(Being) Extraordinary Now!

It's all about perspectives

2007-10-19T10:21:00.000-07:00

I've written over the last year about my focus on discovering what more I wanted to discover! As you can see from my summertime entries, the process was challenging for me and I found out much about what I did not want while at the same time much that I did want.

Recently I made a big discovery... I simply like to be right. Ok, not that I didn't know that before, but I realized that my emotional reaction to things that crossed me the wrong way was a result of me holding on ever so tightly to my perspective without giving anyone else room for their own.

So I've made a commitment to myself: I will appreciate other perspectives for what they are -- other perspectives!

Like cookies in the bakery, I will pick the ones that I like and leave the rest for others!

In the meantime, I still have my favorites. Like this:
http://www.youtube.com/user/AbrahamHicks

Not for Me

2007-07-24T19:17:00.001-07:00

Though I'm sure this is a great book that I could benefit from, from the title, it certainly isn't my style! If anyone reads the book and recommends it even though the premise goes totally against my grain, I'd consider it. Let me know...

Greed

2007-07-11T20:59:00.000-07:00

Maybe I am just in a cynical mood. I would never describe myself as that -- but it is true I am slow to throw my heart into an organization, cause or ideology. For most things, the closest can get myself is an arms-length distance.

So the news today about Whole Foods was sad, as it confirmed that my caution is well-founded.

Is all business about greed?

Of course not. Motivation by desire is natural but greed might be defined as amped up desire combined with a disregard for others for personal gain. Amped up desire is a motivator; but it does not have to deteriorate into deceit. I refuse to give up on my belief that people can have integrity and great desire. It does not have to be about greed.

Integrity is the real issue. Check out Whole Foods' Core Values. Did I read this correctly?

Integrity In All Business Dealings
Our trade partners are our allies in serving our stakeholders. We treat them with respect, fairness and integrity at all times and expect the same in return.

Not only that, but the company was actually voted one of the best places to work in 2007.

Why does this bother me so much? I guess I expected more from a company that "sells" itself on values. I guess I can't believe how lame a mistake the CEO made. Check out the FAQ: he seriously just thought that was normal for a CEO to cloak his identity and hype his stock? I wonder if the "everyone does it" argument will hold up in court if it ends up going that far.

I don't shop at Whole Foods. If I did, I would now stop. I'm blessed with a small, local market that I love. I guess I can get off my tirade now. Back to business at a safe arm's length distance.

Evidence of a World Transforming

2007-07-10T21:46:00.000-07:00

I just ordered the "Shift Report" from Noetic Sciences and can't wait to read it. I'm always looking for the "good news" that I know is out there about the fundamental shift that is taking place as more people become more conscious and make the decision to live deliberately. I love exploring the intersection of science and spirituality.

The 2007 Shift Report: Evidence of a World Transforming, attempts to chart the transition we believe is underway from a rigid, mechanistic, and materialistic worldview to one that is built on a foundation of interconnectedness, cooperation, and the intersection of science and spirituality.

Maybe you'll like it too: http://www.shiftreport.org/

I also emailed my hubby to ask for a reinstatement of my membership for my birthday... what a great gift -- no stuff, but lots to ponder!

Free Will

2007-07-09T22:23:00.000-07:00

I love that our lives are based in freedom, and for me, there is no question about that fact. Our minds are free to create whatever we want. With the recent Independence Day celebration, my husband and I got kind of patriotic on our kiddos, as we reminded them what a great country that we live in, where people take a stand for freedom so know that they are really free.

Fireworks emphasized the point.

This was an interesting article (Defending Free Will: A fruit fly makes choices) that reminded me that others are still pondering whether or not we are free. The story of a fruit fly, of all things...

Perhaps it is our destiny to be philosophers...

: )

Roughin' it

2007-07-08T20:23:00.000-07:00

We're back from a week of camping. You know, roughin it. We trecked a few minutes from our home to Newport Dunes, a great little campground on the bay side in Newport Beach.

It was so fun being so close yet so far away. Ok, maybe we didn't rough it. We had family visit, playdates scheduled and John even had to run home briefly to retrieve something we forgot. One night we ordered pizza delivered for dinner. I even logged in to their wireless network to check email one night and catch up on some work. Such convenience!

But even though it wasn't traditional camping, it felt like vacation. Our campsite opened to a nice grassy area that led right to the sandy beach. Swimming in the pool, playing on toys in the bay, movies on the beach, watching the kids play, warming by the campfire, eating ice cream and snowcones kept us entertained. The July 4th celebration was fabulous with a big event and terrific fireworks.

Speaking of fireworks...I LOVED the new ones! Especially the one I have heard called the "Rice Crispies" one that filled up the sky with sparkles. The UFO looking ones were interesting too. Still, my favorites are the big traditional booming fireworks.

I can't wait to "rough it" again!

Exercise Grows New Brain Cells

2007-06-29T08:03:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, yes I know: I need to get back to the gym.

This article just added another reason to get moving again. Not only to be bathing suit ready or to get that strong open feeling that comes after a workout. Not to fit better into jeans or even to satisfy my kids love for playing at "Kids Club."

To build new brain cells. Yep, I need them as much as the next gal...

I'll have to let you know if the inspiration pays off...

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!

2007-06-23T21:31:00.000-07:00

My baby is 6! Well, almost. Today we celebrated her 6th birthday with 30 kids dancing the hula, jumping in a bounce house, hunting for seashells and smashing a pinata. Here are a few photos of the fun!

Mind Reading Toys

2007-06-20T21:13:00.000-07:00

What will they think of next? I have to admit, this sounds pretty interesting... making it fun to practice how focusing thoughts results in favorable outcomes...

http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2007/04/29/691072-new-toys-read-brain-waves

My Worldview in 10 Minutes

2007-06-16T23:15:00.000-07:00

This is one of the most succinct articulations of my worldview and personal philosophy available on the web. I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts. It's just over 10 minutes long, so if you don't have time now, save it and get back to me!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u21-Bx7bCEg

Life Goes On

2007-06-10T22:57:00.000-07:00

Well, it ended like the entire season played out... for Tony Soprano, life goes on and we do not now know what is next. Even the way it ended -- as if the cable box went out (or the "lights" went out) -- emphasized that life is full of twists and turns, you get what you get and you focus on what's important in the meantime. But still, it's just slice of life, which still goes on even if no one is paying attention.

I like to think that everything was fine at dinner, "Don't stop believing..." However, perhaps the "Members Only" guy in the restraunt pulled the trigger and Tony never heard it when it happened, as Bobby described on the row boat a few episodes ago.

But what happened isn't the important thing; or better said, not knowing what happened is the important thing. As with all of the series, answers are not easy to come by and that is what made it great.

Graduation Surprise!

2007-06-07T20:49:00.000-07:00

What a big week -- The Ducks won the Stanley Cup and my daughter graduated from Kindergarten!

And what better way to celebrate than by combining the two! Today Ducks' captain, Scott Niedermayer, brought the Stanley Cup to my daughter's school to celebrate the big win.

The playoffs have offered so much opportunity to reinforce lessons and ideas about hard work, winning, team spirit and good sportsmanship. What better way to cap it off. Scott answered questions from the students and took time with the kids (and parents) for photos! I couldn't help but snap a few!

The End is Near!

2007-06-03T22:33:00.000-07:00

I have no idea why I enjoy "The Sopranos" so much! It really makes no sense when I refuse to have network news on in my home because it is too violent, that I love that show and haven't missed an episode in all the seasons it has aired. It is literally the only television show I've watched since my daughter was born nearly 6 years ago.

I guess I love that Tony is just a regular guy. With a good heart. Interesting values, of course, but at his core, just a regular guy doing his best. I can tell you that if Phil would have been in more episodes, I would have likely turned it off.

But now the end is near. The last episode is next week! The season has flown by. I will miss the anticipation of a new season and new episode and I'll make a point to give a new show a try. I must admit, watching the show together with John was what really made it worth it... I need another show to enjoy together with him!

If you have a favorite suggestion of a show that might hold my attention like The Sopranos did, please let me know!

Summertime!

2007-05-28T23:08:00.000-07:00

The unofficial beginning of summer is here! Hooray!!!

