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? 

Jean

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 9^th 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?

Jean

What's Your First Response?

If you’re from Burlington, North Carolina, you know what it means when you’ve parked downtown and find a little orange ticket underneath your windshield wiper: you’ve got a parking ticket. If you’re not from Burlington, you may have had a similar experience in your city. Those little orange tickets are not my friend. In the past few years, I’ve paid….well…more than my share of parking ticket fines.  And every time, I kick myself for throwing money down the drain.  (I mean, it’s $10 a pop; $30, if you forget to pay on time.)

So, I decided this year was going to be different. Very different. Not only did I vow to decrease the amount of money I’m throwing away on those little orange beasts, but I promised myself: No more parking tickets! Period.  (Besides, all that wasted money could have bought me a TON of chocolate!)

Let me tell you, it’s been a challenge. Especially on cold, rainy days where I REALLY didn’t want to walk the few blocks from the parking lot to the office. So, yesterday evening, I walked to my car, in the all day parking lot, and what did I see? You guessed it. The dreaded orange beast, tucked beneath the windshield wiper. Ugg!

My first thought was…..well….I can’t say that word out loud. I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I mean, it was like the meter maid had gone crazy. (I’m sure there’s a more appropriate—and modern—term than ‘meter maid’ but you get the picture.) And it wasn’t just me.  As far as the eye could see, there were parking tickets on every car! In a lot that was designated for all day parking. What?

Have you ever had a moment when things weren’t exactly what they seemed? Well, this was one of those moments. As I swiped the dreaded thing off the windshield, I realized, it wasn’t a ticket at all. Instead, it was an advertisement. What a relief!

I turned over the piece of paper to find this:

Then I realized that I had let my first response color my attitude. Even for a brief moment. I had reacted to what I thought was true before looking more closely to see the real truth. (Of course, looking at that little slip of paper, I'm just glad ALL the cars had them; I might have been a little offended if they had singled me out!)

I learned a lesson yesterday, and it’s summed up in this quote by Stedman Graham, a businessman: “People who let events and circumstances dictate their lives are living reactively. That means they don’t act on life, they only react to it.”

Today, I’ve made another promise to myself. Oh yeah, I’m still going to live out 2013 without any parking tickets. But, going forward, I’m also going to “act on life” rather than react. My first response will be well thought out before I respond.

·         Have you ever reacted to a situation that turned out to be different than it first seemed?
·         What can you do, starting now, to eliminate knee-jerk reactions?
·         If you’re parking in downtown Burlington, watch out for those little orange beasts!

No-more-reactively yours, 

Jean

Guest Blogger: Janet Harllee on Making a Difference, Your Way

Today, I welcome Janet Harllee, storyteller and entertainer, to share with you "Making a Difference, Your Way." Read on as she shares how you can make a difference, starting today. -Jean

St. Mother Teresa, Walter Cronkite, the 9/11 Heroes, Pat Tillman, Billy Graham, and all the

men and women who have served and who are currently serving our country.  The list can go

on and on of well-known people who have made a difference.  But you do not need to be well-

known or famous to make a difference. 

Recently, I spoke with several individuals and asked them who made a difference in their life

that has affected them.  Here are some of their comments…

  “My grandmother had a hard life.  She passed on to me that you have to work for what you really want.”

“I learned more about life from my aunt.  She was legally blind and deaf, but was always positive and felt blessed even with her challenges.”

“It’s friends who are always there when I need them.  Their life example is a blessing to me.”

“The way my supervisor did her work as a nurse, and how she encouraged her staff helped me to be a better supervisor.” 

“It was my 5^th grade teacher who told me that I should buckle down and work hard, and since I did not receive encouragement at home, what she said has always stayed with me.”

“My Mother told me to leave a place better than you found it, whether it’s cleaning a room, or talking with a person.  That has stuck with me and applies to anything I do.”

