Fitness Decisions

I have four brand new pairs of running shoes lined up along my dining table, three of which are waiting to be returned. About a year ago, I made the decision and I was ready to start regaining my physical strength and fitness after letting all things slide for almost 25 years. This apparently was the cue for all aches and pains that had been dormant to rise up again - the twisted hips, the almost plantar fasciitis heel pain, the lower back, etc.

I continued to live with the pain, too proud to limp in front of friends or not do all the activities I needed to do on a regular basis for work and home. September brings an annual event that I remember being in pain at last year, even losing a week of work afterward for recovery. That trigger, realizing that it's been a year or more has led me to take this next step. I simply MUST find a pair of shoes to wear that doesn't cause heel pain every single day. No pain, I can finally start to be mobile again - pain each day and it's all you can do to survive. It's time to thrive again.

I can go for 20 visits shopping and find nothing to work for me; we're looking for low budget, heel pain (need cushioning) and flatter than flat feet (need firm arches). You should try finding support and cushion at the same time! So, I skipped the affordable route and finally decided I was worth $150 and went to the pros. Now I have 4 perfect pairs of shoes here. One is super perfect and cute, but the most money while one is almost super perfect, one model year older, not as cute but $40 cheaper. Logic says to take that one, heart says to get the cool one.

Then there's the best value...2 pairs are about 75% off the ridiculous original price! I would never be able to buy this brand again so my brain says to get the best deal.

The irony is that this simple decision about a pair of shoes has held up progress for my decision to start taking care of my body by 2 weeks now! 

Who out there will join me in making the decision to start taking care of our own well-being so we can keep taking care of others?

Challenge on? I'm in...right after I decide which shoes to keep.

Lowered Expectations

July was my birthday month which started us off on a series of attempts to find that elusive wonderful dining experience to celebrate with. We tried one chain restaurant famous for their cornbread muffins and we were served something that had no resemblance whatsoever to their normally outstanding product. It seems they had run out and gone with a completely inferior product, but not bothered to tell their customers. Truth be told, it kind of ruined the experience, as it is the highlight and part of the reason we chose this place. When the manager stopped by and made light of them running out, but offered no kind words of apology or understanding that kind of broke it for us.

Other attempts at the perfect celebration included an assortment of places I can't remember clearly now but nothing seemed to be working. One I do remember involved a piece of pie that had pineapple and fresh strawberries on it, as well as a bunch of other great stuff. We ordered two pieces to go and found them to be so soggy they looked like formerly frozen berries that had been partially pureed and the bananas were completely brown, no pineapple and no cherry on top either. On top of that, the experience purchasing them was a battle to be served and noticed.

I stopped at a local grocery store and the clerk did not say one single word in greeting or as I tried to engage him in friendly conversation, complimenting the store and everything. I asked him how he was doing and he pretty much just grunted at me until I finally got a word out of him before I left.

At a bakery, we had a question about one of their products and nobody knew the answer but nobody made an attempt to find out from the baker or another employee. Really? What happened to "I don't know that answer, but let me check for you?"

This blog could go on for days, but I wonder...when did we become a society of complacency and lowered expectations? I have never worked anywhere that this level of service would be tolerated. I work too hard for my dollars to waste it on food that isn't cooked properly or that treat of going out when you aren't given a drink refill during your entire meal.

It's time to expect service again...after all, we are the customers! 

Housepaint: An Indecisive Creative's Nightmare

We are in the midst of one of the biggest decisions of our lives, or at least it feels that way. We are painting the exterior of our home and it feels like this should be an exciting opportunity. Instead, it feels like the beginning of Chromophobia, the fear of colors and decidophobia, the fear of making decisions. Neither of these have plagued me before but this is catching me at a time when my brain is tired and something that seems so exciting and simple also feels so impossible.

I consider myself creative and I love bright colors. My house embraces a variety of colors ranging from the warmth of caramel to a few different vivid bright colors you might see in Mexico or the Caribbean. I believe my home should make me feel good without a lot of concern for fitting into the mold of those around me. Obviously the hubby has to be in agreement, but he's pretty much wired the same way.

Suddenly we are surrounded with paint chips and complete indecisiveness, this feels like a permanent decision that can never be undone. It feels like we must make the right choice for the entire neighborhood. No, we can't do this color because it conflicts with the neighbor's house behind us. But this one looks funny next to the one next door. There are 28 gray houses within a few blocks - we can't do that. There are too many teal ones, can't do that...and on it goes.