Our family spent the weekend at the beach burying the kids in the sand, making sand-men, hunting seashells. The kids met other kid campers and loved the freedom of being able to run to the next-door camper to play.

The weather was warm and sometimes cloudy. Perfect weather for combining outside beach play with cozy indoor cards and books! A perfect, lazy weekend to begin the perfect lazy (at least a little lazy, I hope!) summer.

Go Ducks!

2007-05-17T22:28:00.000-07:00

Tonight, my husband and I had the opportunity to join the Niedermayer family at the Ducks' playoff game. What energy! The Ducks won the game and the whole experience was fantastic. John and I even had the chance to sit on the ice, right next to the Duck's bench. The power and focus and speed are so much more intense close up!!

It is interesting to be that close to the action. It certainly gave me a whole new perspective of how strategy meets nitty gritty and body checks. Scott Niedermayer put it in perspective in a recent article. He "gets it." Scott describes his experiences in a way that show that when you're in alignment, good flows. Even in hockey. Amazing.

Welcome Dory!

2007-05-16T20:09:00.000-07:00

We took the leap, and have added a new addition to our family! Dory, a sweet kitten joined us last week and she fits right in, as you can see.

Perspectives

2007-05-15T22:19:00.000-07:00

I took some time away from blogging to regain a bit of (expanded) perspective. I realize that have the tendency for tunnel vision. : ) I'm making the effort now to deliberately seek out multiple perspectives so that I can see more of the horizon, so to speak. Partial view is OK sometimes, but I'm ready for the panorama!

I came across this quote that puts my tunnel vision into perspective so that I can laugh at how stuck I have been being:

Somebody was saying to Picasso that he ought to make pictures of things that way they are—objective pictures. He mumbled he wasn’t quite sure what that would be. The person who was bullying him produced a photograph of his wife from his wallet and said, “There, you see, that is a picture of how she really is.” Picasso looked at it and said, “She is rather small, isn’t she? And flat?” –G. Bateson

Save the World!

2007-03-11T22:13:00.000-07:00

It seems that I cannot get too far into anything without someone trying to recruit me to save the world. Even my new magazine subscription. The interesting thing is that to convince me, they go so deeply into the description of what is so terrible that needs fixing that there is no vision of what they are wanting to accomplish or create other than: Not this.

Don't get me wrong: There are certainly things that I would change about the world to make it a better place for everyone. But it is my commitment to put my energy and focus into a positive vision of the future, not into fighting against the "bad stuff." I would be much more inspired to join in if people took the extra step of articulating or painting a picture of the ideal outcome they are creating.

I guess it is the "news" philosophy: Drama sells. Well, as more and more people pay attention to the discipline of living consciously, I am optimistic that we will find that vision wins over drama any day of the week.

The takeaway for me: I'm committed to finding communities that I align with and can fully embrace, contribute to and put my energy into. My daughter's school is one of those places. I'm eager to find more, even if it takes wading through the contrast to get to the vision.

What is Enlightenment?

2007-03-09T17:44:00.000-08:00

As I get connected to more and more resources and communities that integrate the thinking that I am exploring personally, I ran into this magazine at my local health food store. What is Enlightenment does a terrific job of exploring topics in the spiritual, cultural and philosophical areas and how they impact politics, business, science, the arts, and the environment.

I subscribed. Not only that, but I also joined the Zaadz community for online discussion. I must say, I feel an almost physical sensation of being puuuulllllleeeeed out of my private little world where I have explored only personally for many years and I am both excited and feeling quietly cautious about going public and connecting with like-minded people around the world!

We'll see...

Trust Yourself

2007-03-04T19:04:00.000-08:00

Today, while much of the country was enjoying freezing winter weather, we dressed the kids in their bathing suits and headed to the beach. It was a beautiful almost-spring day.

When we got there, the surf had created a big drop -- 5 feet or so-- between the sandy sand and the shoreline. I started to warn the kids not to get too close to the edge when John stopped me. "Where better can the kids learn about climbing and jumping and test their boundaries than in the soft sand at the beach? They can learn to trust themselves."

Lesson learned. Again. I feel like I'm learning that lesson all over the place these days. As I continue my new year promises, particularly the Light Body course, I've definitely had many questions and have been guided to many new things to explore. Part of me really wishes I had some sort of guide to follow, but in an area that is totally personal, there is no such thing. Of course there are lots of things that claim to be that, but those don't work for me. "Go inside and listen to your guidance" is all the meaningful direction I get.

I'm learning to trust myself. Sometimes it is liberating. Sometimes it is a little scary. Sometimes I feel like I'm really doing great. Other times, I feel myself falling back on my busy life to avoid newness for a while. I know it is all OK and I'm really enjoying the journey.

I'll link to some of the resources and new discoveries I've been finding in future posts. I'm not sure where they all fit. Some I'll explore more deeply than others. But it is all part of the web and a format like this helps me keep those links alive.

Thinking About Thinking

2007-03-03T21:47:00.000-08:00

I've enjoyed reading Ken Wilber for the last 10 years. I like the intellectual challenge and many of the topics are along the same lines of things I'm exploring for myself. I especially like his exploration of spirituality lately from a rational approach. Sometimes a mommy needs a good brain workout and an abstract here fills the bill.

Guiding the Next Generation

2007-03-01T20:38:00.000-08:00

My daughter's school had a very interesting meeting today -- they asked parents to come together to discuss how to formalize a "human potential" or "human development" curriculum at the school.

That was one meeting I wasn't about to miss! Already, I love her school and the environment it provides for my sweet kindergartner. What an opportunity to help shape the future of her and my son's education in this way!

It was an interesting discussion, thinking through what a "human development" centered curriculum might look like. Conversation included topics like attending to the whole child, fostering self actualization, promoting social responsibility, wellness, individuality and leadership. Even visualization came up as a possible area to look at. Already many of these pieces are in place, but once a formal framework is created, it will be easier to see where gaps may exist and then where to improve.

I came away energized and eager to continue the process! It is clear to me that somewhere in this realm of human potential is where I want to end up spending more of my time.

Going on a Sentimental Journey...

2007-02-25T21:52:00.000-08:00

Today we celebrated my grandma's 90th birthday. What a wonderful day! Family from all over California came -- some who I have not seen for over 20 years.

I have been looking forward to this gathering for months now. I know it meant so much to Grandma. What surprised me is how much it meant to me! Having my husband and children connect with family and our heritage, watching the kids play on the balcony with cousins -- some they know well and some who they just met for the first time, watching my dad give a toast to his mom, seeing cousins who have pulled through the toughest of times and emerge strong and happy, meeting new spouses and babies... I thoroughly enjoyed the day.

In preparation for the day, I created a DVD with photos from our family's past. It was surprising to me how little I knew about my own grandma. But I found the secret to getting to know her -- just ask her about a photo! She sure opens up as she recalls the people, places and happenings in her life. I also learned that I actually enjoy Lawrence Welk music -- ha! I must REALLY be getting old!!!

The Spa

2007-02-21T20:58:00.000-08:00

Today was spa day. I ventured out and tried a new spa for me, The Spa and Fitness Club at South Coast.

This article summed it up. While the atmosphere didn't lend itself to lingering, overall, the spa experience was wonderful and the massage treatment (80 minute combo) was pure bliss. Kathie was absolutely fabulous, both skilled and intuitive and that truly made the day worth it.

I'm more of a lingerer when I want to do the spa on a day off. This spa isn't built for that. The small space, chattering clientele along with the television(!), newspaper and phone in the lounge made it feel more like home than an escape from the world.

The spa offers memberships and I can clearly see that if you want to use it more like a gym - quick in and out trips - it would be wonderful.

Shift

2007-02-19T16:44:00.000-08:00

I'm on vacation this week so had a bit of time to browse for good stuff. I just found this 17 second timer and was reminded once again how quickly 17 seconds flies by!

Why 17 seconds? Because if we focus our thoughts or attention on something for as little as 17 seconds, our vibration will shift to begin to match it. You can actually feel the shift in many cases. It is the first "ignition point" of our thought. In just 68 seconds, according to Abraham, you've launched a full-blown creation.

Now, you can take that to both the positive, deliberate thought and to thinking by default, too. How long do I dwell on something when it makes me mad? How long do commercials try to focus my attention on a feeling to make me what to buy? It reminded me why our family does not watch the news. How long could you stare at the newscast of things you don't want? Or let your kids do that?

