One Nice Thing

My mother saw this on a morning TV show and then shared it on her Face book page . (Yes, my mother is 83 years old and is very "techno-savvy! Way to go Mom!) OK back to One Nice Thing. If you click on the "One Nice Thing" logo at the right of this blog it will take you directly to their home page. There you will find a variety of suggestions for the "One Nice Thing" you could for someone this week. Some of the suggestions are time sensitive; like the one for female soldiers in Irag, so you don't want to wait too long to check it out.
When you do something nice for someone you know it is a way of saying, "I love you." When you do something nice for someone you don't know, it is a way of saying, I value you as a human being. So whether you choose to do your "one nice thing," for a loved one or a stranger, the message you send them will mean a lot.

The Source of Strength

If you followed me during the month of September you will remember the 30-day goal setting challenge that I completed. That process has sparked a variety of results and has opened my eyes to a host of new opportunities. I have set a new goal for the month of December; a big goal, well actually a huge goal that is both exciting and challenging. That's all I'm going to tell you about it right now...but there will be more later!
One of the things a very bight lady recently reminded me of is that while there is certainly much that I am responsible for if I am to achieve my goals, I can't do everything. There are many things that I personally cannot do because they are out of my control. These are the things that I give to God to do for me. He is always there as my partner but sometimes I'm sure He is wondering why I seem to have so much more to do than He does. The problem is that I don't ask for His help and don't let Him take care of things that are really His to do for me and with me.
I have been reading a chapter in Psalms every morning and today I read a portion of chapter 18. It goes like this:

It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great.
You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn. Psalm 18:32-36

My personal goal throughout this next month is to remember every morning that God is the source of my strength and to give Him all the things that He can do, and wants to do, to enable me to reach that goal.
God IS the Source of my strength!

Thursday Afternoon!

On Thursday afternoon this past week, I stopped at Culver's to pick up hamburgers for my daughter, my two grandkids and and me for lunch. It was about 11:30 when I drove to the school where Lisa worked to meet her and her kids. Lisa is a teacher and it was a parent teacher conference day. That means her kids are not in school but she is not.
When I called her earlier in the week and asked if the kids' schedule would allow me to pick them up to go with me to see the movie, "Where the Wild Things Are," sometime soon, her immediate response was, "How about Thursday?" I knew immediately I could do that. So, at 1:15 on a Thursday afternoon, I took Kaitlin and Brayden to the show.
For years my alarm went off at 5:15 am and I would spend every day at my job. A job I enjoyed but it took all my time and energy and did not allow me to be flexible or available to my daughter or son and my six grandkids.
But now I am retired.
That does not mean that I don't have things to do. I still have a busy life and I have many things that I do. But, now I have options and I have flexibility and availability. I don't think we realize how important it is to have the privilege of being available and being flexible.
I enjoyed Thursday afternoon. I thought about the fact that it was Thursday when I picked up the hamburgers. I thought about the fact that it was Thursday when I bought the movie tickets. I thought about the fact that it was Thursday when I drove the kids back to their house and enjoyed talking about the movie with them.
And I thought about the fact that I was retired and it was a Thursday afternoon and I loved it.

Friendships Renewed

My husband and I have lived in five different towns located in three different states over the course of 43 years of marriage. Each place that we lived stands out in my mind for a variety of reasons, but there is one thread that is common to all five of those places: that is the friendships that were formed during our time there. And from each place there has been at least one or more friendships that have held on through each move and that are still a meaningful part of our lives today.
This afternoon my husband and I had a call from a friend we hadn't seen for at least 20 years. We met this friend early in our marriage and enjoyed many good times with him and his wife. However, as some times happens, they were divorced and he moved away. While we had kept in touch with his wife over the years we had lost track of him. So, it was with a great deal of surprise and pleasure when he called and asked if we had some time to get together while he was traveling through our city.
There is something very satisfying when you see someone after 20 years; immediately recognize them and see the smile in their eyes. The joy of the lingering hug that says, "It is so... good to see you again" cannot be described! In an hour we caught up on each other's lives, our kids, our jobs and all those details that took years to experience but take only minutes to bring everyone up to the present.
Friendships are some of the best blessings we have in our lives and my life has been richly blessed with many, many wonderful friends. All of these friends are special and always will be. But today we were doubly blessed with a friendship we thought we had lost! I'll recall that smile of greeting and that hug that lingered for a long, long time.

Acquiring Wisdom

I was reading a blog from another site this morning and decided to make a comment about it. As I was writing I realized I had more to say than what might usually be in a comment and decided to post that comment along with a few additional thoughts. If you would like to read the other blog that triggered this one you can click on the link to mmrite's blog listed at the side of this page and then go to her other blog (The Way I See It) which is listed on the right hand side of that blog.
I have often been concerned recently with what seems like a great lack of wisdom on the part of our society. I hear people say things as if they are stating facts when they are actually just repeating someone else's opinion. We used to teach kids in school, that just because something was in writing did not make it a fact. Today, many people need to know that just because something is on the Internet does not make it a fact.
I have also always thought it was important to learn from our experiences; however, I don't see evidence of that happening in ways that are productive. It seems to me that in order to learn from our experiences and to acquire wisdom there must be two things present: First, there must be a willingness to reflect on what you have experienced. If you don't take the time to think over what has happened, there will be no learning. Second, I think you also have to step out of the emotions that are connected to the experience in order to learn from the experience in a wise way. If the emotion of that experience is the only thing driving what your thoughts, your learning will be limited and will probably not result in becoming wiser. For example, if I am with a group of people that I don't know and I feel uncomfortable and intimidated because no one is talking to me, I might decide to never go to another gathering unless I already know most of the people there. That response is tied directly to the unpleasant emotions associated with the experience. The focus of the reflection is only on yourself in order to never repeat that experience. If you change the focus from yourself, to a more analytical viewpoint, then you would look at all of the reasons the situation was uncomfortable and consider a variety of things you might do differently. For instance, you might reflect on what made you uncomfortable. Were you afraid someone would ask you a question you might not be able to answer? Or, were you afraid you wouldn't know what to say to someone if they did come over to meet you? If so, then you might think about strategies to try that will help you begin conversations rather than waiting for someone else to come to you. Is being with a group of new people something that you need to do because of your job or social commitments? Who do you know that might help you get acquainted with some of the people in the group. When you change the focus from self and your emotions, you broaden the possibilities for acquiring new skills or insights, and you become wiser in the process.

Day 30: The Final Day

This has been a great journey for me. Each day of the challenge has brought something new or opened up a new understanding. One of the most challenging aspects of this challenge was making the commitment to report my progress or struggles via this blog. Knowing that I was going to describe what I was experiencing and the progress I was making, or not, as the case might be, kept me going. I did not want to have to start over and making this public commitment helped me to keep focused. That doesn't mean that I didn't struggle some of the time; I often did. But I didn't quit and I didn't let negative thoughts take over.
So, now that the 30 day challenge is completed, what is next? Well, at the end of the book, "Strangest Secret to Success," it says this:

Take your 30-day test, then repeat it, then repeat it again. Each time it will become more a part of you until you'll wonder how you could have ever have lived any other way. Live this new way and the floodgates of abundance will open and pour over you more riches than you may have dreamed existed. Money? Yes, lots of it. But what's more important you'll have peace....you'll be in that wonderful minority who lead calm, cheerful successful lives.

