My mom sent this to and it made me laugh!

“A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.” - Herm Albright, (1876-1944)

I so agree to this! I know this works great especially at work. You can make a game of it. Whenever I am in a meeting or around people who are so negative and just want to complain and make excuses, I start being the most positive I can. Always seeing the other perspective and ways to offer solutions.

It does 2 great things for me:

1. It makes me valuable. People come to me when they are feeling down or negative because they want to brainstorm ways to get out of it. Which also means, they help me whenever I need some support.

2. It annoys negative people to death which means they do not want to be around me. This reduces the amount of people I have to listen to moan about their lives and how much they dislike other people.

I like to be around people who are fun and full of life. People are wanting to be the best that they can be. Just motivates me even more!

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Sibling rivalry is very common among brothers and sisters. I was lucky because I am 12 years younger than my closet sibling in age so I grew up basically like an only child.

Of course, I do have siblings. Two sisters and one brother. They are all in their 40’s, currently, until next year when my oldest sister turns 50. While at my sister’s birthday this past weekend, I started to think back on some of the memories I have from them:

My sister Donna invited me over to spend the night on many occasions. Having older siblings mean I also had an older niece who happened to be my age. We would play games late into the night keeping my sister and my brother in law up. She would always have slices of white bread, from her neighbors, for me because she knew I didn’t like wheat bread.

My sister Vicky and I would play tons of video games together. She was always there to help me with a flat tire or when my car battery died. She was the sibling who showed up at the hospital at 2 in the morning when I was bleeding from my tonsils stitches opening up. It was Vicky who gave me a wine cork when I was a kid and told me it would keep the monsters and nightmares away and I believed it.

My brother Eric had to deal with being the baby of the family and then 12 years later having a new baby brother. He would allow me to play with his Star Wars figures and read his comic books that he kept in pristine condition even though he knew I was careless and most lucky going to ruin them. It was my brother who rushed to my elementary school when my mom had forgotten it was the day we got out an hour early to rescue me and take me home. It was my brother and his friends who played shark with me in the pool until my eyes were red from all the underwater swimming.

I am sure I can come up with many more stories about my siblings including all four of us making a musical video singing MMMBop, the thousands of birthday party board games we played, and our family trips to Sanibel Island.

There are also tons of things my sisters and brothers have done through the years that have hurt my feelings. But, there is one thing I always remember, they are family. The hurt is the price I pay for loving them so much. Only people you truly love can hurt you and in the end it is worth it. The hurt is only a drop in bucket of a lifetime full of laughter, support and love.

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Spring is official here even if the weather where you are may not show signs of it. I love the spring because this is the time when everything begins again. I love watching the plants bloom and the animals return. The warm weather returns and the days start to be sunnier.

As you can see from the photo, for spring I started growing a small pot of clovers. I got it for a dollar at Target and I was amazed to see them blossom. Each day they reach for the sun through the window.

I realized I am reaching for the sun. I am ready to be outside reading in the sun again. I need spring just like all plants. This is my time to start a new me.

I have already been spending time spring cleaning my house and working on a plan for some house updates in the next few months. My home is growing in the spring so I should as well.

I decided I am going to set 3 personal goals for myself. Goals that push me to personally grow as a person. I want to use the spring to allow myself to be a better me. I am reaching for the sun like the plants. I want to soak up the sun!

What goals could you set for yourself to grow this spring? It is time to spring into a new you!

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This is my 150^th blog entry!  What do you write about on your 150^th blog entry? I wanted to do something fun to celebrate this accomplishment and I wanted it to be themed with 150 so, I decide to share 150 things about me with you.  I appreciate all your support and readership and I want to allow you to get to know me a little better. After 150 things, I think you will know more than enough. J  

1. My favorite holiday is Halloween
2. My birthday is October 14^th
3. I am the baby in my family
4. I graduated early from high school
5. My first job was at Pacific Sunwear (I was a mallrat)
6. I am scared of snakes and throwing up.
7. I am working on reducing my fear of flying. I do fly but I am not a fan.
8. When someone makes a good point that I agree with, I say “TRUE!” (That is the written form used in text messages, emails, and IMs) The in person version sounds so much more fun!
9. I stole a DVC Welcome Mat for my friend Nick because he is a HUGE Disney fan.
10. Outside of Florida, I have traveled to Nassau - Bahamas, Bartlesville – Oklahoma, Gatlinburg – Tennessee, Charleston – North Carolina, Hilton Head – South Carolina, and Macon – Georgia, San Jose – California, and Napa Valley – California.
11. My favorite Yankee Candle scent is Sun and Sand.
12. My favorite Disney movie of all time is the Little Mermaid.
13. I have had 3 pets in my life, First dog was Fluffy, (who we gave away because of bad behavior) my second dog was Rusty, (who passed away from old age) and currently I have my first cat, Piper.
14. The first car I drove was a white and sliver Grand Am. The first car I owned was a red Saturn Coupe. I then owned a Grey Jetta and this year, I bought a Red Honda Civic Coupe.
15. I am currently trying to learn how to juggle.
16. I love Cirque du Soleil. I have seen La Nouba, in Orlando, at least 5 times. I own a lot of Cirque merchandise as well.
17. My friend Becky and I purchased a tension rod for her shower and then created a song about it called, “I love my tension rod” which we sang for quite sometime.
18. I have been to two foam parties which were held in Orlando at the Club at Firestone. The first one was the best; the second one was just cold hence why it was the last.
19. I wore clear braces when I was 16.
20. When I go to Starbucks, I order a venti iced green tea or chai tea latte. I love Starbucks.
21. I love playing with stress toys and have them laying around everywhere, even in my car.
22. I am an Apple Addict. I have a Macbook, Ipod and Iphone.
23. A friend once convinced me to go to a “Paint Your Own Pottery” place. Since that one experience I have painted 2 coffee mugs, a candle holder, cat water bowl and a potted plant pot.
24. I was invited to a preview event when IKEA opened in Orlando. The only thing I bought that day was a potted mini palm tree, and white pot for it, which I named, IKEA.
25. I was on the Mickey Mouse Club when it was filmed in Orlando. I was in the audience in the episode when Dee Dee and Chase sing “Tell Me I am Not Dreaming.” Continue Reading »

