Who Do You Hold Close?

So, who do you hold close? Whoa re the people you surround yourself with?

How do these people impact the way you see the world each morning?

I've recently reviewed the blogs I follow. One of the bloggers expressed that he was having a very difficult time, and I was moved to share some words of encouragment, but that was all shut down when I read his response to a fellow commenter. She had encouraged him to be open to receiving help, but he quite definitely told her that he is no position to receive help, because of reasons she couldn't understand. His statement made me realize that I was a voyeur in his life; we had no relationship or connection, and so I had to evaluate what I wanted to receive from his blog.

This made me reconsider all the blogs I subscribe to... I know I have to choose what I receive into my life, and I have to evaluate where it comes from. I used to listen to moody music when I felt sad. It seemed to soothe the emotion. You know what I've come to see? That music only enforced the emotion and fed it. Now, when I feel deflated, I put on something upbeat, full of passion for life.

This has been the number one most helpful habit I have ever built into my life.

So what about you? Are you surrounded by voices which inspire you and mould your view of the world into something beautiful and full of the goodness of life? Who do you read or hold close? Leave links below for the rest of us to share :)

Who Will Remember You?

If anyone has not yet discovered grooveshark, do. Just do.

Typing "Remember Me" into the search bar turned up one of my favorite playlists of all time. It seems that those two words inspire a lot of beautiful, vulnerable songs.

It matters to us to be remembered.

It mattered to me that I'm not sure anyone reads this blog. It mattered to me that my friends seem to be succeeding in blogging and getting married and getting degrees and traveling and joining the Navy, and I wondered where my mark was on the world.

Want to know where my mark is? It's in being able to listen to my Dad and take his advice even when I think it's stupid.

My insight and foresight is so limited by my emotions and daydreams and Disney cartoons that I've almost fallen into some pretty big holes in my life. When I listen to wisdom, I make a mark in my own heart. I clearly remember the moments I listened to my Dad instead of racing down the aisle, and those have left a mark on me.

I am the only one who will remember every step of my life on this earth. Why should I be concerned about the impression I'm making on anyone else? I am content. I am headed in a good direction. I trust that the people older and wiser than me are not always right, but they are always older and wiser, and I trust the Lord takes care of the rest.

Want to agree? Argue?
Leave a comment :)

Where are you leaving your mark?

I've Been

I've been away :) And now I'm back. Back to work, back to winter (an early one, and our heater's broken), back to repainting the house and preparing for three months in Alaska this May.

I'm not sure if I left my life behind when I went on holidays - I didn't plan to - but I am giving myself excuses for being sluggish, because "I just got back from holidays." Of course, it doesn't help that I'm sunburned (wicked farmer's tan is developing as we speak) and I didn't get a full night's sleep the whole time we were away (thanks, noisy aunts and bajillions of cousins who were too much fun to be with).

But now, I am back. Even if it is only for a week before I go away again. Tough life, but it's the only one I've got ;)

How do you deal with changes in your routine? Do you leave your life behind and then have to pick it up, piece by piece, when you return? Or do you manage to keep the ball rolling even in your absence?

(Not) washing my hair and how to grow rich...

Who influences you?

This morning, I didn't wash my hair. And I don't plan to for quite a while... maybe forever, we'll see. Guess why this happened... Because of my dear friend, Katie, and this post about going poo-less. I've toyed with the idea before, sure, but it was Katie's words and her passion which tipped me over the edge.

It's only day 1, but I love the feeling of my hair and the idea that I don't have to wash buckets of money down the drain each year. She gave out her passion and her knowledge, and I benefitted from it. What do you think this does for her?

I was reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad today (great book; I'm glad I finally cracked open the copy my Dad bought me for a $1!), and I love the following excerpt:

It reminds me of the story of the guy sitting with firewood in his arms on a cold freezing night, and he is yelling at the pot-bellied stove, "When you give me some heat, then I'll put some wood in." And when it comes to money, love, happiness, sales and contacts, all one needs to remember is first to give what you want and it will come back in droves.


What about you? What do you want out of the world? What are you sowing in? 

Watching Memories Fly

We held a garage sale yesterday, in preparation for The Big Move.

It was disconcerting to watch objects from my memories fly away in someone else's hands. I'm convinced that these things had to go, and I was excited as I saw our piles growing smaller and smaller, so it wasn't too hard to let them go.

Life changes. I am not the girl I was when I hid that book from my brother 10 years ago. I am not the girl who sat on those chairs at Christmas and sulked because we got ham and not roast chicken. I am someone else.

