Another year is about to pass into history.  It’s been an eventful year and one with the usual “ups” and “downs”.  If you are like me, you take the “ups” with great energy and joy, but the “downs” are not so easy to take.  I always admire folks who take life’s ‘lumps’ with great grace and dignity - in other words, in their stride.  On rare occasions, I am given the grace to respond to the down moments with some amount of dignity - but those occasions are all too rare.

For the past several days I’ve been thinking about a history channel program I saw sometime in the past several weeks (at least I think it was the history channel).  The program related to Biblical history (I don’t remember the specific focus) and the one thing that stuck with me was a few moments about Solomon and a ’society’ he establised for wise men (remember, it was a very patriarchial culture in those days).  The commentator mentioned that one had to be at least “40 years of age” before applying for membership as that was thought to be the age at which one began to achieve a level of ‘wisdom’.

Did Solomon, considered to be the wisest man on the earth at that time, know something we don’t know?  Or was his wisdom about when wisdom begins to ripen something we’ve lost over the ages?

As I recall the commentator went on to give a few reasons why Solomon’s societal rules limited membership to those at least 40 years of age.  The one that caught my attention was the belief that prior to age 40, one had not lived enough of life or had enough life experiences upon which to gain a sense of meaningful understanding - which Solomon sensed was the foundation and substance of what he called “wisdom”.

It was an affirmation for me.  It was also confirmation that something more than hormonal change occurs sometime around our 40th birthday or at least in the decade following the 40th year of life.  And it isn’t just limited to women, as now much is written about  “male menopause”.

But I don’t want to go the physiology route here.  At AWP we are less about menopause (eh gads, there are enough boomer and boomer menopause sites out there for those who want to focus exclusively on that aspect); and much more about learning how to deal with the life changes that come as we move into and through the 2nd half of the journey, which medical science says should occur sometime between our 40th and 50th chronological year.

I was delighted to pick up this little ’snippet’ of info from the history channel’s presentation.  I was even more amazed that even in Solomon’s time, there was a recognition (or at least an intuition) that life experiences and our ability to make meaning of them and learn from them forms the basis of wisdom.

The Bible says that “fear (awe) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”.  Solomon held great awe for the Lord.  Solomon’s wisdom came because his one request was to have wisdom greater than any other person living in his day.  But Solomon also knew that to have wisdom, we had to make sense of our life experiences as the building blocks to maturity - maturity that leads to wisdom.  A wisdom that ultimately must recognize who we are in relation to Him who is God Almighty.

As we prepare to celebrate the passing of the old and the entry of the new - in terms of hours, days and years - let us resolve to seek after wisdom as Solomon did. 

Let us vow to take time to reflect on all that comes our way in the coming year and find the ‘meat’ of meaning in it so that it becomes a source of greater knowledge that leads to a deeper sense of who we are and who He is.  Then let us partake of the guidance and direction that is ours for the asking and the taking!

Let us resolve to grow in wisdom and stature in such a way as to be a source of enrichment and encouragement for others as together  we find our way on the journey.

May our celebration of the coming New Year be blessed in everyway.  And may this day find you enjoying much love and many rich blessings!

  Linda

I took a few days break!  After all, it is a “holiday” season - is it not?  Everyone needs a break somewhere along the way and yesterday seemed a good time to just walk from the office and do other things.

I recall that before my brief sabbatical, I was sharing some thoughts gleaned from an Indy Star article on 5 things we can resolve to do in 08 to achieve greater work-life balance.  Number two on the list is “keep a positive attitude”.

I admit that this is very difficult for me to achieve.  I tend to be more pessimistic than optimist; something most likely related to my particular temperament as well as things left over from youthful years that just want to hang on.

But it’s a fact of life that maintaining a positive attitude is due partially to surrounding ourselves with those who also maintain positive attitudes.  Although we should not let it happen, it is true that we are most often affected by the attitudes of those around us - especially those with whom we spend much of each day while at work.  Negative folks tend to create confusion, disruption and chaos; whether in the workplace or in the entrepreneurial environment. 

