Yes, I know it's not January, but if you are a parent, grandparent, teacher, school administrator or in any way, shape or form have anything to do with the school business, you know the start of a new year is now. This New Year requires much more preparation than the January version and believe me the retailers get a bigger boost from it too. The night before school started in one local town found very slim pickings when it came to spiral bound notebooks, folders, binders, mechanical pencils and lead, pens, calculators and more. If you are serious about getting ready for the school year you don't wait till the last minute!
Because I still have a child in school I find that our calendar year, oh heck, our entire life schedule runs according to the school calendar! If anything conflicts with a school vacation, teacher in-service, ballgame, activity meeting or other sacred date it just doesn't happen. And don't forget those winter snow days that can wreck havoc with my best laid plans or the dentist appointments that have to be juggled around class schedules and after school practices. The logistics that go into maneuvering through the school calendar year are mind boggling and challenging. If you have successfully navigated a child through school while also managing to have a personal life, career, and a little sliver of relaxation you have done well.
So, get prepared, stock up on after school munchies, set your alarm clocks and bring out the stadium blankets cause the new year is upon us!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
How Full is Your Well?
No, not a well that holds water, I'm referring to your 'Creative Well". While I believe all of us can be creative in our own chosen fields of interest and daily life, that doesn’t mean we are always our creative best. Let’s face it, some days I have great ideas and just can’t get them down on paper fast enough and other days I need a cup of coffee or a diet Coke before the cobwebs clear enough for me to focus. Other days I am productive in many ways and can accomplish a lot but am not very creative. I have come to accept this ebb and flow and learned that there are things I can do to replenish my creativity and bring myself back. These are simple, fun, sometimes off the wall ideas that can rejuvenate you, add spark to your day and help you be your best. What works doesn’t have to be hard, it just has to work.
My top five:
1. Going for a drive: I know gas isn’t cheap and this may not be feasible for you, but because I travel to do what I do, it works for me. If I have a problem to solve or an idea that has been incubating in my brain, I can count on several hours of alone time in my car, watching the countryside go by, to come up with my best ideas. The hardest part is remembering them when I get out of the car. I’ve tried a small voice recorder in my car, calling myself and leaving a voice mail message, writing clues for myself on scraps of paper while I’m driving and pulling over at an exit to get those thoughts on paper before they are lost. If you have a better way of capturing creative thoughts while driving, I’m open for suggestions!
2. Quiet, alone time: Those close to me have heard me say this over and over till they are probably tired of hearing it. I need a certain amount of quiet time alone to feel balanced and creative. That was easy to accomplish when I was younger and single. However as a wife, mother, daughter of an aging parent, speaker and artist, it has become harder to come by. I have learned to steal snatches of quiet here and there and keep reminding myself that someday it will be quieter and I probably won’t like it!
3. Piddling: Piddling occurs when you have no huge goals, particular purpose or timelines looming and you allow yourself to do a little bit of this and a little bit of that. It can be done in your own home, it can be done while you’re shopping, or it can be done at work if you can get away with it. Piddling can be very productive and almost yoga like for me. I seem to get a certain far off look in my eye when I am pondering and piddling that scares my husband because he knows when I’m really thinking, something is about to change!
4. Exercise: Not complicated; running, walking, aerobic classes, dancing, swimming, walking your dog, whatever you like and will do on a regular basis works. It helps you physically and revives you mentally. Shake it up and change your routine to keep it fresh and keep yourself interested. I get inspired differently when I do different activities.
5. Quotes & Inspiring Articles: I love to meander through motivational books of quotes or short essays that reinforce my priorities. I am a firm believer of keeping several resources around that I can easily grab for motivation and inspiration. Some I recommend are:
-The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
-The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
-The Change-Your-Life Quote Book by Allen Klein
-www.quotationspage.com
-www.brainyquotes.com
More Ways to Refill Your Well:
-Take a shower-great for creative thinking and attitude lifting.
