It’s in the way that you use it by Eric Clapton

Here’s a creative question for you to play with in your head today………

What flavor was your influence today?

Thanks to my friends Debbie and Scooter, I’ve had a most excellent Zen Monday. Days like this are such a rare treat! Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I took a Monday off.

After we all had breakfast together at the diner this morning, we went shopping for sunglasses. Then we went to go see Alice in Wonderland. (Highly entertaining flick!) Debbie did the driving, so all I had to do was chill out and enjoy!  I even managed to chat with Blake and get in my walk with Tootsie before getting my son off the bus. Sweet!

So, with spring coming along nicely, blue skies and happy friends, I think my influence today tastes like fresh strawberries, a seasonal favorite to be savored and enjoyed!

I’ll be back on Wednesday with the Inspirational word of the week.

xoxo Pam

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Although, I only do one word a week, so I guess that really makes this the Inspirational word of the week.  Just sayin’…

Creative: (adjective) 1. having the quality or power of creating. 2. resulting from the originality of thought or expression.  3. productive

click here for the full definition from dictionary.com

Although I picked this word because I really enjoy being creative, honestly, I’m stuck trying to find something clever to write about.

I think it’s because being creative is about more than just being clever, or smart.

Creativity happens only after you show up and put in the time. It’s not about being perfect. Or even good.

Being creative is about taking a chance, making an effort, and doing the work, everyday.

Some days are easier than others.

Sometimes the ideas flow so fast, it’s hard to keep up with them. (Sharpen your pencil and enjoy those days because sometimes just making dinner can be a challenge.)

The secret is to not give up.              Recognize creativity in all of the many things you do.

Give yourself credit for creating the best life you can with what you’ve been given.  

Create space within your heart to know that you are enough, you are doing enough and tomorrow brings another chance to try again. (repeat as many times as necessary to clear your head).

By doing something creative every single day, you must give up the idea of being perfect.

What a relief!!!             

I hope you have enjoyed this, my friendly blog reader!

Have a great week and I’ll be back on Monday with the Inspirational song of the week.

xoxo Pam

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Come on by the Beatles

I woke up with this song in my head last week and it inspired me to get up and get moving!!!

This song is seriously awesome for putting a little boogie in your bunda!!

Have a great day and I’ll be back on Wednesday with the Inspirational word of the week.

xoxo Pam

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Communication: (noun) 1. the interchange of thoughts, opinions or information. 2. an opportunity or means of passage between two places.

(click here for the Dictionary.com definition)

Communicating has been a part of human DNA since the beginning of time.

We have billions of synapses that have developed over thousands of generations specifically to interact with other people.

Cavemen did it, pirates did it. Babies do it all the time .

Whomever we connect with outside of our own head has the potential for communication, including families, communities, jobs, social media, internet, our government.  As we have created new tools to increase the speed at which we communicate, we are very likely to make even more mistakes.

We’re bound to screw up once in a while. There’s really no way to avoid it!  AAAAaaa!!  Panic!!!!!

The real question is “So now what?”

“The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be constantly fearing you can make on.” Elbert Hubbard

The fundamental truth is, we are designed to communicate with each other.      

For better or for worse, the exchange of ideas will never stop.  Ever.

I think the best we can hope for is grace, focus and resilience as we walk this high-wire of communication.

We can find that still, quiet place within us that holds the key to why we even try to communicate outside ourselves.

Because this is our gift. Within the challenge of everyday life lies our our opportunity to connect, support and commiserate with other people.  To reach out and try to make a difference in the life of someone else. To feel loved, respected and important to a fellow human being.  To feel like we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing with the people we’re doing it with. To sustain ourselves with the knowledge that our actions and intentions are worthwhile and ultimately fruitful.

To make the connections we’re meant to make, in order to fulfill our purpose, because without communication, there’d be no connections.

These weekly essays are meant to be helpful and entertaining. I hope you, my friendly blog reader, have enjoyed this and maybe even found it, if not compelling, then at least relevant. Thank you for reading along and I wish you a Fantastic week.

Please feel free to communicate with me in the comments.

xoxo Pam

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Except this week, I’m offering the…….

Walking SoundTrack!

As I was cruising thru about 5″ of fresh powder this morning, my thighs burning, calves pumping, I thought  “How freakin’ awesome  it feels to have these endorphins kickin’ in!  I wish I could share this with everyone!

