What’s your favorite chocolate covered indulgence?

I was flipping through a book at the used book store yesterday and the following passage jumped out at me. It was about a woman who was asked at the end of a personal development seminar to write her life story in five chapters. Here’s what she wrote:

Chapter One: I was walking down the road. There was a great big hole in it. I didn’t see it and fell in. It wasn’t my fault. It took forever to get out.

Chapter Two: I was walking down the road . There was a great big hole in it. I pretended not to see it and fell in. It wasn’t my fault. It took a long time to get out.

Chapter Three: I was walking down the road. There was a great big hole in it. I saw it…and fell into it anyway! This place was familiar. I had been here before. I realized it was my fault and got out as quickly as possible.

Chapter Four: I was walking down the road. There was a great big hole in it. I walked around the hole.

Chapter Five: I walked down a new road.

This passage hit me right in my core. And, not just because my kids gave me a ring for Mother’s Day that said “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”
(That’s the ring. Cool, huh?)

This felt like my story,my journey. How many times had I fallen down into a hole? A lot. Heck, I think I’ve even seen the hole, and then actually JUMPED right in. We’ve all had these proverbial holes in the road. It’s those things that we keep on doing, time and time again although we know they just are not good for us. Rita Mae Brown’s quote (or Einstein’s quote, depending on where you read) sums it up best: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results.” Traveling the same road and falling down the same hole over and over again is insanity. And that is exactly what I have been doing.

I have walked down that same road with the hole and falling right back in. What are some of my holes? My marriage, my work, my self-doubt. Making the decision to stop falling into the same holes has brought about many changes. The biggest change was that my husband and I recently separated.  Needless to say, I still haven’t taken a new road. Instead, I’ve been walking around the hole. I thought it was the answer. It wasn’t. I was still on the same road, and it affected me more than I anticipated. I no longer found the same joy in my work. I stopped engaging in life. And, sadly, I lost belief in myself. I isolated myself from my friends, both on- and offline. I sought out ways to escape from my own self-doubt. (hello, reality tv.)  I felt like I wasn’t enough.

It was time to take a new road. It IS time to take a new road.  Today is the day I take the first step. I am putting one foot in front of the other. Today, I will begin to face my fears, my challenges and even my triumphs with gratitude, responsibly, integrity, synergy and service. I will deepen the “practice of what I preach.”  Today, my first step is to breathe. Deeply. And, with each breath and each step, I will embrace a journey. A thousand mile journey.  And, I will start today. With one step. <breathing deeply now.>

What about you? What step are you taking today?

• Remember the obvious…time management and organization. I hate to dwell this common theme, but it bears repeating. Manage your time and stay organized. Plan ahead by setting up a daily schedule for play and work. And, don’t forget to plan for the unexpected too – summer colds, pool parties, BBQ’s and more. Also, don’t let summer relaxation take over your organization. Stay on top of everything by practicing the rule of one touch. Whenever you touch something, either take action on it, put it where it belongs, or toss it in the trash.

• Go wireless with a laptop. With a laptop in hand – and in lap – you can work just about anywhere (even better if you have a wireless connection) – at home, coffee shops, parks, airports, malls, pools, skating rinks and more. Nowadays, portability is key!

• Create a kid-friendly work space. My kids love coming into my office because there is always something new for them. All three have their own “in-box” that is filled with very important tasks – coloring pictures for my walls, workbook pages to complete, Play-doh that needs molding, mail ready to be sorted  – you know, important “work stuff.” I also like to keep them interested by placing little surprises in the “in-box” – a lollipop, new crayons, a new book, a new CD.  Whether you have an infant or a teen, create a work space catered to their needs as well as yours.

