People I don’t usually talk to or spend time with have confirmed they are watching me, but not in a creepy, stalker kind of way. They are observant of what I am doing and I found out that they knew. Not in a creepy, stalker kind of way — they told
I was talking to a friend and co-worker the other day and found myself caught up in sharing a story that I feel like I have told a million times. Watching how the story unfolded before my very eyes also has been played over in my head and holds fast in
In order for something to be different, you have to change something and that means you have to break the cycle. HAVE TO. But, I understand that that is easier said than done. It takes great courage to change the life you have lived for so long and yet you also know
We all have habits…some good, some bad. Some we are proud of and others we would never admit. This week, I started to get back into an old habit that I have missed (yes, I said missed) dearly and have also begun a new habit as well. Or at least,
In the last few days, I have been thinking about doing something. Anything. But not necessarily something great. I never really even knew what I would be doing, but because everything happens for a reason and the timing is as it is meant to be, then I had to believe that something
Do you remember your childhood home? The place where your innocence was born and the foundation of all you knew that was true has molded you into what you love about being “home”? Maybe you don’t really have a physical place but a place you return to in your mind
I know this will be my first book, but not my last. I already have a few ideas for other books. I have three weeks to finish the manuscript and get it off to three editors and they will have the month of April to make suggestions and edit where
It takes just one to change a life. Just one. One smile. One kind word. One moment. Most of are afraid to fail and many of us are afraid to do it in front of others. But how many of us are afraid to be our best? For some of us,
“Life is not a race – but indeed a journey. Be Hones. Work Hard. Be Choosy. Say “thank you”, “I love you”, and “great job” to someone each day. Go to church, take time for prayer. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh. Let your handshake mean more than pen
I ask questions because I am always looking for answers. To some, it has been looked on as a nuisance or a bother, but I view it as a way for me to better understand the way things work. Here is where you ask yourself that ONE question that could
You know you do it. Just admit it. We ALL do it. But I am not talking about that annoying little electronic device that we need to jostle us out of our slumber so that we can take on the day. I am talking about what we do with our
I LOVE this video!! This little boy reminds me of how free he is and how much fun he had by being himself. We all need to be reminded that we are better when we are just living our lives and dancing…even if the whole room is watching. Love your life!!
Moments of impact happen every day and we never know it. Sometimes, they change us forever in ways we never even imagined. Others change us so subtly that they are not even noticeable. We have all had both. Regardless, they all stay. For those moments that will always stay with me, I
Is this you? If it is, are you ashamed to admit it? Do you have a life that everyone else knows where you go to work, you attend church, you pick up things from the grocery store, and take part in your kids’ lives? Do you also have a secret life?
Perishables expire. They go bad if they are not used in the time that they should be. The same could be said about opportunities. They come and go, with no real defined explanation of when or if they will come again. We have been conditioned to be careful and cautious and to
We are given an opportunity to do this every single day, but don’t always take full advantage of it. It’s ok. Forgive yourself just as I need to forgive myself. But what if you believed this about yourself? Yesterday, I was told by a friend that he felt stuck, like he
Yesterday, someone told me that they could FEEL the energy around me. Truth is, I was exuding it and I knew it!! How did I do it? I really wasn’t that hard and I did not sit at home practicing before I took on the day. Here are 5 ways
Some of you may know that I committed to writing my first book during the month of November. As much as I focused on writing it, I just ran out of time. However, with a new year comes new goals. I am back at writing my book again and expect
This came to me as I was headed west as I crossed the mountains of Colorado ( I only guess at it being Colorado based on the snow-covered terrain some 30,000 feet below) as I traveled to my home state of California to see family. It reminded me of a song that
Someone that I used to know comes around from time to time and although I am surprised by her reentry in my life, I also look at her as a reminder of what my past used to look like. For someone who used to walk away, I see now that she
We all know what it feels like to have the adrenalin running through us when something exciting or terrifying is about to happen. There are several things that are on my “bucket list” that will probably take me there. But, if we really think about it we get two rushes
Before the end of the year, I met a friend for lunch and she mentioned how much she loves the word, “manifest” and I wondered why and now I know. In this world, there is ambiguity and secrets. Yet, manifest means “to prove without question” and I want you to
Here it comes…this time of year come the resolutions that we all intend to keep because we started a New Year and that is a perfect time to begin a new. I agree. Kind of. Personally, I don’t think it matters what the day says on the calendar — you
It Starts Today…a new year with a new perspective and attitude towards what lay behind you, what you currently hold, and that which has yet to unfold itself. YOU dictate what happens next. Do not take the easy road — for you will not appreciate it as much as the
I had not heard that phrase in a while but it was said to me a couple of months ago as I checked in for an appointment, after verifying that they had my most current information. I don’t know why, but I just like it. “You are good to go!” Maybe
