For All the Sports Fans!

'The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is probably the guy who dropped it.'

  ~ Lou Holtz

Read more about this picture

And here's another one for the fans back home:

FUNNY!
Found this yesterday on a friend's Facebook post.
WATCH OUT!!!
(THE MISSING-SUPERBOWL of February 2008
WILL NOW RE-APPEAR THIS SUNDAY
AND IT AIN'T GONNA BE PRETTY!)

Y.I. Wednesday: Why I Love the Beach in the Off Season

I went to the beach yesterday. What a beautiful day it was. Sunny and 60, with a slight breeze... Wow...

While I was there, it was hard not to notice the quiet.

Other than that, all I heard were seagulls flying above, a nearby train passing by and the water splashing up onto the shore.

It was the most wonderful way to spend my afternoon.

I like to the beach most in the off-season, when there are fewer people and it's not crowded and busy.

During my time there today, I heard no clicking of the mouse, no ringing of the phone, no text notifications, no car horn beeping......

The beach in the off season is my quiet place. 

For me, it's Peace at it's fullest.

While I walked on the sand, I picked up a few small rocks, like I usually do when I go.

I thought about random things...nothing pressing.

I sat down and read a chapter of a book.

But, most of all I just closed my eyes and listened.

Nature has to be the best place to take a time-out, because there's nothing there that's man-made.

It's all natural, and all amazing.

What strange weather for the last day in January... in a northern (snowy) state such as ours.

But I feel lucky that it is this warm, and that I was able to enjoy today this way.

I believe it was enough to refresh me until the next time I go.

Where's Your Quiet Place and Why Do You Go There? 

Is it to rejuvenate, gain clarity, or simply just to relax? 

Wherever your quiet place is, I hope you go there often.

Did You Know (Dr. Seuss)?

Did you know Dr. Seuss' first book 'And to Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street'  was rejected?

Not once, not twice, but twenty-seven times?

Listen to this story on NPR.org

What if you really wanted something?

What if you were the only one who believed in your dream?

What if no one supported you?

Would you still push?

or

Would you give up?

What if  Dr. Seuss quit?

A whole bunch of kids might not have enjoyed reading...or wouldn't have even learned to read as soon as they did.

Including my own child.

When my ten year old was a little girl, she hated books. Her older sister was an avid reader at two years old, but at eighteen months old my second darling daughter wanted nothing to do with books.

I thought she'd never read...all she wanted to do was run around and scream.

The truth, she needed speech therapy and was more of a tactile and emotional child.

To sit still and listen to a story was nearly impossible, never mind learn to read it.

Finally, after years of continuing to try to read to her, introducing book after book, she finally began to read!

 Hop on Pop and The Foot Book were her first, and she remembers them fondly to this very day!

After conquering those two books, she was off  and running with more:

Dr. Seuss's ABC and Green Eggs and Ham were next!

Sadly, the famous author died ten years ago...ironically, just a few days after my daughter's birth.

You just never know what you could do for someone if you believe in yourself!

Even if it's seventy years later....and for someone you never meet.

Thank you, Dr. Seuss for your stick-to-itiveness!

Fly With This Fun Friday Quote

lolgallery.com

Minds are like parachutes.

They only function when they are open.
- James Dewar

Y.I. Wednesday: Why I Don't Have Many Friends

I really have to say I don't think I have many friends.

Okay, maybe that came out wrong.

I have not had many 'good' friends.

Wait, that isn't quite what I mean either.

Let me try again:

Over the years, I've only had a few really close genuine friends.

Ah, that's better.

So, why do you suppose this is?

It might be because I'm a very busy mother. Many can relate to that...

It could be because I am not very friendly...ummmm, uh uh, that's surely not it.

Hey, I know! It might be because I'm a jerk! Nah, I've already said that I'm not a jerk...

So, if it's not any of those things...I have to wonder, it it's because 'I call it like I see it'.

Do you know how many people in the world would actually prefer you tell them what they want to hear, rather than what they need to hear? (I don't know the number either, but I'm betting it's a lot!)

I've never been a sugar coater. I like to ask thought provoking questions and give people my honest opinion (if they ask for it first, of course, otherwise that's just rude...).

Here's an example of the shoe being on the other foot: (Mine actually)

The other day, I called a couple of my friends for some advice. One of them was my father. (Yes, even after my turbulent angry teen years, I consider my dad my friend.)

