Awesome Women!

I had the privilege of attending a working retreat the other weekend in Savannah, Georgia.  I am currently in a class with the women in this picture.  I had spoken with them on the phone, but had never met any of them face to face.

It was remarkable!  For three days I was with twelve amazing women.  We learned, we laughed, we cried.  I am bursting with ideas for business.  It is easy to come up with new things when you are in a supportive atmosphere.

The picture is one of the unusual exercises we did.  We were to write an uplifting message on a piece of poster board.  We had to take our message through a large (very active) park.  Then we were told to stand on a busy corner of the street with these messages and see if we could get cars to honk.  Yikes!  I am one to put myself out there, but not one to put myself WAY out there.

You know the feeling you have when you are driving and see people with poster boards?  I always think "Ugh!  Make it through the light, I don't want to deal with their posters and whatever slogans they yell or crap they are trying to sell."  When you think about it, usually posters are negative or they are trying to sell you the best thing since sliced bread.

Our posters were positive. We were not selling a single thing. I loved watching the faces of people who were driving up to our group.  At first, it was negative, the "oh no" face.  Then their expressions transfer to the "What?" confusion face.  Finally, once the messages were read, we saw lots of smiles and got many honks.  Often people asked what we were doing.  When we told them we were just spreading good thoughts, the answer was always positive.  It was fun!

I learned so much by standing on the corner.  People are not used to positive statements without cost.  That is hugely wrong.  We need to encourage others and often.  Maybe not on the street, but at every chance you get.  Then again, the street corner hit many people in a short period.  A positive thought will always make a difference.

Do you need help with positive thoughts?  I can help.
www.cynthiaokelly.com

 

This picture totally cracks me up!  These are my dogs, Molly and Stu at the dog park.  Molly is the one with her tongue hanging out, the joyful look on her face and her paws in the water bowl.  Poor Stu is the one with the nasty glare.  What you don't see is that Molly has the ball and has placed it into the water bowl.  Stu, being the dutiful brother, is patiently waiting for her to allow him to grab the ball and bring it to me.

I learn alot from these dogs.  Molly is 2 years younger, loves to counter surf and always full of energy.  Stu is my little gentleman. He takes care of his sister.  He has wonderful manners but is all about the ball.  He is focused.  He lives for our daily dog park visits. 

Each day, Stu will run into the park and check out every ball in order to find the "ball of the day".  No other ball will do.  If Molly catches the ball, he will follow her until she gives it to him.  If another dog steals the ball, he will not get aggressive.  He will wait until they lose interest.  Then he grabs it and brings it to me.  When I am throwing the ball, Stu is completely in the moment.  Nothing exists outside of that tennis ball.  No matter what else is going on at the park, he won't get involved.  The ball is king.  I am amazed at his ability to tune out all distractions and concentrate on what he finds important.

I wish I had such focus!  Often I find myself getting muddled in the brain due to having too many things going on at the same time.  The important things get mixed in with the trivial events an instead of doing one thing well, many things get done half assed.  I need to focus like Stu.  He does one thing and he does it very well. 

Take The Leap!

I have not written in a few weeks but so much has happened that I believe I will have plenty of material for multiple blogs! 
That is me flying through the air.  A few weeks ago I went on a girls trip to my favorite place, Miraval in Tuscon, Arizona.  It has become a very special place to me.  Last year, while at Miraval, I learned about being Mindful and made the decision to become a life coach.  I spent the rest of the year studying and getting certified.

This year, I decided to try the Quantum Leap.  This is where you climb up a 35 foot telephone pole and get on to a one foot by 2 foot board, stand up and look around, say something profound and jump!  When I saw the climb, I thought I would never make it.  They made me go first.  Deep breath!  So, harnessed up and shaking, I started up the ladder.  Made it up there pretty quickly with no issues.  Now I needed to climb onto the actual pole.  The pegs or staples are spaced for normal height people.  I had to wrap my hand around the pole as I was climbing up to the next staple.  I was amazed that I could lift my body weight so easily.  I was able to get to the top at a normal pace.  Then I had to climb onto the teeny tiny platform.

It was a windy day and the pole was swaying from that height.  My legs were shaking as well.  I took awhile before I stood up.  I didn't want to give up and just fall.  The goal was to stand up on the top of the pole.  So, I did.  I stood up and just jumped. 

IT WAS AWESOME!

I never thought that I would be able to climb up a pole and jump off the pole 35 feet in the air.  I was amazed that I wasn't scared to leap.  I knew all was ok.

