Knowledge

Hi everyone! You might think the title of this post relates to the picture (graduation day, April 14, 2013 - YIPPEEEE!!!) and I guess it could certainly pertain to that. I hope I gained some knowledge over these many months of school work, team meetings, and class time!

But the reason the word "knowledge" came to mind is that I spent some time with a friend yesterday who is a wealth of knowledge (actually, he has a lot of knowledge about wealth, too - he's a wealth management consultant! Alas, I have no need for his services, lol). Whenever I speak with him, we always get into some really interesting discussions and I walk away having learned something new - or at least affirming something I already have strong feelings about. Don't you love it when that happens??

Yesterday we talked about leadership. Since Bryan studies words, he mentioned that leader comes from "lea" = path and "der" = finder. So a leader is a pathfinder. How cool to know that what I've been telling people for years as my own opinion is also traceable back to the roots of the word "leader!"

Something I think people can miss, though, is that you don't have to have a corner office, a gaggle of employees, or a fancy-schmancy title to be a leader. You don't even have to have a job. People in all walks of life, at every level, and those who are not technically employed, can still be leaders.

You can lead people to have a good attitude - by exhibiting one yourself.

You can lead people to take a good look at their negativity by being the person who keeps a positive outlook on things.

You can lead people to act with integrity - because you set the example.

You can lead people to feel good about themselves by being an encourager.

You can lead others to be accountable for their own actions by not allowing them to make excuses for bad behavior.

So...you now have new knowledge of yourself as a leader. What will you do with this knowledge? How can you show your leadership in the next 30 days? Let me know!

Blessings,
Linda
www.LindasWorkshops.com
Linda@LindasWorkshops.com

R-E-L-I-E-F!!

Relief! That's what I felt Sunday, April 14, as I walked across the stage at University Auditorium at the University of Florida in Gainesville to receive my Master of Business Administration degree (MBA). People kept saying, "Are you excited??" And of course, I was excited - but what I felt down to my very bones was relief :-)

The funky, not-very-pretty picture in this post is a calendar I made for myself last September when I really started doubting whether or not I could actually complete the program. I needed a way to "see the light at the end of the tunnel" before I could actually see that light. Every Monday morning, I took great pleasure in crossing off another week - you'll notice the lines of my "exes" were getting thicker as the weeks wore on...and on and on and on!

But it's over. And it made me think about how many things can drain our energy, our attention, even our fun and how relieved we are when we get "through" those things. Sometimes it's a financial hardship. Sometimes it's a health crisis...or a job situation...or a relationship problem...or a HUGE project that seems it will never end.

Whatever the tunnel is that you're going through, allow yourself to really feel the relief when you finally get to the other side. So many times we just jump right into another tunnel, but have you ever seen one of those tunnels through the mountains? Even when it's a pretty wide mountain, the engineers usually found a way to provide "light" between tunnels - a space where you could sort of get your bearings again before entering another tunnel.

That's what we all need to make sure we do between "tunnels" in our lives - take some time to get our bearings - to reflect on how we grew because of our trip through that tunnel. And take a deep breath before we immediately jump into another.

I know that "life" happens and we can't always control the speed at which we arrive at the next tunnel. Maybe we don't get that short break where we can see the light. Maybe those are the times we have to make our own "light" and focus on the good. That may be a flower, a sunny sky, a furry friend nearby, or even the dime you found in the parking lot!

Focusing on the small "shafts of light" that come our way can also remind us to really feel the relief when the tunnel finally comes to an end.

Drop me a note and let me know what your tunnel is right now...are you approaching the end? Can you see some rays of light filtering through?

Blessings,

Linda

www.LindasWorkshops.com

Linda@LindasWorkshops.com

Ah....bliss!



True Bliss for Murphy

 Yeah, I know Christmas was awhile ago :-), but when I thought of the word I wanted to write about this week, this picture is what came to mind!

Bliss...we know it when we feel it, but most of us would be hard-pressed to actually describe it.The first definition listed at www.m-w.com (Merriam-Webster dictionary online) is "complete happiness." Yes, that'll do!


And I think Murphy is a pretty good representation of that in this picture, don't you? Actually, I felt bliss when I saw him so comfortable in front of the fireplace with the twinkling lights of the tree beside him - our favorite violin "soaking" music playing in the background (www.ruthfazal.com) and a fragrant cup of Keurig coffee beside me.  Ahhhhh...

You might wonder why I picked a word not used in our everyday language - at least not in mine. A client requested a mini-workshop titled "Find Your Bliss at Work" and I thought that was a great topic - and a challenging one to boot. So I added a word to the title and it's now called "Find Your Bliss at Work ~ Really!" It's full of thought-provoking tips and questions encouraging the participants to ponder what really makes them happy. I love helping people ponder those kinds of things!

I am fortunate to find bliss in my work - most days. I am privileged to help other people "sort things out" - whether that has to do with leadership, personalities, emotional intelligence, balance in their lives, or any one of many other topics. When I see the proverbial light bulb go on for them, I can honestly say I feel bliss.

