What do you do when life throws dirt at you?

...Once there was a donkey that fell in a very large hole.  The farmer did not know what to do.  He simply decided the best thing was to bury the donkey.  He began to shovel dirt into the hole.  At first the donkey panicked – he was being buried alive!  How could the farmer do such a cruel thing to him?

The dirt was getting very heavy on the donkeys back so he shook the dirt off.  The farmer continued to shovel the dirt into the hole and the donkey shook it off – a shovel of dirt, a shake off by the donkey, another shovel, another shake.  Soon the dirt began to pile up under the donkeys feet.  He realized that each time he shook the dirt off his back, the mound beneath him got taller and if he chose to step up onto the mound, he got closer to the top of the hole.  The farmer shoveled the dirt, the donkey shook it off and stepped up…higher and higher the donkey went.  Shovel of dirt, shake it off, step up…shovel of dirt, shake it off, step up.  Shovel, shake, step up – shovel, shake, step up.  Finally the donkey was standing so tall he could walk freely and easily out of the very hole he feared would bury him alive.

Life can throw dirt at us.  We can feel buried by challenges and trials and feel like giving up.  But we can also use the dirt that is thrown at us, to build character and rise up.  Sooner or later dirt will be thrown at you, but what you do with it is up to you.  You can use it to build your future or cover your grave.

What do you do when life throws dirt at you?  Do you shake it off and step up on it?  Remember, with each step up, you are closer to the top.  Wisdom is the view from the hilltop with much dirt under your feet.

Shake it off and step up – Shake it off and step up – Shake it off and step up

Nothing Happens by Accident...

The number of positive, inspirational and motivating books in my house is greater than 500.  (I know because my 12 year old counted them when there was “nothing to do” on holiday break from school.)  Interestingly enough, none of those fabulous masterpieces can be of use to me if I don’t grab the book with my hands, open the book and physically read the words.  The wisdom does not mysteriously float into my brain on its own.  I must take action steps to obtain the teaching.

Nothing Happens by Accident

I love the teachings of Kim Lavine – go-getter, one-of-a-kind, living across “the pond” from me (i.e. = Lake Michigan) Mommy Millionair.  Ms. Lavine shared in a recent blog that the Yiddish word “mac-krae” means:

Nothing Happens by Accident

My very first thought to that statement was ‘How true’.  I’m going to be rather bold here and make a statement that is wrapped in love but comes straight from my heart:  All the desire and passion in our heart to accomplish our goals cannot and will not ever come to fruition while sitting on the sofa.  Having good intentions, a grateful heart and heaps of positive thoughts and words are very useful – quite honestly, they are considered, by most including myself, to be the first step on the staircase to success.  Yet, until we get up off the sofa and start walking, all those good intentions are only, well….good intentions.  The action is missing.  We may be able to see the top of our Success Staircase and believe with all our heart and soul it is obtainable.  YES! That is the right attitude. But how are you going to get there when you are standing on the first step?

Nothing Happens by Accident

What are your goals? What is at the top of your staircase? What would your world look like if you started climbing, step by step, toward your dreams?  …And think on this: How many other people might be inspired to do the same when they see YOU stepping up?

Now it’s YOUR turn…

We want to know…What is YOUR next step on your staircase to your goals and dreams?

What Lens Are You Looking Through??

Autumn is now in full swing and quite evident here in the Midwestern portion of the United States where I live.  A renovation of the landscape is occurring.  The leaves on the trees are changing from emerald to golden amber, burnt orange and fiery crimson and soon they will flutter to the ground when the brisk autumn breeze blows.  Whistles and cheers reverberate through the chilly air at the Friday night school football games and a crackling of the logs in the fire pit mesmerize all who stop to feel its warmth. As a rare exception, this year an over abundance of rain fell in our region recently. Thus, we uncharacteristically have areas of devastating flooding with some major roadways near the many lakes and rivers in our state.

Today I drove some friends to the airport and realized for the first time, the incredible amount of excess water pouring over the banks of a major nearby river.  It was shocking to see only the very tops of twenty and thirty foot trees waving above the rushing water, parks completely immersed no longer visible to the eye, and in one area…the water seemed to continue forever into the horizon.

My route home included crossing a hefty bridge.  That was the moment my eyes were opened to the devastation that will linger for citizens in our area for months to come.  The headline of every news program, for the last week and a half, included stories of the destruction and ruin.  However, this truly was the first time I had witnessed it with my own eyes.  The actual visual changed my perspective completely.  I have been so consumed with the flood of messages, activities and demands of my own small world; I failed to grasp the bigger picture of how people around me could be endangered and hurting from this natural disaster.

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes." ~Marcel Proust

What have your eyes been “seeing”?  What “lens” are you looking through?

A friend of mine told me about a miscommunication with a client. He rescheduled a meeting to another time...however the client did not receive the message for some reason. When my friend and his client did connect via mobile, they both agreed to still meet that evening.  Amidst the obstacles, the meeting ensued...the result? An incredible evening with much forward progress in life for both participants. 

Many times in such an event, we find people angry, hostile and bitter about the miscommunication because it inconvenienced them or interrupted their other plans.  We often look at the situation from our own lenses that have not been cleaned for quite some time. We have not taken note as to how many times our own finger prints have touched the lens - how many times we were thinking of our self and the inconvenience which was placed on our own life.

The wisdom I found is that these very finger prints obstruct us from visualizing a clear picture of the beautiful possibilities which could occur.

What have your eyes been “seeing”?  What “lens” are you looking through?

