Saturday of getting some things done

 

Sept. 11, 2021

The day started out as a usual Saturday. My schedule included getting water from the water store and running to Sprouts with a virtual lunch with Laura and later a virtual get together with Jan, Diane, Sonia, Julie, and Marie.

I called David while I was on the way home from the store to see if he wanted to come by to get my bed rails to have them shortened. He said he was available.

Laura and I visited for an hour. It was so good to visit with her. I think I’ll try to set up something like that with other friends as we continue to go through this pandemic/self-imposed quarantine. I invited her to do the Jim Rohn one-year success plan with me, and she accepted. I sent the first 4 emails to her and told her I’d wait for her. I’m hoping that wasn’t a mistake. In the meantime, I’ll read and declutter.

I picked up David about 2:30 and we walked through the house to show him the deck and what needs to be done out there. He and I took the bed apart so he could take the rails. Then he started on the kitchen faucet that has been turning itself off since last year. I didn’t have the correct core puller, so I looked for a YouTube video showing how to replace the core. All we found was something that showed how to remove some of the pieces, which helped David get to the core. That’s when we discovered the faucet was a Kohler, not a Moen. All the parts I got were for Moen, so we headed to Home Depot with those parts to see if we could exchange them. Yay! Success! We found the correct part and while David fixed the faucet, I was able to visit with the girls. Sonia didn’t make it because she was with her parents. Diane was there with her grandbaby. So cute! I got David home about 6:45 and ran home to eat dinner before it was too late.

Week Three

 

Week Three

Sept. 10, 2021

Questions for Reflection:

Q. If your level of success is determined by what kind of person you are, then what kind of person are you?

Although I protest and say I don’t, I like to learn new things. Although I say I’m a lover not a fighter, I am up for a challenge. I was a single parent while I finished my college degree. It took years of determination, dedication, and strength. Those were the 10 toughest years of my life.

Q. What can you do to become a better person?

Get over myself. I’m always worrying about what people will think, that I might make a mistake and make a fool of myself.

So what? What if I make a mistake, what if I look foolish? At least I’m moving forward and learning from my mistakes.

Q. How can you attract a higher level of success?

Instead of watching TV or playing games on my phone, I can attract a higher level of success by filling my head with lessons from great teachers like Jesus Christ, Jim Rohn, and Zig Ziglar.

Q. Are you currently working for wages or for profits? Are you making a living or making your fortune? What can you do to get going in the right direction?

Currently, I’m retired dabbling in publishing and direct sales. I’m not really doing much with either. If I did put effort into either, I could make profits.

Q. Do you tend to want to change the seasons or yourself? How does this affect your situation?

I definitely wish to change the seasons. “It’s too hot to walk, garden, etc. I’ll do it when it’s cooler.”

Q. Think of the darkest winter you have experienced. Looking back, what good things did you learn or what good things came from it?

My darkest winter was the 10 years I was in college with the kids and working overtime. I struggled every day to maintain my crazy schedule, make sure the kids were fed and nurtured, and keep up with the demands at work.

Q. Think of your best fall. What was it like? What did you reap? What will your next great fall look like?

After graduation, I was in charge of a new project at work. It was challenging, but I loved it. I got to meet so many people who considered me the guru of web marketing. I loved it. That lasted about 18 years.

 

Action Points:

1.         Take a good realistic look at the relationships you have and how they affect you. Make specific movement toward limiting a life-depleting relationship and specific movement toward growing a life-giving relationship.

Because of our unique situation of being in a pandemic for 17 months, I have limited my association with MANY people. I have only kept contact with folks who feed me or I can feed.

2.         Initiate contact and pursue a relationship with at least one person this week who is more successful than you are. Set up a time to meet with them to get to know them and learn from them.

This might have to take some thought. I am not ready to get out there yet. I’ll think about who I would like to pursue. The one person I know isn’t a good person to have a relationship with because of our checkered past.

Although, if I want to pursue publishing, a good person to get to know is Lyn. Lyn has actually offered to buy me lunch.

3.         Think through what influences you: what kind of music, what speakers, what television shows, and what books. Are they good for you? If not, make the commitment to eliminate or limit those associations!

Since I retired, I’ve spent too much time in front of a TV and playing games on my phone. I’ve started several books, but another comes along, and I start that one instead of finishing the one I’m reading. My goal is to complete the books I’ve started by the end of this one-year course.

4.         Allow someone to "speak the truth" to you. Take some time to allow a friend or co-worker to give you good honest feedback that would be helpful in moving you forward.

Kaycie speaks the truth to me. Sometimes it hurts, but she’s wise and honest.

Sept. 12, 2021 update:  I’ve recruited Laura Vela and Daisy Thames to do this course with me so we could be accountability partners. This will be AWESOME!

