Who Inspires You?

There is no use trying, said Alice; one can't believe impossible things. I dare say you haven't had much practice, said the Queen. When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.

Lewis Carroll

One of the things I think about the people who have inspired me personally is that they believed in me and what I could accomplish. Sometimes they believed in me before I did myself. It was that believe that spurned me on. My old high school English teacher, Mr. Horne, would look me square in the eye and ask me about college, as if there were no other option for me. For years after he was my teacher, he would run into me and face me off, demanding with his tone that I deliver what he knew I was capable of. People like him gave me the strength to continue when it got hard. I knew he could see I was capable of the future I dreamed of. Mr. Horne, I owe him a lot. As a transfer student in ninth grade, he made sure I was put into Regents classes and pointed toward the college path. And every chance he had, he made sure I knew I could and I was expected to succeed. He knew how to push my performance buttons. I have thought of him many times over the years. He was one of my first career guides. I suspect he is long gone, as he was close to retirement when I was just a kid. But he lives on with me. In my heart and in my lifelong desire to seek knowledge and growth.

Mary Donn is one such person to my daughter. She looks at her and sees what she is capable of, what she can deliver to the team and for herself. She expects it and gives it herself. What a gift.

Who inspires you?

Share in the comments section!

Check out my review of Three Cups here!

Go No Maintenance

Well, I finally did it. I told my hairstylist I need a "wash and wear" cut. In summer, in Florida, I spend a lot of time in the water or in the heat. So, I am either sweating like an animal or floating around in salt water. Either way, you can imagine the charming look that creates for someone who has little time or interest in being married to her blow dryer and hair straightener.

So, I decided to take the plunge. I went in to Magna's thinking "Rosemary's Baby" or Winona Ryder's pixie cut. After talking to Jodi, my hairstylist, and seeing the slightest look of horror on her face, (Some people can't do the pixie cut. Let's put it this way, my head is about twice the size it would need to be for that cut.) I began to lose faith. But alas, Jodi has never steered me wrong. In fact, every time I go in to see her, I think the cut is the best cut I have ever had. Jodi had her plan and I put my faith in her.

Miraculously, she did it! Short, but not to the point of creating a zippy the pin head effect. And guess what! It really is wash and wear. I can comb it after the shower and that is it. Dries adorable. Why I didn't do this a hundred years ago is beyond me.

This no maintenance cut means my hair looks pretty good all the time and with no effort. Wow. So, of course, it got me to thinking, where else can I go "no maintenance?"

Here are a few that make sense.

Pay for a lawn service.

Buy things online.

Buy precut veggies and fruit.

Purchase clothes that are iron free.

Take your items out of the dryer and fold immediately.

What are your no maintenance strategies to keep your life simple?

Add them in the comments section here!

Your Possibilities

So, this morning is the first day of summer vacation and my daughter wakes up with the flu. Unbelievable. Unable to sleep, she asks the usual, for me to sit with her and watch a movie. This is at about 6 in the morning, by the way. We picked Last Holiday, a Queen Latifah favorite of both of ours. Of course, within minutes, she was fast asleep and I was hooked.

In the story, without giving away too much, the main character has lived her whole life waiting. She has created this Book of Possibilities which she spends a lot of time mooning over. It is filled with her wishes, places she wants to see, people she wants to meet, even food she wants to try. Her book has become a wish list kept at arms length. Everything remains a possibility, an abstract dream that she never seems to reach out for.

Well, it got me to thinking. Queen Latifah was halfway there. SHE KNEW WHAT HER DREAMS WERE. That is more than a lot of people can say. But her error was in focusing on the book, not where the book could take her. Her fear stopped her at the possibility and she didn’t work on making the reality. For the record, that is just the beginning of the movie. You have to see the whole thing to see what happens to her.

But back to possibilities. I mean, maybe we should all have a possibilities book, except maybe we should call it our PBR book, possibilities become realities. The Queen Latifah character hid behind her dreams instead of reaching out to them.
While I was watching her interview at the end of the movie, yes I watched the special features; she talked about embracing “life as an adventure.” I wonder how much each of us knows what our own Book of Possibilities looks like, and further, how many of us know how to turn those dreams into reality. For Queen Latifah, one decision linked to another. Every time she took a step toward her “possibilities” it led to another.