I recently met a lovely woman from London, Tina Andretta, who takes pleasure in devouring positive reading material to learn and grow.  Her most recent book seemed to create an eye-opening experience - almost like putting on a new set of lenses for the first time.  Tina shared, “New eyes are a result of renewed self belief and self image - Going back to the fact that we do not see with our eyes, but with our brains.  ...A few months ago I would have written this comment based on theory only, and now I'm talking from experience.  Since my belief system around who I am and what I'm capable of has changed, the whole world is taking on new form.  My life has totally changed in the last 2 months, and it's ABSOLUTELY because my self-image has DRAMATICALLY improved.”

Tina now sees new possibilities in the world – more beauty around her.  Possibly it is her positive reading material which has cleared her “life lens”. Her new vision is magnificent.

Now it is YOUR turn…
What have your eyes been “seeing”?  What “lens” are you looking through?  We look forward to hearing your experience.

The Wisdom in Living Life Out Loud...

Yesterday the question was asked, “Do you fear success or failure”?  In her blog, my amazing friend Carol Roth responded with, “Maybe you should fear mediocrity”. Just saying the word ‘mediocrity’ makes me cringe – always has and probably always will. There seems to be something about the way I was created that refuses to accept average.

Back in March of 2010, I began to walk down a whole new path when a business colleague and I gave birth to an idea called The Wisdom Project.  After spending a week in the amazing city of Sydney, Australia, I began collecting stories of Wisdom from women all around the globe for my first book.  With each new day, each new friend I made and each new story I received, a passion began to reveal itself inside me. Today I share this deep passion that is festering inside; it is the heartfelt desire to encourage and inspire people to “Take a step forward in life instead of a step backward…or worse yet…remain idle”.

Idleness – accepting average – living in mediocrity…not for me.  It pains me to type those words.  Life is too short to live in mediocrity.  Don't you think life is meant to be lived out loud, to the fullest?

I believe each person was born with a unique DNA. I believe it is time that each of us begin to embrace our own special DNA live life to the full. Of course that may look a little different to each person; Some will live life out loud with their hair on fire whilst skiing down a mountain at top speed.  Others will host a quaint dinner party with glitz and glam and make the headlines of a spectacular lifestyle magazine. Still others will find their true DNA by giving endless smiles and words of gratitude to every person in the airport to make people wonder if they really ARE up to something!

How about YOU?  How will you use your awesomely gorgeous DNA to live your life out loud and show other that life is too short to live in mediocrity???  Please share your thoughts - We can’t wait to hear YOUR ‘life out loud’ moments!

PS- Thanks Carol Roth for your inspiration and example of living life out loud!

PPS- Thanks Liz Strauss for the amazing Successful Online Blogger award! I value the amazing SOBCon family for how they challenge each other to be more and do more.  It’s an honor!

The Wisdom in Flying...

In America, the month of September usually brings a bit cooler temperatures with the approach of autumn and children return to school after a long summer break. Many hearts begin to reflect and remember with the onset of the 11^th day of September.  As a nation we each remember that day back in 2001 in a different way – each person knows where they were and what they were doing when the tragedy occurred.

Today I spoke with a dear friend who is an airplane pilot. We talked of many changes in the airline industry. Of course not all these changes are the result of September 11^th ; the economy has played its role.  The fact remains that when we enter an airport, the scene has changed.

One thing I have decided to always pack when travelling is my patience.  Some very simple things help me be more patient when I need to fly:

• I arrive earlier than needed to the airport.
• I put a on a smile with EVERYONE I speak to.
• I chose not to react when the other people in line small, loud children or too many bags.
• I pick the shortest line in security, place my belongings on the conveyor belt and when the guy in front of me still beeps after walking through the sensor machine 6 times….I count to 10 and think about the beach.
• I try my best to be the MOST outgoing and pleasant person that airport employee has encountered all week.

Now It’s YOUR turn…

We want to hear your Wisdom. What do YOU pack when flying to a new destination to help your travel experience be amazing??

The Wisdom of Love...

One of the strongest experiences you can have driving in your car, is the day you bring your new born child home from the hospital after giving birth.  The weight of the new responsibility sits firmly on your shoulders.  At each intersection of the drive, you offer one extra glance to the right and to the left before proceeding, giving care to accelerate as smoothly as possible.  The sky looks bluer than you’ve ever seen, the sun feels warmer than you’ve ever felt, the air smells fresher than you can remember and your heart is overflowing with joyful sensations.

It’s undeniable - THIS is LOVE.

The days, weeks and months pass while raising this child, offering a rainbow of emotions from anxiety to zeal.  Your patience is tested and you are asked to make decisions not for yourself but what is best for another.  Many times you awake in the middle of the night, shuffle to this child’s room and find peace within when you see them fast asleep.  The tears well up as you feel their innocence.

It’s undeniable – THIS is LOVE.

As the months fade into years you often find yourself looking back on the beautiful memories of this child that made you laugh and even the ones that made you cry.  The time passes quickly – each day seemingly faster than the one before.  You have poured your heart and soul and breath of life into this child only to wake up one day and realize it was YOU who was given life.

It’s undeniable – THIS is LOVE.

We are called not only to love the children but each and every individual around us.  It matters not if this assignment is easy or difficult – the stem hampered with thorns, still produces a captivating rose.  Isn’t it time we take our eyes off ourselves and truly “see” another? 

It’s undeniable – THIS is LOVE.

 

The Wisdom in Daring to Be More...

"Whatever you do, or dream you can do, begin it! Boldness has genius and power and magic in it." ~Goethe

Today is a new day. Tomorrow is gone.

What can you dare to change and begin today?

A world of thanks to Mari Smith for revealing this extraordinary video. Its beauty and message beg to be pass along. May you allow the Wisdom this video contains, to speak to your heart.

What thoughts, comments, or wisdom would you like to share about Daring to Be More: