Life According to Cooper

Life according to Cooper. 

Today I'm guest posting on my mother's blog. She thought you might enjoy hearing my perspective on apartment living. 

Well to be perfectly honest I really don't care where I live as long as I get to live with her and my Dad. We could live in a pup tent, under a bridge or at the Taj Mahal, as long as I get to sleep next to them I'd be okay, but I will admit this apartment life has been lots of fun for me. 

For the first few months I got to ride in the car every morning when Mom dropped Dad off at the train station. Now he's driving to work so I'm getting to sleep in a little. Each morning Mom and I like to begin our day with a trip to the courtyard to take care of some "business" if you know what I mean.  The courtyard has been great because it's just around the corner, and it's kind of like having your own back yard that you share with a bunch of other dogs who I never see, but can certainly smell. 

Once we are back inside Mom likes to sit out on our porch and drink her coffee. I like to snuggle next to her, and wait for my friend Skipper to walk by. Sometimes I like to growl at the people walking by. I just want Mom to know that I'm here to protect her in case she needs any help. 

Mom usually has an errand or two to run each day so I dutifully wait for her in my "house." She always says she'll be right back, and because I can't tell time she's always right because she always does return.  Most days we've got to take the trash down to the little room at the end of the hall, and I must admit that the big, white bag, and the little trash room make me kind of nervous, especially when she opens that tiny door to throw the trash away. Luckily, it goes by quickly and we can check the mail next. I've gotten pretty good at  figuring out where to go next, and if I was only a little taller I might be able to help her actually retrieve the mail. 

During the day I have a pretty good view of the outside, and I'm not really sure why my mother keeps reminding me to be quiet. Doesn't she know that watch dog is part of my job description? When you live in an apartment there sure are a lot of people, cars and dogs going by, and you can never be too careful. 

Of course, my favorite time of day is in the evening when we go for our walk around the lake. If I'm lucky there are no big dogs at the dog park, and Mom lets me stop by to say hello to all the people. To be honest, I'm really not all that interested in the other dogs. Sometimes she throws the tennis ball and I chase it. It's a pretty sweet deal. After my encounter with two really big bullying dogs Mom's gotten a little over protective, but I'm still convinced I could have taken them if Mom had let me. 

Along the walk I get to say hello to some of the friendlier dogs. It's amazing how many of them are part poodle. I guess my Mom knew a thing or two when she picked me. Apparently, we poodles seem to be quite popular. I've got to watch the tiny ducks grow up, and I've even met a little girl who used to be afraid of dogs until she met me. 

At night after another trip to the courtyard I settle down on Mom and Dad's bed while Mom reads a while. I'm usually pretty tired because apartment living requires a lot more walking. Well that, and getting to play with my Dad when he gets home from work because he's not having to commute so far. I'd say that apartment living is GRRRREAT! I'd give it a high five just like I give my Mom right before bed. 

Man on a Mission

Man on a mission. 

My eighteen month old grandson appears to be, as my daughter would say, a man on a mission. She has discovered that anytime he rushes out of a room he definitely has a plan. Although, he may be a man of few words, he certainly has a mind working overtime. 

The other day he was methodically putting together a train track puzzle in his bedroom when he jumped up and flew out of the room. Within seconds he had returned with three small vehicles of sort. He dropped them, raced out of the room, and returned with two more. What he had managed to do was to collect all his small toys with wheels that would fit on his train track. Any good engineer knows that a track without a train is pretty much useless, and when a train isn't handy a few small cars will have to do. What fascinated me was how he knew not to bring back one of his large trucks that would obviously be too BIG for the track. 

My daughter relayed that a few days later as he was rifling through her bathroom drawer he came across an old contact lens case. Again he jumped up like a flash, and ran out of the room. As she followed behind she observed him scooping up a handful of Cheerios off the kitchen table, and continuing back to the bathroom. Once there he placed them carefully in the tiny dual bowls that he had just discovered. It seems they made the perfect container for a morning snack if the need arose. Once again I could imagine the gears turning inside that little mind as he was trying to figure out his world. 