A Look Forward to CD Three, your recommended listening assignment for Week Three from The Jim Rohn New Millennium program:

Zig Ziglar Teaches:

•           Surviving in a tough economy

•           How to change what and where you are by what goes into your mind

•           How to get more of what money will and will not buy

•           Quality of life

•           Being a giver

•           Gratitude

•           How to improve relationships

 

Busy -- updates

 

Sept. 9, 2021

Health:
The weather was perfect for a walk this morning. I dressed and walked .44 miles. This isn’t much, but it’s a start.

Electronics:
I tried to turn on my laptop, but it died. I ordered another at Best Buy for $289. Again, when I tried to turn on the TV in my office, it didn’t want to turn on. I’ve been thinking of moving it to the guest room for the boys. I’ll have to get a Roku for it. Then, maybe the boys will want to spend the night.

House Updates:
Joe Castillo, a carpenter, is working on changing my deck from a hot tub space to just a deck. We had a few miscommunications, and he finished it today. It’s almost time to get David involved so he can paint and help me figure out how to protect the bottom to keep critters out. I’ve thought about putting an electric fence around the perimeter of my yard to keep critters out of my yard. I’ll talk to Oscar about his feelings about the electric fence.

Finances:
It dawned on me that I have the cash handy, why not pay off the 2 little loans I have at SwRCFCU so I can save more than $500 a month. Then, if I choose, I can buy a $30K car.

Color Street:
I watched a Tuesday training that featured Shannon Kaeding discussing events. Again, I learned more about what makes an event a success.

Today our Halloween sets launched. I bought the 6 sets in the collection and 2 of the foundation sets, Brave and Bold. One of my customers also bought B3G1. By the time I updated my email list and sent out an email, one of the sets sold out!

Set up posts for Friday & Saturday. Friday will have a floral sale and Saturday will have a memorial for 9/11, a post about requesting samples, and a Guess How Many.

 

FOSAPL:
On Labor Day, I got a text from Nancy asking if Lyn had sent the email with the link to the newest issue of the SAPLings. After several emails and some finger pointing, we finally figured it out and on Wednesday, Sept. 8, the email finally went out. I did not receive a copy of the printed newsletter, which is disappointing. As the editor, I have to know when the newsletter reaches homes.

Today I updated the home page of the website to replace the Arts & Letters nominations call with the Johnston Library 40^th anniversary celebration.

 

STC-HPS:
On Tuesday, I received an email from the President Doug Johnson telling us that we need to update the info about the next meeting. Later that day, I received an email from Brian with the updated meeting info. Today I sent an email reminding the officers that it’s time to submit articles for The Billet. They seem to be floundering without John. I guess I’ll have to be more hands on like I am with FOSAPL.

Keeping up with Keto

 

Sept. 7, 2021

It’s been more than a week since I added anything to this journal. It completely fell off my radar. I’ve concentrated so much on my Keto weight-loss plan that I completely obsessed about it.

Because of this course, I’ve been working on my Color Street business a little bit more, listening to the 4 weekly training sessions. The info is good.

I’ve also been trying to figure out why I’m not losing weight. I follow the Keto plan as well as I can. I think my biggest issue is constipation. I have to add more veggies to my meals. I actually exercised yesterday for a few minutes.

For the most part, I read before going to sleep. Currently I’m reading a book about the Keto Diet. I saw something last night that made me rethink what I’ve been eating. Almost every meal included cheese. I’ve also had cheese as a snack. I’ll try eliminating cheese for the rest of the week.

I eliminated the butter in my coffee yesterday. I realized I really like the coffee with a TBSP of butter, superfood creamer, and collagen. I tried a couple of recipes. The zucchini muffins were a bust. I didn’t have almond flour, so I tried using coconut flour instead. They don’t substitute 1:1. DANG! Then I tried the pork rind pizza crust – it was delicious! Yesterday, I made the egg bread. It was good. I used it to make pimento cheese sandwiches.

I lost 2.5 pounds, then I gained it all back. This is so frustrating. I’m on the diet that is supposed to work when other diets don’t. Later this week, when it cools a little, I’ll start walking every day.

Tomorrow I’ll take Barbara Simon to PT. I signed up for this Wednesday and next Wednesday. I’ll also go to the water store, Sprouts, UPS, Walgreens, and the Nodines’.

Week 2 of Jim Rohn's One-Year Personal Development Plan

 

August 29, 2021

I’m excited! I lost more than 1 lb. in a day. I’ve lost 2.2 lbs. in a week! That’s a great average! I think I finally found the secret – keep track! OK, that’s not a secret. I would have gone completely off the rails if I hadn’t started tracking my carbs!

After I journaled my day last night, I completed reorganizing my sets in their new photo boxes and updated my inventory. My nails are now organized by price, then alphabetically.

I’m excited about the PCVFD Market Days! Just talked to Kaycie, and she’s IN!