Robert Frost is quoted saying, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I…I took the one less

traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”

Look through a different lens today.  Take notice of people and the opportunities of how

you can help them.  It is the little things in life that make the biggest difference.   A friend of

mine told me she went to her bank the other day.  A lady stopped her and said, “Thank you for

smiling.”  My friend spoke to the lady and found out that she lives alone, and was quite touched

that someone took the time to smile at her.   Let someone go in front of you at the grocery

store check-out, or wave a driver to turn in front of you. I know you are in the right, but you just

might be changing someone’s outlook for the day.

Working with seniors on a daily basis, I see how making a difference is in the simple things

like, a smile, or taking the time to sit down and listen to them.  It makes them feel special – and

they really are.  When you do something for someone else, it makes you feel better too. 

In today’s world of cell phones, texting, and computers, I hope we never get so impersonal

that we forget to make a difference in our home, our community, our church, our country. 

Readers, I hope you've enjoyed Janet's words of wisdom today! Be sure to check out her website at www.JanetHarllee.net. You'll be glad you did! -Jean

(Thanks, Janet, for sharing with us!)

Six Super Lessons from Super Bowl XLVII

It was T minus 3 hours, 36 minutes, 24 seconds and counting until the kickoff of Super Bowl XLVII. I could hardly wait! Even though, I have to admit, none of my favorite teams had made it. (Although I do love SF quarterback, Colin Kaepernick.) Still, there’s just something super exciting about watching the best of the best in the NFL go head to head. Plus, I love to watch (and critique) the commercials. How about you?

3 hours, 36 minutes and 24 seconds s-l-o-w-l-y ticked by. Finally, it was time! To see Jennifer Hudson and the Sandy Hook elementary school kids sing “God Bless America”….well, it was heart-touching.  And Alicia Keys’ rendition of the National Anthem was simply beautiful.

 And what about that 11-second kick return for a touchdown by the Ravens? Honestly, I was hoping the 49ers would win. But I was super impressed by that play. You’ve gotta recognize talent.  (Sorry, K!) But then there was the fumble recovery….yep, so much talent on the field tonight.  And 17 San Francisco points scored in just over 4 minutes.  Plus Quarterback K’s touchdown! Longest in Super Bowl history. Wow!

Congrats to the Ravens for the win! And, now that the game is a part of history, here are a few life lessons I learned from this Super Bowl that I want to share with you. #herewego

     1.  Be genuine. Always sing (don’t lip-sync).  Even if you admit you’re going to do it, lip-sync-ing is often perceived as being ‘fake’ or taking the easy way out. (Which is interesting if you’re lip-sync-ing to your own performance.) Now, I certainly understand that the sound quality would be better lip-sync-ed. However, I’ll take a live performance anytime over perfection. Kudos to Beyoncé for going for it. She genuinely rocked the house at half-time!

2.  Be prayerful. Before taking the field, we saw players praying. In your personal and professional life, it’s important to have balance. Men and woman of great faith draw strength from and give glory to God. Don’t neglect your spiritual life.  

3      3.  Be grateful.  Just like making it to the Super Bowl, there are going to be key people and key events in your life that get you to your shining hour. Remember those that got you there and let them know you appreciate them.

4      4.  Be forgiving.  Life isn’t fair, especially if you disagreed with the referee’s call on…you know what play I’m talking about! Yeah, that one. If you focus on times you’ve been treated unfairly in life, you’ll never reach your full potential. You have to forgive in order to focus fully and live your purpose.

5      5.  Be ready for anything. Sometimes, the unexpected happens. Sometimes it’s beyond your control. Like when the lights go out in the Super Dome during the big game. When life happens, focus on what you do have control of, not on what you don’t. And ALWAYS have a Plan B. Use your downtime wisely. Be ready for when the lights DO come back on. (Even if it takes 35 minutes.)

6       6. Be the best. NFL teams that make it to the Super Bowl didn’t do it by being mediocre. Be your best in what you do, take a journey of continual growth and find your own success!

Are there any lessons you’ve learned from watching the big game?

What was your favorite commercial? Mine was a tie for first between the RAM “So God Made a Farmer” and the Jeep/USO one. With bravery at the prom (Audi) coming in second.  (Maybe not a close second, but second just the same.)

What was the tackiest? Yeah, the Go Daddy kiss.