My daughter has learned that anytime he jumps up, and rushes out of the room like a man on a mission you never know what to expect, except possibly a good laugh. 

Expertise

Expertise. 

When I first began my teaching career I changed grade levels regularly. Mostly, this was due to fluctuating numbers of students, but I never really gave it much thought as I moved from grade level to grade level, and found myself acclimating pretty quickly each time. 

As the years went by changing from one grade level to the next became more complicated. Once executed it required several years to really learn the curriculum. Staying resulted in an expertise, and changing grade levels was not as easy anymore. 

Now on one level this expertise sounds really good, and I suppose it is, but there is actually a drawback that you might not have considered. Once you find yourself hesitant to change you may begin digging into the  comfortable and familiar, and be reluctant to move on. This may result in less opportunities for growth. Each time I moved to a new grade level, no matter how short of a time, I found myself adding to my repertoire of teaching skills making me a more accomplished teacher. 

Widening our interests can certainly make life more interesting. Since retiring I've found myself drawn to subjects like business, economics, theology, and philosophy; all areas I had never studied before. The narrow focus of my education revolved more around the elementary classroom. 

Scott Sonenshein, author of Stretch, points out that, "Today, a push for deeply specialized expertise leaves us with people who get better and better at narrower and narrower things." If Steve Jobs had never happened upon that calligraphy class as he was drifting through college I might not be writing on an i pad now.  

If you've found yourself knowing too much about any one thing you might consider challenging yourself to learn something new. Embracing the philosophy of the Renaissance might be a better way to go.

Small Steps

Small steps. 

Three months ago when we first moved we decided to walk the perimeter of the lake that surrounds our apartment complex. Perhaps I should say Chuck pushed us to give it a go. I reluctantly agreed knowing full well that I had not walked regularly in months, and that the shoes I was wearing were sorely lacking. 

Now the good thing was that we were able to complete the entire trek without having to send out for rescue assistance. However, the bad thing was that I was absolutely miserable. Each step seemed to be weighted down in concrete, and I certainly paid the price in sore muscles for the next few days. I remember collapsing in the bed and lying there with the massaging feature on full blast. 

As bad as I felt physically, I felt even worse when it came to my ego. How could I have allowed myself to get so out of shape that a simple walk was like climbing Mt. Everest for me? I knew something had to change. I immediately bought a pair of really expensive walking shoes, and Cooper and I hit the trail.  Now I did not set any other goals besides trying to get out for a little walk every day. As time went on I found our walks increasing in length and in speed. 

On Sunday evening Chuck suggested giving the whole lake another try; something I had been considering for a while. Three months had passed since that fateful sojourn, I'd purchased the proper equipment, had begun a daily training regime, and felt that the time was right to attempt Lake Carolyn for a second time. 

I'm happy to report that both of us walked the perimeter of the lake with ease. We arrived home a little thirsty, but there was no need for days of recooperation. I'm also happy to report that after six weeks of Weight Watchers I'm down six pounds, and am working my "weigh" back to my goal weight, which technically has changed a little since I'm now a little older. 

I guess what I'm once again being reminded of is that the tortoise really does win the race, step by step.  Sometimes when we look at the whole of something we can be overwhelmed by the task, but if we break it down into smaller increments we probably will have a better chance at succeeding. 

Stretching

Stretching.

Do you possess a stretching mind-set? Author of Stretch, Scott Sonenshein describes this as, "Stretchers find beauty and richness in places where others struggle to see anything of value. Too often, we understand, interact with, and use things at face value, locking ourselves into conventions that limit possibilities."

In his research Sonenshein found that to some, "Even the least valuable things around us have unrecognized potential." Those with a stretching mind-set look beyond  the face value of something, and consider its possibilities. 

If given the choice I would like to embrace this kind of attitude. Looking for value in the very simple can actually be quite rewarding. Thinking that you never have enough, and always longing for that next thing only leaves you coming up empty handed because there will always be something else to want. 

