Memorial Day Memories

Every Memorial Day weekend, I always think back to the time when I interviewed colleague Chicago Sun-Times Columnist Mary Mitchell for my first book,
The Passion Principles: Pathways to Purpose, Power & Profit!


I think about how she made a conscious choice to not participate in all the holiday festivities,
but instead focus on where she wanted to be in life next year when the holiday rolls around again.

Mary was not happy at her then position. Writing isher passion, and she was not doing what she really wanted to do in life. So she took this time to prepare for her future, by not attending the family fun and putting together her resume and outlining a plan for her life.


I know that it might not seem like much. It probaly only takes a few hours to do that,
but I'm almost sure she was making a map among other things to do.
I know how that feels. Most Saturday nights when a great majority of folks are headed
out to party, I'm in the studio editing my tv show or something related to it. I'd rather be
out having fun, but then I think about what follows. For me, a headache, because I don't
drink regularly enough to know how to handle a hangover.
Then I want to beat up on myself for not following my timeline. The list goes on.


After pondering, I think back again to Mary's story. I think of what will I be doing future Saturday nights if my life is not headed in the direction of where I want it to be. I think of
how much control I really have over the small decisions in life, and what I can do to continue
to insure that.


There's always going to be a party, a family gathering or a bar-b-que.

The "Que" I need to follow is the one that will leave me feeling good about the choices
I make, long after the food, fun and fellowship is over.

Keep that in mind as the holidays roll around this year.
Each one is filled with glorious opportunities.
Don't miss out on the greatest gift of any holiday, that is making the day your own.
Do what is really in your heart, what feels good and right to you.


Maybe next time a holiday rolls around that you want to enjoy with family and friends,
you have the option of joining in, or going within, where it really counts!


P.S. Save me a plate! :)

You Really Don't Know What You Can Do, Until You Try!

It's week 7 of the Thintuition Competition (www.thintuition.com) and the heat is on.
The red team vs. the blue team in a triathalon! Aren't you glad you read about it here
before it airs? (Sunday June 3rd on ME-TV, Ch. 23- or Comcast channel 223)

I can't tell you too much without giving the show away, but I can tell you this much.
Everytime a contestant experiences something they've never done or are afraid to do,
it's a life changing experience, not only in their life, but the lives of their teammates as well. This is a life changing event and I am simply honored to be hosting it!

There's one contestant (Let's see if you can guess who it is!) who is afraid of the water.
They can't swim and literally afraid of even putting their feet in the water!)
I know you can't wait to see what happens, and I don't want to spoil it for you,
but I will tell you this. They actually get in the water and do something they've
never done before, and it isn't swimming! You will not believe this. There's only
one way to find out, and that is to tune in!


This contestant has taught me soooooooo much in such a short perioud of time,
I cannot begin to express how much of a difference it's made in my life.
It's taught me that we can no longer say WHAT WE CANNOT DO, just because
we've never done it! How can you say you can't do something, if you haven't
actually tried it? How? It's impossible to know.


You can only say for certainty that you cannot do something,
once you've tried it a few times. Most often, if you try again and again,
you will be able to do it. It's only with determination that things begin
to turn around in your life.


So the next time you think you can't do something, think of this contestant
who tried to do something they thought they couldn't, but because of our
FAITH in this contestant, and their WILLINGNESS to try, it was done!

It's pretty much the same with you. So what is it in your life that you say you can't do?

Happy Mother's Day

As we celebrate the Mothers of the world, let us be reminded of how motherhood operates in our daily lives. Just as a mother nurtures her children, her life and that of others, so must we do the same. We can't expect a child to be born and raise itself.

Neither can we expect the ideas that are given to us to nurture themselves.
Surely some of those ideas sound good in our heads, but they look and feel
better on paper. Writing down ideas and plans are the beginning of seeing
those dreams come to life.


Most people are afraid to move on those dreams because of what others might say.
Truth is, people are going to talk anyway, so you may as well give them something
good to talk about.

Counselors in school may mean well, but they're not always right.
Sometimes parents have your best interest at heart and really want
to see you do well, but because of their past experiences, they're afraid
of you failing, so they place doubt in your mind.


The best time to practice doubt is when it jepordizes your health
or life, otherwise you've got to take a chance in life. No risk. No reward.


So for all who've thought about starting something but haven't, keep t
his thought in mind.

Most Mothers don't put their children out in the cold.
So don't put your dream on hold, or out in the cold just
because you don't know where clothing will come from to keep it warm.

That's where you must begin to rely on FAITH.
Do something DAILY to fortify your faith.

Build your FAITH LIBRARY by listening and watching
those programs that instill a faith in you so fierce,
you couldn 't fail if you wanted to.

That's what Mother's Do.
So should you!
Happy Mother's Day!