So, now that I have finished the first 30 days, I will start over. This time, I will set a more specific and challenging goal. This time I will focus more on taking action than on attitude. Attitude is still important, but now I realize how much change there is in attitude when you take more action. One of the quotes I have posted on my refrigerator says this, "DO the thing you fear and death of fear is certain!" Doing--taking action--is key to controlling your thoughts and key to achieving your goals.
This will be the last post I will make regarding this challenge. I don't plan to do daily posts about the next 30-day challenge; although it may from time to time become a part of something that is posted. If you have taken this challenge with me, let me know. I will benefit from knowing how you did. If you would like to begin a new 30-day challenge, let me know and we can become a support system for each other. Whatever you do, thank you for allowing me to share my journey with you. I'll leave you with this quote from Ryan Montgomery, who is one of the CEO's in Reliv International, "It isn't where you start that is important, it's where you end."

Day 29: Lessons Learned

This may sound like I'm rambling, but I thought I'd just list some of the lessons I've learned during the past 30 days.
I've learned that:
--I can control negative thoughts...IF I want to and IF I try. (Which means it is my choice to make.)
--the quicker I replace a negative thought with a positive one, the easier it is to get rid of it.
--when I keep positive thoughts in the front of my mind, I get more done.
--it is easy to slip back into old attitudes, if you don't pay attention.
--I like me better and I am in a better mood when I stay positive
--learned that I need to be more specific with the goals that I set
--and I've learned to be patient with myself--sometimes!

Tomorrow is Day 30 and I would love to hear from you. What have you learned?

Day 28: Your Biggest Asset

Wow! Do you realize there are only two more days to go! I am amazed at how fast the 30 days has gone. If you have joined me on this challenge, I'm sure you have learned a great deal about yourself. I know I have. One of the most important things I have learned is that I am both my biggest asset and my biggest obstacle. When I stay focused and believe in myself, I am my biggest asset. When I start doubting myself, and think about the ways I'm probably going to fail, then I am my biggest obstacle. This whole challenge has been about seeing yourself as a success and believing in your ability to succeed.
I know that I have changed in some significant ways. However, I also know that I still struggle to maintain a positive focus from time to time. I will need to continue to grow in this area. Here are six steps from "The Strangest Secret to Success" that will help all of us continue to grow in our belief in ourselves and in our ability to succeed.

1. Set a definite goal.
2. Quit running yourself down.
3. Stop thinking of the reasons you can't be successful and think of all the reasons why you can.
4. Think about where you got the idea you couldn't be successful.
5. Change the image you have of yourself by writing out a description of the person you would like to be. And...
6. Act the part of the successful person you have decided to become.
Dr. David Harold Fink, West Coast psychiatrist

"Then, pay the price--by becoming the person you want to become. It isn't nearly as difficult as living successfully."

Day 27: Enriching Others

How are you measuring your success? Most of us measure our success in one of two ways: by tracking how much we have done or by tracking how much money we have earned. The author of our guide tells us that the true measure of success is the quality and quantity of the service you render, and money is the yardstick for measuring this service. He then makes this emphatic statement, "No man can get rich himself unless he enriches others." He also states, "there are no exceptions to this law."
If we fully understand this law, then we will realize that the size of our fortune is based on the amount of service we provide to those from whom we are receiving our return.
Yesterday, I suggested that you write down how you are providing service to others. If you did that you'll have some things to reflect on in relation to this law. One of the things I had on my list was "follow-up" which is a part of the product service on which the business I am pursuing is based. And what I have realized is that frankly, I'm not doing very well with follow-up, and follow-up is a significant part of the service! So, if I use my income to measure how much service I am providing, I see a definite connection. I'm not getting the income I want because I am not providing the service that is needed.
Therefore...I now know exactly what I need to do to raise my income! All I have to do now, is to do it.

Day 25 and 26: A Fundamental Principle

One of the fundamental principles of this "Strange Secret to Success" is that "for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction." The author of this book describes it this way:
"Prosperity....is founded upon a law of mutual exchange. Any person who contributes to prosperity must prosper, in turn, himself. Sometimes the return will not come from those you serve, but it must come to you from someplace because that's the law." If you recall what you learned in school in science you'll recognize this law as a fundamental law of physics, too. This principle permeates every aspect of our lives, but we often forget about it.
One of the reasons we forget is that we don't always see the results of our actions immediately. When that happens, we do one of two things: we either forget about the action we have taken and don't look for any result or we assume that nothing has happened. Both perspectives are wrong.
As we complete this 30 day challenge it is important to remember that our success will always be measured by the quality and quantity of service you render, and money is a yardstick for measuring this service.
I am going to share more of what the author has to say about how service is connected to success over these last few days of the challenge. But for today I would encourage you to think about how your actions serve other people. I would suggest that you keep a list of ways you have served others and then start looking for how the service you gave comes back to you. The point of this is not for you to give a service in order to get something back. The point is to help you become more aware that there are good things coming back to you that are a result of the good things you are doing. I will end today's blog with this quote from the book, "No man can get rich himself unless he enriches others." And, that is where we will pick it up tomorrow.

Day 24: A Small Example of Success

Yesterday's post ended with this quote from the book, "The Strangest Secret to Success:"
"It's like the story of the man who sat in front of the stove and said to it, 'Give me heat and then I'll add the wood'....We've got to put the fuel in before we can expect heat. Likewise, we've got to be of service first before we can expect money. Don't concern yourself with the money. Be of service, build, work, dream, create. Do this and you'll find there is no limit to the prosperity and abundance that will come to you."
This morning I have a personal example of this to share with you. I have been staying at my son's home for the past few days. My daughter-in-law had minor surgery and I've been helping to get the kids off to school and with other stuff around the house. Yesterday morning I decided to make chocolate chip cookies and needed to pick up a couple of things from the grocery store. Of course, nothing is quick in a store you aren't familiar with, so while I was trying to find what I needed, I over heard a store employee talking to another customer about a health issue his son was having. I couldn't find the brand I was use to, and while I stood there trying to decide which brand was the best buy, I continued to listen to the conversation that was taking place just a few feet behind me. After a couple of minutes, the store employee came over and asked if I needed help. After he helped me find what I was looking for, I commented on his conversation, saying I couldn't help but over hear what they had said. He was very nice and we talked briefly about his son and the issue he was concerned about. I found it was a very simple thing for me to ask if I could call him and tell him about something that might help his son. He readily gave me his name and number.
There was no money involved in this conversation. There is no commitment on his part to do anything. However, this small exchange between two people whose paths crossed for a brief few minutes is an example of success. The success lies in the interest expressed in the need in another person's life and the offer to share something that might help him. This is the kind of thing that yesterday's blog was explaining. Did I earn any money yesterday? No. Was I a success yesterday? Absolutely!
(And the cookies were a success, too!)

Day 23: You Don't Make Money...You Earn It

Today's title relates to an important point that the book, The Strangest Secret to Success, wants to be sure we understand. The goal that I wrote for this challenge is at least in part, intended to bring more money into my life. Nothing wrong with that. My guess is that many of your goals also have a similar end result in mind. But, have you ever said, "I need to make more money?" Earl Nightingale would tell you that the only people who make money are the ones who work in a mint. The rest of us have to earn it. The book goes on to say,
"The only way to earn money is by providing people with services or products which are needed and useful. We exchange our time and our product or service for the other person's money. Therefore, the law is that our financial return will be in direct proportion to our service.
Now, success is not the result of making money; making money is the result of success--and success is in direct proportion to our service. Most people have this law backwards. They believe that you're successful if you earn a lot of money. The truth is that you can only earn money after you're successful.
It's like the story of the man who sat in front of the stove and said to it, 'Give me heat and then I'll add the wood'....We've got to put the fuel in before we can expect heat. Likewise, we've got to be of service first before we can expect money. Don't concern yourself with the money. Be of service, build, work, dream, create. Do this and you'll find there is no limit to the prosperity and abundance that will come to you."