In addition to the PCVFD Market Days, I’ve also applied to do a booth at 2 events at La Cantera, Dec. 4-5 and Dec. 18-19! Fingers crossed they accept my application.

Copied from the email:

How to turn nothing into something:

·  Have ideas and use your imagination.

·  Believe what you imagine is possible for you.

·  Go to work and make it real.

·  Appreciate and welcome the disciplines.

You need others—you cannot succeed by yourself. Each of us needs all of us.

Success is about producing more than we need so we can give to others.

The best way to make the most of this material is to start by being thankful for what you already have.

To succeed in extraordinary times and unprecedented opportunity we need to:

·  Learn multiple skills

·  Learn the disciplines

·  Be eager to learn

·  Argue later—just take it in for now

·  Be a student, not a follower

Debate brings refinement of ideas. Debate with yourself and others—and be a good listener.

Enlightened self-interest means we want to succeed so we can help others!

First you survive then you succeed!

Reaping is the reward for the planter. If you want to reap, you must do the work of planting.

Keep knocking and the door will eventually open.

There is a big difference between what you need and what you deserve.

Giving starts the receiving process.

Laws of riches and wealth:

·  Service to many leads to greatness

·  The Bible says to find a way to serve many

·  J.F.K. said to ask what you can do for your country

·  Zig Ziglar says if you help enough people get what they want, you will get whatever you want out of life

Action Steps This Week:

Most of the action steps related to Personal Development focus on the areas (goals, income, relationships, health, etc.) we will discuss more in depth later in this program, so this is the foundation work, with additional detailed information to come each month.

1.    Take some time this week to dream and imagine your future. See what the future you (the life you desire to have, the person you desire to be) will look like one year from now.

MY FUTURE – ONE YEAR

a.    After following the Keto Diet plan and making the necessary adjustments to begin healing and weight loss, I’ve finally reached my goal weight – 140 lbs.! Thank God I met Shirley in Las Vegas! She helped me reshape my body by getting rid of the fat cells. I look and feel fabulous!

b.    I started exercising 3x a week at first and managed to change it to 5-6x a week, increasing it to an hour a day. I walk, workout at the gym and home, swim, do yoga and a modified pilates.

c.     Once the quarantine lifted (mainly self-imposed), I started spending more time with friends and developing deep friendships like I had before I got married.

d.    I just started dancing after 15 years! I was so rusty at first, but it didn’t take long to get my stride. There are a couple of guys I like to dance with, and I see them quite often at the clubs.

e.    St. George has once again become a big part of my routine. I help Barbara with the birthday cards, continue with Altar Guild and funeral reception ministry. We’ve had a few weddings in the past year, and I was able to add to my Wedding team.

f.     In the past year, I’ve completed most of the books I started in addition to reading several other books. I really enjoy having that quiet time each day and evening. My favorite days are those I just listen to music while I read and work.

g.    My house has been transformed! The inside is absolutely magazine cover quality, thanks to Crystal and the CKC team.

h.    I spend as much time with my family as possible. They have even started inviting me on their outings! What fun!

i.      I go to Jannalyn’s house at least 3 times a week to swim. We really enjoy each other’s company and have some good discussions.

2.    Write down six main things (more if you like) you see in the person you will become one year from now. It can be related to your health, relationships, career, family, spiritual life, income, etc.

3.    Write down six things you want to do on a weekly basis that will contribute to becoming the person you see above and circle the ones you are not currently doing. These will be your main focus. If your health is great but your relationships suffer, keep your health curve up, but start focusing on a few things you need to do for your relationships.

4.    Make a list of 20 things you are thankful for in your life. Set a goal to review your list each day this week.

5.    Start seeing yourself and thinking in terms of the person you see yourself becoming a year from now. Act and think as that person would.

6.    Each day this week, do at least one selfless act for someone.

Keto and Friends

 

August 28, 2021

My life has changed A LOT since last weekend when I started the One-Year to Success Plan.

I mean, I almost don’t recognize myself. I don’t watch TV. Most of the time the last couple of days, my house has been silent. Today I’ve had Alexa playing instrumental music all day. I started to watch TV, but it’s all shows I’ve seen before, and I’m not interested in the others.

For my reading, I’m alternating between Keto Diet and Think and Grow Rich. I’ve discovered that using my reading glasses has helped more than I imagined. I’m able to read comfortably without holding my glasses the whole time.

Yesterday I watched a CS training video about events. She mentioned that there was an event workshop at the annual conference in July and the videos were online until Aug. 31. I also watched that video. Both had GREAT info. Then, this evening, I got an email from a friend, Billie Ford, asking for vendors for the Pipe Creek VFD BBQ Oct. 10! I, of course, said YES! The Holy Spirit is watching over me! This evening, I ordered 2 black table cloths, 2 rose gold (like Tokyo Lights) table runners, a 10x10 pop-up canopy, a trunk to keep everything, plastic sleeves, a toilet flush lever, melatonin, a thing Tyson wants, and more USB Samsung phone chargers. I seem to have lost one since our trip to Las Vegas.

