Are you going to Scarborough Fair?

Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits -

One of my all time favorite music collections. Brilliant lyrics, perfect harmony and the songs never annoy or cause me to feel agitated. In fact, the songs sooth, calm and make me feel groovy!

Tulips on my mind ...

How would we ever truly appreciate the tulips in the spring without making it through the cold, gray winter days of January?

Light.

When I was younger, my sisters and I (I have 4 of them) loved to sing together. One of our favorites to sing was - "You are My Sunshine". Our voices would harmonize in perfect pitch and I can still hear each voice singing perfectly ... Please don't take my sunshine away.

The above memory was inspired by the sunshine today. It's amazing how powerful 'light' can be. Light shows us the way, it warms our hearts and keeps us safe. And the real light we can always look to (even when the days are cloudy and gray - is our loving Heavenly Father.)

I'm hoping 2013 will be full of light and beautiful days touched by rays from the source of all light.

Merry Christmas 2012 ...

Every year we act out the nativity story and ponder the real reason for Christmas! I was the angel bringing tidings of great joy. My boys were Wise Men and my husband and daughter were a shepherd and sheep.

We finished by singing 'Silent Night' and felt so very blessed to be together at this magical, wonderful time of the year. And so very thankful for the birth of our Savior and the impact His life has on each one of us.

Merry Christmas ... may this special day be filled with love, with kindness and with moments that will warm your heart for days to come!

A paper snowman ...

Love the look on this snowman's face ... He's looking forward and enjoying the 'snowy' moment.
Reminds me to do the same ... (no snow yet but when it hits - I'll be out catching the snowflakes too).

Happy Tuesday! Enjoy whatever is 'falling' from your sky ...

A soft heart

Soft Heart drawing by Jennie Stanfield

A soft heart - is a heart that is open to love, to learning, to forgiving, to giving and for becoming ...

This Thanksgiving let your heart be soft and full of love! Enjoy the blessings of the holiday and pause to be grateful for the blessings in your life.

Happy Thanksgiving from my soft heart to yours.

The road to Success

The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places.
~Author Unknown

Have you ever really stopped to think about what it is that makes a person, a family, a business, a church, a leader or a country successful?

I have.

The one common factor I see in all things/people that are successful (to me) … is that they never ever give up.

Next time you feel like stopping and parking for a while – remember that nothing great happens when we STOP. In order to become and achieve … we have to keep moving forward and reinventing ourselves.

I love this quote by Walt Disney - "Around here, however, we don't look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening new doors and doing new things ... and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."

Cheers to the the road and opening new doors.  Enjoy the journey ...!

[Chocolate]

All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now
and then doesn't hurt!
Lucy Van Pelt
In Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz.

5 Tips for Public Speaking - ADD some WOW!

Recently, I bumped into a very funny comic strip by Ted Goff. The drawing contained a Speaker at the podium on stage in front of an audience. The audience was being soaked by the sprinkler system in the ceiling. The caption under the comic reads: "You're not allowed to use the sprinkler system to keep your audience awake."

When it comes to public speaking, I believe the Speaker has a responsibility to his/her audience. 

What inspired this post? Last week I attended a lunch meeting and there was a guest speaker. About 10 minutes into the speech I could hear snoring. So I looked around the room to assess the situation. Sadly, there were more people asleep than awake. There were about 50 of us in attendance and as the speaker dragged on - I found myself making mental notes about the value of an uplifting, inspiring and educational speaker.

Below are 5 ideas on how to improve your next public speaking presentation -

1. Be considerate of your audience and their time.
If you have been asked to address an audience and are given a specific time to present your ideas and thoughts – stay within those time boundaries. Nothing is worse than a boring speaker who feels like he/she has a captive audience and holds them ‘captive’ beyond the agreed time limit.

2. Prepare your presentation with the audience in mind.
Imagine yourself sitting through your own presentation. Would you find yourself bored to tears or worse – snoring? Or would you be engaged in the message? Better, try your presentation out on a friend and ask them for feedback. Don’t be offended if they brand you are boring. Consider it a gift and then revise and reinvent your presenting skills.

3. Monotone is not an option.
Record your voice and pay attention to the sound and rhythm. If you find yourself snoring and distracted – do something about it. Monotone is a sure way to put your audience to sleep in a hurry!

4. What would a Hero do?
Who is your favorite Hero? Is it Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, your Grandma, your Coach? Have someone in mind when you prepare your speech. Imagine how he or she would present the material. Most likely, they would be energetic, enthusiastic and inspiring. You can do the same. Put that additional effort into your speech and you’ll find yourself being a ‘hero’ to your audience! 

5. Leave the audience inspired!Think back to the last time you heard someone give a really inspiring speech … What was it that moved you? Was it their passion? Was it their personal stories? Did they really care about you as an audience member? Did they value your time and effort to be there? Most likely, the answer is yes to all of those questions. When it’s your turn to WOW the audience – dig deep, care about the people present and most of all leave them on a happier level than when they arrived. Even if your topic is boring – YOU can make it exciting with your energy and your commitment to empower those present.

