Gotta Love Gino Vannelli!

Okay maybe most of you don't even know who Gino Vannelli is, but he had a hit song in 1974 called People Gotta Move. How do I know this? Well, it's Saturday - cleaning day and what better way to clean than while listening to the 70's station on TV and old songs like People Gotta Move!

I don't have a lot of opportunities to listen to music lately. My ears ring galore when the radio is on in the car and putting a headset on can not be good for them either, so I wait for Saturday morning when the house can be filled with the sounds of Gino Vannelli and others from my past.

I love the fact that as I dust or wash something I can sing to the songs of my past. I am also amazed that I remember ever word, like it was yesterday. I sing and I clean and smile the whole time.

This morning I am reminded of how much music means to me and how much energy I get from it. I feel like I could move mountains...or at least the couch to sweep under it.

Get up and feel the groove! Go back to the songs you grew up and bust a move. It does the heart and soul good! You Gotta Love Gino Vannelli!

What is so special about a Float Plane Ride?

I am always amazed to hear people trying new things just because they have always thought about it. Not because they have to or need to, but because they always just wanted to try it.

To many of us run from those little dreams for fear something will happen or we will look like a goofball or a little insane, but really does it matter? What if we do nothing? What if we never leave our comfort zone for just a moment? What happens to us personally?

For me not taking a chance or trying new things makes life boring. It means we are will to just let life happen for us or to us. I have to remind myself that this isn't good enough for me. I usually need a little reminder from others and today I got that reminder.

You see tonight (about right now) my brother is getting ready to head out for a weekend trip to Victoria BC via a Float Plane! We have been there together before on the Ferry like most people do, but for him he has always wanted to take a float plane someplace, so this weekend that little dream comes true.

It reminds me of how boring life can be if we don't just try things once in a while. Some people thought I was a complete goofball for wanting a metal detector...until they went with me and heard the beeps and started digging! There is something about little passions and dream that make life fun.

So, as the weekend approaches dare to dream...not big but small. What is on your list of things to try? Learn French, fly, fly cast, metal detect...your list is probably long. Why not give one a try this weekend. Go outside your comfort zone and feel like a goofball.

Yes, there IS something special about a Float Plane Ride!

If you Fail to Plan....

There is an old Benjamin Franlin that become popular in the performance world when John Wooden, former UCLA Basketball Coach and Motivational Man, use it. It goes "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail".

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. How many of us fall into the arena of planning to fail right now?

Now, I will always say that failure is an option, but an option NOT because of lack of planning but because of lack of trying! Big difference.

How do we plan? Why is it important? Well the answer is in the saying. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail!

I am getting better at planning things out and in some areas I really think I am a good planner. But there are some times when I just want to 'wing it'. I don't feel like planning and think that it will all work out even if I don't think about it. Most of the time that doesn't work and it isn't until after I have wasted money, time and energy that the saying comes back in my head - Fail to plan, you plan to fail.

It doesn't really matter what you are doing, small or large - if you have a plan you are much more likely to be successful. Dinner plans, planting a garden, writing a blog, doing a project, going on a vacation, learning a new skill, finishing your education, finding your passion, or loving another - all have a need for a plan.

Your garden probably won't do great if you plant articokes in Minnesota (trust me I have tried)! Or if you just arrive at the airport with warm clothes and find the only flight available is to Mexico! Or wanting to finish your education degree and never planning how to pay for it! Failure to plan, is planning to fail.

So what is on your plate right now that you are trying to do, accomplish, or get through? Do you have a plan?

I must hurry...

I was thinking of this funny one liner today. It goes "I must hurry, for there they go, and I am their leader". I checked and there isn't really one person who seems to have said this first. I thought I remembered it from a Winnie the Pooh Christopher Robin line, but whereever or whoever said it first, I enjoy it.

I seem to be running around crazy most days. This month has been crazy. Lots to do at work and at home and I feel like I am watching everyone else run ahead while I am trying to catch up.