When did choosing paint become such a monumental task? We fluctuate between thinking there are too many colors and that we need a new color in the world because we don't like any of them. It's paint...by its very definition it is temporary.

What are your tips for finding the right color? Don't even get me started on brand comparison!

From Pits to Pinnacles

Whether it is the phrase "this is the pits" or Erma Bombeck's classic book, "If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits?" chances are you can identify with being in the pits of life. Another frequent reference is "life just a bowl of cherries" which is sarcastic for when things are not going well. Being a fan of cherries, I always felt bad for this poor fruit being dragged down into negative thinking.

It is true that life is not always everything we wish it to be, but perhaps we can challenge ourselves to focus on the pinnacles of life instead of the pits. No matter where we are in our journey each day, we can always choose to look up to the high points in life and focus on those instead. When we are feeling low, we tend to hang our head down physically and that position will prevent us from ever looking up to things that can draw us out of the pits. However, if you literally look up to focus on the pinnacle there is something that happens to you physically - you take deeper breaths, you'll notice the precious little things around you and perhaps you'll lose sight of the pits.

The day I took this picture, we were leaving Vancouver, BC for a short cruise. I was so excited and yet we were faced with a delay leaving port, which left me with two choices - focus on the pits of disappointment or find a pinnacle. The pit would have had me waiting for hours in the port building, bored and surrounded by lots of other frustrated folks. The pinnacle took us on a local tour through a new city, some great photos, a fun marketplace and lots of new memories.

Don't miss out on the pinnacles, do what you have to in order to climb out of the pits.

Unconditional Pet Love

There is something undeniable about the bond between pet and pet-parent. I'm not talking about the people who "have a pet", I'm talking about the folks who refer to their dog or cat as he, she or their fur-child. These people have a deeper bond that envelops the entire heart. Fortunately, I am surrounded by friends sharing this same relationship and so I feel understood by those who matter to me.

Sadie in a favorite place.

Today I was reminded of this connection because a dear friend had to send her little precious kitty over the Rainbow Bridge to romp freely and be healthy at last...at least I assume cats romp. It is always a terrible day when you lose your furry kid, whether it is expected or not. She was prepared for this due to a longstanding health condition but it is still a difficult day and so I dedicate #blogyourbrand Day 18 to Sadie and her mom...Maggie, Alex, Sparky, Stanley and others will show her the ropes!

What is it about that unconditional love our pets give us that soothes our aches, comforts our loneliness and makes us feel like we are on top of the world and why don't we get that from any other source? There are days when we are running errands but finally headed towards home and we both get that giddy anticipation about going home to see our little guy. How many of you are frequently almost late to work because they want to sit on your lap and have their ears or belly rubbed?

Face it, they adore us and what's not to adore? Obviously they have fantastic judgment and have deemed us as royalty. After all, they follow us around, sit at our feet, gaze adoringly into our eyes and if you're lucky like we are...innumerable kisses and hugs until the worries of life are only fleeting thoughts.

Go hug your little fur-child because we don't get to keep them forever.

FIRE and RESCUE

Dad worked in another state, but I wanted to use
one of my own photos I took. Thank you Portland Fire.

Fire and smoke. Burning toxins and crumbling walls or roofs. Auto accidents and drug overdoses. These are some of the common encounters firefighters have faced throughout the decades. You can add baby deliveries and cats in trees for some of the more lighthearted events. For ages, they could pretty much expect the unexpected. This list is still intimidating to most people and society greatly appreciates those who choose this profession. Firefighters are often praised for their hard work and dedication, they hear routine statements of appreciation from their communities, they are the guests of honor at parades and sometimes they even get cookies delivered to their stations.

My dad was a firefighter so I was privileged to spend a lot of time inside the fire station. I ate dinner there a lot when Mom and I would visit him there. I remember playing basketball in the back of the station with the guys and they taught me to spit watermelon seeds. One year I even wore my dad's coat, boots and helmet for Halloween...I used the helmet as my trick-or-treat bag and dumped it into a larger bag back at the curb. I remember the only cigar I ever saw growing up...it was from a family where he helped deliver the baby. He didn't smoke it, but I remember thinking it was pretty cool. He came to school for show and tell and of course, the kids loved it! I knew how to turn on the lights, siren and horn on the fire truck. I recognized that unique smell of a firehouse floor. 

