Six Ways to Romance

I had house guests this weekend. One of the younger ones mentioned that she liked my magnetic word board on the refrigerator. I began to tell her why we have it there- it’s a sign to remind us of our responsibility to love one another outwardly. Here’s how it works, along with Five Other Tips for keeping (or rekindling) the romance in your life.

1. Tell them what they mean to you. The magnetic word board is just a few dozen words, separate magnets, which float on the fridge. We, my husband and I, take turns writing a love note to one another. It can be three words or 20. It can be concrete or abstract. But, it must be heart-felt. He may write” you are my soul’s dream”. I read it and when I am ready to write him one, usually within a few days, I will return the love with a message of my own. Mine may be, “I adore our passion and kisses”. Simple. Yet, wildly necessary in this busy day-to-day life we all lead. Tell people how you feel about them- often.


2. Schedule a night away. Pick a place that you know s/he has always wanted to go. Or, choose to revisit a place that was meaningful to you as a couple. Book it today- even if it’s not for a few months. Make sure s/he knows that you want to do things to make them happy.


3. Schedule the harder talks. Don’t make every day and every conversation about a sore topic or a tough discussion. Make sure the joy outweighs the pain. Plan it and keep it limited. Show your partner that you love them, respect your life with them and want the rough spots to be as controlled as possible. No one wants to be married to a nag. And, I think it’s easy to be a nag if you don’t keep it in perspective. Is this issue really a deal breaker for you? If not, keep it real- and manageable.


4. Kiss and play passionately. You aren’t siblings. You are lovers. Play the part.


5. Have a His or Hers Day. Make one day a week about them. Only about them. Let them know that they choose what the activity is or what the menu is. They’ll do the same for you when they see how it feels.


6. Reflect. Imagine what life would be like without them. Try to imagine who would fill their shoes if they weren’t there. Realize the gift they are to you. Be thankful to have someone to share your life with. No one is perfect. You certainly aren’t. Celebrate each other as the wonderful individuals you are.

Happy loving.

6 Tips to A Better Job

I am so fortunate to work with such innovative clients. Yes, some of my clients are looking for work. Others are looking for opportunity… Opportunity to leave their current positions in pursuit of jobs or lifestyles that will be more fulfilling.

Now I know what you are thinking, “Lisa, why on earth would they choose to do that in this climate?” Well, because they can. You can too. Believe it or not the sky isn’t falling. Jobs are out there. Opportunities exist.

Most people will opt to complain about the market and allow the excuse to limit their potential. I don’t have those folks as clients, nor would I want them.

In the last two months I’ve had two clients choose to leave full-time, lucrative careers. One left to pursue her dream job, still in sales, but a far more risky and niche market. The other opted to pursue part-time work and focus on her family life. She did that with almost a year of thought and preparation.

Here is how you can find a better job… or dare I say “opportunity”

• Take a hard look at how you are living. What are your income needs? What expenditures do you have that you must continue to carry? Are you fulfilled in your current role/s?
  
• Identify your dreams. What would you like to do or not do with your time?
  
• Create a plan and a timeline for change. Map your dreams onto a timeline and begin your preparation today.
  
• Tell everyone you know (except perhaps your boss) about your dreams. Don’t be shy. They may know of an opportunity that exists that puts you on your path.
  
• Liquidate your “unnecessary stuff” and reduce all spending immediately to adequately prepare for the transition.
  
• Meet with people (over the internet perhaps) who’ve done it (in the specific or broad sense of what you plan to achieve) and learn from them.
  
  Here’s to a great life!

Sometimes Life Calls for a Little Tough Love

I remember hearing about a psychologist in Philadelphia, many years ago, who worked very differently than most. He yelled at his clients. His success rate was, apparently, through the roof. (Maybe because they were jumping that high to get away from him!)

I recall my own tough-love teenage years, as my mother tried everything in her arsenal to get me to cooperate and stay alive day to day (or just make it to graduation). The tough-love approach, as much as I hated it, worked well. She denied me things as a result of my behavior- that really hurt (and proved wildly effective). Do you see the pattern here?

Tough love isn’t about yelling at people but it is about being direct, deliberate, and, at times, unflattering. There are consequences. There is action (or in-action, depending upon the desired effect).

A drill sergeant delivers tough love but s/he also embodies strength, responsibility, authority, and leadership.