-Take time to doodle
-Take your watch off and lose track of time
-Use crayons, color pencils or colored markers for your to do lists, rough drafts, etc. to shake it up.
-Observe and play with pets or other animals
-Hang around young children-play with them, listen to them, do an activity with them. They are always original.
-Browse a bookstore or library
-Cooking-A creative outlet in itself, can be very freeing and allows for experimentation.
-Listen to music of your choice.
My top five:
1. Going for a drive: I know gas isn’t cheap and this may not be feasible for you, but because I travel to do what I do, it works for me. If I have a problem to solve or an idea that has been incubating in my brain, I can count on several hours of alone time in my car, watching the countryside go by, to come up with my best ideas. The hardest part is remembering them when I get out of the car. I’ve tried a small voice recorder in my car, calling myself and leaving a voice mail message, writing clues for myself on scraps of paper while I’m driving and pulling over at an exit to get those thoughts on paper before they are lost. If you have a better way of capturing creative thoughts while driving, I’m open for suggestions!
2. Quiet, alone time: Those close to me have heard me say this over and over till they are probably tired of hearing it. I need a certain amount of quiet time alone to feel balanced and creative. That was easy to accomplish when I was younger and single. However as a wife, mother, daughter of an aging parent, speaker and artist, it has become harder to come by. I have learned to steal snatches of quiet here and there and keep reminding myself that someday it will be quieter and I probably won’t like it!
3. Piddling: Piddling occurs when you have no huge goals, particular purpose or timelines looming and you allow yourself to do a little bit of this and a little bit of that. It can be done in your own home, it can be done while you’re shopping, or it can be done at work if you can get away with it. Piddling can be very productive and almost yoga like for me. I seem to get a certain far off look in my eye when I am pondering and piddling that scares my husband because he knows when I’m really thinking, something is about to change!
4. Exercise: Not complicated; running, walking, aerobic classes, dancing, swimming, walking your dog, whatever you like and will do on a regular basis works. It helps you physically and revives you mentally. Shake it up and change your routine to keep it fresh and keep yourself interested. I get inspired differently when I do different activities.
5. Quotes & Inspiring Articles: I love to meander through motivational books of quotes or short essays that reinforce my priorities. I am a firm believer of keeping several resources around that I can easily grab for motivation and inspiration. Some I recommend are:
-The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
-The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
-The Change-Your-Life Quote Book by Allen Klein
-www.quotationspage.com
-www.brainyquotes.com
More Ways to Refill Your Well:
-Take a shower-great for creative thinking and attitude lifting.
-Take time to doodle
-Take your watch off and lose track of time
-Use crayons, color pencils or colored markers for your to do lists, rough drafts, etc. to shake it up.
-Observe and play with pets or other animals
-Hang around young children-play with them, listen to them, do an activity with them. They are always original.
-Browse a bookstore or library
-Cooking-A creative outlet in itself, can be very freeing and allows for experimentation.
-Listen to music of your choice.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Stormy Weather
Not sure why but the past month has found us in the path of more thunderstorms and tornado warnings than usual for this time of year. In Missouri they can pop up and disappear with little warning, unless of course, you keep your eye on the weather radar. Whether you access it on a computer, phone, or TV it is fascinating to watch and helps you be prepared.
Tonight was one of those nights when we knew the storm was coming, which way it was turning, and what community it was going to hit when. The visual warning gives us time to prepare, as we did about an hour ago; moving chairs and plants close to the house, gathering pets to safety and laying down the basketball goal that during one wind storm ended up head first in my windshield. By the time the wind, lightening and sheets of rain hit we were able to watch the powerful display from a place of safety.