It made me appreciate even more the resources such as Hay House Radio and the meditation recordings that Summer McStravick of Flowdreaming puts together and the variety of resources by Orin and Daben. There are so many ways to keep our thoughts focused in the direction we want and so many resources to help us practice. I'm always looking for more positive resources, so if you know of any, please comment!

So the trick is, find things that feel good and savor them! And when you find things that do not feel good, shift your focus as fast as you can!

Welcome Year of the (Fire) Pig!

2007-02-18T08:39:00.000-08:00

Happy Chinese New Year! Today begins the red pig year. Year of the fire pig.

From what I know (very little) about the Chinese Zodiac, they are just for fun even to the Chinese. But it is a nice way to guestimate out how old someone is without asking their age!

My husband, son and I area all Monkeys while my daughter is a Snake. What's more, my dh and I are Earth Monkeys and my ds is a Wood Monkey. Sweet girl is Metal Snake. What does it all mean? Maybe that tonight would be a good night for take-out!

The First Published Map of World Happiness

2007-02-17T18:45:00.000-08:00

Guy Kawasaki's blog usually makes for interesting reading. Take yesterday's post for example. It's about a global study that attempted to map and project the overall happiness of different countries. Subjective? Of course! But another example of another example of another cool job -- I think I'm leaning toward a research scientist in a future life!

Walking the Talk

2007-02-15T20:19:00.000-08:00

As you know if you've been reading this, in 2007, I am committed to uncovering network of inspired individuals who are committed to expanding who they've known themselves to be. As part of that, I've been looking for interesting blogs and sites that jump out to me. I linked to a few for the past two days.

Today I discovered Shift-It-Coach. I especially like how Christina integrates her passion for deliberate creation along with her profession as a graphic coach. She truly combines her talents into something unique! Check out her background and what she brings to the table! Wow!

Log On to Feel Good

2007-02-13T21:31:00.000-08:00

What a cool site. "Dave" says he's created it out of his own desire to find things that feel good and what a great group of clips he has collected! Feel Good Vibes -- check it out!!

Where is the Universe Expanding To?

2007-02-09T17:16:00.001-08:00

I teach my kids that everything they do, everything they think and every experience they have adds unto everything the universe is. They are an integral part of eternity and forever expansion. As Abraham puts it, they are on the leading edge, moving thought forward.

Today I saw this post on Evolving Times and the link to Scientific American titled "Where is the Universe Expanding To?" I started thinking about how extraordinary it would be to take this on, to try to explain eternal expansion in a mathmetical equasion! I want that job (at least, theoretically)!

I love the convergence of spirituality and science and the conversations it sparks.

More "Secret" Stuff

2007-02-08T21:45:00.000-08:00

The Secret continues to gain momentum. Today's Oprah show featured The Secret to millions of viewers.

Again, I am both happy that thought like this is getting mainstream play but at the same time, it feels like it is just part of the story being told. It seems salesy and a little bit like snake-oil. With a topic so close to my heart, this is tough! I have to chalk it up to what mainstream is, I guess. And focus on the positive aspects.

I truly do marvel at what is possible by the time my children are grown. What if people took responsibility for their own thinking and deliberately used their imaginations to experience now the things they want and love. What if people stopped fighting against what they don't want (war on this, war on that) and instead started championing the things they do want.

What if time to think was as sacred as time to eat or sleep?

Just musing...

Friends

2007-02-06T21:13:00.000-08:00

I just attended an event where there were quite a few people who I knew, many from work. Some I would consider friends. Most, aquaintences. What I mean by that is that I interact with them from time to time but have no meaningful relationship with them.

It made me think about how differently my kids think of friends. At 5 and 2, both Jenna and Jack are very outgoing, open, social and love their friends. In their world, friends are the kids their age that they meet at the park, anyone who wants to play. It is easy for them to find that natural affinity with people. One of their favorite things to do is to go out on a sunny day and "find some friends."

I spent time in Jenna's classroom today and the project I worked on was "What is a friend?" Answers from the 5 year olds ranged from "Someone who is nice to me" to "Someone who likes the things I like" and "Someone who helps me."

When did I start getting so picky about friends? I decided on the way home tonight to take a lesson from my kids and deliberately expand the people that I have relationships with, to ask more questions and to listen more carefully. I have a sense that I'll discover that I have more friends than I thought I did.

Free

2007-01-30T21:14:00.000-08:00

When I travel, even on business, I inevitably get this sense of freedom as soon as I arrive in an unfamiliar city. I am continually amazed at how I can just show up somewhere and easily find my way through the network of roads and people and intentions and easily navigate to my destination. I love the feeling of zipping through the world as if everything I want and need are anticipating my arrival.

Today, I had that feeling as I drove south on the 5 from Seattle to Portland. In traffic. Sounds like a strange place to have the sense of freedom, but I did! And as the speeds picked up and the sun started setting through the forest of trees that line the highway, it really set in. I felt free, free, free! I had no hotel reservation and no timeline and for two short hours, no one really knew where I was except me.

I do believe that the basis of life is freedom. I am so free that I can choose bondage. Or not. It's all in my thinking. In every moment, no matter what my circumstances, I am free to choose any thought I want to think. I am free to change course, choose newly. Just knowing that is liberating.

Now...we create with our thought and we are free to think anything -- what an extraordinary concept. The question really becomes, do I dare think beyond where I have thought before? Seriously, it is not always an easy task to get out of our comfortable boxes to think beyond what already is.

So time to turn in and dream a little. I'd love to hear ideas about what you would think about and create if you could really think anything...

Flutter By, Butterfly

2007-01-28T20:32:00.001-08:00

My friend Mary died today after a two year battle with cancer. She was 40 years old. This photo was taken in March 1995, two months after her initial diagnosis and first surgery.

The last time I spoke with her was a little over a week ago. I asked her if she was scared, she said she really wasn't. She said that she had decided that everything had a reason and she was sticking to her story. We talked about connecting after she died and laughed that she would be a really tenacious butterfly, determined to land on my head.

I wanted to go into the backyard today and just sit and relax, to wait for a butterfly, but for some reason, I wasn't ready. I let myself stay busy instead. It's funny, I know that Mary is in such a better place now. She is free! I truly am happy for her! I guess I let myself feel sorry for me today. Not really an extraordinary way to be.

I must say, when I did connect with a few friends about Mary, we all shared the same relief that she was finally free. I think that people really do know that there is no need to fear death. That there really is no death, just a change of scenery.

Flutter by, sweet butterfly. I will miss you, Mary.

Namaste

2007-01-27T16:49:00.000-08:00

I love yoga. I am so thrilled with my new class and love practicing 'live' once a week. I do admit, I push myself quite a bit harder in a room full of people than I do with my DVD. But practice in the evenings is also wonderful and I am so appreciative of my great DVDs that support my commitment.

People ask me quite often, "What is yoga?" "Is it stretching?" "Is it meditation?" "Is it spiritual?" For me, yoga is a way of life and the practice of yoga is a deliberate connection of my body with my breath. Yoga is a workout, but that's not all it is. Yoga keeps me flexible and strong, but that's not all it does. Yoga relaxes me and quiets my mind, but there is more.

What I love about yoga the most is that it helps me to hold more light. All exercise does, really, but yoga is special because of the conscious integration and control of the breath. Breath brings light and light is the essence of all that is. It is our light that makes us extraordinary.

It's really that simple and I think most people miss it. When I grow up, I want to be a yoga teacher so that I can lead eager people through the wonder of yoga to grow strong, flexible, confident and quiet...to help them shine more brightly.

I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences with yoga; especially if the practice is part of what makes you extraordinary.

It's as Easy to Create a Castle as it is to Create a Button

2007-01-26T22:20:00.000-08:00

I've heard it said that it is as easy to create a castle as a button, meaning that whatever you want to create, your belief frames your experience and your result. Sounds like Donald Trump thinks the same way. In yesterday's blog by Guy Kawasaki, his answer to this question shows that really, attitude is everything:

"Question: Not many people make billions, lose billions, and then make billions all over again. How did you pull this off?"
"Answer: To me it was a blip, not a catastrophe. I knew I was destined to succeed, and I kept focused on that belief. I’m very tenacious...and I don’t give up."