In addition, you never really give yourself the opportunity to enjoy the new thing you have at the moment. Your focus always shifts from the present to the future in hopes that you can be twice as happy when the better thing comes along. This really is no way to live your life.

So when considering the type of life you'd like to live you might want to describe yourself as a Stretcher.

Creativity Perspective

Creativity perspective.

If you've ever done a little reading on creativity you will probably find two reoccurring themes. One being that we are ALL creative, and the other that creativity can be a way to keep our minds more engaged as we age. Although, there is some research that shows that creativity seems to diminish after a certain age. 

I think for some of us it is difficult to see ourselves as creative, because we have placed it into too narrow of a box. If we are not covered in paint, or locked away typing on a manual typewriter full of angst, or are not giving Joanna Gains a run for her money we assume we must have come up short on the creativity gene. 

However, if we fully embrace creativity we might find that we are more creative than we thought. Scott Sonenshein, author of Stretch refers to what he calls "little c" creativity which he defines as, "a form of creativity not focused on producing creative works but rather on solving practical problems through new uses and applications of resources." 

This perspective of creativity is one that most people can claim. Anyone who's thrown together a meal using only those ingredients on hand is practicing this type of creativity. Using only the resources on hand actually allows this kind of creativity to flourish. 

In fact sometimes having less is really better than having an abundance. Sonenshein explains that, "With abundance, people treat resources as what they appear on the surface, utilizing them in traditional ways. But when people face scarcity, they give themselves freedom to use less resources in less conventional ways."

My experience is that once you have too much of something you lose sight of what you actually have. Too many choices can become overwhelming. Keeping your possessions manageable might actually result in using them more frequently. 

Look for those ways in your day where you can be creative. Don't count yourself short, and when faced with a problem, rather than run to the store see if there is a way to utilize the available resources. I know for me when I am able to do this I'm usually quite pleased with my ingenuity. 

Resources

Resources. 

Sometimes it's easy to focus on the things we don't have, but by doing so we can lose sight of what we do have. Each of us has a unique set of resources ranging from innate talents to material possessions that can contribute to a more satisfying life. 

Author of Stretch, Scott Sonenshein writes about  people who, "...ask what more they can do with what they have, instead of asking what's missing." He calls these people Stretchers because they have learned the value of better untilizing what they already possess. 

In our modern day world of reduce, reuse, recycle I enjoy the challenge of figuring out a way to use what I already have in order to solve a problem. Instead of purchasing a plastic recycling container which I knew I really didn't have room for, I used a small carabiner clip to attach my recycling bag to an already existing structure. It worked beautifully and cost me nothing. 

Instead of looking at life from the perspective of what can be added it might be better to reframe the question. How can I better use the resources around me? By utilizing these resources I can take immediate action instead of sitting around waiting for what I think is necessary in order to get the job done. Challenge yourself to "think outside the box."

Sometimes not having the resources we assume we need is a convenient  excuse for not having to try. "If only" can become our favorite word, except with today's access to technology, one way or another we can find a way. Free on-line classes, free wi-fi at the local coffee shop, free computer access at the library, you tube videos, blogs and podcasts are all ways to stretch yourself. 

As author Gretchen Rubin is quick to point out the first way to solve a problem is to identify the problem. Maybe the problem is not the lack of resources, but rather a lack of stretching. Sonenshein also points out that lack of resources or constraints might not be such a bad thing. "Constraints can motivate us to be resourceful, act in more creative ways, and solve problems better."

Just like when you begin an exercise program you begin by stretching, doing so in other areas of your life may end up bringing greater satisfaction, and result in a richer life. 

Twenty Percent

Twenty Percent. 

I came across a posting the other day that that stated how eighty percent of new beekeepers quit within two years. Now not that I have a burning desire to be a beekeeper or anything, but it did get me to wondering if this statistic might "bee" true for other endeavors? 