So I put together a bunch of songs to possibly inspire you, my friendly blog reader, to get out and get moving!

Go chase the endorphins!!!  They want you to catch them!!!

And once you do, they will make it worth your while, if you let them.  :)

So here it is……….

Walk the line by Johnny Cash

Walk of life by Dire Straits

These boots are made for walking by Nancy Sinatra

Walking on sunshine by Katrina and the Waves

Walking in Memphis by Marc Cohn, featuring Cher

Walking on the moon by the Police

Walk this way by Aerosmith

That should put a little glide in your stride, a little bump in your grind, a little boogie in your bunda!!!!!

Go ahead and enjoy your walk!  Swing your arms, bob your head, get into it!!  That’s what kickstarts the endorphins!!!

And if people look at you funny, (and they probably will) just smile and wave at them!  :)

Maybe they’ll start thinking about taking a walk too!

Like Gretchen Rubin says’ “Happy people make people happy!“

Have a great week and I’ll be back on Wednesday with the Inspirational word of the day.

xoxoxox Pam

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Every day was wonderful and special in it’s own way, and I want to share it with you, my dear blog reader,  so that I can make it last just a little longer.

It’ll be a good reminder for when my days don’t seem so magical that good times happen, as long as we are open to paying attention to them.

Sunday, I listened to Jen Louden’s Virtual Comfort Retreat.  Not all of it, but enough to get really relaxed, stable and ready to move forward into whatever was coming my way.  My favorite part was the poetry of Hiro Boga and the bells/chimes/bowls of Fabeku Futanmise It gave me a chance to scrape off the heavy crust that felt like it had built up on the back of my eyeballs (if that makes sense).  Seriously consider checking it out for yourself, my friendly blog reader.

Monday, Garrett stayed home from school sick, so we surfed in the net, looking at fun panda pictures.  Then we laid on the couch and read Calvin & Hobbes before taking a nap.  Later that day, Blake called from Israel and the phone connection was very clear!  Yeah!  He’s getting ready to start draining the furnace of glass so they can take it apart to rebuild it.

Tuesday, with Garrett back in school, I went to the DDA office to help my friends Dagmar and Molly clean out the DDA closets.  We cleared both cabinets in just over an hour.  It took all three of us 2 trips to the dumpster, and when we were finished…….  you could totally find everything you need!  MAGNIFICENT!!!  And best of all, we got to do it together! It was super, wonderful, clearing and camaraderie! Speaking of camaraderie, my girlfriends Christa and Susan both sent me messages that day checking in to see how I was doing without Blake here!  It felt great to know they were thinking of me!  xoxo

Wednesday, I went to the Brandon Library Staff meeting to teach my 7th Inning Stretch.  (It’s a balancing, centering exercise I’ve been doing for many years on my walk.  I’ve just started teaching it to other people.  Eventually, I will get it onto video, so that I can share it with you, my friendly blog reader. (would you be interested in learning it?) Out of the 15 people at the Library Staff meeting, well over half of them seemed very interested and enthusiastic to learn.  Even for those who just put up with it, the whole practice only takes 5-10 minutes.

After that I got to hang out with my girlfriend, Debbie when we went grocery shopping.  I LOVE shopping with my friend!  She really makes me smile!  xoxoxo

Molly let me know that she wanted to have me speak at the MSOC really.  (I already wrote about that part here ) Although I felt compelled and thrilled to do it,  when I called her at 8pm Wednesday night, freaking out because I couldn’t find the right words, she told me to “rub your fingers together like you showed me.  You know, just rub it off!” She was exactly right.  I had shown her this “anxiety scrubber” months ago.  Simply put your forefinger and thumb together and rub them like you’re trying to make a little, round bead.  Breathe in and out, and just give yourself  a moment to calm down.   Now she got to be the one to remind me to calm down!  Aaaaaaaah!  Good Stuff!!!  It was great to be able to enjoy sitting down with Garrett to watch Shaun White do his Awesome Gold Medal winning half-pipe snowboarding thing too!  That guy really knows how to handle himself under stress!  He’s my hero!  and a fellow red-head! xoxo