Now I don't think this is true, but I do get the feeling that there are so many things happening and people doing so much that it is hard to keep up some days. At work I can handle that feeling as part of being a leader is to allow your teams to run ahead without you stopping them at every turn. I like go getters and appreciate the work they can get done. It excites me and I love watching them in action.

Personally it is a different story. Do you ever feel like you are having an out of body experience and watching your 'people' running ahead and all you can do is watch? It's a crazy feeling and I thought to myself today "I must hurry for I am my leader"! It is like summer is coming to an end, fall is busy, fall fishing is right around the corner, birthdays to celebrate, snow blowers to get serviced...the fall list goes on and on! I must hurry for I am my leader!

Remember When?

Every once in a while as I sit and listen to the TV while making dinner something is said that brings me back to years past. I find myself remembering a feeling or event that just brings a smile to my face or a shake of the head.
Today was one of those days and I want to share some memories that I had all because of people who are celebrating birthdays today. Yes, memories from a conversation on famous people with birthdays today!

The first name was Mick Jagger - I remember the first time I heard the song "I can't get no, Satisfaction" - not when it was originally release (I was about 2 years old). When I was about 11 or 12 I got my first portable radio player. It was Red, white and blue and had a one ear plug speaker. I would sit outside on the front steps of the house and listen to music for hours. I remember this song as I had just had some trivial argument with Dad about something I can't even remember, but as I sat there with the ear plug in, this was the song that came on and I remember thinking to myself "You got that right"!

The second person that had a birthday today is Dorothy Hamill. The 1976 Olympics had to be the best ever. The hockey team, the ice skating, and all the other events. I remember seeing Dorothy Hamill do her ice skating presentation and having tears in my eyes at the cheers she received and all the flowers that were thrown on the ice as she completed her Gold Medal performance.

The third person that I knew from the list of names was Sandra Bullock. There has been so many events for this woman the past few years, but the one that made me smile when I thought about her was in Miss Congienality: Armed and Dangerous when she is in the little mini cooper car driving through Vegas with that pink hat thing waving around. It cracks me up just thinking about it.

You see...memories are good. They may be pleasant or not so pleasant, but they are good. They remind you of how you got to be who you are as well as what makes you who you are today. Remember when? Share you story!

Sunday Paper

When I don't have work to do (like this morning)or any other distractions, I love reading the Sunday paper. It is the one time during the week that I can sit and take in all that has happened in the world this week.

Now I wish I could say that I really pay attention to world issues on a daily basis, but I don't. Yes, I know they are out there and yes I do care, but paying attention probably not. On Sunday though I do pay attention. I give my time to learn about what is happening in the world.

One of the things I do with the Sunday paper is look for the good news. I find it like a mini Sunday goal to find the good in people. Some weeks this is extremely hard and I find myself reading the funnies pages just to see someone doing some good in the world. If it's Haggar bringing flowers home or the Family Circus kids playing together, it is good.

I have always wondered what would happen if for one Sunday paper a month the whole paper dedicated itself to words on how people are making a positive difference. A whole paper dedicated to the good in life. Would the attitude of all you read it improve?

It would be an interesting idea. One Sunday dedicated to the good in life, no wars, no anger, no politics, no blame, no killings, no arguments...just positive, healthy and purposeful articles.

I believe that some people would throw a huge fit as they thrive on chaos and others pain. Others thrive on finding and writing stories that invoke fear in others and make them powerful. But I think there would be others that would welcome the change and welcome the idea that there is good in the world. Attitudes could be changed, behaviors could be changed, the world could be changed.

If any of you out there have pull with a large Sunday Paper distributor make the suggestion. See what happens! Who knows, it might change the world!

Life is a two way street

As of today I have 168 days more to go in writing this blog. As I sit here this morning I started to think about the movie that inspired me to do this. Julie and Julia was a wonderful movie. I now understand how the main character must have felt half way through the goal of cooking all of Julia's recipes as it isn't easy. Life happens. Life is all around you.

