Free Inspiration
In these challenging times, inspiration can lead to motivation that gets us through the crud. Opening our minds and hearts will lead us forward on our path.
You are invited to register to receive the Victory Letter. This e-letter has been written every Monday morning for the past seven years as a reminder to appreciate the small victories in our lives. Open up your Monday morning for a little extra inspiration to send you on your way each week. To see an example of what you will receive visit our blog page.
Challenging Challenges
"Lets take a Victory and then keep on marching" - Martin Luther King
The dictionary describes one of the meanings for the word challenge as follows: "A task or situation that tests someone's abilities." With the 2010 Olympic games now just a memory in our wake - I am creating my own challenge with thoughts of spring that are only 21 short days away! Can I get a hooray for the coming of Spring?!
This morning I arose early at 6am headed to our local hot yoga studio and immersed myself into a 30-day yoga challenge. Bottom line is that I need to do 26 yoga classes there at the studio between now and March 31st to to win the challenge. No small feat for me to be sure - especially because I will be out of town for 6 days of the month.
My husband, Ed, and I have been going each Sunday for the past three weeks so I have a bit of a start with hot yoga, but I am most certainly not the most limber person to be sure! What will I gain from this challenge? A much healthier body and clarity of mind, as well as the knowledge that I really allowed myself to do something I know that I can do.
Shiny and Gold
"The legacy is how you perform" - Bode Miller
This Monday morning with the deep freeze of winter outside my window - it's time to warm up with something. Words and coffee will have to do it for now, because Mother Nature seems to be stuck on keeping it white and chilly outside. But I know I can't let it get me down - in fact I believe that it is the best weather for writing! Fire roaring and key pad clicking along. I suppose it is just a reminder that it is time to get the inside work done, before the allure of spring calls me outdoors, on a constant basis.
Keeping our positive thoughts flowing is the difference between winning the game and not. Keeping our mind on and in the game does so as well. If you have been watching the Olympics you have been seeing on a daily basis the difference between what makes champions and what makes contenders. It is a very fine line.
The young man who gave us this morning's quote is an example of such a fine line. Yesterday, Bode Miller won the Olympic gold in the Super Combined (downhill skiing and the super g). Four years ago at the Torino 2006 games he fell short because as the story goes, he was much more interested in partying than in being an Olympic athlete.
Let's face it, if we want to fully be in the game we have to give 100%. Giving 50 or 75% just doesn't make us do our best. Could it be as simple as a math equation?
A Clean Slate
"Successful people create each day newly." - Rochelle Toga Figa
Good morning and happy Presidents Day! As the sun makes its way over the horizon, a thought comes to mind that I have had over previous President's Days.
The thought being, since we have combined Washington and Lincoln's birthdays making it one day anyway, why don't we make it Leadership Day. The idea based on the foundation that this one day each year we honor the people who stand out from the "norm", those people who make a stand for their ideas and belief's, as true leaders do.
The role of leadership is not an easy one and it takes self-confidence to a whole new level. It takes doubt and disbelief and puts it to the curb. Let's face it; if you are going to be an effective leader there is no time for worrying about what woulda, coulda, or shouda's. It is about getting the job at hand done now, today. That is what I love about this mornings quote - because it is in fact about starting each day brand new.
The You Show
"Create the environment and the support to be able to sustain the change, long term versus short term" - John Assraf
Imagine this...you are on a reality show - in fact, you are the star of the reality show!
Yep, this morning when you got up the "hidden" camera was following your every move. From your morning visit to the bathroom until you sat down to read this letter. Yes, it's Super Bowl Monday and you are the star of the day after the game show. Are you ready for the challenge? Do you think you can be entertaining enough?
Seems two Monday mornings in a row now I have sat down to write and many questions have popped up in my mind - for you. This morning is no exception.