Day 22: I think I can? I think I can!

So, which way do say those four words when you repeat your goal? Do you say, 'I think'...meaning, 'I hope' I can reach my goal? Or, do you say 'I think I can do this!' meaning, 'I believe I can do this and I am doing it!' Saying it the first way is wishful thinking with more doubt than confidence. Saying it the second way expresses confidence. In another book I looked at recently, (As you may have guessed, I do a lot of reading), I came across this quote, "Confidence is the first step to getting what you want or need."
Confidence is what you believe about yourself. Sometimes we get that confused with trust. Both qualities are important but they are not the same thing. I have some fear of heights. So, before I use a ladder, I always make sure that the ladder I'm going to use is sturdy. I check to make sure that I have all four legs set on level ground and I test it out before I start to climb. When it is all set up, I have complete trust that the ladder will hold me. However, I am still nervous and a little shaky on that ladder because I don't have confidence in me. I know that I will start to get a little dizzy and I am afraid that I will lose my footing and fall. So,because I don't have confidence in me, I don't do well on ladders.
When you first set your goal, it was important that you knew that what you were focusing on was worthwhile and achievable. You needed to know that so that you had trust in where you were going. The purpose of setting this focus wasn't to build your trust in the target; the purpose was to build confidence in yourself. If you don't believe in you; you won't reach your goal.
One of my favorite books as a kid was "The Little Engine that Could." That little engine had to pull a big load up a very steep hill. All the way up that hill he kept repeating, "I think I can....I think I can..." At first he said it slowly but gradually he said it faster and faster..."I-think-I-can..IthinkIcan...IthinkIcan................AND he did! So can you!

Day 21: "Letters"

Sorry, but I was out of town for a couple of days and could not get to the computer. But, while I was away--visiting my mother--I did some reading and have a book that I would recommend you read. The name of the book is Letters written by Luanne Rice and Joseph Monninger. Letters is a fictional account of two people whose marriage has fallen apart following the sudden death of their 20 year old son. They are emotionally and geographically separated and the only form of communication they have is through letters. They find it is easier to share their real thoughts and feelings with each other in the letters they write than it was to talk to each other as they grieved over the death of their son. As they open up to each other and listen to each other, they begin to recall all the good things they had in their life; the day they met; the love they shared and the joy it brought them. At first I didn't think of the book as something connected to this challenge; but, as I was driving home yesterday, it occurred to me that it has a significant connection.
As this couple became more open with each other, they became more focused on the positive pieces of their lives and the qualities they loved in the other person. In other words, the more they thought about what they had that was good, the more good they recognized and they began to recognize how much they needed and wanted that person back in their lives.
You might remember that one of the first important benefits of staying focused on your commitment was that your mind and your focused energy would attract positive and beneficial experiences to you that will help your reach your goal. This book is an example of that. I have shared this commitment with my mother, and she regularly reads this blog. She recommended this book to me. Since I have my mind focused on my goal, I saw a connection in the book that I might not have seen otherwise. The connection for me is another layer of conviction of the importance of what our mind thinks. The people in the book were separated emotionally for almost three years. During that time they thought about all the ways the other person wasn't meeting their needs. But when they began writing the letters, and started to understand what had been happening to the other person; they began focusing on the good in that person and not the negative. It changed everything for them. Controlling your thoughts and staying focused can change everything for you, too.

Day 20: Persistence

We are 2/3 of the way through the challenge. If you have been running along side of me in this experience I know you have seen significant changes in your attitude and in your actions. One of the key words that is an important component of your success is persistence. The book describes persistence as a demonstration of faith; without faith you would not persist. The ability to persist and demonstrate faith comes from several sources. For me, the first source is knowing that what I am pursuing is part of God's plan for my life, since that is the fundamental basis for all that I do in my life. It is also extremely important that you read inspirational books as you pursue your goal. You may have favorite authors but John Maxwell and Zig Ziegler are good places to start. The book reminds us also of three fundamental strategies to help you persevere:
1. Don't worry...worry brings fear, and fear is crippling.
2. Don't try to do this all by yourself.
3. Keep your goal in front of you every day.
4. Stay calm and cheerful. Don't let petty things annoy you and drag you off course.
If you are struggling with "persistence," perhaps you need to put a visual picture of this word in your mind. One of the synonyms for persistence is "doggedness." If you have ever tried to pull a bone out of a dog's mouth you will understand how this word fits. That dog has that bone clenched between his teeth; his feet are firmly planted and every muscle in its body is tensed so resist the pull of that bone away from him. So picture yourself as the dog with your goal firmly fixed between your teeth, with your feet firmly planted and your mind mentally focused and determined to stay on course. Recall that visual every morning and every time you encounter an obstacle. That should give your ability to remain persistent a real boost!

Day 19: Fear of Failure

Earlier this week I briefly mentioned the role fear plays in reaching goals. Your fears are what generates negative thoughts. Those thoughts are often disguised as logical problems or potential dangers. Most of the time, however, when these thoughts come into your head it is directly connected to something you fear and it is a perceived threat and not a real threat. However, when we get one of those thoughts it sounds like this, "Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!" (If you don't recognize that quote, type it into your search engine, and you'll see where it came from!) I thought I would share some quotes with you this morning specifically about fear of failure. Perhaps one of them will be just the one that speaks to you. If so, I recommend you copy it and post somewhere that you will see it everyday.
"There is no failure except in no longer trying.
" Elbert Hubbard
"Our greatest glory consist not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." 
Oliver Goldsmith
"Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.
" George Herman "Babe" Ruth
"Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.
" William Shakespeare
"Half of the failures in life come from pulling one's horse when he is leaping.
" Thomas Hood
(You have to get a visual image of that last quote in order to truly appreciate what it is saying!)

Day 17 & 18: Off and Running

Zoom...Zoom...Zoom Hopefully you'll recognized those three words from the car ad seen on TV the past couple of years. That was the best way I could describe yesterday and today. I was up at 5:30 yesterday; left the house at 7:00 and finally put my feet up about 9:15 last night. Today is starting a little later and should wind up a little earlier; but it is just as full.
That isn't intended to be a complaint, but it is an explanation as to why two days are being merged into one.
The good news is that there is lots of action going on that is a direct result of staying focused on the goal I set 17 days ago. In the past two days I have identified two different strategies that will allow me to contact approximately 200 people in the next few weeks! That is exciting! And, here is what is interesting about it. These potential contacts didn't suddenly appear out of no where. They were actually there all along but I didn't see them until now. This is a powerfully important concept for each one of us to understand. When you set your goal and start believing that you will achieve that goal, your mind starts looking for all the ways it can to make that goal a reality. One of the ways it does that is to refocus on the information it all ready has. When your mind starts doing that it allows you to see all the resources that have been at your feet all along. It reminds me of an illustration I heard a long time ago about two shoe salesmen who were given a new territory in Africa. When the first salesman arrived he immediately sent a message back to the company saying, "This is impossible! No one wear shoes in this territory." When the second salesman arrived, he also quickly sent a message to his company,but his message said, "Wow, this is amazing. Everyone here is a prospective customer: No one wears shoes! Send more mmediately!"