Which got me thinking, wouldn't it be great to have life radar? No more wondering what was coming up next, just bring up the radar and see when the next emergency, setback, challenge, promotion, or other wonderful event in life was going to happen. You could be prepared for whatever comes your way with full confidence and a sense of calm. But it doesn't work that way does it? The last few months have proven that changes can happen with little warning and assuming that everything as you know it will stay the same is foolish. We can still plan, dream and imagine the future as long as we understand that what we're counting on may not be in our future.
That's why you can't plan for specific life events. But you can have faith, be alert, and be the type of person that knows whatever happens to you in life can be handled. No specifics there but I think I'd rather take my chances and trust rather than always knowing what's coming next.
Give me unpredictable pop up storms, they keep me on my toes!
Tonight was one of those nights when we knew the storm was coming, which way it was turning, and what community it was going to hit when. The visual warning gives us time to prepare, as we did about an hour ago; moving chairs and plants close to the house, gathering pets to safety and laying down the basketball goal that during one wind storm ended up head first in my windshield. By the time the wind, lightening and sheets of rain hit we were able to watch the powerful display from a place of safety.
Which got me thinking, wouldn't it be great to have life radar? No more wondering what was coming up next, just bring up the radar and see when the next emergency, setback, challenge, promotion, or other wonderful event in life was going to happen. You could be prepared for whatever comes your way with full confidence and a sense of calm. But it doesn't work that way does it? The last few months have proven that changes can happen with little warning and assuming that everything as you know it will stay the same is foolish. We can still plan, dream and imagine the future as long as we understand that what we're counting on may not be in our future.
That's why you can't plan for specific life events. But you can have faith, be alert, and be the type of person that knows whatever happens to you in life can be handled. No specifics there but I think I'd rather take my chances and trust rather than always knowing what's coming next.
Give me unpredictable pop up storms, they keep me on my toes!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
We are renovating! For a week now we have been without the use of our washer, dryer, stove and basically our entire kitchen. The first project is replacing the old vinyl with the awesome tile that took me three months to pick out and next is the counter tops.
Everything thing is going well, except for a few problems tiling through the six doorways involved in the project. The contractor is even nice, considerate, and does an excellent job. But, (you knew that was coming didn't you) no one can describe to you how renovations can be so upsetting to a household. Laundry had to be done at the laundromat 13 miles away; a load was forgotten in the washer so we had to go back again to rescue and dry it while we twiddled our thumbs. My keys are never in the same place and I can only hope we've kept up on the mail. The fridge is on the back porch, the washer and dryer are in the foyer, and the stove, along with pots and pans, drawers and tons of plastic containers have taken over the dining room. There are so many decisions to make along the way that as soon as I get a project started I am called away to approve a threshold, figure out a trim piece or make sure the grout is the right color. Plus the cleaning and straightening that needs to be done when the job is finished will be monumental.
Today might be the day he finishes up but I'm not getting my hopes up. As we near the end my advice is never go into a renovation expecting everything to turn out as planned.
Everything thing is going well, except for a few problems tiling through the six doorways involved in the project. The contractor is even nice, considerate, and does an excellent job. But, (you knew that was coming didn't you) no one can describe to you how renovations can be so upsetting to a household. Laundry had to be done at the laundromat 13 miles away; a load was forgotten in the washer so we had to go back again to rescue and dry it while we twiddled our thumbs. My keys are never in the same place and I can only hope we've kept up on the mail. The fridge is on the back porch, the washer and dryer are in the foyer, and the stove, along with pots and pans, drawers and tons of plastic containers have taken over the dining room. There are so many decisions to make along the way that as soon as I get a project started I am called away to approve a threshold, figure out a trim piece or make sure the grout is the right color. Plus the cleaning and straightening that needs to be done when the job is finished will be monumental.
Today might be the day he finishes up but I'm not getting my hopes up. As we near the end my advice is never go into a renovation expecting everything to turn out as planned.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Grissom is gone? Say it isn’t so!