If you became a football warrior yesterday and watched the Super Bowl, you know that the commercials were big part of the entertainment (they are for me anyway). Of course the game was great too - Go Saints! - But then the commercials gave us a diversion onto themselves.
Think about the commercials you saw yesterday - didn't the ones that really entertained grab your biggest attention - Bud light, Snickers, Doritos, Coke - they all got my attention and made me smile. Some like Google took the simple idea of how we search on the Internet and gave us the key phrase to, Search On!
Realization Recipe
Finding Your Fit
"If the shoe fits, wear it." - An Idiom
As this new week starts to unfold, this endearing term has been roaming around in my head. Perhaps it's because on Saturday I found an amazing pair of jeans that fit beautifully!! For any one who has put a pound or two on, as I have in the past year, you know what a wonderful feeling this can be! Especially when it occurs in your standard size. Pounds or not, just finding something you love to wear is always a great experience - especially when you weren't expecting to do so.
As I looked up the saying here this morning to see who said it, I discovered that the term is what is called an Idiom. An Idiom is a colorful style of expression whose meaning is more endearing than making sense on its own. I love the thought of that on many levels. In going one step further I discovered that this particular Idiom as been around since the 1700's.
It was not clarified who penned this idiom (as it goes with most idioms) but believed to have been derived from the expression - "If the cap fits, wear it." While that version of the expression has pretty much gone away - it is thought that perhaps the Cinderella fairy tale brought this modern day version to light. You know how Cinderella got her prince by sliding her foot perfectly into that special glass slipper. Even better yet, she produced the match to show that it was no accident.
Unconquerable Preperation
"I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul." - William Ernest Henley
On Saturday afternoon Ed and I took the trek into Boulder to see the movie Invictus, the story of Nelson Mandela undertaking the role of the first black President of South Africa. As many of us know, he had quite a challenge in beginning the process of uniting a country that had been fully divided by the race segregation wars brought on by over 40 years of an Apartheid ruling government. My sister, Robi, had raved about the movie so I was excited to sit still for several hours, letting the story unfold and inspire me. And it did!
The word Invictus means unconquered in Latin. The most incredible feat shown through this movie was how President Mandela saw past the 27 years of his own imprisonment, as he stayed the course, holding on to his belief of what needed to be done for all the people of his homeland. He was able to see past the anger and despair towards his captures as he moved forward to unite everyone.
In thinking about this week's final reading to share with you from Jim Rohn's Season's of Life - it reflects how Mandela's years in prison were indeed his "winter". He used them to the fullest, continually envisioning the change he would produce upon his release. With that said, here is that final installment of Jim Rohn's chapter on Winter, from his 1981 book, The Season's of Life.
Landmarks of Enrichment
"No Limit for Better" - A Russian Lady Architect
Today's quote was in the Sunday paper yesterday, in an interview that was given in the Parade magazine. Harrison Ford shared about his time as a contractor, before becoming a movie star. When he wanted to improve a design element presented to him by, as he phrased her, a Russian Lady Architect, she was open to the improvements he had to offer, as she shared those words with him.
Don't you love the idea of that? Being open for constant and ever changing improvements that a variety of minds has to offer each of us. We all can learn and grow from each other if we choose to. These thoughts come on the heels of having just spent this past Friday and Saturday hosting a Victory Circles Facilitators Training. While it was my role to teach, each of the ladies who attended shared such riches as well. We all had the opportunity to learn. It was a wonderful enriching experience! I thank each of them for their rich and generous participation.
It brings home even more clearly this morning, the third excerpt from Jim Rohn's, The Seasons of Life.
2010 is knocking
"Knock on the sky and listen to the sound" - Zen Saying
Happy New Year and welcome to 2010!
Well here I am this Monday morning sitting with the sounds of the weeks gone by, blending them in with the weeks to come. All of it making some kind of music in my ears. December busyness handled and preparation for Christmas accomplished - check. Joy and love with family and friends over the holidays - check. Christmas decorations put away until next year - check. New Year's goals and planning for the year ahead done - check. Amazing at it all is, we move forward and life happens, sometimes just as we planned and other times - well we do the best we can given the tools we have around us.