Sure enough, a quick Google search resulted in an article about how eighty percent of New Year's resolutions are never fulfilled. So in other words only about twenty percent of resolutions are ever kept. Is that due more to some people being extremely disciplined or perhaps does it have more to do with the satisfaction gained from the endeavor?

I've found that it's easier to stick with things that you really like. I actually make my bed in the morning because I like the way the bed feels at night. As much as I'd like to give credit to discipline, it really has more to do with liking the payoff. 

I've been able to stick with my blog for over two years, because I really enjoy writing it, and interacting with my readers. I had read a statistic once that said most people gave up on their blog within three months. What has also helped me to stay on track is committing to posting each weekday. By not giving myself an out or as Gretchen Rubin would say, "By not breaking the chain," it has kept me motivated to continue writing. 

Sometimes in life falling into the twenty percent range has more to do with really enjoying what you do. So even though it might require discipline and hard work you don't mind putting forth the effort.  While in contrast when choosing to do something that you think you "should" do, you might find it more difficult to continue. What is your twenty percent?

Getting Started

Getting started. 

I've recently come across two different people who had the same advice for getting started.  Barbara Bradley Baekgaard, co-founder of the Vera Bradley line lives by the mantra of Ready, Fire, Aim. Yes, you read that correctly, as she believes that by firing early you don't have time to talk yourself out of an idea.

Marie Forleo of Marie TV, says the best way to accomplish something is to, "Start before you are ready," knowing full well that you will make mistakes or even change your mind. She calls this being a beginner. 

Sometimes we are hesitant to start something because we feel like we don't know enough, when that actually may just be a convenient excuse not to begin. 

Ideas can come and go, and chances are if you do not act upon them somebody else will. I can remember some ideas that I had early on in my teaching career that later on down the road were developed and published by someone else. Someone who wasn't afraid to get started. 

Sometimes we think that maybe our ideas aren't original enough, and because of that don't merit being developed. Author Elizabeth Gilbert, likes to point out that it's pretty much a given that it's already been done, "But it has not yet been done by you." That's what makes the difference. 

Your unique twist on something might be all that idea needs to become successful, and successful doesn't mean it has to apply to the entire world. Sometimes it's only those immediately around you that will reap the benefits, and that's okay. 

Baekgaard is the first to admit that if she and her friend had given it too much thought they would never had started Vera Bradley. What did they know about the luggage industry? What they did know was that there was an awful lot of boring luggage making its way through the airport, and they wanted to add a little color to women's lives. I'd say they did a pretty good job. 

Permanent Residence

Permanent Residence. 

When we moved from our house into our apartment we pared down as much as we could, and brought only those things we deemed important to our new residence. Except, now that we have been here for three months I'm having second thoughts about some of their importance. 

As I've gone through many of the items I'm finding that they really don't seem to have a place in my life any more, and it makes me wonder why I'm still hanging on? I read something the other day by blogger Michelle Rohr that 
seemed to address this very thing. "The mindset here is that you don't need to give every little thing permanent residence in your home. Very few things deserve that placement." 

What I've discovered is that when you cut the number of rooms in your house significantly suddenly knick-knacks have no where to go, only a limited number of walls need pictures, seasonal decorations don't seem quite as important, and books need to be pared down to favorites.

What once seemed so important now spends its time in a Rubbermaid tub waiting for a possible reprieve at the next house. Except, you begin to realize that you might not want to drag it there, and kind of like living a more pared down life. 

Especially, things that you have held on to that no longer reflect your interests or where you are in your life. Bicycles and helmets have made their way to the farm knowing full well they will never be ridden again. An over-flowing collection of markers will probably not be used as frequently, and could be limited to just a few. Skeins of yarn sit waiting to be crocheted or knitted into another unused scarf. Scrapbooking material isn't quite so useful in an era of digital photography. 

Maybe it's time to let go of past interest that if truth be known were probably let go of years ago. Rather than focusing so much on what I used to do, maybe I should set my sights on the things I want to do today. Just because something has been a part of my life doesn't mean it gets a life sentence in my home. 

Certainty

Certainty.