Check it out.

Being Extraordinary

2007-01-25T23:38:00.000-08:00

I just completed the communication class I wrote about a week or so ago and am so present to and excited about the discipline of being extraordinary.

By that, I mean that to truly make a difference on the magnitude of extraordinary, I have to be present, aware, open and willing to get out of my own way over and over again. It means that I need to be up at bat, swinging -- not hanging out in left field waiting to catch an easy pop fly.

I am committed to being extraordinary in my every, ordinary life. To create and maintain relationships that are alive and full of love. To think big, make commitments and keep them.

As part of that, I will be more intentional about my blogging -- focused back on the extraordinary.

It's just a stage...

2007-01-24T21:08:00.000-08:00

One thing that I've learned as a mom is that really, everything comes and goes in stages. Knowing this helps me keep my sanity because I know that it won't last forever...sigh...it is just a stage.

I've been finding myself doing this recently with my two cherubs. Jack is just leaving his "Mommy, I want to have you!" stage and entering a new, "Weve me awone!" stage. (Mommy takes a deep breath here...). Jenna is testing the boundaries of her freedom. When she doesn't get it, there's s fight. Luckily I know (another deep breath), this is just a stage.

I find myself taking a lot of deep breaths lately. That's not so bad.

What About Me?

2007-01-23T23:34:00.000-08:00

This is a pretty cool video that reflects the underlying theme in most people's lives. It's worth watching the whole way through, as it speaks to how to break out of the cycle of thinking that keeps us apart from others, making more room for love in our lives.

What You Want is Irrevelant!

2007-01-22T21:36:00.000-08:00

It's not what you want... it's what you're committed to.

It was a lot of class hours, but I did love the course this weekend and was returned to the discipline of living an extraordinary life.

Onward!

What's Possible?

2007-01-17T19:12:00.000-08:00

The new year has really thrown me for a loop. As I pondered what my goals might be for 2007, I found myself dissatisfied with each thing I came up with. "Is that really what I want," was a common question that kept coming up...and kept me thinking of what would be ideal.

I'm coming to the realization that maybe I've been afraid to think ideal because I love my life. I love my work situation, my family, my friends. If I wanted more, would that be greedy of me? And what the heck would I ask for?

So I've started to venture out and explore a bit... at least in my thoughts. I know that one thing that I'd love is more time. But time for what? More family time and more time to spend thinking and doing the things that I love. This led me to another idea...what if I combined my work and the things I love? Teamwork, manifestation, spirituality... That idea would have been radical 5 years ago but these things are mainstream now. Maybe it's worth exploring, at least in concept.

For now, I've committed to making time for the things I love and my dh is fully supportive. I am so appreciative of the love and support that he gives me and so thankful that we've been able to create a terrific experience together.

This weekend, I'm attending the Communication - Access to Power course at Landmark Education. It's been about 6 years (before my daughter was born) that I attended any courses there but they are powerful programs that I enjoyed so I'm getting re-engaged. I'm taking yoga again once a week (at a studio) and practicing via DVD the other nights. This is a huge shift for me!

More on what comes of it all later... at least being in the inquiry is fun!

Rock Castles

2007-01-16T21:31:00.000-08:00

I love the desert.

We recently returned from a camping trip with the kids. It was our first to the desert since we were married -- my first, really, in probably 15 years.

I grew up going to the desert. The draw for the crowd then, as now, was motorcycle riding and playing with other recreational vehicles. But the draw for me is the desert. The expanse of quiet space, stretching from the earth up into the stars of the sky, touches me deeply. Even with the buzz of RV generators and motors whizzing by, I get that feeling of peace and belonging.

I love watching the campfire dance, the sun rise in the east. I love the stars. As a mom, I love watching the kids discover the desert for themselves. That's what Jack and I did. We discovered the wonder of building rock castles.

As an eager 2-year old, Jack wants to be just like his big sister and just like his daddy. He wants it all and he wants it now! After an episode of Jack being the epitome of a little brother, I decided to distract him into something new -- gathering rocks in his dump truck to build a rock castle.

What fun it was! We set out together to find the perfect rocks, piling them high into the yellow Tonka truck. We found our own rhythm, and were so connected to each other with hardly a sound. The world disappeared as Jack and I played, gathered and built the perfect rock castle. Filling and dumping, filling and dumping.

I should have taken a photo. It looked like a pile of rocks. But I know that each rock had a particular place and each rock was especially chosen to be in the castle. Not all rocks were selected.

As we left, I asked Jack to choose his favorite rock to bring home and now it sits in our family room, reminding me of the magic of the desert.

I'm looking forward to building more rock castles.

20 degrees (feels like 8)

2007-01-09T20:31:00.000-08:00

I've decided that I kind of like crisp weather. Maybe the cool California winter this year has helped me get used to it. It has been cold, sunny and clear in Wisconsin the past couple of days. I think it must be the clear skies that make it more enjoyable.

I must say that I do enjoy having the opportunity to see different parts of the country and to meet different people. It has given me a whole new perspective on California. I used to think I could never live anywhere else. Now, I can see that there are lots of great places to live and that even places like Wisconsin have their own advantages. I'll be visiting Idaho and Montana this year as well, so those will be interesting trips.

Last year I said that the next time I came to Madison in the winter I would walk on the lake. Well, I don't think I'll get that opportunity during this trip and I don't even know if it's frozen over this year. Everyone is remarking on how warm it has been. 20 degrees, warm? Well, it's in the 40s during the day. Maybe I should have worn sandals! : )

Signing off... the time difference comes early in the morning...

Dead Presidents

2007-01-02T18:09:00.000-08:00

I don't have anything personal against President Ford -- he's the first President that I was fully aware of since I had just turned six when he took office.

But a day of mourning? I truly mean no disrespect, but ... seriously! No trash pickup or mail or Wall Street? And right after the New Year's holiday? It seems to me that everyone just wanted an extra day off.

Not that there is anything wrong with that, either. I just wish I had a little advance notice. For me it was back to business as usual. I wanted the mail to go out. I wonder how many people who took the day off today are mourning and how many are just enjoying an extended holiday weekend? Maybe I'm just jealous.

Or maybe I'm just too used to a 24/7 world and we actually need more of this sort of thing. Maybe more people would wait their turn, write thank-you notes and smile when they pass by if we had more random holidays. If that is the case, I'm all for it.

Hap Hap Happy New Year!

2007-01-01T00:54:00.000-08:00

Hap Hap Happy New Year! We celebrated on east coast time at the Langs so the kids could enjoy the heck out the new year. Now they're sleeping and the new year has begun.

So what's new in the new year? Tomorrow I get a few hours to create next 12 months...

Spiritual: A new course to explore
Career: Finding my place in the new organization
Physical: 1 yoga class a week live plus DVD 2x min
Relationships: More dates! Deepen friendships. Expand circle.
Travel and play: Lots of mini trips. Camping to see stars. Fun on the farm. Big Bear. Plus one "big" adventure.
Lifestyle: More journaling. Less blogging. A commitment to "mommy free choice" time at least once a quarter.

I've experimented with blogging over the last few months and while fun, I enjoy my personal inner space more than the public space of blogging. My commitment in 2007 is back home again where my mind and words can wander freely... We'll see what kind of time is left for blogger.

Happy 2007!

Breathe

2006-12-26T21:13:00.000-08:00

I made it! It was a busy two weeks, but I made it through happily. By the skin of my teeth, I do admit, but celebrating Christmas was enjoyable. Maybe I'll revisit the whirlwind later to share the fun details, but for now, I'm just enjoying the wind-down. I like having the space to breathe.

Now that I'm past the nights of midnight wrapping or working until 11pm to enable me to take vacation, I'm ready to create what's next for 2007. This year, I'm making a commitment of time for myself. I've got a long list of things I want to jump into, but I know I'll need to prioritize if I'm going to give any of it my all.

I did have to scramble a bit to get my 2007 Journal, The Sacred Journey. I typically buy it from Mothers during the holidays, but I didn't see it this year. When I went online, I found that the 2007 edition was sold out! Luckily, I found a copy on Amazon and next year, I'll look to buy it in the fall!!