We do have a choice as to which attitude we will project each day.  When we are surrounded by positive attitudes, there is positive energy and creative productive work gets done - whether we are in a professional career environment or building our own business.

One suggestion put forth by the author of the newspaper article is to focus on those who are much less fortunate (unemployed, ill and can’t work or disabled in some fashion).  When we recognize that “in comparison”, we have it pretty good in our lives, we will begin to project a more positive attitude.

One of my techniques for moving from dour to serendipitous is to reflect on the previous days blessings.  The things that went well, the things I achieved.  I look for those serendipituous moments that came unexpectedly that said “things are working out well, Fitzgerald!”  Reflection on the “positives” of yesterday are always good preludes to feeling more positives are on the way today - and lifts the mood and creates an attitude of expectancy that naturally lifts mood and attitude.

Once we choose to be positive (and find the right technique for making it work for us), we’ll be amazed at how our work environment and business-building activities change for the better.

When doing your 2008 work-life resolutions (goals and objectives); make one of your primary goals to find something each day to be positive about and then carry that ’something’ with you everywhere and the accompanying positive attitude will accompany you everywhere!

I’ve been reading the past several days and found some great ’stuff’ to share, so once we reach the stroke of midnight on Monday, I’ll begin talking about each of them as they will be ‘meat’ for us as we follow our dreams, visions, passions and purposes into another year!

Have an awesome day with much love and many blessings!

  Linda

Yesterday I mentioned an article in the Indy Star-News preparing us all for the coming year and the usual “resolutions” we carefully prepare.  Most often, by the end of month 1 of a new year, we’ve forgotten what we resolved to do and thrown those we do remember, out the window - to return to “business as usual” or simply “life as usual”.

I said I’d say more about each of the five items.  Number One is “work smarter, not harder”.  We hear this catchy phrase often.  What does it really mean?  Well according to the author of the news article, it means we’re ‘doing’ for too many hours a week with not the same ‘productivity’.  Let me preface a paraphrase of the “work smarter. . . ” piece by saying that one business guru suggests making very simple resolutions that we know we can keep.  The idea being that we make small incremental changes, on a daily or weekly basis that are highly possible and likely to be probable.

The article suggests that we take time to analyze each work day for a week and see what we actually accomplished.  Look for those folks who took time from our day, thus affecting our work schedule as planned and disrupting what would have been a productive day.  Analysis on even a small scale will reveal where we may not be using our time efficiently.  Once we see the inefficiencies more clearly, we can put together a plan to manage them.  The result or outcome should be more productive work days without working long hours each week.

One recommendation is to deliberately schedule 20 minutes away from our desks each day (time that can be used to take a brisk walk, thus keeping mind and body more physically fit).  Make it a habit to go out for lunch with a friend at least once a week. 

I’m a “productivity freak”!  I have to feel I’ve been productive at something each day or I begin to feel physically ill.  So one thing I do is use the early a.m. hours during my daily “quiet time” to make a list of what needs to be accomplished for the day and then prioritize the list.  It’s my daily ‘roadmap’.

Tomorrow we’ll look at a couple more of the five resolutions that are designed to bring greater balance into our lives.  And I’ll say something about “networking” as the number one item that ought to be on our resolutions for 08.

Until then, have an awesome day with much love & continued blessings!

  Linda

A few weeks ago, AWP member Carine in California sent me her Tuesday, December 25 share-talk so that I could post it on Christmas morning.  Well, I had a ’senior moment’ early in the a.m. on Christmas morning.  Blame it on getting up early, making coffee and having plenty of quiet time before heading to middle daughter’s home to watch g’kids tear open (literally!) way too many wrapped packages!

Or just blame it on “I forgot”.  As I was cleaning a very full mailbox this a.m. I found Carine’s beautiful sharing.  Decided it isn’t too late to place it here, so read on for Carine’s wonderful wish for us who celebrate the birth of the Savior - not just one day a year - but the whole year through. 