Follow the above 5 tips and you’ll find yourself speaking more than you ever imagined.
And you won't need a sprinkler system to keep your audience awake!

Wendy Christensen is an Author, Speaker, Marketing Director and cofounder of Wiggle Like a Fish. Website: www.LittleMomentsThatMatter.com

Stop and Look!

{Yaquina Head Lighthouse}

 

{Whale Watching}

 

 

Earlier this month, we made a trip to the Oregon Coast. As part of our time there, we spent a morning visiting the Yaquina Head Lighthouse. As we were running back to our car (to warm up) - I heard an elderly man's voice shout: "Look! The whales!"

Forget about getting warm. I have always wanted to see a whale out to sea ... I ran back to the man and asked where I could see them and he told me something that will stay with me for a long time.

"People never stop to look - you can usually always see the whales if you just stop and look!"

So we did. We stopped and we watched as the whales did their whale 'dancing' in the sea and enjoyed the magic of the moment!

As we were driving away from that beautiful lighthouse and the dancing whales, I made a little mental note to myself -

"Wendy: Always remember to stop. Look. And BE amazed at the miracles around you!"

Perspective ...

Perspective / The way a person sees the events and moments in life.

I wonder if we are given kids to teach, or to learn from?
-Author Unknown

Last week I took a bike ride with my daughter to the park. We went to see a live band do cover songs from the 60s and 70s. They were really good and it was fun to spend time together - on our bike ride home, we bumped into the weed pictured above. She stopped her bike in front of the big round ball and said: "THAT is the best thing I've ever seen!" and then she asked if she could take it home with us ...

She couldn't get it to break free from the stem so we rode home and got scissors and then rode back so she could cut it down and bring it home. She named it Steve and placed it in a glass jar on the back patio.

I couldn't help but reflect on her perspective ... so many people would see that big round ball as a thousand weeds. She saw it as a thousand wishes and a beautiful piece of nature that deserved to come home with her, be named and admired!

How do you choose to see the events in your life? Is it with wonder and awe or woe is me and doom and gloom?

The way we 'see' and act determines our experience and ultimately our destination and happiness.
Today - Choose to look, see and appreciate the good and magic in the moments that decorate life!

Name them if you want, take them home ... celebrate all the wonders of THIS DAY!

Lesson from a turtle ...

"Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out."
James B. Conant
It's easy to live inside our shells and keep to ourselves. It's only when we dare step out of our comfort zones and 'get out' when we really discover, learn and break through the fears that so often keep us stuck inside.

Today - do something different. Stick your neck out ... Enjoy the progress of new steps and new direction. Could be exciting!

CAN-DO vs. NO-CAN-DO

If you think can-do, and you’re creative and persistent, it’s amazing what you can accomplish.

CAN-DO People                                                                             NO-CAN-DO People
Take initiative to make it happen                                              Wait for something to happen to them
Think about solutions and options                                            Think about problems and barriers
Act                                                                                                    Are acted upon
Sean Covey / "7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens"

Today - tell yourself you CAN-DO IT and take the first step towards your goal or dream ...!
And then keep doing it!

BE a Solution Seeker ... (Act now!)

Solution - the act of solving a problem, question, etc / way of resolving difficulty: a method of successfully dealing with a problem or difficulty

I find that as challenges and problems arise, the best and most empowering response is to always seek a solution. So many people give in and decide to be victims to the less than perfect situations in life and start to blame everything around them for the state of their lives. And instead of stepping up and claiming the challenge they slump down and begin to blame.

I’d like offer FOUR simple ways to BE a solution seeker-

1.      When a challenge or problem hits – stop and ask yourself - “What’s GREAT about this?” I learned this invaluable tool while taking a class (10 years ago) called: Being Your Best.
This one tool has been so very helpful in my life. Our minds will always seek proof to affirm whatever thought we give it.  Example: You own a little, old car. It’s not a Porch, a Lexus or anything savvy - but it’s yours! Instead of spending precious time wishing for something else and being ungrateful for the wheels you have, you can stop and ask yourself this powerful question: “What’s GREAT about this?” Your mind can instantly shift into positive mode and begin to list off all the great things about the car!  (It’s paid for, it saves me a ton on insurance and gas, I own it, I have a way to get around, and I’m not walking everywhere and so on). When we choose to focus on what’s great about every area of our lives, we are better able to create positive solutions to the challenges before us.

2.      When you find yourself in a slump – try the gratitude ABCs. This one exercise is one I use often and especially enjoy sharing it via my live workshops. You simply list A through Z on a piece of paper and then next to each letter, you write down something (you love or appreciate about you or your life) that starts with each letter of the alphabet. Example: A) A loving family. B) The birdfeeder my son made me in the backyard. C) Chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven … and so on. Again, this provides a mind shift from what’s wrong or missing – to what you love and appreciate. Solutions always follow a positive thought – the ideas come and you find yourself leaving ‘victimhood’ and stepping into a powerful Solution Seeker! Go ahead – jot down your appreciation ABCs – it feels so good.