Thursday, The Main Street Rally went really well.  You can read about it here.  After driving us all back home, I took my walk with Tootsie around the lake and the weather was absolutely BEAUTIFUL!  I actually got to enjoy real SUNSHINE!  In Michigan, surprise, surprise!!  Later on, as I was showing Garrett and his friend Cameron, Shaun White at 11 year old on YouTube, my girlfriend Liz of Trinity Photography dropped off the CD of our new family Portraits!  They turned out Great!!!  Thanks Liz!! xoxo

Friday, was my son’s winter break from school.  So we slept in, ate pancakes and then after I took my walk, he helped me clean the floors.  My girlfriends Allie and Susan were coming over for lunch and afternoon craftiness, so I wanted the house to look nice.  Allie showed up on time (suprised the hell out of me ’cause she’s Brasilian.  I was expecting at least another hour!) I had to finish up the floors, so she started the beans and then dusted the living room for me!  :)  After we finished, I got cleaned up while Garrett chatted her up about living here in the U.S.   I came back into the kitchen where she showed me how to make Brasilian beans and rice!  We chatted the whole time, about all sorts of stuff!  We sat down to eat with Garrett and then Susan showed up not too long after.  After we ate, the 3 of us went downstairs to watch Allie’s wedding video and my parachuting in Brasil DVD.  Then we all came upstairs and made cards with the supplies my girlfriend Denise has loaned to me. (Thanks Denise! xoxoxoxoxo) We used paper, rubber stamps, ink, glue and glitter while we listened to music and chatted.  It felt like heaven!

Saturday was very mellow.  Garrett went and played with his friend Cameron, while I took my walk and then talked with Blake.  Our phone connection was very clear and he said that they have already demolished half of the furnace!  WOW, he is a busy guy!!! I sure do love him. It may sound corny, but I love him more now than I did the day I married him.  Although he isn’t home physically, his heart is here with us.  He calls every single day and makes a point to stay connected to us.  He’s a great husband and father.  I’ve been very blessed and can’t wait to see him sometime next month.   I got a note from my girlfriend Paula, who is Mexican, but lives in Brasil, that she will be coming in next month for a conference in Auburn Hills, so she’ll be able to spend the weekend here with me!  Weeeee!  I’m so excited!  I haven’t seen her since last July!  Later on, Garrett and I got to hang out and watch the Olympics again too.

And here it is Sunday, my friendly blog reader.  Thank you for reading along.  It helps my heart to know that I can share these good times with you.  I would be absolutely thrilled to read in the comments about the good things that happened in your week!  Please share them with me

I’ll be back tomorrow with the Inspirational song of the week!

xoxoxo Pam

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WHEW!!

When I talked with Molly this morning, she told me that she had received an e-mail telling her that she only had a minute to a minute and a half to talk.

There wouldn’t be time for me!

I was really scared and overwhelmed at the thought of getting up in front of more than 50 people, television cameras and our County Executive L. Brooks Patterson to give a speech.  Even though it was about something very near and dear to my heart, I think I work better in small groups,without television cameras.

Molly was Phenomenal!!!! She spoke well, without rushing or stumbling, her timing was perfect and her smile lit up the whole room!  She was Marvelous!!! :)

The Rally had a ” 10″ theme to go with the 10 years of Main Street in Oakland County. (click that link to go to their website for a complete explanation.)

All of the DDA Executive Directors were wearing a football jersey from their district with a 10 on it.

There was a slide show that showed the 10th element on the periodic table was Neon (which can be found in some downtown communities).

Of course there was a slide with  Bo Derek.

And then there were the 10 commandments of Main Street.

Although I don’t remember them all, I do remember a few.

The first one was “Thou shalt not park in front of your own store”

Then “Thou shalt not covet Rochesters Promotions budget” (which is over $1 million  WoW!!)

And then number 5 was our favorite “Thou shalt not underestimate Ortonville, for they are small and mighty!”

Super special shout out to Debbie, Dara and Molly!  Thanks for making this the most fun I can have! xoxo

I ended up re-writing what I had written again this morning before I talked to Molly.

I hope you like it.

“We really appreciate having the support of  our Main Street Association so we can focus on the vision of what we have to look forward to in Ortonville.  Like CreekFest, the BB&E farmers market, the new pavilion going up in Crossman Park , as well as the new store front on Glass with Class Bead store,  Main Street gives us the chance to do fulfilling work with wonderful people and feel supported by each other.  I think that’s what real community is all about.”