One line I remember from the movie is when Julie's partner and her were having an argument and he said "and you better not write about this in your blog"! I now understand that statement as it can be challenging to not write about all my professional or personal "life happens" moments.

I guess what it gets down to is understanding that their are moments in our lives that happen and may not feel so positive or purposeful and that is okay. It's okay for me to not be positive or living with purpose every second of every day. Life does happen and there are meetings or events that are not all that fun to go through.

If you lay in a bed or roses you still know the roses have thorns. Sometimes those thorns poke through, and yes it's okay.

So what I wish for everyone today is that you see your part in your life as well as the part you play in others lives.

All of us have issues, attitudes, and behaviors that are good and bad. Understanding that life is a two way street and professional or personal relationships should be a joint effort in the good and bad really is a good balance. Say your sorry, say I love you, say we can work this out. Hopefully the other person will understand their part in and return the words.

Raise your Voice without saying a word!

So many times we think that words are the best way of communicating our ideas, feelings, or thoughts. Remember the old saying though - Actions speak louder than words?

I have never understood how people think that talking more or louder is going to lead them to success or change. I also have a hard time understanding how people who raise their voice feel like others are going to listen or change because of it.

To me it is action that speaks the most. Follow through, commitment, hard work, and doing something are true ways to raise your voice.

I would rather watch a 2 minute video of people in action than a ten minute video of someone telling me what they think should be done. I would rather be one of those 2 minute action types rather than a 10 minute talking type. I would rather be part of an action team than a talking team.

So how do we change our words into actions and really raise our voices? It starts with finding your purpose.

Purpose isn't something I want to talk about for hours on end, but I would love to show you what my purpose is by positive action. This blog is an example of action. When I started this blog I didn't want to just talk to talk, I wanted to take action and raise my voice around positive and purposeful living. I wanted to give examples and actions on what this means - to me and to others.

Raise your voice folks. Find the actions that describe what you want to say and what you want others to hear and than speak through them.

Yes, actions definitely speak louder than words.

Failure IS an Option!

So many times we think that if we fail we are no good, have let someone down, or maybe don't deserve something we want. A job, a task, a relationship, or a personal goal...failure seems to always seem so feared that sometimes we don't even take the chance to be successful.

I meet with each new person who is hired into the team. It is a good way for me to get to know the people who are working towards the success of the department and company. As "the Boss Lady" I could easily not care and not take the time, but it is important. Important to me. Here's why.

I am not someone who believes that failure is NOT an option. I have worked with companies that actually have this as their tagline "Failure is NOT Acceptable" or "Failure is NOT our business". Well of course failure is not our business, but it should be accepted if not celebrated.

So, back to my comment about meeting the new folks. When you start a new job what are the fears that come with it? I hope they like me, I hope I can do the job, I hope I don't screw up on the first day...the list of hopes (fears) is long!

My job as a positive and purposeful leader is to make sure I give a direction to the department and people within the department that is honest, thoughtful, and meaningful. I usually start of the conversation with light chit chat to get to know them - where they are from, what do they like to do outside of work...questions that will give me insight into who they are so the next time I see them at the coffee station I have a name, face, and bit of interest to chat about.

Once we get through the 10 minute getting to know you part I let them know my belief statement "Failure IS an Option and it will be celebrated"! Usually I get the deer in the headlights look, like really? Then I explain.

You see failure means you tried, you explored, you went outside of a box, you created, you tried to make a difference, or you attempted to do something remarkable. Whoa! This is about the time that the deer in teh headlights look turns to a head nod and smile. You see people get it! They get excited and engaged in the fact that their leader "The Boss Lady" get its!

If we never fail, we never work through adversity. If we never fail, we never see how far we can push ourselves. If we never fail, we become stagnent in our own thoughts. Failure IS an Option and most of the time a very worthwhile option.