“AWomansPlaceHoliday

Happy Holidays to all the fine women who still have the energy to come and visit with me this morning! 

It’s so hard to believe that there are only a few days left in 2007.  Since this is the last column before Christmas, I want to wish everyone who does celebrate this wonderful holiday a very merry and healthy time.  May all your dreams come true.

As for me, I started some time off from the day job until after the first of 2008.  By the time you read this on the 25th my husband and I will be spending 3 ½ days alone together.  There will be no work, no kids, and no other family members-just us.  I don’t even care that we will be in my least favorite city on the face of the earth.  As long as we will finally be alone together.

Since breaking my foot 15+ months ago, it seems we never have any quality time to speak of.  The last time we had a day off at the same time, we hosted Thanksgiving.  Not exactly conducive to couple time.  By the time the family went home, we were so exhausted we could hardly wait to climb into bed.  Hubby had to be at work the next morning.  Before then, it was the 5 days we had in April celebrating our 26th anniversary. 

So off we go to Las Vegas.  We don’t gamble.  Shows will be at a minimum.  We always go to the ½ price booth and chose from whatever they have.  Two years ago we were pretty lucky-4 shows in 3 nights.  And they were all prime entertainment.  Last year, not so lucky-1 mediocre show.

For us, the city represents our “shop till you drop” time.  The city has several outlet malls, so we wait and get long needed items during what seems to be becoming a yearly thing.  This year, we don’t need anything except time to talk, walk (okay, hobble) and be together. 

Still, it’s our Hanukah gift to one another.  As always, we are the romantically practical couple-we’re giving each other exactly what the other needs.

 Have an absolutely awesome Christmas everyone!

Carine”

‘Tis the day after Christmas. . . !’  And many of us are weary from the hectic pace getting ready for meals, company, presents to be exchanged, etc.  Today, we need a rest!

The Indy Star-News published some pretty typical new year resolution suggestions with regard to balance in our professional and personal lives.  Things we already know, but often seldom practice on a regular basis (at least I don’t practice them on any consistent basis). 

The paper lists five which I’ll list here with no additional detail.  The “detail” comes later:

(1) Work smarter, not harder,

(2) Keep a positive attitude,

(3) Improve at least 2 work habits,

(4) Exercise 3 times per week, and

(5) Set aside personal & family time.

Just read the old saying today on another website - “the devil’s in the details” and that seems to be the case here.  The “headlines” are certainly basic to all of us as things that cause us to say, “yea, yea, I know all that!”

Knowing it and doing it are 2 different things.  And ‘doing it’ consistently in order to form a “habit” is the real key!  We all tend to come out of the “New Year Starting Gate” with great enthusiasm, determination and dedication.  As we round the first curve, many of us tend to loose the enthusiasm, determination and dedication to making the change we so eagerly anticipated and planned for.

I started to say “later today”, but later today, we are taking 2 of the g’children to a movie as part of our holiday treat (more a treat to g’ma and g’pa Harold than the kids I’m sure).  So most likely I’ll come back in the morning and share the rest of the story from the five items listed in this a.m.’s Indy paper.  There may be something that strikes us as an ‘ahha’.  If so, then ‘rehashing’ will have been worth it.

OH, just discovered a short “resolution” article on networking more in 2008.  Think I’ll paraphrase and post that as well.  Actually for those of us seeking to make 08 a banner year for businesses or seeking the ultimate promotion in our professional lives - networking (and doing it properly) ought be ‘numero uno’ on our list of New Year’s Resolutions.

In the meantime, make today one with much love and rich quiet blessings!

  Linda

The beautiful Christmas story features, among its entire cast of characters, three wise men known as Kings from the east, who brought expensive gifts to the newborn child and fell down to worship him as did all those who came to the stable cave.  What is awesome about their appearance on the scene is that first they journeyed through Jerusalem and sought to learn the whereabouts of the “King of the Jews”.  After being manipulated by Herod, they went on the short distance to Bethlehem and found Him with His mother Mary and Joseph. 

