Happy Monday Friends!
It is the last Monday of January 2008 and a gorgeous morning here in the foothills. Last night it stormed like crazy, heavy rain, wild wind, it was the perfect night to be snuggled up on the couch watching TV.
This weekend was great fun. On Saturday, Dave, Mason, and I made the trip to Alameda to see old friends (not people who are old!) and donate to charity. We went to the Alameda Kiwanis Club's annual chili cook off. We had such a great time seeing people we used to see everyday, and catching up on all that is new. We stayed with David and Lisa Anderson and the best part was meeting their new baby. They have a 13 week old Papillion puppy! His name is Mickey, and at just 3 lbs, he's barely an handful. I was so proud of Riley for being patient and friendly.
So we are off and running with a new week. We have several irons in the fire (as usual), and some really exciting news in the coming weeks. Sorry, I can't tell yet! But when I can, this is where I will make the big announcement. Have a great week. stay dry and don't let the weather get to you. Dress properly and think back to any fond memories you have of winter and all it brings with it! Lots and lots of love!
Kathy
"It is not raining to me, It's raining daffodils; In every dimpled drop I see Wild flowers on distant hills." Author: Robert Loveman
Monday, January 28, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Monday Motivator
Happy MLK Jr Day!
If today is a holiday, enjoy! If not, well, that sucks! Laughing.
Have you ever been in a situation where someone you love doesn't speak up when it's important to you that they did? I've had the experience when a friend did not speak up, and their silence was an assumed agreement with another that was accusing me unjustly. Even though we got through it, I wished that my friend would've had the courage to speak up in my defense. Her silence told me that she was more interested in not rocking the boat for her personally than speaking up for what she knew was the truth.
This was a long time ago and I only bring it up to make us all think about the times we would rather be comfortable than do what's right. What would you do? Confrontation and conflict are never easy, but it's so much easier to get through the tough stuff once, than to sit quietly and then have to deal with the relationship(s) you broke by sitting in silence.
Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr today and speak up for what you know is true. To me, that is integrity.
Love Kathy
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
Martin Luther King Jr.
If today is a holiday, enjoy! If not, well, that sucks! Laughing.
Have you ever been in a situation where someone you love doesn't speak up when it's important to you that they did? I've had the experience when a friend did not speak up, and their silence was an assumed agreement with another that was accusing me unjustly. Even though we got through it, I wished that my friend would've had the courage to speak up in my defense. Her silence told me that she was more interested in not rocking the boat for her personally than speaking up for what she knew was the truth.
This was a long time ago and I only bring it up to make us all think about the times we would rather be comfortable than do what's right. What would you do? Confrontation and conflict are never easy, but it's so much easier to get through the tough stuff once, than to sit quietly and then have to deal with the relationship(s) you broke by sitting in silence.
Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr today and speak up for what you know is true. To me, that is integrity.
Love Kathy
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
Martin Luther King Jr.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Monday Motivator
So last week I mad mention of winning the trip to Las Vegas on New Years Eve. Here is the story of Intentional Winning on the radio.
The Friday before New Years eve, I was home listening to the radio. The local country station was having their usual give aways - only this time with a twist. For the month of December, every time you won something, anything, your name went in the hopper for the trip to Vegas. When I heard them say it was time to call I told Dave to start dialing. While we both dialed, he asked what we were winning. I told him a CD. "Why do you want a CD?" he asked. "I don't care about the CD, I am winning the trip to Vegas." I replied as I won the CD and qualified for the trip. I put the phone back and laughed to Dave that I would be winning the trip on Monday morning. Easy-peasy!
Monday morning at 8:00 Am, I was preparing to go running and didn't want to miss the call telling me I had won. I called the radio station to ask them when they would be doing the drawing and they said in just a few minutes. The DJ asked if I was a qualifier and I confidently told him I was his winner. He laughed and asked for my name. I hesitated and said that I didn't want to tell him my name because when he pulled it, he would think it was too strange and not want to call me. He said no, it would be fate to which I replied, "I like to think of it as intention." We hung up and in less than two minutes he called me back to tell me I had won the trip.
