Inspiration and Vision

2009-12-06T18:57:00.000-05:00

"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful."

- Albert Schweitzer

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Well, I have been sick for almost a week and have completely run out of things to do except think. Which even thinking is a little fuzzy. I decided to try to work on my blog and came across this quote and started thinking. What brings me happiness and what might I be successful at. I am personally stuck and at a crossroads only the roads span in every direction. My finances are somewhat stable though not where I want them, I can't decide on a career and am currently trying to get into Grad school more in the hope of it giving me some direction than education. So, what does one do when they aren't sure what to do? For my life I really have two main goals, one to be a mom, and secondly to help the world. Aside from that the rest is just details. So here I am stuck, trying to figure out what to do in the interim. I have been trying to get a new job for the past 6 months but nothing seems to really be opening in that direction. You know, I need to help someone right now but I am not sure who or how and until I figure that out. I think I'm stuck here, just a little frustrated. :( Hmmm... maybe there is another door around the corner I just haven't found to open yet. Wish me luck :)

2009-08-24T20:56:00.001-04:00

Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow.

Psalm 25:4

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2009-07-25T19:00:00.000-04:00

The important thing is not to think much but to love much; and so do that which best stirs you to love.

- St. Teresa of Avila

Well, I went and saw The Ugly Truth today at the theaters. It was interesting.... I'm currently in the process of finalizing my divorce and so love, relationships and dating are all touchy subjects for me. I got married at eighteen during my second year of college and am now twenty-four and terrified, I suppose. I don't know how to date, and I'm not entirely convinced I want to but I do want love and a family. What scares me the most is when I watch "movies" the women, and perhaps the men, seem to be playing games. They don't seem to be real or themselves. Their decisions are based on another's response versus who they are and that scares me. What is it like dating as an adult? How do you date as an adult? These questions go round and round in my poor head. I wish I could leave it as movie dramatization but then I see how my roommate's friends are and the questions they ask each other about what to say and the "games" don't seem so far fetched. Thankfully or sadly, I don't think very highly of them so I will not be following in their footsteps but that doesn't exactly calm my mind. I guess that leaves me with this quote, I need to focus less on being loved and more on loving others. The rest will work itself out. :)

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Stubborn vs. Steadfast

2009-06-29T17:21:00.009-04:00

Don't copy the behavior and customs

of this world, but let God transform

you into a new person by changing the

way you think. Then you will learn to

know God's will for you, which is

good and pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12:2

I had an epiphany the other day. I came to the realization that stubborn and steadfast are about the same thing just used in different context. A couple weeks ago I was listening to the radio and the lady was talking about her two year old who was acting stubborn. Apparently, the little girl hit her grandma and didn't want to say sorry. She was talking about how hard it was for her to get the girl to say sorry and how they prayed together until finally the girl came around. She was also commenting on how her daughter gets her stubbornness from her. This got me thinking.

While I was married to my husband, he used to call me stubborn. His parents would "bug" me about learning Spanish (his family was from Puerto Rico) and I was resistant (to say the least). I didn't care for the idea of someone telling me to learn something because they thought I should. I would learn when and if I wanted to, on my own time. Either way, he used to tell me I was stubborn.

Growing up I've always felt separate or different from many of my peers. I was never one to follow along with being boy crazy, into drinking or partying. And I'm still not. I have my standards (or values) and I choose to keep to them. This is what lead me to comparing my stubbornness with steadfastness. What I came to realize was the same force keeping me from "learning Spanish" was the same force that keeps me from compromising my values. Call it stubbornness or steadfastness, for me they are the same. They both represent my unwillingness to change to please other people and a firmness about who I am and try to be. I will most certainly fail on occasion but I will keep persevering until I am who I am.

I wish I could have realized this earlier while I was listening to the radio show. The strength of will her daughter was showing was really a blessing. What she needed to learn was how to help her daughter choose when her stubbornness was appropriate and when she need to give in and say sorry.

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My token to Iran and their current turmoil... I wish them the best

2009-06-16T20:28:00.004-04:00

A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.

- Ghandi

I have been watching and keeping up to date with what is going on in Iran. I can't be there but know you are in my heart and I will pray for your safety while you fight.

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Choices

2009-06-15T13:02:00.001-04:00

"...every individual has 2 choices

Wait and hope that something or someone will provide the motivation needed to act, or

Take control of your own dream and work to see it through."

-from The Disney Way pg. XIII

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2009-06-13T12:52:00.000-04:00

"When values are clear, decisions are easy"

Roy Disney in The Disney Way pg. 37

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2009-06-12T21:00:00.000-04:00

Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.

1 Timothy 1:19

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2009-06-11T18:38:00.005-04:00

"Living an inspired life supports your happiness and the happiness of all those who are touched by you."

