Well fall is certainly here in my neck-of-the-woods. Waking up to the rain this morning has inspired me to breakout my trusty-dusty crock pot and get cooking!
I have always loved one pot meals. Reminds me of when I was growing up and the stews my mom would fix. She wasn’t what I would call a gourmet cook, but her stews were by far the best thing she knew how to prepare. We ate mostly meat, it’s the way it was back then. My dad was a hunter so I grew up on wild game like venison, elk, duck, pheasant and the like.
Now days I still eat everything, but lean towards cooking healthier and lighter. One of my favorite recipes is for Minestrone. Lots of fresh vegetables from the Farmer’s Market and I add some crusty bread…YUM!!
This is what I’m making tonight and I thought I’d share my recipe with you…enjoy!
“Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.” — Dr. Wayne Dyer
I was out in Palm Desert this past weekend when I received a call from a friend back home. Looking down at the screen I hesitated and took a deep breath.
My thought in the moment before pushing the connect button was, “Do I really want to answer this? I was positive the person on the other end was calling me to find out how to “fix this” or “do that”. Rarely do they call just too say “Hi”.
How many times in our day do we look at our phones and run complete conversations in our minds before we have even said “Hello”?
I’m grateful I answered. My friend was calling to thank me for our friendship and to say how much they appreciated me.
Happy Monday!
In gratitude,
L.
It’s Wednesday, Hump Day. For me today it feels like a Monday… maybe it was the holiday? Actually as of late, all of the days seem to collide and become one in the same. I don’t mean it in a negative way, more like I’m noticing it’s 3:00 in the afternoon and only minutes ago (my perception), it was 11:30am? I find time is flying by and my question is: is it for you as well?
Something that helps me when I feel this way is to get present. Many times I get caught up in the everyday “doings” and I forget about just “being”…being in the moment. So, wherever I am (aware and present 
), I take a time out to center myself, let go and just be. Many of you know me and and have witnessed this event in my centering exercise at our Victory Networking meetings. It’s like immersing yourself in a cool pool on a hot summer’s day, you just relax.
It works for me and possibly it can work for you too.
Keeping it real… L.
I love summer… I always have. It truly is my favorite season, and don’t see that changing, but who knows?…I’m open.
Living in Laguna Beach between May and July 5th is usually pretty gloomy. “May Gray” or “June Gloom”, take your pick. Dense fog with maybe an hour of sunshine peeking through, is the norm. I have to tell you though, I’m anticipating the joys of summer. Water temps that call you in, BBQ’s with friends and movies and concerts in the park. Even though the tourists drive me crazy, I can’t wait to hear that first trolley bell leaving the station below my house. My very favorite thing is lying outside on the deck at night, gazing at the stars and waking up to a coyote’s howl.
Perhaps you can relate to my story. Do you have fond memories of a time of year, a special holiday, or some other experience near and dear to your heart? Has this memory become more special as you have enjoyed it over and over again? If so, you are thinking of it with either anticipation or expectation. I invite you to consider the difference.
For me, expectation is my emotional attachment to an outcome. If the weather never gets nice, or I don’t get to enjoy the beach because it’s closed for health reasons, my expectations set me up to be disappointed. We all know that there’s nothing worse than an unfulfilled expectation.
Anticipation on the other hand, is very similar to expectation, but has none of the thorny negatives. I’m still every bit as excited about every detail of summer, but not emotionally attached to it. I’m open to the idea that summer will be wonderful, no matter what happens. Perhaps I’ll be gifted a ticket to spend summer in Paris, or even better, the beaches being closed would give me more time to paint a seascape on my deck. I imagine myself to be fluid and soft like water, shaping myself to the container of summer. What ever happens will be perfect.
In gratitude…and joy!
L.
The Law of Circulation states that all things in the Universe are always flowing in circulation, but at an ever expanding rate. What you give to one person, you will receive from a different source. So you don’t have to give with the expectation of receiving back from the same person you give to, but knowing that it will definitely come back to you multiplied from other sources. It works according to the Law of Cause and Effect where the universe always mirrors back to you whatever you emanate.
What have you given today? What have you received from the experiences? What is staring back to you in your mirror?
