Growing Up I had high expectations of myself and quite often, the chasing of perfection was a goal. Whether it be in my academic studies or in my athletic achievements, being more was always encouraged. If not expected. At times, the internal pressure was extreme. Couple that with the pressure
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A New Year is Here! Where did 2022 go? We blinked and now it is all a part of our past. Even though the year is still new, I find myself looking back at what transpired over the time I held. I recognize the path I started on was not
It has been some time. I have not been here in well over six months. For a variety of reasons. One reason was never because I didn’t want to be here. Looking back, I think it was I didn’t know how to be here. In some ways, I lost who
Let’s face it — none of us is getting any younger. I know I’m not anyway. Yet, I will admit that adding another a few more years have taught me many things. Some lessons I wish I didn’t need to know and others I am grateful for them. One of those
There are many things life teaches us. Some of those lessons come without warning while others become blessings all in their own time. Sometimes, we are the teachers and other times, we are the students. As we continue to move through life, there are 4 things I have come to
No matter who we are, we have all experiences things that ended. Some times, those were not decisions we made and other times, we knew it was a decision long overdue. We realize that when one thing is over, another must start. Things look differently. They feel different too. We
Much of life remains the same. The birds sing every morning and the flowers bloom with the rise of each sunrise. With the blue sky and white clouds softly drifting above me, I find peace in the simple things life has given me. I have come to a place of
Lately, I have been thinking about the significance of trying again. When the benefit of the doubt is long gone and new information influences how we feel about something or someone. How do we learn to move past the experiences that hurt us? How do we allow someone new in?
Life isn’t always easy. It comes at you before you even know what happened. In over a year, my heart has been broken, tossed aside, and made me feel things I was afraid to admit. Perhaps you have been there as well. 2020 was a hard year. Yet, in some
New Shoes We never know where we will learn our lessons. Several months ago, I found these shoes at a local store. I am not one to shop, but do like to save money when I do. Sometimes, the things I end up purchasing were never even on my radar.
Life can be confusing Let’s face it…life has it’s moments. Some are easy to see while others seem to just show up out of nowhere. There are going to be times when we wish for a “mulligan” and others times we want to distance ourselves as much as we can.
We are all cheaters Next to liars, I dislike cheaters just the same. If someone called me a cheater, I would adamantly refute that accusation. In fact, I would be angry. Chances are you would be too. Deep down, I know I cheat. So do you. Like you, I don’t
Finding happiness We run around every day, searching for that one truth. The ONE thing that constantly eludes us. We buy this and that, hoping it will bring immediate gratification. And when it doesn’t happen, we buy more and more only to be disappointed once again. So the truth becomes
I planned to be perfect For most of my years, my plan was to be flawless. From an early age, that was my goal. Regardless of the event or purpose. To be pristine. Extraordinary. While I was in school, I grew very accustomed to planning life. Whether it be around
A single smile It can capture us and hold us like nothing else can. Within it, we find something small, but meaningful. We notice it right away. Ignoring it is not so easily done. We see it and grab hold of it. Believing in the moment it is given as
Sometimes, life is just hard Without notice, our life can take a 180 turn. It rips the rug out from underneath us. While we are still trying to figure out what just happened, it lands a one-two punch. Knocking us over. Leaving us bleeding. Full of confusion. Creating a stress
Confidence is HUGE! There are times in life when we feel really confident. Other times, not so much. Some skills we are born with, while others are learned. Although there are many ways to be confident, it is something we see, hear, and feel. Maybe it is found in something
Being curious From an early age, we ask questions. “Why is the sky blue?” “Why are Grandpa’s hands wrinkly?” “When did you meet Mommy?” Teacher encourage asking questions too. That’s how we learn. All of us. We push buttons on things that have buttons. We all do it. Then something
What we don’t see With the way the world runs, there are a lot we miss. Things we don’t see. Maybe we don’t do it on purpose. But it still happens. Some things happens so slowly, its impact isn’t felt immediately. It’s there. We are so focused on what is
You are here We want to know our location. Whether we are at the local mall or at a sporting venue. In order for us to get where we want to go, we first must know where we are. It is essential to all of us. Yet too often, we
There are many reasons for change Life is funny sometimes. Other times, it is just down right scary. We change schools, move jobs, and fall in love with different people. We start one day with one kind of attitude then something happens and changes it. Maybe neighbors move away and
My smile said it all From an early age, I had a talent for playing sports. I could be the goalie in soccer as much as I could be the one who scores the goal. I picked up a tennis racket at age 8 and won a free-throw contest by
Teenage girls have it hard I had forgotten how hard it really is for them. After all, it has been some time since I was last their age. Over the last 10 days, I was reminded of just how difficult those years really are. Boys have it hard too. I
I am always learning Although I have learned a few things in my years, I still find myself in moments of learning. My education is not only found in a classroom. Or in typical settings. Sometimes, some of the best lessons are found where you least expect them. Like in
Our beautiful stories The lives we lead are full of amazing things. Magic we could not imagine, let alone describe. Every day, the way we interact with others becomes a part of our story. Some days seem pretty uneventful. Others transform us in ways that leave us speechless. Life is
