IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY

My Beautiful Grandaughter and Mother

Mother’s Day has come and gone and as I sit in the afterglow
of the moment I know there is no way I can let this special day for ‘women’
pass without saying something witty and clever, right? Of course we are all
incredible and extraordinary but as I sat down to pen my thoughts to paper I
thought…what could I possibly write that hasn’t already been said?

Mother’s Day can have a very different meaning for each of
us and not everyone chooses to celebrate this day…but for me it is an opportunity
to stop and appreciate the women in my family as well as the many special women
friends I know who have made a difference in my life.

But then I asked myself what has my mom always said she
wanted for me… as a mother what do I want for my daughter? The list is
surprisingly similar! Here’s the SHORT version:

Mother's Day Brunch

I want more for her than I have; more happiness, success
at what she chooses, more comfort and less of the inevitable hard times that we
all endure at certain points in our lives.

I want her to acknowledge her wisdom and powerful
instincts; to know what to hang on to and what to let go of…sooner not later.

I want her to know that all of her dreams are out there
waiting for her and they are attainable when she chooses.

I want her to be fearless and to recognize what she views
as a mistake today may be the best decision she ever made in hindsight. Nothing
stays the same, what she wants today may not be what she wants later and
knowing this will make her life rich.  

I want her to know asking for help when needed is ‘strength’
and helping a fellow sister in need is often the best medicine for her own
wounds.

I want her to know it really doesn’t matter what others
think; she is one of a kind and perfect just the way she is.

I want her to have the wisdom to realize that taking care
of herself FIRST is not selfish but imperative and will afford all those around
her benefits as well.

Sound familiar? After making my list I realized… what my
mother wants for me and I for my daughter is also what I want for all the women
who touch my life whether they are mothers or not!!!  And really, as near as I can tell we women
are always mothering and nurturing someone or something…right?

HAPPY BELATED MOTHER’S DAY

To those of you who
are Mothers and

HAPPY BELATED WOMEN’S DAY

To those who are not

Either way, you are
indeed incredible and special.

A Sneak Peek

“When a woman becomes
her own best friend life is easier.”

~Diane Von Furstenberg~
And better for that matter!

With that in mind…Women In Transition Online invites you to
join us as we declare this a perfect time to slow down, take a look at what is
working in our lives and what we might add to make it even  BETTER; A time to brighten, enliven, renew and
revitalize!
We will be exploring ways to look and feel good inside and out. So be
sure and watch your email for the first in this rejuvenating mind and body
series.

P.S. By the way…how was your special day?  Please share your story in the comments section below, I’d love to hear!

The Decision

In July of 2011 after selling my house and most of my belongings I moved to California with my daughter, grandchildren and son in law. Although my decision was scary the thought of seeing my grandchildren and daughter only once or twice a year was simply not an option. For my Mom the choice was far more difficult. Of course she would miss us all but the home she lived in for the past 8 years was perfect for her in every way; size, affordable payment, in excellent shape and now decorated exactly like she wanted. It was close to the stores she frequented, doctors she trusted and within a five minute drive to each of our homes. She loved her home and had every intention to be there for the remainder of her life.

So when our decision to move and the desire for her to join us was announced she resolutely advised us that she would not, could not join us. The mental and physical energy to make such a big move would simply be too much for her. She believed she would be fine alone and perhaps we would find the time to visit a couple of times a year. She had not flown on an airplane in over 20 years and it was not something she would be willing to do.  Our discussions on the idea fell on deaf ears and the conversations were a litany of reasons for ‘why not to move.’

After 6 months of daily phone calls many of which found her teary and depressed and a number of lonely holidays one day she abruptly announced she was ready. Life without her family left her feeling depressed, negative and very unhappy. Although the thought of moving across state was overwhelming she was encouraged by my offer to assist her throughout the process. To my surprise she did not even want to make a preliminary visit to solidify her decision. Wow! Now that’s a decision! She wanted to immediately list her house for sale and while it was on the market she would come for a 4 or 5 day visit to check out the area and look for a new residence… Now I am thrilled but a little concerned.

Tables Turned

The decision seemed so abrupt. Would she change her mind half way through? Would she regret her decision? She seemed so adamant about staying in her comfort zone at this stage in her life. So I asked her point blank “Mom, are you sure this is what you want to do?”  Her answer surprised me but it was crystal clear.