What was interesting about her Book and what makes it different is that it is a bit childlike. It uses art, like collaging and photos to create pictures of what she wants to have and be. What an idea. Instead of writing goals, to create a book of possibilities, using different art mediums, old photos cut up, brochures, even magazine clippings, all to create a picture from your mind's eye.

Today I suggest you spent a little time considering your own possibilities. Maybe even start a possibilities book for yourself using art instead of writing as your medium and see what it brings.

Keep in mind that using art to highlight your dreams actually uses a different part of your brain and makes your mind open up and work in different ways. Who knows what will end up on the canvas. And then follow in Queen Latifah's footsteps and take one step at a time in the direction of that picture.

I encourage you to share your possibilities and how you intend to make them reality in the comments section of this article. And definitely I encourage you to share these dreams with those you love!

Dictionary.com says “possible” means “that can be done.”

Jump in!

Remember to make the moment happen!

Maria

The 10% Factor

What are your 10% stories? Share how you gave the extra 10% more, or made the additional effort and what the result was. Or share your struggles, funny stories or even tales of missing the 10%. Just share!

Thanks! Maria

Summer Stressors: The Bathing Suit

For 15 % of you, summer stress is all about getting into those summer clothes, in particular, the dreaded “B” word. Here are some responses that sum it up!

Getting into a bathing suit (OMG--yikes)--even wearing shorts--cellulite city. Robin

Trying to squeeze my big white butt into a bathing suit and still pretend that I look good in it. Not to mention that I need to go buy a new one and humilate myself by having to look at myself in the mirror and try not to throw up or laugh in hysterics. Other than that, I love the summer and can't wait for warm weather. Cynthia

How to survive bathing suit season

1. Start moving. I mean, you could exercise yourself senseless all through June with one to two workouts a day, after joining an expensive gym. The problem? This generally ends in disaster. We usually can’t go from 0 to 60 with a good result. Most of us who have tried this end up with a gym membership we never use and a crushed ego when we don’t see the body of our dreams in the mirror after 4 weeks. What if instead we tried getting moving? Taking a 15 minute walk after lunch and dinner, maybe riding the bike once a week or so, even taking the stairs will point us in the right direction.

2. Tweak the diet. It seems so easy to go on a fad diet. These are a great form of torture that lead us to a quick loss of water weight, but for most of us, they don’t last. Our behavior and our minds can’t keep up the routine. What about reducing a little here and there? Adding some water, not eating late at night. Those little changes will add up over time.

3. Wear a tarp all summer. By tarp, I don’t mean a giant piece of canvas they used to make lean-tos with in the 70’s. Yes, I am flashing back to my childhood. Put a tarp over all those nasty little thoughts you have about yourself. Give yourself a break and cover up negative thinking. Maybe putting a tarp over our thoughts is one was to escape the dread of bathing suit season.

4. Fast forward 20. Try picturing yourself 20 years from now. I have worked with countless patients who spent so much of their lives berating their bodies. And it is always the same story. When they look at a picture of themselves at another time in their lives, they ask the same question, “What didn’t I like about myself? I looked great back then.” Consider getting some coaching from an older and wiser you. 20 years from now this body you have will be looking pretty good. Put it in perspective and see what happens.

5. Laugh it off. Self deprication can be funny at times, with balance. Don’t take your appearance quite so serious. Embrace who you are and laugh about it. Life is too short to let cellulite and love handles stop you from living.

6. Chose wisely. Consider what you wear. Educate yourself a bit about what flatters your body type, what colors look good on you. Just know your body’s strengths and work with them. Pewter may be the color of the season but if it makes you look like a carcass, take a pass and work with what you got!

7. Find your fabulousness. What are your assets? Spend some time with those, okay? Know what you have going for you and do battle with those negative thoughts by reminding yourself about your “good side.” Don’t be telling me you don’t have any. That is ridiculous. Find them and know them and face the big “B” with a smile on your face and courage in your step.

Because whether you admit it or not, there is some serious fabulousness happening with your body. Grab onto it and enjoy the season!


What bugs you about bathing suit season and what do you do to cope? Share your answers, funny stories and feedback in the comments section. Thanks!

Maria

Camp Curiosity

Learn about and sign your kids up for Camp Curiosity here, the 6 week at home summer camp that costs only about $3.00 a week!