I'm glad my dad is retired now. It's a different time, a scarier time. Today's firefighters have the added fears of more illnesses they can get while responding to medical calls. There are more drugs in society, more chemicals and explosions and don't forget...there are now people who set them up and shoot at them when they respond. This is still an honorable profession and I hope there will always be people that step up to this career but I am grateful to have Dad home and retired during these crazier days.

If you see these folks out there, tell them thank you. Go online and look up your local fire stations, it's so easy to send them a note of appreciation and they deserve it.

Yes, I was a fireman's kid...and proud of it.

Memory Lane

We have been gathering items for the "no, really, I promise this is the last yard sale we will ever do" yard sale. Our home has been in the process of downsizing and simplifying for a few years now but when expenses outweigh income you get creative. This time we dug deep, even going into the attic storage. While we did clear out some retro clothing, aka "someday that's going to fit again" and old holiday decor, we found the boxes of memories and sidetracked ourselves a bit.

There were boxes of the usual mementos like photos, cards, letters, baby toys, Hot Wheels, Dukes of Hazzard model of the General Lee still sealed, etc. but the memorabilia I treasure most was finding my old creative writing collection.

What a variety of essays in that treasure trove! I had some writings from elementary school about jack-o-lanterns melting off the fence posts as they rotted and little mice carrying 20 books home from the library. I suppose it's safe to say I had a wild imagination!

Eventually I moved on to high school and college assignments that included a story about a single raindrop on the window or stories of friendships. There were two I remember being so proud of; one was about the free market and one was about smoking that I titled "Should Americans Have the Right to Kill?" Apparently I've been a bit adamant in my opinions through time.

It did leave me curious. When did we stop living in the light and creative mindset and become so serious? I am grateful to have these documents, as they are long before the days of computers when it's so easy to save things, but the value I found was in the childhood stories I wrote and I hope they will inspire me to find that inner child again.

What about you? Do you remember your inner child?

Rise up

For any of you out there feeling a bit tired or worn down from life, I dedicate this song to you today. May you find a renewed strength as you let these words pour over you. You are never alone in life and you have somebody that will stand with you as you rise up together to face your mountains. I heard this song last week for the first time and I knew I wanted to blog about it, it brought such a "fight" back and rekindled some positive attitude. Rather than use my words though, I'd rather honor Andra and let you listen to her.

You're broken down and tired

Of living life on a merry-go-round

And you can't find the fighter

But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out

And move mountains

We gonna walk it out

And move mountains

And I'll rise up

I'll rise like the day

I'll rise up

I'll rise unafraid

I'll rise up

And I'll do it a thousand times again

And I'll rise up

High like the waves

I'll rise up

In spite of the ache

I'll rise up

And I'll do it a thousand times again

For you [4x]

When the silence isn't quiet

And it feels like it's getting hard to breathe

And I know you feel like dying

But I promise we'll take the world to it's feet

And move mountains

Bring it to it's feet

And move mountains

And I'll rise up

I'll rise like the day

I'll rise up

I'll rise unafraid

I'll rise up

And I'll do it a thousand times again

For you [4x]

All we need, all we need is hope

And for that we have each other

And for that we have each other

We will rise

We will rise

We'll rise, oh oh

We'll rise

I'll rise up

Rise like the day

I'll rise up

In spite of the ache

I will rise a thousand times again

And we'll rise up

High like the waves

We'll rise up

In spite of the ache

We'll rise up

And we'll do it a thousand times again

For you oh oh oh oh oh [3x]

Estate Memories

We used to have a small booth at an antique mall so our weekends would find us at frequent estate sales searching for lost treasures. It was always a bittersweet experience - if we found things we almost always felt guilty for getting a good deal from the loss of somebody's loved one. More often than not, however, we would leave with an empty heart even if we found earthly items. It was always so sad to see that an entire life has come to strangers walking through their house, buying partial boxes of spices for a quarter each. A few of these affected us deeper than others. I remember one in particular where we purchased about 15 slide wheels full of vacation slides. It seemed so sad that there was nobody left to treasure memories and smiles from the family so we thought we'd do something artsy with them and allow others to treasure them in a new format since so many were beautiful scenic photos. Sadly, that hasn't even happened yet.

