This blog will be my place to keep track of my personal development. Until now, it's been more of a rambling than anything. So, I plan to break it into segments for Reading, Listening, Learning, Loving, Working, Playing, Planning, and whatever else helps me develop personally.
Reading is obvious. It'll contain tidbits of what I've read.
Listening will be what I heard in Automobile University.
Learning will be what I learned during the day. You know when you think "I learned something new today."
Loving will be about family and friends.
Working will be what has happened in my free-lance and day jobs.
Playing will be my time relaxing, hopefully with friends.
Planning will be my hopes for the future.
Any of these categories can include God, family, friends, work, fun, and finances.
This year I hope to be more observant, more giving, more loving, more frugal, more spiritual, healthier, wealthier, and wiser.
Reading -- I have lots of things to read, so I will change my routine to include time for reading. This shouldn't be too difficult, at least for the next month.
I got several good books for Christmas, and I bought a couple to help with my resolutions. It's important that I have a good, comfortable place to read. My son fixed the TV in the workout room so I'll have something to watch while working out. I'm excited!
Listening -- I'm listening to a series with Jim Rohn and Zig Ziglar that has been pretty inspiring. Zig talks about enrolling in automobile university where you listen to tapes and CDs while traveling, and I plan to do that. I have a friend who has gone through just about everything the library has on CD doing just that. One of the CDs was so interesting I brought it into the house and listened to it while I was cleaning house Friday. I've listened to these before in my office, but I don't get as much out of them with the distractions of having to work(!), so the car is a better choice. It's also easier to rewind if I want to hear something again. Thanks to my dear friend for lending these CDs to me.
Loving - I spent a couple hours Wednesday night writing thank you notes for the gifts I received for Christmas. Then I actually made a list of what I received. If you've ever done that, it's an eye opener. I found how truly blessed I am because of all the gifts bestowed upon me. The list includes 23 people! And some gave me more than one gift! I'm humbled and suddenly I don't feel like I deserve what I've been given, which, I guess, makes them gifts.
Playing -- I'm putting together a puzzle that will help build my skills of observation and attention to details. I have to pay attention to the colors as well as the shapes. Since it's a puzzle of a Monarch butterfly, there aren't a lot of colors. To put it together will be fun and frustrating. Once I’m finished putting it together, I have something to mount it to and glue to keep it together.
Planning -- For the past month, I've planned to be more observant. How does one begin to be more observant? What makes one more observant than another? Why does my son see things in detail when I don't even see the big things? Is it something you're born with, or is it something you can learn? I've really thought about that, and I came to the conclusion that it started with that admonitions to stop staring. Don't let him catch you staring. I realized that when I see something that's really interesting, I look away. Instead of checking out the details of something, I look away. Good looking guys, car accidents, interesting things - if it involves a person, I look away. There has to be a healthy medium between staring and looking away. I hope to be able to develop that in the year to come. I've started by trying to notice more details when I'm reading.
When I was a child, my mom used to say that whatever you do on New Year's Day, you'll do the rest of the year. I really don't know if that's true, but to make sure, I NEVER cleaned house on New Year's Day. I think this year, I'm even going to do that differently. To tell you the truth, I'm tired of being in a messy house. My house is so messy because I'm so tired when I get home, and with the free-lance work I do, I'm stuck at my computer all evening for several nights in a row. Then before I know it, the house is overwhelmingly messy.
Planning -- I put together a vision board every year to help me focus and decide on my goals. While looking for images for my 2011 vision board, I found some really interesting articles in the magazines I was searching through. I found something about changing careers or preparing for retirement, gardening, Social Security, and saving money.
Health -- My walking buddy and I plan to walk as often as possible. We started last Thursday by walking one mile after work. It wasn't as much as we used to do, but we've been off track for at least a month, and anything is better than nothing. I've actually walked more. I walked to another building and back Monday (about a mile, I think), .7 mi after work Tuesday, and in addition to the walk after work Thursday, I walked a small circle to weigh in and get lunch at the cafeteria.
My son starts working tomorrow (YEA!), and I can start doing what I want. I'll change where I sit in the living room to include a lamp that's easier to reach so I'll be able to read more spontaneously than now. I figure I'll be more active. I think I'll try to walk to the grocery store at least once a week. The library and Dollar Tree are both within walking distance. I'm actually pretty excited about this change in my life.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Sunday, December 26, 2010
The day after Christmas
I finally figured out how to make signs with designer backgrounds and affirmations. I should have taken some photos of them. I struggled with combining my square scrapbooking backgrounds with the rectangular dimensions of frames while incorporating affirmations and quotes that I've gathered for the past few months. I managed to put it all together at the last minute so I could give several as Christmas gifts.