Life is a series of peaks and valleys No matter where we come from or who we are, life is bound to have some really high points as well as some really low ones. The world is always watching. Whether we are at a high moment or low one. People
Showing your heart I will admit that I had kept my heart hidden. For years. Maybe for a variety of reasons, but still… I kept it to myself. Afraid that someone would see me. See the real me. The same me I have always been. The person at the heart
It’s hard to believe in yourself We want to believe in ourselves. When we are young, we are told we can do anything. Words offered by people who care about us… From parents to grandparents to siblings to neighbors to teachers. They encourage us to be more. Filled with dreams
We don’t always get what we want Life makes sure of that. We can want and want. But that doesn’t make it happen. In fact, we are often disappointed. No matter what it is, it affects us all the same. Our reactions are very similar. Somewhere along the road, we
Fear will try to stop us…it will have a grip so tight it might seem impossible to move. We succumb to its power as we forget our own. With that negative energy, we accomplish nothing. Ever had a challenge look so big, you didn’t see a way around it? Fear
Being better is for all of us The other day, my husband and youngest son went to the driving range to hit golf balls. First, let me also tell you this: my husband loves to golf. It is where he spends most of his spring and summer. He dresses the
The connection We have this yearning to connect, not just with the people around us, but with our true self. It is one thing to relate to someone else. Something different when we unite with another person. Finding our answers in the story heard. As humans, it is something most
Head vs. Heart For most of us, we suffer through a never ending dilemma. Over a lifetime, we battle between the two. In some instances, our head knows best. While in others, our heart wins. How do we know which one is right? Have we trusted logic instead of intuition?
Being lost is a bad thing, right? As kids, once of the worst feelings ever is being lost. When we are young, we step away from our parents for just a second. Our world comes crashing down as we yell, “MOM!” and every one stares at us. Relief only comes
Where is the joy? Most people do not have joy in their lives. A few years ago, I ran into an old acquaintance. We hadn’t seen each other for some time and I casually asked her what she had “been up to.” Her reply surprised me with its honesty. Without
For centuries, we have loved stories. They have transcended through time for as long as we can remember. When we were little, we read lots of stories. Do you remember Dick and Jane? Or maybe where Margaret talked to God? How about the mysteries Nancy Drew seemed to find? I
We live in a cruel world There are things we become aware of that are not pretty. Some are too horrible to mention. Things we could never imagine are very real for others. Surrounded by negativity. hatred, and anger, it is easy to see why we struggle. Cancer strikes the
Life will show us tough moments Life doesn’t play by the rules. It isn’t fair. For example: When a woman becomes a mother and a widow on the same day. When a 22 year old women is killed in a car accident the day she graduates from college. When illness
Some days we just don’t have it As some who spends her days writing to inspire and to influence people just like you to live more inspired, I have a small confession to make. One that might make you shake your head as you quietly say, “I knew it. She’s
I have a confession to make. One most of you will relate to or understand. For the majority of my life, I was a planner. BIG time planner. I would self-diagnose myself as an obsessive compulsive planner. 25 years ago, we didn’t have smart phones and apps with reminders and
Some days just suck There are those days when we feel like the world is ending. When we aren’t even sure of our name. We are helpless to do anything about it, too. One day, your day is going along, as expected and then “WHAM!” Right out of nowhere, the
Reflection is a valuable tool. At times, we don’t realize why looking back shows us everything we need to see. Yet doing so is how we got to where we are and where we are going next. Many of us don’t know who we are. Maybe we don’t want to
When I was younger, it was easy Forgiving others was not even something I thought about. I just did it. It didn’t matter what someone else did or didn’t do. Words never said couldn’t hurt me and the ones that were, I brushed off. I never held onto any of
Life will show us these moments… You know what I am talking about. The days when we feel like our lives are running around us. When one small thing becomes a little bigger thing and before long, it’s HUGE! Maybe some of those moments show us something we hadn’t planned
I’ll bet you can relate… Growing up, you had big dreams. You looked to the future and knew nothing could stand in your way. Without a single doubt, you were excited. This energy was something you just “had.” You didn’t know where it came from, but you knew it was
It began like this… I’ve played it safe for most of my life. Running from things that made me feel uncomfortable was my rule. If I had only known then what I know now, right? As I look out my office window, I catch the reflection of my head shaking
The best job ever Regardless of who we are, we all want a job that pays well and allows us to advance in our career. Some jobs are better paying than others while others have really great benefits and schedules. But you want to know the best kind of
Hello, 2017! Like you, I embrace the new year. It’s not because I am ready to let go of the old one, it’s more about what lay ahead. I’m not one to make a resolution and attempt to keep it for the next 365 days. One or two challenges throughout
Feeling a little bit gloomy today? Maybe finding yourself a little sluggish after the holiday parties and endless supply of grub. Looking like a traveler in your home town as you stare at the red street light, not even sure where you are going? Some days, we find ourselves in
“Love is but the discovery of ourselves in others, and the delight in the recognition.” – unknown We have opportunities to let go of hate and forgive. To accept one another without prejudice or judgment. To support one another without explanation. But we don’t do that. Instead, we find reasons
Most of us would prefer to the easy road. Especially if we have the chance to take it. Too often, not only did I take that road, I never left it. In some ways, it became when I felt like I belonged. Never venturing far from it, I felt safe.
