Take Care Of Your Life

The other day I opened up a post office box at my local Canada Post depot. A young girl in training was assisting me. Because of her inexperience, it took about 15 minutes to process the information. During this time, a lineup of 10 customers accumulated behind me. Feeling sorry for her, I walked away hoping she was not going to get yelled at by all the waiting customers.

I saw her a couple of days later and asked if she had any irate customers after I left. Surprisingly, she said no! I also commented how incredibly calm and focused she was knowing there was a huge lineup behind me. Smiling at me, she said....'I was totally focused on you and what I had to do, because if I looked at the line behind you, I would have freaked out!'

Looking at her I thought to myself...how can someone so young have so much wisdom? She had the ability to automatically focus on the task at hand, without being distracted with what lay ahead for her! Which reminds me of my dad's camera....

My dad had a Ricoh camera, the hottest and newest model at the time (25 years ago), that had a red dot in the middle of the lens. If your eye focused on the dot, and you fiddled with the lens until the dot came into focus, then you were ready to shoot your picture. If the dot was out of focus, then the picture produced would also be out of focus. I am sure this was quite revolutionary at the time.

I, in turn, own a great Kodak camera, that does everything automatically for me (expect my dishes, unfortunately!). It automatically forwards, automatically rewinds, automatically focuses...auto-everything! No effort, not thought, no fuss on my part.

There is a great quote from a book called "Seven Steps to Self-Fulfillment", by Walter Anderson and he states: "Focus on the solution, not the problem". The young clerk, in her infinite wisdom, focused on the solution and that was to process my application. She chose not to focus on the problem and that was the huge lineup behind me. Like the camera, she automatically focused on the object (me) in order to produce a well-defined image! (processing my application).

Reflecting on the lesson learned from this for the last couple of days, I share with you some 'focused' thoughts:

Focusing allows you to have 'short optics'! Your eye is your lens and is the focal point of your attention. Focus your optics (your eye) on the task at hand for the moment and exclude what is accumulating behind you. It allows you to live in the now. As one of my favorite authors, Louise Hay, says...."the point of power is always in the present".

Focusing is a learned skill, easily trainable and accessible. Through practice, you can focus automatically, unconsciously bringing your body and mind into alignment. Like my camera... no fuss, no thought, and no effort. A simple concept, that we have access to not only every day, but every hour of our day.

Focusing produces calmness and keeps you grounded. Be aware next time of your body and mind when you are reading something important... like a legal document. When your focus is centralized on something, it may exclude sounds and it may heighten body awareness such as your breathing or heartbeat.

Focusing helps eliminate fear, anxiety and paralysis. If that young clerk lost her focus and looked behind me, I am certain she would have become flustered, made mistakes, and probably would have taken longer with my application. In other words, she would have become un-focused.

So, keep your eyes focused on the lens of life, be prepared to shoot, and produce a great picture: a sharper, clearer and auto-focused YOU!!

Copyright © Adele Alfano

About the Author:

Nominated for Canada 100 Most Powerful Women, Canada's Diamond Coach Adele Alfano is an award-winning professional speaker, author and co-publisher who has helped thousands of people capitalize on their unique abilities to maximize their potential through her specially designed systems. Her proven techniques have helped people mine passion and purpose in their lives and in an evolving workplace.

Adele is also the co-author, co-editor and publisher for a series of collaborative books titled "Experts Who Speak Books" and is also the founder of the sold-out fund raising events in Southwestern Ontario called Kiss my Tiara!

The five balls of life include work, family, health, friends and spirit. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

	October 18: Five balls of life The five balls of life include work, family, health, friends and spirit. Danny Sheridan Oct 18 Suggest a topic for a future fact. Source: Mark Turner Published: May 2015 Five balls of life “Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them – Work, Family, Health, Friends and Spirit and you’re keeping all of these in the air.” “You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four Balls – Family, Health, Friends and Spirit – are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for it.” “Work efficiently during office hours and leave on time. Give the required time to your family, friends & have proper rest.” – Brian J. Dyson, former CEO of Coca-Cola, speaking at Georgia Tech’s commencement, September 1991.