This thought is intensely liberating. If I am not that girl, then I have no reason to still carry guilt about what that girl did. I have no reason to believe I am still that arrogant, nerdy little brat. I would not now do what she has done, so why carry vestigial remnants of her?

I was reading Poke the Box today, and I saw the value in this book for me, because it shows me where I still limit myself according to what I have been. Failure is the partner of exploration. Failure doesn't define us.

Praise the Lord that we can choose to be someone new every day and be open to the limitless possibilities.

Do You Believe in the Magic?

We like to believe the magic. I've seen this in two movies so far (and quite a few conversations)...

I'm half-way through Mansfield Park, and Fanny is desperate for that magic love she felt once. She can't accept anything else, even if she risks living alone in poverty forever.

Similarly, in The Adjustment Bureau, the protagonist feels something once, and he's hooked for life. Why do we do this? Should we?

I feel this same feeling when it comes to shopping. I'm serious. I spent an hour shopping online for a travel bag which would make me feel 'magical.' I looked at wheeled duffles, because Chris Brogan loved one; I looked at Dianne Von Fustenberg, because I remembered a reference to her in Life From Scratch; I tried the cheap-o bags, because my dad likes to live sans-frills.

In the end, I chose a bag which is no more functional or beautiful than any other... but it was the one my heart first settled on.

Advertisers try to convince people that this product will give them the 'magic' feeling or they'll get that 'magic' result, but I want to be the kind of marketer who helps a customer access that thing their heart first settled on.

What does that mean? I'm not sure... What would I do? I don't know... But I do know it doesn't include false promises or convincing or hyping. It does honesty.

The Choice I Face

I read Pioneer Woman's blog today - apparently she's the bee's knees... and ankles... and pinky toes. As I'm getting more involved with bloggers, I'm discovering who the "big guys" are, and I'm liking them.

There is an art to speaking from the heart like these bloggers do, and that's what Pioneer Woman encouraged me to start with. She told me to talk like I'm talking to my sister.

Problem is... all I have is a cat.
(And she doesn't like me very much)

This blog has been about communications and official-type postings, but I'm feeling the itch to start being more genuine here.

I was caught off-guard by a text this afternoon, from a friend who asked me if I really enjoyed her friendship, or if I am just being polite to her. I didn't quite know what to say, because I was so grateful for her honesty.

When did you lay it all on the line and speak what you felt? What happened?

Lately, I've doubted that this kind of honesty is worth the risk... Can you tell I've been stung in the past? I don't want to doubt that honesty is worth the risk, but I'm seeing that you can't be both honest and safe. What do we choose?

The Problem with Being Babylon

I'm strongly considering buying the "classic" financial/investing book, "The Richest Man in Babylon." I've been told (by all the people who know these things) that's it's THE book to read. And it appeals to me; I believe completely in ancient wisdom. I believe that anything true will always be true, and history will prove what is real and what is false.

Here's my crisis:

The richest man in Babylon... is still in Babylon.

Is that where I want to be? In antiquity, the Israelites passed on to the Promised Land after being captive in Babylon. Do I want to get sucked into this cycle of earning and spending and achieving and spending and striving?

If I don't like that my shelves are full of half-read "good" books and my files are full of "useful" papers I never really use... Why am I doing it?

Where do I want to be? This week I'm going to sit with the questions "Why" and "Where." Why am I doing these things? Where do I want to live: Babylon? Israel? Somewhere else?


How about you? What's your "why" or "where"?

Under the Curtain... (#5)

I've had some trouble choosing my #5 blogger. This one should be something extra special, because I've kept it to last, and it is. But I can't share it with you :)

My all-time favorite blog, the one I would read the instant there's a post on it, the one I will always comment on, because the content is so rich, belongs to my best friend, Peppa. For privacy reasons, I won't include a link to her blog here.

She's not as technical and gutsy as Seth, not as crafty as Nie Nie, not as culinary as Monet, and she has noting like the beautiful design of Jen, but she's part of me.

I read a quote from Paddi Lund (the crazy dentist) which said something like 'people don't buy from businesses because they're the cheapest, people buy from people they like.'

It's true. I am an avid fan of Peppa, because she and I are connected. She is part of me and what she writes is part of my life, too.

The secret to success in blogging, or marketing, or sales, or relationships, is to become part of one another. Establishing trust is one of our core human needs.

Trust cannot be faked and it cannot be bought. Sometimes, trust is instant - that feeling of "clicking" with someone. Mostly, trust takes time.