Day 16: Give It Your All

We are now in the second half of this journey. During the first half we focused on the goals we set and on maintaining a positive attitude, no matter what circumstances or disappointments we encountered. Now I am going to focus more on taking action. Here is a quote from the book, "The Strangest Secret to Success:"
"Each day...do more than you have to do. In addition to maintaining a cheerful, positive outlook, give of yourself more than you have ever done before. Do this knowing that your returns in life must be in direct proportion to what you give...No matter what your job, (or your goal) do it as you've never done it before--and if you've kept your goal before you every day--you'll wonder and marvel at this new life you've found."
The book also references an editor and author, Dorothea Brande, whose book, "Wake up and Live!" seems to be out of print. However, in her book she described how she discovered the magic of taking action that became her philosophy of life: "Act as though it were impossible to fail."
That statement is going to be my focus for days 16 through 30. Each day I will report on a scale of 1-10 how close I think I have come to "giving more of myself than I have ever done before because it is impossible for me to fail." If you think it is easy to announce to anyone who might be listening out there how you plan to hold yourself accountable; believe me, it isn't. Each time I do this, I feel like I am taking a big, deep breath and jumping off a very high cliff. However, I will also tell you that what I am learning through this and the satisfaction I feel with where I am, more than outweighs any fear that I will let you or myself down!

Day 15: Half Way There!

I sometimes feel like a child on a long journey who keeps asking, "When will we be there?" I am not a very patient person. When I decide to do something, I want it done now! I would like to wake up tomorrow morning and bound out of bed knowing that my attitude has been completely changed; negative thoughts will no longer have any power over me; and only positive experiences will come my way. That will never happen; that isn't reality. One of the realizations that I am coming to understand about this process is that the power and the growth comes from the journey. I will never be free of all doubts and negative thoughts; just as there will always be negative experiences or negative people on this path from time to time. Success doesn't keep negatives from happening; success comes from handling these negatives quickly and positively.
When will I know "I have arrived?" I'll know this as I gradually realize that negative thoughts come less often and when they do come they are quickly dismissed and replaced. I'll also know that I have "arrived" when I am able to feel energized by how I have responded to a negative experience rather than feeling drained by it.
Am I there, yet? No, but like the title says, "I'm halfway there, and I can feel the difference?"

Day 14: Filling Your Bucket

We've talked a lot about staying focused, controlling your thoughts and taking action over the last 14 days. These concepts are fundamental strategies if you are gong to change your attitude. But today I want to suggest another strategy: keeping your bucket filled. That isn't in the book, but it is just as important. If you let your bucket go dry, you won't be able to stay focused and you won't have the energy to kick those negative thoughts out of your way.
So, how do you keep your bucket full? The first thing for me is daily prayer and regular worship. That is a must because I believe that God is the one who has given me this bucket I call life, and He is the one who keeps me sustained with energy, drive, focus and purpose.
The second way I fill my bucket is through training. This weekend I participated in an all-day training led by two incredible Reliv Ambassadors,Cassandra Magellen and Robert Pateri. In order to be successful in anything you have to stay teachable. Being teachable and always seeking opportunities to learn more will help you keep your bucket full of new and better ways to reach your goal!

Day 13: Rehearsing Disaster

"Everybody wants something; and, everybody fears something." Goals are about identifying what you want and that is the focus of this blog and the purpose of the book, "The Strangest Secret to Success." I am now well on my way on the road I have chosen that will lead me to my goal. But, there are still some obstacles to be tackled. One of the biggest of those obstacles is fear. Fear that is not recognized and controlled will not only cause delays in achieving a goal; it can completely wreck your plans and leave you emotionally disabled. The first thing we have to understand about fear is that most fears are not real. The fears that most of us struggle with are all in our mind; they are only imagined fears. As soon as we start thinking about something we are going to do, all of the potential ways in which that activity could go wrong immediately start swirling around in our minds. When that happens, we have two choices: We can dwell on those fears and rehearse all the ways they can result in some type of imagined disaster; or, we can immediately reject those fearful thoughts and replace them with positive thoughts.
Any time we attempt to do something new our mind goes to work to protect us. it pulls from our life experiences and fears; such as fear of rejection or humiliation and tells us what might happen if we try to do this. As soon as that type of thought comes into your mind, you must immediately replace it with a positive thought; such as, "Maybe, but I need do this so that I can reach the goal that I set. Then think about all the good things that are connected to reaching that goal: money, awards, satisfaction, or whatever is an expected result of your goal.
One of the results of facing your fears is learning that most of the things you fear are going to happen never do. We waste a lot of emotional energy thinking about what we will do if______________ (You can fill in your own perceived disasters .) That energy would be better used to take the actions needed to achieve our goals. Don't waste time and energy rehearsing disasters. They aren't real; you just think they are.

Day 12: Take Action!

Yesterday's blog ended by emphasizing the importance of taking action. Whatever your goal is, you must have a plan to get there. That plan needs to be specific and it must be written down. I'm sure you've heard the saying, "If you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there." You have a goal now (don't you?), so you know where you are going. That is important and you have to have that goal set first. But now that you have the goal identified, you need a plan for how to reach that goal.
I live in Kansas City. If I decided to go New York City I would need to decide how I am going to get there because there are many ways to get to that city. I can fly or I can drive. If I choose to fly, then I have to choose an airline, decide whether to fly first class, business, or coach and decide which airport to be my arrival point. If I choose to drive, I'll have to get out the road maps or do map quest. I'll also have to choose one or two places to spend the night. How do I make those choices? It all depends on what I want from this trip. Is my goal to get there as quickly as possible or is this a sight-seeing trip and the journey is just as important as the destination.
What does all of this have to do with your goal? Everything! Your goal is your destination. Your action plan is your road map. If you haven't already done this, take some time today and write out your plan. Think about the questions suggested in the illustration. What do you want to achieve in your goal? How quickly do you want to achieve it? Are there some plateaus along the way that are resting places or that are important markers of success that you need to reach while on the road to fully achieving your goal? Think through all of this and then make a plan. Start on that trip by doing something today and every day. It is the focused, continuous actions that you take each and every day that will carry you where you want to go.

Day 11: Take Action!

It's hard to believe that we are up to Day 11. Isn't it amazing how quickly the days are adding up? Today I read back through a portion of the book we're using to guide us through this process. If you don't have the book, you can go back to the blog for Day 8 and you'll find the section that leads up to what I'm talking about. Those ideas are summarized briefly for you here: 1) You will become what you think about; 2) Remember the word "imagination" and let your mind begin to soar. 3) Courageously concentrate on your goal every day.
I want to be sure that you didn't miss two very important words that were buried at the end of that third concept. Those two powerful words are: TAKE ACTION! Ideas are great but they are worthless unless we act on them.
So, my question for all of us today is, "What actions are you taking that will help you reach your goal?" Remember that card that we wrote our goal on that first day? Do you know where it is? Are you looking at it several times a day? Have you written down steps or actions that you know you need to do to reach that goal? If you haven't, then do something! If we only "think about" the goal, but don't "do anything" to reach the goal; it isn't a goal. It's wishful thinking and that will take you no where.