I can tell my dad anything, and that man will, well...'tell me like he see's it'. (Gulp)

Never for a second does he entertain any idea that my brain comes up with, if... he sees a true problem with it.

I hat that about him....and love it at the same time.

After a good hour long chat on the phone, I hung up feeling deflated...but confident! You see, I had sensed I wanted to make a choice that may not be the 'best' one...and after telling him all of my ideas, and he telling me 'all of the truth behind my ideas', I realized it probably wasn't going to be the best plan after all.

He was right...of course. (I hate that too sometimes.)

After my husband and I discussed my chat with Dad, we agreed our gut had told us not to do in the first place anyhow, and though I sort of didn't want to listen to it....

I didn't want to, but I needed to.

Often, if we tell our friends the truth about something they are about to do, they can become defensive.
They can even come to the decision that they don't consider us a friend. It's not that we don't believe in them, love them or trust them. It's actually, just the opposite...we care for them more than they know and just don't want to see them fall.

If that causes me to have less friends, so be it. I'd rather be honest with them, than tell them a lie that they will be angry with me for later.

So it's back to the drawing board for me!

Thanks Dad! (And I mean that in the most sincere way.)

Strive for More

Idearcanvas.com

"Never stop until your good becomes better, 

and your better becomes the best."

~ Frank Zappa Singer-Songwriter

One Simple Quote

In lieu of this week's Y.I.

I thought I'd tip my hat to the Donald one more time:

'As long as you're going to be thinking anyway, 

think big.' 

-Donald Trump

6 Reasons Y.I. Admire Donald Trump

I love Donald Trump.

No, not like I love my husband, my kids, or my coffee, but I really do like him. 

Most people don't seem to, and I'm not sure if it's because he has so much money, because he lost so much money, or because his hair is really, well, Donald.

Personally, I don't care about his money or his hair.

I learned a long time ago that life is too short to live it for others. I also learned that we were given one life to live and it's our right to do with it as we please. Donald inspires people to look ahead, forgive yourself, learn from mistakes and keep moving forward no matter what, because that's how you win.

Here are 6 Reasons Y.I. Admire Donald:

1. He has the ability to admit defeat
2. He has the humility to share his lessons learned
3. He has the tenacity to get what he wants (hey, you only live once)
4. He uses a no no nonsense/common sense approach to business and life
5. He seems to abide by an: 'I'm not here to please the world' attitude when living life (hence the hair still) 
6. He always has the courage to move on after disaster and mistakes

"Sometimes by losing a battle you find a new way to win the war." ~ Donald Trump

Has Your Life Worked Out the Way You Planned?

About 3 1/2  years ago, I felt like I had hit a brick wall.

I sensed that maybe I was in the wrong place, or maybe I was in the right place, but that the wrong things were happening.

Regardless, I definitely knew life was not exactly as I wanted it to be.

So, after an entire month of reflection and evaluation, I realized I had put myself there, and I had to ask whether or not it was what I wanted.

Indeed, I knew I was in the correct place in life. There wasn't anything I did, or didn't do, which I regretted.
I was still relieved about divorcing my 'X', I was still thrilled with my decision to relocate, and I was quite content being a single mom ....but the rest hadn't fallen into place yet.

I wasn't writing, I was stuck in a dead end job, and I still hadn't gotten that book started.

Around that time, I came across this quote:

"You are where you are because you want to be." 


It seemed simple enough, but hit me so hard. 


I realized at that moment, my situation, good or bad, had to do with me and only me...and that to get out of it and make anything happen I had to take charge.


I cannot even remember where I saw or heard that phrase, but it saved my life.

That very day, I stopped the pity party.

Then, I took a  bright colored marker and wrote that exact quote on a sheet of paper...

I taped it to the wall across from my bed. That way, every morning, when I opened my eyes, I was sure to wake up.


Today, I am happy to say that I write three blogs, have a monthly family column which circulates in a local newspaper and I am working on my parenting book every day. I also started my own copywriting and editing business after my hours got cut at my day job...and I have plenty more in my sights.

The future is ours, if only we seize it.

Superstitious Much?

Ask this question of anyone, and most likely they will answer, 'Eh.. not really' or 'Sort of'.

