March the 11^th 1981! A NEW beginning!

The day that changed the course of our life forever! 36 years ago today Chuck and I burnt all our bridges behind us when we aligned ourselves with Shaklee.  Today marks a huge milestone for me. I’ve been in love with everything this company stands for, for half of my life and that’s very meaningful to me. I’m so proud of the alliance … and the allegiance we share.

Chuck and I aren’t whimsical people who make snap decisions. We think long and hard and we always research diligently before we commit to any decision, let alone a lifelong association. We knew we would be lifers from the start because we based our decision on the credibility, integrity and commitment the company has to improving the lives of everyone it touches. The culture and the philosophy of Shaklee stole our hearts and touched us to the depth of our souls … forever and a day.

Have we enjoyed rewards? Yes! Too many to count! But the message I want to convey today is that in any business one encounters highs, lows, elation and at times even frustration … it’s all part of building, growing and sustaining a successful business … ANY business. No matter what season we’ve faced in our journey, our love for this company, and those we serve faithfully in our business, has never wavered.  Love and respect has always prevailed. 

This I can say confidently. We’ve never regretted our decision all those years ago and we’ve never had reason or desire to look elsewhere to place our loyalty. We’re in it for life.

When you stand for something of significance, you hold your ground … like the little nut that grows into a mighty oak. That’s the dream we envisioned 36 years ago and it’s worth celebrating our experience and gratitude and with all of you.

I thank God every day for the opportunity I’ve had as a woman, a mother and an entrepreneur to not only challenge myself, but to grow personally, to pursue my calling with passion and purpose alongside the love of my life {Chuck} and in partnership with the most amazing esteemed company, we know as Shaklee.

Do you find it easy to start and finish those things that you enjoy doing? I do … and I’ll bet it’s the same for you. There’s no problem doing what we like to do because the desire to do it already exists, doesn’t it?

I love to translate my thoughts and emotions into words that I transcribe on paper, so for me writing is a fun, easy activity … and I never tire of it. I enjoy the process of creating an idea, using words to paint a picture, tell a story, or share an emotion.  I write for many reasons, but mostly for the sheer joy of it.

What is your one thing?

On the flip side, how are you with things that you don’t like to do? Are you like me and given half a chance, you’d procrastinate, avoid or fob the chore off on someone else?

There are a few things that I really dislike doing. One of them is accounting and taxes. Don’t get me wrong, I DO it because I have to. I must compute the numbers … lots of numbers in the business … and turn them over to our tax preparer.

I’m acceptable and accurate at it, but faced with a stack of papers and hordes of boring numbers is neither exciting nor desirable!  

In order to get the job done I must play with my mind.

That’s what I did this morning! Spent some time fooling my mind by creating a false sense of urgency, so the desire to complete the job will motivate me to take the action before the urgency is for real. Am I making sense?

Here’s the bottom line. I don’t like to feel stressed and hurried when accuracy is critical. Our tax appointment isn’t until the end of February so I’ve plenty of time. But what if I procrastinate?  The likelihood of facing REAL urgency {like starting the day before} will surely place undue stress on me. Stress and pressure I don’t want, don’t need and choose not to have!

So here I go … today I start the prepping of numbers.  Pretending that it’s urgent, has created strong desire to get it done, but all the while I am fully aware that I have time and patience to do it right … so the stress that would accompany a real urgent situation isn’t there.

Am I making sense or do you think I’m crazy? Do you ever create a sense of false urgency to instill the desire to do something?

Lol! Here’s what I believe. The mind is a powerful tool. A God-given resource, the most amazing computer with a power we don’t fully comprehend.

I tapped into its power this morning to energize me into an activity I don’t particularly want to do! What a blessing a mind is!

The energy of the mind is the essence of life.  Aristotle

How many times in your life have you heard someone passionately exclaim “I just want to understand!” I’ve heard it a lot more in recent months and it’s been prevalent on FB before, during and in the aftermath of the election. In reality the deep-seated desire for people to understand one another {what a person says or does} isn’t new … it’s ever been thus … since the inception of humanity. Listen!  I never cease to be amazed myself! And proverbially scratch my head often at what people express … especially on social media.

Before anyone gets their knickers in a twist {British idiom} please understand that I’m not calling out anyone in particular or referencing any specific circumstances!  Rather I’m directing the contents of this blog more as a “note to self!” for the future and with the hope it may even help someone struggling to understand a friend with a different opinion … on any subject. Continue reading →

First thought into my head when I awoke this morning, even before I opened my eyes, was “It’s my birthday today”! I immediately felt thankful … to know where I was, to remember it is Wednesday {also family day, pick-up-grandson-Nicholas-day, mid-week and hump day!} and to recall the date is January 11^th … the day I was born.

Of course, my day of birth has dawned faithfully every year so far … I’m living proof of that! I’m also thankful to see it arrive. I suppose I could view it as any other day … or any other birthday since this one doesn’t signify any particular milestone number reached or anything like that. Let’s just say that the number representing the years I’ve lived on earth, ends in a 2 … oh yes and it’s a double-digit number starting between 6 and 8. Just saying!! I wonder if one day I’ll hit a triple-digit-birthday? Continue reading →

I wasn’t sure how I’d feel today! It’s November 24th … it’s my mother’s birthday … and I miss her.

The thing is, it’s also one of my favorite holidays … it’s the last Thursday in November and that can only mean one thing! We celebrate Thanksgiving Day in accordance with President Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation {October 3, 1863}. In contrast, in England, there is Harvest Festival, where we give thanks for a bountiful harvest, which is traditionally celebrated on the closest Sunday to the harvest moon, so the date can vary in September or early October.

Sometimes I feel like I have one foot in the UK and the other in the US, straddling the massive body of water we call the Atlantic Ocean. Lol! That idea brings a smile. Me as some kind of enormous human bridge? Interesting vision to say the least. Haha! Continue reading →

This coming Tuesday, we the people of the United States of America will determine the future of our Republic for many years to come … in the ballot box … by voting for candidates who collectively will govern us.  

The way I see it, the stakes are extremely high this year. In my humble opinion,
they’ve never been higher. I believe the next few days will be some of the most exciting times in the history of elections in this country. Who will win? Who will be our next President? Who will be elected into Congress? Continue reading →