I'm getting back into the habit of adding to my Journey to 135 blog, and it's a matter of time before I get back into the habit of adding to this one. Tonight I hope to start the process of wrapping up the year and deciding on my new year's resolutions.
I'll end this year with a blog about my wrap up and start 2011 with my new year's resolutions.
Stay tuned . . .
I'm getting back into the habit of adding to my Journey to 135 blog, and it's a matter of time before I get back into the habit of adding to this one. Tonight I hope to start the process of wrapping up the year and deciding on my new year's resolutions.
I'll end this year with a blog about my wrap up and start 2011 with my new year's resolutions.
Stay tuned . . .
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Gifts that Continue to Give
Every year I struggle with this. I want to give gifts that people will use or appreciate long after the Christmas season is over. I've managed a couple of "hits" over the years, and I'm hoping I'll do it again. I won't tell you what they are just yet, but I promise I'll tell you the day after Christmas. I can give you a hint. What I'm giving to others has been part of my personal development for the past 22 years. It involves affirmations...
I read from the Simple Abundance -- A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach as often as I can. I keep a copy in the bathroom, and there's one at work. I've had more copies, but I gave them away. As a matter of fact, I bought 20 copies one year and gave almost all of them away as Christmas gifts. The books cost 2 cents each, and the postage was $3+ each, then to ship them to my friends was $3.65. I was thrilled to share this book. I had it for many years before I actually started reading it. It's set up like a diary or printed blog, beginning with January 1. I actually started reading it almost 5 years ago, beginning with January 20. I quickly fell in love with this book. I love Sarah's messages. I feel like she's reading my soul sometimes.
If I'm not listening to Jim Rohn, Earl Nightengale, Bob Proctor, I am reading Sarah Ban Breathnach.
Today's Simple Abundance message was about taking a nap. I LOVE LOVE LOVE taking naps. When my kids were babies, I'd nap when they did. For many years, I'd wake up one hour later, almost to the minute. Now, I sometimes sleep longer, but for the most part, one hour is exactly what I need. My grandfather was a farmer, and after lunch every day, he'd take a nap. Of course, my sister and I napped at the same time until we got older. Then got in trouble if we woke him.
My grandson doesn't take a regular nap at home that I know of. So when I babysit, I try to get him to lay down. I'm usually asleep before him. It was the same with my granddaughter when she was little and I babysat her.
I read from the Simple Abundance -- A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach as often as I can. I keep a copy in the bathroom, and there's one at work. I've had more copies, but I gave them away. As a matter of fact, I bought 20 copies one year and gave almost all of them away as Christmas gifts. The books cost 2 cents each, and the postage was $3+ each, then to ship them to my friends was $3.65. I was thrilled to share this book. I had it for many years before I actually started reading it. It's set up like a diary or printed blog, beginning with January 1. I actually started reading it almost 5 years ago, beginning with January 20. I quickly fell in love with this book. I love Sarah's messages. I feel like she's reading my soul sometimes.
If I'm not listening to Jim Rohn, Earl Nightengale, Bob Proctor, I am reading Sarah Ban Breathnach.
Today's Simple Abundance message was about taking a nap. I LOVE LOVE LOVE taking naps. When my kids were babies, I'd nap when they did. For many years, I'd wake up one hour later, almost to the minute. Now, I sometimes sleep longer, but for the most part, one hour is exactly what I need. My grandfather was a farmer, and after lunch every day, he'd take a nap. Of course, my sister and I napped at the same time until we got older. Then got in trouble if we woke him.
My grandson doesn't take a regular nap at home that I know of. So when I babysit, I try to get him to lay down. I'm usually asleep before him. It was the same with my granddaughter when she was little and I babysat her.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Where Have I Been?
Gosh, I think about blogging every day. As a matter of fact, sometimes I think I've even been here. But as you can see, Nov. 11 was the last time I posted anything.
