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10 Things I Learned About Teaching While Visiting On Career Day

November 14, 2015 by jennifer mcgahan Leave a Comment

10 Things I Learned About Teaching While Visiting On Career Day

what I learned about teaching on Career Day

Yes, I braved the halls of middle school yesterday to share something I’m passionate about on Career Day.

The surprising thing I learned about myself is that I’m not necessarily passionate about my “career,” when I stack the days on top of each other and look at the whole heaping, lopsided tower. As a freelancer, a writer, and a network marketer (yes, all those things lumped into one wiggly, messy ball) the ONE THING I reiterated as I presented to my “class” is that they can create any career they want.

Yes, I talked about writing copy, and how to influence consumer behavior using well-placed words and marketing channels. The kids all nodded vigorously when I talked about those ads they see on You Tube videos and video games; in fact, they taught me a thing or two! They asked questions about my novel and I found myself telling them more than I’ve shared with anyone else yet, making me think perhaps the story could work as a YA novel. (I need to give that idea some thought!) Some seemed to like the idea of working anywhere in the world, whenever they wanted, on anything they wanted to explore.

But that’s not what I hope they take away.

If they remember one thing about those 25 minutes with me, what I’d want them to remember would be a bright vision for their future. Standing before a bunch of kids makes you realize the diversity and promise baked right into all people. What I’m really passionate about, and what I tried to convey in those short minutes, is that you can choreograph you life so that it’s YOUR dance. Your unique and gorgeous dance that fits in with other dances going on around you. Like the whirling dirvishes. Kind of.

In addition to that, though, the cool thing about a career in writing is the proven fact that if you use words well, doors open wherever you go. And the even cooler thing about writing is that the more you do it, the better you get. All it takes is practice. So in the end, it came down to this:

If you can write, and essentially communicate, you can pretty much do anything you want with your life.

So what did I learn from the kids? A lot! My overarching takeaway whenever I spend time in a classroom is how much energy and preparation it takes to do what teachers do every day. Once again, I find myself bowing to these people I sometimes forget to acknowledge. You better believe I lifted a glass to all teachers everywhere when I got home yesterday evening!

Aside from my renewed respect for the teaching vocation, the most fun thing about being able to share what I do with these four groups of about 20 kids was learning about them! Sixth graders are not such a tough crowd after all. If you get the chance to talk with a group of kids just about to tip into the teenage years, I totally recommend it. It’s refreshing.

Ten things I learned on Career Day teaching 6th graders about writing:

  1. Teaching is a performance.
  2. You can’t guess which kids will light up when you say different things, so don’t judge a kid on his appearance.
  3. Make it about the kids and they come to life.
  4. This is their work day, and they don’t get to move much. They ate lunch within the last two hours and are just getting through the afternoon… just like you.
  5. Sometimes when you use a leading question you get unexpected results. In other words, things can backfire.
  6. Teaching is exhausting; make time for M&Ms and water.
  7. They really are listening.
  8. Slides are not necessary.
  9. “Hecklers” are the most engaged.
  10. You can teach for 20 minutes about a specific topic and the five-minute Q&A will be all about the single personal aside you uttered in the first 10 minutes. They catch everything.

If you’ve ever participated in a Career Day, you may have your own lessons learned. I’d love to hear them!

Want to know more about writing copy? The concepts are simple enough for middle schoolers, and they’re crucial communication building blocks in any career…. Anyone can learn to write copy!

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Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: career day, career in writing, create your career, freelancing, hats off to teachers, middle school career day, middle school students, passion about writing, respect teachers, teachers, teaching, teaching about a writing career, teaching about copywriting, teaching copywriting, teaching freelancing, teaching middle school, what I learned about teaching, writing, writing career, writing copy

Seven Practical Benefits Of The Super Long Christmas Season

November 9, 2015 by jennifer mcgahan Leave a Comment

Seven Practical Benefits Of The Super Long Christmas Season

It’s been “The Holidays” for a few weeks now.

Not complaining, just observing. I don’t need to point out the signs; you’ve seen them yourself.

You may believe that all this Christmas hype points to the commercialization of what used to be a simple holiday, but there are ways to take this in stride. Simply look at the the bright side. I found seven of them.

If you live by the calendar, the later the date of Thanksgiving, the shorter the official holiday season. But you and I both know that it’s in full swing right now. So read on…

The winner for the very best heads-up from a major brand that it’s almost Christmas, came a few days BEFORE Halloween. This savvy company got a jump on all those hasty Back Friday folks with their heartwarming notice that they’d be closed the day after Thanksgiving. You caught the #optoutside campaignREI opt outside Black Friday campaign, right? It kind of made me want to go outside and oh, I don’t know… shop at REI. Loved that.

There are at least seven things to like about the long holiday season, commercialism aside:

1. The Hallmark Channel’s 24/7 lineup of movies: Now that the weather is iffy and the days are shorter, I like to curl up with a good book — or a cheesy movie. I would enjoy, just once, a surprising departure from the usual Hallmark formula, however. E.g. Girl goes back to the city with rich, creepy guy and spends Christmas Eve drinking too much whiskey and doing regrettable things with strings of Christmas lights… but I suppose there are other channels for that.

Christmas pumpkins2. Crossover Decorations: I talked with my mother the other day. She’s planning a cookie party in early December, so that means she’s decorating now. “It takes so long, I’m doing a little at a time,” she said. She’s in great company.

Adventurous holiday bridge builders now simply blend the fall holidays in with winter holidays and it all works out just fine, as you can see from these tips for upcycling pumpkins into Christmas decorations. Hat tip to Tim Burton for starting this trend so long ago.

3. An Excuse to Party More Often: Is it just me, are are your friends also murmuring over their phones about how few open weekends there are between now and January? I take that as a signal to plan or attend a few more celebratory events over the next couple of months.

Peanuts gang dancing at a Christmas party4. More opportunities for sales and free shipping: And if you’re a business owner or marketer, there are more opportunities to sell stuff! I’ve received coupons and offers already boasting snowmen and candy canes, 50% off, and free shipping. What’s not to like?

5. Holiday food: Not to be hedonistic, but… now’s the time when all those summer salad recipes get buried under clippings, recipe cards, and Pinterest boards dedicated to comfort food. It doesn’t have to be unhealthy; I’m thinking warm, savory, buttery squashes and soups, roasts and spices… I love winter food, how about you? The long Christmas season means you get to play with all those delicious flavors and specialty items in the grocery stores ASAP. Yum.