Greatness

"How to discover your greatness? By upgrading our relationships and by having goals beyond our comfort zone."
--- Les Brown

Spread The Word -- Act Now!!

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Dont' forget about our advertisers!

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Les Brown is right. He mentions two things that will help you if greatness is what you are looking to achieve. Some people are happy where they are in life and don't want or can't do what will be required. Greatness doesn't mean fame, necessarily. It means you will go on a journey and adventure and test yourself each day to find out what you are truly capable of.

To make this discovery will require consistent action, over and over again. Look up "How to discover your greatness," and you will find all sorts of articles and blogs by people who know and some who don't.

Change doesn't happen overnight. It is a commitment you make to yourself each day. It would be helpful to remember that you will be engaged in the process and measure your progress. Will you ever be through? I'll have to let you know; I'm not done.

Think about where you are today and where you want to be in a year. How will you get there? That's the roadmap you have to create. So start planning - today is one of your lucky days!

Take care and thanks so much!

Self Control

Unknown Author One day there was an earthquake that shook the entire Zen temple. Parts of it even collapsed. Many of the monks were terrified. When the earthquake stopped the teacher said, "Now you have had the opportunity to see how a Zen man behaves in a crisis. You may have noticed that I did not panic. I was quite aware of what was happening and what to do. I led you all to the kitchen, the strongest part of the temple. It was a good decision because you see we have all survived without any injuries. However, despite my self-control and composure, I did feel a little bit tense - which you may have deduced from the fact that I drank a large glass of water, something I never do under ordinary circumstances." One of the monks smiled but didn't say anything. "What are you laughing at?" asked the teacher. "That wasn't water," the monk replied, "it was a large glass of soy sauce." yeremiah@aol.com Yeremiah Hardt

Pound of Butter

Unknown Author There was a farmer who sold a pound of butter to a baker. One day the baker decided to weigh the butter to see if he was getting the right amount, which he wasn’t. Angry about this, he took the farmer to court. The judge asked the farmer if he was using any measure to weigh the butter. The farmer replied, “Your Honor, I am primitive. I don’t have a proper measure, but I do have a scale.” The judge asked, “Then how do you weigh the butter?” The farmer replied, “Your Honor, long before the baker started buying butter from me, I have been buying a pound loaf of bread from him. Every day when the baker brings the bread, I put it on the scale and give him the same weight in butter. yeremiah@aol.com Yeremiah Hardt

REMEMBERING THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES

Terri Tomlinson

... and those they left behind

"There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are messengers of overwhelming grief...and unspeakable love."

Washington Irving

September 16, 2001I am so deeply saddened by this horrific act against the United States. Even though this tragedy took place far from my home in Texas, it hit me all the way to my soul. It was as if it happened to me and my loved ones.

Americans are known for standing together and in times like this we are all family. I pray for all the families who have suffered and wish them peace in knowing that their loved ones, who may have gone on ahead of them, have now returned home; their home with God.

I know there is nothing I can say to ease anyone's sorrow, but just to let these families know that my thoughts are with them. May all Americans hold hands and grow stronger during this time of despair and show these cowards, who tried to weaken us, that they have only made us more determined. We, after all, are Americans; the Proud, the Bold, and the Strong.

God Bless All Americans!

Opportunity to Shine

Marlene 

Can you feel how lucky you are to have the opportunity to shine? Many people forget that life is precious and that each day is a new start to improve and progress. Wonderful moments happen to all of us if we can recognize when they happen. I'm not talking about huge moments; I'm talking about the little things in life that take your breath away.

My friend Jack starts his day off from the banks of the Cuyahoga River with coffee and thankfulness. What a great idea to spend some time with nature and all its wonderment before turning on your electronics and taking care of business.