Don't know what it is, but it has a cool
groove in it that will make a great
place for file folders on my desk.
The other side has a great big
wood burl knot in it.

I hadn't thought much about this until today when we stopped at an estate sale in our neighborhood where once again we left with an empty heart even though I did find one really cool treasure. I discovered one of the saddest items yet - a homemade scrapbook filled with store bought cards, handwritten letters, telegrams and children's drawings all from her child, or children. This was done with so much love and through decades and now it sits in a room full of strangers with their checkbooks in hand. I almost bought it because it was so heartbreaking to see it there. But, I am one of those strangers to whom it meant nothing.

The funny thing is, we are preparing for a big yard sale ourselves, trying to get rid of stuff so we really had no business even walking into that sale today. We have a house full of items without heirs awaiting their own estate sale. Some day someone will walk through and wonder if that vase on our mantel is a 4th generation heirloom or a $3.99 purchase from a discount store. Some day someone will think how sad it is that there was nobody that wanted our memories.

The Silence in the Roar

What is it about the roar of the ocean waves that beckons us? It is vividly violent and wildly soothing simultaneously. After a chaotic and stress-filled week, I feel as if I can hear the surf calling for me to come visit. My innermost emptiness echoes the call and tells me to go. The struggle begins inside pitting the responsible and logical side against the impulsive and selfish side. I do know I need to experience the refreshment a visit to the edge of the tides offers, but I have to question if I will allow it to soothe the aches or if I will be haunted by the to do list I skipped out on.

Like many people, I have had the daydream of owning a small house in a beach community. I can't quite comprehend the joy it would provide for so many, to have a little respite available. I do find myself wondering if beach residents ever find themselves weary of the roar of the sea and wish they could silence it. I mean, come on...if you have a migraine, or are just tired of the noise of the world, wouldn't you sometimes want it to be silent? It is never silent at the beach. 3 am...still roaring.

And yet, we refer to the ocean as being a place of solitude, a place of silence, a place to sit and reflect or to let your soul be refreshed. There is nothing so peaceful as a long, slow stroll along with the waves breaking just safely distant from your toes. I can walk great distances in this trance and after a bit of time I don't know that I hear the roar anymore. Maybe it is the silence in the roar I am craving when I seek my solace and refreshment along the shoreline. 

To Kill a Dream?

The Delay, Then The Leap of Faith: aka "Okay, Okay...I'll Do It"
Did you catch the date back in that previous post?  2011.  Yes, it did indeed take me 3 years and 3 months to step out in faith. I never doubted the idea, I doubted that it should be me. Sound familiar? It's Biblical. It was evident that God orchestrated this while He waited for me to get it together and take action. I found a location very near to my home. The landlord has a heart for God and that showed up. The view is of the trees at The Grotto! We had no funds to do this (my biggest excuse) and yet, we opened our doors in November 2014. I found myself surrounded by speakers, songs and books that included things like: Action Trumps Everything, dig ditches and see how God will fill them up, "Do Something" and countless other examples telling me to just take one step.

The Hope, The Vision: aka "God, Do Your Thing"
The doors are open. The supplies are waiting. God, this is your place - bring the people whose lives you want to touch. Show me who to love and encourage. To quote a Chris Tomlin song that taunted me during those 3 years of waiting...
Where you go, I'll go
Where you stay, I'll stay
When you move, I'll move
I will follow you
Who you love, I'll love
How you serve, I'll serve
If this life I lose, I will follow you.

Yep, this was a theme song for me and yet I didn't follow for three years down this particular path. I now have another theme song from Matthew West,along with this one. So God, use me to DO SOMETHING!

Have you ever had a dream that didn't yield results you could clearly point to? How did you know when to say good-bye to the dream or to work harder?

Decisions, Decisions

We are rapidly approaching a decision deadline for the Red Tennies Creative Studio. Do we hang up our red tennies and shut our doors? Was this an opportunity that didn't develop? Was this a test of faith? One of the most difficult decisions of my life may be facing me in the next week.

In the meantime, here's a bit about how this came to be.