I lost my pedometer last Thursday while walking to a turkey fry at St. Mary's. That was the 2nd turkey meal that day. We had a Thanksgiving meal at work, which I shared with very dear friends. I stuffed myself. As a matter of fact, I was so full I didn't think I'd eat again for 2 days. But by the time I got off work and headed to pick my son up from work, I was hungry again. The turkey dinner at St. Mary's was a real disappointment. I expected to see a large crowd, but there was only about 30 people there. And we had to wait about an hour for turkey. They had a couple of fryers going, but they kept running out of turkey. I wonder if they weren't deep frying cornish game hens or something small. It only cost 3 canned goods. So I guess, what should I expect?
Sunday was a Thanksgiving meal at church. It was a potluck with fried turkeys again. There was a huge spread of food and desserts. Again, I stuffed myself. I'm praying I'll have more discipline at the actual Thanksgiving dinner at my sister's.
I managed to have a little money left over before payday, so my son and I went to the grocery store. I told him we had $30 to spend. I went with a list and my calculator. When we finished, the calculator showed $29.99. I'm usually a couple of dollars off, but the cashier said the total was $29.99. We high-fived each other. I managed to pay the bills this time, but I charged $10 for gas and used my Avon money to buy groceries and pay 1/2 of a credit card payment. This payday had unexpected expenses, so I guess we did OK.
Since Nov. 13, we've been eating from the pantry and freezer. No extra money to shop, so we had to be creative. My son was amazed that we had really good meals every night. It seemed like magic that I was able to pull it off night after night. I'd look in the pantry and my brain would start clicking. I made a most delicious chicken soup with brown rice, 13 bean soup, pasta with chicken and tomato sauce and green beans, sweet potato pie, corn bread twice, pancakes, French toast, tacos with fried eggs instead of tortillas and refried beans and cheese. YUM!
I lost my pedometer last Thursday while walking to a turkey fry at St. Mary's. That was the 2nd turkey meal that day. We had a Thanksgiving meal at work, which I shared with very dear friends. I stuffed myself. As a matter of fact, I was so full I didn't think I'd eat again for 2 days. But by the time I got off work and headed to pick my son up from work, I was hungry again. The turkey dinner at St. Mary's was a real disappointment. I expected to see a large crowd, but there was only about 30 people there. And we had to wait about an hour for turkey. They had a couple of fryers going, but they kept running out of turkey. I wonder if they weren't deep frying cornish game hens or something small. It only cost 3 canned goods. So I guess, what should I expect?
Sunday was a Thanksgiving meal at church. It was a potluck with fried turkeys again. There was a huge spread of food and desserts. Again, I stuffed myself. I'm praying I'll have more discipline at the actual Thanksgiving dinner at my sister's.
I managed to have a little money left over before payday, so my son and I went to the grocery store. I told him we had $30 to spend. I went with a list and my calculator. When we finished, the calculator showed $29.99. I'm usually a couple of dollars off, but the cashier said the total was $29.99. We high-fived each other. I managed to pay the bills this time, but I charged $10 for gas and used my Avon money to buy groceries and pay 1/2 of a credit card payment. This payday had unexpected expenses, so I guess we did OK.
Since Nov. 13, we've been eating from the pantry and freezer. No extra money to shop, so we had to be creative. My son was amazed that we had really good meals every night. It seemed like magic that I was able to pull it off night after night. I'd look in the pantry and my brain would start clicking. I made a most delicious chicken soup with brown rice, 13 bean soup, pasta with chicken and tomato sauce and green beans, sweet potato pie, corn bread twice, pancakes, French toast, tacos with fried eggs instead of tortillas and refried beans and cheese. YUM!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Speaking About Leadership
I don't know why leadership has become such a hot topic with me. For the past few weeks, I've been almost obsessed with wanting to learn and share as much info about leadership as I can.
I spent several hours at speech contests observing the Area, Division, and District leadership of Toastmasters. And they seem to be a good group of people with whom I would like to be involved. I have been a member of Toastmasters long enough to know that the dynamics of each team changes year to year. The group of area governors this time around is fun, and I like most of them. Next year, I'm hoping they are even better!
I already told my boss that I was probably going to be an area governor next year, which is a July 1-June 30 commitment. It's a leadership training program that I've avoided for years. But, I feel I'm ready to commit and take on the challenge.
Some really great opportunities have come my way since last year when I accepted an invitation to speak at a leadership workshop at Security Service Federal Credit Union. I set it up like a mini Toastmasters meeting with a Toastmaster of the day, an Evaluator, and a Table Topics Master, and of course, my speech. It was so successful that they started 2 Toastmasters clubs last month.
