“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so

pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity,

 prosperity would not be so welcome.”

  Anne Bradstreet

This time of year I love the newness of spring, the freshness of rain and the flowers blooming with all the beauty that surrounds us. It is a wonderful time of year!

We have come from a very long and hard winter to a fresh new spring. How many of us can relate this to times in our lives where we have come from the dark storms to a new start with all the hopes and dreams of a wonderful and happy life. This time of year I like to look back over the years to how far I have come on this journey and how much I have grown.

I would like for you today to take some time and look back to some of the difficult times in your life, how far you have come, and do you appreciate the good times more because of it?

Take a look around and make a deliberate attempt today to enjoy the beauty of spring, the buds on the trees, the wildflowers and everything that surrounds us. Everyday is changing, don’t miss any of it!

Susie Austin

The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated.

William James

One of the first things I learned when I was a volunteer coordinator was to appreciate the volunteers that had donated their time, talents and passion to a service project or group. It is important to recognize and thank those who are in your life.

Do you show appreciation for the people close to you? Your children, parents and friends for the things they do for you on a daily basis? Everyone likes to be appreciated however I think we need to be more diligent expressing our gratitude toward those we love and care about.

I know what it is like to be appreciated and I also know what is like to work very hard and be taken for granted. I participated in a fundraiser a number of years ago and the team leader was not easy to work with.  The experience was not very satisfying.  The following year we tried the same event at a different location with different team members.  It was an unbelievable, emotional and very rewarding. Ever since that time we have participated in this event as a family.

What are you grateful for today; Family, friends, health, a place to call home? I am sure all of us have many things to be grateful for; however do you recognize this on a daily basis? Tell those in your life you are grateful for them often, as we all have a need to be appreciated. It is a simple thing to do, but many never take time to appreciate the people they love and care about the most. Maybe today is a good time to start.

Susie Austin

Give me a stock clerk with a goal and I’ll

 give you a man who will make history.

 Give me a man with no goals

and I’ll give you a stock clerk.

Let’s take another look at goals today. With only seven weeks left in this year I would like to encourage you to take a good at your goals and see where you are today. Have you accomplished what you have set for this year? Do you need to revisit and possibly adjust what your plan is for the end of the year? If you do not have goals, why not consider starting a plan for the end of this year?

A goal is simply the end toward which the effort is directed. If you have no goals it is quite difficult to successfully achieve them. I believe when you begin using goals in your life your purpose becomes a bit more defined or clear. With no goals it is difficult to actually know what progress you are making if any, or what you would like to achieve. I firmly believe in order to get where you want in life you must have clear goals, visit them often and be willing to change them as you are changing all the time. Goals should always be written down as it makes you accountable for them. Goals should be attainable, have a time line and check progress regularly. Goals should be measurable; this gives you encouragement as you progress to accomplish them.

The most important thing to remember with goals in my opinion is to never give up! It is your life, you are in control and you are creating it every day. Continue on a daily base to celebrate your successes, learn from your mistakes and move forward with enthusiasm and motivation toward the life you envision for yourself!

Susie Austin

 So many currents in such a little pond, think about those words for a few minutes.

I have used this phrase for many years. I am not sure who said it; I only know it is a line I heard someone say in a movie years ago. For some reason it has stayed with me.

Think of everyone whose life surrounds you, and all the things going on in their lives. It can be a bit overwhelming when looking at the whole picture can’t it. I find when I really open my eyes and see others and what is happening in their lives it gives me a different perspective in my own life.

We all have struggles as well as successes but do we notice this in the people’s lives that are surrounding us? Usually when catastrophic events occur we hear about them but what about the rest? My suggestion is to maybe step outside of ourselves today to notice what is going on in the world around us. Is there some small thing you can do today to change someone else’s day for the better? Have you ever left a card or even a little note in your child or spouse’s backpack or pocket? How about sending a card to someone? In these days of cell phones and email it is still nice to get a card in the mail especially if the recipient may be sad. lonely or alone.

Kindness is the key to many things, but for me it helps remind myself of the person I want to be when I am grown up. Hopefully I will never fully grow up as then I may get old or even worse think I have the answers to all life’s questions.

There will always be many currents in all our lives but I have learned to recognize this and with a smile be able to maybe offer assistance in some way. I invite you to use this phrase as it has worked well for me for many years. It can put things in perspective quite well and gives a wonderful visual in your mind when needed.

I encourage for you today to notice what your pond looks like, how many currents are swirling and how you might be able hop off your lily pad and help make someone’s pond a bit more pleasant.

