhaps they don't understand because there hasn't been an appropriate time to fully explain our dreams. Or, just maybe, it is because they too have or had a dream.

The boy in the story went on to accomplish his dream. In fact, his teacher has even taken her students on field trips to his ranch. She admits that she stole a lot of dreams from many students, but the important thing is, she learned.

Do you have passions that you want to follow? dreams to pursue? If there wasn't anyone there to tell you "no" would  you go after it? Life is short! We have been given these desires for a reason. I encourage you to be all that you can be. If you haven't already, start brainstorming ways that you can work toward your dream. I'll give you one tip for starters: share your dream with other people. It's important! (I'd love to hear about your dreams and passions!) Go for it, start defining your life's adventures!


Desire is the key to motivation, but it's the determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of our goal, a commitment to excellence, that will enable us to attain the success that we seek. ~ Unknown

Success

Success is a clouded reality for many. Sadly, most people don't give themselves or others credit for the accomplishments that are made in life. They tend to look at what a person's financial situation appears to be from the outside. Fortunately, success is comprised of much more than the almighty dollar!

I challenge you to look at success through another lens. Think about success in terms of meeting goals and dreams. For some, that will simply be making it through life moment by moment. For others, the goals will be bigger.

Take a moment to measure your success in several different areas. You can look at the big picture - or you could look at it from a closer viewpoint, such as this month, this week, or even this day because each new day is the gateway to our future. It might be interesting for you to look back, to think about how life was years ago and how much you have changed.

If you aren't feeling successful, think about what it is that you can change. What can you be thankful for and what parts of your life do you feel like you have control over? Each choice you make can help you meet your next goal, no matter if that goal is an immediate one or one in the distant future. Choose a friend or mentor to confide in. Having an outside support system is paramount to any great success story.

Here are some ideas of various pieces of your life to reflect on - you don't need to go in depth unless you choose to:

Spiritual, Physical, Mental, Finances, Self-Improvement (Education), Family, Social (Friendships), Hobbies, Volunteerism


Desire is the key to motivation, but it's the determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of our goal, a commitment to excellence, that will enable us to attain the success that we seek. ~ Unknown

We Can Make a Difference

I've been creating a collection of some of my favorite quotes. I saw one today that stood out as a great way to introduce more of the direction I am driven toward.

The purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be compassionate. It is, above all, to matter, to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference. ~ Unknown

My first thought is that my primary purpose is to have a relationship with Christ, but in doing so, I know that the entire context of the above quote will come to pass.

Each of us has a calling. How are you living out your calling? Are you pursuing the passion the God has placed in your heart? If so, how are you doing with that? Have you set goals or benchmarks as a way to keep you moving toward your heart's desire? If not, why? What's to stop you?

As for me, I have a passion to travel. In and of itself, it would serve no purpose other than fulfilling my own personal dreams. Yet, when coupled with ways that I can reach out to other people, I know that I can make a difference and give compassion to others. Those are my dreams in life. I don't long for a mansion or all sorts of nice clothes & belongings. I long to be useful - to count and make a difference while I am here. I want to be a blessing to others.

The Early Bird Gets the Worm

There is nothing quite like waking up early. Some of my favorite parts of the day take place in the morning hours - although, I don't always like to get up early! It's early in the morning that you really get to hear the birds start to chirp. The night sky begins to turn to dawn, and a new day is born.

Today was a day for me to plan to get up early. But, it turned out to be one of "those" days - one of those days when you barely slept a wink all night - a day that you are ready on time, yet none too early. Then, after arriving at the home of the lady I planned to carpool with, I learned that I was there one week early!

As I drove home, I was reminded of how important it is for each of us to take some quiet time in the morning. It's the perfect time, before anyone is up, to spend time with God, to get a handle on your calendar, focus on the day that lays before you, and devise a plan of attack. These are some of the great strategies of a successful leader - whether that is in the home or at a professional level.

Used?

What kind of thoughts does the word "used" bring to mind? Does it bring up negative connotations of being under appreciated? Do you think of unwanted clothing or other belongings? Or do you think of the more positive aspects such as value and bargains?