• Pass the buck…and the cleaning, cooking, typing and whatever else by delegating and hiring help. Help can come in many forms – a cleaning lady, a virtual assistant, a mailing list manager, a program manager, Starbucks Card mobile app (a must for snagging your favorite cup o’ joe), a mother’s helper, or even an autoresponder. (The more you can automate the better!) Prioritize the areas of your life and business that need you the most. Focus your attention on activities that no one else can do. Pass the rest off to someone else. You may even find that after summer break, you’ll keep passing the buck so you can spend your time making more bucks!

• Give your kids the green light (or red) by sharing your work expectations. There will be moments – probably more often than not – that you absolutely must get some work done. Monitor your office traffic with a green light/red light approach. Craft a picture of a traffic light for your office door and explain the rules and expectations: green means come on in, yellow means enter quietly and red means do not come in. This method is effective even with the youngest of children.

• Follow the rule of 5-15. Give your child five undivided minutes of your time, and they will give you 15. I don’t know how this works, but it does.

• Find *fun* childcare options. Spending copious amounts of time in front of the TV is not a fun, childcare option. Rather, check out the summer camps, vacation bible schools or even the Character Clubs mini-camps in your area. You also might consider a regular kid swap with another parent. Get creative and have fun!

• Stay ahead of the game by working ahead. Stress can take its own summer vacation when you are ahead of the game rather than behind. Take advantage of technology by utilizing auto-responders (2^nd mention, folks, might be worth looking into). An auto-responder is a boilerplate message that is automatically sent after an order is placed, a subscription is received and more.  Another method of working ahead is pre-writing articles or blogs. Those late-night working sessions are ideal for drafting your thoughts.

• Adopt a summer spirit and play a little hookey. Rather than stress about having your kids home; respect yourself by lowering your expectations and enjoying the time by reducing your work hours or scheduling a day off each week.

• Embrace chaos and cultivate connection. The more you resist; the more it persists. Regardless of your business or life, remember that there are certain chaotic truths you must deal with: the phone will always act as a child magnet; tantrums are typically thrown when you are on the call with an extremely important “non-mom” client; cats typically throw up right where you are going to step; and popsicles will always give you just five more minutes. The bottom line, chaos – all chaos – is just part of life. Rather than trying to beat it, join it by using it as a catalyst to cultivate a deeper connection with your family and business.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Starbucks blogging program, for a gift card worth $30. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Watch the video below for more details!  Also, be sure and check out the Character Esprit category here on the blog to see past profiles.

Travel to the Ozark Mountains with Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Set during the Great Depression, this moving story of Billy and his coon hounds, Ol’Dan and Li’l Ann will take you into the heart of Ozarks to go coon hunting, fight off a mountain lion and learn the power of love. Take note – the ending may make your child cry.

Venture to an island off the California coast with Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
Based on the true story of Juana Maria, a Nicoleno Indian left alone for 18 years, this story, a Newberry Medal winner, follows the life of a young girl stranded on an island. Your child will experience wild dogs, sea elephants and more.

Explore India and England in The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Meet Mary, a “foul-tempered” girl who no one seems to care about or love. Rarely seen by her parents, circumstances soon take Miss Mary to England where Mary discovers the magic – her magic – in the secret garden.

Leap into a world of wonder and fantasy with Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
Part of the Inkheart trilogy, this is the story of a young girl who discovers that her father can bring characters out their books. together, father and daughter must stop a villain from destroying them all.

Discover the Midwest with Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
This classic series follows Laura Ingalls and her family as they move from the Big Wood near Kansas. It is a touching story about the trials and triumphs of not just the pioneer life but also growing up in the 19th century.

So, whatever your summer destination is this summer, rest assure that your child will travel to five amazing getaways that will change his life.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Alamo blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

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This book is a charming collection of 101 day in the life diaries that illuminate the common bonds and diversity of motherhood. Like a reality show on motherhood, readers are given the opportunity to peer into a the daily activities and intimate thoughts of moms around the world. “Mommyhood Diaries” is an inspiring and captivating look at motherhood for parents from all walks of life!

Perfect for the mother in your life!

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