Make it Right

Have you ever said something to someone, and after thinking about it later, ReAlized they may have taken it the wrong way and got their FeelinGs hurt?

A similar situation happened to me this week in an email message, and even though I was pretty sure this person didn’t take it the wrong way, it didn’t settle with me not knowing for sure. I decided to email her back and apoloGize if I may have come across the wrong way and eXpLaiNed my reasoning for saying what I did.  As soon as I hit “send” I immediately felt better.  Knowing that I was able to ClariFy what had happened put me at eAse versus always wondering if I had hurt her feelings.

Picking up the phone or sending a message to clear some possible confusion or tension is hard to do but always leaves you with much Relief. I never regret going out of my way to apoloGize or make sure I’m on the same page with a person.  Is there a situation you need to clear up with someone?  Often times the other person didn’t take it the wrong way and bringing it up won’t only show how much you care, but also put an end to your worries!

~Lara

One Unique Gift

One of my favorite things about the internet is YouTube.  (Have you noticed?!)  At different times I will check out a favorite song.  Maybe it’s a song from the 80’s or 90’s as I reminisce about those high school and college days, a sentimental/NoStaLgiC song, a favorite love song, an inspirational song, a song to pump me up, an oldie, or a new hit.  When it comes to music there is something for everyone.  It’s for that reason I have found a new GiFt to give my friends, family, and loved ones:  a music video via an email.

Are you wanting to do something special for someone, but don’t know what?  Why not send an email with a HeArTfeLt message and a YouTube link to a song that is significant to your relationship?  Maybe it’s a funny song that you enjoyed with a high school classmate or a love song that means something special between you and your spouse.  Whatever you may want to say, most likely there is a SoNg that says it perfectly.

Need ideas?  Here’s one to get you started.  I hope you enjoy!!

Robynn~

Accountability Partner

It seems like I have always tried to lose weight.  When I had a baby, it was a cHallenGe to get back to my previous weight.  Even during my pre-kid days, I was trying different weight loss tactics to shed those last several pounds.  This year I’ve had my BEST SUCCESS at eating right and in moderation, thanks to one thing…my accountability partner!

In the past, I remember wanting to ask someone to hold me accountable for my weight loss.  Subconsciously though, I knew if I ever wanted to quit my diet, I could give up and no one
would know.  In reAlity, I was setting myself up to fail before I ever started!  Asking someone to hold you accountable is scary, but in the end, it will determine how serious you really are about wanting to cHanGe.

Finding the right person to share your jouRney with is important. My accountability person is someone that I don’t necessarily see often, but who I have to share my weigh-in number with every week.  We don’t work out together, but text or call each other with what we are up to (good and bad).  You must be comFortable enough with this person so you can “be real” and trust that even if you gain a pound or two, they won’t judge you but continue to enCouRage.

Is there a habit you can’t kick? Perhaps you should REACH OUT to a good friend and ask them for help.  It not only will strengthen your relationship with them, but have poSitiVe Results on achieving your goal!

~Lara

P.S — A big shout-out to my accountability partner today!  Wouldn’t have the success I’m having if it wasn’t for YOU!!  Thanks :)

Do What You Love – The Challenge (Wk 16)

What do you LoVe to do so much that you could do for the ReSt of your LiFe and you would do it for FrEe?  Chances are your PuRpOsE in life is hiding behind that question. 

When searching for your purpose look for the things that you are pAsSioNate about.  What do you love to do?  

That’s not to say you should only do things that you love, especially if you are trying to figure out what your purpose is.  There are numerous stories of successful people who didn’t realize initially what their passion was.  Instead, they just took advantage of an opportunity and Voi-La!   The passion surfaced. 

You’ve probably heard the saying that it’s easier to to “StEeR a mOviNg car vs. a PaRkEd one”.  Maybe it is time to get moving and volunteer, take a class, pick up a new hobby, change careers or take advantage of an OpPorTuNity that has been presented to you. 

If you’re looking for your passion get the car mOviNg and EnJoY the ride!

Robynn~

“HAYS” YA DOIN’!!

My family and I recently vacationed in Colorado and made a stop in HaYs, KaNsAs just off of Interstate 70.  We “DiScOvErEd” this happening little town a year or so ago and have thoroughly enjoyed taking in all it has to offer.

Here’s a little preview of our short visit on a Friday evening:

We did a lot of WiNdOw ShOpPiNg:

ChiLdrEn’s BoUtiQuE.  (I love the old WaGoNs with flowers!)

Very trendy little shops.  CS PoSt & Co.

The PaisLeY PeAr.

The #1 Voted SeMoLiNo Coffee House.

The place was BuZziNg.

They even had LiVe MuSiC.

In fact there seemed to be live music all over downtown including this street CoRnEr.

