I don't know about you but my inbox has been inundated with really cool lists to live by in the New Year. How's a girl to choose? Which list should I ascribe to? Should I make up my own list? I'm a wise girl...I could come up with one of these lists on my own, couldn't I? Then, I read Christine's list and thought - ahhh...Christine's got soul and I like her list. It's almost like she has a window into my heart. So here's her list - plain and simple. My only question is why 38? http://tiny.cc/truemaverick I'm a big fan of the "one thing" rule. On Christine's true maverick list, what's one thing would you be willing to commit to live by in 2010? I've got some pondering to do. Of course, as I'm sizing up the list, I'm thinking I really like the idea of going complaint-free - but how on earth could I do that one? Another that one stands out to me but it seems oh-so-hard: Refuse to collude, gossip or talk about people. Then, my inner life coach pipes in and says...you could do that for a day, couldn't you? I answer shyly, "Prolly." Can you believe I'm admitting to you that I have conversations with my inner life coach? Before this moment, I didn't even know I had an inner life coach - Oh my. Okay, just choose one. Just for today...maybe you'll see the benefits and choose to live by it for the year. Maybe it will be too hard and you'll choose another. The point is = give it a try. I dare you to choose one thing, just for today and then if you choose, choose another just for tomorrow. "Choose" being the operative word in that sentence - lol! Let me know what you think about the list. Let me know if you get all wild and crazy and create your own list. If you do, send it my way. Contemplating, Cindy P.S. Did this resonate with you? If so, please forward it to 5 of your girlfriends or post it to facebook.

This Moment - NOW!

"Forever is composed of nows."

~ Emily Dickinson

I am all about being connected to those who are in my presence. I love people. Being engaged and present has always been a strength of mine, at least that's what my friends say. So, why do I have this need to hit the reboot button and make being present to the moment my New Year's intention for 2010?

So often, our ever-advancing world of technology steals us away from the present. If you have a smart phone, you know what I'm talking about. Facebook and email come and get me all the time (ding dong, ding dong). Brad says I'm a "bit" ADD at times. I'm sure he's right (he is a psychologist, you know). How often do we let our cell phones, emails or text messages steal "present" moments away from us?

In addition to our instant technology keeping us ever-present to it, as women, we are multi-taskers by nature. I revel at my friend, Lara, who can clean her home and watch her kids all the while she's talking to me on the phone. I may multi-task well but I can't talk, listen and do chores at the same time.

If I'm honest with myself, it's not all my iPhone's fault or the fact that I've been raised as a multi-tasking woman. My thoughts often distract me from the present moment, too.

Things that distract me from being present to the moment:

· Email and Facebook

· My sometimes thoughts of being less than or the converse of being too much - oh the dichotomy.

· Borrowing worry

· My ever-increasing to-do list

I need to be present to the moment. I long for the simplicity of it. Mother Teresa practiced being present, why can't I? I know I get the irony. She's been quoted, "I believe in person to person...that person is the one person in the world at that moment".

In our oh-so-busy lives, when do we take the time to be truly present? We have so much going on each moment, so many places to be, and so many things to do. Being present is becoming increasingly more difficult.

Being present is a discipline of the mind and soul. It is something that takes practice and cultivation. Will you join me in the practice of being present. I dare you to BE PRESENT for fifteen minutes each day over the next week. Be intentional and choose these times before they happen.

Live Free,

Cindy

Powerful Questions to Ponder:

What does "being present" mean to you?

What can you do to cultivate the practice of being present into your life?

What keeps you from being present to the moment?

What's on your list of things that distract you from being present?

Where would you like to be more "present" this week?

A Life That Matters

Living a life that matters is fundamental for me. It's what I do. It's been my life's work thus far. I help others live a life that matters. When I think about what's important to me - it's just that. I've never really stated it this way before today but it's true. Looking back over the past 15 years, whether I was teaching my kids at St. James UMC about oreo cookies and being the light in the darkness, or I was fighting for the truth in the life of one of my drug-addicted homeless friends in San Francisco - the message has been the same - live a life that matters.

As I ponder resolutions and intentions for the New Year, it is my hope that you will make your life matter. Make it matter to you. Make it matter to me. Make it matter to your family, your friends, your community - shoot, let's make it matter to the world, too. I'm not just saying this, "I mean it!" I believe it's my job on this earth (i.e. my purpose) to help us discover the life that matters and what's even more important than that - helping us find ways to live that life! This job fulfills me - coincidentally, it makes my life matter. Isn't it funny how that works?

So, as you think about your intentions for 2010 - think about what matters to you. Let that inform your dreams, your goals, and your actions.


Once we discover the life that matters to us, it's important to live it. It's in this that we become free. It's in living the life that matters that we live out our purpose. It's where we thrive.