Sometimes, the best way to communicate with someone else is not with words. It is with a hand signal, a smile, or (my favorite) a good hug. One of my new favorites is when I can “wink” at someone, but not in a flirtatious way — more like in a “I got
In these days after horrible loss, unspeakable acts, and unforgiving reasons, we fall to our knees as we clasp our hands with one another, begging to make sense of why innocent children and the staff at the elementary school in Connecticut became victims at all. The one question we will
Be strong in them. Believe in what you know in your heart is true and right. Yesterday, I was reminded of courage and what it truly takes to be courageous in situations that generations had run from…literally. A co-worker shared about an incident where another human being was going to be mistreated because
This time of year, we think about the ones we love. Whether they are far or near, here or gone, we remember those that hold a special place in our hearts. I know I have moments throughout the year when people who have changed my life come back and I am able to
Sometimes, I am speechless about where our society has come where we seem to be not paying attention to where we are headed. I read recently that parents are actually hiring people to teach their kids to ride their bikes. Are you serious? Really? Aren’t there some “responsibilities” that are inherent upon
The paths we have chosen and those chosen for us tell our story. Even if we don’t want anyone to know about where we have been, but eventually our past is revealed in small ways that we don’t even see. Have you ever found yourself in a moment when you
This time of year, we are all scrambling around, trying to beat the clock for whatever holiday we choose to celebrate. Having just gorged ourselves on turkey and pumpkin pie, we could all probably use a little “hustle and bustle” to help us keep our figures looking their best, but instead
Have you listened to a song that they play over and over on the radio and just sing along or dance to the beat? Sure…we all have. But have you really listened to the words that are being said in the song? Sometimes, we miss what we need to hear because
Most of us are amateurs and know nothing about building anything. Unless you are an engineer of some kind, of which I am not. Are you? But I guess I was thinking that we don’t need credentials to build something out of nothing. And the best part is that it
We all have times when we fall…we fall down…we fall short…we fall, thinking we will never be able to get back up. When decisions and choices we make with the greatest of intentions and make the most sense come back to bite you and then you suffer the after burn
One of my most favorite things to see is to watch others give their heart away as their soul travels with others on a journey that will last forever. I was there, but she didn’t know it. I was watching, but she didn’t see me. In the few seconds that the
Ok. Some of you may already know, because I have told you in person, that I am writing my first book. Yes, there I said it. I am now accountable to the readers of the web. I have about 40 pages in the works so far, but now I have
There is something to be said for this — “No one can do it for me” and it motivates me more, regardless of what “it” is. I have to do it. And I have to do it for me, not for anyone else. The running I need to do every morning
I have posted some positive quotes to my Facebook account lately that are there to inspire, but someone that I love very much hinted that they actually make her more depressed when she reads them. I was confused at why she said they made her depressed when she reads them. That is
I have questions, but I do not always have answers. Sometimes, I have both. But there is one question that never needs to be asked…the one where you already know the answer. And the answer never changes. We can have moments of doubt and wonder what will happen next as we
Ever had one? You know what I am talking about! When you can’t wait to get home, throw off your shoes, and just take in a deep breath or two as you quietly say, “Whew…it has been one of THOSE days!” But this day was different from the moment I
Before she sat down in my office, a young lady walked in, nearly trembling as she struggled to make eye contact with me, and broke. As I handed her my box of kleenex, she said so much to me in those moments without ever saying a word. She struggled to gather
What do you value most? What do you believe about certain topics where public opinion seems to be right at the fore-front right about now with the elections, just around the corner. Who do we believe and why? It just gets repetitive and trite and I ignore it if I
If you have never sold yourself short before you started, then this post will have no bearing on you and the way you lead your life. But, I would bet that none of us could say that. How many of us have given up before we even started? When we
Why would we do that? We do it all the time. The grand finale in the neighborhood firework show is the biggest, loudest, and brightest. The last game in a season is the championship. But life doesn’t work that way. We NEVER know when it will be our last trip
How many times have we heard the phrase, “Out of sight, out of mind”? Many, is what I would guess. It means that we usually forgot something or someone if we don’t see it in front of us or spend time together. We lead busy lives and in those few
Life is hard and it makes us even more hardened so that we forget to feel because it hurts. No one I know likes to hurt, regardless of the reason for the hurt. It’s difficult to ask for help in those situations, too, so we move on…getting through each day,
That is all. Just one. You are one away. One what, is probably you are saying to yourself. I understand, but let’s see if I can make it more clearer to you. In order for you to do anything different or change something, even if what you have in front
To love someone takes effort, time, and committment, but it is not automatic. It is not a “given”. Love doesn’t lie…you know who you love and who you don’t. And you could probably say why as well. Sometimes you can love someone with all you have and receive nothing in return.