Slammed

2006-12-12T21:49:00.000-08:00

It must be the season. I'm slammed! Buried. But it's interesting that I'm not feeling overwhelmed. I've just been doing what I can and the rest can wait. Like blogging. I have every intention to get back into the swing of things. But for now, I've got no guilt for doing what I can to stay sane.

23 degrees

2006-12-06T19:52:00.000-08:00

It's a crisp 23 degrees in Chigago and actually, that's not so bad. It's the first time I've been "on the ground" in Chigago since I was 5 years old. Note that my daughter is now 5 years old, so that's a bit strange.

I must admit, though, I'm not really in Chigago -- more like just outside O'Hare, which isn't really the same. But I did get a chance to eat at a mid-western sports bar tonight (thumbs down) and Nicks Seafood (thumbs up) last night. I've decided that next time I'm here I'll see if John can join me for a couple of extra days. It would be fun to explore together.

The hardest part about traveling is calling home. I miss my little sweeties!! And now that they both can really hold conversations on the phone, it makes me miss them even more. I do enjoy getting out and about, though I like these short trips best.

I've decided to turn in early. I know that perhaps I should be more social but alone time is nice too. It's easy to stay out late with the time change, but morning does roll around early. So last night was social hour and tonight is quiet. Besides, I've run out of my "per diem" allowance, and would have to buy my own drinks anyway. What's fun about that! : )

Time Keeps on Ticking...

2006-12-02T21:21:00.000-08:00

So now I'm officially behind the ball on Christmas shopping. I had the best intentions and even got a few things early but here I am, halfway into the second weekend and I'm basically dry. Off to the online stores...

Goodbye, Greg

2006-11-29T22:14:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but I guess I became a huge Wiggles fan. Both of my kids have grown up singing and dancing to the four-man group's happy, upbeat songs.

I remember the first time I saw the Wiggles at a neighbor's house. I didn't know what to make of the group of grown men singing and bopping around. I guess you can say it grew on me.

I was so sad to hear today that lead singer Greg Page was turning over his yellow jersey, or skivvy as they call them, due to illness. It seems like it's the smart thing and the right thing, so I wish him all the best health and happiness. But for my kids, this will really be their first "end of an era."

BTW, did you realize the Wiggles were some of the highest paid performers in the world? Amazing but true.

All the best, Greg! We'll miss your magic but are sure to be keeping your song and dance around.

The Witching Hour

2006-11-28T21:00:00.000-08:00

Dinner time. I don't know if it is the same for other moms, but by far it is the most challenging time of day for me.

As I open the door to my office at 5:30, I'm in immediate demand. "I want to HAVE you," is Jack's latest and Jenna follows. With a kid on each leg, I make it to the family room. They are typically energetic and want my attention, literally pulling me in their direction. It's at this point that I wish I had a commute to switch gears and at the same time, my mind is racing somewhere else... what am I going to do for dinner!

I'm sure I'm not alone in this. Luckilly, Zulma does a great job of feeding the kids a late afternoon snack so they're energetic and not grumpy. Yes, I do count my blessings and she is one of them. But what to do about dinner?

I need to be more organized. I realize that it all starts on the weekend when I really don't feel like going to the grocery store and planning 5 dinners, lunches, breakfasts and snacks for the week. I've tried the "DinnerTime" meals and though I liked it unfortunately my family is a bit too picky to take advantage of their menus.

So I have a new plan. I just signed up for "Saving Dinner" for weekly online menus complete with organized shopping lists. In addition to that, I think I'm going to try online grocery shopping again. That takes quite a bit of set-up and discipline for a spontaneous-oriented shopper like me (ooh, that looks good, maybe some of that...), but once I get it set up, I think it will be much easier. Click, click, click: done. If I can simplify it enough to make it routine to have everything I need to cook fabulous meals, I'll be set.

Sounds good, but the proof is in the pudding, so to speak. My first menus come tomorrow; this weekend will be the big test.... Until then...

Can we order out?

: )

Blank

2006-11-27T21:55:00.000-08:00

For some reason, I can't think of anything to write. Must be the long weekend that I took full advantage of. No regrets for that!

My new side job

2006-11-23T21:51:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was spa day. I totally unplugged and headed to Pacific Waters Spa. Just me for a quiet day alone.

Bliss! I was truly pleasantly surprised. I have been to a few spas, but this was the first one in a while to get all the basics right. It wasn't outrageous, just simple with attention to detail in all the right places.

My therapist Sabrina was absolutely fantistic. Down to earth but intuitive and skilled -- a very hard combination to find!! She quickly adapted our session to my requests and sent me into that dreamy, floaty place that good massages take you.

The best part of the day was lingering. Arriving early and lingering, staying late and lingering. No phones, no email, no requests of me, just quiet lingering in a warm, feel-good place. I'd highly recommend a day like this to anyone!

So I decided I need a new side job -- a spa reviewer!! Of course, I would only look for and write about the things that I liked about each place, since our thoughts are magnetic, I would want to put all my thought and writing into the best parts of the experience so that I can attract more just like it!

Seriously though, I did make a personal commitment to do this again sooner rather than later. No timelines but a personal commitment to explore more spas and take more downtime to linger in wonderful, warm, beautiful places.

Aaah... The memory still lingers.

Thank you for the food we eat...

2006-11-23T21:14:00.000-08:00

There are so many things to be thankful for, and thanksgiving is a wonderful day to consciously appreciate them. A friend of mine put it well, "Thanksgiving is the only significant holiday where there is nothing more to do than be with family and friends, eat and watch football. What can be better than that?"

Well, I didn't do much football, but spending the day with family and enjoying a delicious meal was delightful. And since the kids are old enough to entertain themselves -- the first year in 6 that that has been true--it was actually relaxing too.

One of my fundamental operating principles is that the purpose of life is joy. And the best way to fulfill that purpose is to look for things to appreciate and be thankful for. So here is a short list (I'll limit to 10 here for the sake of space) that I'm thankful for tonight:

Family. I appreciate the love and wellbeing and support that comes from my husband, children, parents, brother, in-laws (two sisters and parents), grandmother and extended family.
John. He may be family, but I am especially appreciative of John and the friendship and love that we share. He is truly my best friend and I am thankful for being in a relationship with someone that supports me, loves me, creates with me and is also a strong leader who inspires me to new things every day.
Friends. I love having friends that I enjoy and trust am so grateful for the support and inspiration and fun that we create together. I am looking forward to having more unstructured time to spend chatting and playing and love knowing that the time will come again. For now, knowing that I have a group of people that I care so much about and can trust enough to be just me is wonderful.
Health. I am so appreciative of my vitality and I love feeling good. I love to move and stretch and breathe deeply. I am so appreciative that my family is healthy and happy.
Freedom. I love that I am free. Free to think and imagine and create anything at all. I love that I live in a wonderful place where personal freedom is protected and where individuals are encouraged to think for themselves.
Work. I love having inspiring work that calls me to create and a network of talented, intelligent people to create with in an environment that I enjoy.
Home. I love my home. I love that I have a comfortable roof over my head that feels warm and welcoming. I love being at home and the revitalization that it gives me.
Music. Particularly my own personal music on my iPod. I love that I have ready access to music I love and can expand the library whenever I choose, organize and select the music I want to hear and have it all at my fingertips.
Online shopping! As we head into the busy shopping season, I love that I can easily access the things that I want to purchase online and save the shopping trips for days that are more enjoyable.
Spas. This deserves a whole post of its own, but I am so appreciative that there are places where rejuvination is what it's all about. I love the inspiration, creativity, caring and imagination that makes spas a truly magical place to be. I love that I have easy access to some of the most wonderful spas in the world, right in my own backyard.

Now my mind is turning with more things that I'm so appreciative of. Icould go on and on, but will take the rest offline.

I noticed when I wrote about health that I had a twinge of sadness for my friends who are not experiencing optimal health right now. I send love and light to them with the intention that they have peace in their hearts and can relax and feel the best that they can feel, knowing that no matter what the circumstances, all is well.

I'll end with the poem that my daughter had to memorize for kindergarten:

Thank you for the world so sweet
Thank you for the food we eat
Thank you for the birds that sing
Thank you God for everything.

Down Time

2006-11-21T20:58:00.000-08:00

Today was the beginning of a vacation week for me! Well, sort of. I couldn't help but check into email a few times, but for the most part I checked out. I made "stone soup" with the kindergartners, attended my daughter's ballet class and completed a few details that have been on my to do list for a while.

