My Very Own "Oops"

I was working on a very fun project yesterday on the computer (our Less Drama Girlfriends slideshow) and I hit the wrong button unknowingly and did it probably more than once.  I lost over 3 hours of work.  Ugh - not so fun - so maddening! 

I must admit that I hate when I make mistakes like that.  Actually, I'm not a big fan of making mistakes at all but I know it's part of life.  I should go back and read that archived Truth or Dare on the perfect girl.  For those of you who need to join me in reading it again (and for those who just joined us):

http://tiny.cc/perfectgirl

I should be more grace-filled with myself when mistakes happen.  I speak about the importance of growing and that making mistakes is part of that process all the time.  I must be a slow learner =)  So for my sake, please indulge my contemplations on making mistakes:

1)  If I make a mistake, it means I'm moving forward.
2) If I make a mistake, it means I'm taking risks.
3) If I make a mistake and I learn from it, it means I'm on the right path.
4) If I make a mistake, it means I'm human.

Carol Dweck, a researcher at Stanford (that means she's smart) says this:

"People who believe in the power of talent tend not to fulfill their potential because they're so concerned with looking smart and not making mistakes. But people who believe that talent can be developed are the ones who really push, stretch, confront their own mistakes and learn from them."

I have some of my very own "oops" stories to share with you some day soon but I've run out of time for today.  For now, I'll just remind myself that I'm all about growing.

I dare you to be shower yourself with grace the next time you make an "oops"!

Moving Forward,
Cindy

Simply Said

Yesterday, I was facilitating a group coaching call.  It was a homework group for a coaching class on the process of creating a 5 year vision for yourself.  My job was to ask lots of questions, similar actually to the questions I ask you all regularly: 

What gives you life?  How do you define the "simple life" for yourself?  On a scale, from 1 to 10, if your relationships were at a 10, what would that look like for you? 

Each of us was giving sincere answers to the questions.  Then, one of the "students" on the call shared a personal story with us that gripped our hearts.  All of sudden, we had been transported to what I like to call "holy ground".  We had entered a sacred place.  We each felt honored to be present.  Although, none of us knew each other well, you could say we were colleagues but really we were mere acquaintances, until that moment when we experienced a true connection and became bonded.  

You ask what brought us to that sacred place?  I believe it was the willingness of that one participant.  She was willing to be present.  She was authentic.  She chose well with whom she confided.  She seized the moment.  

I encourage you to be present in the small gatherings of life.  I dare you to engage in authentic ways.  Choose well those whom you share yourself with...but do choose to share yourself!  I know it takes courage to put yourself out there - but the reward is there for the taking.  I dare you to seize the moment!

Seizing moments,
Cindy

Who's Standing by YOU?

I'm feel like sharing something light and fun today.  NPR shared this great story back on May 4th - I hope it inspires you.   I love serendipitous moments like the one producer Mark Johnson had one day in Santa Monica.  Read the story from NPR below.  Then take 5 minutes and watch the youtube video.  It's good stuff!

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103715874  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us-TVg40ExM

It's time to tell the truth: 
Who stands by you?  Who do you stand by?

Standing Strong and Standing by YOU,
Cindy

Who's In Your Court?

I was having lunch with my friend Suzi (www.suziqcosmetics.com) yesterday and we got to talking about the power of girlfriends - imagine that.  Girlfriends just seem to meet needs that no one else can meet for us.  Girlfriends just get us!  As many of you know, I've been blessed with an abundance of steadfast, beautiful, strong-hearted girlfriends along my journey.  I hope some of you happen to be reading this right now.

The Power of Girlfriends is one of the 5 gems that will stand as a foundation for my book.  I believe that if we are going to make significant, positive changes in our lives and the lives of others, we need to be intentional.  We need to be intentional about who we spend time with and who we invest in as girlfriends.  I think it's vitally important for us to have these ladies in our court - at least one of each - especially, if we want to become queens of less drama.

Your"Queen Mama" goes before you.  She's "been there and done that".  She's in the next season of life.  She listens to you with all her heart.  She holds you up when you feel like falling.  She celebrates you when you succeed.  She believes in you  when you don't believe in yourself.  She helps you see your mistakes gently (firmly when needed) and she helps you learn from them.  She holds you accountable.  She highlights your strengths and forgives you your weaknesses.  She points to the truth (even when it hurts).  She provides wisdom when you ask for it.  She shares her journey with you.  She gives you perspective.  She reminds you "this too shall pass".  

Thank you to Vickie, Miss Virginia, Joanne, Debby and Donna for being the Queen Mamas in my life.