Thanks for reading along, my friendly blog reader.  xoxoxo  I hope you are enjoying the story of my volunteer adventures.  Please feel free to share some of your stories in the comments.  I’d love to read them!

As you go off into your weekend remember to Be Excellent to each other!

xoxoxo Pam

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Except, I don’t have one.

Honestly, I’ve been working on a short speech I’m going to be giving tomorrow at our Main Street Association meeting in Pontiac, MI.  I didn’t know about it until yesterday afternoon and have been working furiously to make sure that I say what it is that I mean, while not saying too much.

I thought I had it done yesterday.  Unfortunately, when my friend Molly, the Executive Director, read it, she said that it needed to be more along the lines of the effect the Main Street Association has had upon Ortonville, not so much about the events.

I came home this afternoon and started typing away.  I actually started fresh and wrote something very different from what I had written yesterday.

I’ve spent hours trying to get this right.

I even lost an entire page!  (AAAACCCKKK)

I took that as a hint from the Universe that I needed to simplify.

I’m exhausted.

I haven’t left myself any time to write my post for today.  Although I have been writing for well over 4 hours, all I have is this:

Thanks to the strong framework of the Main Street Association, our committees are busy, our events are being arranged and people of Ortonville have something to look forward to.

Like CreekFest, which is coming up June 5^th and going into it’s 7^th season. Every year it draws more than 800 people with its educational activities, kids crafts, a bird show, native plants and lots of other fun stuff to do. It’s our communities unique way to celebrate our natural resource, Kearsley Creek.

Our BB&E Farmers market in Crossman park is going into it’s 5^th season. It runs thru the summer and last year it averaged 200 people per night with anywhere from 8 to 15 vendors every week. These vendors are all local residents who are finding new ways to make some money. All of the people who come in to the event know they’re helping out by supporting their friend  and neighbors.  Thanks to our design committee, we’ll be putting up a pavilion in the park this year!

It’s thru our events that we are best able to support our community, as well as each other. Our committees bring out the best in our volunteers by giving us a common goal, a chance to show case our talents and the structure to really make things happen.  It’s a way to feel like we’re making a real difference.

We become the stimulus we need when we speak well and often of the people, opportunities and events within our community.

Thanks to the Main Street Association for giving us all a chance to work together for the greater good.

I’m beat.

Fortunately, I get to do this with my girlfriends, Molly, Debbie and Dara.

Knowing that makes me able to get some sleep tonight.

I’ll post something tomorrow afternoon to let you know how it goes.

xoxoxoxo Pam

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It happens by Sugarland

(click the title of the song above to be directed to YouTube to listen to the song)

I love this song!

“Ain’t no need to overthink it,

Let go laughing”

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did (I actually listened to it twice, it’s so good!)

and I’ll be back on Wednesday for the Inspirational word of the day.

xoxo Pam

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Encourage: (verb) 1) to inspire with courage, spirit or confidence. 2) to stimulate by assistance or approval. 3) to promote, advance or foster.

Thanks to dictionary.com for the definition.

Today was a snow day!!  Thanks to my girlfriend Debbie for posting it on FaceBook this morning so I could go right back to bed!  (Thanks to her assistance, I was encouraged to get more sleep!)

I was pleased to see that my neighbor Jim cleared my drive-way before I could get to it this morning!  Sa-Weet!!  (Thanks to Jim’s assistance, I was encouraged to take my walk sooner!)

My girlfriend Molly (the executive director of the DDA)  has been working on putting together the DDA website and it has turned out BEAUTIFULLY!!  We’re starting the 2010 Sponsorship campaign this week! Now is our chance to encourage people to connect, participate and link themselves to the good stuff that is happening within our community.  So go check out downtownortonville.org to see what we have to look forward to here in Ortonville, Michigan.   (Thanks to Molly and the DDA, I am encouraged to promote the events, businesses and people in my hometown!)

Today was my first tele-conference call on Havi Brooks’ Kitchen Table.  Each of us had the chance to talk about what we’ve been working on and get advice and encouragement from the others.  (Thanks to Walt, Janet and Pearl for making my first time painless and helpful! )

What about you, my friendly blog reader, who encouraged you today?

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.

xoxo

Pam

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