What will you do with your day? Will you have a positive influence on others?

Keep your eyes, your mind, and your heart open for opportunities to share your goodness. Where will you find your magic moments?

Take care and be amazing!

Forgive yourself

Marlene

Learning to forgive yourself is hard to do yet so worth it. You release yourself from the notion that you have to be perfect, and as a result, no one else then has to be perfect too.

We're all human, and we all mess up. Everyone needs some compassion, some non-judgmental love, and care, including you.

Don't be so hard on yourself because you may tend to be hard on others when you are. This can make for a rocky ride because you are dealing with your emotions and the emotions of others.

Let's take a few minutes today to explore four simple ways to forgive yourself and get on with your life. How to Forgive Yourself and Move on From the Past

You get another chance today to become the best person you can be. Isn't that amazing?

Who you hang around with can mean a lot to your success

Leave a Comment / Life's Lessons, Useful stuff / By Karl Craig-West

While listening to a business speaker recently he mentioned that it’s vital to monitor who you hang around with when you’re trying to build a business. And this got me thinking about who I tend to hang around with and whether I actually keep the right company.

You see, it’s been very well documented that you often end up becoming like those you spend the most time with.

For example; if you spend a lot of time with folks who swear a lot you’re quite likely to become someone who swears a lot. If you start going out drinking regularly with drinkers then there’s a strong chance that you’ll become a habitual drinker (and maybe an alcoholic). Children who grow up with parents who smoke normally end up smoking too. And so on.

Those of us who are parents will know that we don’t want our children hanging around with those who swear, smoke and do stuff that’s disrespectful and often illegal.  Most parents want their kids to hang around with folks who are intelligent, respectful, and well behaved.  We instinctively know that attitudes and behaviours are contagious when it comes to kids.

But why do we seem to think that we’re any more immune to the bad (or beneficial) influences of others when we’re older?

Pole vaulters of life

Marlene 

You have seen the pole vaulters at work when you watch them on TV. The hours of practice and discipline needed to compete are hard to imagine, yet...they look like they are flying through the air. What makes the hero of the story so special? Keep reading, you may not believe it!

His palms were sweating. He needed a towel to dry his grip. A glass of ice water quenched his thirst, but hardly cooled his intensity. The Astroturf he was sitting on was as hot as the competition he faced today at the National Junior Olympics. The pole was set at 17 feet. That was three inches higher than his personal best. Michael Stone confronted the most challenging day of his pole-vaulting career.

The stands were still filled with about 20,000 people, even though the final race had ended an hour earlier. The pole vault is truly the glamour event of any track-and-field competition. It combines the grace of a gymnast with the strength of a body builder. It also has the element of flying, and the thought of flying as high as a two-story building is a mere fantasy to anyone watching such an event. Today and now, it is not only Michael Stone's reality and dream - it's his quest.

As long as Michael could remember, he had always dreamed of flying. Michael's mother read him numerous stories about flying when he was growing up. Her stories were always ones that described the land from a bird's eye view. Her excitement and passion for details made Michael's dreams full of color and beauty. Michael had this one recurring dream. He would be running down country road. He could feel the rocks and chunks of dirt at his feet. As he raced down the golden-lined wheat fields, he alwaysout-ran the locomotives passing by. It was at the exact moment he took a deep breath that he lifted off the ground. He would soar like an eagle.

Where he flew always coincided with his mother's stories. Wherever he flew was with a keen eye for detail and the free spirit of his mother's love. His dad, on the other hand, was not a dreamer. Bert Stone was a hard core realist. He believed in hard work and sweat. His motto: If you want something, work for it!

From the age of 14, Michael did just that. He began a very careful and regimented weight-lifting program. He worked out every other day with weights, with some kind of running work on alternate days. The program was carefully monitored by Michael's coach, trainer and father.