Santas watching.6. “Santa’s watching”: I predate the “Elf on the Shelf” craze, which means I still go straight for the big guns, disguised in more mature terms. Yeah, I’m talking about the big fat man himself. Now that my kids know how to add products to their Amazon wish lists, they better be on their best behavior. I saw that new Swagway Scooter the other day… My response: “So how’s that math homework coming tonight?”

And don’t think this doesn’t work after a certain magical age. The best thing about the kids growing older is now they know I’m not as nice as Santa. Lots of bribes; no promises. Look, parents, you’ve got two months to milk this cow.

7. More Time to Give… to the food pantry, send Christmas cards, pack a shoebox for Operation Shoebox, plan your trip, or thaw the turkey. With everyone talking about all you need to be doing, chances are you might actually do them more often, or at least on time! For example, the barrels for canned goods and coats have been out for a couple of weeks now, so it won’t slip my mind at crunch time.

I finally stopped sulking about the gifts I bought, but never got around to putting under the tree at church a few years back. What a dingbat — or just a busy mom, take your pick. When you have the best of intentions, two months is plenty of time to follow a well-laid plan, I should think. But hey, No judgment here.

Fact is, we’re all in this together…

The consumers, the bankers, the farmers, the retailers and the web stores, Amazon, Walmart, the people who work at Amazon and Walmart, the small biz folks, the charities and churches and non profits, the moms and dads trying to sprinkle a little magic in their kids’ lives, and the people who just want Christmas to slip by for one year without fanfare because they’re broke, or lonely, or just tired.

Yes, the holiday season brings a heightened sense of expectation, no matter how you feel about the forced sentiment to ring in cheer. Some people love it, some don’t. But as long as the season takes up a good fifth of the year now, at least you can try to wring out the good.

Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: #optoutside, Black Friday, christmas box, Christmas decorations with pumpkins, Christmas sales, commercialism in Christmas, Countdown to Christmas, Dancing at Christmas party, Elf on a Shelf, Free shipping at Christmas, Hallmark Channel, long Christmas season, Long holiday season, More time at Christmas, Operation Shoebox, Peanuts Gang Christmas, REI and black Friday, Samaritan's Purse, Santa's watching

How To Combine Essential Oils With Prayer For Divine Connection

October 31, 2015 by jennifer mcgahan Leave a Comment

How To Combine Essential Oils With Prayer For Divine Connection

 

Divine Moments.twitter

I discovered a long time ago, as I was peeling an orange, how easy it is to pray.

In fact, it’s really no big deal. You can talk to God any old time. His door is always open. Prayer is the one thing that is free, therapeutic, simple to do, can be done anywhere, and it goes a long way toward making you feel content and connected.

However you want to call on God is up to you, just as long as you call. If you know me by now, I dance in diversity. 🙂

One day many years ago, I pulled on an orange peel and the orange mist shot out.

In that instant I was surprised by the beauty of the spray of juice, and the bright, sunny smell. The design of the orange suddenly seemed perfect, like it was one of earth’s finest fruits, created just for me, and I had just discovered it. The only thought or word that occurred to me was “Thank you!” At that same moment, I realized that my gratitude needed to be directed toward someone or something, and so I gave it to God.

The tiniest things can make me ridiculously happy (or brutally sad; as I’ve come to learn this gift cuts both ways) but always grateful. So I find there are a million reasons to pray all the time.

If there’s anything I’ve learned about myself over the years, it’s that I have a gajillion personality flaws and make tons of social blunders, but I always seem to have a good time. I may forget to say Please and Thank You to others, but I’m always working on my manners because I like people. I can usually be counted on to say the wrong thing out loud (or the thing that everyone is thinking but no one says) because I wear my heart on my sleeve and it either gets me into trouble, or breaks the ice. I’m rarely confounded by people or events, because I have infinite expectations and a long sliding compass for “appropriate” human behavior (you’d be shocked), but for all these foibles, I have one good gift, and it’s this: I find it super easy to talk with one-on-one with God, and listen and look for signs of him. It’s like taking breath, everywhere, all the time!

That’s why I like to spend a moment in prayer and gratitude whenever I think of it throughout the day, especially when I’m caught up in work or writing, and I’ve forgotten everything around me. I sometimes get screwed down into a funk pretty easily (especially lately, it seems) and so it’s always nice to have an essential oil handy to loosen things up and get everything in alignment with the Creator.

You really don’t need essential oils to pray. Of course you know that. But I find that the act of stopping and going through a little ritual makes my prayer more fervent and meaningful. The oils are for your mind, body, and spirit, if you want them. God certainly doesn’t need them to hear you! He made them for you.

If you try this, you must allow yourself to believe, imagine, and let your spirit play when you use this recipe. That’s the magic part you have to provide. If you can do that, then you, too, can benefit from recipes like this one my friend Suzi taught me the other day.

Gathering + gratitudeThis one’s really easy. It’s just two oils: Gathering™ and Gratitude™.

First, I’ll share when you need this. Then, I’ll tell you how to do it. Next, I’ll tell you the benefits and why this works. Finally, I’ll give you the VERY IMPORTANT CAUTIONARY WARNING. Don’t miss it at the end, or this whole concoction could go awry.

When To Use This Combination

Use this combo when you know you have it pretty good, you have everything you need, you are walking the path you need to walk, doing your job, and being present… AND you want more. Something is a bit off and you can’t quite put a finger on it. You are open to something better, even though you don’t have the words or images in your consciousness to make your ask. You want to ask for something better, but you’re not sure what that is. You want to feel like a queen and instead, you are a very lucky, well-fed, pampered and gifted attendant to the queen. Not sure that totally explains it, but it’s close. You should try this recipe when there’s just the vaguest sense that there’s gotta be something just a little bit more…

Maybe this is a girl thing, but I use this when I don’t really know what I want! 

How To Do It

First, Gathering.

  • Put on drop into your hand. I like to add one drop of a carrier oil like V-6, too, because then I can get to all the following body parts in one pass.
  • Swirl it with your other hand and quickly start at your right temple and pull it across to your left temple across your forehead.
  • With your other hand, go from your adams apple down the center of your chest.
  • Then with both hands crossing, rub the remainder of the oils across your chest toward both shoulders.
  • Last, cup both hands over your nose and mouth and breathe, imagining all good feelings, things and desires of your heart being gathered toward you. Imagine a swirling vortex, as if these thoughts and sensations can’t resist being pulled toward each other and pulling together in you. You are like a magnet and all good things are coming together inside you exactly where you are at that very moment, in your car, at your desk, in the ladies room at the conference, etc. Make sure you enjoy this feeling of blessing. Just bask in it. This is yummy!