Day 10: Strength of Friends

Most people who know me would agree that I'm a very independent person and can take care of myself (most of the time.) That quality has its merits but it can also create some problems. Finding the right balance of independence accompanied by the support of well-chosen friends will go a long way in helping you achieve your goals. Here are quotes from two of my best friends and biggest supporters. The first is from my mother, Marguerite Mason, who continues to be a source of wisdom and joy in my life. "Achieving a big goal is somewhat like walking up a staircase; you get to the top by taking one step at a time. With each step you get nearer your goal."
The second quote is from Carolyn Walker, my friend and a successful Reliv Ambassador, "You become what you think... I know that is one of the things that has guided my life. I have always believed I would be successful at helping other people-the ways have changed over the years but the long term goal never has."
With that kind of support, it's hard not to be successul!

Day 9: Pushing through the Mud

I promised yesterday, that I would share some of the "fruits" that I am experiencing as a result of this 30 day commitment. I gradually realized over the weekend that I have more strength and determination than before. I mentioned in an earlier blog that I had committed a good deal of time to another project before I committed to achieving my goal. Because of a rapidly approaching deadline for completion of this project, I couldn't work on my goal as I had planned. This type of situation is not unusual for me, but my response to it was different this time. Because I had been focusing on my goal and wasn't allowing negative thoughts to take hold; I was able to dedicate the time needed for my project and set a specific time when I could get back to my goal. Because I was able to stay positive and focused, I was also able to realize that in the future when a project is proposed to me I need to look first at my goal to see whether or not adding this project to my schedule will help or hinder achieving that goal. For me, that was a powerful insight. I enjoy so many different kinds of activities that I tend to take on too much. It keeps life busy and interesting; but it doesn't allow for high levels of success on specific goals because my efforts are too scattered.
This morning I also experienced another one of the "fruits" of learning to control and focus your thoughts. I had a "kick in the stomach" kind of surprise this morning. It was harsh and disappointing. My first reaction to it was to feel deflated and generally "bummed out." In the past my reaction to this kind of thing was to allow my emotions to take control of my actions. If I have things I planned to do, I will just not do them. I will have my own little "pitty party" and rationalize that I am due that and it doesn't matter if I don't do what I've planned.
I started out thinking that way, but found I just couldn't do it. Every time I tried to tell myself to go pick up a book or turn on the TV to watch an old rerun, I just couldn't let myself do it. Instead of my thoughts talking me into those "feel good" things, my thoughts kept saying, "Don't do that." Make the calls you had on your list; you'll feel much better for pushing through those wounded feelings and finishing your list. So that's what I did; I made all the calls and feel good about myself for having pushed through it. That's what was on my mind when I sat down to write today's blog. It reminded me of walking through mud. Each step is hard because the mud takes hold of your foot and wants to suck it in. My old muddy thoughts wanted to hold on to the steps I was taking to pull myself out; but they didn't win. The new thoughts were stronger and that made all the difference.
Wherever you are in your journey to success, stay focused and keep going. It will make a difference. Just wait and see!

Day 8: Living off the Fruits of your Thoughts

It's time to start reaping the harvest! Are you thinking it's too soon? Well, if we were talking about seeds in a garden, it would be. But ideas planted in your mind start producing fruit right away...even though you may not recognize it at first. This quote from Earl Nightingale says it best, "Each of us must live off the fruit of our thoughts in the future, because, what you think today and tomorrow--next month and next year--will mold your life and determine your future. You're guided by your mind." That future begins today!
Here is information from the book, that will help you understand this concept:
First: it's understanding emotionally, as well as intellectually, that we literally become what we think about; that we must control our thoughts if we're to control our lives. It's understand fully that...'as ye sow, so shall ye reap."
Second: it's cutting away all fetters from the mind and permitting it to soar as it was divinely designed to do. It's the realization that your limitations are self-imposed and that the opportunities for you today are enormous beyond belief. It's rising above narrow-minded pettiness and prejudice.
Third: It's using all your courage to force yourself to think positively on your own problems; to set a definite and clearly defined goal for yourself. To let your marvelous mind think about your goal from all possible angles; to let your imagination speculate freely upon many different possible solutions. To refuse to believe that there are any circumstances sufficiently strong to defeat you in the accomplishment of your purpose. To act promptly and decisively when your course is clear. And to keep constantly aware of the fact that you are, at this moment standing in the middle of your own "acre of diamonds," as Russell Cornwall used to point out. from The Strangest Secret to Success
These ideas are key to understanding the power of setting your goal and continuing to focus on it. I can tell you emphatically that I have already started to live off the fruits of thoughts that are growing out of the goal I set and the commitment I made. I can just as emphatically tell you that you, too, are living off the fruits of your thoughts; but the fruits may not be what you want because you didn't plant the right seeds. The choice is up to you.
In tomorrow's blog I'll tell you about some of the fruits I experienced this weekend.

Day 7: Today is the day...

"Today is the day that the Lord has made.
I will rejoice and be glad in it."

Joy is found in the Lord and not in the circumstances of our lives.

And, that's all there is for today. It is Sunday. It is a day of rest. I'll be back tomorrow with more on the 30 day commitment!

Day 6: On the Go

There is a reason the name of this blog is "Barb on the Go." It is generally reflective of how I live my life. I am usually busy, with many irons in the fire all at the same time. That isn't necessarily a bad thing; I think I actually thrive on being busy and enjoy the juggling act involved in keeping all those balls in the air. However, it is important to prioritize those activities in order to achieve the goal I have set. This past week my activities have not connected with my goal. Some commitments were made several weeks ago that required a significant amount of time and focus to complete. Now that I have made this goal a priority, any new opportunities have to be carefully evaluated for how they connect or take away from achieving my goal. That is one of the benefits of writing down your goal and making it a daily focus. It keeps your eyes on the goal and helps you make the right choices.
Now I've got to go, bbecause, as the title says, Barb is "On the Go" today!

Day 5: Holding Steady

Yesterday we talked about the seeds of thought and of intent that we sow. I want to carry that analogy a little farther this morning. When you plant a seed in a garden it takes a while for it to germinate. The seed has to settle into its new environment. As it lies there it begins to feel the effects of the soil, the moisture and the sun. The seed softens and allows the elements around it to free what is hidden inside; the fully grown, ripe luscious plant it was designed to be. While all of this wonderful stuff is going on inside this little seed, it looks like nothing is happening at all. For many days it just seems to sit there.
That is a great "Aha!" to me. I am a person who wants things to happen NOW. I'm not particularly good at waiting for things to happen. This insight is terribly important to my success on this 30 day journey. The seed that you and I have planted in the soil of our minds is a new seed. It needs time to grow and take hold. I need to be patient with myself and with the circumstances of my life. There were some commitments I had made several weeks ago that have impacted my time this week. These are good things; things I enjoy doing and serve a worthwhile purpose. But they are not directly related to my goal; therefore, I have not taken some of the steps I need to take to reach my goal. (We'll talk about choices we make related to this issue at a later time.)
Sometimes when this happens to me, I get frustrated with myself; which always results in negative thoughts and disbelief in my ability to reach the goals I have set. This time is different; instead of frustration I feel determination. Determination that the pace I need to reach the goals I've set will be picked up in about 48 hours. While I'm focused on completing the other project, I am experiencing a sense of calmness (that is unusual for me in this situation). However, I know that the seed of success that I planted four days ago is in the process of germinating; it's growing and taking hold. It will be there, stronger and rooted in my thoughts to help me take control of the time commitments when the project is competed and I get focused on reaching the goal I've set.
Please let me know how each of you are doing. You will be stronger for it and so will the rest of us.