Thank goodness many do answer like this because upon Googling superstitions this week, I was completely overwhelmed by what I found! There are hundreds of them, if not thousands!

If someone were totally and 100% superstitious, they would have anxiety 24/7 about EVERYTHING!

Did you know that there is a superstition about Acorns?
....Brooms? and.....Matches!?

Yikes!

Did you also know you should never trip on Friday!?

How about this one: The rabbit's foot has more to do with fertility than good luck!?

Superstitious or not, check this out for a little fun!

Want more? Click here!

The bad news? There's a lot of these things floating around.
The good news? I bet we have all dropped an umbrella on the floor, come face to face with a black cat, or forgot to knock on wood, and the world did not end...so, take solace knowing, you probably have nothing to worry about.

"90% of what we worry about, never happens."- Author Unknown

Oh, yeah, by the way...

Happy Friday the 13th!!!

Y.I. Wednesday: Why I'm Not a Jerk

This may seems like an odd Y.I. for Wednesday, but when I explain, I think you will understand. 

Read this:

Three things in human life are important: 

The first is to be kind. 

The second is to be kind. 

And the third is to be kind.

-HENRY JAMES (1843–1916)

Now ponder this:

Aren't there enough people in the world who spend most of their time purposely making others miserable?

How will it solve anything if I were to adopt the mentality, 'give an eye for an eye'?

How would I be able to lead a peaceful, happy life, if I were to spend my life being mean to anyone just because they make a mistake? 

Most people know me. They know I'm really nice. 

I'm generally known as patient and giving and offer people the benefit of the doubt.

But, those same people know that I have a line, and when it's crossed, I change, then simply cease the above.

Though, I will never be a jerk in the process.

Politeness, Professionalism and Maturity is always called for.

Being a jerk is not.

Think about a time when somebody cut you off or got irritated with you in the store - what did you do?

Did you get mad? Did you slam your hand down, or maybe yell at them?

Could you have just let it go? 

Or could you have dealt with it verbally, minus the drama?

We have a choice.

Being a jerk to someone whose not so nice to you won't ever make things better, and in the rare case that they may have just received some really bad news, and their mind just isn't with it at the moment, it's possible they don't realize they are doing it, and therefore do not deserve to be treated poorly, but instead need some compassion.

Some things to think about:

It's not always personal, so don't always take it as such.

How you act reflects upon you.

What you do will come back to you, so treat other's how you want to be treated.

And for those who deal with the aforementioned 'repeat-offending-purposeful-jerks'? 

Keep calm and carry on, because:

A) It still has nothing to do with you.

B) They're not worth the escalated blood pressure.

What do you NOT do and Why?

What Does It Mean to Reinvent Yourself

Many of the best of companies, car makers and entertainers have reinvented themselves.

Sometimes they are referred to as 'sell-outs', other times they're respected.

I consider them smart.

Bon Jovi was one who reinvented himselve. When he realized that the big hair bands of the 80's were not the way of the world anymore, he lopped off his locks, versed some new hits and is a success today because he evolved.

Everyone needs to renew themselves from time to time and since change is inevitable, the sooner we realize it, the smoother the transition will be.

Here are a list of people who've reinvented themselves successfully (sometimes more than once):

According to Don't Drink the Koolaid:
Michael Jackson reinvented himself 42 times
Apple – We at Bailey Gardiner are creative people. What would we do without our Macs? Apple started a revolution in the 70’s when it first launched its brand. Skip past a few years of failed reinvention attempts… fast forward through the launch of the iMac … which takes us to present day in which Apple has a unique reputation for creating shiny products with an aesthetically-pleasing design, like the iPhone, iPod and Macbook.  I like the shiny.
Gucci – Tom Ford joined Gucci in 1990 when the company was on the brink of liquidation. As the company’s creative director, Tom Ford transformed and saved the brand. He revived the double G logo and added gloss and glamour to change fashion history.

Check out these sites (life just might be trying to tell you you could use a change):

An Funny but Inspiring Look at Reinvention

5 Easy Steps to Reinventing Yourself

Reboot Yourself

'Pursuit of Happyness': Chris Gardner gives tips for success

Fun Friday Quote

'If you think that nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.'

-Earl Wilson

Y.I. Ditched My New Year's Resolution List

Because I always seemed to either forget about them or give up on them....I have left my long standing New Year's Resolutions at the door.