We love to eat at GeLLa’s DiNer.  Some favorites:  the murals painted on brick walls, home brewed RoOt BeEr and CrEaM sOdA, trendy decor, and of course their kids meals that come in a cardboard retro little car.  (I can’t believe I forgot to get a picture of them!)

Check out this MuRaL, one of many.

I also love this SuNfLoWeR made from road signs.

We’ve been told there are other great eating spots that we want to check out as well.

Right next door to Gella’s is ArTiSt DeNniS ScHiEl’s art studio.  We enjoyed talking with him and looking at his art.  (By the way, if you are looking for some close-up painted art of CoW’s faces check out his work.)  Dennis is one of many artists in Hays.

This town has quite the Historic Downtown.  We intend to visit it more on those long, long trips to Colorado.

This “ArT-sY” little town has a lot going for it.  If you are passing by check it out!!

Robynn~

Best Parenting Advice

Of all of the great words of WiSdOm given to me by parents with years of experience, the best AdviCe was this: Always give ultimatums that benefit YOU!

This advice is something I utilize numerous times a day.  When my kiddo doesn’t want to take a nap I ask, “Do you want me to read some books before your nap oR do you want to go to bed without reading a book?”  She always picks the books and without her realizing it, her reSisTanCe to nap is derailed.

Life is so much eAsieR with this method and I can’t imagine parenting without it.  Hope it can make your life a little easier too!

HaPpY PaRenTinG!

~Lara

This Amazing Thing Called Grace

The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak.  Matthew 26:41 (KJV)

It is sometimes easier for people to focus on “tHe SpiRit is WilliNg” and forget that “tHe FleSh is wEaK”.  They expect RoCk-sTaR pErfoRmaNce and beat themselves up when their performance is anything LeSs tHaN pErFeCt.  Can you relate?

It’s important for you to understand that your HuMaN nAtuRe, your natural tendency, is to Go iN tHe diTch.  I’m not being negative, just realistic.  It’s just like a car.  If you take your hands off the steering wheel as you are driving down the highway, it will eventually end up in the ditch.  And although there is nothing you can do about that, there is a lot you can do to keep yourself “between the lines”.  It is an active role you play daily.     

However, from time to time you are going to make miStAkes.  And when you do you must remember the flesh is weak.  This is not a license to mess-up or an excuse to give-up, but it is a reminder that you are a WoRk iN pRoGreSs.

So, have cOmPasSion on yourself.  Give yourself a break.  LiGhtEn uP.  The Bible calls this grace.  And let me tell you that you will enjoy your journey a whole lot more (and so will everyone else around you) if you will just learn to give yourself (and others) this AmAziNg tHinG cAllEd GRACE.

Robynn~

Stop Staring at Me!

Are you ever trying to break a bad habit, but the hAbit is always staring you down?  I was having this issue over the weekend with a red velvet cake.  Although I knew there were a tremendous number of calories in every slice and how sluggish it made me feel AFTER I ate it…I still wanted more.My solution?  The cake went in the trash.  I eNjoYed two small slices over the weekend, but I won’t feel guilty for throwing something away that is only going to make me feel worse.  Back
in the day and I would have never thought to do such a thing.  Knowing that there are people in the world in nEEd of something to eat would have kept me from tossing it.  However, keeping unnecessary snacks and junk food around the house would just be contributing to another big problem in this country, weight management.

Sometimes we have to take eXtreMe measures to avoid being stared down by our tEmptAtions.  In the end, we need to do whatever it takes to set ourselves up to SuCCeeD.

~Lara

Sweet Spot “Spotters”- The Challenge (Wk 15)

I went through a time in my life where I was fRusTrAteD in almost every aspect of my life.  Things just didn’t seem to be going well for me.  I felt mediocre, or worse, like a failure.  That is when I remembered a couple of compliments I had been given years earlier by two separate individuals.  They both said the same thing, “Robynn is the NiCeSt person I know.”  I remember being floored that two people who didn’t even know each other and didn’t live in the same city said the same exact thing.

My point in sharing that story is not to say I’m the nicest person around because it turns out that I know fRiEndLier aNd NicEr people than I am and I try to emulate these people.  Instead my purpose in sharing this story is to show how these people had seen my gifting, my tAleNt which is being fRieNdLy and enCouRagiNg to others.  That is my StrEngTh.

When I thought back to these comments the LigHtBuLb went off!!  I wasn’t operating in my GIFT, instead I was trying to be someone else.  I was trying to emulate people who have strengths in the areas of my weaknesses and when I did I failed.

What gifts and talents do others see in you?  Maybe it’s not even something that you have ever considered being a gift or a talent.  Maybe you have blown off CoMpliMenTs thinking that people are “just saying that”, “don’t really mean it”, or “are just trying to be nice” .  It may be time to take their compliments to heart.  Could it be that they are pointing you to your “SwEeT sPoT” without you even knowing it?

Robynn~