You may be in need of some tough love. Or someone you know is. Here’s how I recommend you begin the approach:

• Stop being the crutch they need to carry on. Don’t be an enabler.
• Have a 15-minute conversation with them explaining the new road you are taking (and why). No discussion. This is informational only.
• Lay out the rules.
• Lay out the consequences.
• Be diligent in applying them (and ensure you have the authority to).
• Take 15-minutes to yourself each day to redefine why you are doing this, the intended outcome/s, and the approach specifics.
• Involve other people as necessary (if its trouble with your kid at school, involve school partners, truancy officers, etc….).
  
  Examples where I believe a tough love approach is necessary:
• When someone’s health is at risk.
• When someone’s marriage is at risk.
• When someone’s career is at risk.
• When behavior disruptions are detrimenting the family and/or office.
• Substance abuse.
• A failure to take responsibility for one’s own actions/inactions.
• A disciplinary problem person.
  

Disclaimer: tough love should not be used to abuse another person. It does not include verbally insulting, assaulting or otherwise "do harm" to others. It is one of the available approaches to curb undesired behaviors (in ones self as well as others). I consider it more of a reality check grounded in organization, clarity and compassion with a desire to help another lead a productive life.

Brain Games

Do you know that losing your memory and other cognitive decline does NOT have to be a part of your natural aging? It’s true.

You can do things now, each day or each week, to preserve your mental functioning. Ever more so, you can improve it- at any age. New brain cells will form.

I suggest visiting two websites for your brain health (the same way you focus on your physical exercise- you should focus on your mental exercises):

Lumosity.com

Sharpbrains.com

At Lumosity you can sign up for a free trial and learn about your own current cognitive functioning. You can also work on it during the trial and see your numbers improve.

At Sharpbrains.com you can find dozens of brain games to play for free. Some are more interesting than others. Pick and choose.

Here’s to more graceful aging – at any age.

Wedding Weight.....

I promised to “weigh in” on my own challenge with the pounds and fitness as a whole. The last 6 months have been wild and wonderful- just like West Virginia, the state I got married in. I ran in a marathon. I assembled a world-class team of nutrition experts and exercise physiologists. I logged my food and tracked my exercise. I learned about my body and what it can and “has a harder time” doing via metabolic testing.

I lost pounds and inches. The wedding came and I looked and felt great!

Now, the honeymoon is in the distant past (more than 6 weeks in the past) and you ask, “How are you doing?” Great! I’m doing great!

I don’t have the numbers to tell you about- because I don’t own a scale. But my clothes continue to feel loose and comfortable on me.

The Pros: I still eat really well. I am 90% vegetarian. (Full disclosure here folks, where else can you get that today?) I graze. I eat every 2-3 hours. My meals are smaller, very healthful (for the most part) and fill me up. I love my new style of eating. We visit the farmers markets twice a week for fresh ingredients to cook with. We now eat at home 95% of the week. We used to eat out 75% of the time!

The Cons: I picked up a new client which has really challenged my schedule. Given I shut down at 5 PM to have my “honey time” with my new husband- my gym time has been cut out. I was going to the gym 4-5 times a week for at least 45 minutes and now I don’t go.

The beauty of this dilemma is that it mirrors that of what I hear from others who are challenging their unfit ways.

Here is my advice for how to manage without the gym:

Ø Are you taking 1 hour a day for yourself? (Reading, exercising, meditating, painting, …) Make sure you do. You will not be helpful to anyone if you aren’t good to yourself first.
Ø Walk more. I have now added two hours of walking into my weekly schedule. I walk to and from errands, clients, etc… Plus, I still walk the dogs (perhaps a little more diligently now).
Ø Log your food. Each bite. Make sure you know how much you are eating (fat grams, cholesterol, calories, servings, etc…)
Ø Eat better. Choose fresh ingredients you feel good about.
Ø Cook more. Don’t allow anyone to put your pounds on for you. Choose your guilty pleasures carefully- yourself. Limit salt. Limit quantities. You see where I’m going.
Ø Educate those you love. Make this a lifestyle everyone wants to be a part of. Celebrate every pound lost and every inch that’s disappeared! Enjoy tasting your food for once, not just swallowing it!
Ø Work on your home. Gardening and home chores are good exercise. Learn to love going up and down the steps- carrying things!
Ø Keep a journal. Note how you feel, what you are doing and why you are doing it.
Ø Commit to yourself! Look at photos of you then and now. Describe how you feel/felt. Imagine how you want to describe yourself and how you feel. Do it now. Tomorrow is never guaranteed.

