“Hey, Honey…I have an idea,” my husband typically starts the conversation. “Um, you do?” I hesitantly reply. Now, I love hearing all my Country Boy’s thoughts and dreams. However, I have discovered that almost none of his ideas are small or short term. His goals usually involve packing boxes or lots of late dinners and long Saturdays, whereas, I enjoy setting short term goals. As we have comes to realize our different goal setting styles, we are able to work together more smoothly. It is vital to understand your goal setting type as you set about accomplishing your goals. Whether you are talking about personal goals, family goals or business goals, you will want to understand your goal setting style!
Build Your Stress Tolerance
Do you struggle to maintain your equilibrium through the ups and downs of life? Does your creativity dramatically drop when the pressures of life push in on you? Do you need to discover ways to build your stress tolerance so that you feel productive and confident even in stressful times? [Read more…]
9 Soothing Gifts for a Stressed or Weary Friend
Summer is almost here in the Midwest! My husband and children planted flowers, mulched and mowed Sunday making the yard around our farmhouse lovely. Now the view out my kitchen window is even more calming and beautiful. It made me think about those things in our lives that rejuvenate and allow us to relax and refuel. I thought it would be fun to put together a list of 9 soothing gifts for a stressed or weary friend.
I am blessed to have many wonderful gift givers in my life. When I feel stressed due to some big adventure we are in the middle of or weary due to needing to recover physically, inevitably a gift shows up. I love gifts! Love to give them and receive them. I especially enjoy sending a gift in the mail anticipating a friends receiving it! So what are some great soothing gifts for a stressed or weary friend. What gift will encourage your friend to take a breathe, find a minute for themselves, or gain some calming perspective? [Read more…]
Dear Friend: A Letter of Encouragement
Dear Friend,
I wanted to send you a letter of encouragement, as I was thinking about you today. Life is really hard for you right now, but I don’t want you to lose hope. My sweet friend, as you read my letter of encouragement may you feel strengthened and comforted.
Are You Trapped in Crisis Mode?
The woman sitting across from me was living in crisis mode. Fifteen years ago, I was just starting out as a court and family advocate. Part of the job I loved was talking with the clients that came into our agency. After hearing the woman in my office speak for close to half an hour, I was greatly concerned. She was in a very vulnerable position. Her current relationship was abusive. And to make matters worse she seemed trapped in crisis mode. [Read more…]
Finding Contentment: Blooming Where You Are Planted
By nature, many of us struggle to find contentment. We tend to look backward living in our memories. Or we want to rush forward to the next stage. Finding contentment and blooming where you are planted is pivotal to appreciating today, practicing gratitude and growing where we are. [Read more…]
6 Activities to Help Teens Discover Their Passion and Purpose
From my years working with teens, I have noticed that when a teen connects with their interests they are more focused on their future. They tend to be more motivated, as they press forward and over obstacles to obtain their goals. But how do we help our teen find their passion and make time in their schedule for career development? Here are 6 simple activities to help teens discover their passion and purpose! [Read more…]
Book Review of A Mother’s Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy by Sue Klebold
When I first saw the book, A Mother’s Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy by Sue Klebold, I was both eager to read and dreading it at the same time. Sue Klebold is the mother of Dylan Klebold, one of the teenagers who entered Columbine High School and killed 13 students and faculty. To read the very words of one whose life and name had become synonymous with the Columbine High School shooting massacre of 1999, felt overwhelming and too dark.
However, I truly appreciate a book showing the human spirit’s ability to rise above tragedy. And one of my librarians gave me her compelling review, so I decided to take the plunge and read the book. [Read more…]
Are You Ready to Date Again?
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I almost burned our house down that day. It all started when I was cleaning out my work desk downstairs. Little did I realize the mess that was about to unfold. Sometimes our dating lives can be like that, messy and nearly disastrous. So before you decide are you ready to date again, ask yourself the four questions below. [Read more…]
Finding the Right Job for You
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H
ave you ever had that feeling that something is off, but you are not sure what? For those of you who may not know, the picture above is of a round bale feeder. The cattle are SUPPOSED to stand on the outside and reach in with their necks to feed. This heifer decided to just stand inside the feeder! Not sure how she managed that! It did remind me of a job I had years ago where everything felt off, and how I was faced with finding the right job.
In the 90’s I began working as a flight attendant. In general, I loved this job. It was flexible, I had unbelievable flight benefits and the sun was almost always shining above the clouds.
But, alas, there came a time when I needed a job with more stable hours, where I was home every night. So I took another job. [Read more…]