The Beginning Concept: aka "You Want Me To Do What?"
I was attending the Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit in August 2011 when it hit me. Art can do amazing things for you. It had been a turbulent year, and I found art to be very soothing and comforting. I also realized I AM creative. I want to do something to help people and it's going to be about art. Nevermind that I'm not a trained artist, I simply enjoy being creative and am wired to think along creative lines.

God is our Creator, He made us in His image, therefore we are also creative beings. The entire two-day event had an unspoken but beautifully woven tapestry around entrepreneurship and creativity. By the end of the event, I knew that I was being led to open a place where people could experience being creative even when they didn't think of themselves as creative. I wanted to help people connect with the kid inside, relieve some of life's stress and anxiety, and perhaps even find God's love and hope through art and the healing balm it can provide.

I also envisioned a way of selling art in order to fund other ways to help change lives. I was thinking along the lines of providing small backpacks of art supplies to kids after a natural disaster, abuse or fire - something they can call their own that would also allow them to process through some of the trauma. I also hoped to work with victims recovering from sex crimes or sex trafficking through the use of art. I hoped to provide art supplies to a small church in Uganda where a friend is serving God diligently and they have an incredible number of kids they could reach with art supplies.

Illogical Fear

July 19, 2001 - our first little dog died suddenly.

July 19, 2013 - our second little dog died suddenly.

 

July 19, 2014 - our new little dog is not allowed to take naps because we keep waking him up to make sure he's alive all day.

July 19, 2015 - a repeat of 2014

July 19, 2015 - I must admit it is "deathwatch" again, but perhaps a little less concerned.

I know it's not a logic-based fear, but admittedly we have allowed a certain level of apprehension to cover this day. While this particular fear is diminishing, how many other fears do we hang onto that are based on the same illogical thinking? I dare say that's part of the definition of fear.

Oh sure, there are some fears based on negative experiences of life. If you were bit by a large dog as a toddler, it would be understandable for you to develop a fear of all dogs. But what about the fear of public speaking? Did you do it and get nails thrown at you? Not likely, so why are so many people afraid of that?

There's always the fear of failure to talk about. Who wants to dive into that one with me? I have been there. I have tried things and laughed in the face of that fear. I have failed at the very same things. But...what was I really afraid of? Failure these days is highly applauded - you aren't as likely to succeed without a few failures under your belt. So with all the respect failure gets now, why do we still fear it? We should be excited to have that option in front of us.

So, today we keep poking our little dog when he tries to sleep. No car rides, no walks - no risk allowed today to increase the odds of losing him. Why? Because logical or not, fear is emotionally based and emotions are real.

Empty Head Syndrome

I'm sitting here on day nine of a 30-day #blogyourbrand challenge and I'm done. Apparently I have reached the day when there isn't anything in my brain capable of forming an intelligent post. So I have resorted to writing about the inability to write...I think that may be a great example of irony. I have heard it said that when you have a writing assignment you should force yourself to sit down and write even if the thoughts aren't there. I'm beginning to see this may have been good advice...at least it's working when I don't have a specific topic I'm tasked with. It appears to me that what I mistook for a case of writer's block was really only a case of empty head syndrome.

I wonder how many other tasks we put aside because we think we have to be in the right frame of mind, or completely ready to take them on when all we really should do is start the task. Are there times when the burden or dread of having a task before you weighs more heavily and takes a bigger toll on you than stepping into it and completing it? 

I am a list-maker and sometimes I have been known to do something not on the list and add it only so I can experience the joy of crossing it off! I think tasks can often hit me the same way. 

If I would create a list of small steps towards completing the task, it's likely that I'll be more successful. Every check of the box brings a sense of accomplishment and a shorter path to completion of the goal.

I'm hoping I'll feel more prepared to write my next post, but I do feel that perhaps somebody out there will be encouraged to know they are not alone in what should be an Olympic sport - procrastination.

Weathering the Storms

It seems the world has been filled with nothing but uncertainty and negativity for several months now, and a heightened amount of hostile and tragic acts in the most recent weeks. Regardless of what any of your own political, religious and/or personal views are there is a unanimous feeling of awe at the weight of this burdening loss. We have lost people of all ages, many professions, many nationalities in numerous locations across different continents. There is an undercurrent of grief and fatigue as I look across the people that surround me. There is a question hanging in our midst asking "what can I do?" For some, they are asking what they can do to stop the hate while for others it is a rhetorical question stemming from discouragement.