I hope this helps you. I’m not proud of not getting to the gym. But, I’m not allowing that to be an excuse to override my hard work either. I’m not going to be over 200 pounds ever again. I’ve committed that to me!

She’s Gone and Lost Her Mind! The MAD Offer!

We’re Celebrating 2 years in Pittsburgh, as a full-time coach! (I always use “we” because I never get anywhere alone- there is always a team behind all that I do.)

Last year we sent whacky fliers with a photo of me when I was a few years old! The flier served as a thank you to our clients, friends and supporters. If memory serves, there was a little goodie in each bag also.

In celebrating this year, we’re making a most outrageous offer! I hope you are sitting down!

Pay what you think the session is worth! You read it right. Pay what you think the session is worth! Some restaurants are doing it, why not us too? Heck, we’ll try anything in the name of fun for ourselves and our clients!!!

The caveat: You must be a current or former Champion Member or coaching client to take advantage of this offer. And, you must call/email me before 4 PM on July 24, 2009 to make your appointments. You can have 1 or 2 1-hr sessions with this offer. All must take place in July or August. There are no reschedules allowed.

The loophole: (to keep it fair and FUN) You can become a “current Champion Member” by signing up for the Champions Series ($39 a month) at our website (www.spahrconsulting.com) by July 24, 2009, 4 PM. (See, we wouldn’t let you miss this chance!)

Everybody is talking about this offer! How on earth can she do it? Well, we’ve modeled it to be manageable, creative and above all else- a THANK YOU to our clients, friends and supporters for an amazing 2 YEARS! So, we’ll worry about the unaddressed details over the next month! YOU deserve this.

Bahia

I was moved last week. I was reading about one of the airplanes that had gone down in recent weeks and a story jumped out at me. It was about 12-year old Bahia. I hope you’ve heard about her.

Bahia and her mother were traveling by air (to and from where matter far less). The plane went down. Her mother was lost forever. Bahia clung to a piece of the shattered aircraft unable to see anything in the darkness around her. She said she could hear voices but couldn’t see anything.

Do you know how long she hung on to that piece of scrap? 13 hours.

(Let’s put this in some bad perspective: I can barely hold a 8 lb barbell at my side, in the air, for 3 minutes less than even imagine clinging on to a piece of metal in the cold dark sea- for 13 hours- with no one to support you.)

When Bahia was saved, after calling out to a passing ship, her father commented on who his daughter is. He said she is a “frail young girl”. Here’s where I nearly fell out of my seat. Frail? Dear Sir, there is nothing frail about this dynamo. She’s one of the strongest people I’ve ever read about- in body, mind and spirit.

This article (read in the New York Times, my daily choice for reading) gave me a great deal to ponder over the last few days. It brought about thoughts of perception, self-perception and that of others, cultural descriptions of youth and women, in particular, what strength and frailty really mean, etc…

I was so moved by Bahia’s strength that her name as gone on a list of “children’s names” if I ever get an opportunity to name any. “Bahia” is one of the ones that has more meaning. Others are just silly and fun, like, “Lily .. Pad”. My husband really hates that one. I suppose I’m an artist at heart.

Let’s celebrate Bahia this week by thinking about her, her ordeal and our own strengths.

The Coach’s Guide to Wedding Planning… Due Out Soon

Tis the season… of brides. No matter what shape the economy is in, people are falling in love and getting married. They may plan for 1 week, 1 month or 1 year- or many choices in between, but their planning. And, it can be stressful (as I have observed).

As many of you know I married for the first time on May 23. I planned for my wedding for 7 months. (I waited what seemed to be a lifetime.) My planning was virtually stress free and really fun. How on earth did I do that? I’ll tell you… in the Coach’s Guide to Wedding Planning. I’m writing it now and it will be available soon. Email me (lspahr@spahrconsulting.com) if you want to be on the waiting list.

I’ll discuss everything from the dress…..

To the venue and date selection...

To the food…..

To the inclusion of your husband to-be…..


To you guest list…
And, to the special elements that you can add to make this a unique and very personal experience for everyone.

