motivational monday: Motivational Monday…Nervous?
- 05/18/25 01:11 PM
Motivational Monday…Nervous?
If you’re one of the rare creatures that never feels nervous when performing or speaking in front of others, good for you. You can skip this and move to another post.
For the rest of us, getting butterflies in your stomach, pacing back and forth, or a “let’s get this over” feeling are normal.
This weekend, my teenage great-nephew sat in on the drums for two songs in his grandfather’s (my brother's) band. Jake has played in his band at school but never at a real “gig.”
Everyone in the family stopped to give him a pep talk. I let him know that … (18 comments)
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motivational monday: Motivational Monday…Your Options
- 05/11/25 05:02 PM
Motivational Monday…Your Options
A family member is making some decisions regarding a career move. It’s an exciting time for them, and they are concerned about making the right choice.
They have been reluctant to explore other options before knowing the outcome of their primary choice.
In playing Devil’s Advocate, I told them what I told my applicants when I staffed offices…You can’t accept or turn down an offer you don’t have.
I threw out the possibility that their first choice might not be available to them or even something they want. They needed a proactive approach that would put them in control of their future.
One … (14 comments)
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motivational monday: Motivational Monday…How Are You REALLY Doing?
- 05/04/25 03:53 PM
Motivational Monday…How Are You REALLY Doing?
On December 31, 2007, we were at a New Year’s Eve dinner with our friends. One thing led to another, and someone came up with the bright idea that we should get off our behinds and start walking every morning.
On January 2, 2008, Larry and I began walking every morning and haven’t stopped! Shortly after we started walking, Larry bought us pedometers so we could track our steps. We chose 10,000 steps per day for no other reason than that seemed to be the goal talking heads and health gurus mentioned.
(10,000 steps per day was created … (17 comments)
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motivational monday: Motivational Monday…Paying It Forward
- 04/27/25 03:46 PM
Motivational Monday…Paying It Forward
This is a day we would all agree needs to be observed daily! Today is Pay It Forward Day! One kind deed or word can be like a pebble that is tossed in the lake. It creates a ripple that keeps going.
Call it whatever you want…Paying it Forward…Showing Kindness to Others…Doing a Good Deed…the results are the same…The giver and recipient both benefit.
Our children learn from us…from what we say, but more than that, from our actions. Through observation, our children emulate the behavior of giving to others.
We’re never too old to learn. When we moved to … (24 comments)
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motivational monday: Motivational Monday…Grab the Pruning Shears
- 04/20/25 05:32 PM
Motivational Monday…Grab the Pruning Shears
My friend Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can! wrote a post last week about knowing when to cut bait or surrender.
It reminded me of what my grandmother taught me when I followed her around her garden.
“Kathy…it’s important to remove leaves, flowers, and dead branches from the plants. They draw energy from healthier parts of the plant.”
The advice I received from her helped me when I had a garden and began growing orchids.
However, I learned that the people in our life, personal and professional, are like plants in a garden.
Friendships need nurturing…it’s not a one-way street. Good friends … (21 comments)
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motivational monday: Motivational Monday…Is a Smile Ever Wasted?
- 04/13/25 02:23 PM
Motivational Monday…Is a Smile Ever Wasted?
Is a smile ever wasted? Have you walked by a person and smiled at them…perhaps added a “Good morning” and received nothing?
When we’re out walking, we always smile at those we pass. More often than not, we add a “Good morning.” There are walkers we’ve met and had conversations with…those we meet and see almost daily—who share a smile and perhaps a friendly exchange.
However, we often pass walkers wrapped up in their thoughts or listening intently to something on their pods. They don't smile, some barely look up. I get it.
However, some see you but don’t … (20 comments)
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motivational monday: Planted and Bloomed and Blossomed
- 04/06/25 04:53 PM
Planted and Bloomed and Blossomed
Until 1987, I’d always lived in Texas. I was happy there…it was home. When I was younger, I thought I would never marry anyone who would take me north.
