Being passionate.....

This morning I introduced my weekly networking group to Ernest T. Smith. I first learned about Ernest in a podcast episode of The Productivity Show from Asian Efficiency. Ernest lives in your brain and is active in your "ernest" intentions to do something. With Ernest, you may not do the tasks on your to list, such as attend the PTA meeting or even take your friend to lunch. I intend in 2017, to evict Ernest from my brain, so I can focus on the tasks that I am passionate about and accomplish them. Thereby being more successful at my goals. To paraphrase the Dixie Chicks, "Goodbye Ernest."

Ice cream sundae

IAt my last Reiki session, my friend and practitioner, Cindy, asked, "What was your dad's favorite dessert?" My answer, "An ice cream sundae." So she told me to have one and I did so yesterday. It may not have been the best one I ever had, but it was the most meaningful. I felt an instant connection to my dad and my great uncle (his favorite flavor was cookies n' cream), who both died around this time of year. Just from the sundae, I understood how both of these men, who were integral part of my life, would view my life now. I even felt like they gave me so advice too. Often, I wish they were still here to talk with and learn from, so thank you Cindy for pointing out a way to connect to them in spirit and continue to learn. I learned that my favorite dessert is a simple sundae—vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce and whipped cream. Unlike my dad, I don't like a cherry on top.

Now I do it...

Today is March 8th and I just sat down to write out my personal, family and business goals for 2016. I used last years goals as my template and they were done on March 8th too. Freaky! As a personal productivity coach, I know first hand about setting goals and why it is important. I preach this to my clients. Yet, it took me this long to do mine. Why? Simple I hadn't made it a priority. Next year I am committing myself to having my goals done by January 8, 2017. I just ask my community to hold me accountable and email me on January 8th to make sure I have done it.

What a week....

There was so much going on this week, that it got out-of-hand. I showed up on the wrong day for a networking event. I couldn't show up on the right day because I was leading my fist ever workshop. Only one person came (it was cold and wet out) and now I can say I did it. Lucky for me the one person is a friend, so it was easier (less never racking) than I anticipated. I put my profile up on an online dating site and to do so did some serious thinking about me as a person and my likes and dislikes. Now I know, I can't live without a good book, a cup of Caffix (all natural coffee substitute) and black and white cookies. By yesterday evening, I sank into a pew at Synagogue for Shabbat Services and was glad to be relaxing, calming the nerves and leaving the hectic week behind for a hectic weekend. Oh, well!

Shout outs are due....

I have been recovering from surgery and tomorrow will be the two week mark. So some gratitude should be given out. First, to my mom who has taken care of me —finishing unpacking after our renovation, cooking dinner and giving me sponge baths, until I was allowed to take a shower. I remember loving sponge baths as a kid, but  not so much as an adult. Second, to my daughter who reminded me everyday that laughter is the best medicine (keep it up). Last but not least, to my extended family and friends, who sent well wishes in the form of cards, food, flowers and healing energy. At two weeks out I am rested, energized and ready for life in my new body thanks to all of you. At this time of year it is important to count our blessings and not the number of presents we get.

New Year, New Me and New Name, for blog that is.....

New Year's is fast approaching; well we need to finish the winter holidays and my birthday first. Even before all of this can happen, I need to finish recovering from medically needed breast reduction surgery that was done to alleviate back and neck pain. With the aid of my mom and daughter, I am recovering well and on my way to a "new" me, that is a "pain-free" me.  Carpal Tunnel Release surgery on both wrists and now this qualify me to describe myself as new and not updated. In this vane, I am reinventing my blog to be more about my life— "a mouthful of busy" as I described it in my journal last night. In fact in that same entry,  I described myself as a solorprenuer, divorced single mom, home owner with a dog. Now you see the busy.

So as of January 1st, 2016 look for my blog under it's new name, A Mouthful of Busy.

Thanks and have a great holiday season,
Mali

I forgot....

I forgot to practice what I preach and didn't write down the sites I needed to visit on the internet and now I can only remember one of the two, which makes me more convinced of writing your to-do list at night for the next day.

Old school VS. New school

Today, I was asked to send a contact a calendar invite to our meeting and I had to for the first time use Google calendar, since I am old school and still use a paper calendar and now, it has me thinking that maybe I should go to a new school soon.

The end of the week blues

My daughter was complaining this morning about it being Friday and she is tired after a long week at school and I realized that I am tired like her and so call it the "Friday Blues", where you are just pushing to get the day done to start a weekend of R&R (Hopefully!).

To-Do List on the run

I didn't have time to work out my to-do list last night, so I did it while waiting at the bank. The back of a deposit slip is "lined."

It's Friday!

Most people relish when Friday comes because that means a weekend off and not for me with soccer games Saturday and Sunday and kid who has soured on Daddy so I am the it mom for know, so my weekend is all kid and more kid and strangely that makes me smile until I remember the Saturday game is at 8 am.

Wednesday's words: Deadlines

"A goal without a date is just a dream." —Milton Erikson

Hard work pays off, sort of...

The other week I went through a box of old (I mean old) paper and found a paper I wrote in high school that I worked very hard on and saw that the grade was a "C" and realized that for all these years I had only remembered the hard work and not the grade and realized that what mattered was my effort (and work ethic) and not the grade.

Goals then and now.....

I wrote these goals for a trip back packing through the US Rockies with the National Outdoor Leadership school and now fast forward nearly 20 years and I am a productivity coach helping others achieve their goals.

(P.S. I should note that some of the goals on the list were not achieved because I was sent home after three weeks with knee problems that prevented me from continuing and despite this, I still consider this trip to be one my best life experiences.)

Navigating a new world....

As I prep for my surgery, I am having to learn to do things with my left hand, like use my mouse and when my daughter the other day asked if I was scared, I said, "No, I am nervous because I write with my right hand," and now I can add that I am excited too— to brave the world left handed.

Warm weather fashion...dont's

Why is it that as soon as the weather warms up the fashion don'ts—black bra under sheer top, backless top with bra and the one I saw the other day, toeless thigh-highs with flip flops, multiply exponentially? and now that I think about it winter coats cover them up.

Wednesday's Words: In five years

"You will be the same person in five years except for the people you meet and the books you read."
—Charlie Jones

A mother'w work is never done (I know a cliche, but.....)

Happy Mother's Day!

While my daughter and her friend that slept over made me waffles this morning, it is still a Sunday which means laundry, general house clean-up and grocery shopping and thankfully my husband cleaned up the kitchen (after two 9 year olds made waffles) and took them to the park, so the house is empty and I can clean as I want without feeling like I am rebelling against mother's day.

Wednesday's Words: Avoid Disorder

"It is best to do things systematically, since we are only human, and disorder is our worst enemy."
—Hesiod

Tuesday's Tip on writing...

Back when I (and you) were in school we learned the outline method to mapping out a paper/essay, well use it for that memo, presentation or article (as I did for my upcoming newsletter article for March)