Tomorrow is a true "Donna Day." I'm going to the spa! Aaaaah. I'm going to block the day for personal fun and relaxation. Well, fun and a bit of organizing but mostly fun. : ) All in preparation of four great family days. I'm looking forward to the break.

This is one of my favorite weeks of the year. Time for appreciation everywhere. I like having a little down time before Thanksgiving so that I can really take the time to bask in the glow of all that is good. That is what tomorrow is about for me. Time to count my blessings and imagine what's new.

Anticipation...

2006-11-18T20:37:00.000-08:00

Here is my horoscope for today:

A big change has been in the works for a while, and you're finally ready to embrace it wholeheartedly. It may require a temporary sacrifice, but when you see the goal, you'll know it's all worthwhile.

What could it be, what could it be? I feel like I've got a big surprise on the way!

The Secret

2006-11-17T21:56:00.000-08:00

I must say, I am happy that movies like What the Bleep Do We Know and The Secret are getting so much play in mainstream media. Even though both productions are a bit evangelical (in the broadest sense, of course) for me, I love that this thinking has become mainstream. What is possible out of this rediscovered freedom is amazing.

I couldn't find the link to yesterday's "Positive Thinking" segment on Larry King Live, but the transcript is posted.

Now if more people would just pipe down and mind their own business rather than try to make a buck telling people what to do, things would really get rolling! MHO, of course. : )

If Life Was a Soundtrack

2006-11-17T21:25:00.000-08:00

There's a music meme that I have seen floating around on a few people's blogs and I thought I'd have a little fun on a Friday and give it a shot myself.

Here's how it works:
1. Open your library (iTunes, winamp, media player, iPod)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. New question-- Press the next button
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool

It is interesting to see what comes up at random. Is it true that nothing is random? Or maybe everything is random, I guess it just depends of your philosophy. Those that know me know where I stand on that one.

So now let's see what happens...

If your life were a soundtrack, what would the music be?

Opening credits:
“C is for Cookie” Kids Direct

Waking up:
“Star Me Kitten” REM

First day at school:
“Fall Down” Toad the Wet Sprocket

Falling in love:
“Untogether” Belly

Breaking up:
“I Caught Fire" The Used

Prom:
“Jesus Walking on the Water” Violent Femmes

Life's okay:
“Where It’s At” Beck

Mental breakdown:
“Smile Like You Mean It” The Killers

Driving:
“Wicked Ways” Garbage

Flashback:
“So Much to Say” Dave Matthews

Getting back together:
“First Date” Blink 182

Wedding:
“Beautiful Way” Beck

Birth of child:
“What’s the Frequency, Kenneth” REM

Final battle:
“New Beginning” Tracy Chapman

Death scene:
“Freedom Fighter” Creed

Funeral song:
“Mountain” Tonic

End credits:
“Come Talk to Me” Peter Gabriel

------------------

Let's just say it wouldn't make for the best workout mix...

That my opening would be a kids song is too funny. Thank goodness they didn't all show up that way! And at least it wasn't Lawrence Welk to set the tone -- I'm making a CD for my grandma's 90th birthday so all those oldies are in there. And it seems like a few songs would make sense just more switched with another category (falling in love/breaking up and final battle/death scene). Should I read into that? As for the rest, I'm going to have to make a playlist of these so I can listen to them in context!

Anyway, it was fun. Give it a try!

Might as well think big...

2006-11-15T17:26:00.000-08:00

I was reading the introductions last night to The Amazing Power of Deliberate Intent, and there was a quote that Jerry Hicks wrote about that has kept me squirming in my chair all day.

"I'm going to be thinking anyway, I might as well think big..."

How simple can it get? But simple is so deceiving!

Lately, I have forgotten about thinking big. Most of the time even my daydreams are spent imagining the next logical step or creating an upcoming experience. I've lost touch with what we used to call BHAGs at work: Big Hairy Audacious Goals that combine big thinking with focused action to create that rush of accomplishment.

As I thought about it last night and today, a few people came to mind that have some great BHAGs out in front of them to keep them inspired. My sister-in-law Shayna, aka WalkerChick, has not only numerous marathons this year, but she also has started a side business and is actively making it a success. A friend at work uses trialathons as his ongoing challenge to beat his personal best.

It's not that I don't have personal goals, those keep me going. What has happened is that I've consciously avoided the Big Hairy Audacious ones. I've made mommy hood and raising two amazing kids my focus, which is important, but there is something to be said for shorter-term ideas that make you reach for the sky.

I've still got some work to do on this one. What does thinking big look like for me right now? Is it all cerebral, simply choosing big ideas to ponder and imagine? Does it involve a BHAG and some focused action? I'm sure something will come of this pondering...eventually.

They are precious in his sight

2006-11-13T20:43:00.000-08:00

Jesus loves the little children... Well, that was certainly true yesterday when our family went to cousin Tyler's church to see him sing.

The church was new to us, but we easily found Tyler and family sitting near the front and we joined them. There was enough room for the kids at the end of the row, so Jenna and Jack sat with Tyler and Auntie Shayna while I sat waaaaaay down at the end with mom and dad.

Of course, we had prepped appropriate church behavior the whole way there, so I knew that the kids knew just what to do. But a surprise was in store: The pastor asked Tyler to come up with him to greet the congregation at the opening and when he politely declined, he turned to Jack, who agreed. And of course Jenna didn't want to be left out...

So as the music started and everyone stood up, the pastor and my little cherubs walked up the steps to the front of the church as the pastor opened the celebration with a speech about children. He didn't realize that this was probably the first time since they had been baptized in infancy that they had been in a church, but that didn't matter. It was fun for everyone.

The best part was when it came time to sing. The pastor encouraged Jenna and Jack to join the preschool group up front to sing the songs. Again, he didn't realize that they didn't know any of the songs, but that didn't matter... Jenna is a quick learner and sang as well as most. Tyler obviously knew all the songs and did the right hand motions. And Jack is just two, for goodness sake, so who would expect him to sing anyway.

When it came time to sing the military song, Jack quietly walked off to join me in the congregation. It was so sweet and I had my little conscientious objector at my side for the rest of the service.

I must admit, the experience was a good one. The community and the message were positive. My little cherubs were just that and I know they left having a good church experience. That was the important thing!

Where is Bonn?

2006-11-12T21:22:00.000-08:00

The other morning, Jack woke up convinced that his friend Bonn had come over to play and was somewhere in the house. He looked in every room, out the window, in closets -- he looked everywhere for Bonn.

I asked him if he had a dream about Bonn coming over and he said yes. But even that realization didn't slow him down. Bonn was somewhere and needed to be found.

I was finally able to divert his attention, but the experience got me thinking: When is it that we learn that dreams and "reality" are separate? What is it that makes them separate? Are they really separate? Heck, should I be looking for Bonn?

I'm one of the first people ready to question the "realness" of "reality" but the truth is, Bonn wasn't here (at least as far as I could tell).

I'm fascinated by what it is that makes that dream a dream and what would make a it a real, sharable experience. There's lots written about the topic, even complex scientific theories. Some say that we're all dreaming and that there is nothing "real" at all. How many people would it take believing Bonn was here to have had Bonn actually be here?

It's the kind of question that keeps me thinking and keeps me wondering. In the meantime, Jack has forgotten about Bonn and is on to the next idea. But I can tell already that he will be one that keeps me on my toes.

Big. Fat. Old.

2006-11-06T21:40:00.000-08:00

I got an email from the mother of Jenna's best friend the other day. Apparently, Jenna had called her friend "fat," and the mom wanted my support in making sure we reinforced a positive body image for our girls. I agreed.

But that freaked me out! My sweet girl? I thought all day about how the heck would I approach that one!?! I decided I'd just casually ask her about it and see what happened.

When I saw Jenna later that day, I didn't have to bring it up. Jenna did. "She said that I called her fat but I didn't!" Jenna exclaimed, unprompted.

"Tell me about it," I said, "What happened?"

"She said she was older than me, but that's not true. I'm the oldest. And then (someone else) agreed and said that I'm the biggest because my birthday is in June and her birthday is in August..."

