To Serve well

Serving with Excellence for a Life of Excellence

Living Your Passion

Know these warning signs of a heart attack

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This topic is so important, my “Blog Week” is committed to it – I am hoping to have selected areas that are worth repeating.  My Aunt Mary died in her 50s of a heart attack. She thought she had the flu. That stuck with me. Women especially are used to working through the pain and just believing that they need to “power” through to get the work done and take care of the many people and projects she has committed to. Please don’t do what my Aunt Mary did and not recognize these key symptoms. Even if you are a personal trainer and drink green juice as a daily ritual. We are all at risk. Listen up ladies (and the men that love them).

Save this photo to your pictures and read it often. Share it! It may save your life or the life of someone you love!

February is American Heart Month

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I’m a huge advocate of the work of the American Heart Association and the impact has on our communities.

This month is heart month and a terrific time to learn the facts and choose to make a difference in your health and the communities we live in. The fact below that while we almost all agree it is important, a full 1/3 of us aren’t taking the steps needed to live a healthier life.

I found this Cleveland Clinic infographic to be extremely informative and frankly I believed some of these myths. I hope this is useful for you as well!

Go red! Go strong! Go healthy!

(Photo Creds:  American Heart Association) 

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Momentum matters

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(Photo Creds: Pinterest. If you haven’t spent any time looking at train trips (I hadn’t of course until now) Do it! Seriously, I can now envision an amazing train trip through the Swiss alps, Italy, where else? Good for dreaming and driving the need for ENERGY and MOMENTUM…. )

Why does it really matter if you have energy, momentum or as the good ole’ dictionary explains, “A force or speed of movement.” While I love those few days a month where I can do what I want or nothing at all, the reality is sitting around too long is not only boring, but it’s not good for your health or happiness. We were designed to be living out lives of purpose. Bottom line!

As we head into the last week of January, I want to encourage you to live your life with purpose, which means spending some time to ensure you have your best year ever- to start strong and finish strong. If you have not done it already, get your momentum plan done this weekend. It’s too early to start spring yard work and the big game is two weeks away, and who wants to watch the NBA already\. Here are some ideas to get your plan sketched out:

  1. Create a mind map of what you believe would make it the best year ever- If you message me, I’ll send you mine, but be aware, it’s pretty simple. Think third grade! I have my “one word” in the middle and then the key areas of my life around it and a few steps to create success in those areas, super easy, but super powerful! You can find ideas by simply googling mind-maps as well!
  2. So you’ve spent an hour doing this, now it’s time to own it and activate. I would recommend doing something this weekend that moves you toward success. Don’t hesitate, start to build the momentum now! Think of the train above, once it builds the momentum to sustain the speed, it’s hard to slow down… At this time of year, we need to build. There is no better time!
  3. If you feel so inclined, share it with those you love and trust to hold you accountable. There is no better positive energy than when it comes from those who care about you and are helping you drive toward your success! Share it early and often. Kids are great for this by the way.  As my son Joe always says, “you are burning daylight mom”- Imagine that conversation!  Haha!

Have an awesome wrap to your week and an awesome winter weekend!

3 ways to have more energy

blog_759540_2838533_1453779527If you aren’t familiar with this guy, he is a trained Sherpa. Sherpas take groups of brave (and prepared) men and women up Mount Everest. Sherpas are incredible in their ability to survive in the conditions at such high altitudes. They can do this because they were born and raised into this environment. They train themselves from a young age and have adapted to what for most is an extremely dangerous environment.

A Sherpa, in addition to guiding these missions, carries the greater load of the equipment, which is what you are seeing above. As I thought through what a good visual would be for a blog on energy, I struggled a bit, and then our pastor had a picture of a Sherpa in our sermon yesterday so a light bulb went off! Many days I feel overwhelmed with all I have to do, and that alone can take the energy right out of me! So how do we get the energy to not only survive, but to excel in our lives?