Susie Austin

 Robert Louis Stevenson:

Being critical or positive of others

Have you ever found yourself gossiping or caught up in talking about someone in a negative way? As humans we know we tend to dwell on the negative. Have you ever been the brunt of a joke or was made fun of? How did it feel? Those feelings don’t go away easily and it becomes difficult not to be bitter. This is where self-esteem often is battered and broken.

Think of a time where you were caught up in gossip and found yourself talking about someone else in a negative way as in spreading gossip. How did you feel? Was there a little bad feeling inside that made you feel a little guilty? I hope so. Do we judge others or do we help others?

There are steps we can take to change this behavior and it begins with no one else but you. There is no secret or special trick in this. Instead of negative talk or gossip try praise for a change. You will be amazed at how good it makes you feel to make someone else feel good. When surrounded with negative people just walk away! Find positive people to be around.

Make a commitment today to consciously compliment five people today and see how that feels. Write it on your goal sheet. I chose to be positive today and will not succumb to the negative around me. Make a conscious decision to act out of concern for others and not be critical, as it is very easy to find fault with others. Understand, this begins with you, only you can make the decision to be a positive person. No one can be 100% at all times but making progress toward being the person you want to be is a goal that is certainly admirable.

You won’t need to celebrate success as you will know inner peace just by the satisfaction of making others feel good and in turn you will be on you way to a happier and more productive person.

Susie Austin

– it’s momentous. It is to decide

forever to have your heart go walking

outside your body.

 Elizabeth Stone

If you are a parent I am sure you can feel these words in your soul. I am astounded on a daily basis how powerful a role this is! As a parent I make many mistakes but it is difficult when they are made in front of my children. I have also found it a very teachable moment on humility. When you are wrong admit it, learn from it, and use the opportunity to teach.

I remember telling my mother a number of years ago; I had put her on a pedestal all my life. I now have taken her off because I found she too could make mistakes. She responded by telling me “Good that is a very difficult place to be”. My children have never considered this for me as I have given them some excellent lessons on what not to do with your life. This statement is said with a smile, but I have and still do teach them from mistakes as well as successes. I call these teachable moments, if you use this term with children they will come to recognize it as it is. “Children this is a teachable moment, let me explain”

I will never claim to be an expert on children; the love for a child is something I can’t even begin to explain. The emotion and natural defense to protect them is instinct and is very difficult to let go when the time and need arises.

Here is a wonderful example of a typical emotional evening of a parent with four children.

I was thrilled when my collage age daughter surprised me by coming home for the first time awhile. No gift could have been better as I missed her so. I was crushed when my high school daughter fell apart at a sporting event. I was angry when approached by a parent and we argued, which we used as a teachable moment with our daughters later in the evening. I was worried as my son had been injured in football and is on crutches and I was impatient when my eight year old was whining she wanted to go home because she was board at the sporting event.

The best solution I have found is to calm down let the dust settle and triage the situation. 

In the end all is well, solutions to the problems have been formed, and we can celebrate our family being together!

Your heart will always be out there when you have children so I suggest you better get used to it. If you are a parent, celebrate, love and live. Every stage of their lives is new and exciting as yours should be. Embrace life and your children, hold them and tell them how much you love them on a daily basis!  

Susie Austin

the single most important principle of

the science of success!”  Napoleon Hill

I don’t think I can never say enough about positive mental attitude. Are you starting your week with a positive attitude? If you adopt a positive attitude toward life you are more likely to create positive outcomes. The same applies to the negative. If you have the tendency to be more negative I encourage you to try the five to one rule found on September 25 on this site.

 The advantages of having a good attitude are endless. I don’t think anyone can argue this however how do we continue a positive attitude on a daily basis. I think as an individual you need to decide what makes you happy. When you get in the morning up how do you feel? Do you have the news on and hear all the negative things that are going on in our world? Maybe try listening to a favorite CD or radio station. Take just a few minutes and read something positive to start your day. Walk out the door with a smile on your face and don’t ever lose your sense of humor.   We tend to think of humor as part of our genetic make-up, like blue eyes or big feet. But a sense of humor is actually a learned quality.

We know it takes a month to form a habit so for the next month how about working on developing a positive attitude and a sense of humor to go along with it. I know this is two things but I feel they go quite well together. If this is too much at one time, start with the attitude and the rest should follow. Be willing to laugh at yourself as we can be our own best friend or worst enemy.  

What I find amazing is, every day we have the choice how we will treat the day ahead. If we mess up we have another chance the next day. If you have a bad day its ok we all have them. I usually laugh about it at the end and tell myself “whew glad that is out of the way” Under no circumstance should you carry this into tomorrow. For today, be happy find the good in others have a good PMA and remember a sense of humor is necessary! 