Day 4: Plant the Seed of Success

Although I am not a gardener, I have planted a few gardens and enjoyed the fruits of those gardens. My son-in-law is a gardener and raises a large vegetable garden every year. They have salads from their garden all summer and then they can tomatoes and make salsa to enjoy all winter. But they didn't have any corn this year; they like fresh corn and wish they had fresh corn...but no corn. Why didn't they have any corn? Well, they didn't plant corn. They planted lettuce, tomatoes and peppers, but they didn't plant corn.
You may be asking yourself what this has to do with Day 4 and success. It has everything to do with it. Our mind is like the soil in a garden. What ever thoughts and ideas we plant in our mind is what will grow there. If we plant a goal in our mind and stay focused on it, it will take root and grow to become a vital part of our lives. But, like my son-in-law's garden, if we don't plant that seed of success, that goal we say we want, then there will be nothing to harvest because we didn't plant the seed.
So, "decide now what you want and plant your goal in your mind...All you've got to do is plant that seed in your mind; care for it, work steadily toward your goal, and it will become a reality. Each of us must live off the fruit of our thoughts in the future, because what you think today and tomorrow--next month and next year--will mold your life and determine your future. You're guided by your mind." from The Strangest Secret to Success.
How are you doing with your goal? Some of you have just joined this challenge; let us know what day you're on. Sharing your struggles with the rest of us will help all of us become more successful.

Day 3: Putting Passion in Your Goal

I think I was pretty close to the edge, yesterday, of having to start back at Day 1. I kept pulling myself back; mostly because I didn't want to post this entry and announce to the whole blog world that I'd only made it two days before I blew it. (That is what accountability will do for you!)
The first thing I did this morning, (besides making the coffee and reading my goal) was to look at the book again. I wanted to see what would be important to share with you today and when I did that I think I discovered what my problem was yesterday. Here is what I just read. This is a quote from William James:
"We need only in cold blood to act as if the thing in question were real, and it will become infallibly real by growing into such a connection with our life that it becomes real. It will become so knit with habit and emotion that our interests in it will be those which characterize belief." He also said, "If you only care enough for a result you will almost certainly attain it, if you desire to be rich, you will be rich; if you desire to be learned, you will be learned; if you desireto be good, you will be good. Only you must, then, really desire these things and desire them exclusively, and not desire a hundred other things at the same time just as strongly." from The Strangest Secret to Success
Mark 9:23 says the same thing: "If you can," Jesus said, "Everything is possible for those who believe." Finally, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale had this to say, "This is one of the greatest laws in the universe...one of the greatest discoveries of my life (outside of my relationship to God.) 'if you think in negative terms, you will achieve negative results; if you think in positive terms you will achieve positive results. The law can be simply stated in three words: "Believe and Succeed.'
Two words stood out as I read this: DESIRE and BELIEVE. Those are words full of passion and emotion; and I realized that was what was missing as I started this journey. The right words were there; the focus was in the right direction, but there was not enough emotion and passion.
Take a look at your goal. (I know there are a few of you out there who have joined me on this journey!) Check your goal for two things; First, is it a big enough goal and will it take you in the direction you want to go? Then, check your heart; do you have desire and belief behind that goal? That is what will continue to give you power to keep going when your mind tries to pull you away from achieving your goal.
Have a great day and let me know you are there and how you are doing. You can post a comment by clicking on the word 'comments' below. I'd love to hear from you. Remember, we want to be on that stage together in Phoenix!

And Now--Day 2

It's almost the end of Day 1 and I can truthfully say that it was a good day and I can count tomorrow as Day 2. I learned several things today that I will share with you.
1. One of the first things I did this morning (right after I made a pot of coffee!) I picked up my card and read it over several times. It was a great way to start the day and to get focused. I felt energized and good about my goal.
2. Although today was a busy day with several appointments and obligations that had little to do with my goal, I did not let that bring me down. In the past I would have started feeling frustrated because "other things" were keeping me from working on my goal. Today I just decided that was a part of negative thinking and I would work on my goal tonight.
3. One of my appointments was a haircut. So, I used that time to listen to conversations around me and I have a couple of opportunities to follow up on that are a part of my goal.
4. I stayed very positive right up until about 7 p.m. and then I heard my mind telling me, "You're too tired to talk to anyone." and "It's too late to talk to anyone." But, I recognized the fear for what it was and stopped the fear from winning. There is only one way to stop fear and that is to take action. One of the presenters at conference said, "Don't rehearse disaster." That is what fear is. It's letting your mind tell you what is going to happen and it's all bad. Taking action makes your mind shut up and whatever the result it is never as bad as what you have feared.
So, was today a success? Yes, it was. Will it be better tomorrow? I believe it will. One of the quotes that I highlighted in the book is this, "The moment you decide on a goal to work toward, you're immediately a successful person. You are then in that rare and successful category of people who know where they're going. Out of every hundred people, you belong to the top five." The Strangest Secret to Success So, I've told you where I am today...Where I was strong and where I stumbled. Where are you? Are you one of the top 5? You could be. So come on, join me and let's be on that stage together in Phoenix!

Day 1: The Strangest Secret

Have you ever struggled as you were trying to learn something new? Kids learn new "stuff" all the time and the adults who are watching them urge them on with phrases like: "Don't give up." Keep going, you don't want to be a quitter." Or, my personal favorite: "Of course its hard. Anything worth learning is gonna be hard." However, adults don't listen to their own advice. We don't learn new "stuff" very often and we certainly don't keep trying it if its hard. As an adult, if it doesn't come easy to us, we just quit. Well, I am trying to learn to do something new. It's often hard...and I have been tempted to quit. For many years I was a school teacher and administrator. I was successful at that job and I enjoyed it. However, I am now retired and I have found a great business opportunity with an amazing product that really helps people. I want to be successful with this new business. However, I have run into a problem. It's that old saying. "We have met the enemy and the enemy is us!" Well, my problem is me. My attitude keeps getting in the way. I keep thinking of all the ways I could fail; of all the things that could go wrong; of all the reasons why other people can be successful but I can't.
Two weeks ago I was at the company's annual convention and the founder and CEO talked about a book that he had found very helpful. The book, written by Earl Nightingale, is titled, The Strangest Secret to Success. I finished the book that same afternoon. I was impressed with what it had to say and I fully "intended" to implement its ideas. But...I didn't follow through to the level that was needed. (Read Saturday's blog on the 30-day challenge for that part of the story.) But now I am following through, and I'm hoping to have lots of others join me in this or at least cheer me on!
The first thing you need to know is what's the secret. This "strange secret to success" is this: We become what we think about. Did you get that? We become what we think. Whether we think we can or we think we can't; we're right.
I thought about some historical examples of this. King David was a wonderful king, singled out by God for that role. But David fixed his thoughts on getting Bathsheba and David became an adulterer and a murderer. On the other hand, Mother Theresa thought about the needs of the poor people of India and she became a saint in the eyes of the world. Now, my thoughts aren't nearly as self-serving as Davids or as selfless as Mother Theresa; but the principle is the same. If I see myself as a success I will be successful and If I question myself and don't believe in me, I'll fail.
So, that is the secret and it is very simple. Now you need to know what the challenge is. It is also simple, but not necessarily easy. The first thing you have to do is to decide what you want to achieve. What is your goal. Get a note card and write down your goal. The key to this is to focus on one goal. What is it you want? You can't focus on more than one thing. You won't succeed in any of them if you have more than one because your energy will be scattered and you will be frustrated. So, ask yourself, what is the one thing you want to succeed at? What is your goal?
My goal is this: I want to reach the level of Ambassador in this company. That is my goal and that is what I have written on my card. Now put this card where you can see it and carry it with you. (You'll probably have to use several cards.) On the back of the card write this quote from the Sermon on the Mount "Ask, and it shall be given you, seek and you shall find, knock, and the door shall be opened unto you."
You are now ready for the challenge to begin.
For the next 30 days you will begin your day by looking at both sides of this card every morning. Every time you think about your goal, think about it in a cheerful, relaxed, positive way. Start each morning looking at your card and thinking about your goal in this way. This will give you a reason to get up and get going in the right frame of mind.
Next: Stop thinking about what it is that you fear. Every time a negative thought comes into your mind replace it with a positive mental image of your goal. For the next 30 days you must take charge of your mind and only allow yourself to think in a positive way about your goal.
Third: For the next 30-days do your very best. Don't allow yourself to slack off. Give more than you have given before.
And, that's it. There are no more steps. That's all there is to the challenge. Simple, right? But not easy! That is why we need each other. Or, at least that is why I need you.
Throughout these next 30 days, I will give you more information from the book that will give you more insight and encouragement; but I will also share my thoughts and experiences as I go through this 30-day challenge. Oh, there is one more thing: There is no time off with this challenge. If you give in to negative thinking, a bad attitude or refusing to give it your best, you have to start over and start counting from Day 1 again. You must stay focused on your goal, on positive attitudes and giving it your best effort for the full 30-days in order to achieve a complete attitude make-over. That doesn't mean you start over when a negative thought comes to mind, or you are tempted to give less than your best. It means that when a negative thought or fear comes to mind, you get rid of it. When you are tempted to only work on half the goals you set for yourself one day, you kick yourself in gear and complete your full list before you stop. It means you stay in charge of what you are thinking and not let old habits and thought patterns take over. But! If you give in to the negative and fearful thinking and let it take charge of your attitude instead of you taking charge over your thoughts, then its back to Day 1.
This blog is intended to help you and me change our way of thinking so that we accomplish what we have set as our goals. Let me know if you are working on this with me! Write down your goal and let's get going!