What matters to me:
Growing
Speaking the truth
Being authentic
Being engaged and present
Having fun
Loving well
Being loved
Nurturing others

That's it in a nutshell - pure and simple. When I'm intentional about living the life that matters to me - these elements are present. When I live in this space, life is abundant.

So, what matters to you? How will it inform your New Year's intentions? Email me and let me know what matters to you - cindy@lessdrama.com

Looking Forward,
Cindy

P.S.
If you believe one of your friends would benefit from this Truth or Dare, please feel free to forward it to them by clicking on the email button. Please always feel free to post this on Twitter or Facebook.

Merry Days!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

A Verry Merry 3 Minutes of Cheer

Tis the season to spread cheer. Please take the next few minutes and enjoy!

http://tiny.cc/verymerry

It's simple: I dare you to share a little cheer with someone dear today.

Cheers,
Cindy

Have you ever been lost?

So many thoughts are running through my mind as I write you today.

Last night, I headed south for a business women's networking event and as I drove I listened to a personal interview with Seth Godin, marketing guru extraordinaire. For those of you haven't heard of Seth, he blogs on marketing, respect, and the ways ideas spread. He's insightful and authentic. In the interview, he said that he writes about the things he notices. I immediately thought of you all because that's usually how I come up with our weekly Truth or Dares. I write on what I notice. I'm always on the look out for something that inspires me. This week, inspiration was a bit slow in coming. In case you hadn't noticed, it's Friday already =)

So, I'm at the networking event and *POW* - it arrived - a seemingly unusual message jumped off the page of a catalog. Immediately, I knew it was for us.

"We are never so lost that angels can't find us".

As I sat down to write this morning, my mind was blank. How could I incorporate this message? Nothing was coming, how frustrating is that? When my mind is empty of inspiration, one of the places I turn to is dictionary.com (I know, you're thinking word geek).

Lost (lawst, lost) - adjective
having gone astray or missed the way; bewildered as to place, direction, etc. : lost children.

Angel (eyn-juhl) - noun
a messenger of God

Still nothing. Then, I asked Brad for help. He started firing questions at me.

What are angels? Messengers of God.
What's their message? Their message is often, "Fear not." They send us messages of hope, truth, protection, care, guidance, and future well-being.
Have you ever been lost? Yes.
How did you feel? unhinged, disconnected, alone, scared, confused, frustrated, panicked, unsettled.

It's so comforting to know that we are never so lost that angels can't find us. In this season of hustle and bustle, they can find us and usher us into the wonder. In our business affairs, they can find us and provide direction, hope and guidance for the future. In our relationships, they can find us and promote love, forgiveness and care.

So, the next time you are feeling lost, literally or figuratively, I dare you to rest in the knowledge that the angels will come and they will bring messages of deliverance.

Peace and Joy,
Cindy

P.S. I wish you all very Merry days! This is priceless:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKk9rv2hUfA

Looking for Wonder?

For too many, the holiday season can be a time of stress, loneliness, obligation and/or harried-ness (if that’s even a word). I’m hoping for something more this season for each and every one of us. We don’t always have the power to change our circumstance, but I do believe with all my heart that we have the opportunity to frame our perspective. We can choose to be on the lookout for our own magic moments. I think it’s important to take a moment on the front-end and set our compass for this season.

I dare you to take 15 minutes out of your already hectic, multi-tasking day and decide what will be your “true north” this season. What feelings will you let guide you this season? What value will you set as a must-have? Will you let your “shoulds” trump your “desires”? What will you say “yes” to and conversely what will you need to say “no” to? What can you do to take care of yourself in the midst of the hustle and bustle? I dare you to be intentional and decide now what you need to experience the wonder and magic of this season.

Here’s some fun ideas from my girlfriends to spruce up your holiday:

*Devote one night each week to cherish the season with friends or family.

*Take a moment out of the hustle and bustle and take a seat on a mall bench to sip a cup of hot chocolate and watch the joy pour out of a young child on Santa’s lap.

*Choose a simple way you could give of yourself to someone less fortunate…who will you ask to join you in this cause?

*Host a Christmas card writing party for your closest girlfriends.

*Go car-caroling (grab your family/friends and roll down the windows – sing out into the night and spread cheer throughout your neighborhood – lol).

*Host a spontaneous holiday movie night (Elf, Miracle on 34^th Street, It’s a Wonderful Life, Rudolph, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas…).

*Light candles and say a prayer of hope.

*Make a holiday playlist for your workouts.

I want to hear about your magic moments you find along the way. Please post your experiences, ideas and plans for a “Less Drama, More Wonder” Season.

Looking for the Wonder…Cindy

indy