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2008-07-20 | Filed Under Inspiration |
Over the years, I’ve had poems and sayings that I’ve kept on my desk to read first thing in the morning to motivate or calm me, depending on the what the day required. For a while it was “Desiderata“. Its final line “Strive to be happy” has been my personal motto, although there have been many times when I’ve forgotten that it is my choice to be happy, and not something that happens to me.
My current poem is probably one that you’ve seen before, but I just discovered it this year. The original was written in 1916 by Sybil F. Partridge, an English nun. This is a version that I found on the Internet.
Just for Today
Just for today I will be happy. This assumes what Abraham Lincoln said is true: ‘Most folks are about as happy as they make their mind up to be.’ Happiness comes from within; it is not a matter of externals.
Just for today I will try to adjust myself to what is; not try to adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my family, my business, and my luck as they come and fit myself to them.
Just for today I will take care of my body. I will exercise it, care for it, nourish it, not abuse or neglect it, so that it will be a perfect machine for my bidding.
Just for today I will try to strengthen my mind. I will learn something useful. I will not be a mental loafer. I will read something that requires effort, thought, and concentration.
Just for today I will exercise my soul in three ways: I will do someone a good turn and not get found out. I will do at least two chores I don’t want to do, as William James suggests, just for exercise.
Just for today I will be agreeable. I will look as well as I can, speak diplomatically, act courteously, be liberal with praise, criticize not at all, nor find fault with anything, and not try to regulate or improve anyone.
Just for today I will try to live through this day only, not tackle my whole life problem at once. I can do things for twelve hours that would appall me if I had to keep them up for a lifetime.
Just for today I will have a program. I will write down what I expect to do every hour. I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it. It will eliminate two pests: hurrying and indecision.
Just for today I will have a quiet half hour by myself and relax. In this half hour sometimes I will think of God, so as to get a little more perspective into my life.
Just for today I will be unafraid. Particularly, I will be unafraid to be happy; to enjoy what is beautiful; to love; and to believe that those I love, love me.
If you’d like a printable pdf of this poem, click here.
Do you have an inspirational words that get you through the day?
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Word of the Week: Education
2008-06-28 | Filed Under Word of the Week |
It’s been a while since my last blog and the reason is: Education.
When I was about 30 years old, I started taking what was then called “correspondence courses” through the local university. You wrote the assignments out on paper and mailed to your professor. For final exams, you would go to a library or school where someone would be your proctor and make sure you didn’t cheat. I loved it! I could start a class whenever I wanted and I had up to a year to finish it. It was easy to fit in the classes while having a full-time job and raising my son.
Over the years, I took night classes at the local technical college and added those to my transcript. I spent two years getting an Associate’s Degree and a couple years after that, I got a 1 year Certificate.
My goal was to get a Bachelor’s Degree. What type of Bachelor’s Degree changed many times over the years - Computer Programming, Biology, Bioinformatics - whatever I happened to be interested in at the time.
So, 25 years later, I am finally going to get that degree. I’ve been taking classes through Ellis College Online (off and on) for the past few years. It’s a long way from those original correspondence courses! Each class is 6 weeks long and everything is done online. It’s nice because you get to have some interaction with the other students, but you can do your work whenever it’s convenient, as long as you have your assignments done in time. Compared to what I’ve paid for other classes I’ve taken it’s definitely expensive (I’ve never figured out why online colleges are sooooo costly) but they gave me credit for all of my previous work, which other schools wouldn’t do.
If you’re in the Madison, Wisconsin area on August 26th, stop by my Graduation Party and help me celebrate my life-long goal: a Bachelor of Science Degree in Interdisciplanary Studies! (The perfect degree for me, eh?)
Having a goal is what helps you to enjoy the journey…reaching the goal is an indescribable joy.
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Chocoholics Anonymous
2008-05-24 | Filed Under Enjoy the Journey |
“Hi. My name’s Melodee…and I’m a chocoholic.”
["Hi Melodee."]
“It’s been 48 hours since my last taste of chocolate” [Applause] “I’m a little shaky, but feeling pretty confident.”
“I had planned on starting this journey last week, but decided to get rid of my stash first. I was going to throw every bit of chocolate in the house out in the trash and be done with it, but that would have been a waste of money and good chocolate, so I decided to give it away.”
["Good idea."]
“So, I started to go through the chocolate shelf in my baking cupboard. I took the cocoa powder and made an extra chocolaty Devils Food cake.”
["Mmmmmm"]
“Then I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies with those 70% baking chips.”
["Yup, nothing else you can do with those."]
“Of course, the pre-melted chocolate was perfect for a pan of brownies.”
["Of course!"]
“Next I made M&M sugar cookies out of the little devils that had accumulated at the bottom of my home office desk drawer.”
["Cleaning is therapeutic."]
“Then I grabbed the snack size candy bars from the freezer and deep-fried them in flour and pineapple (to cut the sweetness, you know).”