To your super success,

Jean

Check out the Super Bowl commercials here!

5 Secrets to Your Success in the New Year

Today, I've taken some of the most popular New Year’s resolutions and I’m sharing ways you (and I) can realize success for each of them.

1.   Lose weight.  This one hits close to home. Every year, I put this at the top of my New Year’s resolutions list. In fact, many times, I put only this on my list. Some years, I would go on a diet (i.e. Atkins: lost 12 pounds, gained them back—and then some-- after I quit the diet) and some years, I would join a gym (i.e. Gold’s 1-year membership: went regularly a few times a week for a few months, had surgery, never went back). Secret #1: The key to success is in the quit; don’t do it! When I looked back at the ways I’d failed in losing weight, year after year, I realized that my failure was all about quitting before I realized success. This year, I’m challenging myself to be successful in losing a few pounds and getting fit. I have a plan and I’m sticking to it! (And for those of you who know me personally, you’ll know by the end of the year if this worked or not!) And if you’re celebrating the season and new year with alcohol, be aware of the calories you’re consuming. For those who drink, approximately 16% of the calories they consume are from alcohol. So, when you make your plan, consider the liquids you consume as well as the foods. Be sure to check with your doctor for a plan that’s right for you.
2.  Save money.  Often, at the end of the year, we look back wishing we’d been more financially savvy. If you find yourself wishing you’d saved more of your hard-earned money, here’s how to give yourself the best chance to make that happen. Secret #2: Change your attitude. When you change your attitude towards money, you can begin to change your financial life. Best-selling author and financial guru, Dave Ramsey says, “It’s time to change the attitudes that keep you broke.” Financial Peace University is his ‘baby’ and the program has helped millions change their financial stories. The first steps are getting past the myths of debt and money, embracing the changes you’re making even when they’re painful and doing it all with a new attitude toward your finances. Click here for more info on how financial peace of mind can be yours. 
3.  Help others. The spirit of giving during the Christmas season prompts us to open our hearts to those less fortunate and less able to care for themselves. But just because Christmas is over doesn't mean our hearts have changed. When making resolutions for a new year, we often find ourselves resolving to give a little more, to dig a little more deeply into our pockets and into our hearts to ease another’s burden, feed some hungry tummies or help out Santa on his merry rounds. Secret #3: Keep your spirit of giving alive. Look around you. There’s more opportunity for giving than ever. Whether you donate a pint of blood, a few cans of food to a food bank or volunteer at a local school, you can put a smile on someone’s face and make a difference in their lives. For a really cool idea we can do together, click here.
4.   Go green. It’s not just a popular idea, it’s a good idea. And an idea that can get your creative juices flowing in finding ways to do it. Secret #4: Simplify your life. Recycling is top of the list when it comes to going green. If you aren't recycling, the new year is a great time to start. And if you are, what about recycling all your unused items, clothes, etc. and live a bit more simply? (Oh, how I need to do this!) Contact your local charity store and find out when they accept donations. Or, start your own ‘free store.’ It can be a one-time community swap or an ongoing physical store where people can bring their unwanted items and pick up items they want or need. At the end of the day, you’ll have simplified your life and given yourself a freedom from all the ‘things’ that hold you hostage in the cleaning, maintaining and upkeep of them all. Plus, you’ll have provided others with gently-used items and clothing that make their lives a little better. And, if the planet had a capacity to love, it would love you for taking care of it.
5.  Travel more. Wow, who wouldn't like to travel to new places and experience the different foods, languages and cultures? Or maybe you’re interested in travelling around your own country, to parts unknown to you? Even here in the United States, there are so many differences depending on what part of the country you’re in. Secret #5: Chase your dreams. If your dream is to travel, just do it. Not that easy? Then chase that dream and make a plan. I recently found that if you want to, say, take a cruise, but find it hard to part with that lump sum of money, you can opt to make manageable payments. Also, check to see if you qualify for employee perks that include travel packages or if you can rack up points to use toward travel when using your debit / credit cards. Don’t just dream about it; do it. Click here for a good place to start chasing your travel dreams. 

