Areas for improvement:

1. Learn how to use a curling iron and styling products so your hair will look more updated.
2. Watch makeup tutorials and buy the appropriate makeup so you don't look so dated.
3. Get the doctor changed and find out what you should be doing health-wise.  Too many meds and still feel like crap.....that's getting old.
4. Go through my closet and update.  Long shirts, skinny pants, cute shoes, lots of accessories.
5. Get this house updated.....it's ridiculous how crappy it looks.  Take some time and spend some money.
6.  Get a system down for demos:  put holds on calendars, check on the holds once a week, book travel once you get confirmation, send list of questions before the prep call, go over all emails prior to the demo, practice, send slide deck to sales exec, log the demo, blog the demo, map the demo, file expense report.
7. Get this stupid device connectivity presentation down.  I'm ready to certify and be done with it.
8.  Figure out a way to touch base with friends once a week at least.  Happy hour is best.
9. Talk to the kids whenever they need it.  Move any obligations that you need to.  Once a month at least with Max.  Talk when he needs to.  Same with Tucker....also come up with a date once a week.
10.  A date night with Rich once a week.  Talk about stuff other than kids.
11.  Take waxing off the calendar and just buy a suit that has a little skirt with it.
12.  A huge family vacation at Christmas.  A weekend trip with each kid.  A trip with Rich in the summer.  A trip for our anniversary.  And a trip for Rich's birthday.  Plan something fun for my birthday every year.
13.  Make a wish list for the boys.  Tell them you want something off of it for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day,anniversary, birthday, and Christmas.
14.  Call mom and dad once a week.  When they're in town, try to see them every 2 weeks at least.
15. Go to church religiously.  Haha  No, but seriously, it makes you centered.
16.  7 hours of sleep a night.  Not less.
17. Figure out some healthy choices for eating and stick with it!!
18.  Up, worked out, and showered before a decent breakfast. EVERY DAY.

Reminders

This is Your Year

JANUARY 7, 2015 ~ KSPEOPLES

It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you have nothing on your agenda for four weeks.  Christmas break has given me a chance to relish in my own thoughts, read a couple of motivating books and evaluate my life–Where I was this last year, and where I would love to see myself headed in the next.

I have realized the importance of “self”: self care, self love, self worth, self knowledge.  I’m not sure where we got the wild idea that we should fill our schedules up so much that we don’t leave time just to be.  And that when we do find a spare moment to ourselves, we feel guilty about it because we should be doing something for others.  I’m going to let you in on a little secret: Self care is essential and necessary for an abundant life.  Do not feel guilty about it.  Be good to yourself, not just others.Have you ever tried to give to others when you have nothing left to give?  You must refill your cup so that you may overflow into others.

This last semester, I neglected to do that and I got pretty burnt out.  I was draining myself day in and day out trying to keep up with all of life’s demands.  Being a three year accounting major, an RA, a mentor, a friend, a sister, a daughter, a club member, a church goer, a school event attendee, and a perfectionist left me feeling empty by the time December came around.  I never gave myself time to reflect on my own wants and desires, and most importantly, I was finding that my days were slipping away before I sat back to bask in the presence of the Lord and thank Him for the good days and the things He was teaching me on the hard days.  I was more concerned with filling everyone else’s demands, than with surrendering my days before my Father and asking Him for the wisdom on how to most efficiently use my time that day.

I’ve been reading some books over break about simplifying life, being content, and maintaining a full cup.  As a result, I have a few things that I want to set in front of myself & anyone else– simple focuses that I believe will lead to a happy and content life.