Something told them Herod’s inquiry and invitation to share the “good news” with him, was about as fake as a two-dollar bill.  So they decided to return home by another route.

Was it intuition or heightened discernment that told them to avoid Jerusalem and Herod at all costs?  Were they wise because they paid attention to their ‘gut’ or were they simply known as “wise men” in the land from which they came?

For our purposes here, I think they were ‘learned’ men from the East who studied the stars and ancient manuscripts and knew something big was coming.  I think they were ‘wise’ when they listened to the ‘inner nudge’ that told them “go home another way!”

Now more than 2000 years later, we celebrate another season of commemoration of the birthday of the King.  We’ll hear the story told over and over again and yes, we’ll celebrate epiphany which traditionally coincides with the visit of the wise men.  We’ll hear the familiar Scripture and marvel at these learned men who traveled dangerous routes to finally visit a cave with smelly animals, indigent shepherds, drummer boys and the “King of the Jews” who is Christ the Lord!

As we celebrate this wonderful day with family and friends; let’s remember that the wise men represent all of us who have traveled from far off places to end at the stable cave.  We’ve brought all we have, the entirety of who we are and given it as the only gift we have. 

And somewhere in the deepest recesses of our hearts and minds, we know that we’ve encountered the wisdom of the ages who is Christ the Lord.  And while we may have arrived in a ‘learned’ state; we depart with a new vision and perspective.  We are no longer simply knowledgeable.  We have encountered wisdom and accepted it as our own.

As we turn to travel home; let us be intuitive about what we now know.  Let us be trusting of deep longing and pressing vision flowing from our intuition.

Let the wisdom we’ve gained go before us as we travel a new and different route knowing that we shall never be quite the same again.

Let wisdom be your guide and love light your way!

   Linda

What is there to say as we approach the most magnificent of seasons.  I could talk about the joy many of us feel at this time of the year as family draws near and friends come to call.

I could talk about the peace that fills us when we watch the ‘wee ones’ look with eyes filled with wonder at all the tinsel and lights.

I could talk about the other side of the holiday.  The side that notices many go without at this time of the year.  I could say something - only briefly as not to dash the mood - about those who feel blue, depressed and without hope.  I could comment ever so lightly about family rifts that never get healed and cause more pain than we can imagine at this time of year.

But I’m not going to say much of anything about any of the above as I complete today’s message and then dash off myself to finish last minute grocery shopping and card-buying.

There is something about the miracle of birth that speaks to the heart of women around the globe!  Whether this season is an opportunity to pause and celebrate the birth of our King, Jesus Christ the Lord or a simple celebration of a sentimental story contained in a great piece of religious literature; one cannot deny that at this time each year - the miracle of birth touches our hearts and reminds us that there is always hope afresh and anew for wherever we are in the journey of life.

The thought of a babe, born in the humblest of surroundings and loved by his adoring parents, draws us with the deep longings that only a loving God can do!  Birth in human form is the world’s greatest metaphor for hope restored, possibilities unlimited and awesome potentiality.

Women understand, more than anyone, the miraculous nature of being a vessel for bringing new life into the world.  Even if we have never or as yet experienced such an event in our lives; our very nature is designed to nourish, protect, comfort and adore that which is new, fresh, untouched and untainted.

As we rush about doing all the last minute chores that we think must be done to make the season - the season; may we stop long enough to reflect on how the world came to celebrate in such a way something so simple as the birth of a child in an obscure corner of the world so long ago.

When the strains of the beautiful hymns and carols of the season seek to melt our hearts and blow away prejudices, disagreements, stress and pain; may we be open to allow that which tugs and pulls at our hearts to upzip and unlock without restraint.  Let tears that cleanse flow.  Let struggles we feared would overtake us melt and drain away.  Let pain we thought unbearable, disappear from our awareness.

