Never a Straight Path

Some of the best failures have turned into epic successes. Abraham Lincoln failed in several senate races, a job, a business, a run for Vice President and eventually, well . . . he became the most famous president in the history of the United States. 

Penicillin was discovered in error when Alexander Fleming left dirty petri dishes in his workstation. What about Post-it Notes?! I love these tiny messy paper pieces. Spencer Silver was trying to develop a super strong adhesive. Instead, he did the opposite and I'm sure that 3M is grateful. 

Colonel Sanders started his venture at 68, after hearing "NO" 1,000 times when he attempted to sell his chicken recipe. He kept asking, and finally found investors. Seven years later, Colonel Sanders sold his Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises for fifteen-million dollars. Did you know that his venture to sell his recipe started when the freeway route changed and his roadside diner failed? Walt Disney was told he lacked creativity. Bill Gates watched his first company crumble. Jim Carrey was booed off stage and failed in his audition for Saturday Night Live.

"Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm." —Winston Churchill

Epic examples, but certainly inspiration to keep going, no matter how large or small the task.

Don't Ignore Your Need to Play

One of the best antidotes for stress is play. It doesn’t have to be physical. What puts a smile on your heart?

Puppies, children or a quiet game of chess? Reading, running, rough-housing or dancing and singing? Video games, a walk on the beach or a trip to Disneyland? If you forgot how to play, just try something. Cheers to finding a little joy today in play!  

Just Try

Kinder, Better, Smile

I envision a kinder world, a place where you and I are mindful with our responses, and authentic in our existence. Send a little love to the ones who aggravate us the most and take a little time to share a smile. It doesn’t take much to welcome and be welcomed.

 Just try.

Where did the Year go?

WELCOME to the New Year. . . 

Another day in your life, a new beginning, as is every moment, second, minute, hour, day, and year.

It's Happening!

Enjoy the ride.

Note: When the ride is over, start another one because being done is being done.

I believe

As a child, I didn't know that Christmas wasn't a universal holiday. 

I always thought everybody enjoyed that magical feeling that swirled through my insides as THE big day approached. Christmas equaled magic. How did that old fat guy, Santa Claus do it? How did he get into our house and leave a myriad of toys under our fake tree? 

As an angst driven teenager, I discovered the trickery behind the inclusive Christmas holiday. Sadly, that twirling butterfly feeling I'd experienced completely disappeared. How foolish of me to believe magic existed. The world was surely a dark place and I was a pawn in a scheme against . . . something.

But then I grew out of my dark phase and eventually realized magic truly does exist in every moment of everyday. This evolution of mine occurred over time and it's not easily pinpointed to a single event. Maybe it was surviving advanced cancer or maybe it was wisdom in aging—however the transformation took place, I sure am grateful for my multi-demonsional vision. 

Magic is everywhere, you can't miss it. Just look and you shall see.

 

Unabashed Joy: A life Mission

I travelled with my friends, Annie and Lynda in October, last year. Napa Valley and wine tasting after a weekend at Hoffman Institute for a refresh of the original Hoffman course. We stayed in an Air BnB artist loft and fully engaged in the local culture (ahem). During our preparation for a night out, Annie stated that she was going to develop a mission statement for her life. What a fabulous idea.

I followed Annie's lead. Bravo for her wisdom. I put into words that which I'd been living for the previous few years. I'd listened to Abraham-Hicks so much that I could almost hear Esther coaching me through my one sentence mission statement.

My mission in life is to inspire others by living a life of joy. 

Is my mission statement fool proof? No. But searching for joy in every waking day is a long way from where I stood five, ten years ago. My life is interesting. From walking to the postoffice, to meeting the locals in Kenya, to living at the beach—my adventures have only just begun.

Thank you Annie for helping me focus on my mission. I am truly blessed.