Things change...

No man ever steps in the same river twice, 

for it's not the same river and 

he's not the same man.

Heraditus

Lately, I've found myself re-thinking some of my basic beliefs and thoughts about faith, work,   ways of building and maintaining relationships.

I have found that I sometimes surprise myself by thinking something, or even saying something, that I may not have even considered a few years ago!

It's not that my fundamental beliefs about my faith, personal relationships, or ethical behavior have changed. I've simply learned to be more careful about finding out why I believe the things I believe!  I spend a little more time asking myself, "Why am I doing this?"

Was I wrong before? 

Not necessarily....although I have changed my thought process on certain issues!

Have I grown personally, professionally, spiritually, emotionally?  

Absolutely!

Am I a different person than I was 10 years ago? 5 years ago? Last year? 

Yes!

Has the world around my changed? 

YES, YES, YES!

My challenge to you is to think about your basic beliefs and see if there are things in your life that have changed to the point that you need to "re-think" your priorities.   

Maybe there's a family relationship that's gone sour and you need to work on that.  Maybe you need to get in touch with a friend you haven't seen in years, maybe you need to change jobs, or maybe you simply need to make a plan and get that big task that's hanging over your head done and out of your way!

Let me know how it goes!

Blessings!

Sharon

It's a New Year.....

Your success and happiness lies in you. 

Resolve to keep happy, 

and your joy and you 

shall form an invincible 

host against difficulties. 

-- Helen Keller

It's that time of year when everyone is trying to decide if they're going to stick to their New Year's Resolutions. Gyms are still filled with people who have resolved to get fit, Nicorette gum is probably the best selling gum in the country, and office organizing supplies are flying off the shelves as we start sorting through last year's files and making a new plan for saving all those important records in 2013!

I usually try to set one or two goals for the new year, and they almost always involve being healthier, but it's very easy to forget those kinds of resolutions by the time the first boxes of Valentine's chocolates show up in stores!  (By the way, does that happen earlier every year?)

Nevertheless, shortly before the new year began I was visiting with my brother who was finishing up a project because it was one of his resolutions for 2012 and he wanted to get it checked off the list before the year ended.  Further questioning revealed that he actually makes a list of 10 resolutions to keep during each new year.  Most of them, he reported, are not "that big of a deal."

He lists achievable goals that even though they seem inconsequential, can make his, or someone else's life a little easier, or better.  For example, one of his resolutions from 2012 was to stop leaving newspapers laying around.  Some others have included keeping the inside of his truck cleaner, having his garden soil tested, saying "hello" more often, and giving up snack cupcakes. (I think Hostess helped him out with that one!)

For 2013, he has looked back over his lists from the last ten years and figured he had achieved roughly 60% of the goals he'd set, so he took the first 10 resolutions from past lists that were left unaccomplished and has set out to accomplish those things in 2013.  

Another friend of mine picks one word and focuses on that word for the entire year.  For 2012 her "focus word" was Courage.  Throughout that year, as she faced changes in her job, home improvement projects and life, in general,  her focus on courage gave her additional strength to press on!  

For 2013, her "focus word" is Less.  An interesting choice.

Less?  

Yes.

Less time wasted,  less clutter,  less money spent on things that don't matter, 10 pounds less weight, etc. 

What a great idea! 

My word for 2013 is Happiness.  I hope to take the words of Helen Keller to heart and find a little joy in every day!

My challenge to you is to look at the goals you've set for 2013. Whether it's a list of small achievable things, one really big thing,  or simply a  focus on a particular virtue or word, I wish you the best in accomplishing what you set out to achieve!

Blessings!

Sharon

  

If I only had a brain....

I not only use the brains I have, but all I can borrow.

Woodrow Wilson

In the classic movie The Wizard of Oz, Ray Bolger's character, Scarecrow, believes he must go in search of  a brain.  He travels with Dorothy,  Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion down the yellow brick road, facing perils and mortal danger to reach the Land of Oz to see if the great and powerful Wizard of Oz will give him the brain he so desires!


As the friends travel and face seemingly insurmountable obstacles, an interesting dynamic develops. Scarecrow, working with his friends begins to come up with some very good ideas!  Remember the scene where he uses reverse psychology to get the trees to "give up" their apples?


As Scarecrow is encouraged and sometimes challenged by his friends, his own mental aptitude seems to grow! He found himself surrounded by good people who were smart, truthful and didn't mind entering into a healthy debate to challenge him to think!


So, don't  surround yourself with people who are "yes-men" who will  mindlessly agree with your every statement and action.  Instead seek out people who will be honest and will inspire you to develop your own belief system to the point that you know who you are and what you believe. 


Go ahead!  Use your brain....and borrow some wisdom from those around you!


Blessings,


Sharon

Take a look...in a book...

"He who knows best knows how little he knows." 

Thomas Jefferson

The mission statement of our school district is Striving for Excellence...Learning for All. This statement proves there is a belief in our school district that no one ever "knows it all" and that continuous learning is beneficial to individuals, as well as groups.


When I think of that mission statement, I consider the fact that while our public school is in the business of educating children, we also provide continuing education and professional development for our teachers and administrators.  


Continuous learning has been proven to stimulate the brain, and studies have even shown that people who keep their minds active and busy learning new things, don't show as many early signs of aging!  It's a win/win situation! Learning keeps you young!!  How great is that?

As the weekend approaches, my challenge to you is to find a good book and spend some time reading!  Reading a good story, even something fictional, opens your mind to new ideas and sets the stage for a great conversation. It provides a chance to learn about a new place, a new idea, or just a different perspective on an old idea.

Let me know what you're reading!

Blessings,

Sharon