Last week was the final episode of CSI that will feature Gil Grissom. For the past 9 years I have watched and devoured every detail of the show but I kept coming back because I love Grissom so much. I can’t imagine the show without him, no matter how great Laurence Fishburne turns out to be as Dr. Langston.
As a tribute to him I’m sharing the following article from my newsletter that Grissom inspired:
FOCUS POCUS
I love CSI. Not the watered down versions transported to other cities around the country; I mean the original Las Vegas one with Gil Grissom at the helm. I loved it before it was cool and the rest of the world started watching and I think it is intelligent television despite the plunging necklines and often-provocative scenarios. It makes me think, it challenges my brain, and Grissom adds a witty thoughtfulness to every episode.
After years of devoted CSI watching, one thing has always puzzled me. I noticed that when they begin to investigate a crime scene they whip out their flashlights. It doesn’t matter if it is midday or 3a.m. They use flashlights to examine every inch of the area, but why?
Recently I went on a frenzied search of my office for a particular book. After climbing bookshelves, pulling out drawers and blaming members of my family for my dilemma I thought of CSI. What would Grissom do? Feeling a little stupid I pulled out a flashlight and started going over all of the same places I had searched before. It took me five minutes and two shelves to find the long lost book.
I call my finding the Focus Pocus Effect. The flashlight helped me focus my full attention on what I was looking at instead of glossing over the details. The same thing occurs when a spotlight focuses our attention on the lead actor in a play.
So what has this got to do with you and your life? I think many of us inadvertently spend most of our life out of focus. Much of what we see and hear is a blur and we lose important details along the way. We lose out because we are so concerned with reliving the past or planning the future instead of attending to the present. Surprisingly, learning to pay attention to the NOW slows us down and makes us more efficient, productive and energetic. It’s called being mindful.
While you could stay focused by carrying a flashlight wherever you go, try these simple tips for living and focusing in the moment:
*Stop finishing sentences for others in conversations
*Stop thinking about last night or tomorrow while your living today.
*Start talking less and listening more.
(And it wouldn’t hurt to carry a small flashlight in your pocket or purse as a reminder!)
As a tribute to him I’m sharing the following article from my newsletter that Grissom inspired:
FOCUS POCUS
I love CSI. Not the watered down versions transported to other cities around the country; I mean the original Las Vegas one with Gil Grissom at the helm. I loved it before it was cool and the rest of the world started watching and I think it is intelligent television despite the plunging necklines and often-provocative scenarios. It makes me think, it challenges my brain, and Grissom adds a witty thoughtfulness to every episode.
After years of devoted CSI watching, one thing has always puzzled me. I noticed that when they begin to investigate a crime scene they whip out their flashlights. It doesn’t matter if it is midday or 3a.m. They use flashlights to examine every inch of the area, but why?
Recently I went on a frenzied search of my office for a particular book. After climbing bookshelves, pulling out drawers and blaming members of my family for my dilemma I thought of CSI. What would Grissom do? Feeling a little stupid I pulled out a flashlight and started going over all of the same places I had searched before. It took me five minutes and two shelves to find the long lost book.
I call my finding the Focus Pocus Effect. The flashlight helped me focus my full attention on what I was looking at instead of glossing over the details. The same thing occurs when a spotlight focuses our attention on the lead actor in a play.
So what has this got to do with you and your life? I think many of us inadvertently spend most of our life out of focus. Much of what we see and hear is a blur and we lose important details along the way. We lose out because we are so concerned with reliving the past or planning the future instead of attending to the present. Surprisingly, learning to pay attention to the NOW slows us down and makes us more efficient, productive and energetic. It’s called being mindful.
While you could stay focused by carrying a flashlight wherever you go, try these simple tips for living and focusing in the moment:
*Stop finishing sentences for others in conversations
*Stop thinking about last night or tomorrow while your living today.
*Start talking less and listening more.
(And it wouldn’t hurt to carry a small flashlight in your pocket or purse as a reminder!)
