To Serve well

Serving with Excellence for a Life of Excellence

Inspiration

Happy Thanksgiving 2016!

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(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

Simple. Prepared with love. Ready for love to fill the room. What do you see in this picture? I absolutely love it. I am so grateful today and I pray that your Thanksgiving holiday brings you more than a few moments of pure joy. I am confident that if you look for it, it will land softly and yet fully in your heart.

My vision of Thanksgiving is based on a childhood around my grandparent’s table and I am more grateful today for that time and those moments. (Even though I wondered at the time what in the world those adults could be talking about for so long… )

When you wonder if anyone is paying attention, I can assure you that all ages find these traditions to be a critical part of their journeys.

Nothing profound today, only a wish that you will at some point this weekend gather with those you love and truly take in the personal gratitude you have for this moment in time. These days are the ones we hold on to and that weave together our lives. It’s up to us to choose for these to be the very best of days.

Never doubt the impact of the crowd

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(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

Fall is filled with games… soccer, football, volleyball, etc.  Whether little league or professional sports, I have always loved being a sports spectator, and my boys brought that side of me to life even more. To be a part of a crowd, unified in support of a team and the energy that environment produces is life-filling to me. I can only imagine what it must be like for a top athlete or performer to feel that influence and channel it to bring out their best.

One of my boys and I were at a recent NFL game in another city, and to be honest, the crowd was just not that into it. Despite the attempts by the team to engage the fans via the cheerleaders and digital video boards, they just didn’t seem to want to get out of their seat and be active participants. As an avid Kansas City Chiefs fan, my son noticed as well and said, “Mom, I don’t think they realize the impact of the crowd.” He is so right. Good or bad, the crowd we surround ourselves with has a major influence on our performance.

I love that, because whether you are a musician, an athlete, a student, a mom or an office dweller, most of us need the “CROWD” to be positive and energized to achieve our best.

I wasn’t surprised to find out that for sports, there are experts in crowd psychology and how to impact the players in this category. Clearly, if you are a professional performer it is critical that you are able to play beyond the noise and stay focused. Perhaps it’s important for all of us to consider this as well. (We might just have to address that in another post.)

For today, the focus is on the impact of the crowd, and specifically, the POSITIVE POWER THE CROWD can have on us in the game of life. Is your crowd distracting you or cheering you on?  Be mindful that just like fans can influence the outcome of the game, they can impact the outcome of our days and potentially success. Also be mindful that they cannot change your skill or ability, but only your emotional ability to perform despite or in spite of their noise.

My thought is that the crowd will always have some naysayers, haters or whatever your term is, and only we have the power to ensure we are in a crowd that CHEERS US ON so that we can MAKE the IMPACT we were designed for.

Find a GREAT CROWD OF FANS and if you happen to be from KC, there are no great GREATER FANS THAN IN CHIEFS KINGDOM! Stop by and we can show you what real fans look like.

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Flip the script

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(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

I listen almost weekly to a pastor from Charlotte, NC, Steven Furtick, via ElevationChurch.org.

His message this week resonated with me in a terrific way and I knew I had to share it with you. In essence, he was challenging us to STRETCH and GROW OUR CAPACITY. He talked about how we often wait for “ideal conditions” but as a result we often don’t experience the fullness God intended for our lives. The segment that “got me” was this:

“I would if I could.” A phrase no doubt we are all familiar with.

What if however, we flipped the script and it was “I could and I will.” Some examples to get you thinking…

I could forgive, if I WOULD forgive…

I could have joy, if I WOULD decide to be JOYFUL (in all circumstances)…

I could move forward, if I CHOSE TO LET GO…

Folks, I hope this is as powerful to you as it was to me. It truly is a “simple thought,” and I hope that you might join me in flipping whatever script you need to this week. It’s Thanksgiving week and a really perfect time to make a CHOICE to fill our empty jars, by stretching and choosing to be all he intended us to be.

Wishing you so much joy this week!

 

 

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.

SIMPLE THOUGHTS SUNDAY- WHY WE MUST CELEBRATE

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(Photo Creds: Senior pics… Kia Bondurant…sorry for the outdated pics boys, but they are really good!)

It’s birthday weekend for our family! My dad was 75 on Thursday, my grandma 95 on Friday and my boys 20 yesterday! I am always “alarmed” (that’s an overstatement but I really am stunned…) when people say they don’t celebrate birthdays! My thought is: WE MUST CELEBRATE!

God gave us each other as gifts, and we simply must take the time and truly we should be EXCITED ABOUT THESE SPECIAL DAYS! Heck, I even think it’s perfectly acceptable to celebrate yourself on your special day and honor your accomplishments and pray for God’s favor over your next year!

My boys have been such an incredible blessing to me and our family. After years of being told I probably wouldn’t be able to conceive a child, with the miracle of modern medicine, our family received a triple blessing!

Today I am CELEBRATING THEM and I hope that you will also CELEBRATE those you love in an EXTRAORDINARY WAY THIS YEAR!

When we are re-routed…

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(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

I was simply pulling into my Saturday morning favorite coffee place to write when the road crew literally pulled the orange cones and tapes out and cut off the road I turn down. RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY FACE.  The crew member simply smiled, as if to say, “Figure it out, lady.” I of course thought, “Are you kidding me? You just did it, step back and let me in… ” He didn’t, and I found a new route.

I normally have a short list of “blog ideas” to pull from that I write down throughout my days, but today, I couldn’t help but use this one. Seriously, how often this happens sometimes seems ridiculous. As if I’m in a Saturday Night Live skit. The difference is that in these fun skits, the impromptu changes (“improv”) and the actors’ reactions often end up being the greatest moments of comedy. Actually, I like that idea… Looking at closed roads as a moment to find some humor.