All of this information will come to you from the bride, who is also a coach. The goal is to keep your stress level down, excitement and enthusiasm up, and fill this time with wonderful memories you'll share with a smile for many years to come!

I can't begin to tell you how wonderful my wedding was, to me, my husband and our guests. I have no doubt I can help you make your event the same.

The Changing Face of YOU

I was at a presentation the other day on social media. The presenter illustrated how we are different than our parents’ generation. Young people today have had a dozen jobs before they turn 30, they meet and network online and they multi-task like never before.

I often have this conversation with people. Although I know quite a few people who stay at their jobs 10+, 30+ years, I know far more that change jobs every 3 years. I’ve been one of them (the latter).

I just added my part-time and full-time adventures up. I’ve had more than 25. Mind you, I started working at the age of 12 (“waitressing” for the inquiring minds). I’ve done everything from work as a gas station attendant, serve pizza from a pizza truck on Temple’s campus, deliver messages for a company called Heaven Sent, to work for a police think tank and top-military training company as an Investigative Scientist.

Regarding social media and electronic savvy: I met my husband via MySpace. (Need I say more?) We spoke via email a few months before meeting in person. I also own/manage 2 websites, 2 blogs, 1 Ezine and am frequently on Facebook. One final piece of evidence: I sent video thank you to my wedding guests, rather than traditional stationary thank yous.

And, last point, multi-tasking: For several years I’ve worn multiple hats. Those hats could be for the same company or working multiple jobs at the same time. My max is 3 jobs at once. I have a lot of energy. And, I have a lot of interests. I enjoy taking on interesting projects. (That’s not an invitation… unless you have something really phenomenal…)

I encourage you to consider who you are in today’s world. I think it’s great if you choose to stay in one place for 20+ years. I also think its okay to realize if your goals are elsewhere. My caution is that you get too stuck in your ways. Step outside your primary profession and see what people are doing. Go outside your company to socialize and see what the buzz is. Travel once per year to a place unlike your town. Accept and embrace adventure.

From one adventurer to another. Enjoy.

An Icon Dead at 50? Lessons Learned the Hard Way

What can we learn from Michael Jackson's death?

Well, after grieving the loss of a pop start that defined most of my youth (and likely yours); I encourage you to look at your own life for threats of crisis.

I was in shock when my husband delivered the news to me. (I frequently review the New York Times (online version) each day and listen to NPR, mostly in the car. But, on this sad day I was listening to an audio book in my kitchen preparing dinner.) Within minutes I said to him, “A heart attack at 50! He seemed to be in good shape! I want you and I to take better care of ourselves. I couldn’t imagine losing you at 50.”

The very real possibility of a youthful death entered my mind. I thought about his kids. I thought about what if I would have children and then die young or have my husband do the same. It was eerie.

The autopsy hasn’t been released yet. We don’t know what caused his cardiac arrest. However, we do know what causes them to happen to anyone….. heart disease, stress, using certain drugs, cigarette smoking and exposure to extreme cold. (See linked site above as a reference.)

Are you at risk? If so, do something about it today. You owe it to yourself and your family.

No one should have to lose a loved one at the age of 50. It’s hard enough at 85. But, 50 simply feels like a terrible injustice, particularly to a man billions of people had once loved.

The Other Man in My Life….and he could be yours today

We found “Frankie” last night around midnight. He was wondering the streets with no identification. We call him Frankie because of his gorgeous cool blue eyes.

We spent ½ of our Fathers Day (Rob is so wonderful) finding a shelter for the lovely Frankie. We dropped him off at the Western PA Humane Society (on Western Ave on the North Shore) about an hour ago.

Frankie is awesome. He’s under a year old, spunky, loving, good with people and dogs, trainable….. He knows “sit” (not that he does it consistently) and is housebroken (from our 12 hours with him).

He is a non-neutered male with at least part Pit Bull in him. I’m not sure what the other part it. He has some German Shepard qualities. He is not micro chipped. And, I believe, from some of his early behavior with us, that he may have been hit in his last home.

We want to find Frankie a new and loving home.

If you have considered adopting a pet (any kind of pet) I beg you to visit your local shelters this week.

If you think Frankie could be the man for you please go to the Humane Society in the next few days to meet him. He’ll be on hold for 48 hours in case his owners come forth.