Although she really didn’t want to move and leave what she knew life for the past 6 months was no life at all. She did not speak to anyone other than family phone calls for weeks. In addition she rarely left the house at all except to go to the grocery store once a week. That comfort she thought was so important became nothing more than a self imposed lonely prison. For the time she had left she wanted more. She wanted activities to look forward to, laughter and the warmth of her family. To my surprise she even spoke of new adventures!

The Journey

Isn’t it funny how in retrospect things seem to happen for the best? According to the research I had done it would take approximately 3 months to sell her home which would leave us ample time to research where she might want to live and make all the arrangements needed for a move to another state.  That did not happen. As if by magic my mother’s house sold approximately 4 hours after I listed it for sale leaving us 45 days to reduce her belongings, pack the remainder, purchase a new residence in California and move! Whew, a tall task for anyone but at 86? I have never seen her more alive, motivated and determined. There were moments of frustration and a number of minor setbacks that always worked out in the end but not once did I ever hear her question her decision or threaten to give up and stay where she was.

Our new beginning landed us in a quaint friendly little town a mere 10 minutes from the rush of traffic, strip centers, noise and family; Loomis, California where “A small town is like a big family,” population 6430.

Where "A small town is like a big family"

Conclusion

We will all face challenging changes many times during our life’s journey. The longer we live the more changes we’ll face. Some of these are expected, though often dreaded and some are not in our control.

It has been said and I believe that people only change when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change. What about you? Are you in a situation that is increasingly more painful, but you fear the future? Or, have you had a sudden, uninvited change thrust on you? If so, here are some important facts to remember from the Conquering Change Special Report that may help you more easily accept the changes you experience.

• Change is the normal process of life. Life is not possible without change.
• It is human nature to resist change. Most of us like what is familiar and predictable.
• As normal as change is, it is normal to resist it. You are not wrong, bad, or stubborn simply because you resist change.
• It is common to fear the unknown.
• Change can cause us to question our long held beliefs and values.
• Moving through change can be uncomfortable and feel awkward, and is the only way to move forward.
• Refusing to change does not mean that the world won’t change around you. Refusing to change means you’ll be left behind.
• And to end on a reassuring note, the ability to change, adapt and move forward often offers us new and wonderful opportunities beyond our imagination.

“Sometimes you’ll hear, ‘People don’t change.’ This is true more often than it ought to be, but listen again: ‘People don’t change.’ It says ‘don’t,’ not ‘can’t.’ ”

~Victoria Moran~

Ahhhh, now that’s beautiful!

Go out today and do something you’ve always wanted to do but never made the time or found the courage for. Perhaps you were waiting for ‘when the time was right.’ Do it now or at least take the first bold step. You might be surprised at the ripple effect of this action. It’s like throwing a pebble into a pond and experiencing the resulting concentric circles from the locus point of where the pebble hit the water; growing, expanding, changing and discovering.

Make the call, order the information or take the class…take the step. Then share your experience – what ripples did you experience? We’d love to hear.

I want to let you know about a Self Improvement site that will allow you to download 100’s of self help gifts, including mine! And yes…it is absolutely FREE!

 Yep, you heard me right…for FREE!

 All you have to do is go here: http://selfimprovementgifts6.com/go/1203

 So, if you have found yourself going round in circles time and time again just trying to improve things in your life, but find yourself getting nowhere fast, then I’m pleased to tell you that it is now easily within your reach to change things during 2012.

HOWEVER, just like anything in life there is a downside here – BUT don’t panic because if you act fast you won’t miss out.

 The Self Improvement Gifts Giveaway 6 hosted by Stephanie Mulac, Carolyn Hansen and Dr. Joe Rubino will only be open for a VERY LIMITED TIME… only a few weeks in fact!

 So if you are serious about making 2012 the BEST year ever, then you need to jump on board as soon as the event opens on the 5th of January. (HEY,THAT’S TODAY!)

 Don’t delay because the doors close for good a few weeks later.

 Here’s just a small sample of the 100s of gifts that are available for you to download instantly once the event goes live:

* Affirmations For A Wealthy Mindset Audio – Elaine Lockard

* Rewire Your Brain For Success – Gene Anger

* Self Care For Body & Mind – Mari Lyn Harris

* A Beginners Guide To Running – Paul Klein

* Millionaire Goal Setting Secrets – Amanda Stephen

* Create Your Own Self Improvements Products – Keith Purkiss

* And Much Much More!