1. Journal Everyday. It can be funny, it can be stupid, it can be heart wrenching.  It doesn’t matter.  Just write.  There’s something powerful in the release of emotions through writing.
2. Love yourself. Inside and Out. Learn to be comfortable in your skin, and love every inch of it.  Loving yourself is actually a beautiful thing.
3. Take Criticism.  Don’t get bent out of shape when people give you advice and voice their opinions.  Especially your mom.  Chances are, they only have your best interest in mind.
4. Speak sweet words. Some days it’s going to be hard to do this– do it anyways.  A sweet word can change a person’s day; you know this because you’ve experienced it yourself.  Oh, and smile. Angry faces are intimidating.
5. Be content. Don’t compare, don’t complain. You’re exactly where you’re meant to be in this moment.  Trust that the Lord is holding your hand and guiding you along the way.
6. Be HERE.  I don’t think there is anything sweeter than truly being present in the moment.  Someone caught you in the hallway?  Give them 5 minutes to tell you how their day is going and don’t be wishing you could just get where you were headed.  Going to coffee with a friend?  Get off your phone.
7. Be intentional.  Love on those that are in your life–they need it just as much as you do.  Go out of your way for them to show them that you are there for them, and you’re in their back corner cheering them on.
8. Commit to being healthy.  Eat well (Proteins & Veggies daily) and exercise.  Don’t beat yourself up if you miss the gym all weekend.  Get back at it on Monday.  Your goal is to be healthy, not skinny.
9. Give of your time and love.  See a homeless man standing on the corner? Go ask him about his story. A friend needs help with a project?  Give them your assistance.  A friend needs someone to listen?  Give them a shoulder to cry on and a listening ear. Give anything you have to offer, no one ever became poor from giving.
10. Listen.  Sometimes just stop talking and listen: to nature, to the Lord, to your friends, to yourself. Truly listen.
11. Stay Positive.  You’re going to want to throw some days in the bucket, but there is something good in every day and there is a silver lining to every situation.  Your attitude changes everything.  Will you choose to see mud or will you choose to see stars?
12. Explore.  There is something so sweet in finding new places, or finding new things in old places.  Experience the fullness of life by taking in your surroundings.  Go on a hike. Venture to a close by town.  Take a road trip.  Get lost.  There is so much to see, just open your eyes.
13. Put your words to actions.  You’re passionate about a certain social issue? You want to help a certain cause?  Great.  Now do something about it.  Go out and raise money for it.  Go tell the world about it.  Please do anything but just keep thinking about it.
14. Throw perfectionism out the window. The Lord doesn’t want you to be perfect, He wants you to be faithful.  Seek to glorify Him in all that you do, and forget about pleasing everyone else.
15. Be a fountain not a drain.  It’s cheesy, but so true.  Be someone that can fill a friend up on a tough day, not someone people dread being around because they only bring their problems to the table.
16. Offer grace. You’re probably going to get your feelings hurt a time or two and that’s okay because you’ve hurt others too.  The Lord offers you grace and forgiveness everyday, so extend that to others as well.

This is your year.  Your year to stop saying and start doing.  Here’s to a year of living simply, loving easy, and being happy.

More Lives Please

It makes truly sad that I don't have enough time in this life to live all the places I would like to live.  There is something very special about saying that I primarily lived my whole life in Kansas City....it's such an awesome town, all my friends and most of my family are here,.....I'm a Kansas City girl through and through.  HOWEVER, I know there are other places that are special too...Aspen, Malibu, Carmel, Seaside, Breckenridge.  I would love the chance to explore those places as a resident...not just a visitor.  Be there on a daily basis, meet the people who call those places home, go to church there, be part of their community.  I do all that here in Kansas City; I just wish I had enough life to do that in all sorts of places.

“What was it like to love him? Asked Gratitude.
It was like being exhumed, I answered, and brought to life in a flash of brilliance.

What was it like to be loved in return? Asked Joy.
It was like being seen after a perpetual darkness, I replied. To be heard after a lifetime of silence.

What was it like to lose him? Asked Sorrow. There was a long pause before I responded:

It was like hearing every goodbye ever said to me—said all at once.”

― Lang Leav, Love & Misadventure

Here are some ideas to help kick a rotten day to kingdom come…

 Do something good for someone else, even though you may not want to. Do a favour, help them find something, give them an item which will help them in some way. Start the flow of positive energy.

 Eat the best chocolate you can get your hands on. In bed. Or in the bath.

 Turn up music you really love. Play it so loudly that it soaks in through your skin. Dance in your pyjamas. Feel the pain lift.

 Have a romance in your head.

 Volunteer.