I doubt any of us are going to destroy the world by failing so really what is the fear? What if we all thought of failure as a viable option like success? What if we thought of failure as a true chance of growing, learning, and understanding? What if one failure leads to great successes from what we learned? Isn't that what life is about? Isn't that positive and purposeful Living?

Go forth and be okay with Failure! Failure IS an Option!

That's One Small Step...

Forty one years ago today, Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon. As millions of people listened to this historic event the words he spoke will forever be remembered: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

The work and dreams of so many before him were realized this day in 1969 as well as set in motion dreams and work for so many more since that that.

I was six in 1969 so I don't remember a lot about that day. I am sure it was important and that we watched or listened to it as this would have been a big deal for my folks, but I do believe that this day did help to shape who I am today.

Like so many other events, big and small, each help to shape our visions, our views, our passions.

I have the passion of exploration and creating. I love to look at not how things have been done, but how things could be done. Improving, creating, growing, and changing.

Each event, each situation, each feeling, each experience - a small step.

That's One Small Step for Man, one Giant Step for Mankind! Live, Dream, Experience!

The Art of Keeping your Cool

There is an art of keeping your cool, literally and figuratively.

It has been 90 degrees and humid outside and keeping your cool at times requires air conditioning, or at least a big fan. It requires wearing the right kind of clothes and being smart about what you do outside. It requires you to think about how to keep your cool and usually you follow through with that plan. Why? Well we have been through it before.

It has been 90 degrees and humid before and time and time again we learn for ourselves how to keep ourselves cool. If you don't have air conditioning, you buy a fan or keep the windows open or go in a basement..you learn what will help you stay cool.

This past week I found myself nearly losing my professional cool. Not getting upset, angry, and out of control was tough for me this week. There was a lot going on and a lot of things that just were not going exactly as planned. People said things that were out of line, didn't respond, and seem to have their own reasons to react to situation.

During this week I had to remind myself what my professional air conditioning and fans were. Where were they located and how do I use them. I could have gotten very angry over events, but during each one I found myself saying "chill out". I made a conscious effort to not make it any hotter, rather cool down and calm down.

The Art of Keeping your Cool is not easy. If your fan breaks in the heat you have to think fast about Plan B. If there is no breeze you have to think fast about Plan B.

As much as I plan for what to do to stay cool when it is 90 degrees and humid out, I need to continue to plan for what to do to stay cool when my professional heat rises.
Learn from the past. Learn from what others are doing. Learn about your own behaviors that increase others professional heat. All of them will help you master the Art of Keeping Your Cool!

Quiting your Boss?

If any of you followed the link in the comments of the last post it would take you to the top 10 reasons people leave their job. In short all of them were "the management" does or doesn't do something. In short, people don't quit their jobs, their quit their boss!

I can see how this happens and in fact I have been forced to quit jobs because of the boss, not the job. Actually, when I think back about all the jobs I have had I can say that besides maybe two, I have quit the boss.

So, is this part of living a positive and purposeful life? I say it is..in fact it is a large part of living with purpose.

Living with purpose is about understanding not only what you want, but understanding what you will not give up in the way of your values, your attitudes, your beliefs, and your passions.

Leaving a job or leaving a boss isn't about management did or didn't, it's about you clarifying what you will or will not put up with or jeapordize. In the end you find the job and boss that you can believe in and that has similar values, passions, and purpose like you.

What is the most reported reason to stay at a job?

I was reading an article this morning in a training magazine that listed the top 5 reasons people will stick with a job even if it does not match their purpose statement nor feed their passion. (Yes, people stick around even without these!)

Do you know what the number 1 and number 2 reasons people stay at a job?

The number one reason people stay with a job even if it doesn't match their stated purpose or passion is because they are recognized for the valued work they produce as well as the valued employee they are.

The number two reason was that the tasks they are asked to do challenge different skills, abilities and ways of thinking.