Some may cling to the thought that "this too shall pass" while others feel overwhelmed and paralyzed. I urge you to take the next step that seems right for you. If it is time for you to get involved, then do something that can make a difference, but don't complain if you're not willing to do something about it. If it's time to show love, then go back to the basics and invite a neighbor for dinner or take them cookies. If you need to start small, invite them over for dessert on the patio or ask them to meet you for an ice cream cone at your local spot. If you are hurting then reach out to others who may feel the same and discover together how to heal and move in a positive direction.

We CAN weather the storms together and we will survive these days. Take them one at a time and look for the good in each day, in each person. Much like the carving in this photo I took at Granville Island in Vancouver BC, we may show a little wear from our trials of life, but we will survive.

Growth Requirements

Nourishing Dewdrops

If we reflect back to our school days, we may recall the components necessary for grass and plants to grow. While I can't teach a botany class, I do remember that you need sunlight, soil, oxygen and water for sure. I'm sure there is much more to it, but the bottom line is that there are a number of requirements for growth to take place.

It's not really any different for us. I doubt any of us are so happy with the way things are that if we're honest, we would say we don't want to grow or develop any further. My hope is that we are all continually looking for ways to challenge ourselves to grow, whether it be personal development, business expansion or growing physically or emotionally stronger.

I have a list of growth-related goals I put in place for 2016 that span all areas of my life. One key piece is the reminder to focus on these goals. I have been known to go for a month or two without looking at them and guess what? No growth! What about you? Do you have something you are working to improve upon in your life this year?

Do you know what the pieces are that will contribute to your growth? Do you have friends that challenge you or hold you accountable? Do you have the goal written down and do you reflect on it regularly? Just as it is for grass there are any number of contributors to growth and I hope you'll take just a moment to reflect on what you need to nourish that growth in you.

For me, as I flipped through my photograph collection preparing for this blog post, I realized that taking photos is one of the things that feeds my soul, nourishes my creativity and peace and helps me find balance. I also have noted from the dates on my photo files, I have not done this for entirely too long. This is an added growth requirement to help me reach goals for my business and professional life. What are yours?

A Moment of Bliss

This moment has unfolded to be an unexpected moment of tranquil restoration in a hectic and emotionally traumatizing week. As I sorted through pictures in a somewhat frantic manner, looking for something to blog about this one stopped me with a moment of calm. It looks so blissful. As I began to type I realized that the keystrokes seemed louder than usual, as if they were screaming at me with each click. I stopped for a moment, staring at my screen and finally realized there wasn't a single sound surrounding me. I am at home, in the middle of a neighborhood usually very heavy with traffic, neighbors, children squealing and the three construction projects in my immediate vicinity and yet today, at this moment, not a sound.

It struck me how sad it is that it is now the quiet I noticed, instead of the chaos. We have become so comfortable with the world around us that the blissfulness of this quiet seemed out of place and I was a bit uncertain what to do with it. I know it won't last so I stopped to treasure it a bit before typing resumed.

It made me feel responsible for sharing this time with you. I felt like I was now charged with bringing you all into a time like this, to ask you to find a moment to put yourself in a "time out" and listen for the quiet or watch for the physical beauty that surrounds you. Like this tulip photo, is there something you can see right now to let wash over you and bring you some bliss?

It's okay to stop every now and then, to pause for a moment of reflection or solitude. We are strongest when we take the time for balance in our lives. Go take a peek outside and see what awaits you...I guarantee everything will still be waiting for you when you get back.

Shine

Are you trying to do it all? Are you spinning so many plates that you are waiting for one to fall? Do you juggle so many balls you often forget what day it is and where you're supposed to be? Do you get your identity from your job, your spouse or the random opinions of strangers? Do you feel that you must shine in order to be accepted and loved? Do you fear failure because you fear what people will think of you?

I think it's time to break this mold, this terrible but comfortable habit that keeps us from living a full life - the life God intended for us.

There are so many reasons we may hide our cracks, pretend that all is well, and not allow anybody to know we don't always shine; pride, feelings of inadequacy, emptiness, history of abandonment, selfishness. Perhaps we fear being judged or ridiculed by those around us. No matter the cause, I challenge all of us to stop, and allow others to see who we really are. 