If you are ready to start the year off right, which I’m sure you are, and tackle EVERYTHING that is holding you back from moving forward in life, or if you just want to change things because you are looking for a sense of inner peace, then you need to go here RIGHT NOW:

 http://selfimprovementgifts6.com/go/1203

You know, this is the 6th Self Improvement Gifts Giveaway event and each year it just gets BIGGER and BETTER!

This REALLY is the largest collection of POWERFUL self help and personal growth gifts you will find on the Internet EVER!

Before you go I just have one question for you…

Now that you know about this potentially life changing giveaway, are you going to make the most of the opportunity, or are you going to sit back and let 2012 be a repeat of 2011?

The choice is yours, but I know what I’m going to do and that is FIGHT BACK and live life the way I want to….Are you with me?

Hope to see you there :)

To your hopes, dreams and possibilities,

Deborah

http://selfimprovementgifts6.com/go/1203

P.S. By the way…Now that you’re ready to life your life YOUR WAY…you still have time to take advantage of the 40% off sale on BOTH of the Mastermind Groups. So this year gather and conspire with your fellow women of a certain age and make life your way happen!

P.S.S. The entire 5 week Adventure Fest Boot Camp Mastermind including all the weekly strategies, helpful tools, suggestions sheets with tons of ideas to pick and choose from and spark your creativity, email support on our private password protected community page that I will administer as well as a group weekly community call that I also administer is less than $18.00 a week! OR the 3 month Mini Mastermind for $15.00 a week!! Take advantage of this Fabulous Sales… Join us…the second half of your life should be fun! 

Well, here it is! A brand new year…”2012” has finally arrived and with it the opportunity to ‘start anew.’ Even though anytime is the right time for a new beginning there is something symbolic and special about the beginning of a new year. To me it feels like receiving a brand new journal filled with empty pages and a set of colored pens!

Yesterday I stopped into a restaurant to spend a little time alone pondering the forthcoming year. With my new journal and pens in hand I found myself busily scratching out notes and ideas for the year when it occurred to me there was an interesting slogan on the drink cup I was mindlessly staring at…

It said:

“HALF FULL…HALF EMPTY…

EITHER WAY, IT’S TIME FOR A REFILL.

JUST THE WAY IT IS”

As I began to think about this slogan I took a little time to review my notes and discovered something interesting. Nowhere in my notes was there any mention of Self Nurturing and Taking Time to Replenish.

It’s such a common thing we all do, isn’t it? And it’s such an essential step in creating a life full of meaning, joy, and abundance. Yet we seldom remember to include it in our plans or consider it a goal that needs to be written down on our ‘goals list.’  So many times it winds up be considered later or separately…you know, when all else is accomplished or at least well on its way.

This surprised me most because it is one of the bigger subjects we discuss in both of the Mastermind Mentoring Groups I host and several of the strategies we work on are about this very subject! It is so ingrained in us. Many of us have spent the bulk of our lives neglecting ourselves focused on taking care of everyone and everything else even the thought of self-nurturance results in feelings of guilt.

So for those of you who are in the midst of planning your New Year…I hope you will make it a point to include discovering and satisfying your own needs and desires on your list. Not only will your life be fuller and more joyous, your friends and loved ones will reap the benefit. Make yourself a priority! You will have so much more to give others!

So here’s to you…your hopes, dreams and possibilities.

There are Great things to come!

It’s going to be an amazing 2012!!

Deborah

P.S. Anyone interested in exploring your possibilities in a Mastermind Mentoring Group…THE 40% OFF SALE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO JANUARY 10, 2012! If you’re interested in a little preview join us on January 6^th, 2012 for “How to Get a New Perspective on the Rest of Your Life” Teleseminar/Discussion. These discussions are always intimate, open and inspiring! Join us!   

“This is my wish for you: peace of mind, prosperity through the year, happiness that multiplies, health for you and yours, fun around every corner, energy to chase your dreams, joy to fill your holidays!”

 Happy Holidays!

I would also like to thank you for being a part of this community and allowing me to share some of your time! As the end of 2011 grows near many of us will find our thoughts wandering to 2012 and to our hopes, dreams and expectations for the coming year. If you are one of these here’s a holiday gift for you…   

My Annual Holiday Sale Starts TODAY – Save 40 -50% On All My Products and Programs Between Now and Monday, January 2, 2012!