With a glorious new year stretching out before us, over the course of the last three days I lounged in the elements of envisioning the possibilities, of what this year can be and become. My new plan in hand comes complete with a quote to empower and motivate me for the year compliments of Benjamin Disraeli:
"The greatest good you can do for others is not just to share our riches, but to reveal to them their own."
I also have my theme for the year - Creating High Energy - Healthy Body and Victorious Mind.
Winter's Blessings
"What one can be, one must be" - Abraham Maslow
My hope for you is that these final few days before us in 2009, find you with your eyes wide open. I am happy to report over the course of the long weekend I got my long winter's nap in and slept 12 glorious hours! Sleep can be a really wonderful thing when done in bulk - especially when there is a busy season that precedes it! It has left my previously drooping eyes ready to see what is possible still in the next few days of 2009 that will lead 2010 in with a bang!
One of the things I love to do the day after Christmas is to go calendar shopping when they are marked at ½ off. It seems like you are getting a great deal on the year ahead. It always prompts me to buy more than I probably need but I love looking at the possibilities in the year ahead in each new calendar. This year I will be gazing at the beautiful Country of Italy (in my dream forecast) as well as getting daily doses of the 7 Habits of Highly effective people.
Eastern Star
"Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future" - Paul Boese
This Monday morning comes with a sigh of relief with many major deadlines being met. I don't know about you but this December seemed especially full of demands that needed to be met by last Friday. With them met, this week is just full of wrapping up loose ends (literally) and preparing for the blessings of Christmas at weeks end.
In today's quote, forgiveness and living in an enlarged future are words that called out to me. It sounds refreshing as opposed to living in the sadness or bitterness of past disappointments, whether caused by people or life events. It brings with it the essence of a word that this time of year seems to radiate, if we have or take the time to see/feel it.
The word, the essence of what this season can bring is the feeling and simple happiness of having - hope. Hope for what is possible and can be. Sometimes it just takes a bit of realigning ourselves in our heart to make what once seemed impossible, in fact, very possible.
Respecting Rituals
"Everyday do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow." - Doug Firebaugh
This morning as we inch closer to the full blown holiday season I am reminded about how much traditions play a role in our life. Yesterday, I spent a number of hours doing the decorating, sending Christmas Cards and preparing for the days and weeks ahead. This year I did so guardedly as I have come to realize how much of my mother is in all of the traditions around me. It made me miss her even more.
I thought I would share with you this picture this morning that really shares how much my mother loved this holiday. Here I am with my sisters and my brother each of us looking I know towards my mother. I am second on the left sitting next to my baby sister in the velvet bonnet. Perhaps we were looking towards my mother for reassurance that all was going to be ok. Even Santa was looking her way. The traditions of the season make way for the rituals.
Last week I had the opportunity to interview an Entrepreneur for a publication I write for each month. His name is Brian Johnson and he came up with a great concept called Philosophers Notes (philosophersnotes.com). He said something that really has churned through my head ever since then.
Finding Light
"The happiest life is that which constantly exercises and educates what is best in us." - Philip G. Hamerton
As the month of December unfolds it is most definitely a time to get out our down comforters and stay close to the fire. Either that or get out the cross country ski's and take advantage of this white stuff that seems to be is all around us here in Colorado.
One of the things that I do love about winter is that it is the perfect time to get focused on getting indoor things accomplished. Read that book that has been waiting to be read, write a little more or take on that project of painting the bathroom. The season draws us inward to take care of those things that are harder to "get to" when the sunshine and warmth of the other seasons draws us in many outer directions.
It is a great time as well to discover things in the world around us that can bring us a new light and energy as we move into the coldest months of winter. Our inner energy is in fact our inner light that pulls us forward during the darkest days of the year.
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