Second, Gratitude.

  • Put one drop onto your left hand and swirl with your right in a clockwise motion.
  • Cup hands over your nose and mouth and breathe deeply, inhaling for a count of four, holding it, then exhaling for a count of four. Do this several times.
  • This time your intention is peace and gratitude for all good things you already have in your life, both big and small. Be aware of your heart and mind opening and relaxing as you imagine all the goodness and love and strength you receive every time you allow it in. Think of all the limitless gifts bestowed on you and others… there is so much of it, it’s hard to get your thoughts around it all. You may feel like there’s an overflow, and you can’t contain all your gratitude. It spills over the top of your cup.

The Benefits

After a minute or so, you should feel like you have everything you need, and/or you will be receiving it presently. You will even appreciate that undercurrent that used to feel disquieting or frustrating because it translates into a flicker of strength and awareness. You are a vital human filled with the energy you need to fulfill your dreams and wishes.

Why This Recipe Works

There are some strong, high-frequency oils in each of these blends, all used by people through history in intense situations. You are not the first one to want more connection with the divine, and a feeling of fulfillment; it’s the human condition! We are not the first to combine essential oils with prayer. (Exodus 30: 22 – 27) The oils in the blends, Gathering and Gratitude, applied one right after the other, help your body, mind and spirit achieve focus, calm, and clarity, as well as a divine connection.

The oils in Gathering may help increase oxygen around the pituitary and pineal glands, bringing greater harmonic frequency for better communication with God and other people. They include, in Gathering,

  • Lavender, providing balance to the body and mood.
  • Galbanum, a potent oil for immunity and strength, particularly when paired with Frankincense and Sandalwood.
  • Frankincense, high in sesquiterpenes which increase oxygen and promote a positive attitude.
  • Sandalwood, again, high in sesquiterpenes, alleviates depression, and helps foster an accepting, non-egocentric openness toward others.
  • Geranium, a healing, calming and balancing oil. Learn more about Geranium’s lovely properties here.
  • Ylang Ylang, the male-female balancing oil that help you focus and tune out the constant noise, bringing you self-love, confidence and peace.
  • Spruce, which may help dilate the bronchial tract and improve oxygen exchange, balancing and grounding the body and releasing emotional blocks.
  • Cinnamon Bark, a Biblical oil used for oxygenation, purification, and toning of the circulatory system, this oil enhances the properties of other oils.
  • Rose, the highest frequency of all the essential oils, brings balance and harmony to every cell in the body.

…and in Gratitude,

  • Balsam Fir, at once stimulating to the mind, while relaxing to the body, it anchors the spirit and relieves tension in muscles and joints.
  • Frankincense, used in religious ceremonies for thousands of years, stimulates the limbic part of the brain, helps oversome stress and despair, and helps us connect with our greater powers.
  • Galbanum, traditionally esteemed for its medicinal and spiritual properties.
  • Rosewood creates a feeling of empowerment, emotional stability, peace and gentleness.
  • Myrrh, a true “gift” oil, promotes spiritual awareness, and opens hearts and minds.
  • Ylang Ylang, an oil that combats anger, low self esteem, and negative energy, while restoring confidence and peace.

Essential oils books[If you’re wondering where I got all these facts, I consult books like The Essential Oils Desk Reference, by Life Science Publishing, and Aromatherapy: Healing the Spirit by Gabriel Mojay.]

CAUTION: 

As I was researching these particular oil blends, I discovered that Gathering is a very powerful blend. It tends to act as an amplifier, which means that if you have the wrong intent when you use it, you will get amplify that intention. If you are feeling negative, don’t use the blend Gathering. Wait until you are feeling more positive. (You might try Joy™ or Sacred Mountain™ to help your mood.)

These essential oils blends are doozies. They’re perfectly formulated to enhance certain moods or elevate certain spiritual or physical states. You can use them without even knowing what all’s in them, but I like to study why they do what they do. It’s fun to see which oils are used repeatedly in the different blends, and to play with making your own blends as well.

Bottom line? No need to be intimidated by essential oils, OR prayer, for that matter. Just use them. Use what you have and don’t forget that you really can’t use an essential oil the wrong way. Just like you can’t pray the wrong way, there really is no wrong way to use an oil. As long as your intention is toward wellness, happiness, and a good life,  you’re pretty much going to nail this. If you ever want to talk about this with me, please DM me on Facebook, or leave a comment on the wall. I’d love to hear what you think! Truly.

You can also download a free copy of the ebook There Is No Wrong Way To Use An Essential Oil. Just leave your email below and I’ll send it right out.

Get the FREE ebook

Filed Under: essential oils, Inspiration Tagged With: divine moments, essential oil recipe, essential oils, Gathering, Gathering essential oil, Gratitude, gratitude essential oil, prayer, Talking to God, the divine, topical application of essential oils

15 Ways To Feel Happier In 5 Minutes Or Less

October 19, 2015 by jennifer mcgahan Leave a Comment

15 Ways To Feel Happier In 5 Minutes Or Less

Happier in 5 minutes or lessNot to be a buzz kill or anything, but am I the only person in the world who thinks that Happy song is dumb?

OK, I’ll just say it. I’ve been in a funk lately, and it’s not the kind you can dance to.

It’s not that I don’t want to feel happier, in theory. I just need convincing, prodding, a whack in the head…

Oh, I know what I need to do. Volunteer at an orphanage, hold a puppy, visit a sick friend, lie down in a field of daisies and watch the clouds float by, dig a well in some remote African village, express the teensiest jot of gratitude…

If I could only get my selfish little mind off my own jaded existence and do any of the above, I’d perk right up.

My friend Shell wrote recently how, when she feels depleted, she kills time playing Candy Crush. This amazed me, and suddenly seemed like a jolly good idea. When I feel depleted, I prefer to eat a few bowls of ice cream sprinkled with handfuls of crushed corn chips, then languish publicly on a sofa like an Edward Gorey character.

Different strokes.

And therein lies the secret. The only way to lift yourself out of it is to try something new.

Something – even something tiny — just needs to change.

I’ve been clipping some ideas for a new Trello board I made: “Things To Try When You’re Ready To Pull Yourself Together and Be Happier”

I figure even if I’m just going through the motions, at least my body and psyche can get a head start on my heart.

