Help Along the Way

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(I have to give credit for the title to Anne LaMott – a writer who always inspires me.)

I got to spend the morning brainstorming, laughing, and dreaming with my friend Gina. She always gives me much-needed help with my writing, and always inspires me with her writing/food/photography. We are both working on books. Today was both work and play, the best kind of day.  We seem to have the gift of being able to open doors for each other. Actually, that’s what all of my friendships are based on – the inspiration we offer each other.

Here’s a nugget from Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad: “Always hang out with people who inspire you.”

imageI met Gina a couple of years ago on Facebook – she reached out and introduced herself, and we’ve been friends ever since!  With our children grown and on their own, we are both moving into a new phase of our lives. We are pursuing the dreams that were put on hold while we were raising our kids, running our households, and working. (Notice the Wonder- Woman bag to our right, in the window?)

With our dreams tempered by years of life-experience, it is now our job to get them out into the world. And that was our focus today.

Here’s another nugget, this one from Insight Seminars: What you focus on…you get more of.”

I have friends that inspire and delight me daily, and I’ve never even met them in person. I feel this is one of the best things about Facebook, say what you will. Sure, there’s lots of rabid politics, righteousness, and negativity to be found there, but that’s where you get to choose what you’re going to focus on. With the push of a button all of that can be out of your life instantly – unlike a bad boss, incompetent co-workers or certain family members.

We focus on our goals, and dream big – but we’re not too attached to how it shows up. Gina and I ended our visit grateful for some friend-time, for everything we have in our lives (because on some level, we’ve created it) and grateful for how much fun we are having with the people we love.

Oh, and for our sanity!

XO Donna

 

Attitude of gratitude

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“Gratitude is the single most important ingredient to living a successful and fulfilled life.”  Jack Canfield

Some days are easier than others. I got out of bed this morning later than I should have in order to wake-up “gracefully.”  Instead,  I had to jump up, make the bed, inhale some yogurt and fruit, shower, grab paper-work and be out the door to make an appointment. I called to check that it would be okay to be 10 minutes late. “Yes, come on in,” they said.  After that, I had to hurry to the next appointment. And then stop at the store. Now, two hours worth of driving later, I am finally at home in front of the keyboard and feeling relaxed.  And grateful to be writing.

I have been focusing on gratitude for the last two weeks. A dear friend gave me a book to read, and I have been reading it in between clients at work, and a few pages at bedtime each night. I have been feeling and seeing changes in my life already! 

“Trade your expectation for appreciation and the world changes instantly.”  Tony Robbins

The other thing I have been focused on is “intention.”  Rather than complaining about what you don’t want, or don’t have, pay attention to what you do want in your life.  When you’re taking motorcycle safety classes, they teach you, “Don’t look where you don’t want to go!” I personally like things to be framed in a positive way, so I would restate it as, “Look in the direction you want to go.” On a Harley, things happen fast.  In life it can take a little longer, but if you focus on where you want to go, and what you’d like to create, and have, you will get there.  However, if you are always focusing on what you don’t have, what you don’t want and how you don’t want to feel…you’ll be stuck.  And stuck just ain’t sexy! 

wooden open door“Gratitude opens the doors to the power, the wisdom, the creativity of the Universe. You open the door through gratitude.”    Deepak Chopra

Back to the book I have been reading – it’s an old book, published in 1925.  It is The Complete Works by Frances Scovel Shinn,  a compilation of four of her famous books on the Law of Attraction.  Her thoughts and ideas  have been called “essentioal guides that help readers find prosperity, solve problems and have better health.”  They opened the door for many, many of the self-help and motivational teachers and books that came after her, including some of my favorites: Zig Ziglar, M. Scott Peck, Wayne Dyer, Shakti Gawain, The Dalai Lama, Tony Robbins and a best-selling book on the topic; The Secret.  All teach that we are magnets…and choose what we attract, both consciously and unconsciously. 

“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.”  Meister Eckhart

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to read my blog. I am so grateful for you!

XO Donna