Several weeks ago, we learned that a very dear friend of ours suffered a stroke…at 48 years of age. He is a husband, father to five wonderful children and has a smile as big as the universe. He would give your anything he had because you needed it. His heart
I can’t juggle balls in the air or chain saws, but I can juggle life. That doesn’t mean it is easy, it just means it needs to get done. I don’t ever really stop, but on occasion, I slow. I told a few people that they need to worry when
Having parents who were teachers by vocation, and especially an English teacher for a dad, vocabulary was important and even now he uses words that I just do not understand. I try, Dad, I really do. So most times, I use words that mean something to everyone. Telling a co-worker
These days seem to come more often than I would ever imagine, but truly take me by surprise every time. Even though it has been said and I never know when it will be said again, I am truly surprised at my impact on others. In the last week, I
As I was driving up to see our oldest play in a fall baseball game today, I had to notice the trees alongside the interstate. The different tints of greens, softly fading to lighter shades, with hints of yellow and even some burnt red here and there. This season…fall…is the
I think a lot….but that is ok. “Thinking is the soul talking to itself.” – Plato. I must have a lot to say and look pretty funny talking to myself out loud, so I think. Then, I write. “Our brains tell us lies, and if we listen, we cost ourselves
Ok, seriously, but not so seriously, it is time to have some fun! Do you LOVE singing in the car and shaking your “groove” thing? Maybe that is just me….nah. But what if you knew someone was watching? Would you still do it? You know the old saying, “dance like
others say I shouldn’t be. I have heard it all in the last week…”Are you sure?” “You shouldn’t…” “Don’t…” Definitely more than the alternative, but that is ok. I know some people may be surprised and others have expressed their anger, but I know why they do it. They do
Have you even been in a situation when you wanted to apologize and didn’t know how? But you were compelled to do something other than ignore what you have in front of you because doing nothing changes nothing? When we are unsure of how we will be received once we
You know, the do-over, Mulligan, 2nd chance button, where we get another shot at making it turn out right? Guess what? We don’t get one in life. We have one chance and one chance only. We never really get to start over and go back, but we can start from
I was a runner before I knew and understood that I was a runner. But not in the way that I am a runner now. I ran from situations that kept me confined and would want me to commit to staying longer, but it was easier to run. So I
Those forks come up from time to time in the roads we travel and it causes us to pause as we try to make a decision, hoping for a great outcome. But life doesn’t always work that way. Sometimes, we end up on roads we never thought we would travel,
Circumstances we never thought we would experience have brought us to this point. Chance meetings have grown into lifelong friendships that cannot ever be explained. Who are you? Are you where you thought you would be? Some time ago, someone told me that I was not the same “Homme” that I
I cannot believe how motivated I am right now…I am living life to the fullest, loving every moment, treasuring every memory, and anxiously looking forward to many more yet to come. Every where I turn, I see something that is just BEGGING for me to try it. And you know
Even if you think you don’t. You do. You know it and I know it. But we let fear dictate that hold on us so that we never unlock what is meant to be set free…our soul. Our passions and dreams that include the song of our hearts, where being
Aren’t we all underestimated? We are, if we have ever been told that we cannot achieve something. We are, if we have never really reached our true potential. We are, if we are ready to do this right now. There is ABSOLUTELY now limit on what we can do. None.
