Fulfill Your Dreams

Fulfill Your Dreams
Only You Can Change Your Life

Monday, April 8, 2013

5-Minute Face Lift


So, on the way home from church yesterday, mom handed me a bunch of coupons and said, “Stop at Wal-mart on the way home. I need a few things.” Now, that’s not unusual, so, like a good daughter, I stopped by Wal-Mart. She said she’d wait in the car while I ran in and picked up the necessary items. That’s not unusual either. You see, mom is in a wheelchair and it’s an effort getting in and out so sometimes, she opts for waiting in the car. Unless we’re going clothes shopping. That woman loves some clothes!

As I grabbed a cart and began looking through the coupons, I saw she’d clipped one for a 5-minute face lift. Hmm…..the woman is 86 and looks great. What does SHE need with this miracle serum? Still, the coupon was for $5 off. Wow!

And that should have been my first clue. Anything that has a $5 off coupon has GOT to be pricey  When I picked it up, yeah, it was. 29 bucks! Now, I don’t know about you, but where I come from, 1oz of serum for that kinda money spells E-X-P-E-N-S-I-V-E. But this was my mama, so I put it into the cart.

A few items later and I was through the checkout and out the door. And mom was happy.

Later that evening, she handed me the precious miracle serum. “I want you to try it first. Just to see if it works.” Sure, no problem. The woman has very sensitive skin and can’t wear just anything. I told her I’d try it in the morning. So I did. It seemed harmless enough, made my skin feel a little tight (must be that firming action) and, I swear, my reflection in the mirror looked 10 years younger. Of course, that was BEFORE I put on my glasses.

Downstairs I gave her a quick report on the ‘stuff.’ That’s when she told me she didn’t want it. That I could have it.

Now, if you know mama you’d know that was her plan all along. But it was the first time she’d been so sneaky about it. And I never saw it coming. Usually, she sees these anti-aging or weight-loss products on television, orders them and presents them to me. Usually in the form of a birthday or Christmas present. Just trying to help me salvage my youth.

  • Have you ever been surprised by an unexpected (maybe even unwanted) “gift”?
  • What do you think: Is $29 an ounce too much, just right or not enough for a miracle serum?
  • Have you ever used a miracle serum to preserve your youth? (If it worked, do tell.)


So, that’s how it came to be that I’m now the proud owner of a 5-minute face lift. Give me a few days. I’m thinking that’s how long it’ll take before y’all start mistaking me for my daughter’s sister. 

And if that doesn’t happen, does anyone know the return policy at Wal-mart? 

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Wanna Be


Have you ever wanted to be something or someone you’re not? Then you know how I feel.

When I was a child, I was short. You too? My family called me “Little Jean.” My friends called me “short.” My mom called me “petite.” She still does. Yes, I haven’t changed much. I stopped growing (vertically) when I was in 9th grade, topping out at 5’2”. (I wish I’d stopped growing horizontally!)

If you happen to look at any group pictures I’m in, especially family pics, chances are I’m the most vertically challenged. When I give presentations, I’m the one that steps out from behind the lectern. Not just because I’m brave. Those things make me feel short. (Lecterns with fixed mics are not my friend.) And, for all you tall fellas out there, I’m the girl in the grocery store that asks you, “Please, can you reach that box of Cheerios on the top shelf?” And for some of you tall fellas out there, that is not a clever way to get to meet you; I really CAN’T reach that high. (But, every once in a while, when no one’s looking, I can climb that high. Shhh….don’t tell the folks at Wal-Mart!)

So, this morning, as I was walking into work on a bright and sunny day, I was thrilled to see this wanna be tall & skinny girl had achieved her life-long dream. There I was, as plain as day, on the sidewalks of downtown Burlington, my tall and skinny shadow proclaiming my transformation. And, wow, was it tall and skinny! I mean, I was looking good in all my silhouetted 7-ft glory. I even felt my step get a little lighter, my posture improve and the early morning brain fog begin to lift. All because I saw myself, not so much the way I am but the way I want to be.

In reality, of course, I had not grown one inch. In reality, I will never grow taller, except when I step into a pair of high, high, really high heels. In reality, I could grow skinnier. (Never hurts to dream!)

Now, if I go out at noon, my shadow will be equally as deceiving: shorter and wider. Ouch! And that perception of me will not raise my spirits.

Today, I realized that even if there are things I cannot change, it’s okay. I need to accept them and move on. For those things I can change, I continually identify them and make a plan to change them. No matter what, I try my best to keep my eye on the end goal. Sure, there may be times when, like that shorter and wider shadow, I lose my focus and can’t see past the negativity. It happens. It may happen to you too. A good way to get past that is to evaluate, every day, your growth and progress toward your success. If you aren’t growing, you aren’t going anywhere.

Sometimes we have to accept who we are in order to move on successfully. Sometimes we can become who we want to be and that moves us closer to success. Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is two-fold:
  1. What unchangeable thing can you identify today and choose to accept?
  2.  What can you change to move closer to success and how will you do that, starting now?

Yes, I’m a wanna be. And each day I’m moving closer to what and who I want to be. Are you?