Although we call him Frankie, the Humane Society has him under the ID A107200. Their number is 412-321-4625 and their site is http://www.wpahumane.com/

Please let me know if you followed up on Frankie. I’ll be thinking about him for some time to come.

Please also support your own local shelters to the best of your ability (monetary donations, in-kind donations, volunteering, encouraging spay and neuter programs, etc….)

Many thanks. And, Happy Father’s Day.

Reversal of Attitude

My friend Tara can attest to this. In my late teens, I used to hate going over to someone’s house to “watch a movie”. That was in sharp contrast to years before when Becky and I would spend every Friday night at her place watching one- after going to the high school football game of course.

Why did I hate it so much? I figured I could watch one at home if I wanted to do that- why go elsewhere?! And, I suppose I opted for other alternatives. After all, now you have a car, a license, and the freedom to go anywhere you want. (“Those were the days!” Isn’t that what people say?)

Fast forward to today, 2009. Rob and I can be found “living up our Fridays” at home in a fierce game of Scrabble. In fact, twice this week I’ve been engaged in “scrabble-related” conversations with business colleagues. We’re considering a friendly game in the months ahead. And, a few weeks ago at my wedding, a group of people (unknown to one another until that weekend, by the way) gathered on their last night at the Greenbrier to play cards together.

Attitudes change. Mine has. We can spend hours discussing why and how, but I think the important point is that it’s okay. It’s okay to change your mind. It’s okay to all of a sudden like something you hated. It’s okay to want to do something differently. It’s more than okay, in fact, its highlighting that you are a free-thinker and not controlled by the past.

I still don’t love sitting down and watching television or movies. I get fidgety (mind and body). But, I enjoy doing it occasionally with people who love it- because of what it means to them. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll be yelling “movie time!”

Volunteering Calls You!

Similar to post-9/11, people are looking for greater meaning in their lives. More fulfilling ways to spend their time.

I have several clients who are opting to leave high-powered, 70-hr work weeks, for jobs that pay 1/2 their current salaries but are far more community-centered.

I encourage everyone to volunteer with/for a cause that speaks to them. Volunteering doesn't just mean serving meals to people (a common misconception). It can be offering your expertise to your favorite charity for 10 hours a month (~2 hours a week).

Visit www.volunteermatch.org and type in your zip code and a keyword (choose a word related to your charities of choice such as "children" or "animals"; or choose a word related to what you do, such as "accounting" or "database"). This site will show you opportunities that exist in your area for your keywords.

How much simpler can it be?

Also, call your favorite charities and ask them if they need volunteers. I'd be surprised if they say no.

Happy volunteering. Let's all bring a little more meaning into our lives.

7 Tips for Better Living

What is the recipe for success? What makes a man or woman feel accomplished? The truth is that it’s different for each one of us. It takes a comprehensive look at ourselves, our values, our principles, our desires and our goals to identify what a successful life would look like for us.

But, if I had to share with you a general recipe for better living it would include:
1. Read more, watch less (turn the telly off and pick up a book)
2. Take 1 hour for yourself each day (to exercise, to meditate, to study something, etc…)
3. Create goals for yourself (daily, weekly, monthly and annually)
4. Socialize with others at least once a week outside of your work (a group dinner, happy hour, a group sports event, etc…)
5. Get involved with your community (join a club, volunteer, sit on the board, etc…)
6. Create a personal manifesto that will guide you, your actions, your choices, your decisions….
7. Do a year end review. Ask yourself, “What did I accomplish this past year?” Revisit your goals, hopes, challenges, and successes. Then, design your plan for the year ahead.

Are you in Paradise?

I posed this question to my husband while we were on our honeymoon in Jamaica. “Would you rather be poor in a town/city you LOVED or be wealthier in a town/city you LIKED?”

The question first came to me when I was in Capri, Italy, in 1996. I was passing a little shack surrounded by grape vines as I rode what looked like a chair lift up the cliff. And I remember thinking to myself, “Yeah, I could totally live in that shack on this gorgeous island.”

How would you answer that question? Here are a few follow up questions: Are you living in a place you LOVE? Are you comfortable where you are living and that makes you enjoy the place all the more? If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?

So many people say, “If I could live anywhere, it would be _____”. Just like they say, “If I could have been anything I would have been a _____, instead of what I am/what I do.”

Why live that way? Do you realize that people make a choice to live in their dream town/city every day?