 Buy a remote control for your camera & dip your toes into the pool of narcissism.

 Call a friend & ask them if they want to have a slumber party.

 Throw yourself head-first into a creative project. Something that you’re excited about but which feels a little too big for you. You’ll be so consumed by it that it will fuel you for ages.

 Do the splits. Or at least try. (Be gentle though!)

 Sing. Loudly. Badly. Off-key. Whatever you like. It works. The last time I was on my way somewhere really nerve-wracking, I was in a cab. The radio was playing & I was so anxious that the only way I could distract myself was by singing along. Loudly. The driver probably thought I was a total nut but I didn’t care & it did the trick!

 Cover your entire body in cocoa butter & fall asleep.

 Drink 2 litres of fizzy drink (pop, soda, you know) & stay up until sunrise.

 Write a list of things that you appreciate right now, in the present moment. Focus on each of them & let the love inside you well up. Even when things appear to be going really, really badly, there are always things to be happy about. (That’s one of the reasons why we do Things I Love Thursday — to help bring your attention back to the positive.)

 Indulge in your “guilty pleasures”, whatever they are. (Old episodes of America’s Next Top Model, ginger ale, chocolate cake, romantic comedies, etc.)

 Send a text message to one of the most interesting people you know — maybe someone you don’t know that well, just to say hello.

 Order delivery food, just to bask in the glory of the fact that if you pay people, they will come to your door. With food. Warm, good food. What an age we live in, huh?

 Look through old photos. With a friend if possible. If it’s an old friend, you can reminisce (“Oh my god, do you remember when we did that?!”), & if it’s a new friend, you can tell grand stories (“Well, let me tell you about this guy…”).

 Listen to old Motown hits. Come up with dance moves. Wear something sparkly & work it out. (DJ Z-Trip’s Motown Breakdown is an excellent time, too.)

 Write a gruellingly personal entry for your blog dissecting every aspect of the situation which has upset you so much. Post it, don’t post it, whatever, just get it out of your system.

 Plan a holiday.

 Write a ridiculous online dating profile & marvel at the people who come out of the woodwork. (“Oh, a threesome with you & your wife in New Jersey? Sign me up!”)

 Spend an hour in your variety store of choice, set yourself a budget ($20?) & buy some junk. Lip treatments, candy, maybe an exfoliating scrub… Then go home & play with your new purchases. There’s a reason it’s called retail therapy, you know (though of course, it doesn’t last).

 Wear a fake moustache all day.

 Think up nicknames for all your friends, then send them each postcards to alert them.

 Think back on the last really good sex you had. Think about it for an hour. Then do something else.

 Go out for a milkshake.

 Appreciate the dinosaur bones at your favourite museum.

 Grab a friend, dress up like tourists & go & do all the really schlocky things on offer in your city. Take LOTS of photos, & be sure to flash the peace sign in 70% of them.

 Stick little crystals on something you use every day. (Wallet, light-switch, key-ring, boots?)

 Buy a new pair of sunglasses or non-prescription frames. It’s a super-easy (& often relatively cheap) way to evolve your look. Plus sunglasses make for excellent on-the-fly disguises.

 Go to a yoga class. Surrender & breathe deep.

 Put on your favourite pair of high heels & walk up & down your bedroom/hallway doing your best Miss J impersonation. Have a friend or neighbour who is willing to humour you offer critique. “Girl, you walk like a busted-down freight-train.”

 Write multiple lists of everything you want. Material possessions, relationships, work, lifestyle, everything. Pin them up by your door so you see them all the time.

 Go through Urban Dictionary & find some fun/ridiculous new words to add to your vocabulary.

 Make yourself the biggest ice-cream sundae you’ve ever seen. Decorate it with hot fudge sauce, whipped cream, sprinkles, nonpareils, whatever you like. Take a photo. Give it a name (“Jane’s Orgasmatron Cardiac Arrest Sundae”). Devour. Maybe without using your hands. Take a photo of that too.

 Get your eyebrows shaped.

 Spend an hour in a department store sniffing perfume samples. When you find something you like, spray it on a card & drop it in your purse.