3.      Write down the pros and cons.  Oftentimes, we don’t take the time to really think through them. One of the best ways to analyze a challenge is to write about it. Vent it out on paper. Here’s a simple excersise to try: Fold a sheet of paper in half. On one side, write Pros. On the other side write Cons – or Good stuff/ Bad stuff. Then make a decision based on the good and bad you find about the challenge or choice at hand. This is a kind gift you give to yourself as it provides an opportunity to think on paper! This also equips you with the power to choose what you will do. If you feel comfortable, talk to someone you trust about the decision and let him/her be part of your solution.

4.     ACT! Solutions don’t just happen – we have to act on the decisions we make and keep acting until we reach our desired goal and destination. Begin and keep moving forward!
Choose to be a Solution Seeker – don’t fall into the blame game or be a victim in your own life. Step up and seek the good and continue to live a life you love – filled with purpose, passion and productivity!

Afterall, it's always your next move, your next choice and with each little moment - we CREATE the LIFE we LIVE.

Wendy Christensen - Author of "It's the Little Moments that Matter", Co-founder of Wiggle Like a Fish and Founder of Book Beginnings.

Begin where you are ...

"The first step is to fill your life with positive faith that will help you through anything. The second is to begin where you are." ~ Norman Vincent Peale

Love is the music ...

Image Source: Etsy

Life is a song. Love is the music.
~Author Unknown

We all have a song ...

A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.
~Chinese Proverb

Guest Blogger - Julia Hathaway: Celebrate Every Day!

Did you know that there is a reason to celebrate almost every day?

Literally. I have to admit, I am not a big fan of the big holidays. Instead, I like to find joy every day by celebrating the hidden, the obscure, the ordinary little holidays that come each year. Let me give a few examples.

On February 15th I buy gumdrops. We've been known to make math graphs or build gumdrop structures with toothpicks on this day. Why? Because it's National Gumdrop Day!

March 14 (3.14) we make pies because it's Pi Day.

Every January our family tries to read 100 books for Book Blitz Month.

I discovered that one friend's favorite candy is jelly beans and so every year she gets a little jar of jelly beans on Jelly Bean Day.

My kids' favorite: National Park Week. I'm not sure if it's National Park Week or National Park Week, but we celebrate it in the latter sense.

During that week, each child has a day to choose which park to visit in our city. This is my favorite way to bring joy into the monotony of life. By celebrating these seemingly insignificant holidays I am given permission to build memories, to live in the moment, and to create joy in my life. These are the little moments that matter to me.--

"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" - - 2 Cor. 3:17
www.directionliving.blogspot.com

************************

Julia Hathaway / Blogger and Founder of S.M.I.L.E.
(Visit her blog and enter to win some really inspiring prizes!)

http://spirituallymindedmotherhood.blogspot.com/

PS: Thanks for your positive energy and for the little reminder to slow down and celebrate! :)
YOU are inspiring!

Celebrating 9 years of little moments!

Every Author starts somewhere ... Read more about my journey HERE.

My first book signing at Wild Goose Designs in Richland, WA ....

It's been 9 years since I wrote my "Little Moments" book. Amazing how fast time flies! When I finished writing the book, I remember feeling really timid about sharing it with other people. We can thank FEAR for that. So many times, fear stops us from doing or even attempting the very things we long and dream of doing!

I'm no longer afraid to share my ideas, my thoughts or my little 'moments' ... :)
Feels good to say that! Over the past 9 years, I've been able to share my positive attitude and perspective via TV, radio, newspaper, Internet and in live events. Thanks to the book, I was hired as a Literary Publicist and continue to LOVE that area of work and creativity in my life!

I've enjoyed every moment and thank everyone who has helped and been part of this amazing journey! What I know for sure, is this -

As we dare to dream and take the steps necessary to make our dreams real, the doors open and as we continue to walk through them and learn - we find ourselves LIVING the dreams we had only dreamed about doing! Feels good. Today, take that step (break through the fear) and chase down a dream! You can do it - it all happens one little moment at a time.

Please enjoy a complimentary copy of "It's the Little Moments that Matter" ...
Simply click HERE.

Wendy Christensen
Author. Speaker. Publicist
www.LittleMomentsThatMatter.com

Slow down and enjoy the little moments - because they matter!

Inspiration from a greeting card ...

I bumped into this card while waiting in line at the Post Office last week and had a little 'change in attitude/perspective' ...

Read the rest of the story {here}

Special thanks to Tawna Allred for inviting me to be be a guest blogger on her blog!

Hold with both hands ... each precious, glittering moment of your life.