If you’ve been thinking 2012 is the year you are ready to take a bold step on behalf of your dreams now is the time to invest in yourself and SAVE.

(This special 40-50% sale only applies to purchases using the full-pay option. Your Savings is automatically deducted from your total at check out).

There are plenty of options to choose from:

Adventure Fest Boot Camp Workshop Mastermind III 40% Off!

Mini Mastermind Mentoring Experience 40% Off!

21 Day Attitude Adjustment Course 50% Off!

HOW TO GET A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON THE REST OF YOUR LIFE Teleseminar/Discussion FREE!

So if you are ready to make it your business to discover what it is you truly love in life and get started doing those things right now CLICK HERE and take advantage of theses incredible SAVINGS but HURRY! This sale ends on Monday, January 2^nd, 2012!

To your hopes, dreams and possibilities,

Deborah

P.S. Oh, and don’t forget…Gift Certificates are now available!

Now that the food has been cooked and eaten and we have taken the time to share our love and thanks with our friends and relatives the whirlwind of holiday parties and duties begins.

HOLIDAY STRESS

This is a joyous time for most of us and the anticipation intensifies as neighborhoods and malls explode with holiday lights, decorations and magic. I love the holiday season but it can also bring with it a lot of stress.

I have often thought the reason for the stressful feelings everyone seems to experience was due to additional duties, shopping and of course the constant commercials encouraging us that bigger, brighter and more is the key to holiday joy! But according to Ronald Nathan, PhD, Clinical professor at Albany Medical College in New York the real culprit might be our own memories:

“When we think about the holidays, we dwell on the past and what went wrong, or we romanticize it and make it impossible to re-create,” he says.

I think it is particularly relevant to those of us in midlife and beyond. At this stage in our lives chances are good that our holidays will be different than they used to be. Our children might be away at school or married and in other locations creating their own traditions.  Perhaps we have downsized and those nostalgic memories of giant gatherings and parties we once hosted are not realistic or even as appealing in our new digs.

Yes, I believe it’s the memories that can be confusing. Different does not necessarily mean not as good but it does require us to let go of what once was; which can be easier said than done. Consider the three agreed upon stages of transition:

1)      The ‘letting go’ phase – experiencing the ending of something that we knew

2)      The neutral zone – the time between when you let go of something and become comfortable with the new. This is also referred to as the transitional time.

3)      And beginning anew – the final stage of change. When you know you have moved on. You have left the old behind and made the necessary adjustments to move forward in a healthy way.

Each of us goes through the stages of change in our own time and for me a giant step in the letting go phase came with my recent realization that I no longer own a Christmas Tree!  Yikes, that is a little bit of an awakening and yet for some strange reason I saved all of my treasured tree ornaments. It may sound trivial to you but in my world it’s an enlightening moment. You see when I moved and sold ‘everything’ I made the conscious decision to sell my tree but now that it is my first holiday without the tradition of decorating and putting up the tree…I know I don’t have a tree. What was once a big symbolic part of the season for me is gone; changed.

As I watch my daughter from my present perspective stress over the fact her tree is up but not decorated, planned gifts for her children are already out of stock, outdoor lights on white wire are sold out and will have to be ordered and it is only the first week in December, I think I can say I am ready to let go of that part of my life! I am not saying I won’t ever own or put up a Christmas tree again but I now realize I am ready to create new traditions that fit my new life; and that’s a good thing.

We all create a great deal of angst when we put our focus on the past and what we don’t have. Practicing the ‘attitude of gratitude’ and taking the time to notice and appreciate what we do have can truly transform our viewpoint.

In my case, I may not have a tree this year to place all those treasured ornaments filled with memories of the past and I’m not certain when or even if I will want to again. On the other hand, I am in a fresh new environment surrounded by those who are most important to me at a very special time of year; and yes that is a very good thing.

However you celebrate this season I hope you remember to focus on life’s gifts within any challenges you might experience and try not to stress over the perfect dinner, gift or holiday decorations!  I wish you the warmest and happiest of Holidays!

Too Pretty to Eat!

In a matter of a few days it will be Thanksgiving . That special day when we gather our families and loved ones together and celebrate all that is good in our lives.

We all have our traditions; watching the parades, the camaraderie of cooking the feast in a kitchen with way too many cooks in it and visits from friends to toast the season and share some pie. For most of us it’s a special day filled with families, loved ones, pleasant thoughts and warm feelings of gratitude.