- Marci Shimoff

Well, I have a story to tell. I do not consider myself a highly outgoing or overtly helpful person. It's not that I am mean but I am very shy and don't always feel comfortable putting myself out like that. The other day while I was driving home from my mom's house, I saw a dog walking down the middle of the road in the oncoming traffic lane. My first thought was "Aww poor doggy, I hope he doesn't get hurt." I kept driving but I felt like I needed to turn around and help the dog. I started thinking its owner might miss it and I should help the dog. Oh! I forgot to mention, meanwhile it is raining outside as well. :) I decided to follow my urge and turn around to go help the dog. While turning around, two cars passed me heading towards the dog and I was hopeful that they wouldn't hit it. After I turned around I noticed the dog was now on the sidewalk on the otherside of the road so I pull off.

Phase 1: Can I help the dog....

I am hesistant to approach it, for all I know I'm helping a vicious dog but I forge on. I kneal down (in the rain) and wait for the dog to come to me. It happily (I think) trots to me and I put my hand out for it to smell. The dog seems friendly so I pet it and help it into my back seat. I head back home thinking "well now what." I have succesffuly collected myself a stray dog, now what?

While I was petting it I had noticed it didn't have a collar. Well, I guess I won't be calling its owner. I took the doggy home and got it into my garage.

Phase 2, "What do I do now?"

It was an interesting process to get a leashless dog into my house. I let the dog outside and it immediately went in the opposite direction of the front door. Apparently, he decided to go exploring so I ended up chasing and calling him. He followed very well, which I was thankful for and we made it around the back of the house to the front door. From there he maded it into the garage and I got him some water.

Well, I do know they have started putting chips in the dogs that can be scanned to find the owners identification information so I thought well let's see if the owner had the chip installed. I look up vets in my iphone and it gives me Petco. I call them and they say they can't help. Well, thanks a lot phone. :) While looking through the veternarians listed I recognize the vet I used to take my dog to. I thought "I know them let's call and ask them." I call and explain my perculiar situation to the receptionist and she says I can bring the dog in and they can scan him.

Phase 3: How to get the dog in the car, hmm......

Now that I know where to take the doggy I have to figure out how to get it back in my car. Well, I used to have a dog so I run through my house looking for a leash. No luck. I don't have a clue what I did with the old leashes but they are no longer in my house. Hmmm. I decide to be resourceful and look for rope. Well, I know I don't keep rope but I do have a weakness for bags. Up in the spare bedroom I find one of those bags that have the strings you pull to tighten them (I don't know if they have a name) so I untie one of knots and pull the string out. Great found rope. Then I tie a know around the length of string to create a loop that I can slip around the doggy's head. I was quite surprised at my own resourcefulness, an unknown of ability. I go back downstairs and put my make shift leash around the dog's neck. I try to keep it semi-loose to not inadvertently choke the dog but it would tighten whenever the dog pulled. I successfuly manage to get the doggy back into my car. It was such a good dog. It would sit in the back seat politely and smile. I was loving it. I noticed the time and realized I have work in a few hours. As I hate being late I call my boss and leave here a message about me picking up a stray dog. I know she's going to think I'm crazy now. So at peace with work, wet dog in back seat and me, beginning to smell like wet dog, we head off to the vet.

Phase 4 No Way, I can't believe my luck

We arrive at the vet, it's still raining, and I get the dog back out of the car trying not to let it pull on the makeshift leash and choke. I go inside and thankfully no other clients are there. I tell the receptionist I called and have a stray dog. She says ok and walks away and out a back door. My next thought is "okay, well???" As she walks through the door I mention I don't have a leash and take my makeshift leash off the doggy. She comes back through the mysterious door and through a window in the entrance door to the rooms I notice a guy with a machine in his hand walking towards us and the lady. He comes out, puts a normal collar and leash on the dog and tries to scan the doggy. While I am awaiting the verdict the lady says "we know this dog." I'm like "What?!?" She's like yeah, he's a client of ours, what's his name? At this point I am stunned, to say the least, and the guy reports there is no chip. They agree to keep the dog there. Thank God, as I had no dog food or anything at home. I leave my contact information incase they need to get ahold of me or cannot find its owner. I tell them where I found the dog and ask to be kept up to date. Later that week they call to say the dogs owners have picked him up and the doggy is home. Apparently, the doggy's name was "Abbers." I get a call the next week from a lady thanking me for finding her dog. I told her I was happy to help and glad to be of service. So all in all a happy ending story and I now have a rep at work for picking up strays. :) Oh well, life is a beautiful thing. :)

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You Can Choose Your Attitude...

2009-06-10T19:05:00.004-04:00

...that everything can be taken from a

man but one thing: the last of the

human freedoms-- to choose one's

attitude in any given set of

circumstances, to choose one's own

way.

-- Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning

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Building Customer Relations...

2009-06-09T13:00:00.001-04:00

"Walt Disney insisted that every employee is the company in the mind of the customer."

- from The Disney Way pg. 3

2009-03-23T12:52:00.000-04:00

Time, Persistance and Commitment are the keys to long-term benefits.

-- from The Disney Way pg.30

2009-03-21T18:48:00.002-04:00

Two Tibetan monks meet each other a

few years after being released from

prison, where they had been tortured

by their jailers.

"Have you forgiven them?" asks

the first.

"I will never forgive them!

Never!" replies the second.

"Well," says the first monk, "I

guess they still have you in

prison, don't they?"

2009-03-21T18:40:00.001-04:00

To make the quickest progress, you don't have

to take huge leaps. You just have to take baby

steps -- and keep on taking them.

- Marci Shimoff

2009-03-12T08:30:00.003-04:00

"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. Actually,

who are you not to be? You are a child

of God. Your playing small doesn't

serve the world. There's nothing

enlightened about shrinkingso that

other people won't feel insecure

around you. We were born to make

manifest the glory of God that is

within us."

-Nelson Mandela, inaugural address, written by Marianne Williamson

I feel this is so true and inspiring.

2009-03-11T19:06:00.000-04:00

Whoever is happy will make others happy, too.

- Mark Twain

Forgive Someone Today...

2009-03-06T10:46:00.005-05:00

To forgive is the highest, most beautiful

form of love. In return, you will receive

untold peace and happiness.

- Robert Muller

What are Dreams?

2008-12-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

A dream is a wish your heart makes.

- Jiminy Cricket

Light in the Soul

2008-11-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

When there is light in the soul, there is beauty in the person.
When there is beauty in the person, there is harmony in the house.
When there is harmony in the house, there is order in the nation.
When there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world.

- Chinese proverb

Silence is Golden...

2008-11-29T18:54:00.002-05:00

God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls.

- Mother Teresa

Walt Disney's Four Steps to Magic...

2008-11-28T09:00:00.005-05:00

" His four steps were simple:

1. Dream beyond the boundaries of

today.

2. Believe in sound values.

3. Dare to make a difference.

4. And then just go out and do it:

Dream, Believe, Dare, Do."

-from The Disney Way pg. xi

How to find Happiness...

2008-08-20T08:00:00.002-04:00

It is only possible to live happily

ever after on a day-to-day basis.

- Margaret Bonnano

2008-08-13T19:06:00.004-04:00

If you don't like something,

change it. If you can't change

it, change your attitude.

Don't Complain.

--Maya Angelou

What can you change today?

Silence

2008-08-01T12:30:00.002-04:00

To make the right choices in life, you have to get in touch with your soul. To do this, you need to experience solitude...because in the silence you hear the truth and know the solutions.

- Deepak Chopra

Make sure you spend some time with yourself everyday. Who knows what answers may come to questions you never thought to ask???

Inspiration through Miracles

2008-07-29T19:57:00.001-04:00

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.
- Albert Einstein

2008-07-28T09:25:00.005-04:00

Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing in one's own sunshine.

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

Try not to stand in your own way...

Appreciation

2008-06-27T13:43:00.003-04:00

I've been reading Dale Carnegie's "How to win friends & influence people." Well, let me start by saying "what was I waiting for!" I have been putting off reading it because the title is a turn off for me. I don't particiularly care for the idea of "winning friends" but I suppose the goal was to catch buyer's attention. This book is a great read and reiterates what many of us know but fail to see.

Think about it? How many times have we each been told or encouraged to be more appreciative and say yeah I'll try but never really do? I know I have, many times. Being appreciative of others and what they do is very important for each of us. While it will increase our rapport with others more importantly it will increase our rapport with ourselves. I know I personally feel better when I appreciate others but it is a scary thing. I think when we appreciate others we are exposing a part of ourselves and that is what makes it difficult. Or maybe it is just because it is the abnormal thing to do in our society.

Yesterday, I was going through the drive-thru line in McDonald's and got the impulse to buy the meal for the car behind. I was terrified. I started wondering, "How am I going to say this?" "How am I going to explain this if the cashier ask?" "What will she say? How will she look?" As I approached the window I knew I was about to make a choice. Either I followed the feeling or I didn't. Gladly, I did. It felt good and the cashier didn't make a comment or ask questions. I don't know who was in the car behind me but I hope it did brighten their day. Even just a little bit.

What is a TEAM?

2008-06-24T18:39:00.004-04:00

TEAM

Together Everyone Achieves More

I read this definition in Marci Shimoff's book "Happy for No Reason." I really enjoyed reading it.

Teams are important because they create a support system where if one person succeeds, all will succeed. Next time you think about your team use this definition to help you remember what a team is.