There are moments in our lives when we will know the meaning of what it feels like to belong. Just the same, most of you will never know what it feels like to not belong and how that feeling can hinder the very person we become. Teenagers need to feel
Some of you might think that I have always been an optimist. But you would be wrong. Back in July of 2010, I was asked if I was an optimist or pessimist and although I said optimist, a friend told me that my answer wasn’t true. I looked at her
Tomorrow, many of us will spend the day with family and friends. Maybe we stuff our bellies with turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. Maybe we cheer on our favorite football team. Maybe we try to save some money with those early-bird shopping deals. As you clear your plate, nod off
Life wasn’t always good to me… As a young girl, I didn’t believe in many things. Not good things anyway. Although not intentional, I stopped believing in anything good. Those things never seemed to come my way so why waste time wishing for them? Unfortunately, that mindset had been become
In our world today, it is easy to hold onto the doubt and fear that comes with uncertainty and change. Especially today. No matter how the world is reacting to events, I refuse to let go of something I have fought too hard to find and keep. Despair becomes our
This time of year, we begin to feel a little more thankful for the lives we live and especially on the fourth Thursday in November, we celebrate. Most of us will share this day with family and friends, surrounded by enough food that we will wish we had worn our
Regardless of who we are, we all have dealt with something that wasn’t so easy. Something that seemed to be extended by time in a way few of us could ever imagine. Even the seemingly small things that might appear to never impact us sometimes rise through the darkness to
Having grown up around being on many different athletic teams that spanned close to 15 years, I had many teammates and many coaches. Just like everything else in the world, I had really great teammates and really great coaches. On the other hand, I had some really bad ones of
Having been raised by retired teachers, “planning” is something my parents did well. Their very written out expectations of the coming weeks, full of lessons and tests for their middle and high school students taught me something as well…a lesson that became a part of my makeup and a way
For as long as I can remember, I have always been fascinated by the struggle. I know that might sound weird to some of you. Our natural born instinct is to not want to struggle. I get it. No wants life to be hard. The harsh reality is that it
There are moments we all encounter that leave us humbled, changed, and reminiscent of the moments that molded us into the very person you see before you. Last night, I went back to being 11 years old. In this first few minutes of our conversation, this spunky, confident young girl
Lately, I have noticed something different about the way life unfolds around me. Okay, maybe that last part isn’t entirely true. Maybe life isn’t doing anything different…maybe I am. Today, I have been perplexed by this crazy notion that life for years basically didn’t have much of an effect on
Ever been afraid? How many times have we heard people ask, “Are you ready for that?” or “Are you sure you’re ready?” And our immediate reaction is to actually try to answer that question, but we do so full of doubt and fear that we convince ourselves that we might
When was the last time you added some fulfillment to your life? We all have those days when we feel just like this mannequin…we are completely and utterly exhausted. When our lives seemed to have fallen into something we almost believe we will never recover from and define our worth
For as long as I can remember, I have been curious. Even when I asked questions as a little girl, I learned that “because” was never an appropriate answer to question that began with “Why” and always felt like I needed to know more. There were times when I was
Like most girls, I grew up with many dreams of what life would look like and what I wanted to be when got older. I was an excellent student and was known for my athleticism from a very early age. In fact, it was not uncommon for me to be
How many of us have ever had a job we just didn’t like very much? Probably all of us can think of a job that had some responsibilities that we dreaded doing…maybe it was someone we worked with or just something that we needed to do as a part of
It’s been said, “I wish I knew then what I know now” and although it might have been easier to gather whatever knowledge we have attained up to this point and use it, I’m not sure I would have taken that option should it have been offered to me. I
We all know what it’s like to be the “little” guy. On my walk this morning, my friend and I walked past this tiny grey creature in the middle of the trail. He was so little. He didn’t move. He didn’t make any noises. We thought he was dead. (We’ve
Some challenges are much easier to do than others. Maybe because they weren’t really challenges to begin with. Maybe they were speed bumps or small hurdles at best. You know, just something to be a minor distraction with their inconveniences as being their biggest quality. Other challenges are just bigger.