Practicing gratitude has long been known as a key to happiness. Study after study shows those who are in the habit of giving thanks for all they have on a regular basis have more positive attitudes and achieve greater success in their personal and professional lives as well as better health.

Given all the benefits why is it we can’t seem to maintain these feelings throughout the year? Wouldn’t it be nice to bottle these feelings and take a small dose of it daily?

Well actually that is not as farfetched as it sounds. By making a few small changes in the way we look at things and committing to putting more emphasis on the ‘good’ that occurs in our daily lives we all have the opportunity to sustain a more positive outlook and attitude. It’s simply a matter of practice and creating a new habit.

There are many things in each of our days to be grateful for if we only take the time and effort to look for them. Here are a 3 easy ways to help you get in the habit of noticing them:

1)    The Gratitude Journal: This is not a new concept but I believe it’s the simple things that make the biggest difference in our lives. Pick up a little notebook and make small daily lists of the things you are grateful for. It can be as simple as receiving an unexpected phone call from an old friend to someone who supported you at a time when you needed help. This doesn’t mean your day will be perfect. But if you take the time to look for the good things that occur there are far more of them in your day than the momentary problems you might encounter. Keep this where you can see it and it will remind you to think positively.

2)    The Rewrite Strategy: There are times when we may be going through a particularly trying time and we may find it difficult to find the positive in a daily way. As we hurry through our day and duties it is easy not to notice our negative statements. This exercise is a great way to become more aware of what we are saying to ourselves and others. Try this! It’s a great way to shift your attitude!

1. Take a sheet of paper or you can do this on a page of your journal if you are keeping one and draw a line down the center of the page to make two columns.
2. During the day write down any negative statements you find yourself making on one side of the column.
3. At the end of the day on the other side of the column rewrite each of the negative statements into a positive statement.

3)    Appreciation Token: Nothing is as rewarding as extending a kind gesture to someone, particularly if it is unexpected. Here’s a really FUN and AFFORDABLE ($5.00!) way to give thanks and spread gratitude. I discovered this site and just had to share it!

http://www.tofa.us/ Spread gratitude and appreciation in the world with this trackable gratitude coin. A token of appreciation that simply says “Thank you for making a difference in my day”.

There are many things to be grateful for: the first cup of coffee in the morning, slipping your feet into well worn slippers after a long day, people who love you no matter what, grandchildren who squeal with delight and jump into your arms when they see you, a long chat with an old friend, the opportunity to help someone who needs it without being asked, chocolate covered almonds, pets who warm your life…always and unconditionally, hitting every green light when your late, leisurely watching a sunset, fresh cut flowers, laughter.

Gratitude is taking the time to notice what is special in the most common of occurrences and then taking the time to appreciate it. What’s on your list?

P.S. If you think sunshine brings you happiness, then you haven’t danced in the rain. ~unknown~

By the way…the 21 day Attitude Adjustment Course is NOW on SALE - HALF PRICE!

As a believer in the cup that is half full I don’t often rant but while researching for a new Holiday Project, which  I will share with you in a moment I bumped into a couple of articles that discuss a subject  that is often treated as the dirty little secret that really isn’t a secret at all.

When Age And Gender Work Against Your Job Search 

I discovered this link to the Forbes article by Ellen Weinreb while reading a review of it on Goldivas.com, an internet magazine for women for women over 50. If you care to read it click the link above.      

Both the review and the article itself were eloquently written and did a fine job of illuminating the increasing difficulties women over 50 are facing when attempting to find employment.  Ms. Weinreb, a professional recruiter who interacts with job seekers every day says “For older women, gender isn’t the only roadblock in the job market today.”

Both articles discuss the cultural bias and mistaken perception that women lose their value as they age. Consider the quote from Carrie Chapman Catt during a speech at the Senate hearing on woman’s suffrage, February 13, 1900:

No written law has ever been more binding than unwritten custom supported by popular opinion.

However I was encouraged that someone, anyone had taken the time to bring this to the forefront! Bravo to you Ms. Weinreb who further states “I thought I might be onto a trend that has yet to be seriously discussed. I decided to do my own research to validate my observation, and believe that this is a serious issue facing older women.”