I believe this to be one of my all time favorite quotes 

I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you… we are in charge of our attitudes.
  - Charles Swindoll      

Susie Austin

 “Would those of you who say it can’t be done,

stop bothering those of us who are doing it.”

unknown

I remember a time long ago when I wondered how people followed their dreams and what it took to be one of THOSE people. I felt success would not happen in my live. I meant the success of what it was I was passionate about. I was always the best in any job or career choice I have make whether it was sales, management or even owning my own business. I still felt like a failure as my dreams and visions never materialized mostly for the lack of confidence on my part. I was in the tunnel of  life and like most people I settled. I thought I was content where I was.

It took a life changing blow for me to really make dramatic changes in my life. I don’t suggest anyone take my path as it almost took my life. It took a bad marriage, bad circumstances , and bad choices including the dark depth of addiction. I had to be humbled and lose all to realize my path in life.

What is it you might be asking?

I am still working on it, but for now I have found I am very passionate about many things most importantly helping others through life lessons. Trying to motivate others to follow their dreams and realizing it is never too late! I have found more satisfaction and personal growth in touching the lives of others.

I am reminded that success comes in many different ways. However how small or large, however insignificant it may seem, you must recognize and celebrate success. The need to reach out and touch others is to me extremely important as it helps us grow and may just be the one life changing moment in another person’s life. You may never even know the difference you have made in someone’s life, but if you live your life in this manner you will have a positive impact on many and not even know it.

For today reach out to others, find the good within yourself and the self satisfaction that comes with living the day with the passion it was meant to be. Smile often and look in the mirror at the wonderful person you are!

Let no one stand in the way of your dreams and when someone tells you, you can’t just answer, “watch me” with a smile!

Susie Austin

Keep away from people who try to

 belittle your ambitions.

Small people always do that,

but the really great make you

 feel that you, too, can become great.

–Mark Twain

How many times have you heard parents tell their children, well that is admirable, but you

should think of something a bit more practical. I think this is the first mistakes we as parents

can make. As a parent of teenage children I encourage them to follow their dreams whatever

they may be, but also have a backup plan. When job coaching adults, I attempt to have

participants realize they can have at least part of their dreams or a similar version.

Look to what it is you’re passionate about and move forward in the right direction. This is all

life encompassing not related to employment alone. I am amazed at how many people tell me

they have nothing that really excites them. I ask the question what are your passions, hobbies,

secret ideas? There is usually an answer, photography, then do it! Take a class, get a camera

and start clicking! Football player, then volunteer as a youth coach! Singer, join a community

choir! This list can be endless, but you have to start to realize dreams are within your reach

just grab on and enjoy the ride.

Ten years ago if anyone would have told me I would be writing a blog, Life Coaching, Speaking

publicly, loving my life and my job I would have laughed. I had and still have wonderful

mentors who make me believe in myself and so should you. Stay away from the negative

people in your life, hang with the winners or the people you want be like when you grow up,

Keep your sense of humor, trust you are where you’re supposed to be in this stage of your life

and be thankful every day for the gifts you have been given.

Today is the time to begin again! Start to dream again and find the gifts you have been given

and peruse your dreams however big or small. You can accomplish great things which will

make you happy and satisfied. Don’t forget to encourage those around you to follow their

passions as well. At the end of the day celebrate and tell yourself this is a job well done!

Susie Austin

Keep your face to the sunshine and

 you cannot see the shadows.

 –Helen Keller

Today is a new day, a what a beautiful day! How are you going to use this day, many of us have scheduled cleaning, shopping or other duties such as work. How about examining your plans and focusing on the sunshine in your life today. Think about the wonderful things in your life and do not lurk in the shadows.

Remember we humans tend to focus on the negative instead of the positive. If you find this happening to you today keep in mind this quote and it should help. Keep a keyword in your mind such as sunshine. When you find your mind going into the shadows or negative area think sunshine and this quote, and this should trigger you into not going there. Pick up the phone and call a friend, go for a walk, do something fun that you would not normally do. I remember a friend telling me “My head is a bad neighborhood; I don’t go there alone anymore.” I thought is quite funny but at the same time quite true. Sometimes we can be our own worst enemy by dwelling in the negative.

The hardest part is, recognizing we are doing this. Once you recognize this, it becomes possible to make changes. Remember progress comes in stages, don’t expect drastic changes but celebrate successes however small they may be.

My friends, cleaning and scrubbing can wait until tomorrow as I am going to get my baseball hat and tennis on. I then am going for a walk and throw the ball for the dog. I don’t have to give myself more than one excuse to leave the house. Focus on the sunshine even through the rain and stay away from the shadows!

Without valleys we have no peaks, learn to handle the bumps in the road and have peace in your heart. Learn to hold yourself responsible for your own happiness and treat yourself as well as you do others.

Susie Austin