I spoke to him afterwards and he asked how I knew I had won. I told him that from the time I qualified, I intended to be the winner. It never occurred to me that I would not win. He e-mailed me the MP3 of me winning and he even included the phone call prior to, which makes it so much more interesting. Have a great week and intend great things for yourself!
The Friday before New Years eve, I was home listening to the radio. The local country station was having their usual give aways - only this time with a twist. For the month of December, every time you won something, anything, your name went in the hopper for the trip to Vegas. When I heard them say it was time to call I told Dave to start dialing. While we both dialed, he asked what we were winning. I told him a CD. "Why do you want a CD?" he asked. "I don't care about the CD, I am winning the trip to Vegas." I replied as I won the CD and qualified for the trip. I put the phone back and laughed to Dave that I would be winning the trip on Monday morning. Easy-peasy!
Monday morning at 8:00 Am, I was preparing to go running and didn't want to miss the call telling me I had won. I called the radio station to ask them when they would be doing the drawing and they said in just a few minutes. The DJ asked if I was a qualifier and I confidently told him I was his winner. He laughed and asked for my name. I hesitated and said that I didn't want to tell him my name because when he pulled it, he would think it was too strange and not want to call me. He said no, it would be fate to which I replied, "I like to think of it as intention." We hung up and in less than two minutes he called me back to tell me I had won the trip.
I spoke to him afterwards and he asked how I knew I had won. I told him that from the time I qualified, I intended to be the winner. It never occurred to me that I would not win. He e-mailed me the MP3 of me winning and he even included the phone call prior to, which makes it so much more interesting. Have a great week and intend great things for yourself!
Monday, January 7, 2008
Monday Motivator
Welcome to the first Monday of 2008!I have so much to share with you, I just don't know where to start.
Over the weekend, we had a series of storms that were very severe. I am sure if you are in northern California, you are experiencing some of the same winter weather. Friday was the worst of it with 60-70 mph winds and heavy rain. Most everybody has been without power, and many are still in the dark.
We lost our power at 1 pm on Friday. We had prepared with lots of batteries, flashlights, block ice, firewood, a radio, an analog phone, and games. Frankly, this power-outage was a gift. It was a wonderful night of family time and reconnecting. Dave barbecued dinner and when we ran out of propane (okay, not all the way prepared!), we finished cooking dinner on the wood burning stove. After dinner, we popped popcorn and made our beds in the living room near the fire. We were warm, fed, and together. Just as we were dozing off to sleep, at 10 pm, the power was restored. I think this was a good reminder that we don't need to lose our power to come together. Imagine just turning everything off! Laughing!
The other big news is how I bid farewell to 2007. As you all know, I am creating my Intentional Winning in Life empire. It all started with my 25+ years of winning on the radio. On New Years Eve, I won a trip to Las Vegas on the radio. It is a good story and I will tell you all about it next week.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Farewell 2007!
Hello Friends,Welcome to Monday and the last day of 2007.
While most people are taking their Christmas decorations down, I am sprucing mine up. I love to celebrate with a last hurrah to ring in the New Year before we put everything away until the next holiday season.
It just tickles me to hang twirly streamers and metallic curling ribbon all over the house. We have several lighted table-top decorations and a big "Happy New Year" banner, that makes the house look extra special. Finally, I add sparkly curls, New Year party hats, and horns to our already beautiful Christmas tree.
Dave and I have plans to go out for dinner and then dancing. So even though we will not be having a party at home, Mason and Melody (his sitter) will be here having pizza, snacks, and sparkling cider in glass champagne flutes. Yes, Real glass! He is so excited to be having a party that is just for him, and decorating the house, makes it that much more meaningful.
My motivator for this last day of 2007 is from a beautiful book, Simple Abundance:
Chill something bubbly. Honor the Old Year with a farewell toast, welcome the New Year within. Offer thanks. Celebrate how far you've come, how much you've learned, and the glorious person you really are. Happy New Year!