I couldn’t agree more. Recently I have been attending a number of women’s groups and I can assure her this is absolutely a trend. On my last excursion I was sitting with six women and four of them were unemployed. Three had been let go in cut backs and one was let go due to the company’s closure.

 All four have been actively seeking employment for one to two years. One of them has resorted to doing temp work, two others are trying to start new businesses while continuing to seek employment and one is surviving on dwindling savings.

Yes, in my circle this conversation is all too familiar. The real surprise for me is where is the outrage? When the subject is discussed it is always in a matter of fact way and with a tone of resignation. A sentiment echoed by the women interviewed for the Forbes article.   Now I applaud women for not whining but where is the outrage? Where is the energy for a solution?

The Solution?

While I agree with both articles that cultural bias will not change overnight I truly believe there is a lot more we women can do in addition to Ms. Weinreb’s suggestion that we should “persevere and be careful not to talk or act in ways that reinforce the cultural bias.”

The truth is our numbers are great.

 Imagine the impact we could make if all women of a certain age made a concentrated effort to support each other’s endeavors and businesses whenever possible.

There are many competent qualified professional women of a certain age who have a great deal to offer if  only we could easily access them.

THE HOLIDAY GIFT:

It’s the Holidays and that time of year when shopping is on the agenda. Sooo I thought this might be a good time for me to do my part to: 

Support Sage Women’s Enterprises

FREE ADVERTISING FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

Promote your business on my site for free!

I am setting up a Holiday Reference page on my site where women of a certain age who offer a product or service can contribute a small Ad with a link to your site for the holidays. Below is a peek at the page and a sample add

Sample Ad

 If you are a midlife or boomer woman with a business or service to offer I invite you to take advantage of this opportunity and promote your enterprise for the holidays!

If you know other women of a certain age who could benefit from this be sure to pass this along to them!  

To participate in the Women Supporting Women Campaign fill in the registration form below and the easy instructions on how to participate will be delivered to you. (You will also receive a free subscription to my e-zine if you don’t already receive it)

So what are you waiting for…Join Us, support your fellow women of a certain age and let the Holidays Begin!

To your hopes, dreams and possibilities,

Deborah

P.S. Don’t forget to SHARE this article with your fellow women of a certain age! As always, if you have any questions or comments don’t hesitate to contact me deborah@womenintransitiononline.com. I’d love to hear from you.

This is the time of year when there are lots of activities planned and many exciting things happening. The Holidays!

Many of us have made great strides this year. And some of us may have hoped for more! Whichever segment you may fall into – the New Year has yet to arrive and there is plenty of time to create something meaningful to you.

 It’s time for you. YOU’RE IMPORTANT!

Women in Transition Online recently unveiled two New Mastermind opportunities designed specifically for midlife women and beyond! What better gift to give yourself than the opportunity to realize strong progress on your goals in the Mini Mastermind Experience or explore new options for your life in the Adventure Fest Boot Camp. I have implemented an easy subscription plan for both programs and you can register as much as a week beyond our start date for either program! What better gift can you give yourself than the opportunity to discover what it is you truly love in life and get started doing those things right now?

CLICK HERE!

November 2^nd (TOMORROW) is our meet and greet call so don’t miss this opportunity; JOIN US TODAY!

Speaking of gifts, below are 4 tips to help you reduce those holiday melt downs! 

HOLIDAY STRESS

 Halloween has passed and the busy holiday season begins. I love the holidays but the truth is; it can also create a lot of stress in our lives if we let it. Can it be avoided? Well… probably not all of it but here are some timely hints I have found can really help:

START PLANNING EARLY – The best time to make a plan is when you are not in over your head! Ummmm I think that would be NOW, right? So why not sit down and plan your holiday meals, table and home decorations, guest list, travel plans and gift list and budget and… Sound overwhelming? It does to me too but I found a great site where you can download a really reasonable ($9.95) Holiday Planner.  You just follow the 12 or 6 week Christmas Countdown Checklist which makes spacing out your holiday tasks a lot easier! No surprises; I like the sound of that. (There is also access to FREE holiday budget spreadsheets that do all the addition work for you.) This is a great site and she has other types of great planners as well! Well worth checking out:

http://www.thehouseholdplanner.com/products/holiday-planner/

GET PLENTY OF REST – We are all more able to cope when we’re rested. Try to get your 8 hours each night and eat healthy when you can. (Oh those Christmas parties and goodies!) It is also a good idea to carve out some quiet alone time each day. It doesn’t have to be a lot of time but even 15 minutes to yourself when no one will ask anything of you can really help to keep you centered and calm.