Visited with Jan, Marie, and Julie in our every other Saturday evening Zoom call. We’ve done this since last May! It’s been nice getting to know each of the ladies. Two were not on the call – Sonia and Diane, who retired yesterday. Julie took a road trip to Sarasota Florida, camping along the way. Jan and Charlie did a major league baseball tour. Jan developed something with her Vagus nerve and ended up in the hospital with a black eye, possible broken nose. She’s all right now. Charlie, on the other hand, has the flu.

I told them about our trip to Las Vegas and how I started out the weekend as Kaycie’s mom and ended up as a helpless old lady in her eyes.

I’ve been following the Keto Diet plan, 70-20-10 (sort of) and I’ve lost 1 pound since Monday. Today I started tracking Fats, Carbs, and Proteins to see how I’m doing. I have to work on having foods on hand that have a balance of those nutrients.

My library bookcases are looking so good. I’m still reorganizing the books and decorative items that have been added. I moved some things from the mantle to the shelves, photos that were on the divider between the kitchen and living room are there as well. I printed some photos of the boys to frame too because I don’t have as many of Luke as Rex and Ty. I also put most of Rex’s artwork in plastic sleeves in a 3-ring binder. Unfortunately, I ran out of sleeves – more have been ordered.

I received the photo boxes I ordered to keep my inventory in. The nails fit in them very well. I’m moving the nails from the plastic bins that they didn’t quite fit in to the photo boxes. I may have to get large rubber bands to keep them closed and to organize the nail packages for events. Next order with the rubber bands will be a Kindle to use at events.

It was time to learn more about the conflict in Afghanistan, so I Googled the difference between Isis and the Taliban. I feel more informed and not quite as scared as I was before. There’s still too much unrest there. I pray for the world.

I’m also quarantining until the COVID numbers come down to below 100 a day. We have a way to go.

Following up after Vegas and Keto

 

August 26, 2021

Today I felt MUCH better. I woke up about 6:15 and weighed 212.1!!! I’ve lost a little more than 1 pound in the 3 days I’ve been Keto.

Yesterday, after drinking those 90 oz. of water, I peed my pants three times. I couldn’t hold it as long as I usually can. This means I need to strengthen my core.

I had texted Daisy yesterday asking if she had an app on her phone that measured her oxygen and if so, had she compared it to her oximeter. She texted that she did, and it was 2% off. So, my 96% was good!

Then early this morning I texted her to find out if she wanted the 4 samples she won on my VIP page to be a mix or all the same. We texted back and forth. Then she asked for me to pray for her because she was giving an impromptu presentation to the heads of her organization this morning at 9:00. I texted a prayer to her and prayed for her several times. Afterward, she said someone told her she hit it out of the park! I was so happy I almost cried!

Kaycie called to let me know she had heard from Trese Harris whom we met in Vegas. Trese wanted to order nails. It was my turn, so I called her and took her order. Shortly after that, I received a JotForm that Sheila Morris wanted samples. I’m trying to establish if Trese told Sheila about the nails (I’m pretty sure she did. Trese seems to have told several ladies.) so Trese could get her free set and Sheila would get her free shipping. Sheila isn’t very communicative. Anyway, the samples are ready to mail in the morning! I’m also going to send a catalog to Trese! I followed up with her in an email suggesting I open an affiliates link for her where she could earn free nails, or she could join and earn 25% of her purchases.

I also sent a follow up email to Kason (the doctor in the booth on the other side of us at the Expo in Las Vegas) to see what his wife thought about the sets he bought for her.

I joined the Compass Wellness FB group (Alyssa Rogers) earlier this week. There’s so much info about the Keto plan. Alyssa posted the meal she had at Alamo Café. It looked so good that I had to have it. I ordered it online and picked it up Curbside. It was delicious! I should have split it into 3 meals. I’m stuffed from having the second half this evening. I’m too full actually.

Eating in only an 8-hour span hasn’t been as difficult as I expected. I drink two Keto coffees after awakening and then eat breakfast at 10 followed by lunch about 1:30 or 2 with dinner about 5:30. I want to be finished by 6. The first couple of nights and mornings were tough, but I’m adjusting. Seeing a weight loss helps!

Yesterday, I received the 2 Keto books I ordered. The info in one of them has been very helpful! It’s full of recipes, meal plans, shopping lists, etc. Just what I need to get started.

The other talks more about the health benefits. Both are good resources for more info about Keto.

Nancy called me today about FOSAPL stuff, and we ended up talking about both of us being on the Keto plan. I followed up with an email to her with the Compass Wellness group FB link to her.

Now to get back to reading!