Two important caveats:

First, I believe happiness is a choice as long as your emotional health is above a certain level. Happiness triggers like the ones I’m suggesting can be immediate and helpful because they require a small action that ignites a spark of gratitude, or brings a rush of adrenaline or helps you see a different perspective.

These happiness triggers only work, however, if you’re not too totally in the dumps. I know what real depression is, and it’s serious. No book or website is going to make you feel happier when you can’t even get out of bed. If you’re in survival mode, please seek professional help.

Second, I also believe that real happiness comes from serving others. When you are helping your community, or raising kids, or volunteering in your business, or washing someone’s car; thankless though the job is, you feel needed and (even in some miniscule way) that your life has meaning. These acts require getting away from your home, or at least pushing back your chair, and they are probably the simplest portals to genuine fulfillment.

I’m not really talking about fulfillment here, though. I’m talking 15 easy peasy “make-me-smile-right-now” happiness triggers from resources that are lighter and more personal! They’re all for you. You don’t have to share them, and no one even has to know you’re indulging…

Trying something new either nestles in and slowly takes effect; or it catapults you, slingshot style, over a wall, where you’ll land somewhere different. You could land shocked and sputtering like a cat trying to claw its way out of a porcelain bathtub; or gently, easily coasting as if on wheels. (I hope it’s the latter.)

You’ve probably already heard of some of these 15 ideas that will make you instantly happier, but the question is, have you acted on them?

Going through the motions is not just a temporary trick. Actually practicing happiness will make you a happier person. So pick what feels like the best idea this very moment.

I’m listing some proven happiness triggers here, so the next time you’re in a funk, consider this your happiness lifeline. Folks who believe enough in happiness to create content, processes, websites, art, and even “days” around the revolutionary idea of Happiness created these resources just for you. So without further ado, in no particular order…

1. Happify.com

This website seems a little dorky, especially if you’re feeling like Grumpy Cat to begin with. No one sets out to feel happier by playing some silly games, reading positive affirmations, and gazing at pretty pictures. Or do they?

Happify.com delivers all that and more in shameless, unapologetic splendor. I stumbled on this website one day and tried a game or two. Within a few minutes i was aware that my mood had lifted.

The first game I tried, I click-popped some floating balloons with happy words on them. Words like “bubbly, joyful, lucky, and delight.” Golly gee, I felt lighter, ready to take on some filing, or balance my bank account!

Now, don’t tell anyone, but I occasionally visit Happify.com for a quick pick-me-up; a perky positive self-assessment; a shooting game where you aim at negativity gremlins, a zippy little quote or video, or a 2-minute relaxation exercise on a peaceful, uninhabited beach. Like a spoonful of honey, a little is all you need.

Happy, the movie2. Happy [the movie]

Driven to discover what really makes people happy, and how to measure happiness, Roko Belic traveled the world interviewing happy people and communities. Among the happiest that I recall were a rickshaw driver in India and a Scandinavian family living in a commune, though they seemed more content than happy. Interestingly, the United States ranks 23rd of happiest countries.

You may find yourself pining for the little shack with the window, and the curtain, the sunlight streaming through it, and the gaggle of smiling neighbors. Maybe.

Or, like me, you might look around at all you’ve got and imagine the filmmaker politely asking if you happen to know anyone with a little less stuff. Think there’s a connection?

Gretchen Rubin's books3. The Happiness Project; Gretchen Rubin

I caught an interview of Gretchen Rubin on a podcast called Glambition with Ali Brown. (Great podcast, by the way.) Soon after, I was in an airport when I saw her book quirkily standing out among the others. Then a tweet led me to another of her projects called (I’m afraid to say it) “The Happiness Project” and I decided that not only are my antennae ridiculously tuned to all this happy jazz, but that the trio of Rubin-esque tidbits (haha) must mean something.

It means that not only is this gal’s marketing timing excellent, but also that repetition and awareness fits her theme. If you’re open to it, you can find unexpected little measures of happiness as you trip through life. In fact, the universe accidentally pelts bits of happiness in your general direction… All. The. Time.

It’s your job to notice that you’re getting hit with it. Once you’ve figured that out and come to expect it, you can go about designing it to your exact specifications like a patchwork cloak of found happiness. Which is sweet.

4. Three Happy Blogs

patchwork dogTeesha Moore 

Once upon a time, I used to make lots of stuff. You might call it art. Teesha Moore’s stunning creativity influenced me to dabble in art journaling and fiber art. I traveled a few times out to Portland to attend her art retreats and take some classes; I even taught a class on making stuffed patchwork animals one year (see my patchwork Rosie, right). Itching to do more creative things that make me happy, I’ve been lurking around Teesha’s website again lately. Colorful, slightly edgy, always fabulous, Teesha’s art is a trove of eye candy.

Aesthetics of Joy

When I discovered Aesthetics of Joy it was like finding treasure. Ingrid Fetell offers the cerebral girl’s guide to joy, centered on urban art installations, undiscovered studios, and design. At one point there was supposed to be a book. I imagined a coffee table book and I had my credit card out, but the months passed and still no book. I’m not sure what happened to this blog; the author slowed way down.

I’m worry when I discover a great blogger and follow them around like a homeless puppy, only to turn a corner and realize it’s over. I try to email them. “Are you OK?” I ask. I really have done this a couple of times, inquiring through the contact form. Or I leave comments on old posts. “Come back… Call me.” I want to say. I’ve never received a note back.

Visit this website anyway; it’s still intact, like a gorgeous forgotten museum.

[Exciting note! I just checked and Ingrid’s back! This really makes me happy.]

Balloon dog, Oh Joy!Oh Joy!

Joy Cho, on the other hand, went gangbusters. Starting with a small design firm and a blog, now she travels everywhere with her playful designs, many geared toward children. I like seeing the pretty things she comes up with, colorful Band-Aids for Target, party supplies, stationary, etc. Looking at her stuff always makes me smile. She’s prolific, too. There’s always something new.

adult coloring book5. Coloring

When creative people brag about how they “color outside the lines,” I always smile indulgently and with inward pity. Why would they WANT to? Coloring’s NOT that hard…

Finally, someone figured out that people like me grew up. Coloring, all these years later, is still mindless and oddly satisfying. It’s like meditating with crayons. You don’t even have to buy grown-up coloring books in secret on Amazon. I’ve been seeing them everywhere lately. In public, even.

6. Savor stuff now.

What’s a list without an infographic?