["Ohhhhh" licking and slobbering noises]
“The only thing left then were the cocoa coated truffles hidden in the end table next to my TV chair. I didn’t know what to do with them, so I savored them slowly [gasp] while I stared at the cake, cookies, brownies, and deep-fried candy bars sitting on my kitchen table. Who was I going to give them to?”
“Well, then I started to worry. I mean, I didn’t want to get anyone else addicted to this stuff.”
["Nope, uh uh."]
“So, in order to keep others safe from the horrors of the chocolate insanity known by all of us here tonight, ["Amen!"] I, without hesitation, ate every bit of chocolate on that table!”
["What a trooper..."]
“It took a few days to come down from the high, but the house is now chocolate free and I’m taking my first step toward freedom of this dreadful addiction.”
[Applause]
["She should have made chocolate pudding with that cocoa."]["I think I'll stop at that bakery on my way home - just for a smell of frosting."] ["Would deep-fried Jelly Bellies be any good, do you think?"]
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Word of the Week: Beginnings
2008-05-17 | Filed Under Word of the Week |
I love beginnings. I love the new shiny bright possibilities of beginnings. I am constantly beginning something. The question is: Will I finish what I begin?
I used to think that there was something wrong with me because I was so good at starting things, but not always good at finishing them. Did I have a commitment issue? Was I afraid of failure … or success? Why couldn’t I find that ONE passion that would fulfill me throughout my life like others have done?
Then I read an amazing book by Barbara Sher called “Refuse to Choose!”. Barbara told me that I’m not a quitter, or have ADD, or lack commitment. I’m a scanner. She says I have been genetically programmed to explore everything that interests me! She insists that it’s not a lack of commitment or the inability to focus that makes me who I am, but a remarkable, multitalented brain 
Halleluiah! I was delivered from the depths of bewilderment and self-loathing to the mountain top of endless possibilities! I felt like my life had finally been validated - that I could really be myself - and that I was OK.
I’m going to use this blog to talk about those endless possibilities that are now a part of my world. You’ll be hearing about neutrinos and metagenomics, Renaissance Babes and quantum vibrations of the brain.
It’s really time to Enjoy the Journey!
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New Blog!
2008-05-17 | Filed Under Blogging |
I’ve gotten my “Melodee’s Virtual Assistant Blog” up and running. I’ll be talking about how to become a Virtual Assistant, the tools that are available to help you run your VA business, and the impact that the VA industry can have on your life. You can check it out here.
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Word of the Week: Aha!
2008-05-02 | Filed Under Blogging, Enjoy the Journey, Word of the Week |
I’ve been wrestling with this blog. I wanted to aim it more towards Virtual Assistants, like I described in my last post, but something wasn’t feeling right. “Enjoy the Journey” was more of a personal motto — not just for my business but for my life. And . . . the title wouldn’t be search engine optimized for VAs to find
Then, one day in the shower, (what’s with that anyway? Am I the only one who gets her best ideas in the bathroom?) I realized that I didn’t need to change the focus of this blog — I could start a new one! Aha! Then I’ll be free to talk about all the weird stuff that I enjoy learning about in this blog, and my new VA blog (I’ve picked the innovative name “Melodee’s Virtual Assistant Blog”) will be geared towards the Virtual Assistance industry.
So, changes are coming and I hope anyone who’s reading this will enjoy them.
Enjoy the Journey … no matter where it leads!
Melodee
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Word of the Week: Baby Boomers
2008-04-06 | Filed Under Word of the Week |
I am a Baby Boomer - born in 1952 - grew up listening to the Beatles on my transistor radio that I stuck under my pillow so my parents would think that I was asleep, when in reality I was listening to those stations that could only be tuned in late at night.
I know that most Virtual Assistants are younger, taking advantage of working from home so they can be with their kids. But it’s also a profession that’s tailor made for us slightly older, seasoned professionals who have the experience and self-confidence to run our own business. We’ve given our all to various companies over the years, learning how to get things done; becoming very efficient; and discovering what type of work we really enjoy doing. We’ve also gotten tired of the politics and red-tape that is pervasive in “big business”. Personally, I could no longer sit in a “cubbie” for eight long hours a day
I’m going to be delving into the world of Baby Boomer Virtual Assistants, discussing the advantages and disadvantages, and pointing out why clients are looking for your professionalism and experience.
I’d love to hear from other Baby Boomer VAs about why and how you became a VA, and what you feel are your strengths in this industry.
And watch for some fun e-books that I’m developing about being a BBVA. (I think I just coined a new acronym!)
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Word of the Week: Vacation
2008-03-21 | Filed Under Word of the Week |
Vacations are essential for your health and well-being. Especially if you live in Wisconsin where we’re having a record snowfall winter. That’s why Dan and I are in Arizona this week.
We saw a couple of Brewers spring training games. Luckily, we were sitting in the shade for the game on Monday (tied the Chicago White Sox after 10 innings, 4-4) at the Maryvale Ball Park so I was able to sit in the stands the entire game.