DON’T FORGET TO GUARD YOUR ‘ME TIME’ – When we get busy it’s often our ‘me time’ that seems to be the logical place to make up for ‘not enough time.’ Don’t do it! When you neglect your personal needs and wants you wind up tired, resentful, grouchy and ineffective at everything else you try to do.

ASK FOR HELP – This is no time to play the Wonder Woman role. ASK FOR HELP! You are one person. Look ahead and divvy up some of the duties you know you won’t be able to get to. By doing this early in the planning stage you will stand a much better chance of enjoying the season and have more quality time with those you love!

Remember, you are human and your best IS ENOUGH. Keep a positive attitude and  enjoy this season.  I hope you spend it surrounded by those you love and are filled with the gratitude of all that you have and all that you are.

Watch for more tips throughout this holiday season and if you have any to share be sure to put them in the comments section at http://www.womenintransitiononline.com/deborah-speaks/ or email them to me at deborah@womenintransitiononline.com.

Dare to Change!

Many of us have come to that moment in our lives when we realize we have been presented with an unprecedented gift; quality time.  We women of a certain age today will live healthier and longer than any time in history. Interestingly just as we are armed with a collection of more or less half a lifetime of experiences, failures, successes and the kind of knowledge and wisdom one acquires only through ‘living’ we find ourselves with an indescribable yearning for something more.

 Recently during one of our Adventure Fest Mastermind discussions we found ourselves trying to define this yearning and we ultimately described it as a desire to recover and reactivate those parts of ourselves from the past that we have let lapse during all this living. We recalled what it felt like to be filled with imagination, creativity and a natural intuition for our personal rhythm. That longing for the long lost time when we instinctively took care of our needs and wants and made room for the personal exploration that kept us whole, fulfilled and growing.

Yes, these are exciting times for us and with our cache of life lessons, wisdom and passion we have the opportunity to live the second half of our lives very differently than our mothers and grandmothers if we choose to. But for some of us, with all this experience and living we have been doing, our lives can feel like a giant house filled with cluttered rooms. There is so much accumulated stuff in these rooms it can be overwhelming to decide where to start. Often we spend so much time thinking about how we might change our lives we become overwhelmed and do nothing at all.

It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.
~ Seneca

The important thing is to take that first step and begin. Here are 5 tips to help start the process:

1. Start Small – but START! Begin by spending a designated amount of time each day thinking and writing about how satisfied you are with your life now. Define which parts of your life you like and those parts you would like to change.   But remember, indecision is a time thief! Try setting a limit for the amount of time you will spend deciding where to start. During that time write down all the possibilities you want to explore and decide on one or two areas of your life you want to improve. Once you’re deadline arrives – commit to starting. (As in put it on your calendar and do it)
2. Make a Plan – Next decide on two or three action steps that you can take to start your progress. Keep a daily list of actions needed and completed.  Commit to doing at least one thing, no matter how small, on the list each day.  It’s helpful to realize from the beginning that your plan will not be perfect and its okay to change it if you find it isn’t working. Make an agreement with yourself to be flexible.
3. Follow Through – Moving through change can be uncomfortable and feel awkward but it is the only way to move forward. Recognize that we each have our own style of dealing with change. Understanding this will take the pressure off and allow you to undertake this change at your own pace. This is an important tip and will greatly increase the likelihood of sticking to your plan!
4. Get Support – Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Having a safe and non-judgmental place to go for ideas, encouragement and accountability will play a big part in your eventual success. Enlist the help of a good friend or find a group who share your goals.
5. Make it FUN – This isn’t supposed to be drudgery. Find ways to unlock your creativity and make it fun. This is about getting back in touch with ‘you’; don’t compare yourself or your progress with anyone else. Try new things and bring back your forgotten pleasures!

Keep your results handy and visit them often for contemplation. Hopefully it gives you a peek at what might be and inspires you to get Unstuck and Started!

P.S. On that note…don’t forget the FREE Teleseminar/Disscussion. You can get started right now by joining us on October 19^th for How to Get a New Perspective on the Rest of Your Life. Or even better – join one of our coming Mastermind Groups! CLICK HERE to get unstuck NOW!

To your hopes, dreams, and possibilities…

Deborah