I am confident there is somebody waiting to discover ALL of you, and love you regardless. I know that God loves us unconditionally, and exactly the way we are. I hope you know that also, and a deeper hope is that you can accept that love and stop worrying about looking like you have it all together.

Being 100% authentic is far more valuable than shining all the time.

"Shine" by Jan Krist

She buries the problems but they grow and bloom again

No one need see them she will deftly pretend

Playing her high cards best foot forward every time

For who will love her if she does not shine?

Hopelessness dogs her but she will not give in

She will reason fear away again

A full and leaky vessel she hides the cracks behind

For who will love her if she does not shine?

She tries to pull herself from difficult requests

Works to be satisfied with just doing her best

'Til someone doubts her courage and she struggles with resign

For who will love her if she does not shine?

She tries to pull herself from rejection's debris

And the more she pulls the less she seems to be free

When did this all begin? Was there one point in time?

And who will love her if she does not shine?

Who will love her? Shining

Who will love her? Shining

Who will love her if she does not shine?

Painted Deserts

I was headed out for a road trip and thought it would be a great coincidence to finally begin reading Donald Miller's book, Through Painted Deserts: Light, God and Beauty on the Open Road since it's also about a road trip, and a personal journey. However, I was forced to pause early in the author's note pages as I already found these quotes that required time devoted to deeper pondering.

"I want to keep my soul fertile for the changes, so things keep getting born in me, so things keep dying when it is time for things to die. I want to keep walking away from the person I was a moment ago, because a mind was made to figure things out, not to read the same page recurrently."

"It might be time for you to go. It might be time to change, to shine out. I want to repeat one word for you: Leave. Roll the word around on your tongue for a bit. It is a beautiful word, isn't it? So strong and forceful, the way you have always wanted to be. And you will not be alone. You have never been alone. Don't worry. Everything will still be here when you get back. It is you who will have changed."

Our road trip is complete, as is my reading. I didn't realize this when I started the book, but his story ended in the same city our road trip ended in. Perhaps it was meant to be that this was my chosen road trip book, and perhaps I needed these reminders.

During his journey, Donald ponders a good deal about the idea of security and the feelings created by society and advertisers. His travel companion Paul seems to take things in stride and live unaffected by others and this intrigues him. He questions how does a person stop caring about the opinion of others, how does a person stop caring about money to pay rent, where food will come from, do I sound like an idiot when I speak in public, do people like me and a host of other things. Donald's questioning resonates with me. 

Life can be about the panic of having the right things, knowing the right people, etc. or it can be about the beauty in the sunrises, the glory of leaves changing colors, fresh air, people. "Paul had become a human who no longer believed the commercials are true, which, perhaps, is what a human was designed to be."

Two options: 
1. "You will feel what you were made to feel if you buy this thing I am selling."

2. "Feel what a human is supposed to feel when he stops believing lies. And maybe when a person doesn't buy the lies anymore, when a human stops long enough to realize the stuff people say to get us to part with our money often isn't true, we can finally see the sunrise, smell the wetness in a Gulf breeze, stand in awe at a downpour no less magnificent than a twenty-thousand-foot waterfall, ten square miles wide, wonder at the physics of a duck paddling itself across the surface of a pond, enjoy the reflection of the sun on the face of the moon, and know, This is what I was made to do. This is who I was made to be, that life is being given to me as a gift, that light is a metaphor, and God is doing these things to dazzle us."

Maybe this pilgrimage we're on really IS in God's hands and He is simply waiting for us to let him take control. I believe that. Go watch a sunrise or sunset. Go stand where the ocean meets the sand. Go stand in the rain. Go stare up at the trees...and let go.

All quotes in this post are from Donald Miller's book, Through Painted Deserts: Light, God and Beauty on the Open Road .

Mentor Unaware

I was enjoying a nice conversation today with somebody and out of the blue they called me a name...MENTOR! How dare they? Mentors are supposed to know what they're doing, right? Mentors are professionals. Mentors are wise. I could reach my 300 word minimum simply describing what a mentor is and why I didn't think the word applied to me.

Instead, let me share another perspective with you. Perhaps a mentor is simply somebody that people are watching and learning from; and dare I even say maybe people are emulating them. While I know that people are not perfect, it always seemed to me that a mentor would be closer to that than most people. However, I believe that many of us are Mentors Unaware. People are indeed watching our behavior, listening to our counsel and we may not even know it's happening.