Surprise, surprise…life loves to throw you curveballs. Larry’s company transferred us to southeast Florida to begin building there. It wasn’t North but it seemed like it at the time. We knew no one. And because Larry was opening the area, there was no existing office to connect with people.
It was a huge cultural shock for both of us. I’d never seen two senior citizens have a shopping cart fight … (22 comments)
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motivational monday: Motivational Monday…Letting Go Of It
- 03/30/25 05:54 PM
Motivational Monday…Letting Go Of It
A family member who is getting over a wrong that was done to them is trying hard to let go of their anger. No physical or monetary harm but the ego got bumped and bruised.
It’s been several weeks since the incident, but they are still hurt and angry.
Others have counseled them and of course, when asked I had to put in my two cents.
Anger is a natural human emotion. Call it what you will…irritated, annoyed, resentful…it’s a feeling and it’s real.
However, anger is not something you want to hold on to. Unless you turn … (17 comments)
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motivational monday: Motivational Monday...Achievements
- 03/23/25 04:57 PM
Motivational Monday…Achieve!
This weekend, Larry and I did some “hard time” in our front yard flower beds. Spring weather means things begin to grow. That includes the weeds! We try to keep on top of it with mulch.
We place cardboard on top of our beds, then place mulch on the cardboard. The cardboard inhibits the growth of weeds and it’s biodegradable.
It works like a charm!!! It took us 2 mornings and we were done in time for the first March Madness game of the day.
When we were laboring, I noticed a landscaping crew across the street working on our neighbors’ yards. There … (16 comments)
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motivational monday: Motivational Monday…A Different Point of View
- 03/09/25 02:20 PM
Motivational Monday…A Different Point of View
Have you ever looked at a room in your home trying to decide how you could redesign or reinvigorate it? But as hard and as long as you looked, the room stayed the same and your mind was blank.
That happened to me years ago when I wanted to revamp the kitchen/breakfast area. Per Larry, I could do or add what I wanted but I couldn’t knock down any walls. (he knew me all too well)
One day I was standing in the kitchen on the countertop cleaning the area above the cabinets. I looked out over the … (15 comments)
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motivational monday: Motivational Monday…Do Better
- 03/02/25 01:59 PM
Motivational Monday…Do Better
Can you do better or is it enough to do just enough?
Someone shared a story on my local Nextdoor that rang true for agents or anyone in sales.
A server waited on a couple on a slow night. He filled their order, checked in with them once or twice, refilled their drinks, and brought the check.
His tip? There was none…only the words Do Better written on it.
Naturally the server was upset. His coworkers agreed, some suggested he just forget about it and move on.
The server thought about it…what more could he have done??
He decided then to accept the challenge to … (16 comments)
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motivational monday: Motivational Monday…What Did You Fail At?
- 02/23/25 02:27 PM
Motivational Monday…What Did You Fail At?
My focus is usually on the positive…what’s good in our life, the positive acts of kindness we see. It has been a goal of mine to distance myself as much as I can from negative events and people.
So the question I ask above…”What did you fail at?” may seem like I’m taking a journey along the road to being negative.
Let me explain. I loved watching the dinner table scenes in the series Blue Bloods. (if you’ve never watched it…it’s was on CBS and more vanilla in flavor…unlike Dexter)
Once everyone went around the … (19 comments)
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motivational monday: Celebrate the Day…Become a RAKtivist*
- 02/16/25 04:13 PM
Celebrate the Day…Become a RAKtivist*
This is one of my favorite days and topics…it’s Random Acts of Kindness Day.
Most of you will agree that this day needs to be an Everyday Kind of Day…and I agree.
What would life be if kindness did not exist? No one saying “hello” to you…every person for themselves…those who need assistance with medical or housing concerns having no place or no one to turn to…
Always be a little kinder than necessary.
J.M. Barrie
Consequently, think of a world where kindness was the norm!
… (23 comments)
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motivational monday: Motivational Monday…Words
- 02/09/25 04:32 PM
Motivational Monday…Words
My Mini-me was over recently and we were discussing words. She’d mentioned chocolate cake and I responded…That’s one of my favorite words!!!
She gave me a quizzical look and said…you mean you like to eat chocolate cake!