The Attitude Challenge: Day 30 and Counting

OK Tomorrow is the first day of the challenge and I'm excited but a little nervous: Excited about the possibilities but nervous about the commitment. Before we get started, I think there are a couple of things you should know.
First, this isn't mind-control, a get rich quick scheme, or something I just made up. The principles behind this 30-day challenge are based on knowledge, insight and results that credible people of influence have learned over time. Those references include: Earl Nightingale, Norman Vincent Peale, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Jesus Christ. (If you are under the age of 40 and reading this, do a google search on those names and you will learn who those people are. You may be more familiar with someone like John Maxwell who also written books that are supportive of this concept.)
Second, I am using the book, "The Strangest Secret to Success" by Earl Nightingale to guide me through this challenge. Therefore, throughout the next 30 days I will quote, reference and/or paraphrase various ideas from the book. I will acknowledge that source every time I use it. I will share my thoughts and experiences through this process with you. The intent is that both of us can benefit by experiencing and successfully completing the 30 days together. This book is available through Amazon.com as a kindle download for $6.00. It is a great resource and I would highly recommend it. However, you don't have to have a copy to go on this journey with me.
So, join me tomorrow and I'll layout the structure for the 30 days. Bring a 3x5 note card with you on Monday. You'll need that to begin the challenge.
"When I was a child, I talked like like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a woman, I put childish ways behind me." My goal is to achieve the potential of this child--yes that's me--and put childish ways and attitudes behind me.

Take the 30 Day Challenge to a New Attitude

If you read this blog a few days ago, you know that I saw the movie Julie and Julia (and loved it!) Well that movie has sparked an idea. Before I explain the "idea" I need to fill you in on what happened two weeks ago. I was at a conference and heard the speaker talking about the importance of attitude. As he spoke I realized that if I was ever going to be achieve some of my goals I really needed to change my attitude. So, when I left that conference I made a commitment to change my attitude. I came home knowing that some of my thought patterns were limiting what I could do. I started off great. I accomplished a lot on Monday. I was enthusiastic and energetic. That enthusiasm lasted several days. But, by the end of that week, I was tired. So, I took a day off. Then I took the next day off...and you know the rest. By the end of this week I was stuck.
Now, let's fast forward to today because by now, I am frustrated with myself: my attitude is bad, I've lost confidence in myself, and everything feels like gloom and doom. So, after I wallowed and bellowed for a few hours, I began to pick myself up. That is when I started thinking about Julie and Julia. Julie is stuck in a job she doesn't like. She wants to be a writer but she has never been able to stick with a project long enough to finish it. Julie is a good cook and often works out her frustrations with her life by cooking. As a result of a challenge from her husband, Julie decides to cook her way through Julia Child's cookbook. She announces what she is going to do on her blog and makes a commitment to make at least one dish every day for a year." Her blog becomes her accountability tool.
As I processed my "failure" this past week, I started thinking about Julie's situation. I decided it wasn't so different from mine. I need to change my attitude in order to get on the road to success. I'm betting there are plenty of other people out there who need to change their attitude, too.
So, YOU'RE INVITED TO JOIN ME ON AN ATTITUDE MAKE OVER There is a book I read that weekend at the conference that has a 30-day challenge to a new attitude that I will use as my guide. You'll learn the strategies as I share my progress and work my way through the 30 days. The countdown begins on Monday. I'd love to have you join me. We'll all benefit by helping each other develop an attitude that drives us to our goals rather than attitudes that wreck havoc on where we want go. See you then!

Julie and Julia "Bon Appetite!"

If you haven't seen the movie "Julie and Julia" yet, you are missing a real treat! Meryl Streep, as usual, is wonderful in the part of Julia Child. She is funny, eccentric, passionate and lovable. I remember watching Julia Child on TV cooking shows way before there was a "food channel" and celebrities like Emeril, Rachel, and the Barefoot Contessa. She was always funny and quite a character. Just as interesting is the story about Julie. A young woman who wants to be a writer but can't quite get her life together enough to make that goal happen. Encouraged by her husband to write about cooking on her blog; she becomes Julia's greatest fan. Through Julie's idealization of Miss Child she learns a lot about Julia and herself as well as she cooks her way through "Mastering the Art of French Cooking." Both of their stories are fascinatingly revealed as the story moves back and forth between Julia and Julie. The movie is much like a perfect recipe, with all the right ingredients for a delicious slice of life: Two parts interesting lives, four people carefully blended, seasoned with humor and wrapped in love. The mixture is then set out so that the ingredients have time to bind together. The resulting dish is "Hmm Hmm Good!" And, as Julia would say,"Bon Appetite!" (Oh, and guys, this isn't just another chick flick. My husband enjoyed the movie, too.)

What if you had only one month to live?

One Month to Live is a book written by Kerry and Chris Shook. This theme will be the foundation of a church wide study in October at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, which is where I worship. I am in the process of writing the guide for this study. This morning I was listening to Tim McGraw's song, "Live Like You Were Dying." If you haven't listened to that song lately you should do yourself a favor and check it out. There is a powerful life message in the lyrics; lyrics that were inspired by a real life experience in the life of Tug McGraw, Tim's father.
I have a question for any of you who read this, "What would you do if you knew you had one month to live?" I really am writing a study guide on this topic and I would love to have all the input I can get. scroll down to the bottom to respond to the survey or just write your response in the comment box.
This study will draw insight from the book of Philippians and from personal experiences of people just like you. Tell me what you think.