 Try break-dancing.

 Watch videos of flamboyant, successful people like Elton John or Michael Jackson & marvel.

 Eat animal crackers.

 Drink through a straw all day. If you get your hands on a straw which matches your outfit, so much the better.

 Plan a party with a theme that makes you feel really, really happy.

 Write a letter to yourself in the future. Then hide it. Maybe in the pocket of a coat you never, ever wear.

 Leave the house wearing just fabulous lingerie underneath a coat. With heels. (Note: if you are a man you may get accused of being a flasher if you do this. The world is cruel sometimes.)

 Pull a Kid CuDi & announce your retirement from the world of something. Like cooking, or vocal communication. Announce your unretirement whenever you feel like it.

 Buy a harmonica & annoy the hell out of everyone while you learn how to play it.

 Go wig shopping.

 Choose a festival (SXSW? Burning Man? Coachella? Wave-Gotik-Treffen?) to go to, invite some friends, & start making plans.

 Add diamantes to your manicure.

 Hula hoop.

 Buy some really good art for your walls. Posters, prints, original artwork or other. If you’re feeling impoverished, go to the library, check out some art books, then take huge, great quality photocopies at a copy shop.

 Listen to Never Better by P.O.S. from start to finish & revel in what a great album it really is.

 Load up your ipod & go for a walk through your favourite park.

 Visit a cool toy store & make your friend a surprise package.

 Reach out to the people who inspire you but who don’t know you exist.

 Write the birthdays of your personal heroes in your planner & work out a way to honour them on that day.

 Pie.

 Colour your hair. (You can always dye it back.)

 Notice where you hold tension in your body, & let it go.

 Visit some kind of religious institution & observe a service.

 Bake heart- or bunny-shaped cookies. Give them away.

 Be graceful.

 Be graceless.

 Make a video diary.

 Answer questions with questions.

 Try on a pair of really, really expensive shoes & act like you’ll be back tomorrow, but you’re just going to go home & think about it. (Bonus points: take a photo of you in them. Often you will need to be stealthy about this but it’s worth doing.)

 Record yourself trying to recite the alphabet while vigorously brushing your teeth.

 Flirt with entirely inappropriate people.

 Sing into your friend’s answering machine. (If you’re in the USA & use Slydial, it will take you straight to their voicemail.)

 Pour pancakes in the shape of your initials. Eat them while watching aerobics on television.

 Make friends with your neighbours.

 Think about how great it would be to name a shaggy dog “Toupee”.

 Go to an audition just for the experience.

 Tell someone cute, “You’re cute”.

 Sit in a sauna with a stack of fashion magazines & sweat it out.

 Find a secret place with a great view. Like a tree, or a rooftop, or a hill.

 Go & see a musical (or just rent one).

 Be optimistic.

 Buy ridiculous slippers.

 Make a list of the things you want to do to celebrate the upcoming season.

 Lie down in the sunshine.

 Pretend to be a dancer in a music video as you perform mundane tasks. Jiggle your way from the bathroom to the kitchen, shake it while you wait for your toast to pop, booty bump while you pick an outfit.

 Go to an aquarium & take photos of the jellyfish.

 Watch movies you used to love as a child.

 Book a karaoke room with friends & sing your heart out.

 Make a list of practical, actionable ways you can improve your situation.

 Start keeping a dream journal & write down their supposed meanings, too.

 See if you can develop an appreciation for a band or a style of music you’ve never liked before.

 Write a play.

 Go to vintage stores looking for fabulous old typewriters.

 Write the stuff you like about your body on your body with a marker.

 Change your ring-tone to the sound of one of your friends laughing hysterically.

 Watch videos of Robin Williams or Eddie Murphy.

 Listen to Divine Harvest by The Mae Shi. Don’t be worried, everything will turn out fine. Don’t be worried, friend just put your hand in mine.

 Take a nap with your head at the other end of the bed.

 Walk around a garden centre & buy a colourful plant. Give it a name.

 Go somewhere that people walk their dogs & make friends with some fluffy creatures.

 Hug your friends.

 Tell someone everything.

 Believe that everything is always getting better.