Aaaaah, I was beginning to understand as Jenna rambled on. This was the same "I'm bigger than you are" conversation that started a year ago. Jenna is slightly older than her friend, but her friend is taller, which always leads to these conversations about "Who is the biggest?" I bet that Jenna didn't realize she called her friend "fat" because it was in the context of being bigger, which to Jenna is a very good thing.

Big. Fat. Old. All desirable to a 5-year old. Just another lesson in how much there is to learn from these little people!

Home again home again...

2006-11-04T22:07:00.000-08:00

Here was my horoscope yesterday:

If you feel unrecognized by the powers that be, not to worry -- all that's about to change, and how! It may mean, however, that you have to make a choice that flies in the face of what those authority types believe.

I guess I should have read that yesterday. It might have saved me some frustration after my meeting. I met with my "new team" in my "new position," which is largely the same position with the same peers (though a different manager in a different department). However the home office has gone through a complete re-org, and it felt like all the work that our team has done for the last three years was for nothing. Sigh.

Anyway, if the horoscope is true, I'm headed in the right direction and lucky for me, I'm not too shy about standing up for what I believe in. Once I was marked down on a review for being "too passionate" and I did learn from that to try different approaches but if you have to get marked down, being too passionate is just the thing I'd opt for again! You've gotta believe in what you do, or why do it???

And I must add that the work I did over the last three years was part of what caused the re-org, so why am I complaining?

Anyway, on the flight home, I did take take the time to stop for a latte. Thanks for the reminder, Anonymous. Life is good.

Let it Snow!

2006-11-02T19:33:00.000-08:00

I got a nice taste of winter today in Madison, Wisconsin. Snow flurries! Of course, being a CA girl, I didn't want to bother with bringing a jacket -- let alone a coat -- and I did regret that for the few minutes I had to transition between car and buildings. But for the most part, I was able to just enjoy watching them from a conference room window.

I actually think that today was the first time I had seen snow flurries. I've seen heavier snowfall when snow is on the ground, but flurries that come and go were new to me. And as you can tell, they were the highlight of my business trip!

Happy Happy Halloween

2006-11-01T21:54:00.000-08:00

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to post some photos of my adorable goblins. Well, they weren't quite goblins -- my cheerleader and Bob the Builder -- but we sure had fun trick-or-treating!

My big job yesterday was as kindergarten room mom. I was in charge of the Halloween party and must say it was a big hit!

I spent the rest of the day doing Starbucks "drive-bys" because I had no Internet access at home, thanks to Time Warner. I would pull up to the red zone at Starbucks (I didn't even get to enjoy a latte), log onto the Internet, download messages and log off to zoom back home. Pathetic! But at least I had an option. I guess life isn't so bad when the toughest part of the day is logging into the Internet at Starbucks.

Reunited

2006-10-29T19:30:00.000-08:00

I have to admit, my 20th reunion was really fun! I guess I'm used to having a decently fun time hanging out with people I hardly know, so connecting with people I used to know was pretty cool.

The event was in the old Mater Dei gym, which was just as I remembered it. The campus, however, was unrecognizable. They even have their own pool now (I was a swimmer, so this mattered!!!). I didn't take a tour, but got plenty lost enough getting in and out of the place that I was able to see the basics.

The question of the evening was: "What have you been up to?" What kind of question is that to ask someone you haven't seen in 20 years? Totally unanswerable. But what else is there to say, really to get a conversation started.

A good person to ask that question to is Larry, one of my best friends' (Ann) husband. I think he knew more people at the end of the night than I did! Hanging out with Ann and Larry was definitely a highlight. I even got some dancing in with some dips!

It was also interesting to remember some of the stories that I would have totally forgotten. A woman named Amy came up to me and said: "Remember how we started a huge powder fight in the locker room freshman year? I got detention for that!" I did too, but would have never remembered that!

Bad hair was also fun to remember. Everyone had photos on their badges and thank god -- there are some people who I would have never recognized. Imagine, there are some women living in my community with new last names and kids the same ages as my kids. We could be in school or other activities together and I would never know that we hung out together in high school! That is a bit sad on my part, I guess. The price of being clueless -- but to my defense, if you totally change your look and your name, I don't have to remember you!!!

It was interesting to talk to people who thought being "out of sorts" in high school was unique to them. I think that was the night's biggest lesson: We were so high school and didn't know it!

Reunited and it feels so good ... and now it's DONE! : )

Plain Vanilla

2006-10-26T22:22:00.000-07:00

My 20th reunion is this Saturday. It's being held in my old high-school gym -- how's that for ordinary!

But maybe ordinary isn't all bad. I'm sure not the one to make that call. I mean, how can you help but face your 20-year reunion with a "what have I accomplished since high school" question. At least a fleeting one.

Can I play the piano? No. Dance a waltz? No. Speak another language? No (except the Spanish that Dora the Explorer has taught me). Have I traveled the world? No. Made a million bucks? No. Run a marathon? No. What's my hobby? Uh, I don't know... Heck, I'm even sure to lose a game of trivial pursuit.

I guess I'm a bit more plain vanilla than that. But you know what? I like vanilla! And when I look at my wonderful family and how much I enjoy the day-to-day experiences of my life, who cares about whether it registers as extraordinary or just plain vanilla.

Here's some things I CAN do (and I sure hope this list is not exhaustive, that would be sad!):

Make a jammin' PBJ sandwich
Take a decent photo
Shine my sink
Bring home the bacon... : )
Downward dog
Give a pretty good massage
Make the best of just about anything
Ice skate (I'm learning, anyway!)
Soothe an owie
Stay calm in a (tantrum) storm
Juggle, theoretically at least
... but wait, there's more! (I'm just done writing for now)

Yes, I do like plain vanilla. And every once in a while it's fun to add a drizzle of sauce, whipped cream and a cherry on top. But the best part is still the ice cream. Plain and simple.

I'll Never Get it All Done...

2006-10-24T20:46:00.000-07:00

Today was quite a whirlwind. Luckily, I had a few lines from a Francine Jarry song in my head:

I'll never get it all done
Might as well take my time
I never can get it wrong
I know that will ease my mind
I go where I want to go
And do what I want to do
With joy.

...And now, it's time to set up my new Blackberry... : )

Planned Parenting

2006-10-22T21:21:00.000-07:00

John is on his annual hunting trip in South Dakota, so it's me and the kids. We all miss him and the kids just love it when he calls. Jack still thinks Daddy is at the airport, since that's where he dropped him off. It's pretty cute when I tell people that John's in South Dakota and Jack says, "No, mama! Daddy is at the airport!"

I've had to change up some routines to juggle two solo, but it's been interesting to try new things and learn. The last few days, I've been avidly pre-planning critical parenting times and it's been working!

Sometimes I forget to visualize what I want out of ordinary day-to-day life. But with John gone, that upped the ante on having smooth mornings and evenings especially. I've been imagining everyone happy, choosing clothes that they love, eating their meals without complaint, being healthy and happy. At night as I put them in bed, I've been imaginging their angelic little faces as they sleep.

Everything has been so smoothly! We've been early to school and activities. Jack even wore a non-orange shirt today (he is very particular!) without any fuss at all. Meals have been a breeze. And both kids have gone to sleep in their own beds easily, right on time. I'm going to have to keep this up even when John's back!

What other "ordinary" things can I visualize over the next few days?

Grandma Update

2006-10-19T21:26:00.000-07:00

I spoke with my grandma today and the news was positive! No follow-up treatment required!

Invisible Man

2006-10-19T21:11:00.000-07:00

There was a news story today about how scientists have developed a cloak of invisibility, sort of Harry Potter style.

Unfortunately, I can't think of any reason that I'd want one, except maybe to cover my pile of unopened mail or unread catalogs. And of course if my kids were older, I'd probably want to throw one on and quietly follow them around, but I'm not there yet. I can think of quite a few reasons I wouldn't want someone else to have one, though.

I wonder if "evidence collected while cloaked" will be insubmissible in court the same way that illegal wiretapping once was. With the Internet, we're already pretty used to the idea of our day to day online interactions are not private but now, there's the possibility that nothing will be.

Of course, it won't be long and there will be special light waves that "uncloak" invisibility cloaks. And then we'll be off and running with a whole new industry...

It's amazing to think how things will change in my lifetime and in my children's lifetime. Sometimes I get caught up in the sheer massive idea of it all. That's when Dory from Nemo pops into my head, "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming..."