Chuck and I are at that interesting time of life where we seem to be focusing more on the future, rather than the present. I suppose some of that has to do with having just sold the house, and having moved to an apartment resulting in being in a state of transition. Although, to be perfectly honest I'm finding myself more and more content with this apartment life. 

As we have kicked around what to do next, which all basically revolves around the farm, I've found my head swimming with all the possible options. As I became grumpier, and more argumentative I realized that I didn't want to focus so much on tomorrow, but more on today. I explained to Chuck that this life was not a holding pattern for me until something better came along, but that this was actually my life, and I was finding myself enjoying it more and more. 

As I wrote this I was sitting out on my porch enjoying the falling rain. Luckily, my porch is just covered enough to keep me dry. I never had this option at my home in Frisco, and mostly found myself stuck inside whenever it rained. So having the opportunity to spend more time outside has really contributed to my happiness. 

As much as knowing what is happening next might be a comfort, maybe not knowing is the better way. Author Mark Manson believes that, "Certainty is the enemy of growth." By keeping my options open, and not knowing what's around the corner, I might be surprised by what life has to offer. In other words there might be something even better out there. 

I've found those unplanned days that just seem to pop up can many times be the most fun. So although, I'm all about the plan, I'm also all about letting growth occur. Stop thinking that certainty is your friend. 

Avoidance

Avoidance. 

In my confession the other day about avoiding setting up my Fitbit, I came across a timely book written by Andy Molinsky entitled, Reach. In it he writes about our built-in natural inclination to avoid situations that might cause us discomfort. It was good to know that I wasn't completely off base when it came to my avoidance tendencies. However, he then pointed out that this natural instinct was really intended to come in handy in case of lion or bear attacks, something I can't say I've come across lately. 

He points out that by avoiding these unpleasant tasks, "...we get the temporary relief from anxiety and fear, but we limit real opportunities that put us outside our comfort zones but could also be compelling and meaningful-such as developing new skills."

He then proceeds to divide this inclination into several different categories. The first being "Full-On Avoidance" which I find to be my personal favorite. This is especially true if it comes to some sort of confrontation with a person who matters to me. I will avoid this at all cost knowing full well that it will enevitably make the situation worse. Instead of confronting it head on I prefer to just feel anxious about it. 

His second avoidance trap is "Do the Task, but Only Partway-and Not So Well." Yep, I've been guilty of this one, too. By never really going full-in you don't have to take the risk of putting the soft underbelly of yourself out for review. You can always take solace in the fact that because you didn't give it your all any criticism received is only half as bad. Can you imagine what it would be like to be rejected for your "best" effort?  For me my half-way attempts are often good enough, and sometimes actually praise worthy. It's kind of like conveniently spraining your ankle the day begins cheerleader try-outs. Not that it happened to me, but I do remember one anxious soul who claimed this misfortune. 

His third tactic is "Procrastination,"or as I like to call it, my middle name. Procrastinating is a great way of never having to follow through. Years ago I was given the task of having to make sure the PTA yearbook got printed and assembled. I had no idea what I was doing, and asking for help would have only pointed out my inadequacies, so I purposely kept putting it off until we missed the deadline. Obviously it wasn't my proudest moment. 

His fourth example, "Passing the Buck" is one thank goodness I can't claim as my own. Maybe there is help after all? Passing the buck is a convenient way of not having to take responsibility. Either way it also is a great way to avoid something you are unsure about. Just like Molinsky states the reward of choosing one of these avoidance tactics is, "You don't have  to do the stressful task!" The pay-off is immediate!

Of course, living with the anxiety and fear can't be much better. The next time you encounter a lion the best advice I can give is probably to run, but when it comes to the rest of life it's better to acknowledge your default switch. Sometimes just being aware helps us to navigate those pesky avoidance traps. 

Knowing When

Knowing when.

I knew after two weeks into the school year that it was time for me to retire. I was taking care of some beginning of the year bookkeeping duties, and my class was quietly working on an independent assignment. You could of heard a pin drop when it hit me. I had been blessed with another "good" class, infact the third good class in as many years. How was that possible? If you've taught for any length of time you know those challenging years are just inevitable. 