 

Bob Goff, one of my Mentors From a Distance

I was at a leadership conference years ago and one of our speakers spoke about his mentors; some were a part of his daily life and some he referred to as mentor by observation. He could still learn from this person even without any form of contact. Think about that - are there people you watch around you, listen to on the internet, or authors you read that cross from being informational to becoming a mentor?

We may not ever know we are speaking into somebody's life, but would you do anything differently if you knew you were being a mentor to somebody? You likely are already. Take a moment this month to think who might be learning from you that you didn't know about. What an incredible honor and opportunity it is to speak into someone's life. Imagine the value if you knowingly did so and made time for that person regularly. Mentoring is a two-way street and you simply cannot spend time with somebody in that kind of relationship without your own life being touched as well.

Are you a Mentor Unaware? Who is learning from you and what might they see?

Seasons of Opportunity

We are in a season when we find ourselves surrounded by a plenitude of berries of all kinds. Over the course of these three summer months you are likely to find baskets, bowls and tubs of fresh strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, marionberries and boysenberries in my refrigerator. They grow wild along the roads and in yards across our region. When we trek out to the farmer's markets we consistently return with more than we can consume, but the fragrance and colorful beauty draws me in each time. Today I know there are three varieties in my refrigerator, but I also know that one of those needs to be tossed out...it's day is done, the end is near.

When you look at the berries on the vines, you can also see the many stages, or seasons of the fruit. At any time you can find an orchestra of color on one vine - green, white, red, purple, blue. You will also find the stages ranging from about to enter its prime season to shriveled up and useless.

Our opportunities in life are similar. We will have countless opportunities for many things throughout our lifetime, but it takes wisdom to discern when it is the right season for a particular path. When something presents itself before you, you may know that it is a yes step...but is it the right season? While it may be aromatic and enticing, is it perfectly ripe and the right season or is it about to mold and you should wait?

Maybe your car is not fairing too well and you have the opportunity to purchase a great used car from a reliable source, but to do so would put you into debt and stretch your payments so that you have to add another job and give up time with an ailing parent. Right opportunity, but is it the right season to say yes?

This summer, when an opportunity shows up on your doorstep, consider asking yourself one more question before jumping on board. Is this the right season for this particular opportunity?

Summer Challenges

Summer 2016 delivered a new adventure in the form of the Blog Your Brand 30-Day Summer Challenge. There's something powerful behind the word "challenge" that penetrates into the depths of my core and I can't ignore it. When I hear that word, I feel that somebody is insinuating that I can't do something and I don't like to be told what I can or cannot do.

Today is the first day of this challenge, and I hope you will spend the next 30 days looking forward to a new post and also cheering me on to complete the challenge. I do not know these folks personally, but there is a common thread running through the internet community that brought us together and I am grateful for this journey.

2015 was the first year I realized summer challenges were a thing. I participated in two and found I completed the one I expected to drop within a week and dropped the one I fully expected to finish. However, they were both successes.

Index Card A Day (ICAD) was the one I was excited to join. The concept is simple - be creative once a day for 60 days. The format was also simple - an index card. It's a fantastic challenge - go check them out at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ICAD2016 or http://daisyyellowart.com/icad-base

I consider myself a creative gal but I don't often take the time I should to reward myself with times of creative expression. I knew this was for me. Then I complicated things by having to do it all perfectly and technically instead of following the simple heart behind this - do something creative today. I completed 7 cards.

Failure? No. Success. You might be asking how I could possibly consider this a success story. I call it a success because two friends joined me in this who don't consider themselves creative...and enjoyed it! Furthermore, one of them wanted to do it again this year and so did I.

The second summer challenge was one I believed I should do but didn't think I would - a read through the Bible 90-day challenge. I have never read through the entire Bible, much less at a 90-day pace. I gave myself permission to quit within the first week and hoped it would simply plant a seed to want to read at my leisure. I am happy to report that I finished in 89 days and would gladly do this challenge again.

Summer brings with it many challenges including heightened yard care requirements, scheduling more outdoor activities during our few months of summer weather, bug infestations, house painting projects and more. I would invite you to find a way to challenge yourself to do something that is important for you, for who you are and that will make you feel better about how you spent at least part of your summer.