Will you just look at this one and still insist on having a bad day? Come on, you can try some of these things. I did. They work.

7. Muscle control, or lack thereof

Did you know you can use your muscles to change your emotions? I’m not talking about working out and getting an endorphin rush, although that’s pleasant. I’m talking about a) Botox, and b) Faking it till you make it.

The first time I swung for Botox was in response to my children asking me out of the blue, “Why are you mad, Mom?” when I wasn’t anywhere close to being angry.  (Annoying!) So out of curiosity and vanity, I decided to erase that concerned crease that seemed to be taking over my life. What do you know, when you’re not frowning, the kids are calmer! That was hands down the best effect of my few rounds of Botox, which I no longer use, by the way. Now, I just raise my eyebrows as high into my hairline as I can get them, and say as calmly and lightly as I can, “Honey, I’m not upset.”

On a related note, you know that TED talk by Amy Cuddy on body language?  The one where she explains that your body is flooded with happy and powerful hormones when you assume the right power pose. I now practice a winning postures and facial expressions when it occurs to me to do so. I stand up straighter; I smile even when I’m not feeling like it. It’s a great experiment to try if you want to reflect a new, better you.

Now along comes this study on Botox which doubles down on this idea, which says, basically that if you can’t frown as much — literally, if you paralyze the muscles that make you feel bitter and resentful — then you simply can’t feel quite it with any real emotion.  It’s the chicken and the egg thing. Go ahead and try to pull a long face or give someone the evil eye. Ha! Can’t do it. So there. You can tease the brain to release a foul mood with a few tiny, painless, and costly injections. Or…

8. Laughter

A good belly laugh is much less expensive and saves you a trip to your dermatologist, however you may need to seek out funnier friends. Did you know that even pessimistic people find plenty to laugh about? Don’t let your chronic nihilism get in the way of true happiness. Cheerfully seek out jokes about the end of the world, mean little girls, and fascism; they’re out there. Then laugh as much as possible. Your life will get better.

happy foods9. International Day of Happiness (March 20, 2016)

This is a real day. Of course, so is “Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day” and “Mulligan Day,” all in October (I’m looking at my calendar as we speak), so take it with a grain of salt. You don’t have to bake a cake or anything, but if you want to really stretch yourself, you might don a happy face tee-shirt and meet up with a bunch of other folks at a park in the city. They’re not going to let you be sad; not if they can help it. Let me know how it goes, OK?

10. World’s Happiest Playlist 

(You’ll see that Pharrell Williams’ Happy didn’t make this list, at least last year.) You will find an interesting and seemingly random determination of what constitutes happy music. More important than tempo or key signature, “happy music,” whatever your criteria, is meaningful music.

This summer I heard a crew of roofers all singing the same song as they laid a roof on a new home over on the next ridge. I live in the Hill Country west of Austin, and the sound traveled the valley to my back porch and struck me still with joy. It was such a happy sound, studded with the staccato of hammer strikes, each man’s singular voice carrying the tune his own way and blending with the others. I wish it had lasted longer.

Most people don’t listen to enough music. We don’t memorize enough songs we can sing all the way through. We should. Make a playlist of your own that buoys your work and play.

Screen Shot 2015-10-17 at 4.35.20 PM11. EFT/Tapping.

Maybe you already know about this. Maybe you’re about to think I’ve lost my mind. Did you know that many people tap with their fingers on energy points to release negative thoughts and gather positive emotions to their psyche? Hundreds of thousands of experienced practitioners swear that the repetition of gentle but firm taps on meridian points of the body, coupled with positive verbal affirmations, help break through the negativity we carry around in our physical bodies…

I admit I don’t do this. It’s easy enough to just go get a cookie. Still, many people I respect and admire believe in tapping. It might work for you, too.

12. Nature

“Up! Up! my friend and quit your books;” Nature’s wisdom is more accessible than you think. There are degrees of immersion, but you don’t have to go somewhere so remote it takes hours to get there. Slip off your shoes and stand barefoot in grass, or gulp air up on the rooftop if you only have a minute.

The next best thing is plopping yourself down for ten minutes in front of a tree, or a plant, or a caterpillar, or your cat. If you have an hour, you might try escaping to a park bench (birds, grass, the whole big picture); or if you can spare an afternoon, a long quiet hike in the woods. There are pockets of raw nature in the heart of even the densest urban areas. I’ve been within a crow’s 30-second flight from a metropolis of millions and felt like I was in the middle of freaking nowhere.

Nature puts her arms around you if you give her half the chance. (I’m the daughter of a woman who hugs trees and lies down on rocks, just so you know, but I believe it’s in everyone’s blood.) Life is hardly worth living without a brief, daily hug from Mother Nature.

13. Happy Foods 

Yes, there are happy foods, and no, they’re not Doritos. Want a list of food that nourishes you with positive juju? Here it is.

Happy foods give you energy, mental clarity, and a calm, healthy gut. Priceless. They may not be the “party in your mouth” you crave, but over time, a steady diet of happy foods makes you feel more grateful and whole.

Joy essential oil14. Essential Oils

I can vouch for the immediate and happy vibe you get when you inhale essential oils.  Now don’t roll your eyes at me until you’ve tried a drop or two of Joy™, Clarity™, or Valor™ blends by Young Living — some of my favorites. Good old Lavender, Peppermint and Lemon oils are hard to beat too. Humans have used pure essential oils since our awakening because they are elemental to our well being.

Why do essential oils make you happy? Because those tiny molecules from a volatile oil speed to your limbic system and set off all kinds of instantaneous feelings, sensations, emotions, and memories.

Your olfactory system triggers instant cellular reactions to an essential oil’s complex chemical compounds, like a magic wand casting spells in the nerve center of your brain. You can’t lie to your limbic system. The nose knows…

People have been anointing themselves with oils throughout history to banish negativity and forge a closer bond with the “Life Force” and divinity present in all things. Pure plant oils strengthen and maintain a body’s mental, physical and spiritual health; the equivalent of happiness.

Remember David falling to his knees crying for purity: “Cleanse me with hyssop…” He wasn’t talking about physical cleanliness, but mental and spiritual clarity and purity.

15. The Book of Psalms.

While the spotlight is on David, here’s my personal recommendation when you just need positive words spoken over you. Don’t worry, I’m not going to try to convert you (David wasn’t a Christian!), but I find that the edges of my crankiest days are buffed smooth if I just open to the Psalms of the Bible and read a few verses. If you can’t find one that holds promise, comfort or joy, just turn the page. There are 150 Psalms in there, many of them full of happy imagery and encouragement.