Today I gave: Love, support, compassion, empathy, a smile, praise, accountability, passion, trust, focus, a good look in the mirror, appreciation, intention, authenticity, expansion and… gratitude. It’s interesting…what I received today has many of the same components as what I gave, but so much more…
A good look in the mirror, love, support, compassion, empathy, a smile, praise, accountability, passion, trust, focus, appreciation, intention, authenticity, expansion, and…beauty, confidence, understanding, touch, memories, a listening ear, fortitude, courage, depth, awareness, joy, connection, consideration, harmony, freedom, safety, hope, meaning, discovery, spontaneity, consistency, growth, presence, purpose, fun, play and gratitude. I certainly received more than I gave today.
Staring back at me in the mirror? …a huge smile, knowing I can choose to do this every day and the infinite possibilities that will unfold.
Now it’s your turn, what will you choose? I want to remind you… there is no wrong answer.
In gratitude,
L.
Many times we look back on our day and ask the question, “where did my day go?” We get stuck on autopilot and forget to stop and smell the roses…literally!
When was the last time you actually stopped to observe a wonder of nature and really absorbed it? A spider building a web, a beautiful flower unfolding, the smell of the ocean, looking at the stars in the night sky, or feeling the warm sun on your face? Maybe you’ve been so busy you haven’t noticed anything at all.
I know this happens for me, and as of late more than care to admit. Taxes, resume, laundry, graphic work, grocery shopping, driving, phone calls… you get the idea. When we are in this mode are we really living or just existing? I know for myself, I feel more alive when I stop, take in what surrounds me and become aware of my senses. This connects me to the much bigger picture called life.
Today I am committed to stopping and just being, even if it’s only for a few moments. I will notice the difference of how I feel and the shifts inside.
Want to play along?
In gratitude,
L.
After a break I’m back in the saddle…post 100!
I turned double nickels while I was away…that’s 55 for those not versed in Vegas lingo. Had an amazing b-day with friends and my kids, the kind that is embedded in your mind for a lifetime. BTW – if you haven’t gone bowling on your b-day you really should consider it !
Life for me has been very interesting in the first 52 days of the New Year. I liken it to a symphony, some whimsical notes, some ominous overtures, a few subtle nuances, huge clashing symbols, thundering drums and delightfully sweet melodies.
As I head down my journey’s path, (not too far mind you), I find that I am coming to some new major choices. Did I mention I like choice? I feel truly blessed to be where I am right now, “The World is My Oyster”… (did I also mention I like these? especially with lots of horseradish, lemon & Tabasco!). I wake up every morning and consciously choose how I want to show up that day. Even if I’m in a foul mood I can decide with the very next step I take, that my perception and my way of being, can change my whole day.
It really is about choice. What will you choose tomorrow morning when you first open your eyes to a new day? A fresh start? Endless possibilities? Roll over and hit the snooze button? Will you choose to live in your past, which is gone. Fret about what hasn’t even happened yet, the future? Maybe you’ll choose to give thanks and be in moment. The choice is solely ours to make…our lives are truly an inside job.
- Categories: Uncategorized
Tis the time of year to create special moments with friends and family. Usually we (me and my kids) make Christmas cookies a week ahead of time. Well…it’s 3 days and counting down, no cookies… 
bummer!
We did however find a very cool website that has a fun activity that kids and adults alike can have a ton of fun doing…take it from us!
Click here to make a snowflake
Happy Holidays!
L.
- Categories: Uncategorized
What might this have to do with corporate culture and values of successful companies? How does it relate to Effective Leadership? What about teamwork? Can you relate the definition above to feelings you’ve had for teammates on a great team or for a leader by whom you’d been inspired?
I don’t think “love” is considered a corporate word by most, but ask yourself this: What is the quality I experience in a person at work, client or teammate that I feel most warmly towards and with whom I feel most safe? Does your answer have more to do with his or her intellectual properties or with something else?
It’s been proven that productivity is higher when people like and respect each other which is the aspect of love that I think applies in the business world. Love, it is easy to argue, would be a beneficial ingredient to include in business, just because it seems right, because it is the opposite of hate, because it is positive not negative. But business will never absorb love just because it has positive connotations; it will be adopted only if it is seen to be good for business, good at improving profitability. I think that love has everything to do with business, that business is enhanced, meaning that long-term profitability is enhanced, with the introduction of love.
This clearly requires a definition of “love” in this context. By “love” I mean kindness, consideration, positive feelings, clear interest in the other’s well being, generosity of spirit, compassion and that critical ingredient, fairness.
When these qualities are introduced to any business people work harder, egos are brought under control, collaboration and cooperation blossom, productivity and creativity emerge. Long-term profitability is going to improve.
so…show me the love!
L.