My take away from the exercise?  It is good to experience things that will make your heart beat a bit faster. I am in better shape than I thought.  It is ok to trust.  The rewards are amazing!  I still giggle when I think about it or see the pictures.

What will you find out about yourself if you were going to climb up and leap off of a 35 ft telephone pole?  How about if you go ahead and commit to that food plan.  What's the worst that could happen?  The best that could happen?

I can help you get to the point where you can enjoy a challange.  www.losinggracefully.com
Contact me for a free 30 minute session.

Nom Nom! Food Crazy!

  Ever felt like this picture?  Have you ever thought about a food so much that you were obcessed by the time you got it and crammed it into your mouth?  Did you even really taste it?

We do that.  We deny ourselves something and quietly it builds up in our mind as the absolute best thing ever.  Like a snowball rolling down the hill, it gains momentum until it is HUGE and we become quite crazed at the thought of getting whatever it is we wanted.

Once you get it, is it really worth all the press your brain gave that food?  In most cases, I would bet no.  This has happened to me many times.  I will start thinking about a food, say in this instance, a cheeseburger from a local joint.  At first it sounds good but the thought lingers.  Then I go through the deny thought process where I tell myself I don't need the calories and should make better choices.  Now that might quell my desire for the cheeseburger for a day or so, but the thought always comes back.

Then I decide that I can make a healthier cheeseburger at home and will do so.  It just doesn't taste like it did at the local burger joint.  Still not satissfied and still want that cheeseburger.  Now, if you are like me, I will finally give in and eat so fast that I feel sick.  I will eat more than I want and usually I come away thinking that is sounded better than it tasted.  Not a happy ending.

I am going to try a new way when the craving for some particular food creeps its way into my brain.  I am going to go and get it.  Stick with me here as you are thinking I am encouraging you to eat unhealthy, etc.  If you find that you are craving something, why spend countless days and calories trying to avoid that particular food, when you can just eat it and move on.  Savor the flavor.  BUT (and there is always a but), follow the rules.  Go slow and only eat until you are full and leave the rest.  If you are honest with yourself it might be only half the cheeseburger.  You got what you wanted and you didn't end up gorging yourself.  Win win if you ask me.

If Not Now, When?

Yesterday,I heard someone say "If not now, when?" and I actually stopped in my tracks.  I have no idea in what context this person was using this statement, but it was a total game changer for me. Why do we wait on making changes?  Let's look at some of the answers people give:

 

"I want to research this"  Really?   Haven't you been thinking about weight loss, moving, going back to school, or whatever it is for awhile now?  Is there a difference between thinking about and 'seriously' thinking about a change?

"I am too busy"  Busy being unhappy.  If there is something on your mind that you know would improve your life, why are you even wasting one more day?  Take a deep breath and leap!

"I am scared" Change is always scary.  You can 'what if' yourself to death.  But you are a strong person and can handle whatever happens.  You have gotten this far in life.  Why cheat yourself out of a victory?  If you do nothing, then nothing is what you will get.  Everyone's mission in life is to move forward.  How will you move forward?

There are so many things going on currently in my life that I would love to say, "Whoa lets slow down for a little while and ponder on these decisions."  That would be the wrong thing to do.  It is very hard to leave the comfort of my bed every morning, but things must move forward.  Life must be lived!  Am I scared?  Yes!  Do I push through?  Yes!  The reward will be fantastic because I have earned it.

I am standing on my soapbox because lately I have seen way too many people who are miserable in their lives, because they are choosing not to live it!  So, I encourage you to take the leap of faith and just go ahead and do it.  Don't try, do!  The worst that can happen is that you end up where you are now.  The best?  Well that is whatever you want it to be.  New Job?  Lose weight? Better relationships and less toxic people in your life?  You name it and then do it!

I can help.  I can guide you through this process.  www.losinggracefully.com
 

 

 

 

 

 

Brain Buzz

Do you ever have so much going on that you get brain buzz?  For me, I don't have a lot going on physically, but mentally, my brain is doing back flips!  Lately I find that I am busy worrying about everything.  I worry about my husband, my stepchildren, a job, my dog, my mom, my friends....  Phew!  I am exhausted.  In March I went to Miraval Spa and promised to stop worrying so much and to live in the moment.  I did pretty well for the month of March, but slowly my and some of April.  Slowly but surely, my old self has creeped back in.  Ugh!  All this worrying is stressing me out!

The good news is my weight is doing just fine.  I have noticed that I am toned and muscled.  I am strong and though I could lose 10 pounds, I am happy.  Just worried.

So for today, I will try not to worry about every little thing.  I will try to live in the moment.  Hmmm.  Maybe I will try that meditation thing.

Wish me luck!