That’s all, folks. I hope you have your own ways of finding happiness, little practices or go-to pleasures that make your feel like you just found a ten-dollar bill in last winter’s sweater pocket, or a candy kiss hidden in the back of your desk drawer. It’s the little things…

You can’t be the light if you’re not lit from within.

Personal happiness triggers are crucial, especially if you’re a little edgy, anxious, or self-critical. Not you, of course. I mean me… I reserve the right to mute grating, sticky-sweet songs when they bubble up from the radio; and I hope you replace my suggestions with your own if these don’t suit you.

If you want to, please share what brings you joy in the comments below. Any little way you sweep the cobwebs out of your brain and heart.

Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: Aesthetics of Joy, Ali Brown, be happier, be happy, beat the funk, book of Psalms, botox, Coloring for adults, EFT, essential oils, feel happier, funky mood, get our ot the doldrums, Glambition, Glambition podcast, Gretchen Rubin, happify, Happiness, happiness project, Happy foods, happy in 5 minutes or less, Happy the movie, how to feel happier, laughter, nature, Oh Joy!, tapping, Teesha Moree, trello, World's happiest playlist, Young Living essential oils

The Peril In Waiting Your Turn, Plus Ten Tips To Make Your Move

September 21, 2015 by jennifer mcgahan 4 Comments

The Peril In Waiting Your Turn, Plus Ten Tips To Make Your Move

“Going from ‘Why me?’ to ‘Why not me?’ is an important switch you need to make to be an entrepreneur.”

John Lee Dumas’ podcast Entrepreneur on Fire’s guest Edwin Havens suggests that being an entrepreneur requires a change in thinking.

While it sounds simple, that recognition really is the pivot point that changes everything because it leads to action. You can’t be an entrepreneur if you’re not taking action almost every day.

“Why not you? Why not now?” I believe most people would take action if they were more comfortable with imperfect action. Yet, most beginnings are clumsy, painful, and awkward. 

No one ever really makes a deliberate decision NOT to act; usually the opportunity just “slips by” one second, maybe five seconds too late. Maybe, while you were working up your nerve, the elevator door opened and everything changed. Maybe once, your boldness was either punished or ignored. As you’re contemplating that memory, opportunity walks on by.


The good news is that opportunities come around all the time. With the right mindset, opportunity is a never-ending flow. Taking a ride on the opportunity highway is like pulling into a busy street. You watch for enough space — again — then you make your move.

cross traffic doesn't stopMy college friend, as less cautious driver than me, used to inform me from the passenger seat, “You could have turned a hundred times.” And many times, she was right.

There will always be opportunity to act on your entrepreneurial idea, pitch a business, test a small group, take your first client, practice out your chops, or sell your product. Always. The problem comes when we wait for an invitation to do it, or we don’t hustle to achieve it.

Timing is everything. Doors are always opening, yes, but they don’t stay open too long. If your heart is set on something, you’re going to have to move fast and push your way in. Nudge politely, have fun, and respect others (you know all that) but DO expect an initial jolt when you enter the flow.

Expect an inelegant entrance as you announce your presence and give yourself permission to do something uncomfortable. Then put the pedal down so you don’t get run over. Once you’re moving, things start to become more fun. There’s truth to the axiom about apologizing later, so forget about the awkward beginning.


It’s hardly fair to tell this story, because my daughter was so young, only about  8 or 9 years old, when it occurred, . I tell it because it’s as much my story, too.

Permission to Ride

Katie wanted to ride the big water slide at Sea World. She was tall enough, and brave enough; just young. Unfortunately, I was stranded on the ground, so I couldn’t go with her. Her two much younger brothers possessed neither the height nor the desire to slide, so I weighed the options, then decided to let her out of my sight to go on the water slide alone. It meant standing alone in a long line with strangers, most of whom were older than she. Katie gamely agreed.

With dumb trust in the Universe to take care of the situation, I watched my daughter get in the long line. After a few minutes she disappeared, folded into the crowd inside a multi-level bungalow of sorts, winding its way in queue to the top.

While admiring my child’s bravery and adventuresome spirit, I knew that while waiting at the bottom of the slide, I’d be wondering how she was doing, if she was glad she made the decision to go alone, and if she was having fun.

[Go ahead and judge my parenting skills if you like, but functioning as a single mom in public places, the facts are plain. If any of my kids were going to have any fun at all growing up, we had to let go of each other and venture into the world. I know many mothers who would never let their kids out of their sight at an amusement park; but I’m not a fearful mother by nature. My oldest was always self sufficient and comfortable in her skin. She didn’t care for my hovering and, thank goodness, I’m not a hoverer. Thank you, Lenore Skenazy, for the blessing of your blog Free Range Kids.]

So we waited for 45 minutes at the bottom of the slide, watching for her to emerge from the slide into the small pool below. Suddenly, Katie appeared behind us. She was approaching from the stairs where I left her almost an hour ago.

She told me the park employee had turned her away at the top of the steps because she was in the wrong line. Seems there were two lines. One with tubes, and one without. Katie was in the tube line, next to the equally-long queue of sliders without tubes.

Instead of letting her slide in the no-tube line, the idiot monitoring the crowd at the top simply told her “Wrong line. Can’t slide.”

Really?? Where was that benevolent adult or teenager — the one I would be if I saw a kid wanting to slide but who happened to have chosen the wrong line? Why couldn’t someone up there see that she should be allowed to simply transfer to the other line and slide on down. Like everyone else, she waited for 45 freaking minutes!

With no one to advocate for her, she descended the same steps, going against the foot traffic all the way down, and came to find us.

Mamas get angry when kids aren’t given a fair shot. It’s worse when you’re not there to stand up for them. Instead of anger or injustice, some kids just feel sad and hurt. Katie was embarrassed, but didn’t seem to be as upset as I was. She had  had her adventure, so I knew I had to let my frustration go.

“It sucks being little.” That’s what I told her. I also told her the guy was a jerk, which did no good. I gave her a hug.

Childhood hurt can last a long time and increase your fear of stepping out again. As her mother, it opened my eyes, too, and provoked the protective Mama Bear in me. Although Katie never stopped being the independent, adventurous, strong and flexible girl I admired; today I see that her skills include outmaneuvering the system by being smarter, quicker and adept at timing her moves; instead of confronting it head on.