It was right then and there that I made the decision that it was time. It was year thirty-one, and I had reached the magic retirement number, and realized that I wanted to go out on a Super Bowl year, and I'm so glad I did as it was one of the best years of my life. 

My class was delightful, creative, smart, engaging, and so funny that I spent most of my time laughing that year. Deciding to retire when I did left me with no regrets. Knowing it was my last year I pretty much threw caution to the wind, and initiated some teaching methods that turned out to be some of my very best. 

Knowing when to move on can be tricky, but trusting your gut, even though it may seem scary, may not be a bad rule of thumb. I remember early in my career switching grade levels about every two years. Many times this decision was made for me because of changing class sizes, but it taught me early on that change isn't necessarily a bad thing.  

Several years later after moving to Frisco I spent six years teaching kindergarten. Even though I was feeling the need to change grade levels, I was hesitant to do so because I had spent so much time in one grade that I doubted I could do something else. This very fact bothered me so much that I knew I had to move on. 

Throughout my career I changed grade levels often, was a Reading Recovery teacher, and even taught Social Studies in Middle School. No matter what I did I always learned and grew both professionally and personally which all contributed to me being a better teacher. 

I read something the other day that clearly stated the idea of knowing when it's time to make a change, and understanding that you don't have to do anything forever. 

"Don't settle: Don't finish bad books. If you don't like the menu, leave the restaurant. If you're not on the right path, get off of it."

Chris Brogan

Confession

Confession. 

Chuck gifted me with a new Fitbit for Valentine's Day back in February. My old one had bit the dust, and I was really missing keeping track of my activity. This new Fitbit was an upgrade, and even had a real latching clasp.  My confession is that I waited until June to set it up. WHY?????? Because I wasn't exactly sure if
 I would need to set up a new account since it was a different Fitbit, and because I really didn't know how to do that I just allowed the Fitbit to sit on my dresser, be packed and moved, and to sit on my dresser again. 

I allowed almost four months to tick by before I opened up my app, which took a minute to clean up my information, and the plugged the darn thing in to allow it to charge up. I have a sneaking suspicion that when it's done it will sync itself up with the app all by itself. 

This tendency to put off anything that I'm unsure of is not only embarrassing, but maddening to boot. The other sad thing is that I'm fully aware of this shortcoming, but gladly stuck my head in the sand to avoid not having to figure it out. 

I'm sharing it with you today, because as much as I aspire to taking on risk, trying new things, and looking for adventure, something as simple as setting up my Fitbit can send me into a tailspin. I guess the truth is that I find myself falling short on a regular basis. 

I just have to keep reminding myself that I'm not alone in this category, and hopefully the next time it might only take two months to take the plunge! They say confession is good for the soul. I sure hope so. 

As it turned out, it did require a little more action on my part, but nothing beyond my capabilities. I was even able to sync it with my Weight Watcher app to get credit for my walking. Okay now all I have to do is get moving. 

Gifts

Gifts. 

For those of us who have a tendency to overthink we can sometimes take the best things, and allow them to become complicated.

 "Don't make a gift a burden," are the words of a guest on the podcast Happier with Gretchen Rubin. The guest had been given the opportunity to begin her graduate studies, but was finding herself overwhelmed by all the logistics. She finally stepped back, and realized that this opportunity was really a gift, and not something to become bogged down by.

Once again our perspective comes into play. Taking a moment to view something as a gift gives you a whole new appreciation for it. I've been guilty at times of zeroing in on the negative of a situation, instead of putting my energy into the good it brings to my life. 

 We are given many gifts in life, but we often overlook them. Don't allow them to become burdens by failing to realize their true value. 

Winging It

Winging it. 

How good are you at winging it? The definition of the term is, "To do something in an impromptu manner, improvising, with little preparation."

