The Answer Key

We all have dreams, goals, and adventures on our bucket list. Many of us spend time blogging about them or searching and pinning them on Pinterest. Today I pondered how many of those things will any of us do, try, see, or visit in reality, and the truth is some of us will never see our Pinterest or dream boards come to fruition. I say, let's give it a go. Everything within in reason of course, deserves at least one attempt. I started with recipes and I must say, I was not disappointed and neither were the guys. Last week I made a skinny-chicken parm, and took the boys to the zoo. This week I will attempt one of my DIY projects and a dessert for a labor Day party we are attending this weekend. Obviously, I started small, but hey, you have to start somewhere. Whatever it is you desire needs your focus, commitment, and attention. If you want to lose weight, get to the business of getting it done. Set a goal, cut your calories, eat healthier foods more often, drink lots of water...

Your energy and your time may be spendable but it is also limited and can not be regained. Once you have given it away it is gone forever. Remind yourself of those facts when you entertain wasting your energy instead of investing it. Avoid wasteful actions such as arguing. Find a better way to get your point across and once you have, understand that the other party has a right to accept or deny your position. Badgering them will not make them change their mind if it is already made up. This is a rule I have struggled with myself. I have wanted someone to understand my perspective so badly I could argue with them for hours. However, at this time in my life, I have realized that whether someone agrees with me or sees my point of view or not, that does not, can not, and will not have an adverse affect on me- or at least it does not have to. Now, I try to state my piece, and let it go. Let them do what they please with the information whether I like it or not. If the person is r...

We must embrace the perfection in being imperfect. Be perfect for you, no longer yielding to the expectations of anyone but yourself. How do you measure up to the person you would like to be? What are you doing to become that person? In life we envision what we want- it becomes the goal. Then we focus, plan, and prepare the path we will take to get there. You may struggle, but with every trial you gain knowledge. Even if you fail now, your next attempt will be better because you learned from your previous attempt. The more you try the more knowledge you gain, the more progress you make, and the more you grow. You are that much closer than you were when you began your journey, and your persistence will take you wherever you want to go, give you whatever you want to get, and be the person you hope to become.   No doctor ever decides today they want to become a doctor and becomes one tomorrow. It takes a goal, a plan, and time. The more time and focus you put on your craft, your ...

It would be nice to know that life would always go according to plan. Over every obstacle we would triumph, any thing worth trying we would accomplished, whatever we would start would get completed, anywhere we would want to go we would get there, and setbacks as we know it would be virtually obsolete. But what would we learn and appreciate then? I think the point of living, experiencing, and navigating through life is to teach us something, give value and appreciation to what we want and get out of life. One of the problems I see recurring is that small road blocks are viewed as boulders. Initial impact can hurt, confuse, or shake you, but never let it break you. Remind yourself frequently that the energy and time you waste dwelling on the problem itself is blocking you from getting to the solution. It takes work, but force yourself to think in that way, and you will find your way out of any bad situation. A problem is never bigger than its solution- get busy finding it. In some...

It is critical to our happiness that we make decisions that have a positive impact on our lives. While the decision may not be popular, it may very well save us from unnecessary disappointment in the future.We often times neglect or refrain from doing the things in our best interest because of what we want in the now. We can create our own obstacles and unconsciously do or not do what we would otherwise recognize as beneficial to us solely, because it goes against what we want instead of what we need or is best for us. Take a moment to weigh your odds. Sometimes the very thing we want most is just not in our best interest. Unfortunately, our vision can be clouded by our desire, the desire can become bigger than our bigger picture, and therefore overshadow the manner in which we can better help, comfort, aid, or relieve ourselves from a dire situation. We can literally work against ourselves, become the villain in our own life's novella. In fact, the const...

Every day may not be the best day of your life, but the anticipation of a new opportunity to have the best day ever should put a smile on your face. Even during the worst, most desperate and depressing times in your life, knowing that you may see another day to try again, do things better, over, or differently is the way you move forward. Focusing on your opportunities, advantages, benefits and blessings verses your let-downs, disappointments, regrets, or misfortunes pushes you in a positive direction. Moving forward is vital to your happiness, and the lack of your forward motion will lead to your dismay. We all have been through major trials and triumphs. Learning from even the most miserable experiences yet refusing to let them direct your life is your first step forward. Recently, I was reflecting on a situation that I faced that could have broken me, but at the time I did not realize or acknowledge its magnitude. While I did not make lite of it either, I certainly mainta...

We all participate in relationships that fall beneath our expectations.We tend to think that our silent requests, demands, needs and wants are common-knowledge and should go without saying. We can even fall into an existence where we truly believe our expectations should be met without delay, question, or explanation. The problem is, for most of our requests, no matter how simple, our partners simply do not work that way. There are no mind-readers, and they definitely do not come armed with a manual on the many things and ways to please you, thus leaving you (in your silence) without, waiting, longing and still wanting, or indefinitely deprived of whatever it is you seek. If that is an accurate description of your circumstance, keep reading. Your expectation is the hope, belief, probability or anticipation of a specific result, outcome, effect, or reaction, but expectation comes with no guarantee. The only means of knowing wh...