Let us remember the miracle of birth and what it holds for us all!

Have an awesome day with much love and rich blessings!

  Linda

The following is from our wonderful Willy in Florida.  She is such an awesome lady that we all enjoy so much for her quiet spirit and graceful demeanor.  She keeps us calm with her soothing voice and simple prayers that remind us who we are in light of Who He is!

“Tis the season!
 
Christmas is my favorite time of the year.  All you snow birds; I tell you that I don’t know what you are going through.  The last time I spent Christmas in the snow I was a little over 6 years old and had a blast with my uncle in the snow.  My sister looked on from the bedroom window.  I thought the snow was the greatest and wished in my heart for a very long time to move to New York and be a snow bird. 
 
But, here am I in the south of Florida, Orlando Florida to be exact.  Although I was born and raised in Miami, Florida.  I love being in the cold still.  I don’t like air conditioned cold, but I do love the cold from the outside.  I know it’s not fun at this time for those of you up north, which is why you come down here so often.  Well welcome.
 
I find that people in general are nice during this time of year and wondered about that.  Does it have anything to do with the reason for the season.  That’s right Jesus.  I think so, I believe no matter what, there is love in the air and people allow it to flow through them during this time of year more than any other time.
 
What do you think?
 
Now speaking of people being nice, our family had the pleasure of being robbed last week.   Someone went into our utility room at the back of the house and stole all of my husband’s fishing rods (about 20), his battery chargers for his boat battery, had 3, one of which he had just bought a few days before.  And our Christmas tree.  We bought a tree last year after Christmas, it would have been my first (not my husband’s) artifical tree.  You see, my dad always wanted his girls to have a real tree and that was what we always had.  Even when I married it had to be a real one.  It was fun going to pick up the tree as a family.  
 
So we called the police, made a report and went on to work.  My husband called me later and said you know, it’s okay we will make it.  There was something in me that just wanted to cry; I never even took the tree out of the box.  So you know what I did, I got to thinking about it and began to laugh and laugh.  There is just so much more to this season than a tree and I am very thankful that the family is well, we have our health, we have each other.  So with that in mind, I just want to say I am still loving this time of year.   We have decided that we will not worry about it and move on.  But it’s not over yet.
 
Pastor Robin comes over at the office and says to me, Willy are you ready for Christmas.  I said no, but that won’t stop it from coming will it?  And we laughed.  I told her about our intruders and you know what?   She gave us a Christmas tree.  That was very nice indeed.  Well the hubby comes home last night and guess what?  Someone rides by and douses him with this white powder all over him.   We couldn’t stop laughing!!  Well I’ll be darn - what next.  We don’t know, but what we do know is that we will continue to be thankful to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and Praise him in all things - even in this.   We will continue to be thankful for this season and many more to come.   Enjoy your days, enjoy your life but more than that Enjoy the Lord for He is true!!  A merry heart will do you good like Medicine!!”

  Love, Willy
 

Another day of traveling that pushes me this a.m.  I’m sure you all know the ‘crunch’, especially at this time of the year.  So this morning’s thoughts will be brief with more to come later.

Last evening I attended two of my grandchildren’s school Christmas program.  The woman who puts it together is awesome and so the program was again awesome.  The school choir in which my grandson sings has won numerous awards over the past year and will be treated to the opportunity to sing with Danny Rodregiuz (?), America’s singing policeman who returns to our community in the spring.  This is an awesome opportunity for them as well.

 Now that I’ve done a little “grandmother crowing”, I want to say that I went to the event not feeling 100% and had a difficult time taking my mind off the numerous things that were waiting for me at home.  It took at least 30 minutes (much of it spent waiting for the program to start) to settle in and shift mental-emotional gears.  I’m glad it didn’t take any longer.

