Cool Stuff I Like

Here are a few cool things I've found recently. You can choose not to check them out, but your cool factor is going to go way, way down. You make that call.

- The Success Principles by Jack Canfield. You might know him from the Chicken Soup series. To be honest, I haven't read those books because they seemed a little too schmaltzy (surely I didn't spell that right) for me. However, this book of his is absolutely amazing. It's like he's giving the reader this roadmap to life. It's organized in short chapters in which he imparts knowledge about various topics. It's the ultimate guide to business - and ultimately - success at life. If you only buy one book of the personal development genre, pick this one.

- Steve Pavlina's blog - Personal Development for Smart People. I just discovered this amazing blog and really look forward to making my way through his awesome posts on just about every topic under the sun.

- The Pioneer Woman blog - This is one cool and funny chick. I'm particularly drawn to the cooking portion where she shows a picture of each step in every recipe. I don't care if you've just eaten filet mignon (medium rare, of course!) --- you WILL be motivated to try her amazing recipes. If you are overwhelmed and need a place to start, I highly recommend the lasagna. And don't be surprised if you develop a little crush on Pastor Ryan. You'll know what I mean when you check it out! :)

- True Lemon packets - Greatest. Product. Ever. I'm a Coke addict (the soda kind, sicko!) and have been trying to break the habit. The problem? Water isn't interesting. At all. I discovered these awesome little packets near where you buy sugar packets. They are just dehydrated lemon. No calories. No bad for you anything. They go anywhere and when you drop them into a bottle of water, it tastes just like you squeezed fresh lemon in there. Voila! Not so sucky water! And they are WAY cheaper than any other water additive at under $3 for 32 packets. Yay!

So, there you have it. Some cool stuff I've recently discovered and recommend. Imparting this knowledge bomb on you also makes me feel better because I've written some stuff. How cool is that?

Vodka Tonics

I had already been feeling a bit yucky about neglecting my little blog. Then, twice in a single week, people have commented that I should write more. I, a person who feels more guilt than if you combined your average Catholic and Jewish person into one body, was moved to act. So, here we are.

My struggle with posting more is figuring out what I want to do with this itsy bitsy corner of cyberspace. I’m interested in whole lot of things, after all. I lamented this at a recent marketing network function I attended. The answer was delivered to me faster than FedEx delivers Fred’s bonus check. It’s a personal blog. Duh. Write about anything. Write about everything. It’s so simple.

So, expect a little ADD around here, people. The truth is, I’m not always excited about some new epiphany about the meaning of life. But I am always jazzed about something – even if it is only that I found a great new cleaning product, am excited about something cool at work or I heard a good joke. And now, thanks to a fellow marketer who had consumed far too many vodka tonics and knew not what he was doing by advising me to write about “whatever,” you are stuck reading it. You brought this on yourself, so don’t be mad at me!

Since you’re already here and already miserable, I’m going to ask you a favor. You know, because I have the right to do that and all. Heh. Will you please nag me nicely about taking the time to do this? I implore you to use guilt if it’s called for. I will reward you with sometimes mindful, sometimes mindless meanderings – and if you’re really, really good at nagging, perhaps a vodka tonic might be in order. Those things have been good to me lately!

Put your oxygen mask on first

For any of you who have done any amount of flying, you've heard it over and over --- if you're sitting next to a person who needs help in case of emergency, put your oxygen mask on first, then help them. It's counter-intuitive for those of us who like to think of others first. But you're of no help to the other person if you're struggling too.

I turn 37 on Monday. No real emergency - just a little twinge of panic. Am I really THIS close to turning 40?

Panic turned to action. I took a little time this past week to do some things for me. I got new contacts, had some dental work and got my hair done. All in all, a pretty small investment because everything but my hair was covered under insurance - and my folks gave me a check for my birthday that covered that. But at the end of the day (yes, I was insane enough to do this in one day), I feel like a new woman.

I feel confident in myself and better than I have in quite some time. Sure, these are superficial changes, but I'm amazed at what's it done for how I feel --- and how this confidence translates to how I have related to people in the past 24 hours. I can now brighten a stranger's day with a kind smile because I feel good enough to do it. My oxygen mask is firmly in place now.

I'm looking forward to my 37th year. I realize it's my responsibility to make it all I can -- and I'm up to that challenge.

On a completely different note, go Cardinals! :)

It boiled!

It's been a while since my last blog post, but I just wasn't finding inspiration. Heaven knows I tried! I was beginning to think a watched pot of inspiration might not boil. But yesterday, when I least expected it - it boiled!