There are no shortage of “lists” out there, but I’m focused on those that aren’t about sleep, fuel and exercise, although those are important.  I’m focused on the not so obvious. Here you go! Let me know what you think!

  1. Surround yourself with people who drive your energy up. Seriously, people have the ability to make or break your energy level.  There will always be those people that for whatever reason drain the life right out of you (you can picture them right now, can’t you?), so be sure to schedule your days and weeks so that the majority of time you are with people who spark positive energy.  You know who they are!  Identify them, cultivate that relationship and thank them!
  2. Build your schedule around work that has a purpose that matches your values. In the same way it is with people, projects tend to either bring you to life, or “not so much.”  I am so there on many days and can do a way better job in this category.  Look at your calendar TODAY (as in as soon as you can get to it after reading this) and see what projects you have up the next few days.  Identify those that aren’t something that fills you up-  Again, those may not be able to be taken away, but be sure to surround those with work or activities that do have PURPOSE and that you will truly be able to showcase your talent.  Change things around and stay mindful of how important this is!  It’s a great exercise to do on a regular basis.
  3. FInally, OWN your energy level. Don’t make excuses for the people and projects that may create a deficit for you.  We all have the ability to shape our worlds in a way that drives us to our own personal success and happiness.  We can’t let others “take the wheel” so to speak.  Decide today that you are going to OWN this category and then make it happen.  When it is at all possible, say no when you need to, say yes only when it excites you or if it is important to those you love and care about, and structure your life for SUCCESS.

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Word of the year

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A few years ago I started a new tradition (if you want to call it that) where I essentially set in play a “word of the year.”

I cannot begin to tell you how powerful this practice has been for me personally. I can look back at the word choices, which I pray about and would like to think God planted in my thoughts, and see where God showed up and in some cases showed off! So cool!

I love practical examples, so let me share one: Four or five years ago my “one word” wasdiscipline. Discipline physically and spirtiually were the primary areas. In that year, I honestly stayed in prayer on the word and in that year I transitioned to a healthy lifestyle and I read through the Bible for the first time all of the way through. Not only did I read it, but I developed a practice of journaling the highlight of the day from that scripture reading and applied it to my days and life.

That word and those habits become my reality, and I haven’t strayed away from them since! I love that example.

Last year my word was trust. I am a work in process on fully trusting God’s plan, especially since I have such a gift of knowing what is best for me and my family. (Ha!) Fully submitting has always been a challenge. God is working on that still but I’m much better than I was 365 days ago!

This year, my word became clear about a month ago now… it is deeper. Deeper in all key areas of my life. I can’t wait to see where God takes it!

I would highly encourage you to jump in and take the one word challenge. It is awesome! There is a fun website that outlines this as well. Check it out!  I’d love to hear from you if you choose to do this! We can encourage one another!

Big Blessings to all of you!

Simple Thoughts Sunday – 12/20

blog_748284_2825205_1450655586It’s the Sunday before Christmas, my bold prayer for all of my readers, friends and family this week is that you will truly try find love, peace and joy. That you would look up and see the beauty of the season. There are so many opportunities including the joy found in a child’s smile, or the love found seeing an adult child walking their elderly parent into a restaurant.

Most of all this year, we need to find peace. Peace that for me can be found in moments of silence that I am forced to carve out of my hectic days. Wherever you find yourself, pray that God will give you eyes to see the love, peace and joy that surrounds us.

(Photo Creds: Pinterest: Look at who is driving the car! Cute!)

Showcase ‘merry and bright’ at work and home

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I’m a sucker for anything that generates the spirit of the season. Twinkly lights? Check. The idea of being merry? Check. And oh to be bright? Check.

I hesitated to put this out there at the begining of the month, because somehow it seems like we sure do have a lot of December left to get work done and finish our to-do lists. It’s not quite time to be merry and bright, is it?