Others work hard to make their town/city their dream place by living their best lives there. It’s kind of like, “if you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you are with”. I definitely advocate you find a way to be with the one you love, however, there are times I could agree to enjoy what you have for the moment.

Either way, take some time to dream about your ideal living space/s. Dare to ask why you can’t have them if you don’t have them already. Challenge yourself and your family to come up with a plan to move there within 5 years (1 year if you are an overachiever). Then, take a weekend or week long trip there to revisit why you love it so much. Who knows, maybe it’s changed to where you’ll fall in love with another location – or maybe it will serve as motivation to pack your permanent bags!

Happy traveling- and relocating.

Good Old Customer Service- or NOT - a Case Study

You know I’m a stickler for customer service- excellent customer service. And, that I think its DEAD in most places today.

Here’s an example of what happened to me yesterday in one of my prize customer service observation centers- the United States Post Office.

I was in line with 6 other customers (note that I said “customers”). 2 long-term postal clerks were serving customers (I use “serving” very loosely here).

First Observation: a young man (customer) asks the clerk for a dollar and a half in quarters with his change. The clerk looks perturbed. The clerk gives the customer his change without the $1.50 in change. The customer asks politely again. The clerk says in a very defensive tone, “Look, there are three banks within this row. I’m not one of them.” The customer seems embarrassed and politely says, “Ok, sorry about that.”

Second Observation: (30 seconds after the one above) a woman (customer) is having a package weighed by the other clerk in the post office. The clerk asks the customer if she’s ready to ship it, as she was only inquiring about cost. The customer says yes. The clerk then offered a few other ways she could have mailed it. The customer was considering the options and said, “But you’ve already scanned it in haven’t you?” The clerk said, “Yes”. The customer paused. She finally said, “Can you void it so that I can mail it another way?” The clerk said, while rolling her eyes, “yes, I can.” As the customer walked over to another part of the office to examine package materials, the clerk said, out loud and loudly, “Count to 10! Count to 10! It’s been a long Day!”

Do I need to do a post-mortem on these dialogues and what went wrong? I don’t think so. My readers are intelligent enough to know these individuals shouldn’t be in their current positions without serious consultation with a manager. They wouldn’t be my employees- I can guarantee you that.

Do you know the correlation of customer service and repeating revenue? It’s huge. Customers will pay more for better service! Ironically, I understand the Postal Service is experiencing trouble with revenue. Is that a no-brainer? It’s not all due to the age of the internet. People are using Fed Ex and UPS like mad.

I know what you are saying, “Welcome back from your honeymoon Bride. The real world awaits.”

Thanks- Lisa (Mrs. Lisa Spahr)
At least I know I have job security in customer service training. Bring it on. 412.867.9991 Office Line

Another Stress Buster!

I’ve been researching cognitive enhancement lately for a project I’m working on. I, like many people, assumed that cognitive decline was a fact of life and would naturally occur as we age. But, the fact of the matter is, that cognitive decline doesn’t have to happen. You can do things daily and today that will impact your risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other disabilities that seem to come with age.

The science is clear, some stronger than others, that diet, exercise, socialization and cognitive training can decrease your risk of cognitive impairment. Some studies even show that taking anti-inflammatories can be a deterrent.

Where does stress come in? Well, it seems that if we thought stress was damaging enough, it just got worse. Your PERCEPTION of stressors in your life (being overwhelmed, believing its worse than it might be, etc...) contributes to your risk of cognitive decline. If you are a “downer” you may be setting your own fate in cognitive damage as you age. I heard one speaker mention a client of his with dementia in his 50’s! I’m not suggesting that was due to stress or his perceived stress but I am saying that the time is TODAY to take your health and mental wellbeing seriously, no matter what age you are.

So, Lisa, what do I do?

Ø Reduce your stress TODAY, NOW by removing stressful people, discussions, memories, events, etc... from your life (stop being a victim and saying that you have to be in this situation, you don’t)
Ø Enroll in daily exercise of some sort. Yoga is a good one. Dedicate one hour a day to stretching, walking, hiking, running, volleyball… what ever you are willing to do.
Ø Eat right. Yes, eat right. Start with your next meal. Make better choices today.
Ø Put the remote down. Stop watching TV. Pick up a book or better yet play a game of cards or a board game with another person.
Ø Visit someone each day for 30 minutes or talk to them on the phone.
Ø See your doctor to assess your risk factors. Your health won’t get better without your intervention.
Ø Learn to love yourself. Find positive things in your life to enjoy and share with others. If you have baggage or pain from the past see a professional. You don’t need to live that way.
Ø Research cognitive exercises. Your brain wants to learn and grow, at any age. Let it.

