Worth Rembering

Do not look back and grieve over the past, for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering.

Ida Scott Taylor

Courage

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that frightens us. We ask ourselves who am I to be brilliant, talented, fabulous and gorgeous. Actually, who are we not to be. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so others wont feel insecure around you. We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us. And it is not just in some of us. It's in all of us. And as we let our own light shine we unconsciously give others to do the same. And when we are liberated from our own fears, our very presence automatically liberates others.                    
                              Mary Christensen

It is all about courage.

Every Friend is Like a Snowflake

Snowflake photo from: http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/photos/photos.htm

Every friend is like a snowflake, unique in beauty and design. Each sparkles in a different way—some are playful, some refined. But, unlike fragile snowflakes that fade when the sun appears, friends grow even more beautiful with every passing year.

Author unknown

 

We are Like a Snowflake

We are each of us a snowflake not two of us the same

Reflections of the endless loving

Source from which we came

Unique in form and beauty

Crystallized at birth

Little flecks of heaven born to melt into the earth

We are each of us a snowflake of infinite design

Transitory dancers on the widow panes of time

Unique in form and beauty

No two of us the same

Reflections of the endless loving

Source from which we came

We are each of us a snowflake a falling star in flight

A travler through the universe in search of our own light

Unique in form and beauty

No two of one design

Transitory dancers on the window pane of time.

Author: Emily Warburton

Resolving Conflict and Understanding Fear

I once sat in a workshop given by Joel Curtis from Scentsy Corporate at a boot camp for directors.  I particularly found his workshop to be quite enlightening.

He informed us that the root of all problems in relationships is fear.  He told us all fear is the fear of one thing, which he waited to the end of the workshop to reveal what the "one thing" was.

He stated that fear makes you vulnerable.

Part of our brain (Amygdala) is set up to save and protect us from anything threatening.  When we are threatened, this Amygdala causes us to act:

1. to fight
2. to flee
3. to freeze

Everyone has their own reality.  Everyone has their view.  No one wants to be wrong.  If we are right, we have feelings of belonging.  If we are wrong, then we don't feel accepted.  Men usually experience stronger emotions, but are able to sustain or hold onto their emotions much longer than women.

If we want to create value in conversation, we need to recognize other's fear and worth.  There is something loveable in every person, look for it and recognize.  Discover their "view".  Listen, learn and understand.  Clarify events, and validate their feelings.  Find where your "views" intersect, where you share the same purpose.  Explore possibilities for achieving shared purpose.  Agree to direction and path that you can get to your goals.

Additional thoughts from Johna Johnson:

Create a vision to set goals in place to ensure your goals happen.
Have a dream or vision.
Goals are attainable when they are written down.
Goals are achieved by moving forward with tiny baby steps.  Each day moving forward.

FEAR STOPS OUR GOALS

Make S M A R T  goals

S     Specific (be very specific and detailed)
M    Measurable goals
A     Acceptable  (must be acceptable to you)
R     Realistic
T     Timebound  (set a deadline or a date to achieve)

Finally, the "one thing" that fear boils down to is......... the fear of being alone.   When we come into conflict with others, take time to look deep inside and try to understand what is causing the fear.  Try to be understanding, create goals to help overcome this fear, and validate each person.  You are not the only one right. 

Have a great day resolving conflicts!

Love

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, nor touched, but are felt in the heart.                         -Helen Keller

Let's take our live's back and get out from under all the clutter!

Today, at church one of the speakers talked of getting our live's back.  He talked about the 5 s's used in his workplace for order.  He mentioned that sometimes our lives get so cluttered with things and schedules that we might be so weighted down, that we might miss the important and spiritual things in life just trying to get out from underneath all the clutter.  Because I love order so much, I especially enjoyed his message, and was inspired to set a goal to declutter my life and home, little bit, by little bit this year.  I think if I accomplish this lofty goal, I will be refreshed and rejuvenated in my quest to enjoy life to its fullest.  Please comment and share your decluttering experiences this year.  Below, I will paste the definitions of the 5's business suggestions which I think we can totally apply to our home life as well.  These definitions are taken from wikipedia.

Phases of 5S

There are 5 primary phases of 5S: sorting, straightening, systematic cleaning, standardizing, and sustaining.

Sorting

Eliminate all unnecessary tools, parts, and instructions. Go through all tools, materials, and so forth in the plant and work area. Keep only essential items and eliminate what is not required, prioritizing things per requirements and keeping them in easily-accessible places. Everything else is stored or discarded.

Straightening or setting in order / stabilize

There should be a place for everything and everything should be in its place. The place for each item should be clearly labeled or demarcated. Items should be arranged in a manner that promotes efficient work flow, with equipment used most often being the most easily accessible. Workers should not have to bend repetitively to access materials. Each tool, part, supply, or piece of equipment should be kept close to where it will be used – in other words, straightening the flow path. Seiton is one of the features that distinguishes 5S from "standardized cleanup". This phase can also be referred to as Simplifying.^[1]

Sweeping or shining or cleanliness / systematic cleaning

Clean the workspace and all equipment, and keep it clean, tidy and organized. At the end of each shift, clean the work area and be sure everything is restored to its place. This makes it easy to know what goes where and ensures that everything is where it belongs. Spills, leaks, and other messes also then become a visual signal for equipment or process steps that need attention. A key point is that maintaining cleanliness should be part of the daily work – not an occasional activity initiated when things get too messy.

Standardizing

Work practices should be consistent and standardized. All work stations for a particular job should be identical. All employees doing the same job should be able to work in any station with the same tools that are in the same location in every station. Everyone should know exactly what his or her responsibilities are for adhering to the first 3 S's.

Sustaining the discipline or self-discipline

Maintain and review standards. Once the previous 4 S's have been established, they become the new way to operate. Maintain focus on this new way and do not allow a gradual decline back to the old ways. While thinking about the new way, also be thinking about yet better ways. When an issue arises such as a suggested improvement, a new way of working, a new tool or a new output requirement, review the first 4 S's and make changes as appropriate.

Thoughts to consider:

• A cluttered mind is a devils workshop.
• Create a list of basics needed in our lives as we decide what clutter to get rid of.
• We give our live's to that which we give our time.
• How does our clutter affect our family?
• Am I too busy with things that are taking away from my divine role?
• Keep things simple.
• Choose the simple way.
• Less is more - quality vs. quantity
• God's plan is simple.  How are we complicating his plan?
• Are we reading scriptures in clutter, or praying with distractions?
• If you are not sure you are ready to get rid of something, send it to a holding area, see if you can live without it, give yourself a date to make the final give away decision.
• Order contributes to success.

Thanks to Reece Barker for his comments and challenge for getting our live's back.

Let's lighten our loads, and see the joy of life that will be uncovered.  Please comment on your experiences of 2012.  May we all have the best year ever.          Marilyn

Looking forward to a great 2012

Wow! What a great holiday, spent with my family that I love so dearly.  We enjoyed Christmas a day early to help accommodate Christmas schedules for our married kids.  We had such a great time together for Christmas eve and morning with yummy Thai cooking for the evening, traditional formal breakfast on Christmas day, and wonderful gifts shared by all.  Every hour of every day of the holiday  has been taken by family events, which we have enjoyed so much. As our holiday has come to an end, I have felt a little stress thinking of getting back into the routine of life.  Sure wish we had just one more week off to clean up and get ready for the new year.

Oh, well, here we go, excited for the adventure of 2012 ahead.