So...what brings you bliss? What makes you happy? Often it's not about money, things, status, power, or jobs. It may be a feeling you get when you spend time with a good friend. It may be the fleeting moment when you take a sip of your favorite coffee - or when you watch the kids playing or the dog galloping across the yard. It may even be when you're learning and growing - or helping something else grow by digging in your garden.

Whatever brings you bliss, take time this week to consciously remember it. Think how it makes you feel. Reflect on how you might bring more of it into your life. And drop me a note to let me know what came to mind!

Blessings,
Linda
www.LindasWorkshops.com
Linda@LindasWorkshops.com

Disappointment...

I love the stunningly beautiful blooms that the passion flower creates. I don't, however, love the way the plant invades the entire space on my patio. Last week, I was disappointed to have to cut it down - all of it, or so I thought. I needed to clean up the fence area so that, if we ever find someone who wants the job (another story!), the fence will be ready to tear down. However, my disappointment was lessened when I noticed the beginnings of new sprouts in a non-fence area of the patio. Now if I can just discipline myself to keep it cut back so it doesn't have to go through such a traumatic operation next time!

And speaking of disappointment, a few weeks ago I applied for a residency at a writer's retreat in NC. Last night, I received word that I was not chosen out of the 250+ people who applied for this year's coveted spots. To say I was disappointed is putting it mildly. My "recovery time" from the disappointment that email created was a little longer than I care to admit. But I HAVE recovered - less than 24 hours later. For some reason, I was not supposed to take that week out of my schedule this year. Perhaps someone needs me for training during that time - or maybe my family will just need a little extra attention. There's also the very real possibility that those who did secure a residency spot needed it more than I did. Whatever the reason, I know that the disappointment I felt last night can be replaced by a forward-looking perspective.

You all know me - I'm the eternal optimist. I do believe that something better will come along - whatever "better" looks like at that point in time. Here's the key - it's my decision to decide that whatever DOES come along looks better!

What about you? What disappointments have you faced lately? Most of us are exposed to occasional disappointments and it might be helpful to face them head on - then decide what we're going to do about it. Will we find the "better" or the "bitter?" It's up to US!

And by the way...I'll be applying again this summer for next year's residency!

Blessings,
Linda
www.LindasWorkshops.com
Linda@LindasWorkshops.com

Change...

Ahh, change...it happens everyday, doesn't it? The picture in this post shows a piece of our "backyard" - which really means our tiny patio. We have enjoyed a bit of privacy over the past 7 1/2 years since we moved here courtesy of a rustic wooden fence, which I've thoroughly enjoyed - as have the squirrels and woodpeckers. Over the past few months, it has started to lean precariously and the top has apparently been dinner for any number of said squirrels and woodpeckers, as the boards are about 2" shorter than they were a year ago! It's time for a change - before Mother Nature changes it for us by blowing it down!

So I've been on a quest to replace the fence - which is easier said than done since we live in a community that has numerous restrictions about what you can and can't do to the outside of your home. And believe it or not, I'm fine with that policy. Our community is one of the best-kept in the entire area, due in no small part to the "rules" that are in place. But....it makes it a challenge to take care of this pesky fence issue. Long story short, it looks like we'll have to replace the fence with a "buffer" of plants that will grow fast enough and tall enough to provide some privacy. It will be wonderful - at some point in the future - but it will require finding a landscaper who wants this "small" job and me paying attention to whatever is planted so it doesn't die!

That's just one small change in our lives right now - we have several major ones coming in short order. Guy is closing his music store next week after 5 successful years. Things have changed in the retail environment in that time. There isn't much loyalty to the "local small business" anymore, which is terribly sad. People want to come and play his nice, high-quality guitars so they can go buy one online - ARGH. Or...they bring in the guitar they did buy online so he can put strings on it (hard to pay the retail rent with profit from a set of strings!). Anyway, it's time - he's anxious to get back out on the road, buying and selling, so he's a happy camper in that sense. But still...it will be a significant change having him around more - especially since I work from home and am used to having just Murphy and Grover (the kitties) to aggravate me :-) on a daily basis!

And of course, as some of you know, I'll be graduating from UF with my MBA in just 7 weeks and 2 days - hoooooooooooray!!! That, too, will be a drastic change - no more late night conferences with the team, trying to spur them on to getting our assignments done well - and on time. No more going to campus one weekend a month to sit in classes for 11+ hours on Saturday and another 9+ on Sunday. No more trying to carve out a few hours during the week to read the hundreds of pages of case studies and articles necessary to complete assignments. Wow! What will I do with all that extra time?? HA!

And then there's the new doggie, which we hope we'll find by the first part of May. And we're also hoping she'll have the temperament to become a therapy dog. It's something I've been pondering for awhile and I think it would be very worthwhile - but it will be another change in our "routine" for sure.

Changes will be coming in my work as well, I hope. I love, love, love the training I do, but that, too, is always up in the air with this economy. My clients have been very faithful to me, but they are constantly struggling with funding. My MBA is meant to help me find some classes I can teach online as a complement to my training. That will be fun - but a whole different way of "teaching" people than I'm used to. Change.