I've been a little concerned for society lately. I see people elevating their needs above others all of the time. I'm not talking about big things. I'm talking about the little gestures. Karma. People constantly cut in and out of traffic - obviously thinking their lives and schedules are more important than the rest of us who have been waiting patiently. Others choose not to open doors for someone with their hands full. You know what I'm talking about.

Last night, I watched a show called "What Would You Do" that I had on DVR. The show does social experiments. For instance, one couple (actors) went out to a restaurant and sits at the bar. They made it very clear that they were on a first date. When the girl, who is dressed very classically and sweet, goes to the restroom - the other people at the bar witness the man pour powder into her drink. Then, the man goes to the restroom when she gets back - to see if maybe people will say something to her while he's gone.

The experiment was then repeated with her dressed more provacatively and in a lot of makeup.

It was then that I saw one of the most repulsive things ever. People judged her appearance and came to the conclusion that she "deserved it." Far less people came to her rescue. In fact, two guys saw the whole thing and not only didn't try and stop it - but seemed to actually condone it based on their actions.

Wow. Did that few people really do the right thing? Did that many people feel it was their place to judge her based on how she looked and put her in a potentially dangerous situation? Perhaps society was far worse off than I thought.

Then, I turned on the news. Normally, this is a fairly depressing experience - but not last night.

Details were coming in about what is now being called The Miracle on the Hudson. Not only did the pilot who is affectionately called "Sully" complete the first successful landing of a commercial aircraft on water, but he personally walked up and down the aisles - making sure each and every passenger made it out safely.

Wow. THIS is leadership. THIS is a person who "gets it."

I read an article on Yahoo about yesterday's events and saw that facebook groups were started to show appreciation for this heroic effort, so I decided to join one. Reading through the wall posts brought tears to my eyes. These people all "got it" too. They were inspired and grateful - isn't that what it's all about?

Taking a second to let someone in line while traffic is merging or treating someone kindly who doesn't look or dress like you isn't exactly as heroic as this great man's work yesterday - but it feels that way to the other person.

Thank you, Sully. Thank you for your quick thinking, your leadership and your kindness - but perhaps most of all, thank you for inspiring so many people to maybe make the right choice the next time and for reminding us to live our life with kindness in mind.

The Art of Cropping

The photo at the top of this blog is one I took at the Cleveland Air Show a couple of years ago. I wasn't happy with the picture at all.

It was of the front of the plane - and I didn't center the photo quite right and there was all kinds of static in the background. A good friend of mine (who is an amazing photographer) started talking to me about the art of cropping. He suggested that it's impossible to always achieve perfection in your shots - and that much is done to enhance digital photography on the back end.

So, I went back to a few shots and played around with them. I cropped this particular photo to what you see now. Lo and behold - I love it now!

A-ha! What if I applied the photographic technique of cropping to my life? Might I be happy with what I see when I cut out the static and lack of centering?

Sure enough - I realize that my life is pretty good.

I don't live in a mansion. My job drives me insane sometimes. I drive a glorified minivan disguised as an SUV. Single parenting is challenging on a good day.

But here's what I do have.

I have absolutely amazing friends who help me grow and show support like you wouldn't believe. I have a teenage daughter who is pretty terrific. My job is never boring. My parents are still on this Earth. I have the opportunity to make my life what I want it to be.

How can you shift your view and see the parts that are perfect and beautiful?

Living Consciously

Blogging has always intrigued me. I love to read blogs - but until today, I'd never considered starting one. Surely my life or views aren't any more interesting or important than anyone else's. Why on Earth would anyone want to read about what I have to say?

Then it hit me.

I need to do this for me. If only to live my life in a conscious way. If someone else finds my words insightful or they help them in some way - it's a double blessing.

2008 was an interesting year for me. I spent a good majority of it Becoming Me.

It's funny. I married at 19 and a good friend warned me off - saying I didn't know who I was yet. Of course, with all the wisdom of a teenager, I'd vehemently replied that I knew exactly who I was. After all, I'd lived a lot more life in my 19 years than most. But as I round the corner into my 37th year on this Earth, I realize that learning who you are is a journey that never ends.

Having been through an unusual childhood (perhaps we'll get to that another day), I thought I'd made peace with it all. I thought I knew precisely who I was. But the reality is, I had learned to be a chameleon. I adapted to those around me and the environment I was in.

Having spent the better part of the last year taking a break from dating has been, quite possibly, the healthiest thing I have done for myself. It's not only provided time for me to spend the last couple of years I have with my daughter under my roof, but also to really look inside at who I am - without bouncing me off of the mirror of another person.

2008 was bountiful in bringing me some of the best friends I've ever had in my life. It reconnected me with some old ones. It led me to do a stage production.

2008 pushed me to taxi down the runway of life. In 2009, I'm ready to take flight.

License be damned.