I'm on the mentor team for one of the clubs that meets close to my office, and they meet at 7:00 in the morning, so I can do it and get to work at a reasonable hour.
Today we got the schedule for our next club meeting, and I'm Speaker #1, so I quickly found an article that John C. Maxwell wrote for Success Magazine that I'm going to use. I actually took it to the meeting yesterday just in case I needed to fill time as the Toastmaster of the Day.
The article is about leading from the middle of the organization. It's really good, and I'll use it as the first of a series of speeches about leadership. I read John C. Maxwell's book the 360-Degree Leader, and I've listened to his "How to Handle Criticism" on the Success Magazine CD. Plus, I've read most of his 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. He's a great teacher.
When I was president of our club a couple of years ago, I challenged everyone to complete their Competent Leadership manual, and one person did! I still have lots of projects to do to complete mine, but I will, slowly. And when I do, I'll earn a CL, then practically next day, the CLB, and shortly after that, the CLS.
I'm doing everything for the advanced levels, but getting through the manual is grueling! And that's the first level! The hardest part is remembering to get someone to evaluate me as I do the projects!
I spent several hours at speech contests observing the Area, Division, and District leadership of Toastmasters. And they seem to be a good group of people with whom I would like to be involved. I have been a member of Toastmasters long enough to know that the dynamics of each team changes year to year. The group of area governors this time around is fun, and I like most of them. Next year, I'm hoping they are even better!
I already told my boss that I was probably going to be an area governor next year, which is a July 1-June 30 commitment. It's a leadership training program that I've avoided for years. But, I feel I'm ready to commit and take on the challenge.
Some really great opportunities have come my way since last year when I accepted an invitation to speak at a leadership workshop at Security Service Federal Credit Union. I set it up like a mini Toastmasters meeting with a Toastmaster of the day, an Evaluator, and a Table Topics Master, and of course, my speech. It was so successful that they started 2 Toastmasters clubs last month.
I'm on the mentor team for one of the clubs that meets close to my office, and they meet at 7:00 in the morning, so I can do it and get to work at a reasonable hour.
Today we got the schedule for our next club meeting, and I'm Speaker #1, so I quickly found an article that John C. Maxwell wrote for Success Magazine that I'm going to use. I actually took it to the meeting yesterday just in case I needed to fill time as the Toastmaster of the Day.
The article is about leading from the middle of the organization. It's really good, and I'll use it as the first of a series of speeches about leadership. I read John C. Maxwell's book the 360-Degree Leader, and I've listened to his "How to Handle Criticism" on the Success Magazine CD. Plus, I've read most of his 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. He's a great teacher.
When I was president of our club a couple of years ago, I challenged everyone to complete their Competent Leadership manual, and one person did! I still have lots of projects to do to complete mine, but I will, slowly. And when I do, I'll earn a CL, then practically next day, the CLB, and shortly after that, the CLS.
I'm doing everything for the advanced levels, but getting through the manual is grueling! And that's the first level! The hardest part is remembering to get someone to evaluate me as I do the projects!
Friday, October 22, 2010
A Free Meal
I finally talked my son into volunteering, and lo and behold, he's eligible for a free meal at a volunteer appreciation luncheon Nov. 11! For someone who expects instant gratification, he now appreciates the rewards of volunteering.
Tomorrow I'm judging humorous speech contests, and there'll be snacks. I'm planning to take a bag of Sun chips and something healthy to eat so I won't completely undo my weight loss.
Another thing happened this week -- well actually last week -- I decided to go for a DTM designation in Toastmasters. DTM stands for Distinguished Toastmaster, and it's not the easiest level to earn. To be a DTM, you have to go through the other levels, then you have to go outside your club. You have to get active with another club, and the Area, Division, or District leadership -- sort of like being a district manager. You either have 5 or 6 clubs that you take care of for a year, or 5 or 6 areas. Today I missed an opportunity to give a speech. Speeches are still a big part of earning the DTM. You have to complete all the AC levels. I'm an ACB (Advanced Communicator Bronze) The other levels are ACS (Silver) and ACG (Gold).
I've already talked to my boss about this and how it can be equated to being involved in a leadership training program, and he agrees. He's behind me 100%. Or at least he is now. I'll be using lots of vacation time while I'm visiting the clubs. I'm actually getting started by being a mentor/sponsor for a new club that will meet once a month, so I'm on my way!
