Aiming for second best.

Several years ago, I took on a client who wanted to be coached in clearing her attitude about competing in a body building exposition.  I asked her about the routine, what she had to do to train, and then we talked about the other competitors.  She stated that she didn't think she could score high enough to knock out her "first" place winner.  I say "her" because she had it in her head that she could never beat the woman slated for first place.  After several more sessions, I flat out asked her what she wanted to accomplish in the competition.  Her answer - second place.  I was stunned.  I was coaching someone for "second" place.

She was a real learning lesson for me.  I have since recognized the people who are aiming for second place instead of batting out of the ballpark.

In starting something new in my life, I always question where my aim is and how far do I want this to go.  Several times, I have aimed out of the ballpark just to see what happens.  Wow!  Those times, I really was the best.

Excellence tastes wonderful and having cultivated the taste, I want it all to be that in my life.

Think deeper

There is a commercial on TV that has a line that says, "it makes sense if you don't think about it."  How powerful is that to "not think about what is going on in life?"  Every time I have "not thought about" something is when I really got into trouble about it.  Usually, it was when I didn't think through to the end to see the consequences coming.

One small issue about five years ago is still plaguing me in time, money, and having to spend the time now to think about how to rectify the problem.

All of it being because I didn't "want to think about it" at the time.

My lesson in this is not only to think about what is going on, but also to include how this is going to affect me "down the road," and is this the best decision I can make for me.

Now, I think about how I can think into a deeper level to "see" more of what is going on and what it takes to think about all of the possible consequences.  Because of that, life has gotten easier.

Snow in San Antonio

It is very cold outside - 22 degrees.  It snowed sometime during the night and when I went out to take pictures of it, it crunched.   That means, most of it is ice.

The last time we had ice was in January of 2009.  I watched our dogs go outside and crunch through the ice to do what they had to do.  They all scurried to get inside very quickly.

I turned the heat off before I went to bed last night because the noise of the furnace wakes me up.  When I got up this morning it was 58 degrees in the house.  I don't have enough clothes to keep me warm while up and around, even with the heat on, so I am taking a "snow" day, hunkering down under covers, hot tea, a good book and riding out the weather.

There is nothing like a contrast to make me wish for warmer weather...I guess I complained too much last summer during the heat about wanting cooler weather.  This is cooler, alright!

Building dreams, friendships and memories.

Building dreams, friendships and memories was the theme of the Rose Parade of 2011.  I love the whole experience of the parade because I remember when I saw one "live and in person" the colors were extraordinary, fragrant, and the whole experience was overwhelming in beauty.

This is what I want my life to be.  For life to be amazing, what has to happen for me?  I know that I want adventure, beauty, excitement and fragrance to alert me to my awakening senses as life flows through me.  When I get to the end of my life, I want to be able to remember that it was an extraordinary experience because I paid attention to all of what was going on in the present moment.

In the process of it all, I do want to make new friends, build new dreams and create wonderful memories.  This is more than enough for me at the moment.

What is affordable luxury?

I saw that phrase recently and had to think about what that meant.  Affordable luxury.  Is it one of those catch phrases that the marketing people use to get your attention?

Ah!  I realized that when we bought our home here in San Antonio, when I first saw it, I was amazed. Then, I fell in love with all of the light coming in the windows.  I was stunned when I realized that we could afford the place easily!  Even better.

Then, to me, it was affordable luxury.  This was my first, ever, new house.  Bud had lived in one previous to meeting me.  But, he said, that it wasn't as nice is this one was.  Again, affordable luxury.  How wonderful is all of that?

Ouch!

I read a quote from Bhagwan Shree Rajineesh that says, "How much longer will you go on letting your energy sleep?  How much longer are you going to stay oblivious of the immensity of yourself?"  Ouch!

Recently, I remembered hearing a tape by Jean Houston where she said something about how all of us are talented beyond belief - even multi-talented.  All of us are hard wired with talent, skills and ability beyond what we have imagined for our lives.

Now I am in that time of my life where I am ready to experience my immensity.  I am ready to delve into my talent, skills and ability.  How much more of my talent can I develop and how can I use it to move me into a greater sense of what life is all about?  I am ready to experience more joy and laughter and satisfaction because of what I have created.

No more ouches!

New Year's Resolution

One of the resolutions I had for myself was to figure out a way to shrink into my normal, natural self.  I knew there had to be a simple way of releasing some weight and I finally found it.  Water.  I drink huge amounts of water during the day and I am finding that my weight is almost falling off.  I also eat whole foods and have released all desire for sugar, and for wanting to eat the whole refrigerator.  My cravings for anything is gone.  I can walk by chocolate and not be affected by it.  Yeah!

Actually, I have to thank my friend, Ellen, for telling me about this process.  She said it was easy.  It is.  I am finding that I have more energy, am sleeping better, and can move easier.  Who knew?