Daring Greatly

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. 

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again,

Because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause;

Who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly..."

-Theodore Roosevelt

I'm reading the new book by Brene Brown called, "Daring Greatly: How the courage to be vulnerable transforms the way we live, love, parent and lead"  I'm excited about this book because it goes along with a new lesson God has been speaking to me about in the area of vulnerability. For me, vulnerability is weakness. Weakness = not good enough. God is changing that mindset for me. 

We'll see how it goes...

MLK: serve your neighbor

Vulnerability

i am enough!

BGT: Paige Turley

Sometimes it amazes me how much talent can come out of the youngin's in the world. Especially when they've only been singing for such a short amount of time. That's definitely raw, authentic talent that only the Lord can give.




She even wowed Simon. And that bugger can be hard to please.



ps...is it just me, or is there something about her that reminds you of jessica biel?


#jealousmuch 

N'awlins

I'm in New Orleans for the 1st time ever. Another 1st for the week. Right now, I can tell that I'm going to enjoy it. I'll give you details on my thoughts and experiences as soon as I experience them.

Later folks..I'm out to see the world of N'awlins.

Crazy Fun

It's been a crazy fun day of work, but it's all coming along. The Goal Zero booth is going to be so awesome once it's fully put together. So proud of the company I work for; and am crazy blessed to have my amazing job.

Vegas

I'm in Vegas for my 1st time ever! And there are so many songs that are running through my mind!! Mainly, some old school Faith Hill, "Let's go to Vegas!" There are more, but that's the main I've been humming the past 24 hours. 

As of now, I'll let you know that I have seen inside of the Las Vegas Convention Center, a few taxi's, and my mini suite at THE Hotel. I can confidently say-with abundant thanks-that THE Hotel has been warmer and more cozier than the convention center. Seriously, I saw my breath for most of the day. My teeth even chattered. Apparently it's one of the colder weeks here in Vegas. The stupid union at the convention center, (and most CC's), doesn't put on heat during set up. Lame sauce!!! My day was long and full of manual labor. But it's all for the cause. I have a mission. I've said it before, I'll say it again, I have a mission when it comes to my job.

Now I'm in my hotel resting upon my comfy couch in my mini suite living room. I can see the twinkle of the lights in the entertainment capitol of the world. And as I stare out my window, I know there is exciting stuff happening down in the mix of those lights and palm trees with those little ant like people that are scurrying about. I could head out and join them. But I've had a LONG day. And hanging out amongst the people is not on the top of my list right now. I want to...but I literally don't have the energy. So what do I do? Here are my options.  

Option 1, Outside the walls of my room, but within the safe borders of my hotel, I could get tattooed and pierced, take a magic carpet ride, gamble, shop, drink any concoction I could come up with, go clubbing, explore the many dessert options, get a massage or a pedicure, watch a show, get hitched, etc. etc. That's all within the hotel borders. Then there's an even bigger Vegas world out there. I'd really like to go, but I can't. 

Option 2, Inside my hotel I can stay within the safe confines of my comfy mini suite that has 3 tv's, 2 bathrooms, a separate living room, an amazing steam shower, a tub that is more like an olympic size pool and a bathroom with it's en suite telephone. You know in case I need to dial up any peeps or chat with the front desk whilst taking a bathroom break. Multi-tasking at it's best. Oprah would be so proud. 

I know, since you've made it this far in this blog post, that you are dying to know what I chose for my Vegas Saturday night fun. 

Drum roll please......

Tonight for my Saturday night fun, I chose Option 2!!! I took a really long and very hot bath*, watched junk reality tv and ordered room service. I realize how this looks. I should be out and about with the people. I'm young and fun. But, I'm okay with my decision of hiding away in my room. Besides I have another 12 hour day tomorrow. R&R is just what the doctor ordered. 

Exhaustion WINS tonight!

*by bath, I mean, I swam around in hot water--trying not to drown.Maybe even do a few water aerobic exercises. 

#vivalasvegas

A Creative Pay It Forward...

Because I need to fuel my crafty creative desires....The first five people that reply to this post will receive a gift from me sometime during year. (Before Dec 31, 2013). It may be anything: a book, candle, music...whatever! 

Embrace the creative fun. You should do this too!! 

4:30am

I got up at 4:30am this morning, to be at work by 5am. I'm still in the office at 5pm. I feel a bit delirious. But it's okay. Man, I feel like I use the word 'okay' a lot. Note to self: find another word. But I digress. I feel okay, I mean, it feels satisfactory to me to work a little crazy this month. I'm running toward a goal. I have a mission set at work. So I'm on my way to make it happen. And right now I need to get back to that mission. My mental break is over in my bloggy blog world.

#peaceout

2013

Wow! Another year has come and gone. It's true that time does fly by faster when you're older. I'm excited for 2013 and I am going in to the new year with great expectations. I woke up this morning feeling excited about what's to come. Not sure what that is or what it will look like? But dang it, I'm excited. It's good. I intentionally prayed last night that I would not allow disappointments of 2012 to follow me, drag me down or make me feel any less. Instead I choose to focus on the good of the past year, the amazing growth I journeyed through and all those wonderful places that God showed up in so many ways. I realize sometimes we (especially me) allow the negative to outshine the goodness that's all around. And it truly is all around. Ignoring that goodness is a negative way to be; but unfortunately, one that we (again, especially me) are so used to and generally choose to believe. Negativity is lamesauce.  I don't want to linger in that atmosphere anymore.

This 1st day of January 2013 I am choosing to thank God for all He has in store for me. I am choosing to believe in His goodness and that His dreams for me are FAR beyond my wildest imagination.  I know that He is already at work in me. He's been patiently waiting for me to let go already so He can move forward with His plans that He has already purposed for me. But, I keep getting in the way. I think I know better than Him. I don't. Shocker, I know. But I don't.

My prayer for this year is that God will continue to heal me, restore hurts and losses, make me braver, bolder and full of His goodness. That I'll learn what it means to know, undoubtedly, His love for me so I can really love myself in order to be better at loving my neighbors. I also pray that He'll awaken His dreams in me and fulfill the ones that have been hidden away on the shelf longing to come alive.  I pray for more wisdom, truth, joy, love and patience in my life. I want Jesus to overwhelm me with Himself. I feel all Rita Springer right now and want to shout, "more of you, less of me!" I realize this could be a dangerous prayer. But, I'm learning it's more dangerous to be lackluster and to choose not to move forward. I no longer want to be afraid of being who He created me to be. Even if it is different from everyone else. I'm me and that's how it's supposed to be. Different is not wrong. No one gets to define who I am. Or tell me what I can or can not do. My gifts and talents may not always wrap up in a perfect package; but it's okay. They are mine. I'm learning...it's really all okay. Better than okay. It's good.

I say: BRING IT ON, 2013 -- Let's do this party!!! 

I'm ready. Are you?