It's funny...in January, I decided to work on my health and my personal development. They are happening! December 22, I joined Weight Watchers to begin the health part. Then in April we started a year-long personal development program that has become derailed. But the lessons I learned have helped get me fired up to make changes and to set goals. I'm still trying some on for size and doing some research. But knowledge is useless unless it is knowledge in action. Sometimes I spend too much time fixing to get ready to get started.
Tomorrow I'm judging humorous speech contests, and there'll be snacks. I'm planning to take a bag of Sun chips and something healthy to eat so I won't completely undo my weight loss.
Another thing happened this week -- well actually last week -- I decided to go for a DTM designation in Toastmasters. DTM stands for Distinguished Toastmaster, and it's not the easiest level to earn. To be a DTM, you have to go through the other levels, then you have to go outside your club. You have to get active with another club, and the Area, Division, or District leadership -- sort of like being a district manager. You either have 5 or 6 clubs that you take care of for a year, or 5 or 6 areas. Today I missed an opportunity to give a speech. Speeches are still a big part of earning the DTM. You have to complete all the AC levels. I'm an ACB (Advanced Communicator Bronze) The other levels are ACS (Silver) and ACG (Gold).
I've already talked to my boss about this and how it can be equated to being involved in a leadership training program, and he agrees. He's behind me 100%. Or at least he is now. I'll be using lots of vacation time while I'm visiting the clubs. I'm actually getting started by being a mentor/sponsor for a new club that will meet once a month, so I'm on my way!
It's funny...in January, I decided to work on my health and my personal development. They are happening! December 22, I joined Weight Watchers to begin the health part. Then in April we started a year-long personal development program that has become derailed. But the lessons I learned have helped get me fired up to make changes and to set goals. I'm still trying some on for size and doing some research. But knowledge is useless unless it is knowledge in action. Sometimes I spend too much time fixing to get ready to get started.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Get Involved
My son is always marveling at the free meals I get. It's because I'm involved and volunteer all the time. He's between jobs (has been unemployed for 9 months, and it's getting to both of us), so I took him to the main branch of the Library to sign up as a volunteer in their book store where old books are sold cheap. He'll work Thursdays from 1:00-7:00. He needs to get out of the house to do something besides visit his girlfriend and look for a job. He needs stimulating interaction. He's not getting it in front of the TV or his computer.
Because of my "civic" organizations, I've been so busy with stuff that I was meeting myself coming and going. But my activities have slowed down somewhat, and I actually have time to breathe. I'm very active with my church and Toastmasters, and they keep me pretty busy. Plus, I'm planning for retirement, which really just means when the time comes and I don't like my job anymore or I feel I can make more money doing something else.
Right now, I'm trying on different possibilities. I'd like to become a feng shui consultant, or a public speaker, or a wedding coordinator, or publish a magazine.
Plus I have an idea for a bracelet that I'd like to make and market to churches. It's sort of like the WWJD idea. It's to help you make good choices. I wanted to do this several years ago when the rubber bracelets were really popular, but I couldn't find a manufacturing contact for them until last fall. But, no one wears them anymore. So I'm looking at other possibilities.
In the meantime, I'm still publishing a bi-monthly newsletter and I do on-line newsletters for a Stampin' Up! demonstrator friend of mine, plus I sell Avon in addition to my church and Toastmasters activities.
Because of my "civic" organizations, I've been so busy with stuff that I was meeting myself coming and going. But my activities have slowed down somewhat, and I actually have time to breathe. I'm very active with my church and Toastmasters, and they keep me pretty busy. Plus, I'm planning for retirement, which really just means when the time comes and I don't like my job anymore or I feel I can make more money doing something else.
Right now, I'm trying on different possibilities. I'd like to become a feng shui consultant, or a public speaker, or a wedding coordinator, or publish a magazine.
Plus I have an idea for a bracelet that I'd like to make and market to churches. It's sort of like the WWJD idea. It's to help you make good choices. I wanted to do this several years ago when the rubber bracelets were really popular, but I couldn't find a manufacturing contact for them until last fall. But, no one wears them anymore. So I'm looking at other possibilities.
In the meantime, I'm still publishing a bi-monthly newsletter and I do on-line newsletters for a Stampin' Up! demonstrator friend of mine, plus I sell Avon in addition to my church and Toastmasters activities.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)