A few months ago, I bought a book that was supposed to be a gift for someone for her birthday, but I never gave it to her. I was going to go to her party and then didn’t and since then the book has been sitting here waiting to be
I was going through my purse the other day and found some loose coin at the bottom, where loose coin always settles. How many convenience stores have a little tray with pennies to be used by the customers whose total seems to be that one penny off? You know what I
There are many ways we get to where we are going…we fly, we bike, we walk. None is more significant than the ones we walk for ourselves. Truly. For no one else, but us. “To thine ownself be true.” – William Shakespeare. People at work walk during their breaks for many
How many chances are we given that are never taken? TOO MANY!!! WHY??? Because it is easier!! Easier to not risk something we could lose. Our adopted and ingrained pessimistic attitudes carry us no where but down. Always. The chances we take do not have to be anything that will
How many of us remember that elementary song, “If you’re happy and you know it…”? For those of you that don’t know it, you would sing, “If you’re happy and you know then your hands will surely show it…clap your hands.” Then, “your feet would show it” with “stomp your
Are you doing this? Right now? Are you living a life well lived? Why not? It is not too late to start, that is for sure. I am proof of that. Every day, I am improving and am better than I was the day before. Some days, I may not
Is there such a thing? In our society, we have adopted and almost “care just enough” attitude where we give to a charity because everyone else is or so we can say, “we helped.” But that is not the kind of caring I am talking about…I’m talking about the kind
Nothing crumbles in a day. Things deteriorate and begin to fall apart, but nothing ever falls to the ground in one day. Even enormous glaciers have a breaking point, but it has been years of melting that have contributed to their falling into the sea. Little things can pick at us
There are some things that you and I are not meant to understand. Whatever “it” is, “it” is bigger than our minds can make sense of in any lifetime. Yet, we still are drawn to the unexplained and unable to be understood that we encounter every day. Since I believe
There are so many things I want to do with the life I have been given. Of course, since none of us know when our lives will end, I want to live it to the fullest. It just breaks my heart to hear that people have to forgo any dreams because
We all have “buttons” that get pushed from time to time. We know what we like and what we don’t like. We try to distance ourselves from those that we don’t like and surround ourselves with those we do like. I never try to push anyone’s “don’t like” button, but
I have been on an incredible journey and it is not one that I could have planned, even if I tried. It is not even close to being over either!! With blue prints in hand, I still would have forgotten something. What have you done when your destiny calls on
It is difficult to not have expectations, but who hasn’t had them? If you study really hard for a test, you EXPECT a good grade. If you diet and exercise, you EXPECT to lose weight. We all do it. But it is hard to let them go. But we have to.
Who hasn’t made any in their lifetime? Pretty sure that no hands went up when I asked that question. It happens…to the best of us. It means we are humans, not robots. Hopefully, we don’t make them with the intentions of hurting someone else — chances are, it happens even
Who hasn’t made any in their lifetime? Pretty sure that no hands went up when I asked that question. It happens…to the best of us. It means we are humans, not robots. Hopefully, we don’t make them with the intentions of hurting someone else — chances are, it happens even
Last night, I found myself caught up in one of my favorite, true-story, movies and of course have to watch the end to make it all worth while. It is mind-blowing at what this young man believed about his destiny and where he should be even when others didn’t believe him and
don’t they? Someone ALWAYS has to go first. There is always a pioneer of something never thought of before (think Steve Jobs) that somehow finds a way to make the impossible possible. Whether it is something said or done, there is a first time for everything. Have you ever had to be
We all do it. Some of us are better are it than others. For centuries, people have built walls to protect themselves from the enemy. We believe that the taller the wall, the thicker the wall, the less chance of someone getting through that wall…where they find us exposed for
All things come with a price. There are sacrifices that occur when we pursue our dreams. Sometimes, we have to determine if the cost is too great. Other times, the price for not living is not really living at all. One of my favorite quotes is from Dr. Seuss —
Do you know where you are headed? You are on your way!! Doesn’t that sound like you know where you are going? Maybe…maybe not. To me, it means you are moving and that you are not standing still. You are making something different. Anything. You could be asking yourself the
Being a baseball family, I heard a connection to following your dreams as it relates to baseball and I had to share. For those of us that have dreams (which is ALL of us), there are reasons why we don’t pursue them and they never get fulfilled. We are afraid…it
This morning, I was thinking about light (maybe because it was dark), but not just any kind of light. I was thinking about the light from a lighthouse. Why a lighthouse you ask…I don’t know… I have a picture of a lighthouse in my office at work, but I know
Close your eyes and imagine this…sitting at a table in a restaurant and never getting a menu. You just sit there and before you know it, plates of trouble, glasses of issues, and silverware covered in hurt are before you. You didn’t ask for it, and yet it is what you are
When you were growing up, who didn’t love to use their imagination and be someone that we weren’t? How many of us played Cowboys & Indians or Princess? I was trying to think if I ever really did that when I was little and I can’t recall a single time. Not one.
Many parts of my past remain and will never leave me. They are the sums of the experiences and people that have come into and out of of my life. Some people did not stay for long and others have found a special key to open my heart and will always
Michelle captivates audiences using simple ideas to make real-life changes every day. She brings personal stories, humor, and insight to every presentation.