I mean, yes, I believe in change (oh, do I) but, I truly think it's too easy to get overwhelmed working on a whole bunch of things at once...

Hence Why I ditched my New Year's Resolution list last year and replaced it with One Word.

Recently, I posted a few things about this One Word approach and I hope you will check it out.

Easy, but not too easy. Simplified, but not simple...I find it to be just right.

During the year, I feel that I work on the things I need to work on, you know, make adjustments as I go.
So, when New Year's comes around I usually over-do-it by making a big long list of things and get overloaded. Then,  I'm discouraged after just a short time...like by February 1st (Ugh).

So, last year, I decided to just stick to one word all year long that helped me focus better on almost anything I was doing.

Read about 2011's word: Grace

This time I chose Goals for 2012!

Last Year I chose Grace.

Read how I did:

Bad with Grace

Good with Grace

The trick will be, keeping Grace in action, 

while incorporating Goals...

It's both exciting and scary!

Yikes! 

Sounds tricky...

But, I think I'm up for the challenge.

No pain, no gain, right?

Throughout 2012, I will post updates and follow up stories about how I'm doing with my Goals.
Come back next week to find out how I plan on using this word!


I have already begun  my Goal list for the year...
and that's just the beginning.

Have you ditched New Year's resolutions? Why?

Or...

Will you be trying One Word instead?

Think you might like to try 

My One Word? 

visit MyOneWord.com 

or 

Test a New Year's Resolution? click here to read more

How to Be Mindful in the New Year

Ah, a new year 

and a clean slate.

I think everyone looks forward to this time of year, when we all get an opportunity to wipe out the last twelve months and start fresh. On January 1st I almost feel as if someone has breathed new life into me. My lungs are open, my eyes are focused and my body is full of energy. 

What is it about the first day of the New Year that makes us feel this way?

Is it because we now have a new list of things we are hopeful for? Is it that we can associate the new year with a new date, and so now we're able to leave the past behind us? Is it because the New Year really does promise us something special?

It's interesting that we think tomorrow into a different day than it was today...make ourselves believe we will be different than we were yesterday, just because the date changed.

Our minds are very powerful things.

Our mind is strong enough to make us do what I just mentioned and just about anything else we think about. But yet our brains can also discourage us enough to actually procrastinate and fail.

Our brain can be our best friend or our worst enemy.

And oddly enough, we have control over which one it is.

Ever hear these quotes: 

"Don't believe everything you think" or "Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right"?

A profound book that goes into more detail on this subject is, 'Think & Grow Rich' by Napoleon Hill. 

It may sound as if the title suggests the only reason you ought to read it is because you want money. 

Well not entirely, because quoting from his first chapter:

Thoughts are Things:"The object of this book is to help all who seek it to learn the art of changing their minds from failure consciousness to success consciousness."

In the book, he describes how powerful the mind is and if we harness that knowledge, and power, we can succeed at anything. 

Or fail at anything. 

Towards the end of that chapter Hill makes this statement,  'we are the masters of our fate..." and that our brains become magnetized with the dominating thoughts which we hold in our minds...."

In his book, he describes things like:

•  Auto-suggestion and it's power over your success
•  The 31 major causes of failure
•  How decision plays a large part in your wealth

So, if you are looking at your New Year in a positive light, and are only expecting good things, you most presumably will have them. But, if you cannot envision happiness and success, determine whether or not your mind is on your side.

If it's not, tell your brain to get on board and check these out!

Amazon Books: The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

LA Times: Does Your Brain Have A Mind of It's Own?

What Difference Does the Mind Make?

Good luck with your New Year's Goals and Resolutions-

 You can do anything you put your mind to!

Visit Y. I. on Wednesday to see which One Word I chose for 2012! 

Y.I. Wednesday: 9 Reasons Why I Drink Coffee

There have been years of speculation that those who drink coffee are bad.
Well, I guess I am one of them them.

Because I drink coffee and I love it!

Here's 9 Reasons Why I do:

1. Because as a mother, it is my own guilty pleasure.
2. Because I am probably addicted to it.
3. Because it's the only addiction I can do and still drive a vehicle.
4. Because it's an addiction that is legal and is not killing me with every sip.
5. Because it tastes yummy and there are so many different ways to have it!
6. Because someone introduced me to it when I was 22 years old, and working at 5:45 am, it helped me wake up!
7. Because coffee actually has some health benefits.
8. Because my mind actually works better when I drink at least one cup of coffee first thing in the morning.
9. Because I can :)

What do you do and why?