No one really likes any of the negative thoughts associated with the word "used." It would be a struggle at best. But consider the other side of the coin - used belongings often become bargains. They accumulate value through simple ownership and appreciation. Some things gain value as they age.

That is where I feel like I fit in my walk with God. I feel like the older I get, the more wisdom and value I gain. I long to be in His presence more and more. I learn as I figure out how to listen. I may or may not always "hear" what God is calling me to do, but as time goes on, I continue to learn to put different puzzle pieces together. I am learning that I truly am a treasure in His eyes and He really does have plans for me to actively participate in.

I look forward to uncovering that adventure one piece at a time. I am thankful for a God that has plans to define our adventures and thankful that He delights in us. Psalm 37:23-24 tells us, "The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in the every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand." (NLT)

What an honor to be loved and accepted by the King!

Chasing a Dream

Dreams could be thoughts, emotions, creative ideas, images, visions, or perhaps even a fantasy.

It has been an eventful year for our family as my daughter and I walked across Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, then rode bikes across Louisiana. It's been an adventure that continues to define who I am and an adventure that has helped me to learn more about my passions and dreams.

We have been home for one month now. I was surprised at the amount of time it has taken to fully acclimate back into our home life, as well as surprised how at much time it takes to see everyone we know and love. It's great to be back, but I sure do miss meeting people every day and the new friendships that were created.

Now it is time to really get to work, to put honest effort into pursuing the callings I feel God is leading me toward. Throughout the past month, I have spent countless hours thinking, listening, researching, and writing. In short, I have been in front of the computer a lot!

I came across a blogging challenge today. It was intended to start at the beginning of the month, but the rules stated that the challenge was to post 31 times in October, whether that was daily or not didn't matter. (Though the challenge did point out that it is most effective to post daily rather than skipping days, I don't think it mentioned what the effect of doubling up is!) I decided that since the month is really only about half over, I will use this as an incentive to get back to the blog I have been pushing to the back burner.

My goal this month will be to write shorter entries, to get to the point, and hopefully to write entries that encourage or inspire others - something that may teach and/or bring joy to the soul. I love getting feedback. It will be interesting to use your questions as launch pads too. So, for the next couple weeks, send me feedback and questions. I will focus on our most recent adventures. Here's your chance, fire away! :)

Right Where I Am At

It brought a smile to my face when I reread my first blog post tonight. It was good to remember what my original goal was when I began blogging. At the same time, it was good to take some time off - time to think more about what I want to write and why I am writing. I'm feeling a bit refreshed now and ready to share more of my life with you. 

***************

If there is anything I have learned about being a "stay at home mom", it's that stay at home moms don't really stay at home! They tend to morph into chauffeur, grocery getter, errand running, planner type people.  I wonder who came up with the term "stay at home mom"!  

I can't lay claim to being the best stay at home mom ever. But, I do know what it is like to fill my days. Whether that means focusing on my girls, going here or there for this or that, or spending time working on the computer, it is incredibly easy to stay busy!

It has become a necessity in my life to create a quieter lifestyle for several reasons. I don't need to get into all of that, but I can tell you that in doing so, I have truly enjoyed spending time in prayer and really seeking God out.

I am realizing more and more that we serve an audience of One. If we focus our attention on our Creator and seek His will, everything tends to fall in place. And no matter how awful I am (or feel about myself), God loves me. If I am willing to seek Him, He is willing to meet me right where I am at. And when I fall down, He will pick me up again. We are precious to Him. He is willing to wrap us all in His arms, extending His grace and mercy.