I’m just going to say that yes, for this year, for this week, I am going to try to showcase merry and bright. There is a lot of pain and a lot of struggle at every turn, and we flat out need each other to capture the positive and live it!

Live it in the unexpected places. Be kind to every person your encounter, create a home of merry and a workplace that grows a culture of ‘bright.’

Use this month as an excuse to be the light… every day! 

I get to…

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When I was in high school or maybe even college, I was at my future in-laws’ house getting ready to go to work and was dreading the day ahead. My future father in law, Gary Mallory, who is quite likely the most amazing man I know, shared with me a life lesson I’ll never forget: “You have the opportunity to go to work today! Enjoy it and make a difference while you are there.” I have remembered this, shared it often and try to live it!blog_738163_2811997_1448343465

I recently read the book “Life is Good.” Many of you will recognize the name of the famous company started by two brothers that has the namesake of the book. It is in my 2015 Top 5 books that I will be sharing in one of my December blogs. Their book outlines the Life is Good 10 superpowers with superpower 5 being Gratitude.

In chapter 5, the concept of “Get To” is highlighted, and I loved this summary thought:  “Use this powerful phrase to reframe the ordinary “have tos” you might otherwise view as burdens or bland checklist items…much of our experience depends on how we choose to view it.” This I have found to be soo true.

So the photo above is my personal challenge to myself which is regardless of the weather, “I get to” walk my dog who has been loyal and true for 13 years now – I adore her!

What is your “I get to” that you normally may dread, given weather conditions or some other likely lame excuse?

I’m cheering for you all and so is Cinny Girl!

Happy Thanksgiving!

blog_739734_2813866_1448508539“Thanksgiving is our favorite holiday BY FAR. It’s really a feast of the superpowers:  simplicity (stripped of the gifts and excessive hype that can weigh down other holidays), love, (of course), and humor among them.”

(‘Life Is Good‘ by Bert and John Jacobs)
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As I said earlier this week, I love this book, but this thought couldn’t be beat as I truly discerned what is the best message for a Thanksgiving Day.

Since I post on Thursdays, I was thrilled that Thanksgiving will always be one of the days I get to take a moment to reflect. What am I thinking and what may resonate with my readers?

So for 2015, I think with the many issues that require our prayers and attention (See short list below), I loved this concept. Simplicity truly is a superpower, and one I need more of. I pray today that we all are able to take a deep breath and truly be joyful in the moment we are in. Whether it’s alone watching the Thanksgiving Day parade and drinking hot tea, or surrounded by many family and friends for a wonderful meal, and then playing a family traditional football game.

Add to that a big dose of love for those with us and those we wish were with us. Throw in humor to ensure sanity in this season. I promise there is a good laugh to be had if you simply look around the room. (Remember, those pictures of yesterday where that big hair and those bell bottoms are now hysterical, well, friends, that awesome outfit you have on today will give the same effect 20 years from now…Heck, you may have a similar outfit on today and are rocking the styles.)

Wherever today finds you, life is good indeed!

Here is the short list I mentioned above:

World peace (which translates to safety, security and a great future for our lives in general), is at the top. Other big ones include the critical importance of us electing a galvanizing leader for our country in 2016, taking care of those that have been placed in our care, be it families or community members that need our focus, and  working each day toward simply serving in the best way we can, using our gifts/talents.

Simple Thoughts Sunday: The best of you

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We all have our best, our own interpretation of happiness and success.

My encouragement today is that we need to be mindful of our personal joy and health so that we can be sure that we are giving those we love, those that need us, the best of us! 

What comes to mind when you think about being the best you? 

For me, it’s driving toward fulfilling God’s plan for my life, giving others the gifts he gave me to share and doing so in full health. (That’s a start at least…)

Have a crazy great week! It’s the boys’ birthday Thursday so I’m all about missing the two that are away and cherishing the moments with Joe while he’s here… CHEERING YOU ALL ON!