Tuesday’s game was really fun. It was at the Tempe Diablo Stadium where we played the LA Angels. Dan was hoping to get a seat behind the Brewers dugout, but after seeing the thousands and thousands of people already there, I knew he didn’t have a chance. Dan isn’t as practical as I am though, so when we got to the ticket window, he asked if there were any open seats near the dugout. She said “No - only in the outfield section.” Then she said “Wait a minute…two seats just opened up. You can get them for an additional $5 each.” So, of course we grapped them up! We ended up sitting in the first two seats of the second row on the right hand side of the Brewers dugout. All we had to do is look to our left, and there they were! It was awesome! And the General Manager was sitting in the row in front of us. And Manager Ned Yost and his staff were sitting on the bench in front of the GM. Dan had a great time - he told Escobar what a great game he had played the day before, he listened in on the players conversations. He even talked one of the guys into giving him one of the foul balls but since the Brewers lost badly (4-11), Suppan was having problems on the mound) no one was in the mood to sign it after the game.
Unfortunately, it was really sunny and even with my suntan lotion I was starting to look a bit lobsterish by the 4th so I stood up in the shade near the concession stands until the 7th. It was definitely a day to remember!
We went to Sedona yesterday. What a beautiful place with its red rock scenery. I would recommend you take the drive if you’re in the area. Or if you’re in need of a spiritual guide or want to check your aura.
If you’re looking for a place to stay in between Pheonix and Tucson, check out the Holiday Inn in Casa Grande just off I-10. It’s newly renovated with very nice rooms, a great restaurant, and some fantastic desk and housekeeping staff. And it’s very affordable.
Gotta go - we’re heading off to the Hohokam Indian Ruins about 20 miles from here.
Oh yeah, and I hear they’re getting another foot of snow back in Wisconsin today. Too bad.
Enjoy the Journey in warmth and sunshine whenever possible!
Melodee
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Word of the Week: Stigma
2008-03-08 | Filed Under Word of the Week |
I am presently working on my Bachelor’s degree. Actually, I’ve been working on my Bachelor’s degree for the past 25 years, but I’m finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. By mid-July of this year I will be have an Interdisciplinary Studies in Business, Life Science, and Behavioral Science Bachelor’s degree. It will be from Ellis College Online, but over the years I’ve gathered many credits from many different schools. It’s been fun, but I’m ready to get the degree so I can start reading the pile of non-textbooks that are patiently waiting next to my comfy chair (and in the bookcase, and on top of the TV) for me to have time to read them
This leads me to this week’s Word of the Week. I just finished an assignment in my current class to answer some questions about social stigmas. I thought I would share my answers to two of the questions to see if they resonate with anyone else:
Have you ever had an experience in which you stigmatized someone else?
Yes, I hate to admit it, but when I was young I definitely stigmatized older women, like my mother. I mean, how could they let themselves go like that? I was 103 pounds of firm muscle and I planned on staying that way. I assumed those older woman just didn’t care anymore about how they looked – well, why should they anyway? It’s not like they were doing anything fun and exciting anymore. They were old! They obviously weren’t having sex or even thinking about it. They just cleaned house and cooked for their husbands and watched soap operas. I was definitely glad that I was NOT going to be like that.
Have you ever had an experience in which you felt stigmatized?
Yes. I feel stigmatized by younger women and the media. I am 56 years old, a little plump even though I work out, do Pilates and weight training, and I’m (sort-of) careful with what I eat. I am perfectly happy with who I am, but it’s difficult when I read magazines that keep telling me I must look as young as I possibly can in order to be of any worth in our society. I’m constantly being ignored in clothing stores by the young, thin saleswomen. If I ask for help, they throw something at me to try on and I can tell from their faces that they don’t think it will matter what I wear, I’ll still be OLD. Young women just don’t seem to realize that one day they will be their mothers!
So, what do you think? Does this sound familiar to anyone?
Getting older does have its advantages so Enjoy the Journey!
Melodee
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Word of the Week: Investing
2008-02-24 | Filed Under Word of the Week |
No, I’m not talking about investing in the stock market, but about investing in yourself.
Do you have what it takes to invest in yourself?
It’s not easy for women to take the time and money needed to invest in themselves. It’s not how we’re wired. We were put on earth to help everyone else, right? It’s time for a paradigm shift.
If we don’t invest in ourselves, we literally won’t have the where-with-all to help someone else. If we’re too tired, stressed, fearful, or worried - what good are we to ourselves or anyone else?
Stop and think - what do you need to do, right now, to provide yourself with what you really want in life. You’ll notice that I didn’t say “to get what you want out of life from someone else”. That’s not going to happen. Oh, there may be plenty of friends and family that will help you out once you’ve told them what you want, but ultimately, you are the one who has to make it happen. You need to care enough about yourself to invest the time, money, and energy it will take to reach those dreams.
Give yourself permission to take a class, go on vacation, get a massage or start your own business. (I gave myself permission to do all of them!) You know you need it - down in your soul. Life is short. We all deserve to get as much enjoyment, enrichment, and contentment as we possibly can.
Just don’t forget to enjoy the journey.
Melodee
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