In health.
Lisa
PS- I’ll be celebrating my nuptials for the next 2 weeks. Enjoy this blog until then. Plus, you may need an extra week to chew on this one- and get your homework done!

An Exercise in Recall

Take an hour this week and sit down with old photo albums. Do this alone or with someone you care about.

Revisit places, people, feelings and events of last month and/or years ago. Think about how you felt at that time in your life. What was going on with you.

Ultimately, I want you to recognize the journey you've been on... and how far you've come. Are you happier now than ever? Or do you still have some work to do to have the life you want?

Spend some time with the old you. Enjoy your old self and find pleasure in the days gone by. If you have any peace to be made with where you were or where you are, do so. Now is the time to make great memories to relive in 10 more years.


Happy memories. And, even happier memory making!

Gift Giving in Tough Times

Do you remember how we "changed" after 9/11? People reclaimed the family as a priority. We took time for reflection and contemplation of purpose. Well, something slightly similar is happening now with people reexamining how they spend money. Both times bring us back to a tough evaluation of what is really important to us.

I really struggled over whether the economy should effect my wedding site selection. Do I try to have a budget wedding (more than I would normally) to reflect my understanding of the economic downturn? Or, do I find other ways to accommodate the tightening of wallets, while still having my dream wedding. I chose the latter. I did that for more reasons than I can type here (just for time sake) but one was because the economy will correct itself over time, and I didn't want to have to look back at one of the most significant days of my life and say, "I had to do that because the economy...". I fully recognized that some of my guests may no longer be able to come based on my luxurious choice. We can celebrate with them in other ways. But, this is still the wedding I've looked forward to for many years- and I'm not going to let fear dictate how I remember it forever. And, besides, I'm the one encouraging you to stay away from the fear mongers, the nay sayers and the downers who will bring you nothing but depressive thoughts. I help people everyday find jobs, recreate a life they have always wanted, and stay on top of their games (whether that is personal or professional). So, what role model would I be to reject my dreams?

That was a long story to serve the title of this blog: gift giving in tough times. I encourage you to revisit what "gift" means. What are the greatest gifts you've received? Its likely more about the sentiment, the memory, the feeling, than it is about the "thing". So, rethink your next gift to someone you love. Make it memorable- and that doesn't always mean expensive. You may also want to ask them what they want. They may have revisited what is important to them, and give you a surprising answer.

All in good health.
Lisa

Fitness Update

In two months recording time, February to April. Here are the differences in my body measurements.

Measurement: Start Date of February 26, 2009 to April 22, 2009 = Change
Body Weight 178 lbs to 171 lbs =- 7 lbs
Fat Weight 73.6 lbs to 64.7 lbs = - 8.9 lbs
Lean Body Weight 104.4 lbs to 106.3 lbs = + 1.9 lbs
Neck 13" to 12 1/2" = - 1/2"
Biceps 12 7/8" to 12 1/8" = - 3/4"
Forearm 9 7/8" to 9 5/8" = - 1/4"
Wrist 5 7/8" to 5 7/8" = 0
Waist 36" to 34 3/4" = - 1 1/4"
Hips 44 1/2" to 42 1/2" = - 2"
Top-Thigh 26 3/4" to 26 1/4" = - 1/2"
Mid-Thigh 22 1/2" to 22 1/4" = - 1/4"
Calf 15 7/8" to 16 3/8" = + 1/2"
Ankle 8 3/4" to 9 1/8" = + 1/4"
Shoulder Width 16 3/8" to 16 3/4" = + 3/8"
Hips Width 15 7/8" to 14 3/8" = - 1 1/2"

You can see that these measurements are often the ones that keep you going- not just the numbers on the scale. Don't be discouraged. I wasn't. I was sometimes disappointed but never discouraged. I knew I was working hard and doing the right things. The numbers will eventually follow with their ups and downs.

Now that my marathon is over. I'll continue running for 1/2 hour when I work out but now focus on weights so my arms look the best they can in that special dress I get to wear in two weeks.

Happy health to you.