I responded…Well, yes I do but I love to hear the words chocolate cake. Certain words have a nice ring to them and fond memories.
She asked me what other words I love to hear and the first one that popped out of my head was JOY.
“...a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.”
Another one is KINDNESS…
“…the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.”
Then it occurred to … (23 comments)
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motivational monday: Motivational Monday…What’s Your Chocolate Cake?
- 01/26/25 04:44 PM
Motivational Monday…What’s Your Chocolate Cake?
When I read that today is National Chocolate Cake Day, my thoughts turned to late nights at my desk trying desperately to stay awake while reading a statistics book.
I was in grad school and while I loved what I was studying, some of the books were…let’s say they made great reading if you had a hard time sleeping.
What I did was bribe myself…read 5 more chapters and you can have the piece of chocolate cake you’ve been eyeing. Those pieces of chocolate cake helped get me through many late nights.
Of course,we all are driven by … (24 comments)
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motivational monday: Motivational Monday…My Four Pillars
- 01/19/25 05:55 PM
Motivational Monday…My Four Pillars
Did you ever have a moment when your heart was so full of JOY you wanted to bottle it up and save it?
Yes..you’ve had them…at least I hope you have . Often mine may seem a bit silly or trivial to some…for example when Justin Verlander returned to Houston in 2023. My grandson texted me and my neighbor ran across the street to share the good news.
Not so trivial was the joy our whole family felt on Raffe’s adoption day.
Joy is part of what I call my 4 pillars in my life that are important to me. They … (18 comments)
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motivational monday: Motivational Monday…No Matter How Small
- 01/12/25 02:52 PM
Motivational Monday…No Matter How Small
The significance of random acts of kindness, no matter how small, is a topic that we see often.
These acts, often from total strangers, surprise us. They make us smile and give us hope that good people still exist.
This weekend I was in my local grocery store looking for an allergy spray. My store has digital coupons I have on my phone so it’s paper free and easy to use.
I noticed that some kind soul had placed a coupon from a newspaper flyer in front of the product for anyone finding it to use.
I didn’t need … (20 comments)
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motivational monday: Motivational Monday…Family and Familiness
- 12/29/24 01:54 PM
Motivational Monday…Family and Familiness
You’ve read my posts about my family and our relatively large gatherings. Christmas Day we had 35ish over.
On Friday we had a birthday lunch that included members of my family as well as my cousin’s husband’s large family. Life is good!
At the birthday lunch, my niece’s Sister-in-Law mentioned how much her sons loved going to Aunt Kathy’s.
Her oldest (9) son asked how we were related. Their mother said…Well…actually, we’re not really related.
She went on to explain how I was their aunt’s aunt.
So… said wee one…Since Aunt Kathy is Aunt Jennifer’s aunt then we’re related! Besides, we all … (18 comments)
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motivational monday: Motivational Monday…How Are You Playing?
- 12/22/24 02:09 PM
Motivational Monday…How Are You Playing?
Once again, interesting inspiration from a football coach.
Have you ever gone on a listing presentation with the hope that you didn't make a fool of yourself?
Or when heading out to play Pickleball, were you thinking primarily about being able to keep up with your opponent?
Saturday, Coach Nick Saban spoke about a team who had been playing with a “not to lose” attitude. However, they started to win when they began “playing to win.”
To boil it down, if you go in with the “not to lose” mindset, you’re already starting out with a boatload of negativity. You’re … (19 comments)
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motivational monday: Motivational Monday…Start With a Small Bite
- 12/15/24 05:05 PM
Motivational Monday…Start With a Small Bite
Every Christmas Larry and I make dozens upon dozens of cookies and more than 2 dozen carrot raisin cakes. As much as we enjoy it, it’s always hard to get started.
As we near the day when we really need to get off our behinds and start baking, both of us drag our feet. It’s not that we don’t enjoy doing this. We love sharing our goodies…and of course, we love eating them.
It’s always that darn first step. When I think of all of the measuring, sifting, mixing, etc that we need to do, I often get … (17 comments)
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