Being recognized and challenged are the top two reasons people will stay at a job. Not money, not status, not power --- recognition and being challenged.

When I think about my life, my career, and the things I do I would agree that these would be my top two reasons as well. I am recognized at work and outside of work for who I am and the person I am..that makes life and work very enjoyable. I definitely am challenged at work and personally. I have found that those challenges have raised me to higher heights in understanding who I am and what I want out of life.

In short recognition and being challenged have actually solidified my purpose and passion statements. Without either of those I probably would have just done something to do it. Now I do it with conviction and excitement.

Recogniztion and being Challenged. Do they resound with you for reasons you do things? Why you work in the career you work? Why you live the life you live?

The Cat Lady Cometh

After 11 days gone, the Cat Lady comes home.

She decided a vacation was needed after many years of giving up her weekends and holidays to care for others pets..so this was a well deserved trip. Where do you go when you get 11 days off? Paris? Amsterdam? Copenhagen? How about all three! A wonderful 5 days in Paris, a couple in Amsterdam and the rest with big brother and sister-in-law in Copenhagen! Now that is getting away!

I was put in charge of the children (the cats and dog) while she was gone and I again learned something about myself.

I love animals, I really do. I grew up with dogs and cats and even mice at one time. We fed the birds and played with the rabbits...all of it very good. I just learned though that I don't like a lot of animals or pets when I am by myself! I fear I can't give them everything they need all by myself!

Yes I can feed them and I clean up after them, but being able to take the time for all the loving and petting and playing they need and want is a full time job! They know it and I know it..I did my best but I can see them looking at me saying "you ain't no cat lady"!

Ah how true. I believe tonight will be the best day of the past 12 days for them as the Cat Lady is coming home. I anticipate that the moment she walks through the door there will be complete joy on their parts. Yes it will be time to be fed, but YES because the Cat Lady is home!

Welcome home!

Jogging old Memories

I don't know why it happens, but have you ever had one of those days when you see something or hear something and it jogs an old memory?

Yesterday I send my brother an email about what I was doing and one of the things on the list I got done this week was to go to the dump. I didn't think much about it, I go to the dump now and then with old things that just need to go away.

What I got in return was an email from Steven telling me that trips to the dump are some of his favorite times! Okay, now I know he is losing it as I am not sure what is so grand about going to a stinky dump! He also said that he has to stop and get a salted nut roll every time he comes home! Now I know he is really really losing it!

Jogging his Memory: Growing up he and Dad would go to the dump, talk with Robert (who worked at the dump) and then stop at our towns little gas station and talk to Jim the owner and Dad would buy 2 cokes and 2 salted nut rolls and they would sit and talk and eat the roll while drinking their cokes! What a great memory.

I told him that was an awesome memory and said I had one of when I had a summer job during college working at a branch office of the government agency that my Mom worked at. We would drive together and leave early every morning. I would drop her off at the first town at a little bakery and she would walk into work another 2-3 miles from there and I would drive on another 30 minutes to a smaller town with the branch office.

Jogging My Memory: Every day after work I would drive to pick her up and before we headed for home we would either stop at the Old Ben Franklin, the Piggly Wiggly grocery store or this little bakery to 'get a few things'. It was a terrible summer of driving 120 miles a day to get to work and back, but the memory of spending that time with my Mom is awesome. I remember she would not allow me to sleep on the drive there or back as it was part of being an adult...staying awake. Now I know why I love to sleep in the car!

It is little stories or words that are fun to think back on. The dump or an old job. We learn so much about ourselves from those memories. I want more!

Recipe for a Great Day

Title: Great Day

Time to Make: 24 Hours

Servings: 1

Take 12 hours of sunshine and gently mix in outdoor and indoor activities
Mix with 4 glasses of ice cold ice tea.

While waiting for ice tea to chill, watch one lazy dog roll in the shade and a number of lazy cats (to taste) sleep in the sun.