Ten years later, I don’t credit this one incident to her mental and social agility, but I do notice how people develop skills that can be traced back to the way they handled things as children.


out of steps. being politeThe Polite Rule-Followers’ Plight.

Polite and Plight, similar sounding words. Hmmm.

There are many ways to overcome an unfair situation, and to flip the switch from “Why is this happening to me?” to “I’m going to make this happen for me.” You have your special gifts for doing that, hardwired into your personality.

The ones I truly feel for are the people who neither confront, nor outsmart, nor sneak around the conventions of society. They are the beautiful, polite souls that accept unfair, unspoken rules — the ones that allow everyone (and no one) permission to stand out.

I can’t help getting pissed off when I see or hear of the breathtaking talent of people who are settling for a position in life that is beneath them.

  • An experienced and intelligent writer providing ghost blog posts for practically free, or a penny a word on elance. (Rubbish, by the way… don’t ever do that more than once.)
  • A songwriter who has not shared his songs with actual musicians because no one’s ever exactly “invited’ him to write for them.
  • A writer who fills journals with her ideas and stories, yet never starts a blog or publishes an ebook because she’s not sure she’s good enough or “doesn’t have the time.”
  • The entrepreneur/artist who has a dozen good ideas every week, but works at the big box home improvement store and tinkers in his garage every night instead of bringing his projects to light.

What’s shocking about these examples is the placid acceptance with which some folks view their “fate.”

Listen, we’ve all had that feeling of being devastated by a past failure. Just like my daughter’s experience of waiting for what seemed like forever (at least to me, down below) on narrow, dark steps only to be turned away as soon as she came out into the light. In spite of my incredulity of the situation, Katie tried something brave that day and lived to tell.

Everyone gets the opportunity to feel let-down when they’re young. In fact, i’s better to get acquainted with it when you’re young than to be blindsided when you’re older. Maybe you were cut from your team, blew your audition for the school play, or later in life, passed over for a promotion you deserved.  It’s a charmed childhood (and motherhood) that doesn’t include the sting of rejection, but we all live through it and become stronger in the long term. I’ll always remember the tears of a colleague, the mother of a thirteen-year-old who was the only kid in her class not invited to a party. “You’ll understand when you’e a mom.”

And so I do. But even though those moments cut to the bone, you MUST try again.


Permission is a joke

I honestly don’t believe that other people intend to be mean. Everyone is dealing with their own stuff all the time. People are generally good; most are just trying to get along in this big old world the same as you.

Still, if you’re not careful, it’s easy to put too much credence into someone’s behavior or reaction to you. As I tell my kids — crassly, so they remember — “Don’t ever let anyone pee on your dream.”

Women probably do this to themselves more than men. We buy into the belief that we “read people better.” Then we read too much into “clues” about their opinions of us. We often misinterpret subtle facial expressions or careless words, giving them so much more meaning than we should.

I don’t want to change the system or even fix the perpetrators of injustice. There will always be more thoughtless people than heroes. The trick — the joy —  is to live and thrive among them with the stronger core, the more stable character. The secret is to remind that little child inside you, of your power.

Your missions is to live your glorious life. You must never sit around and wait for someone to hand you your own power on a plate. It is already inside you.

Everything else is detail, circumstances, and trivia.

_______________

The Strength of an Elephant

Circus elephant. Angela NWhen a baby elephant is still small and weak, elephant trainers tie it to a tree so that it cannot pull its leg free from the rope, nor tug against the strength of the tree. They know that the animal will tug until it’s tired, then give up in exhaustion.

Over the years, the elephant gets bigger and stronger; certainly strong enough to pull down any tree to simply walk away from it. But it never does that. The now-grown elephant stands obediently tied to the tree because it’s never tested the tree after the first few attempts as a baby elephant.

It accepts its bondage as the truth.

People are likely to do the same thing unless we continually test our limits. Maybe you can see very well that others are achieving things you want to do. I admit, many times I look around and see others’ successes and think, “Hey, I could do that. I should do that. Do I even want to do something like that? How would I make that happen?”

Then (and here’s the icky part) sometimes before I even know it, my imagination comes up with excuses why it’s different for them. She has support I don’t have. He’s has more freedom to travel. She’s younger; has lived here longer; doesn’t struggle with this or that issue, pain, heartache, etc. All bullshit.

The devil loves it when you forget your power and stand there encumbered by bogus baggage that you invented. Before you know it, you’re tossing in a sea of excuses, while those others are on solid ground, clearing the way to make things happen.

The worst excuse you can possibly invent is the one that says, basically, it’s not your turn yet — or some variation of it:

  • This isn’t my time.
  • The world isn’t ready for this.
  • I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes.
  • This other thing needs to be done first.
  • I need more experience.
  • I’ve only been at this for ten years. Five more years and then I can do that.
  • As soon as I get new carpets, fix my teeth, lose thirty pounds… then I’ll go for it.
  • After the youngest is finished with school…

I know this internal discussion intimately, by the way. I also know that, as Mother Teresa said,“Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”  It pays to remind yourself every day why you’re doing those small moves, and to keep a watchful eye on every door that swings open. It could be the next one you should go through.

Whatever you do, don’t just sit it out for awhile. Stay engaged and be ready.


Whether you are ready to pounce, or are using your extreme mojo to take small steps (often the more difficult path); be ready to act. Your opportunity to step out of line is always at hand. The extraordinary possible.

When you decide to make your move, remember this:

Never let others’ self consciousness, ignorance, fear, or negativity dictate your value. It’s their problem, not yours. In more cases than not, their sour attitude doesn’t even reflect their beliefs! I think a lot of people simply don’t feel good. Their frowns are due to a rock in their shoe, or indigestion, or something they heard on the news… something that has nothing to do with you! Once you start looking at others this way, you’ll be amazed how the world changes. You actually start feeling sympathetic toward negative people. At the very least, you can veer away from them without getting scathed.

Know that you are worthy. If you put in the work, the hours, the energy, or planning… heck even if you just have a dream that you are daring enough to share with someone; It’s enough to start the wheels in motion. Your truth is as true as others’ truth.

Don’t settle for someone else’s NO. Accept that some people will never see things from your point of view; how could they? That’s exactly why you must persist in the truth of your point of view.

Learn and follow the rules in order to get your ticket to play. Especially at the beginning. Sometimes the biggest barrier to entry is simply filling out an application. For goodness sake, buck up and do this work! Set up your profile, build your website, register for the course, etc. This is the easy stuff. Anyone can do it. That’s exactly why it filters out the players from the rest. If you can’t do the little stuff to get your toe in the door, you probably won’t be able to handle the bigger problems that come from bigger rewards. You must be willing to take the first steps.

