To Serve well

Serving with Excellence for a Life of Excellence

Gratitude

Grounded and grateful: 3 reasons to reconnect with friends

What fun it was to spend a day with my college sorority sisters on Saturday. I have to say, after not spending any quality time with them over the past 25+ years, our time felt like we were still 19 hanging out talking about God knows what.

Today, my hope is that you will find value in connecting with some of your friends from the past. Here are a few reasons why it’s a good idea:

  1. They GROUND YOU! Sure, we have all moved on and experienced life, but these gals know me. They know me before the career, the family, the kids, the deaths, the divorce… Yes, life may change you, but your CORE is the same, and surrounding yourself with the folks who knew you “back then” is refreshing. I’m certain that if we would have had access, we would have permed our hair, put on some thick blue eyeliner, and sported some killer 1980s outfits!
  2. They INSPIRE YOU! This one I hadn’t really thought of and it was the most surprisingly cool part of the weekend. These ladies have gone through so much and despite it all, they have persevered and came out a quarter of a century or more later better and more beautiful. I felt like I could get through anything by hearing their stories.
  3. They PROPEL YOU! I know we were friends and we probably cheered each other on during college to some degree, but let’s be honest, at that point in our life we are all trying to get through, to achieve, to aspire, to move up the ladder of life. In other words, I’m not sure we propelled each other forward on purpose. What I know now, is that the encouragement these ladies gave me over the weekend is enough to keep me pedaling and pushing ahead.

We all need to be in “community,” and connected, and although I have an absolutely wonderful group of friends and colleagues, coming back to “home base” for me was notable. My encouragement is for you to reach out, schedule some meaningful time, tell the stories that “made you” and where you’ve been, what your hopes are…

It may be some of the best time you have spent in years… It was for me!

Why we must be on the look out to STEAL GREAT IDEAS

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(Photo Creds: The Robinhood Foundation, NYC)

Just 2 years after I graduated from high school, successful business man Paul Tudor Jones founded the Robin Hood foundation in NYC with a goal to improve the lives of those who live in poverty.

For 28 years now, the organization has been at it in a unique way, combining investment principles and philanthropy to find, fund and create programs that support their goal. Over time they have expanded to also support relief efforts, such as those needed with Hurricane Sandy. According to last year’s estimates, giving to this foundation provides a 15:1 return on investment, which is significant and a place that donors can feel good about. The key statement in all of that to me, is that they CREATE…solutions, ideas, programs that move toward their mission.

I chose this topic today, because the idea of being innovative is always top of mind for me. One of my personal philosophies has always been to be “ON ALERT FOR GREAT IDEAS.” If you take time to look around – especially outside of your own industry, family or environment – you can count on being INSPIRED and even yes, STEAL THOSE IDEAS and CREATE YOUR OWN from that seed that was planted.

Our communities need all of the INNOVATION that we can create in order to solve the problems and issues of today. I encourage you to embrace this idea, keep your eyes and ears open and MAKE AN IMPACT. If you get some extra time, explore Robin Hood’s website, it’s a cool story.

The “hush” before the holidays

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(Photo Creds:  We Heart It)

We ARE going to have a GREAT MONTH! We are going to “SET” our minds and just do it! November is….

“The hush” before the holiday rush.
The month of GRATITUDE
The month of FAMILY
The month of FOOD (healthy food of course)
The month of FIRES and FOOTBALL
The month of FULL HEARTS….

And for our family, a month of BIRTHDAYS! My boys turn into the next decade, my dad turns 75, and my grandmother turns 95. How cool is that?

I try to spend time on the blog reminding everyone to take time to CELEBRATE and this is another good time to do that. What can you do to make this month, this Thanksgiving extra special? If you get started now, you can still…

…Sign up to help feed the hungry this month
….Plan a few surprises for the Thanksgiving table!  (Perhaps a special toast to everyone in attendance)
…Surprise a neighbor (at work, school or in your neighborhood) a “harvest basket,” (I’m not sure what that might be, but perhaps a few of these cool gourds, winter squash… And maybe a thank you card…)

What else? There is so much opportunity surrounding us. To “SERVE WELL” we have to fill our HEARTS and one sure way is through GRATITUDE and the CREATION OF MEMORIES! Let’s have the BEST NOVEMBER OF OUR LIVES!