Adventures

A childhood friend of mine called to ask if I would like to go to the Grammy Museum for the day.  Before I could answer, she casually threw in, “And have an adventure.”  Without asking any key questions, I simply said, “Sure.”

Living in California, it is a known fact that driving one’s car, no matter how bad the freeways are, is as common as seeing a Starbucks on every corner.

As teenagers, my friend and I had the typical adventures of NOT thinking through any of our plans.  We simply went with whatever seemed to make sense at the time.  Nothing unusual here.

We met at Starbucks of course, got into one car, and drove to a parking lot where we were to take the Metro Link to Union Square.  Question number one should have been, “ Where do we park our cars?”  Answer?  There is plenty of parking after 11:00 a.m.  Time?  10:15 a.m.  We sat in the car and chatted about all sorts of things.

Question number two should have been, “How do we pay?”  When we got to the station, we stood in front of the Kiosk until a10 year old came over to help us.  Once we bought our TAP tickets we went to the turnstile and started tapping on the button.  WRONG, we needed to put our TAP card on the scanner (which another kind soul showed us).

To make an already long story longer, we continued to take a red line when we needed a blue line.  We went down stairs when we needed to go up stairs.  Question number three?  “Did we make it to our destination?”  We did!  Do I need to say that going home also had its share of mishaps?  If the very nice man on the train didn’t tell us we were going the wrong way, we would still be riding the rails 24 hours later.

Just like we did when we were teenagers, we went with the flow, we laughed at ourselves and we learned something very valuable.  Adventures are NOT only for the young.

Good Intentions

We all have them.  Every morning I get up and have a small bowl of Yoplait Light Fat Free Yogurt and a small handful of mixed nuts.  My problem is that I end each evening with a large bowl of ice cream and an equally large handful of M & M’s.

If you are anything like me, you either write a list or keep a running one in your head of all the things you want to do, would like to do and NEED to do. 

And, if you are anything like me, you understand that somewhere between ‘good intentions’ and sticking to the plan is, ‘the reality of life’. 

Whether you justify not sticking with your plan (I’ll diet tomorrow), or you simply forget your plan (ooops, forgot I was dieting), or whether you stick your tongue out at your plan (there are many people heavier than me), somehow you find yourself NOT getting closer to your goals.

I believe we all could do a better job at understanding ourselves.  What helps us to stay on track?  What causes us to sabotage ourselves?  Wouldn’t it be nice if a manual existed to help us understand why people do what they do?

Let’s take that one step further:  wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could actually have a book or manual that is specific to you?  One where you not only understand why you stay stuck, why you aren’t getting ahead, and why you continue to repeat the past?  A book that gives exercises specific to you.  One that helps you go from  ‘good intentions’ to realizing your potential, and accomplishing your goals.  I think so!

Something to think about?

Facing Your Fears

Have you ever really thought about what holds you back from attaining your dreams?  Have you ever really given consideration to what you have versus what you want?

I see so many ‘words of wisdom’ on various social media channels.  Things like, “God gives you want you need, not what you want.”  Or, “Things happen when they are supposed to, not necessarily when you want them.”  And, “We may not understand…..”  And on it goes.

Now, I’m not saying these sayings don’t have a ring a truth to them, but I equally believe in, “God helps those who help themselves.”  And, “Luck is preparedness meeting opportunity.”

Instead of waiting for something to happen, make it happen.  Find out what stops you from getting ahead.  Study your own fears to understand why you aren’t getting what you want out of life.

Spend some time this weekend really thinking about your life, your habits, and your responsibility in where you are.  Then, give some thought to what you need or can do to make the changes necessary to really face your fears and conquer whatever holds you back. 

This isn’t something small; give it some real thought!

My Turn

While waiting in line to pick up a prescription, I ran into an old friend.  We started talking about different commitments we have, and how busy our lives are.  In front of me a woman of about 75 piped in and said, “I don’t make commitments any more.”

We both looked at her as she continued to say, “I have spent my whole life living it for someone else.  First my parents, then my husband, then my kids, and so on.”  She went on to say that for the first time in her life she was living for herself.

Commitments to her meant someone else wanted her time.  And for her, the sense of not feeling obligated felt like freedom.

We are all different.  For some making commitments means you have a place to be.  It means someone is expecting you.  For others though, it simply means you have a responsibility.  You have to be somewhere.

Whether you commit to activities or whether you are a last minute decision maker, the most important thing is that you are living your life.  Are you engaging in things that make you happy, or things you think you should do?  Are you saying yes to friends when you really want time to yourself?

At what point in your life will you say, “It is my turn”?   I hope way before you are 75.

One Person at a Time

The call came from my brother.  He read one of my blogs and asked me how he can get a copy for the owners of his company.  My brother is in sales and is one heck of a producer.  Besides his easy-going personality, he is the very meaning of “the customer always comes first”.  Along with, “Don’t take no for an answer”.

The reason he wanted to share this particular blog was because it addresses the very subject of ‘Not giving up.  Not allowing roadblocks and naysayers to get in the way’.

I spent lots of time thinking about the call from my brother.  Why did I feel as if I got 10,000 hits on my posts instead of just one?  It then dawned on me that while I am trying to reach a very wide audience with my blogs, it is equally important to reach a single person. 

The reason?  Because that person will share and reach someone else.

Ever notice what happens while you are driving and let another driver cut in front of you?  More likely than not, you will observe him extending the same courtesy to the next driver.  Ever notice how when you are impatient and flip a driver off, he is more likely to repeat that gesture to someone else?

We don’t need to make grand changes and gestures.  We don’t need to have a stage or pulpit.  We really just need to go about our day and lives being the kind of person you wish others would be like.

It really is that simple.