There are two songs that really have my attention tonight, both by Mercy Me. The first is called, "In the Blink of an Eye".  It's a great reminder that God has a plan for our lives. Let's live them to the fullest and embrace whatever it is that He might have for us. Click here to go to: "In the Blink of an Eye" MercyMe

The second song is a song that I really felt led to include. It's for someone who really needs to be reminded how special they are - even if they don't feel that way right now. No matter how you are feeling, you are treasured. You are sacred. And God loves you madly enough that He sent His son to die for you. You are precious. You are beautiful. Trust Him. Click here to go to: "Beautiful" by MercyMe 

Communication: Something to Value

Some have asked about the speeches I give. The following is an example of one of my speeches. I was thrilled to be able to present it to the NEW Toastmasters Group which met at Touchmark in Appleton today. If you would prefer to watch it, I can send you a link if you send me a message. I did record it today.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Good afternoon, fellow Toastmasters! I am very thankful that you have allowed me to come in to speak with you today! Since it is my first time meeting with you, I decided that I would like to share the most impactful time of my life with you. To some extent, it is about the power of communication. All too often, I think that it is something that we take for granted. And sometimes, it is something we use before we think about what we are really saying.

For example: I was out and about one day. I saw a sign that read, "Ears pierced while you wait." Really?!!! I didn't think that I was going to just drop them off!

A friend of mine was offended when she received a letter in her mail. It wasn't so much the letter that offended her, as it was the line that read, "Please keep your private area clean." YIKES! I could not believe my ears! Even I was offended for her…until she laughed and told me that it was a newsletter from the condominium association. It was referring to their private property.

Laughter is powerful. It raises the spirits and keeps a person sane. Sometimes it is all we have to carry us through. November 5, 2009 was a beautiful day! It was sunny and seasonably warm. My 5 year old niece was staying with me for a few days. We had a great time throughout the day. We giggled, laughed, and played like only 5 year olds know how to do. She kept me busy until I was scheduled to teach piano after school got out. That is what I was doing when the phone rang.

I don't typically answer my house phone while I am teaching. However, my teenage daughters went to Appleton after school that day. When the phone rang, I excused myself. 45 minutes later, I found myself at Theda Clark's Emergency Room. I was taken to my daughter's room where I found her still covered in blood. She was scared. I was scared. I'm sure my niece was scared! I was relieved though. Blood covered or not, she appeared to be fine. But where was her sister? Where is Becca?

When police call to alert family of an accident, they don't share any details. I had no idea if Becca was alive or dead! Similarly, when doctors talk to you, they don't share everything. They share only what you need to know at that moment.

Time passed about as fast as time can pass when you are in that situation. Doctors, nurses, and police came in and out of the room. When we were taken to see the girls' friend Morgan who was also in the accident, I felt horrible when I saw her swollen, black & blue face. She had a shattered eye socket and a broken clavicle. As terrible as I felt for her, I knew she would be OK. I still needed to know about Becca. Is she okay?

At last, we were taken back to a room to talk to the doctor's in charge of my other daughter's case. I was shocked by all the people that filed into the room. By this time most of our family had arrived and were there to hear the same news we were. …The doctors finally told us Becca was alive! They had her stabilized, but had no idea what the outcome would be. Day upon endless day passed, stresses high.

An entire month passed before we left the intensive care unit. At last, the day came to remove her trach. Can you imagine going a whole month without hearing your daughter's voice? or being able to communicate with her at all? Knowing she could only say a couple sentences, her first words came out sounding a bit like ET as she asked, "When can I go home?" and were followed by a whimper. Heart-wrenching as her words were, they were music to my soul! I finally got to hear her voice again!

Her prognosis had been fairly bleak. MRIs showed that her brain looked as though she has been shot at close range by a shotgun. She spent 55 days at the hospital. Today, I rejoice in the power of prayer and the healing power of God. Becca has far surpassed all of what doctors projected. If you met her today, you may not know anything is wrong with her. She does have lingering effects from the traumatic brain injury and from the other trauma she sustained, but we continue to see healing and hope that someday she will live life close to what we, as society, say is normal.

We don’t realize the impact that words have on other people - or how much we appreciate the communication we have with one another until we lose it. I have been blessed to see the relationship between the three girls grow immensely. They are now the best of friends. I cherish their laughter every day!

I encourage you to choose your words wisely. It's fun to laugh at poorly worded sentences, but it is especially important to communicate well with those you work and live with. You've heard it said, "Live each day as if it is your last." The same idea may  be said about your words. Cherish your life and the people in it. May your words encourage as well as show love and respect for those around you.