Your"Lady-In-Waiting" is a noble companion.  That's what they were called in Queen Elizabeth's time.  I love my noble companions - Ashley, Lara, Lauri, Kerstin and Kate.  Our lady-in-waiting is in the "same boat we are in".  We listen to each other.  We can carry on parallel conversations at the same time and not miss a beat.  We keep up with each other.  We learn from each other.  We cry with each other and oh do we laugh (belly laughs) with each other.  We celebrate each other.  We have fun together.  We listen to each other's rants.  We talk each other down off the ledge.  We know each other inside and out AND STILL love each other.  

Your "Princess" comes along behind you.  She asks you for help.  She lets you hold her tight.  She challenges you.  You GET to love her well.  You get to celebrate her.  She inspires you.  She teaches you that you really do have something to give.  She helps you to keep it real and she knows you've got your own shortcomings.  She looks up to you.  She trusts you.   She gets to learn from your mistakes (lucky her).  She laughs with you.  She reminds you that you're not crazy and you get to do the same for her.  

Julie, Wynter, Alisha, Allison, Amy and Laura - thank you for letting me be your "Queen Mama"!

Do you have a Queen Mama, a Lady-In-Waiting and a Princess in your court?  Who are they?  Do they mean the world to you?  Do you need a Queen Mama, a Lady-In-Waiting or a Princess?  Think about the women that have been placed in your life.  Could you cultivate one of these friendships?  If you're in need, be on the look-out.  Be intentional.  See who comes along your way that might just fit the bill.    

The beauty in these friendships is that they reinforce one of the values that I hold dear - the value of reciprocity - they allow us to give and receive.  Yay for girlfriends!

Yay for you,
Cindy

Move over "perfect girl"!

Have you encountered your inner perfect girl lately?  Is she getting in the way of your success?  I'm wondering if "perfect girl" is a case of nature vs. nurture.  Were we born with her or is she just one of those "friends" we've brought along with us from the "old neighborhood"?

I want you to read this blog entry from Back In Skinny Jeans.  I think it speaks to us all:

http://www.backinskinnyjeans.com/2009/04/best-of-bisj-8-ways-perfect-girl-can-hold-you-back.html

Where do you need to tell "perfect girl" to get out of your way?  I dare you to tell her to move over or move out today.  Who is your true self?

I dare you to take 15 minutes sometime this week (preferably in the next day or two) to write a paragraph on your true self.  Describe who you are today...Who are you becoming? What are you about? What do you value?  What do you want to accomplish? What's important to you?  15 minutes - that's all you need.  Take the first 5 minutes to settle in quietly and then reacquaint your self to your TRUE self.

Self meet True Self.

Cindy

  

I can't decide!

Do you ever get overwhelmed by all the decisions you have to make?  Would you be willing to let total strangers make some of those decisions for you? 

Please read this fun article.  It will be a pleasurable diversion from all those decisions that are waiting/weighting upon you?

http://www.theweek.com/article/index/92141/The_last_word_Im_no_decider

This is quite the dare.  Would you be daring enough to try this "random act of indecision" social experiment?  I'm not sure I'm am, but, with enough of you on board I might be swayed.  We could pick a date to let others make our decisions - it might be kind of fun.  Let me know what you think.

Looking Forward,

Cindy

P.S.  I would never have trouble picking out a dozen donuts.  I know exactly what I would get.  I can envision it now - Krispy Kreme, here I come.  Just kidding - I don't even know where the closest Krispy Kreme is (boohoo).

She dreamed a dream!

Susan Boyle is everywhere I go this week.  I found her on twitter.  She's nearly 48.  She lives with her cat.  She's never been kissed.  She's  from a small "collection of villages".  She has dreamed a dream...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

What a welcomed surprise!  I "met" Susan earlier this week on twitter (thank you Perry -http://twitter.com/perrybelcher).  Some of you might have already met her.  For those of you who haven't had the pleasure, I just had to introduce you.  Brad said I should wait until next week (one truth or dare a week, right?).  I couldn't wait any longer when I saw her on CNN this evening.  She's glorious.  So unassuming...so in your face in such a gentle way.  Unexpectedly, she "screams" GO FOR IT. She makes my heart sing.

She reminds me not to judge a book by it's cover.  My dare for you:  Look underneath your "cover" to see what hidden gems are living deep within just waiting to be shared with others.  For those who dare - Step out and share that gem just like Susan - it's never too late!

Be changed in these moments.  Dream your dream.  Make it happen!

Cindy

p.s. Want some more inspiration?  Over 24,000,000 peeps have viewed her dream onwww.youtube.com.  4,000,000 while I was typing this Truth or Dare.  WOW!

p.s.s.  For more about Susan and her dream, please check out CNN.com.  She's a headliner tonight. 

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/04/16/susan.boyle.simon.cowell/index.html