Five things I’ve learned from Snowmageddon 2011:

1.) When given several days of uninterrupted in-house time, every woman I know – even the ones who normally don’t– COOK COOK COOK I have never heard of so many comfort food soups, sweets and meals being created, served and consumed in such short order! Now to swap for all those recipes…

2.) The world can still be a truly quiet place. No cars, no traffic, no noise. Just the silent frozen outside. Opening the door just to hear the snowfall was poetry.

3.) Plenty of uninterrupted power – AKA electricity – is the greatest blessing in a frigid world. Watching the roads freeze, thaw and refreeze is much more pleasant through the window of a well heated home with a hot cocoa in hand.

4.) People have become unbelievably intolerant of any down time. I heard more than one interviewed on the continuing news coverage who claimed to be going ‘stir crazy with cabin fever’ after 24 hours! Really? REALLY? I think it’s a good reminder that we need to practice relaxing and going with the flow – even if it’s snow and ice!

5.) Nothing brings out our best selves than a ‘crisis’…. Calls to and from neighbors, friends and family. Shared meals, offers to bring stuff from the store from the 4 wheelers, help pushing a car out of a snow rut. Helping. Sharing. Smiling in the snow. Why can’t every day be like this? Hmmmm….

Day 3 and just heard there’s no school again tomorrow… but as our fictional Atlanta sister said, that’s ‘another day.’ Let’s see what tomorrow brings…

HELP! I'm drowning….

In email offers, that is. It happens to me before I know it. I have to know the latest Groupon deal. And, of course, the Williams Sonoma sale is important. I'm sure they have something I need. I'll just let it sit in my inbox until I check out my pantry...

OH WAIT! Another Groupon. Now Bloomie's has a one day special. Those 3 carat diamond studs I've always dreamed of? ONE DAY SPECIAL at Ross Simons!!!! They're flowing in faster than catalogs at Chistmas. Now the inbox is over its limit. How did this happen AGAIN????
ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH……………

Step away from the 'SAVE' button! Take a deep breath. Now
hit DELETE. DELETE. DELETE.

It's discipline I need to acquire. Get an offer. Read it. Act on it (or don't) and then delete it and move on. Because by now I should have learned that there is always another offer. Another deal. This one may not last but there will be others. if I don't need it right now, let it go. Besides, they're only good today and today only, right?

DELETE...and breathe…..

My one and only Resolution

That’s right. This year, I have one – ONE – and only one resolution. Sound too simple? Too easy? Too good to be true? Well, maybe, but after 2010 and all that it brought, let me share.

It hit me just before Christmas when the temps dropped like a rock. Everywhere, we were all complaining about the cold. Moaning. Groaning. Ceaselessly complaining. And then, in a crystal clear moment, it hit me. Yes, it was cold. Very cold. Way below freezing, single digit wind chill, in fact. But I had just walked out of a very cozy house, gotten into my car with a fully functioning heater (and defroster) and driven to my toasty warm office. What did I have to complain about?

At that moment, I resolved to stop complaining and start appreciating. Yes, it was cold, but why look on the down side? Why not start being grateful for all the good things I had during the coldest days of the year? From that moment, I met every “I hate this cold weather!” with “It is cold. Sure am grateful for my furnace/fireplace/warm clothes/boots, (you name it)!” That was my start. My lightning bolt. My epiphany!

This year, I resolve to listen to myself, really LISTEN, and actually hear what I’m saying, both to others, and in the never-ending conversation that goes on inside my head. Have you ever stopped to listen to what you say when you talk to yourself? Our walk on the negative side can become so subtle, we never realize it. But with a little attention, and a sharply listening ear, we can catch ourselves and turn it around.

“I can’t thank you enough” becomes “It meant the world to me!”
“Don’t forget ….” turns into “Please remember…”
“I’ll never lose these last five pounds” transforms into “Wow! I’m glad I have a body that works and can exercise!”

You get the drift….
Want to join me?

What do you say when you talk to yourself? Do you need to shift focus from the dark side to the light? It’s amazing what can happen when you do!

Happy New Year!!!!