Let’s face it, we have a choice to make. We can get upset when life derails us on the road or at work or home, or wherever we are at the moment. We can get angry, and wonder if the world has somehow aligned forces against us – a planned attack, or an unhumorous attempt to help us “build character.” We CAN ALSO DECIDE that we are going to take it in stride and find some humor and fun in the “re route.”

Honestly, in the above example, I couldn’t believe he did that. I was actually on the phone with one of my boys and he said, “Man, those are the people you need to pray for.” He is so right.

We have a choice. We are called to SERVE BETTER by taking our road closures and turning them into something BETTER… a lesson, a laugh, an OPPORTUNITY to shine through the “mud and the muck.”

(Tonight many of us will have that opportunity when the election results, roll in. Practice, practice, practice… Breathe, smile and repeat….)

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!

Simple thoughts Sunday: Thank you for bringing me through

blog_852686_2973785_1477837915(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

There is a phrase that I like to share… “If God brings you to something, he’ll bring you through it.” I think that sometimes God didn’t really bring us there, but nevertheless, there is no denying that we are FRONT AND CENTER in a battle.

There are biblical references for a few of these situations, temptation- 1 Cor 10:13, protection -Psalms 91, and I’m sure many more.

I happen to like this thought because sometimes we find ourselves in situations or places and we just can’t understand why we are there. It can be downright surprising. In those times, we have to realize that once there, we need to focus our mind on embracing the concept that “we are going to get through this!” Preferably with a positive state of mind. I for one need to thank God today for bringing me THROUGH so many things….

… A childhood that was anything but fun, yet the character-building, the redemption and reconciliation that followed has been an incredibly important part of my life/growth/learning. I wouldn’t be who I am today without it.

…Infertility, which ended with a biggest blessing of all, and a story to help other young women.

…A marriage that didn’t quite work but resulted in so many blessings.

What in your life do you need to THANK GOD for bringing you THROUGH? Perhaps you are still “GOING THROUGH” and you were just faced with the beginning of something that scares the hell out of you. Whatever the case may be, Thank God for bringing you there and be CONFIDENT that he WILL BRING YOU THROUGH IT!

Here’s to an AWESOME WEEK launching into November!

Create some FUN this weekend!

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I try not to forget some of the best parenting advice I was ever given at our family summer camp in Pine Cove, but I always seemed to get “sucked” into our daily routines.  (As you know, these turn into the story of our lives.)

So, what was the advice? SIMPLE: CREATE FUN! Stop the daily routine, the stress, SURPRISE everyone (including yourself) and call a time out for FUN. Their simple question was this: “When is the last time you jumped on the bed with your family?” Good question. Not sure I had since they were toddlers. We did it when we got home that summer, and I’m not sure they would remember. More than likely because it was a “one-and-done” activity and frankly that is NOT ACCEPTABLE. Now, don’t get me wrong, we have always had a lot of fun but I honestly don’t think I did enough to create fun “along the way.” For those of you with younger kids, I wish I would have made a calendar notification to do just this… I think it’s worth it… Kids remember these moments.

When I was looking for the right photo, I found several of retired couples jumping on the bed. I thought that was super cool as well. It was a reminder that this advice is true for all of us. Whether it’s a pillow fight, jumping on the bed or between beds in a hotel room, it’s important that WE CREATE SOME FUN!

The fourth quarter is always one of the busiest and the most stressful. New school year, year-end push to achieve goals at work, the holidays, and oh good god, the comfort food that sends us to the gym to ward off the weight gain. All of that can catch up, so call a TIME OUT this weekend, or better yet TONIGHT. Turn up the music and CREATE SOME FUN!

I’d love to hear how it went!

Do Hard Things!

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I have wanted to write on this blog topic for awhile. I have had many a friend or colleague recently that are going thrugh “hard” things, so now seems like the right time.

Incredibly challenging work situations
Moral issues – their own or family member’s
Children with health issues
Children with drug problems
Seemingly insurmountable financial challenges
Loss of jobs
A strained relationship

I’m sure you have your own. We all have seasons of pain and sometimes it’s a life-long undercurrent of something needing dealt with. You get the idea.

There was a book published several years ago by twin brothers, age 18 at the time, that has the same title as this blog. That book was written for teens as an encouragement to do the hard work and not get caught up in our me-first culture. The message, however, is ageless in its attempt to harness our power and potential. In order to achieve that, no matter what stage of life you are in, it requires us to “Do hard things.”

We must be accountable to excellence. We can’t stand on the sidelines and “hope” –  We often use the idea that “hope is not a strategy” in the work place and I love it. We have to….

  • Have HARD conversations
  • Be uncomfortable
  • Find our voice… use it
  • Encourage each other, even those we don’t like
  • Reach out even when it’s cold outside and we want to go home and hide
  • Develop strategies for POSITIVE THINKING, even WHEN it’s not our natural course
  • Stop the negative commentary… You are not too old, too overweight…etc.  Change the narrative you tell yourself about yourself.

As our year winds down, I have great news… There is time left! Time to heal some wounds, address some of that stuff that is downright ugly and start the year with a truly fresh start.

What do you have in your life that needs dealt with? Who do you need to mend “fences” with, and launch into a better place? What needs to happen to set you up for success? Who will speak truth to you if you need a good honest answer to confront your own misigivings?

Let’s get uncomfortable together. I’d love to hear your stories along the way.