Thursday, October 30, 2008
May I Help You?
Let's talk about telephone customer service. Today I called AT&T to check on setting up wi-fi for my home. I have DSL through them and, after searching everywhere I could think of on their website for the quick answer, I decided to call customer service. BIG MISTAKE.
I know it is never fun, but sometimes if you can get past the annoyingly calm and condescending male automated voice and can avoid the 'valley girl-my voice raises at the end of every sentence' female voice there is hope. Today, to begin with I got someone nice who knew nothing about DSL but did seem genuine and ended up talking me through switching to a different phone plan for one of our lines that will save me money. OK, that's fine, but then it went downhill. She said she could switch me to the DSL/modem department and I could ask about a new one. The next thing I know I am listening to the valley girl voice asking me about packages! I quickly began punching O over and over and eventually got a customer service rep, for UPS! Yes, I'm not kidding! The UPS lady said for some reason they keep getting Verizon and AT&T customers transferred to them and she was sorry but she could not transfer me back to AT&T. How long do you think that will continue before the right people get the message and fix it?
My quick question turned into two more routes through the system before I got a real person who could transfer me to DSL and gave me the number in case something went wrong. What I thought would take 15 minutes, ended up taking most of the hour.
I can't change the whole system but I do offer these suggestions:
*Give people a choice of automated voices and replace the annoying voices with ones that have a caring and compassionate tone.
*When someone reports an experience where you get transferred to a completely different company, direct them to someone so it can be reported.
*Teach all of your customer service people to have compassion and be able to say "I'm so sorry that happened to you, I will try to make this a better experience." At least they could acknowledge that you have a right to be a bit upset and they understand.
So be careful out there and if you need to call customer service, be prepared.
I know it is never fun, but sometimes if you can get past the annoyingly calm and condescending male automated voice and can avoid the 'valley girl-my voice raises at the end of every sentence' female voice there is hope. Today, to begin with I got someone nice who knew nothing about DSL but did seem genuine and ended up talking me through switching to a different phone plan for one of our lines that will save me money. OK, that's fine, but then it went downhill. She said she could switch me to the DSL/modem department and I could ask about a new one. The next thing I know I am listening to the valley girl voice asking me about packages! I quickly began punching O over and over and eventually got a customer service rep, for UPS! Yes, I'm not kidding! The UPS lady said for some reason they keep getting Verizon and AT&T customers transferred to them and she was sorry but she could not transfer me back to AT&T. How long do you think that will continue before the right people get the message and fix it?
My quick question turned into two more routes through the system before I got a real person who could transfer me to DSL and gave me the number in case something went wrong. What I thought would take 15 minutes, ended up taking most of the hour.
I can't change the whole system but I do offer these suggestions:
*Give people a choice of automated voices and replace the annoying voices with ones that have a caring and compassionate tone.
*When someone reports an experience where you get transferred to a completely different company, direct them to someone so it can be reported.
*Teach all of your customer service people to have compassion and be able to say "I'm so sorry that happened to you, I will try to make this a better experience." At least they could acknowledge that you have a right to be a bit upset and they understand.
So be careful out there and if you need to call customer service, be prepared.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Darla the Plumber?
Well, that might be stretching it, but here's the story. A couple of weekends ago my husband, Paul, embarked on his yearly "Follow the Tigers" trip when he and his friends travel to watch the University of Missouri football team play an away game; this year it was to Lincoln, Nebraska. My daughter, Doran, and I look forward to this time to do our stuff, which usually includes an out of town shopping trip, I mean, it's only fair right?
Around 10:30 p.m. on Friday night we were getting in order so we could leave as soon as possible on Saturday morning. I was cleaning up in the kitchen and, having used the last paper towel, asked Doran to go downstairs and bring up some more rolls. When she came up from the basement she offhandedly asked, "You know the basement floor is all wet, right?" (This is when everything fell apart!)
