Happy Friday! Things that make me smile – inside and out…
What makes you happy, smile, exhale?
Have a great week everyone!
Happy Friday! Things that make me happy…
Last night, I attended an inspiring celebration of life for a young woman named Aly. At only 26, she lost a battle to colon cancer. I am friends with her sister and met Aly just a few times. It is clear she was an angel here on earth.
There are many thoughts running through my head and heart this evening as I reflect on a life well lived. I pray that I could be a beacon like Aly and also raise my daughter to be as bright, creative, spunky and loving. The faith of this family is stronger than I have ever seen. A video was taken of Aly when she thought she had just a few hours left (she actually had a few more days). She stated that she had never been afraid of this cancer and even in these moments, she still isn’t afraid. Every photo shown of her in the hospital carried her smile. Inspirational! Aly knew she was loved and treasured.
Most of all, I am left with this thought that I will share with you – and challenge you to take action.
Tell them. Tell those that you love that you do. Encourage your quirky friends and family and let them know they are special. Wish strangers a great day. Say it out loud. Share joy.
If you would like to learn more about Aly, visit www.teamaly.com
Happy Friday! Some random things that make me happy… 
Happy Friday! Some random things that make me happy…
Have you ever left a gathering (party, event, someone’s home for dinner, or friends at a restaurant) and think to yourself, “I am so glad I went tonight. That was fun!”
This statement is usually proceeded earlier that day or week by hesitation. There is planning, coordinating, driving, sometimes contributing to the meal, maybe finding a sitter, deciding what to wear, and so many other details that may come before the actual event. Many times, we get so caught up in the logistics, that we take our eyes off the prize – gathering with friends, old and new. By breaking bread together, in whatever fashion, we deep our relationships with others and add richness to our own lives.
One summer, my sister and I lived together in the Hillsboro Village/West End area of Nashville. Both single and excited to be in the city, we declared it the Summer of Fun! Anytime we were presented with an idea to go somewhere, be social with friends, or invite someone for dinner, we did it. We intentionally chose going, not staying. It was a great summer! We deepened friendships, made new friends, experienced fun things in the city and truly felt like part of our local community. I have very fond memories of that time together – going and doing.
Now that I am married with a daughter, the logistics of going and doing are a little more complicated – not so fancy free. But I have found that our daughter is portable and can go almost anywhere I want to go. And I am blessed to have a husband that also likes to go and do.
I write this fresh from a wonderful experience last night with a small group of new friends. Our children played, we shared food, we laughed and deepened friendships — the whole evening was delightful.
I bet you can guess, as my husband and I were heading home, what we said.
“I am so glad we went tonight. That was fun!”
Just go. Have fun!
I ran across a wonderful sign in Etsy yesterday… “we can do hard things.” The placement in the photo was great too – over the front door of a house heading out into the world.
Life is hard. Things come at us when we least expect it both good and bad. Some hard things sneak up so slowly we see it coming.
I love that the sign starts with “we!” We are not in this alone. We can do this. Together. I believe that God is with us all the time, helping you through the hard things of life. Additionally, we have those around us who love and care about us. Great marriages, family and friendship bonds can do hard things together. Even if it is something you physically do on your own, it’s usually with the support and encouragement of people around you.
I also love that the phrase acknowledges that hard things come your way. They will be there. And the good news is that you can do them.
So go for it. Walk boldly into the world each day knowing this. We can do the hard things.
Bravo to the artist who painted the sign. I don’t know if it came from her or she found it along the way. Here is her shop, barnowlprimatives in Etsy. Visit her store to see delightful phrases displayed beautifully.
I was restless in my job at the start of 2010, and not sure where to look next in my career. In May 2010, there was a flood. A terrible, devastating flood in Nashville. And local volunteer spirit shined! People of all walks of life wanted to help; including artists and musicians. I had the enviable task of working with the artists that wanted to help United Way raise money and awareness. It was wonderful! Artists using their talents (music, illustration, photography, etc.) to contribute their talents to help people in and around the Nashville community.
I was reminded how much I love working with artists and how grateful I am for artistic gifts in myself and others around me.
There it is. Light bulb. Luckily, I live in Nashville where artistic talent and industry abound! As I networked with my contacts in the “industry” (as it’s called in Nashville), I happened upon my current role in a marketing and PR firm that specializes in marketing, PR, and new media for musical artists and related organizations. Bingo! I couldn’t be more happy.
Lesson… find your bliss. Find what makes you happy. Then connect with those you know until you can make a living at it. It can be done. I know so many friends who have changed jobs or started their own businesses so that they could follow their happy path. Don’t postpone your joy. Ever.
Bring it 2011!
It’s a great time to be a Geek.
Now that our social lives and business lives are more online than in person, the Geeks have arrived to the proverbial Prom. The social ones, at least.
Want to figure out how to customize Facebook? What’s this Instagram thing? How does Foursquare increase business traffic? Do I include my Twitter name on print ads?
Geeks to the rescue!
Particularly geeks with marketing and technological savvy. If you don’t know one, find one. Yea Geeks!
Take your business and personal brand further. Use social networking and online tools wisely. And love your inner Geek.
They gracefully leap through the air and effortlessly turn as they move across the stage. Ballerinas, and other dancers, are simply dynamic. My daughter sits in wonder watching ballerinas and other dancers. She is in awe. When we are home, she dances along with any television production as much as she can. She’s four, so the leaps aren’t that high. I tell her that these ballerinas have practiced for years in order to do the amazing feats she sees.
And then I sit back and wonder myself. Isn’t it all like that. Doesn’t anything worth doing take time, practice, trial, error, and then more practice? While I enjoy being great at some things, good at others, none of those skills came to me in one day. And there is the lesson. Work hard.
So let us not become frustrated in this new year because we aren’t excellent at something right away or at a skill that may be rusty. Work at it. Try harder. Practice. You can do it! It takes all of this to become Snow Princess or the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker. That is what I share with my daughter and what I share with you.
Happy New Year! May it be productive, fun, and full of joyful wonder.
This post is part of my “Just give me a word” series where you may offer a word, and I will share a story related to that word. My daughter provided the word “Ballerinas” to me last week. Feel free to provide me with a word of your own.