And we all experience the small changes in our lives without even realizing it sometimes. Maybe that's the whole point of this post...sometimes we need to take a step back and be grateful for the changes that have made things better - and be grateful, too, for the changes we would rather not have gone through but that are at least OVER :-)

Don't forget, too, to step back and appreciate all the good in your life that hasn't changed for you - whatever that might be...friends, family, hobbies, pets, home....

As the saying goes, "It is what it is, but it will BECOME what you make of it."

Make it GOOD!!!

Blessings,
Linda
www.LindasWorkshops.com

Excited!

Well, well, well - I've done it again! How could so many months have gone by between posts?? I guess it's called life...between school, work, and just taking care of the house, spouse, and fur-kids, life has been pretty full. Add to that a bout with kidney stones, an emergency appendectomy in October, and a couple of family members and close friends who have been seriously ill, and the blog got left behind!

However...!  I'm b-a-a-a-a-a-a-c-k :-) ~ it feels good. And why am I excited? I'm looking forward to a great 2013 with lots of fun training jobs already scheduled here in Florida, up in Alabama, and hopefully, WAY up in Chicago this summer! AND school will be over in 93 days - count 'em...93 days! WOW. I'm not sure I'll know what to do with myself...HA!

I graduate April 14, and on April 15 (or close to it!), we'll be making a trip to the Humane Society to find the newest member of our happy family...a doggie. We lost Abby almost 3 years ago - I've missed her every single day and we are ready for another furry friend. So just getting out of school and adding a new member to the family are 2 things to be excited about...

BUT...I'm also starting to put out a few feelers for writing again. Oh my, how I've missed that! Keep me in your thoughts - I've applied for a residency at Wildacres in NC to complete my devotional. I've gotten calls from all over the country from people who have read Grover's story (our crippled cat) and my bio in Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul. I mentioned in my bio in that book (and a few others that had my stories in them and were published around that time) that I am working on a devotional and several people have taken the time to call me and ask where they can buy it - one fairly recently even though the book has been around for awhile - so I really want to finish it and try to get it published.

And of course, I'm always excited about my training workshops and webinars. Much of my work is with libraries and they are such a great group to work with - always wanting to learn and grow...my kind of people! I'm developing a new program on Servant Leadership that may just be one of my very favorites by the time I'm finished with it. But then, I say that about a lot of my programs. Obviously, I'm excited about what I do "for a living" and I know how lucky I am to feel that way!

So what are you excited about for 2013?

Here's wishing you good health, all of your needs met - and then some - and friends and family around to enjoy it with!

Until next time (which I really hope will be before 2014!!)...

Blessings,
Linda
www.LindasWorkshops.com

(P. S. Google has changed how the blog works and I'm not sure I'll be able to upload any new pictures :-(, but I'll keep trying! The one here may be a repeat - but it's still gorgeous!)

Fatigue!

Hi all,
I'll have to say, the title seems appropriate at this point in my hectic life!

Actually, what nudged me to finally start posting again is that I was going through a practice session for a webinar I'll be presenting on "Compassion Fatigue" and the host asked if I wanted my blog address published. I was sad to say that I hadn't posted in quite some time, then told her to go ahead and publish it - that gave me a reason to start posting! (That, and I found myself looking at a writing contest this morning, which tells me it's time to tune in to that part of "me" again).

The webinar I'm presenting is targeted to library workers, some of whom are weary after many months (or years!) of trying to help the unemployed, the financially challenged, those with health problems, and a myriad of other people who just need...help.

But as I thought about the title, it occurred to me that many of us are fatigued. I am personally dealing with a bit of compassion fatigue in trying to help my husband maintain his health. As some of you know, he had tongue cancer in 2007 and is now cured - we are SO blessed! There are residual issues, though, that we could have never prepared for...the constant pain and/or numbness in his jaw/chin due to the broken jaw from pulling a wisdom tooth about 3 years ago...the continual tooth issues due to non-functioning saliva glands as a result of 62 (life-saving!) radiation treatments...the ongoing struggle to keep his weight up because of the difficulty of swallowing for every single one of the meals he eats - and if he loses weight, I find it!

I am not complaining about the compassion/caregiving aspect of what I just described. I am honored to be able to be the one who can help him through any issue that comes up.

Combined with full-time work and full-time in a master's degree program, though, and the word fatigue might just have my picture on it - along with so many of your pictures, too, I'm sure.

Some of us are fatigued by "caregiving" of some sort, some are fatigued by the stress of an insecure job situation, a financial burden, nagging health issues, or relationships...or all of the above - yikes!

Whatever the source of your fatigue, I urge you to find that few minutes where you can relax and breathe - whether that is watching your favorite TV program (As Time Goes By!), playing "Words with Friends," reading a great book, or watching the birds outside on your patio...or maybe writing a blog, like I just did!

Don't just fritter away those precious few moments doing something mindless - be mindful of the small pleasures and make sure you include some of those, too - I just did!
(and yes, that picture really is how I work many afternoons - obviously, Murphy has found the secret of enjoying his time!)
Blessings,
Linda
www.LindasWorkshops.com
http://LindasWorkshops.blogspot.com
Linda@LindasWorkshops.com