To Serve well

Serving with Excellence for a Life of Excellence

Friendship

Who is that one person….?

(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

Who is that one person that you meet with BUT not often enough? That person that no matter what, when you do get to share a conversation, they make you better? You leave smiling. You walk away going, “wow, I’m blessed.”

This question is a bit of a trick question, because at least for me, there is no way I could narrow this down to one person. Now, let’s make this a bit more difficult and unless there is absolutely no one else, let’s not think of dear friends or neighbors we see often, or immediate family members.

I did this little exercise a couple of weeks ago; reached out and scheduled lunch… AND, THIS IS THE WEEK. I get to meet with three of the coolest people and boy am I excited!

There is not much that should make us more “JOY CENTERED” than being with those people that most certainly God placed in our path for a reason, to change us for the better and create a life fulfilled.

Your challenge today is to at least come up with one…reach out and put it on the calendar.  A walk in the snow, a mid-day coffee break, a meal to break bread with those you love. Make it happen! I’d love to know if you joined me on this challenge.

A game plan for having more energy!

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(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

Who doesn’t need more energy? I know, I know, there are some of you who drink 10 cups of coffee a day and seem to be able to move through the day like a modern day superhero.

Some joke that I have an enormous amount of energy… As I age, I am thinking “what the heck is going on?” It’s true, I’ve always felt that most times, I have more than enough energy to conquer the days, but not so much now. This is a frequent conversation point among friends and colleagues that feel the same way. It also seems that regardless of age, it’s a concern… maybe our world has just gotten so fast-paced and the constant brain drain from our phone usage has caught up with us mere humans.

At any rate, this seemed a timely topic as WE NEED EXTRA ENERGY RIGHT NOW. So, here is a laundry list of energy-boosting tactics we find in every manner of magazine or talk show:

  • Waking up at the same time every day – after getting the 7-8 hours your body needs, of course…
  • Exercising… moving… grooving…
  • Taking multi-vitamins and eating the proper nutrients….

That easy, right? I’m going to throw out a few more specific thoughts, and then I’d love for this to be interactive and have you all chime in with one or two words or thoughts about your own tactics. It indeed takes a village, so learning from one another is ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA. Here are some of mine:

  • TAKE A NAP… Yep, I’m a napper. I only do this on the weekends, and when time allows. I make every effort to make time for this. I have learned over time that giving your body this “extra” rest is rejuvenating for the soul!
  • H2O! I kick off the morning with a glass of warm water. I’m not sure where I learned this, but some speaker when I was in my 20s. It’s been a great add to my daily rituals. Give it a try. It’s hydrates you early on and seems to get the blood flowing.
  • GET OUTSIDE! I’m really grateful for my dog, because honestly she makes this SO MUCH EASIER. Getting outside a few times a day, whether heat or cold outside, is just a good thing to do… Tucking my phone away and breathing in the fresh air, looking up at the sky and watching nature evolve through the seasons, is life filling….

Okay… YOUR TURN! 

How should I show up today?

(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

Robin Sharma is a terrific motivational leader. His book, the “Greatness Guide” offered this idea up and I embraced it immediately. I hope you do as well.

It asks a stirring question if you allow it to sink in:

“Waking up each morning and asking yourself, how would I show up tday if this was my last, is not some cheesy motivational exercise. It’s a profound way to bring some urgency and commitment int your days.”

I doubt your morning coffee/tea, drive to work, walk to class or first encounter of the day would be the same. Mine wouldn’t. I think I might jump out of bed with the anticipation of a day that I needed and wanted to fill deeply with meaning from start to finish. I hope I’d have a spring in my step and that I would put on some FUN music (probably 80s music because we all truly know that this was the best era in music…). Have a healthy and at the same time crazy good breakfast with people I love (and my dog for sure has to be there). Who knows what would be next, but I can tell you it would be FULL OF LOVE, POSITIVE ENERGY AND SHEER BEAUTY.

The thing is, this concept captured me (and I think as I’m typing this I should print it and put it on my bathroom mirror), because it’s true. An abrupt reality is that we just don’t know. So BRING IT…BRING YOUR BEST, YOUR MOST MEANINGFUL TO EACH DAY! MAKE IT PROFOUND, CURATE THE WORLD YOU HOPE TO PASS ON TO THE GENERATIONS THAT FOLLOW and LOVE EVERY DAY.