Monday, December 24, 2007
Merry Christmas Motivator
Hi Friends,It is Christmas Eve and I do believe I have succeeded in my quest for a stress free holiday. There has been very little party-going and entertaining, and I have to say, it has been nice. I have been able to be with Dave and Mason, and we have been able to attend the events we really wanted to. This is not to say we do not like to get dressed up and go out. It is just that sometimes it all becomes too much. Too much scheduling, too much rushing, and just too much go, go, go.
Today we are going to see Alvin and the Chipmunks, and then we will deliver our Christmas pies to our neighbors. Dave baked each neighbor a delicious apple-raspberry pie, and I am complimenting his pie with my beautiful snowflake sugar cookies. Have a merry, merry Christmas and take a moment to really take in today's motivator. I think it is a wonderful message everyday, but especially to ring in a new year.
Love to you and yours!
Kathy
This Christmas
This Christmas mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Write a love letter. Share some treasure. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Keep a promise. Find the time. Forgive an enemy. Listen. Apologize if you were wrong. Think first of someone else. Be kind and gentle. Laugh a little. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love. Speak it again. Speak it still once again. Anonymous
Monday, December 17, 2007
Monday Motivator
Today is my birthday and I must be growing up. Having a December birthday is great, but unless it is set up properly from the very beginning, it can be a bummer (I've been told). I am very lucky in this regard as my mom made it a point to differentiate my birthday from Christmas. I never get a combination gift and my birthday presents are never wrapped in Christmas paper.
In years past, my birthday was a month-long event. I would start counting down the days the first of December, and I celebrated everyday as if it were the 17th. My coworkers, business associates, friends, relatives and even total strangers were informed that I was celebrating my birthday-month. Of course, there would be a party. It might be dinner with friends, or a full blown, "all hours of the night" bash to bring everyone together, sometimes both! Whatever the case may have been, it was a pretty self-indulgent time.
The last several years have been quite the opposite. My birthdays have become a day in a month. I think about my birthday in terms of my past accomplishments and how much more I still have to do. I look in the mirror and see a woman who cares so much more for others than she does for herself, and I like that. This is just to say I have a life that is stimulating and full with the love of a husband and child, our animals, great friends, and all the opportunity in the world. I have realized that I am the least interesting, and life is so much better lived being interested.
I'm not sorry I spent so much time being into me. I think it lends my best years to giving to others, and that feels great. Today is my birthday and I will celebrate being older without being old. Now I have to get Mason off to school, meet with the trainer to run in the rain, finish my Christmas cookie gifts, volunteer at Mason's school for two hours, and Dave said I have to pick up the dog poop in the back yard. Yep, it's my birthday! Laughing!
"Youth is a circumstance you can't do anything about. The trick is to grow up without getting old." Frank Lloyd Wright
In years past, my birthday was a month-long event. I would start counting down the days the first of December, and I celebrated everyday as if it were the 17th. My coworkers, business associates, friends, relatives and even total strangers were informed that I was celebrating my birthday-month. Of course, there would be a party. It might be dinner with friends, or a full blown, "all hours of the night" bash to bring everyone together, sometimes both! Whatever the case may have been, it was a pretty self-indulgent time.
The last several years have been quite the opposite. My birthdays have become a day in a month. I think about my birthday in terms of my past accomplishments and how much more I still have to do. I look in the mirror and see a woman who cares so much more for others than she does for herself, and I like that. This is just to say I have a life that is stimulating and full with the love of a husband and child, our animals, great friends, and all the opportunity in the world. I have realized that I am the least interesting, and life is so much better lived being interested.
I'm not sorry I spent so much time being into me. I think it lends my best years to giving to others, and that feels great. Today is my birthday and I will celebrate being older without being old. Now I have to get Mason off to school, meet with the trainer to run in the rain, finish my Christmas cookie gifts, volunteer at Mason's school for two hours, and Dave said I have to pick up the dog poop in the back yard. Yep, it's my birthday! Laughing!
"Youth is a circumstance you can't do anything about. The trick is to grow up without getting old." Frank Lloyd Wright
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