In a separate area complete work projects ahead of schedule and finish projects that were started 2 years ago. Pick fresh beans, peppers, zucchini and raspberries from garden and slowly clean while watching the birds eat.

Next put in a load of laundry and sweep the floor. Make sure the floor is swept well before proceeding.

Now that the ice tea has chilled, drink a large glass while again watching the dog in the shade and cats in the sun. Check emails and work more on other projects needing your attention.

Put clean clothes in dryer and start another load. Grab mop and wood floor cleaner and begin washing the floor. Do this calmly and quietly to not disturb the sleeping cats.

One complete, drink another glass of ice tea and admire the cats ability to sleep through your work.

Take many breaks and enjoy the day.

Now there is a Recipe for a Great Day!

Support comes in many ways!

Today I had the priveledge of delivering new t-shirts to five agencies across Minneapolis and St. Paul. I wasn't planning on doing anything more then dropping them off and leaving, but at each place I was asked if I wanted a tour. I didn't have a lot of time, but I decided I wanted to see what these agencies do every day.

Two of the agencies offer free clothing to people who have lost their homes, jobs, or families. It was sad to see so many people sitting in whatever shade they could find as they waited for food and clothing. These were normal everyday people down on their luck. Most with children in one hand or a cane in the other. As I walked past the area where the clothes were sorted and handed out, I passed a huge room with the title "food shelf". I asked how donations have been and the gentleman that was showing me around said "some days better than others, but we are 1000's of pounds behind". I was guess that only 1/3 of the shelves had any sort of food on them.

Two of the other agencies were women's shelters who were there protected from the violence of their past. One housed around 60 women and children and the other 45 on a daily basis. Amazing operations, amazing people, amazing agencies.

I didn't know what to say when I left as the thanks they gave me was not nearly as thankful as I felt for having them do the job they are doing. They are changing lives, protecting lives, and making a difference.

I was blessed to have been trusted by these agencies to get a tour. Not many even get in the door without a reason, so to go behind the scenes and view 'making a difference' in person was amazing.

It humbles me.

The Glory Days of Summer

In my life coaching program the summer season represents a time of growth and changes. The rains fall and new seeds grow, trees spread their branches to new heights and the birds seem to sing louder. We are in the middle of the summer - hard to believe July is here already. The birds are still singing, rain is still falling, and the plants are now in full bloom. You can see the changes, smell the changes, and hear the changes.

Ah yes, the glory days of summer!

I have experienced growth and change this summer as well. I have had some rain as well, but all of it has led to new and bigger understand of my world, my hopes, my life.

The glory days of learning about what I can do as well as what I want to do with the coaching business, with my career, with my retirement, with my future have developed into a deeper understanding of who I am. I have reached for the skies and solidified my passion. I know where I am going, what I am doing, and how I will get there.

Summer is such a wonderful time of exploration, learning and growing. Take the time to enjoy the summer!

How do we change the World?

Today I attempted to drop off 5 bins of new t-shirts to a number of agencies who help the homeless, abused, and endure personal violence. I thought everyone would be open, but I guess others need the day after July 4th off too. So, I will try again on Wednesday after I call all of the agencies tomorrow to make sure that time will work for them.

I was a little frustrated that I wasn't able to give any of the bins away, so I came home to bring the dog in from the rain and hang out with the other furry kids.

I don't know if this act of giving will change the world, but when I got home and turned on the TV the movie "Evan Almighty" was just ending and God said "How do we change the world? - One Act, of Random, Kindness". Timing is everything in life. One act of random kindness.

It reminded me that helping someone out may not change your world, but it may change theirs. So, I will go Wednesday and any other day they want me to deliver as One Act of Random Kindness could change the world of one other person--and that makes the effort well worth it.

ARK - Acts of Random Kindness = Changing the World!