No complaining. If you must complain, write it down and throw it away. I have journals from my past completely full of hopes, dreams… and complaints. Now I know now why the good parts didn’t win out. Hopes and dreams cannot exist side by side complaints. As soon as I stopped exploring the ways other people hurt me, and the way I could never measure up, things started to change for me. A few years ago, I made a decision to change and set upon a deliberate refusal to contaminate my plans, thoughts, actions, written goals, and stories with crap.

I am not a ray of sunshine every minute of the day, for sure, but now I take a moment (sometimes even a day or two) to acknowledge the dark clouds. Then I force them away with a prayer, or an act of kindness, or a written plan. If you’re prone to complaints, take action against it. Replace it with something different. You are stronger than your complaints. You will overcome it.

Don’t blame another person who doesn’t get you. It’s not their fault they don’t get you. By the way, the people closest to you are often the ones who “don’t get you” the most. Forgive them.

Kintaro Riding the CarpAppreciate your weirdness. It’s your blessing. God made you that way. Thank him daily.

Not right away, maybe. Many beginners have a flurry of beginner’s luck, a comfortable, warm current in which they can do no wrong. I hope you are lucky in this way. This will keep you moving forward until you get smacked down the first time. The memory of that first bliss of success is usually enough to whet your appetite to stick with it. But be ready. Success, especially that which comes from beginner’s luck, never lasts.

Know that once you start, you will be met with opposition. Crazy stuff will happen to throw you off course. There will be a hurricane, or a sickness, or a car crash. This stuff isn’t “speaking to you.” Don’t ascribe meaning to it. It will seem like the Universe is against you, but it’s not. If you lean toward that way of thinking, the more accurate truth is that you are probably on the right course when all that crap starts “happening to you.”

More likely, you will encounter resistance from yourself and from others. (I’m only addressing the subject of resistance from others here because self-sabotage is a whole ‘nuther thing!) When you meet resistance you’ll have, you’ll have three choices.

Push back, move on to the next person, or give up completely.

1. Pushing back: Have you ever known the pleasure of changing someone’s mind? Me neither.

Minds don’t change like a chameleons’s colors. Everyone brings their history, prejudices and personalities to the table in any meeting of minds. You can rarely change minds completely (only a control freak wants to!) but you can, however negotiate a mutual agreement that allows everyone to get some of what they came for.

The best outcomes serve both parties better than each’s original plan. So, at least sometimes, be open to a plan B…

Unless, in your mind, there is no plan B.

2. If negotiation is impossible, then move on.

Some dreams, missions, and ideas are just too important to dice up. If your goal, as you define it, matters a lot, negotiation may not be an option.

In that case, moving on is your only choice. Move on to the next person, the next bank, the next angel investor, the next publisher, the next house, the next phone number, or even the next friend.

3. Lastly, of course, you can turn around and go back where you came from. Giving up is better than not trying at all, and some days there may be very good reasons for doing so. No judgment here. Only hugs. But I hope you try again.

A related note: Your past is gone. If it was amazing, I’m happy for you, but it’s still gone. Poof. You may personally and professionally identify yourself by your experiences; attribute great value to them and allow them to determine your future. Many people cling to the past with certainty, but it’s no more real than the future. You may argue that you have bruises to show for your troubles, but in fact, the punch or the fall, whatever cased the bruise, was yesterday. You have so much more than a bruise now; you have the knowledge of what came before it and what came after. You may choose to wear your bruise out into the open today, to cast your past cares aside, to dissociate with them and walk away. 

It’s your choice.

Finally, whatever you do, don’t wait for permission from someone else. I know, I said that already. If most of your life is spent waiting for permission from people who hold power over your actions, then think about changing your situation. Decide whether their permission has any effect on your well being; for example, your ability to make and keep friends, obtain food and shelter, raise your family, your desire to pray, etc. If so, rethink their power over you.

_________

“You have no power over me.”

One of the best movie lines ever is from Labyrinth — that movie with David Bowie as the Goblin King. The young princess battles the evil king’s spell and deals with all of his trickery. For hours she navigates his twisted Labyrinth with grace and persistence, until she finally meets him face to face.

You have no power over me.

After one last offer from the King, she finally realizes her righteousness and stands up to him, saying,

“My will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom is as great. You have no power over me.”

I love the way she performs this line. She says it with wonder and conviction. At the exact same moment she owns them herself, the words fall from her lips, ending the fantasy. She gets her baby brother back and returns to real life. (Never mind that David Bowie just promised to be her slave.)

Try saying the words aloud. It’s actually fun.

Your Real and Fantastic Life

The wonder of childhood stays with some of us for a long time. We remember the stories, people and places from our early years because they had so much power of us when we were kids. Sometimes too much power.

Oddly, when I retell the Sea World story to Katie, she insists she doesn’t remember it with as much gravitas as me. She got over it pretty quickly, in fact.

I was the one hurt. Somewhere, certainly, I was turned back from something I wanted to do. my fearless parenting was not rewarded with a triumphant child. Seeing my child stumble through it brought my claws out. I admit that even now, after I know Katie’s OK, and probably even stronger for that tiny set-back, the incident pulls a fierce reaction from my gut.

I work with entrepreneurs and business owners and other self-made people. They’re my favorite kind, these folks; all misfits in the best sense of the word. Being super sensitive to others who have this same misfit quality, I encourage you to fortify yourself against any established powers-that-be that get in the way of a friend, acquaintance, or child with a big vision.

While it’s perfectly lovely to be patient and polite, there comes a time when you have to step on it and pull out into traffic. Remember, the cross traffic does not stop. No one driving by will ever invite you to ride; they may even advise you to turn back… And that, my friend, is totally unacceptable.

Out of Steps:Flickr CC, Kara Javi

Circus Elephant: Flickr CC, Angela N.

Carp: Flickr CC, Ashley Van Haeften

Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: being polite, bold moves, bold moves in business, bravery, Edwin Havens, entrepreneur, Entrepreneur on Fire, entrepreneur qualities, fearlessness, follow the rules, following your dreams, Free Range Kids, home business, John Lee Dumas, jumping at opportunity, Lenore Skenazy, make your move, mother Teresa, opportunity, permission, permission to move, power, risk, self direction, small things, starting something big, stepping out of line, waiting your turn, who has power over you, Why me?, why not me?, youth

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