Wednesday, January 23, 2013

DROPS OF AWESOME

I read a blog post the other day that really made me think about enjoying the little moments when I do things well or even just well enough, and being able to really put my brain in a place where I can fully appreciate the goodness in me.  I don't have time to elaborate on my thoughts about this, but if you ever want to chat with me about it, I'll be happy to discuss it.  It's worth your read.

Click on the blog link below to read it directly in all it's awesomeness:

Drops of Awesome blogpost

VALIDATION

Sometimes we feel that we need to look to others to feel important or validated.  This video represents this concept in a very interesting way.  Hope you enjoy it.

VALIDATION:


THE FENCE (ANGER)

THE FENCE

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper.  His father gave him a bag of nails and 
told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the fence.  The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence.  Over the next few weeks as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily, gradually dwindled down.  He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.
Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all.  He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.  The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence.  He said "you have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence,  The fence will never be the same.  When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one."  You can put a knife in a man and draw it out.  It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there.  Make sure you control your temper the next time you are tempted to say something you will regret later.

-Author Unknown

Carrots, Eggs, or Coffee; "Which Are You?"

Grandmother Says... Carrots, Eggs, or Coffee; "Which are you?" A young woman went to her grandmother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose. Her grandmother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her granddaughter, she asked, "Tell me what do you see?"

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they got soft.She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The granddaughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma. The granddaughter then asked. "What's the point,grandmother?" Her grandmother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity--boiling water--but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water they had changed the water. "Which are you?" she asked her granddaughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?" Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate to another level? ---AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

10 Min Model Workout

I wanted to remember how to find this workout, so I thought this would be a good place to store it.  Go to it here.  It's fun to work on getting fit!