  

Perhaps for me most of my winging revolves around my culinary pursuits, and this only because it's the end of the week, and I haven't fully prepared for all meals. In my defense, though, I've actually pulled together some pretty yummy meals on the fly. 

Most of the time I feel more comfortable being fully prepared, and may possibly have been the first female Boy Scout in a past life. However, the reality is that stuff does happen, and many times we have to fall upon our ingenuity to see us through. 

As good as I am at planning, I'm pretty darn resourceful when push comes to shove. I think we all need to be able to wing it every now and then. I think the problem arises when we find ourselves winging everything. It is then that life can become overwhelming because we haven't really fully thought through anything. 

So it appears being both prepared and having the ability to wing it can be beneficial. 

Talent

Talent. 

When I was in second grade and living in Kansas, I participated in my school's talent show. Two of my classmates and I donned bandanas, and sang a rendition of My Home's in Montana. We were the proud recipients of a fourth place yellow ribbon. Who knew the early sixties was the beginning of the whole participation award thing!

Now the interesting thing is that I have never considered myself a singer, although being a singing sensation has always been a fantasy of mine. Notice I didn't say dream, because I would hate to fall prey to The American Idol Syndrome of thinking just because it's your dream you deserve to win. 

No, I believe that you have to have the talent as well. Natural talent, or the 10,000 hours theory of talent, either way it must exist. Now when it comes to talent I've always thought it fell into the category of what you could do in a Talent Show or a Miss America competition, so as a result I never really considered myself to have a talent. I wasn't an accomplished singer, dancer or ventriloquist, so I guess I must have missed out when they were handing out the talent genes. 

Except that we all have talents or as Marie Forleo likes to say, strengths. Now often times we are unaware of these strengths because they come so easily to us. If they don't require any extra effort then they mustn't really be very special. 

This is how I felt for years. Years in which I excelled academically, could express myself both verbally and in writing, could easily organize and take charge, seemed to have a knack for encouraging others, and had a mind like a human Mapsco. As it turns out these are all talents, albeit not the kind that wins blue ribbons in a talent show, though, but talents just as well. 

 Forleo also states that it's easy to get caught up in the whole what is my passion debate in determining these talents, when technically no matter what you end up doing career wise, you will bring the same set of strengths to each job. Of course, along the way you will probably find something that seems to fit. I know every part-time job I ever had only encouraged me to continue on with my education, and teaching seemed to fit well with my natural strengths. 

Don't sell yourself short when it comes to this talent idea, and think that it has to be pageant worthy. 

Benchmarking

Benchmarking. 

A benchmark is a standard which can be used to track progress, and as a way to compare one thing against another.  In my latter years of teaching we began to use benchmark testing as part of our instruction. The benefit was it helped to determine which students were really understanding the instruction and which 
were not. The draw back, though, was that you were pretty much lock-stepped into the curriculum, and didn't have much available freedom to embrace the teachable moment. 

Author Seth Godin expands this idea of benchmarking to include our personal development. Because benchmarking includes standardization and comparison, sometimes it can get in the way of our uniqueness. Godin states, "In addition to the stress it creates, benchmarking against the universe actually encourages us to be mediocre, to be average, to just do what everyone else is doing."

When we look around us to determine what we "should" be doing our creativity may suffer. It may be okay to check in every now and then, but aspiring to be just like everyone else, in the long run may end up being disappointing. When we are doing just what everyone else is doing we begin to blend in rather than to stand out. 

Although, this may feel more comfortable, standing out may be the better route. Not so much as a way to be noticed just for the sake of being noticed, rather as a way to make a true difference in the lives of the people around us. 

Don't get caught in the cycle of benchmarking as a way of determining your value. Choose your own way, and allow yourself to soar. 

Motivation

Motivation. 

What motivates you? Chris Guillebeau breaks the idea of motivation into two categories; achievement or process. The achievement oriented person is one who looks for results or accomplishments. The process oriented person, on the other hand, finds happiness through the doing, and is not so dependent on the end result. 