I Share Y.I's every Wednesday!!!

How To Test Drive Your New Year's Resolution

There are many of us who would be more than happy to skip New Year's Resolutions and who would prefer to simply countdown to the ball dropping and enter 2012 accepting things the way they were the year before.

Then there's others who look forward to a new challenge, or a renewed sense of accomplishment, so they set their sites on an item, or weakness, which they plan on tackling in the New Year.

Choosing a New Year's Resolution isn't easy. No one is perfect, and so at any given time we could likely find a dozen things which could use a bit of tweaking.

So, how do you know which one do you choose? 
And...
Which one is more important than the others?
And...
How can you guarantee success with the one you pick?

Well, the first two questions are very personal, and the one making the resolution would be the only person able to answer them.

But the third one depends on the why and if you've tested it or not.

How do you test your chosen New Year's Resolution?

Give it a trial run today!

If your resolution might be to follow a better fitness regimen, add it 'mini-size' to your day for a couple of days.

If you are completely disinterested and unmotivated trying to follow it, than you might want to choose something else. (It's possible that you aren't ready or your 'why', right now, is not great enough.)

We all want to succeed. 


'Try, try again,' is the often muttered motto when we fail, and it can leave us completely discouraged.

I believe that to feel motivated to accomplish something, and be excited to move on to another challenge, it is imperative that we are successful, even if it's only in the littlest increments.

That is a reason to test-drive a resolution. 


If you are not ready, it will be nearly impossible to stick with it.
So, include it today in small doses....then tomorrow try it again....if it is going well and you are excited about it and it is benefiting you, than keep it as your New Years Resolution on January 1st!

If not... go back to the drawing board.

Another reason you should test-drive a resolution: 


To find out if the one you chose will make a large enough impact.

Suppose you make a goal to wake up a half hour earlier every day. The reason you want to do this is so that you get things done around the house... though when hear your alarm, you wake up, but spend the next hour lying there, or you find yourself surfing the net or updating your Facebook status with coffee in hand.  While I enjoy doing all of these things, if my goal is to get up to 'get things done' I have defeated the resolution of getting up earlier.

It may be, that this is not a strong enough resolution.

Last year, I chose to incorporate the One Word approach to my New Year's Resolutions.

This week, I picked a few words to try....

• Faith
• Let it Go (I know that's three but I like it and could could consider it- My One Phrase.)
• Goals

I will let you know how it goes...

What New Year's Resolutions will you choose to test-drive? 

Fun Friday: Remember Being a Kid at Christmas!?

Christmas reminds me of being a kid! 

Waking up and unwrapping a bunch gifts,
then getting to play with them! 

Although today isn't Friday, this is your Fun Friday post, and it is Christmastime!
 So check out this link and have some fun!

You deserve to feel like a kid again!

Happy Holidays to You and Yours!

Y.I. Wednesday: Why I'm Addicted to Motivational Quotes

 I try my best to be a positive person, but I can't always get there on my own.
Motivational quotes are always to the point and are quick easy pick me ups that can be posted anywhere!

That is Y.I. rely on motivational quotes!

Here's where I like to find the best motivational quotes:

Thinkexist.com

The bookstore (their journals have quotes and magnets and mugs)
Bits & Pieces (periodical found at 'motivateandinspire.com'
Some of my favorite books have great quotes

Where I post motivational quotes:

on my computer at work

on my car visor

on my desk

on my mirror

on my cell phone

on my computer at home

on my refrigerator

on my wall in the bathroom
on the kids bathroom door (good reading material)

on my shoe

(Just kidding about that last one, but I do love to post them everywhere!)

Where I have the most motivational quotes: 

On my refrigerator

Two of my favorite motivational quotes:

'"Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right."-Henry Ford

"Just when the caterpillar thought his life was over, he became a butterfly."-Proverb

What's your favorite motivation quote?

What's Standing In the Way of You & Your Goals?

Are you doing the best you can to reach your goals?

or 

Do you have Excusitus

What to do if the answer is Yes. 

An excuse is something you tell yourself first, in an attempt to justify why you didn't do something.