I find I am most productive when I stay busy and focused. My goals to be successful, in-shape, and a published author keep me motivated. Since I just moved my youngest child out of the home, I set up a home office/gym.

The biggest changes are that I am now a Beachbody Coach and jewelry designer.

For myself, I use the new 22 Minute Hard Corps videos with Tony Horton and actual armed forces veterans. In Texas, I used P90X (the original) and Insanity to drop 30 pounds in 3 months. I will write a post that details my weight loss/gain experiences over the last 20 years. It has been an uphill battle to keep weight off. I want to inspire others to realize their fitness goals.

This crazy ride called life is exciting and wonderful. My manuscript is nearing the final stages, ready to send to beta readers. I have enough jewelry to do a small exhibit. English courses are set to begin Aug 22nd and Sept 1st.

Tight deadlines and daily time management planning ensure each of my passions get the attention they deserve. Stay tuned for more details............................

Leap of Faith

We never know where our life is going to lead us. Choices we made 1, 5, 10 years ago affect what we are doing today. I have a five year plan for myself, but no specific career goal in mind. I believe right now, at this time in my life, that I am going to end up exactly where I belong. Is it a writer? A teacher? A copywriter/editor? Sweeping floors at a college or screenwriting my #1 bestseller into a movie? Who knows. All I know is I plan to be success and exceedingly happy wherever I go. And, thanks to Polyvore, I have the outfits prepared that will take me anywhere. Follow me there too, it's always fun and good times.

Remember, don't sweat the small stuff or stress over that which you cannot change. To do so diminishes the here and now. Always live in the moment and enjoy this roller coaster called life. Growing older isn't a smooth ride, but it is a ride not afforded to all. Spend time every day to meditate and be thankful for all that has happened.

Go where the opportunities are, for you never know what awaits you "over there".

Something New

In an effort for my family to truly know each other I put 200+ conversation starters into a jar today. Tonight my husband, son and daughter sat around the kitchen table and answered several questions. Before everyone ran off to do their own thing, a normal occurrence in a household with a fireman and two teenagers, we laughed and talked. I've found that as the kids are getting older it is harder to find the time to sit and eat dinner as a family. When they were young we did it every night. NO watching TV in while we ate, or taking our plate to separate rooms to "hang out". We sat together and talked about our day, or got a little loud and crazy telling stories. I miss those times. So I started the "Family Dinner Questions" jar. It may take some getting use to, especially for my 18 year old son who tends to keep everything inside. But I think this is going to be an exercise that makes a close family even closer. Just because four people live in the same home does NOT mean that they truly know each other. This should help to change all that.

Here is a sample of the types of questions we have to answer: 

Can someone be “educated” if they never went to college ? Explain.

Robert Frost wrote “Freedom lies in being bold,”. Tell about a time you had to be bold.

Talk about the most difficult transition that you have ever experienced.

 

 

 

 

By trying this exercise my family and I are not only divulging our ideals to each other, we have to do so to ourselves. Sometimes it takes a deep question, or two, to get a person thinking about who they are and what they want in life. Some of the questions ask us to list what we like most about ourselves, or what we like least. The answers one chooses can reveal a lot.

I cannot wait for dinner tomorrow :)

JUST LET IT BE

Why do we constantly try to force events to bend to our will? I am finding it is better, for the sake of happiness and SANITY, to just let it be. Work as hard as you can for what you want, but then let the chips fall where they may. If a person is constantly fighting to achieve the impossible they cannot fully enjoy today, enjoy the here and now. Trying to change your fate forces you to live in the future, constantly worrying about when your life's direction is going to veer off to another place. This is no way to live, no way to experience the sheer joy of breathing and laughing and loving.

After a couple of months of working to begin a new career path, I have come to one simple conclusion; I am going to end up exactly where I belong. Yes, there is a specific job I would love to acquire. But if that does not happen, then I stay where I am and continue as I've been living. And is there anything wrong with where I am? NO! My life is pretty good and although I know I don't wish it to remain stagnant, I have to stop forcing the issue.

When I begin stressing about events not coming along as fast as I desire, I simply take out my notebook and write. Losing myself in my greatest passion cements me in the present, without the need to stress or think about "what might be". Stress and worry robs us of the beauty and majesty that is life. Right now I am only concentrating on my "sphere of influence". Those events in my life that I have complete control over. All the other, such as a  new job, a book deal, or moving away from home, will happen at that exact moment that they are supposed to happen. And not a moment before.