We go through life wondering if we are ready for the moments life will bring to us. Many of those moments we experience in similar ways and chances are, we have all been afraid before. The situations are not relevant, but we all know the feelings are very real and very
Like many of you, I read the newspaper and watch the news. I like to know what’s going on. Honestly, it is easier for me to read the paper (the real paper and not online, mind you) than it is for me to catch up via Twitter or Facebook. I
I will never forget the day these words escaped from my heart and ended up on a page. That day was May 5, 2010 — a Wednesday. It was just after 7am as I finished a morning run with a friend. My heart seemed to pound louder as the stillness
There is a song I know that reminds me to be engaged in life…to pay attention to moments…to push myself when I might want to give up. I heard it this morning and it brought me back to a few years ago when it was first shared with me. When
Having two parents as teachers didn’t exactly set me aside from other kids, but learning was something that always seemed to be in the forefront. When I was younger, most of my lessons (like yours) came from text books while sitting in a classroom. As kids we are taught to
Let’s admit it…life is fast. We get caught up in everything that we need to get done, especially those things we didn’t get done yesterday. It’s easy to hurry about our day instead of taking the time to slow down. In our heads, we have the mindset of “Go! Go!
In some ways, I am surprised at what I miss every day. What we ALL miss every day. I understand how easy it is to miss something. I know why it happens. At the end of day, I try to recall if I saw anything worth remembering. Did I hear
At times in our lives, we can feel that our influence on the world around us seems irrelevant. That our mere presence is insignificant and pointless. That making a difference is for someone else. When we wonder if our purpose is greater than getting through one day just to hurry
Growing up, I didn’t have a lot of friends. Not as many as people thought I did anyway. Some of it was because we moved around a lot and just as soon as I would make a friend, I would lose one too. So what was the point of getting
When I woke up this morning, I knew I was going to write about second chances…I just didn’t know where my inspiration would come from. Sure, I can tell you my story (you may have read it before), but like any second chance, there is a before and an after.
The world is a very noisy place. It drowns out our every whisper and silences the beats of our hearts. That voice is something we cannot ever hide from because it is made up of everything we are. We don’t notice it at first, but then begin to hear this
I will admit it. Sometimes, I am not very disciplined. However, my focus doesn’t change. Here is a perfect example: There is one part of my body that I constantly struggle accepting as it is and feel like I never make any progress with it getting any better. No matter
My favorite season is spring. Having grown up in Southern California, I didn’t really grow up with the season. For a few months in the winter, it rains a little bit more and the heat in the summer is dry, but manageable. In fact, I love the sun. But no
It’s hard to admit, but I was afraid of who I was 30 years ago. Back then, no one would have noticed or known. Most people wouldn’t have cared, too busy with trying to figure out who they were just like I was. I had some pretty high walls that
With a heavy sigh, I find myself here. Trying to be everything I know I am, and yet, I find myself in somewhat familiar territory. Everything that I have fought hard not become sometimes comes to the surface a little too easily. I tell myself that I must let my
We pretend it doesn’t matter. We dismiss it. We hold onto what’s safe. What we know. We let fear rule our thoughts and command our actions. We are always on our guard. We hold back. We never venture. We build walls. We are skittish and our senses are on constant
Growing up, I never had any really good women role models to help me through the teenage years. I held myself prisoner behind walls I had purposely built to keep the world out and me safe. For the longest time, I didn’t realize that the walls even existed. As I
We are naturally drawn to the shiny…to the bright…to the illuminated. We can’t help it. Our gaze lifts when we see a sky full of stars on an otherwise dark night. On a lonely country highway, the lone bulb we see in the distance is attached to the light pole
Michelle captivates audiences using simple ideas to make real-life changes every day. She brings personal stories, humor, and insight to every presentation.