Change

2008-06-18T19:03:00.006-04:00

Things do not change; we change. -- Henry David Thoreau

Think about it...

What is one's purpose in life?

2008-06-18T19:01:00.004-04:00

Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.
-- Artistotle

Well, according to Aristotle happiness is the purpose of life. While I don't necessarily agree that happiness is the purpose of life I do believe it is necessary for the enjoyment of life. What would a life be if there was no happiness. Hardly livable. A purpose is a goal or destination to reach before we leave. Happiness is the ability to enjoy the journey along the way.

Happiness is to...

Smile at the Sunshine

Admire the beautiful Clouds

Listen to the crickets and frogs Sing

Love with all one's Being

Smile at the Sunshine

What makes you Happy?

Rejection is God's Protection

2008-06-18T19:00:00.005-04:00

This is a phrase I read in a book recently. It summarizes how I feel when things don't seem to be going right and you can't get something done. I never push things. If it doesn't flow it wasn't meant to happen. This doesn't mean don't try and persevere for difficult things. Just that when something isn't working step back and wait for the door to open.

Rejection is God's Protection

212 Degree's

2008-06-13T15:30:00.006-04:00

Did you know at 212 degree's water is boiling while at 211 degree's it's just hot? Think about that. It is a shift of just one degree to make a change. Boiling water can power a steam engine: hot water can't. Think of how many times if you had taken or when you took that extra step or went that extra degree and it made all the difference. It's not hard to make a change then, just one more degree. :)

GOAL 2: Write a Business Plan

2008-06-08T14:05:00.003-04:00

As I do intend to run my own company (actually I plan to manage a few different companies), I need to learn how to write a business plan. I have been doing a lot of learning but I need to start composing it. It should help me consolidate my thoughts and plans.

Now Is The Time to Make History....

2008-06-08T13:59:00.002-04:00

What can you do today that can last forever?

The Road Less Traveled....

2008-06-08T13:52:00.005-04:00

One thing I have a passion for is adventure and breaking the mold. I want to soar and inspire others through my accomplishments. I have always believed that anyone can achieve anything they want as long as they want it and are willing to fight for it. It most certainly is not easy and can be frustrating and discouraging but the reward is worth 10 times the suffering.
The Road less Traveled leads to ..............

What is Giving????

2008-06-08T10:15:00.003-04:00

True giving is when you roll up your sleeves and connect your heart to the hearts of those you are helping. It's not about how much you give but how involved you are. Find an issue you are passionate about. Study the problem and fully understand it. Create a goal, put a plan together, go in and try it, and stick with it.
- Magazine?

The Best of Everything

2008-06-08T09:53:00.004-04:00

You deserve...
the Best of Everything

GOAL 1: To be a Real Estate Investor

2008-06-08T09:33:00.005-04:00

"If you have a vision and are willing to take risks, then you can become a real estate investor."
- Unknown

One goal I have is to become a real estate investor. I am currently looking at properties and attending seminars. I keep feeling like I have pieces to a puzzle but I can't make them fit together. I am currently working on the financing aspects. Becoming familiar with more mortgage options, hard money and angel investors. Wish me luck!

Making a change...

2008-06-08T09:31:00.002-04:00

The best changes often start as a single, simple thought. Think big, and discover the ways to make your dreams real.

Create Your Own Masterpiece...

2008-06-08T08:39:00.006-04:00

I recently attended a seminar called "Creating Your masterpiece" presented by Jennifer Lee and Leah Turner. It was interesting as it compares you to an artist masterpiece. Remember, a masterpiece is the "most outstanding creation by an artisan." Each of us is a masterpiece but we must create it.

The seminar focused on identifying the things you enjoy and making sure to do them. The four main sections were Relationships, Health/Emotion, Money/Financial and Physical Environment. Our environment is an important aspect to our overall health. Do you live and work in places that inspire you?

For part of the seminar we created a paper name plate which was decorated with all of our favorite things. It works! Everytime I look at it I smile. It's like a quick reminder of the things and people you enjoy in life, most of all, yourself.

My Vision Board

2008-06-07T20:33:00.006-04:00

Vision and Inspiration

Disclaimer

2008-06-06T09:44:00.000-04:00

I do not claim to own all of the pictures or art represented on this website. Many located within the blog are from various websites online. Mainly the ones consisting of family, loacted under the family slideshow are mine.

As to information, I am collecting different quote's and bits of inspiration. I will cite my sources when I know where they came from but as many come in my life through various means I may not be able to cite all of them. If unknown is should state unknown. Occasionally I will elaborate upon an idea and that will remain my only work.

If I have inappropriately collected someone's work and they would not like me to use it please politely let me know and I will remove.

Sincerely,

Shyrene