As we all leave class and head off to our careers and families, consider how what you do creates trust, and how you give out your trust in others. What does it take for you to trust someone? Are there any companies or products you trust? Why?

Leave a comment and let me know...

And the Winner is #4!

Today is all about the number 4 - congratulations Zena! I had the imaginary number four picked in my mind, so you shall be the lucky recipient of some genuine Australian candy. I'll get in touch with you through our class mail to handle the details :)

And, on the theme of #4, my fourth favorite blogger is:

1. Seth Godin
2. Nie Nie (aka Stephanie Nielson)
3. Anecdotes and Apple Cores 
4. Green Wedding Shoes - wedding and design blog - www.greenweddingshoes.com

I don't know much about the author of this blog (Jen Campbell), except that she only shared one photo from her own wedding, while she shares all the intricate details from numerous wedding around the country each week. I searched high and low for it, but it seems to have disappeared entirely...

Jen's blog is a step away from the usual blog, because she rarely shares her own stories, but her posts are still so authentic and captivating. I know all about Monet's broken wine glass last week, but I couldn't even tell you if Jen drinks from glasses, because she rarely shares anything personal. What keeps her blogs so interesting? She shares intimate, personal details from hundreds of other people.

We live vicariously through these strangers and their romantic fairytales...

(a good thought to keep in mind for your own blogging - you don't have to tell your story, just make sure you tell a good story)

I'm not married, nor am I soon planning to be, but I keep coming back for the beautiful, thoughtful, personal design of each event.

My personal favorite is Ben + Catie's 1940's themed wedding. I might be biased, because I share an unusual name with the bride, but the simplicity and confidence of their style was stunning.

Top Five Bloggers - #3

Whew! What a weekend, and to top it off, our internet is down at home. The beauty of living in Australia (and rural Australia) is that this issue will probably take weeks to fix, when it would have been done in hours if I were in the USA. Communication in the southern hemisphere certainly takes a little longer than my northern cousins are used to!

So, on to #3 of my top bloggers:

1. Seth Godin
2. Nie Nie (aka Stephanie Nielson)
3. Anecdotes and Apple Cores - cooking blog - http://anecdotesandapples.weebly.com/

No modern blog list is complete without a cooking blog. After the movie Julie & Julia, these blogs seemed to be everywhere. The trend started earlier, but cooking blogs became superfamous with the movie's release. There's something simple and beautiful about a cooking blog. Something so traditional and habitual is elevated into a delicate treasure. The role of a woman in the kitchen is celebrated and glorified, like it should be.

Not that all women love to cook. Or that men don't like to. But these blogs are written by women who love what they are doing, and those of us who share their delight get to revel in it, too.

I love Anecdotes and Apple Cores for several reasons:

• It shows foods which are actually tasty
• The recipes are normal enough that the ingredients can be found at my local, rural supermarket
• The photography is as tasteful as the dishes!
• Personal notes and tidbits are thoughtfully included, but they don't overwhelm the content
• The author is one of my college roommates (I'm a little biased!)

Enjoy :)

Top Five Bloggers - #2

It is late and I would love to skip this right now, but my latest resolution in life is to "go the last inch" (this is a quote my Dad has made his own, from a 'famous Russian author'). This idea of the last inch highlights the importance of finishing a job completely. Almost everyone does an 'okay' job and gets close to finishing and then quits. 


~ For example, leave a comment here if you tucked in your bedsheets this morning ~


I'm betting most of us just threw the comforter over the top and headed to work. The last inch is where things become extraordinary, but we rarely go all the way, because it seems like a lot of effort for such a minor detail.


So, the last inch of my night: The continuation of my Top 5 Bloggers...

1. Seth Godin
2. Nie Nie (aka Stephanie Nielson) - Personal/lifestyle blog - http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/

I'm sure most of you have seen Stephanie somewhere on the internet or Oprah; she's a mid-twenties mother of four who was in a serious plane (or helicopter?) crash a few years ago. 

I'm not sure why her blog is so popular, but it is something special. Stephanie shares her life in a transparent way, without being at all self-centered. She makes beautiful crafts and share her beautiful home and family with her readers, but nothing about her is conceited. 

Blogs like Stephanie's, written by young stay-at-home Mormon moms, are becoming very popular. There's a great article about the draw of these blogs here. This writer shares her addiction to Mormon Mommy Blogs, and I think she has some valid insights into the popularity of these blogs; however, I also think she misses the point. 

The point is that these women love to share what they have. Success in blogging, or in any form of communication, means sharing your thoughts without trying to impress or convince anyone.