I, in my old, but still comfy Victoria's Secret robe (do not think slinky or silky here, it's cotton and covers my entire body), headed down and discovered wet carpet, wet boxes, and water dripping from a pipe on the furnace that came from who knows where. After retreating to grab a pair of Crocks, I returned and began moving boxes, old golf club bags, a set of folding tv trays and 14-year-old Lego toys out of the way so I could begin to figure out what was happening. Doran was getting a bit excited now and wanted to help so I sent her for a flashlight, some old towels and finally banished her upstairs to keep her out of my way and iron our clothes for our shopping trip I was NOT giving up on yet!
Paul, was so glad to hear from me at 11 p.m. when I semi-hysterically told him the furnace was leaking, the basement was wet and asked if he had a clue what to do! Our plumber friend was nowhere to be found or else wisely decided not to answer anyone who was calling him after 10 o'clock at night. There were more phone calls back and forth, more drama, a few raised voices and a lot more leaking water until I told both of them to leave me alone to think and if I need them, I'll let them know. I sat on the damp concrete floor in a tiny space between the water heater, furnace and wall with dirty towels and my beloved robe wrapped around my legs as I mentally inventoried the situation and what I thought would work. By about 1:30 a.m. the leak was temporarily stopped with the aid of a hose and clamp I borrowed from the dehumidifier, the cut off necks of two large balloons I found in the attic and a lot of creative thinking.
By 2 a.m. I had notified Paul, taken a shower, and climbed into bed exhausted but kind of proud that I save the day, or at least the basement, by using my creativity and whatever we had on hand. My stop gap solution held for 3 days until Paul and the plumber could handle it in a more conventional way.
The lesson to be learned is, creativity isn't just for the fine arts, it's for life and it's inside you to use anytime you want to access it; I would suggest today!
Around 10:30 p.m. on Friday night we were getting in order so we could leave as soon as possible on Saturday morning. I was cleaning up in the kitchen and, having used the last paper towel, asked Doran to go downstairs and bring up some more rolls. When she came up from the basement she offhandedly asked, "You know the basement floor is all wet, right?" (This is when everything fell apart!)
I, in my old, but still comfy Victoria's Secret robe (do not think slinky or silky here, it's cotton and covers my entire body), headed down and discovered wet carpet, wet boxes, and water dripping from a pipe on the furnace that came from who knows where. After retreating to grab a pair of Crocks, I returned and began moving boxes, old golf club bags, a set of folding tv trays and 14-year-old Lego toys out of the way so I could begin to figure out what was happening. Doran was getting a bit excited now and wanted to help so I sent her for a flashlight, some old towels and finally banished her upstairs to keep her out of my way and iron our clothes for our shopping trip I was NOT giving up on yet!
Paul, was so glad to hear from me at 11 p.m. when I semi-hysterically told him the furnace was leaking, the basement was wet and asked if he had a clue what to do! Our plumber friend was nowhere to be found or else wisely decided not to answer anyone who was calling him after 10 o'clock at night. There were more phone calls back and forth, more drama, a few raised voices and a lot more leaking water until I told both of them to leave me alone to think and if I need them, I'll let them know. I sat on the damp concrete floor in a tiny space between the water heater, furnace and wall with dirty towels and my beloved robe wrapped around my legs as I mentally inventoried the situation and what I thought would work. By about 1:30 a.m. the leak was temporarily stopped with the aid of a hose and clamp I borrowed from the dehumidifier, the cut off necks of two large balloons I found in the attic and a lot of creative thinking.
By 2 a.m. I had notified Paul, taken a shower, and climbed into bed exhausted but kind of proud that I save the day, or at least the basement, by using my creativity and whatever we had on hand. My stop gap solution held for 3 days until Paul and the plumber could handle it in a more conventional way.
The lesson to be learned is, creativity isn't just for the fine arts, it's for life and it's inside you to use anytime you want to access it; I would suggest today!
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