May 4, 2007 - Posted by Anne- 0 Comments
Now, I don’t claim to be very technical, and I’m certainly no mechanic, but I can tell you when there’s something wrong with my car–whether it’s making a funny sound, acting strange or just doesn’t feel right. Why is it, then, that none of the men in my life–starting with my Dad, believe me? I remember telling my Dad that there was something wrong with my car and he just seemed to dismiss it. Maybe it was because the most technical automotive words I used were clunk and ping. Who knows? So, how did I get him to take me seriously? I simply asked him to drive my car the next morning and to let me take his. So we swapped cars for the day. His first response to me at the end of the day was, “There’s something wrong with your car.” Imagine that–what a surprise!!!
After I got married, when something was wrong with my car, when I mentioned it to my husband, he admittedly would ask a few more questions, but still thought pretty lightly of my concerns. When we first got married, I even came home for lunch one day and my brakes went out on me–and I went right through a red light. Got home. Told him about the car and he said, lightly, “I’ll drive you back to work.” Well, certainly, Mr. High Tech must know something that I don’t know, right? On the way back to work, the first time he had to use the brakes, he said in a slightly panicked and rather irritated voice, “You’ve got NO brakes.” Isn’t that what I tried to tell him?
I think of cars and computers in the same way. I don’t want to know why or how either one functions–I just want them to work. If you spend most of your day trying to make people laugh, they have the tendency to think that you’re joking sometimes when you are indeed being very serious. Got anyone in your life like that? Most of the time, we are trying to be silly, but have a secret password that we can use with you so that you will know when we’re really being serious. When I tell you there’s something wrong with my car, honey, I’m not just being funny!!! Seriously!!!
So, today’s task is to take me seriously–at least once in a while–especially if I tell you that I’m having car problems. I am not kidding!!! And today is going to be filled with great communication and perhaps the opportunity to learn some new jargon–whether it’s computerese or car talk. Ready to seize the opportunity? I will, if you will. You are the Best, so rev up your engine and no hitting those brakes. And I’ll give you extra credit today if you can come up with some better words for me than clunk or ping. See you at the finish line–no–seriously!!! Stop laughing–I AM SERIOUS–well, maybe!!!
May 3, 2007 - Posted by Anne- 0 Comments
“We are the world’s Yesterdays. If you knew enough to put your feet upon us, you might rise rapidly. But when you let us ride on your back, we strangle and smother you.” ~Og Mandino
Think you’re the only one who doesn’t have a perfect life? The rest of the world just has an easier time of everything? They’re all lucky and moving ahead faster than you, right? Guess what? It only feels like the bad things, the stumbling blocks, the missed opportunities–they only feel like they belong to you alone, but everyone faces challenges on even the best of days!!! You need to take each experience, each yesterday, and learn something from it. At the end of the day, let it go. Place it under your feet, rising up just a bit from what you’ve learned from that mistake or challenge. You know you’ll never make the same mistake again, right? Not if you take the time to learn from each experience.
So, today’s challenge is to review where your yesterdays are stored. Do you keep them on your shoulders, dragging you down or sluff them off and step upon them to rise to the occasion? Think you’re tough enough to take the challenge? I dare you to make your motto today, “Onward and upward”!!! And today will be a day filled with a review of your history–what’s weighing you down? What’s keeping you from moving forward? Take today and drop that weight down–down under your feet and use it to help you to rise up just a little bit–do that with every yesterday. Not sure where we’ll end up, but I’ll be looking for you there. So, here’s to a lighter step, a refreshed attitude and plenty of learning from our past experience. It’s onward and upward. Take a chance–I dare you!!! I will, if you will!!! Make me proud!!!
May 2, 2007 - Posted by Anne- 0 Comments
I’m learning–the only consistent thing in life is change. Hold on tightly!!! Hold on tightly to your beliefs–your values. Hold on tightly to the things that you love!!! Hold on tightly to the people you love!!! Enjoy what you do!!! Have passion for life–in your work–in your play–with your family–and your friends!!! But know that there is no growth without change and where there is no growth, things die!!!
So, today’s task is to always be ready–be ready when you’re most contented–be ready when you least expect it–be ready when you’ve been lulled into complacency–because change is inevitable and since we can’t stop it–we need to get ready to make it work for us–to realize that change can be a good thing and that we can choose the attitude we have when facing it. And guess what? Today, I’m wishing you the courage to face your fears–to face your challenges–to face the changes–and to have a great attitude!!! Have to admit that there was a time when a sudden change could not only halt me in my footsteps, but could knock me down–and keep me down–longer than I wanted!!! But we’re all works in progress–a little bit better every day!!!
So, today’s task is to be passionate about everything that’s important to you!!! Would you be willing to give up all the joy in your life to shield yourself from a change that might cause some momentary growing pains? NOT ME–joy far outweighs the sadness of change. It might not seem like it at the time, but there’s new joy just around the bend!!! So, bring on the joy!!! And today will be filled with the opportunity to live life to the fullest–to grow–to learn–to HOLD ON TIGHTLY, but also to remember to let go–LET GO LIGHTLY!!! You cannot accept the next new experiences and joys if you’re hands are not open and ready. Get ready!!! I will, if you will!!! You are the Best!!! Make me proud!!!
May 1, 2007 - Posted by Anne- 0 Comments
When I was a Junior in college, I was the Vice President of the dorm council. My boss at Cleveland City Hall, an admitted wiseguy, said, “Vice President–I didn’t think you settled for being #2!!!” And while he was right, I knew that I needed to be the vice president to see what the president did. However, over the years, I have changed my attitude. My wish is to always be #2 now!
Why #2, you ask? Because #2 tries harder!!! When you’re #2, you’ve got room to move up. When you’re #2, there’s always another opportunity out there–room to grow–stretch–spread your wings!!! When you’re #2, people don’t expect you to have the power and the thunder that you have–you almost always surprise them. When you’re #2, you don’t have everyone trying to knock you down off the mountaintop!!!
So, today’s task is to work to be #2. Think you’re tough enough to take the challenge? And if you won’t settle for #2, I’ll definitely see you at the top–though #2 always works just a little bit harder. Be the Best–and remember that competitive numbering thing isn’t really all it’s cracked up to be–and if you’re giving the absolute Best that you have to give–no one can ask for anything more!!! You make me proud each and every day!!! And I’m expecting great things from you–and good things are coming your way!!! And today is going to be filled with plenty of opportunity to wear that shirt with the 2 on it–but only you and I know the 2 is covering up a #1. The rest of the world doesn’t really need to see it–because we know–and that’s enough!!!