Procrastinators! This is for You!

This morning I read a post that was on my sister's blog about discipline. This is the response I made to her blog. Discipline is never easy. I have spent a life time being very good at procrastinating and equally good at working under pressure. I began to try to change this about 15 years ago when I realized that sometimes my procrastination was really a way of letting my mind mull something over until it was ready to "go to work." I came to realize that there were two different types of procrastination. The first type is when you just don't want to do something; like exercise, cleaning out a closet, or some other activity that you don't enjoy. That is negative procrastination and nonproductive. This type of procrastination requires discipline. I am now much more aware of those things that I don't want to do and try to put a plan into place so that I get them done sooner. Sometimes, I do one of those activities first thing in the morning and then do something else afterwards that i want to do. Sometimes I tell myself that I'm just going to do a small part of it today and the rest of it later in the week. I often find that once I start on that project, it isn't as bad as I thought and I go ahead and finish the whole thing. Either way I feel good and energized and get a lot more accomplished that day.
However, procrastinating on projects that require "brain power;" such as a school assignment, solving a problem, or writing a lesson is actually beneficial if you learn how to use it. Now, whenever I have to create something or make a major decision, I have a "mental" conversation with myself. I tell myself what it is I need to do and then I forget about it. I let my mind go to work while I do something else. My mind will send me mental "alerts," which come in the form of an insight or new approach to the project. When I get one of these, I think about the project again to see if my mind is ready to go to work. Sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't. In that case, I wait for the next "alert." The discipline part of this is that you can't start thinking about it the day before you need it. You have to start the thinking process far enough out to give it time to incubate. This works for me because it allows me to do what I do best...work under pressure. Only this pressure is positive. This pressure is the energy that comes from the processing that has been going on in my mind; so that when it is ready to go it is like hearing the starting gun at a race, and I am in position to get going!

Barbara-It's My Name!

It is my name, but it also belongs to a "whole lot" of other people, too. Just for the fun of it, I googled "Barbara's Blog" yesterday to see if my blog would come up. I didn't find my blog; but I did find that there are 44,300,000 people whose blog is also called "Barbara's Blog!" That just blew me away. How could there possibly be that many other Barbara's who have a blog and who decided to simply call it Barbara's Blog? Unbelievable! Out of curiosity, I decided to scroll through a few pages of the listings just to see what their blogs were about. I discovered that people named Barbara think they know a lot about a lot of things. I also discovered that most of them/us think other people are interested in hearing about their ideas and opinions. These "other" Barbara's provided information, opinions, and/or advice on food, cooking, relationships, religious practices, self-improvement, business success, education, child-rearing, and (literally) millions of other things!
I had two reactions to this amazing discovery. My first response was disappointment; I thought I was unique and now I have learned that there are millions of people named Barbara with a blog named Barbara's Blog. They all probably think they are unique,too. Now the truth is I am unique and so are they. Each one of us was created by God as a one of a kind, unique creation. If you stop to think about it that is a phenomenal concept. How can 44 million Barbara's be unique? I don't really know "how," I just know we are. Our problem is that we wrap our concept of uniqueness around our name because that is how we identify ourselves. When we say our name it isn't just a word; it is the sum of who we are and when we tell someone our name it is actually an invitation for them to learn about us and all that is wrapped up in that seemingly simple word.
So, on the one hand I realized that I wanted to be unique and was disappointed that I was just one of so, so, many Barbara's. On the other hand, I remembered as a young girl reading one of those books that lists the meaning of names, that my name meant "the stranger." I didn't particularly like that. I didn't want to be a stranger; I wanted to belong. I wanted to be a part of other people and feel included. At first it seemed somewhat contradictory to be disappointed to find out that my blog's name is not unique and to also be bothered that my name means "the stranger." So, I have been thinking about this, I realize it isn't contradictory at all. In reality, it really describes my life journey, and I suspect that it describes yours, too. We are all trying to be unique and, yet, we also have a need to belong. Sometimes, we struggle with those seemingly conflicting needs. What I have come to realize is that if I focus on the way God created me and allow God to develop the uniqueness of who He created, I come much closer to understanding that I am unique and that I belong.
However, since the goal of a blog is to spark interest so that people will find your blog, it does seem necessary for the name to be a little more unique. Thus, this blog is now "Barb on the Go." Let's hope this one is a little more unique!

Birthdays!

Birthdays have always been special to me. I remember as a kid I was always excited and really expected the day to be special. I could hardly wait for the presents and the cake and everything. It was also a big deal in my family. We knew we would have a cake and presents. And, when my sister and I were young we knew we'd even have a present as a part of the other sister's birthday celebration. That was my parents way of making sure we didn't feel left out. I carried that tradition into my family when our kids were very young. After a few years though we stopped doing that. To this day birthdays are special to me. I want presents on the "day of" my birthday and I really want something to be a surprise. In this way I'm still a kid at heart and probably always will be.

However, this "kid" will be the mother of a 40 year old daughter as of tomorrow. Lisa Kay (Condra) Roberts was born 40 years ago on August 10, 1969. Hard to believe, for us and for her, that the little girl we gave birth to in Marengo, Iowa, is now the wife of Mike, the mother of Kaitlin and Brayden, and a teacher. As a little girl she was happy, fun, cute and loving. Hmmm, she still is all of those things, but she is also intelligent, kind, hardworking, trustworthy and courageous. As a child she brought us joy and laughter. As an adult she she brings us pride and satisfaction. So, now in addition to getting to celebrate my own birthday with the heart of a kid; I also get to celebrate my kid's birthday with all of my heart as I see an adult who is someone to be proud of.

What a Thrill!

WHAT A THRILL!
Earlier this month, my husband and I had the joy of going on a surprise road trip with our daughter's family for her 40th birthday. The trip was a surprise planned by her husband, Mike. Lisa had said she wanted a surprise and a thrill to celebrate turning 40. So, Mike planned a surprise trip to the Zero Gravity theme park in Dallas. There were five "extreme" rides there including a 100 ft free fall and bungee jump. I knew I didn't want to be just an observer. However, when I looked up at some of those "rides' I knew there was no way I could talk myself into doing that. However, as I watched a young couple on the Sky Coaster, I decided that was a possibility. It's really like a big swing (a really big swing) that you do lying on your stomach. I had always loved swings, and still do for that matter. So, as I watched I realized that the only truly scary part was the dip that you took when the rip cord was first released; but that only lasted a second or two. The rest of it was smooth sailing. I turned to my husband and said, "I'm doing that one."

The interesting thing is that as soon as I made that decision. I wasn't afraid anymore. I was ready and looking forward to it. I realized that fear is a funny thing. As long as you are "thinking" about it your stomach is tied in knots, you question your ability to make a good decision, and all sorts of other unproductive emotions. But, once I knew what the risks were and knew where the moment of "scariness" would be, I knew the thrill of soaring through the sky out weighed the rest.

The result was a wonderful, thrilling ride with my granddaughter that we will both remember forever.
So the moral of this story is, "Don't let the "thought" of fear hold you back. You may be missing out on the thrill of a lifetime.

"Laughter"

Laughter is one of God's greatest gifts. I have been experiencing the gift of laughter a lot recently. Last weekend was full of laughs with my three best friends from work on our annual "girls' weekend." This week the laughter has continued with my mother and sister as we fought for the title of Best Yahtzee Player ever! What makes you laugh?