In the past here, we’ve talked about “balance” and how important it is in our lives - to our physical and emotional well being as well as our professional success.  “Why”, I wondered do I get so much going in my life that taking an evening “off” to enjoy the beauty of children celebrating the “reason for the season” seems a chore?  Does one evening among all the rest of the hours in a week really make all that much difference?  More importantly, I believe, is our ability to put on the “back-burner” all that relates to “business-as-usual” and bring our total being to letting down and letting go.

I can tell you that because I didn’t physically feel 100% as I usually do; I wanted to say “I don’t feel good” and “sorry I’ll have to miss the program”.  If I’d done that - what would I have done at home?  Well I can tell you, I would have worked.  I would have put my lovely g’children and the beauty of other young voices and faces on the “back-burner” and have never experienced a priceless moment that could never be recovered.

So what I’m trying to say as a word of encouragement this a.m. is to reiterate the importance of balance in our lives.  Deciding what constitutes a reasonable work day and then “closing up shop” for the hours that remain and turning our entire being to something else that refreshes and restores body, mind and spirit.

Take a breather!  Let go and let God!  Take a walk, wander through a mall just to browse, call a friend or better still have a cup of java with her.  If you have children and/or g’children nearby, take them for a snack and play silly games with them and look deeply into their beautiful faces. 

It may make you tear up, but the change of focus and attention will revive your soul; refresh your mind and renew your body!

Tomorrow you’ll get much more done because you restored some balance to your life.

More later, but until then have an awesome day with much love and rich blessings!

  Linda

We are rapidly rolling into the weeks where the world (or most of it) takes time away from its usual activities to wind down and celebrate.  We take holidays at this time of year and for a few brief days, change our focus and hopefully experience rest, peace and contentment.

We don’t normally want to think about much of anything else.  I heard it this a.m. when talking with a business friend, “just call me after the first of the year!”  I feel that way as well, but of course don’t have that luxury (ha)!

Yesterday I began sharing about our “hidden factor” or the potential within each of us that clammers to get out. 

Our intuitive nature is our ‘6th sense’ and it matures over time.  In the maturity process are the seeds of understanding as to our ‘hidden factor’ - the dream, vision, purpose and potential that has been waiting for the right time to emerge.  Like a butterfly emerging from it’s cocoon!

It can’t happen in the 1st half of the journey.  Well, at least it’s rare that it happens during that period.  In fact, my own observation is that once the cocoon starts to crack is when we move from the 1st to the 2nd half of the journey - regardless of our chrono-age!

When we sit down and say; “this isn’t what I want” or “this isn’t working for me”.  Often what prompts that realization is our 6th sense or intuition knocking at the door of our awareness saying, “let me out”.

And passions change over time because life experiences layered upon each other reveal new and different passions as we travel the road.  What I was passionate about as a teen or young adult may bare no semblance to the desires of my heart at this age.  And a woman’s passions often take a ‘backseat’ if we’re rearing children, maintaining a home and supporting a spouse as he climbs his own passion-ladder.

Why take up this subject now?  It’s Christmas (well almost) and we’ve shut down until after January 1 of next year!

There’s no better time than when we come to a point in the calendar where we change focus and gears (as my Mom used to say).  When we sit down and shift our mental-emotional focus elsewhere; we give opportunity to unrevealed awareness to come knocking, and that is when we are most likely to discover something significant which couldn’t get our attention before.

My encouragement as we head into this last week before settling in for “a long winter’s nap”, is to listen.  Listen to the murmurings in your intuition.  Pay attention to your dreams and quiet thoughts in the midst of the seasonal clamor.  If there’s that quiet inner ‘nudge’; write it down with a plan to visit it at a quiet moment between the seasons and years.

It may just hold the key to your ‘hidden factor’ that is the heart of your purpose. 

Tomorrow, I’m going to post some interesting things I find in my inbox on a daily basis and some interesting pieces of information I find elsewhere.  So you’ll want to stop by for a few minutes during the busy day just to take a peek!

Have an awesome day with much love and many rich blessings!

   Linda