The really cool part about these 5 secrets is that you can use them to find success in keeping your New Year’s resolutions and in other areas of your life. Check it out:

·                Secret #1: The key to success is in the quit; don’t do it!

·                Secret #2: Change your attitude.  

·                Secret #3: Keep your spirit of giving alive.

·                Secret #4: Simplify your life.

·                Secret #5: Chase your dreams.

How’s that for a game plan for life?

So, break open the bubbly (non-alcoholic, please) and make a toast to your success in the coming New Year!

Jean

Wanna share your thoughts?

1)      Made any New Year’s resolutions?

2)      Have a resolution-keeping success story?

3)      Do you like travelling and where have you been? 

End of the World or the Beginning of a Better One?

Maybe the Mayan scholars had it right. All year we’ve been captivated by the predictions. How the end of the world was coming on 12/21/12. Why? Because of a Mayan prediction and the end of their calendar. True? Actually, according to Mayan scholars, 12/21/12 was never a date we should be afraid of. But no one seemed to be listening. Even NASA felt the need to create a website addressing questions surrounding the predicted event.

Leading up to this “doomsday” people began preparing for the end in many ways. Some wrote books about it; some debated the validity of the prediction; some planned end-of-the-world parties. Then, there were those like me that watched all this from the sidelines and lived our lives as usual.

Today 12/21/12 arrived. And, for most, nothing happened. For me, something did. You know those random acts of kindness? All week I’ve been hearing about them. Even people I know personally have either acted randomly or been the recipient of kindnesses. Each time I hear of an instance, it warms my heart. There have been numerous times when people have been blessed by a complete stranger paying for their meals in a restaurant or paying for the person behind them in the drive-thru line at McDonalds.

And a friend told how she was in the checkout line in the grocery store. As she dug into her purse, she realized her wallet was missing; knowing it probably had fallen out in her car (at least, hoping that it had), she told the store clerk she would be right back to pay. By the time she came back into the store, her groceries were bagged up and ready to go, paid for by a kind soul who had been in the checkout line behind her. Over $60.

Then, just last night, a friend shared how a group of folks in her company are giving of themselves to the families of last week’s Sandy Hook school massacre. Even though they are hundreds of miles apart. Love in action.

Somehow, I think God smiles when He sees people taking care of the needs of each other in such selfless acts. Isn’t that what it’s all about? Isn’t our best example of this evidenced by the advent of the One whose birth we’ll celebrate December 25^th? His life. His death. His promise to come again. After all, He’s the one who taught use to “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

And then today, it happened to me. Oh, I didn’t know it was going to happen. And maybe most would think it wasn’t such a big deal, but for me, it was.  You see, it showed me that no matter your age or circumstances, you can find ways to participate in these random acts of kindness. I just happened to be inside the house when I heard a crash outside. It’s pretty windy today and my recycling bin had blown over. And it was full! Or had been. Now, all I saw were milk cartons and plastic soda containers being blown down the sidewalk and across the neighborhood. I ran outside in the biting wind, righted the bin and began to refill it, chasing the recyclables as the wind continued to blow. In less than a minute, a little boy, about 8 years old, ran over and, without a word, began to help. He’d run out of the house next door, not even bothering to put on a coat. He just saw a need and filled it. Just like those other folks have done and are doing in “paying it forward.”

So, maybe, just maybe, today isn’t the end of the world. But it can be the beginning of a better world when we take the opportunity to look for the needs of others and fill them. Need ideas? Clickhere.

So, I say, way to go Mayans, for bringing an end to their calendar. It gave us reason to think about how an idea can be blown out of proportion and escalate into a bogus prediction. It gave us reason to think twice before we buy into the next big thing. (What about the coming December 23-25 blackout?) And it probably gave the dude writing out that calendar a little writing cramp relief. Of course, according to NASA, the calendar doesn’t end. Just like ours begins again in January, the Mayan calendar simply ends one long-count period and begins another.

Most of all, 12/21/12 has given me a little blessing and prompted me to think of how I can “pay it forward.” And, who knows, that little 8-year-old just might find something more under his tree on Christmas Day than even Santa Claus knows about. 

Jean