I probably fall more into the process category. Although, I can make a list of accomplishments in my life they have never been my driving force. I seem more drawn to follow those things that happen to interest me at the time. As much as I admire those who have dedicated a lifetime to one thing I'm afraid that will never be me. 

I tend to become very motivated by something, and over time that enthusiasm begins to fade as I search for the next new thing. I'm okay with that, though, because being true to your nature allows you to live a more contented life.  

Recently I had made a list of things I wanted to accomplish. However,  I found I was struggling to begin the list, and wondered why? For some, procrastination can be motivated by fear or uncertainty, but that really didn't seem to be the case. In reviewing the list I realized my projects were really listed more out of duty and obligation than anything else. 

Things that at one time seemed important, suddenly didn't seem to matter so much. If I have the gift of time, I'd rather spend it doing something I really want to do rather than fulfilling things that I once thought I should do.  So today I'm going to consider those things that spark an interest for me, and concentrate my energies on enjoying the process. 

The Reason Why

The reason why?

The other day I was listening to a podcast featuring author Seth Godin as he spoke about why he blogged. I've often asked myself the same question, but found Godin's reason said it best. 

"Even if no one read it I would blog every day...If you know that tomorrow you have to say something about something you noticed, about something that might help someone else, about an opinion you have that might stand the test of time; you will form those opinions, you will notice those things, you will invent that idea. And if day after day, week after week you leave behind this trail of thoughtful examination of your world, you can't help but get better at whatever it is that you seek to do."

Godin's words seemed to sum up perfectly the enjoyment I find in being a blogger. Holding myself accountable to posting five days a week does keep me on my toes. It forces me to read more, observe more, and reflect more on the things I see and hear. 

I kind of like that!

Duck!!!!

Duck!!!!

The other evening Cooper and I were out for a walk around the lake when suddenly I saw a low flying duck coming right at me. My first reaction was to do a little duck and cover. 

As the duck continued on his merry way I found myself calling out, "Duck!!!" after the fact. I couldn't help but be a little tickled by my play on words, and then got to thinking about the term "duck", and not the feathered fowl kind. 

I wondered if long ago low flying ducks were a regular occurrence, and in an effort to alert your neighbor people got in the habit of calling out a warning. Of course as the ducks would fly by your natural inclination would be to bend your head down-thus the warning word, "Duck" became synonymous with the action. 

Of course, I could be completely off on this idea, and maybe low flying ducks are actually a rare occurance. Either way it was kind of fun to play with the possibility that it might be the case. 

As you can tell it doesn't take much to amuse me, and I can easily "quack" myself up!

The Life List

The life list. 

Most of you know it as the Bucket List; that infamous list of all the things you want to accomplish before you die. I have one friend who has done a good job of crossing these off her list as she moves on to the next one. I'm some what envious, because for some reason even just coming up with the list is hard for me. 

Chris Guillebeau in The Happiness of Pursuit encourages making what he calls a life list. His goal is that when he comes to the end of his life he can look back with few regrets about the things he did or did not do. He includes being specific, dreaming big, and not limiting your possibilities. 

I am truly motivated anytime I read authors like Guillebeau, but don't find myself rushing to make my list. However, this time I think I have discovered what might be holding me back. In considering your goals there should be a deadline and a next step. For me the next step is always the hard part. Where should I start? 

Guillebeau states, "All you need is one next step. Don't worry about thinking the whole thing through yet." Being the planner by nature I have the tendency to want to see the whole picture before beginning. It's kind of like bring handed one piece of a thousand piece puzzle, and being told to get started. Yes, the first piece is important, but what should I do next?

I think what Gillebeau is encouraging is that once you take the first step towards something, the next step seems to come along. And even if that step is wrong, just like the puzzle piece you can try another. The list is the big picture, the completed puzzle, and definitely what you are striving for, but it's a matter of trying the other pieces along the way to see how they fit. 

Including the next step seems to be the missing piece to my life list. For those skeptics Guillebeau states, "If nothing else, it's a great starting point to becoming intentional with your life."