The words to describe the 4th of July

Today we celebrate our freedom. Freedom that has not been free. We have lost sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, mothers, fathers and grandparents all in the name of freedom. But freedom is not free. We have fought in wars, have lost battles on inner city streets, and have lost rights in the courts. Freedom is not free.

I was looking for famous quotes or speeches made on this day from years past and although there are many, I thought I would share my thoughts of today while sharing a few quotes as well. First I want to look at the word freedom.

Webster Dictionary - the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action.

The absence of constraints in choice or action. How many of us can see ways that even in todays world these absences do not exist? I know I can think of quite a few areas where choice is not free.

There are two quotes that I would like to share today. The first is from President Abraham Lincoln and the second from Vice President Dick Cheney.

President Abraham Lincoln: Those who deny freedom to others deserves not it for themselves.

Vice President Dick Cheney: It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you.

As we celebrate today with fireworks, barbeques, boat rides, and beer let us not forget that feedom is not free. If you want freedom we must fight for it, every day and not always over seas. The freedom of our friends, neighbors, and children comes from granting liberties to them with absence of contraint in choice or action. It means taking back the streets of violence, taking back and gaining the rights of all people, and teaching our future generations that freedom is not free.

We live is an amazing world with amazing people. Fight for freedom and liberty.

Happy 4th of July.

What would it feel like to be 10th out of 1000's?

It is a hot and humid day in Minnesota and after a morning of being outside mowing lawn, watering plants, and cleaning up a bit I got hot and decided to spend the rest of the day inside with the air conditioner on.

Note to self: When you have an old air condition, replace it before you need it! Thank goodness that 'note to self' was followed about 3 months ago...it feels great inside.

Okay, back to the post. I have a little math for you all. 100 years of baseball, 30 teams, 9 players on a starting team, 162 games a in a season and each starting player bats at least 3 times per game. Those are the numbers.

According to Baseball.com there have been over 27,000 players since baseball started...you can do the rest of the math. Now the moral of the story.

Today Jim Thome hit home run 573 and 574 to place him 10th on the list of most home runs ever in a career. He passed Harmon Killebrew from the Twins today and after the 574th home run, Mr. Killebrew was shown congratulation Mr. Thome on his success. It was very touching and incredible to watch the fans stand and cheer.

He became number 10 on the list of over 27,000 players. It puts him in the list with people like Mark McQuire, Sammie Sosa, and Babe Ruth. Thome has played for 20 years and the later years now as a designated hitter so he doesn't play every day. 20 years and now stands with some of the great names in baseball. He is only 15 behind number 9th and only 60 or so behind the top leader of all times.

I just thought it was amazing. Think about having 27,000+ people who do your job and you are in the top 10 ever, over 100 years to do something! Amazing.

I hope to just do my best, but I find it inspiring to witness history and think of how great some people are within their careers.

So, for everyone who is number 14,780 or 26,598...keep going, never quit, and be the best you can be today!

DND!

Do NOT Disturb!

How many of us feel like putting that sign on our doors, phones, and foreheads every day! Do NOT disturb...leave me alone...give me space...I am not available?

This week I have a lot of DND time and as I sat alone last night, for the first time in many many years, I began to think about what alone means. I know many people have lives that do not provide someone to come home too, so this isn't new to them. As I sat there though I began to notice something. It was silent and I was calm, well that was until I started to think about it! All of a sudden I was caught reminding myself to why I don't ever want to 'be' alone again. It is quiet...very quiet.

Now don't get me wrong I am liking the time alone and I find a peace about it, but my life has become more about being around people and less about being around me. My focus is more on others and less on me. This is not a right or wrong situation but an understanding that I like it that way! I like focusing my energy and time on others. I like learning and growing from others. I like listening and sharing with others.

My values of time have chanced. No longer am I personally connected with alone time. Yes, it is nice to have and yes I am enjoying this time. The realization that I have changed and my focus is no longer on ME all the time really gave me more. It gave me a deeper silence and a much deeper calm.

Here's to understanding DND!