Back to Basics

2006-10-17T21:27:00.000-07:00

This evening I had one of those thrilling moments that every parent craves. I've been working on reading with my 5-year old daughter and she is just loving it. We're into more complex paragraph books now (ARI2 of the I See Sam follow ups) and as she was reading, the story was making her laugh so hard she could hardly continue. After we finished, she re-read the book silently and cracked herself up all over again.

Reading is fundamental. What a great experience it is as a mom to know that I've contributed so substantially to the life of my sweet girl, effortlessly teaching her to read and to love reading. I am so proud of our work together and that we didn't leave it up to the schools to teach something so important. It takes commitment and consistency, but has truly been nothing but enjoyable.

As I put her to bed tonight, I started thinking of the other things that I consider so critical that I provide for both my kids; commitments that I have taken on as a parent but have largely left unstructured and unsaid. I'm sure the list is incomplete here, but this will give me something to reference as I formalize it in writing as a way to reaffirm my commitment as well as share with John.

As a parent, I am committed to providing:

Unconditional love
Instilling a love of self and respect of others
A nurturing of spiritual awareness
A safe, nurturing and loving home
A strong family structure that nurtures close relationships with family
Access to a great education
Exposure to a variety of activities that allow them to discover themselves, what they are capable of and what they love
A solid foundation of practical life skills (such as reading)
A practical foundation of spiritual skills (such as appreciation, the creative process, prayer, "trusting their gut")
An unwavering belief in their wellbeing
Consistent visualization of that wellbeing

I'm sure there's much more, but quiet time calls...

Thoughts of Grandma

2006-10-15T21:08:00.000-07:00

Tonight my thoughts are with my grandma. She turns 90 in December. Recently she had a biopsy and she gets results on Thursday. Waiting must be the hardest part.

Grandma lives in South Dakota. My family and I all went to visit her this summer -- John, the kids, even my brother and his family. I wanted Jenna and Jack to know the farm and know grandma on the farm. Something about that place is very special to me, even though I haven't spent much time there.

When I met John, he reminded me of the farm -- the prairie, more specifically. It was a feeling I got with him that set him apart from everyone else in the world. That's particularly strange since I really only visited the farm or the Midwest a couple of times growing up and I don't think John spent much more time than that. But our connection ran deep and the rest is history.

Grandma is a part of that and tonight my thoughts are with her. She's an amazing lady -- looking through her old photos and hearing her stories about times long ago you learn about an adventurous girl who traveled throughout the United States. She flew on planes when flights were new, moved to Oregon with her boyfriend (my grandfather) in times when that was highly unusual, worked at Chrysler in the 30s, owned multiple businesses until she retired back in the home she was born in, on a small South Dakota farm, that my great grandfather homesteaded over a hundred years ago.

But you wouldn't know about those things unless you asked her.

On Thursday, the "guys" all go back to South Dakota for opening season. I'm glad they'll be there with her.

I hope the news is good.

Keeping the Dream Alive

2006-10-13T17:21:00.000-07:00

Extraordinary!

As YouTube gets purchased by Google for $1.6 billion, I'm reminded of how extraordinary technology is. Wow!

Most of the time, I go about my life simply expecting technology to deliver on its promise to keep me connected. I expect my email to come, my phone to work, my wireless access to be seamless. I routinely use digital video and photos to record and share information. Heck, I just emailed Santa some Mapquest directions to my home for a party. Seriously!

But when I stop and think of how technology -- especially tools like YouTube, Google and Blogger--have given ordinary people access to information and a voice they never had before, I am truly blown away. Technology can harness what's extraordinary in all of us and with a click, broadcast that to the world. With another click, I can tap that information. I'm speechless.

I'm no gadget junkie by any means. What I love is the idea and the possibility that technology has to impact lives and change the world. I love seeing how it already has. No wonder financial dreams are strapped to its back.

I'd better slow down; don't want to let too much of my dotcom passion out! I've been keeping it expertly hidden for quite some time as skeptics continue to point to the "crash." But the truth is, from the time I asked the question at Macromedia in 1992: "What's the difference between this (CD-ROM games) and television?" to the exit of Toyota at iStarSystems that resulted in the entire company being liquidated in 2001, I loved being a part of that industry, which harnesses imagination and passion to create something new. It allows two goofy guys like Chad and Steve to make a difference and be recognized for it.

I have a feeling that it hasn't seen its heyday just yet...

Business 2.0 writes that the YouTube/Google deal should scare us because it was about the future of advertising. They write that advertisers know more about individuals now than ever before and that customized advertising is in our future. Is that all bad? If I came across advertising I liked, maybe I wouldn't zap it. And heck, maybe I’d learn about something new (and buy it). I’m the eternal optimist, of course.

But for now, congratulations to Chad and Steve and those like them that keep the dream alive.

The Prettiest Girl in the Whole School

2006-10-12T21:01:00.000-07:00

"Today I'm going to be the prettiest girl in the whole school!" exclaimed my daughter on a recent morning as she prepared to go to kindergarten.

It seems innocent enough, the type of thing a little girl just coming out of the "princess stage" might say. But as she got ready, I could see that she was serious about being the prettiest and that got my mind turning...

I found myself faced with one of those split-moment parenting decisions at 6:30 am...How do I respond? Encourage her as a way to reinforce her confidence? Discourage her as a way to steer her away from vanity? She's barely five, for goodness sakes, does it matter?

It mattered to me, so I took the took the middle route: "Jenna, you are so very beautiful, but I don't know if you can actually be the prettiest girl in whole school."

That got her attention: "Why?" she asked.

"I just don't know if there is such a thing, Jenna," I said. "Beauty is a personal thing."

"But I want to be the prettiest girl in school!" she countered.

So I explained to her that people were a little bit like flowers, with so many beautiful kinds of flowers and colors. Which was the prettiest: a rose, a daisy, a lily, a sunflower? Which color was the best? She might have a favorite, but what would her brother choose? Would it be the same one that I would choose?

She seemed to understand.

As we pulled up to school, she said, "Mommy, I still want to be the prettiest girl in school."

"Then there's one thing you can do, Jenna," I said. "Have a smile on your face and love in your heart and you will be as beautiful as you can be."

And as she skipped away pulling her pink butterfly camouflage backpack, I thought she was the prettiest girl in the whole school.

Doing the Hustle

2006-10-10T21:58:00.000-07:00

"Work Smarter, Not Harder," is a popular phrase and one that I've been thinking about lately. As my days fill up with endless numbers of tasks, I've found that one of the hardest things for me to do is keep my commitment to "working smarter."

It's not that I don't want to. Planning and visualizing is one of the most enjoyable things that I do and is what I have translated "working smarter" to mean for me.

But as any working mom knows, balancing family and full-time work means overtime hustle. I consistently streamline, delegate and automate as much as possible to create that 30 minutes of quiet time at the beginning and end of the day. Let me clarify -- 30 minutes of alert quiet time is what I'm after, not 30 minutes of more sleep (though that would be nice too!).

Ultimately, I want to use the time to create the space in my day in order to create alert quiet time more often in order to create the space in my day in order to create alert time more often...see what I'm getting at?

So in just my few minutes of rambling here, I've talked myself into it... it's time to create!

Extraordinary

2006-10-08T17:25:00.000-07:00

Aaaaw, of course this defines extraordinary. I'm such a proud mommy...

Your Voice is Your Calling

2006-10-06T22:03:00.000-07:00

I just came across a little line of inspiration that has kicked me into gear to begin writing again:

"Regardless of whether you are writing a book, starting a business, cobbling together a career, or simply living a life, it all makes far more sense when you’ve found your voice, and then travel down a path that serves as a place for you to sing."

Written by Tom Ehrenfeldblog (remember What Color is Your Parachute?) the post titled Your Voice is Your Calling was a great reminder of how important it is to be authentic, be who you really are and let the world know. That's definitely something I need some work on! And the only way to do that is to practice.

And what better place to practice than here. Hooray for blogger!

Getting Started

2006-03-13T10:34:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Ordinary as Extraordinary! I'm excited about getting started blogging and hope that this discussion encourages me -- and everyone who reads it--to appreciate the small but extraordinary things about our everyday lives. Enjoy!