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Did you ever notice how small the world is? We are really connected to each other and everyday I learn more and more how. Here are some examples from just the last month:

• Karen and I are both coaches and became friends through our certification program. We live in different parts of the United States and have never met in person. Randomly in conversation one night, we found out that my father and her grandfather were both born in Bermuda. Bermuda is a small island which is 12 miles long and 2 miles wide. How is it possible that two strangers would become friends who both have relatives in Bermuda? We both swear we are cousins now.

• I went on a date with a guy and took him to my favorite restaurant, Café Tu Tu Tangos which he had never been to. He ended up moving to South Florida shortly aster that for a couple of years. He has since moved back to Orlando. He is now the head host at Café Tu Tu Tangos. But what is even weirder is that he is in a masters program at UCF taking a course with only 6 students. I happened to be asked to speak to his class and found him there. How weird is that? What are the odds?

• Lastly, I had a client who ended a 3 year relationship and was ready to move on. He came to me to coach him through the process. I worked with him for 12 weeks and we were able to make a lot of progress. I understand where he was coming from because I had been in the same situation when I ended a 3 year relationship many years ago. At our very last session, he mentioned that he truly had moved on and happened to run into his ex and was able to thank him for the good times. His ex told him, "You sound just like an ex I had a long time ago." My client happened to mention his name and he was the same ex I had broken up with many years ago and said the same thing to. It was me he was talking about to my client when he responded to his thank you.

It doesn’t bother me to be so connected with people. It makes me feel I am not alone. I have learned to be careful how I treat people. Somehow they will always be part of my life and I only want positive, happy people around me. I use my connection with people to improve my life and I am thankful to have all the experiences I do.

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We always talk about being good  but sometimes you just have to go out and be a little bad. We all deserve a little bad time, don’t we?

Here is a list of 20 bad things you could do. Cross of the ones you have already done:

• used an alias
• acted on a wild impulse
• ignored the rules
• spoke your mind
• jaywalked
• indulged your desires
• challenged an authority figure
• bought something expensive and impractical
• used unconventional wisdom
• said "no!"
• called in sick and went to the beach
• shopped shamelessly
• went on a date just for the free meal
• mastered creative parking
• took an extended lunch break to go see a movie
• practiced random acts of exhibitionism
• stood up for yourself just because
• did something you knew you would love now but regret later
• flirted unabashedly
• skipped a work meeting because it was going to be boring

After crossing off all the ones you have done, you have a list of bad things left to do.  So go have fun this Monday and get started on the list…

 Remember: To be truly good, you have to be a little bad.

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As you can see from the photo, I had a great time coloring eggs this weekend.

Not only did I get to have fun, be creative and relax but I also have hard boiled eggs to enjoy for the next week.

As a kid, I have always had fun coloring eggs so why should I stop now I am an adult? I shouldn’t and I didn’t.

I hope you have a good time this weekend and do something fun to celebrate that spring is here!  

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Ending my week long Sea World theme, I wanted to share this great book I have believed in for a long time.

This book is a lot about moving from management to leadership with great results. Based on the experience a manager has going to Sea World. He is amazed that they do not treat the killer whales negatively. There is no punishment when the whales do something bad instead they are just redirected to another activity. When the whales do something good, they are rewarded with positive reinforcement which is rewarded in hugs, rubs, fish, etc.

It all makes sense; how are you going to hit the number predator in the ocean with a stick then get in the water with whale and hope it doesn’t eat you.

In reality, it works great with people as well. Positive reinforcement allows people to keep moving forward instead of stopping because of self doubt or fear. Hearing negative things keeps us from believing in ourselves and taking the risks needed to truly live more productive lives. This is not about making people feel good, just to feel good. It is all about getting better results.

I know I have worked with and been friends with a lot of people who were very negative. I also noticed how my life, back then, was full of  self doubt and less action. It is when I got positive reinforcement I are really able to make great things happen. Again, this wasn’t people telling me I was great all the time just because. It was about the people in my life believing in me, supporting me and appreciating me.

Take a look at this book. It is a great story and a simple read. You will get so much from it.

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Continuing with my Sea World theme for the week, I went and saw the new show, Believe while I was there. During the show they said I quote that I just love:

"There is a moment when you stop wondering and just believe."

It really sums up a lot of what holds me back from really living life out loud. I allow self doubt to creep in and keep me from taking action and moving forward. I can spend a lot of time thinking of the best solution, asking others for advice and their opinions and then finally I may make a choice.

If I would just stop wondering about what to do and just believe in myself, I will make the best choice and move forward in life. It is hard sometimes just to believe in yourself but I am getting better at it throughout the years. I see the great results I get when I believe in myself so I know it is my best bet.

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