The Story of My “Stuff”

Professional Speaker-Personal Development-Positive Attitude

Stuff! I have lots of stuff all over my house. My desk is piled high with papers, my kitchen drawer is jammed packed with the latest gadgets, and my closet – well, let’s not even go there.

So, as I was dusting my cabinet the other day, moving my stuff around and swearing that I will get rid of it someday, it suddenly occurred to me:

This isn’t just stuff, it’s MY stuff. The gems I have collected along the way that tell the story of my life:

  • There’s the picture frame my brother gave me filled with photos of our childhood
  • There’s the book I found on my mother’s bedside table the last time I saw her
  • There’s the souvenir my husband and I bought on our last vacation (what a great trip!)

Every one of them tells a story and brings a memory to life. They warm my heart and bring a smile to my face. And right there, before my eyes, all that “stuff” turns into treasures that I will cherish forever.

 

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I’ll Take a Mulligan, Please

Professional Speaker-Personal Development-Positive Attitude

It’s my brother’s birthday tomorrow, and since he loves to play golf, I sent him an appropriate card with a golfer on the front. The saying inside said something about a mulligan, but since I have no idea what that means, I really didn’t pay any attention to the words. I bought the card for the photo on the front.

So, when my brother called me this morning, he asked me if I know what a mulligan is. I took a good guess but was totally wrong. So, he explained:

“A mulligan is when a golfer hits a bad shot and is given a chance to do it over again.”

What a concept! What a great idea!! I couldn’t help but think: what if we were given a mulligan in life? What if we were given a do-over when something crummy happens to us or we make a mistake.

As I think back on my life, there are lots of mulligans I’d like to take, but what if you only had one chance – one choice. What would your mulligan be? Let’s see, maybe I’d:

  • Study harder in college – Nah!
  • Learn to cook – I don’t think so!!
  • Save more money – Hardly!!!

The mulligans that come to mind are spending more time with friends and family, laughing a little longer, and even being a better friend myself. When I think of all the mulligans I’d like to cash in, they always revolve around people: loving more and laughing harder.

Don’t you just love that word “mulligan.” It opens up a lot of opportunities on how we can all play better in the game of life.

 

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Following the Sun

Professional Speaker-Personal Development-Positive Attitude

This time of year, every year, sunflowers come into full bloom. Since I grew up in the inner city of Chicago, I never actually saw a sunflower in real life – only in pictures. I guess that’s why I was so fascinated when I found an entire field of them growing just a few minutes from my new home in Middleton, Wi.

I discovered that sunflowers follow the sun. Did you know that? They actually start each morning facing east, then slowly turning – I mean physically turning – to follow the sun as it sets in the west. As I read more about this, I learned that it’s really the younger flowers that do this, yet how amazing.

It made me wonder about you and me and how we start every day. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could learn from the sunflower and look toward the sun? To follow the brightest spot on the horizon even on those cloudy days that we all face? How empowering to stand together, supporting each other and sharing our energy.

As I look at this picture of the sunflower fields, I can almost see the faces of my family and friends who have stood beside me during my cloudy days. I see Jack and Geryl and Asha and Dennis and so many more. I am surround by a field of friends who never let me forget to follow the sun.

If you’d like to learn more about these beautiful fields of sunflowers, check out Pope Farm in Middleton, WI: https://www.popefarmconservancy.org/.

 

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A Lesson on Kindness from a Six-Year-Old

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Did you read this heartfelt message from a six-year-old boy who wants to share a lesson on kindness?

I actually read it yesterday morning and it couldn’t have come at a better time. It was tucked between the horrendous news of the mass shootings in both Ohio and Texas. As I read about tragedy and tears and turmoil, my heart was heavy.

Then, there it was. An article that started with the quote: “I will be your friend.” As the story goes, a mother told her son she would make him a back-to-school T-shirt with any message he chose. It could be something about one of the school’s sports teams or anything his heart desired. The young boy chose the phrase “I will be your friend.” He said he wanted any classmates who are being bullied to know they have a friend in him.

Even as I write this blog, I have tears in my eyes. Such a powerful lesson from a small child. May we all learn from his kindness and love.

If you’d like to read more about this story, just click here: https://cbsn.ws/2YNL3U3.

 

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