Michael's dedication, determination and discipline were a coach's dream. Besides being an honor student and an only child, Michael Stone continued to help his parents with their farm chores. Michael's persistence in striving for perfection was not only his obsession but his passion.

Mildred Stone, Michael's mother, wished he could relax a bit more and be that "free dreaming" little boy. On one occasion she attempted to talk to him and his father about this, but his dad quickly interrupted, smiled and said, "You want something, work for it!"

All of Michael's vaults today seemed to be the reward for his hard work. If Michael Stone was surprised, thrilled or arrogant about clearing the bar at 17 feet, you couldn't tell. As soon as he landed on the inflated landing mat, and with the crowd on their feet, Michael immediately began preparing for his next attempt at flight. He seemed oblivious of the fact he had just surpassed his personal best by three inches and that he was one of the final two competitors in the pole-vaulting event at the National Junior Olympics.

When Michael cleared the bar at 17 feet, 2 inches and 17 feet, 4 inches, again he showed no emotion. Constant preparation and determination were his vision. As he lay on he back and heard the crowd moan, he knew the other vaulter had missed his final jump. He knew it was time for his final jump.

Since the other vaulter had fewer misses, Michael needed to clear this vault to win. A miss would get him second place. nothing to be ashamed of, but Michael would not allow himself the thought of not winning first place.

He rolled over and did his ritual of three finger-tipped push-ups along with three Marine-style push-ups. He found his pole, stood and stepped on the runway that led to the most challenging event of his 17-year old life.

The runway felt different this time. It startled him for a brief moment. Then it all hit him like a wet bale of hay. The bar was set at nine inches higher than his personal best. That's only one inch off the national record, he thought.

The intensity of the moment filled his mind with anxiety. He began shaking the tension from his body. It wasn't working. He became tenser. Why was this happening to him now, he thought. He began to get nervous. Fear would be a more accurate description. What was he going to do? He had never experienced these feelings.

Then out of nowhere, and from the deepest depths of his soul, he envisioned his mother. Why now? What was his mother doing in his thoughts at a time like this? It was simple. His mother always used to tell him that when you felt tense, anxious, or even scared, to take deep breaths.

So he did. Along with shaking the tension from his legs, he gently laid his pole at his feet. He began to stretch out his arms and upper body. The light breeze that was once there was now gone. He could feel a trickle of cold sweat running down his back.

He carefully picked up his pole. He felt his heart pounding. He was sure the crowd did, too. The silence was deafening. When he heard the singing of some distant robins in flight, he knew it was his time to fly.

As he began sprinting down the runway, something felt wonderfully different, yet familiar. The surface below him felt like the country road he used to dream about. The rocks and chunks of dirt, the visions of the golden wheat fields seemed to fill his thoughts.

When he took a deep breath, it happened. He began to fly. His take-off was effortless. Michael Stone was now flying, just like in his childhood dreams. Only this time he knew he wasn't dreaming. This was real. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. The air around him seemed the purest and freshest he had ever sensed. Michael was soaring with the majesty of an eagle.

It was either the eruption of the people in the stands or the thump of his landing that brought Michael back to earth. On his back with that wonderful hot sun on his face, he could only envision the smile on his mother's face. He knew his dad was probably smiling too, even laughing. Bert would always do that when he got excited: smile and then sort of giggly. What he didn't know was that his dad was hugging his wife and crying.

That's right: Bert "if-you-want-it-work-for-it" Stone was crying like a baby in his wife's arms. He was crying harder than Mildred had ever seen before. She also knew he was crying the greatest tears of all: tears of pride.

Michael was immediately swarmed with people hugging and congratulating him on the greatest achievement thus far in his life. He later went on that day to clear 17 feet and 6 1/2 inches: National and International Junior Olympics record.

With all the media attention, endorsement possibilities and swarming herds of heartfelt congratulations, Michael's life would never be the same. It wasn't just because he won the National Junior Olympics and set a new world record. And it wasn't because he had just increased his personal best by 9 1/2 inches.