February 2013: Fun Times, Creating Memories

As usual, I’m recapping my highs and lows from last month.

Good Stuff

Valentine Anniversary – I celebrated the first anniversary of my first published release, What’s Wrong With Me? (the book and the journal).

Credit: Quizzle

Taxes Done – Following my usual tradition, I used TurboTax as I have for the past 13 years, and filed in February. I’ve already received my state refund and am awaiting my federal refund. I would rather have my money during the year than at tax time, but it’s hard because I already claim a high number of exemptions on my W-4 for my employer, AND I itemize annually as a business owner. I think there’s only been one year that I’ve owed money, and it was about $500. I’d love to get to a happy medium.

Missing My Mojo – Usually, I take TurboKick class on Tuesdays (I’m not teaching it yet). But this month I had to sacrifice because on most Tuesdays this month, I was with my daughter taking advantage of outings (field trips) with other homeschool families. When I returned to my TK class last week, another class member who is an acquaintance told me that I had been missed. I missed being there, too! Now I know that I can’t miss 3 weeks of TK in a row anymore. Since I became a certified  instructor, I have access to the workouts on DVD, but working out at home is not the same as working out with a room full of other TurboChicks. I doesn’t even matter if I have a conversation with someone while I’m there or not. There’s just something about being around people, with all of us in sync with the choreography, that brings me great joy. What can I say–it’s the dancer in me.

Creating Memories

My daughter K had one week in particular this month that was pretty awesome. She attended a live show with Nickelodeon characters, she went to a birthday party/sleepover with a friend who has a barn, and she met not one, but three stars from the Disney channel and Nickelodeon (the latter was a complete surprise).

Two Pains

Everybody wants something out of life, but the question is, How bad do you want it?

Our human flesh by nature is selfish and wants its own way. If we’re going to make progress in any life goal, we will always have to make a choice of whether to exercise discipline. Even doing nothing is a choice. I always say that making no decision is a decision.

Whether you’re working on a random project, a book, in school or college, saving or investing for the long-term, striving for or maintaining your fitness and nutrition goals, or setting boundaries of respect and self-love in your personal relationships, you must use discipline.

That leaves us with a choice of two pains with said life goals: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.

10 Things to Move You Forward

Today is January 1 and I have challenged myself to eat clean all month. No processed foods, no fast food, etc.

You may think that’s drastic. But after some reflection as we often do at this time of year, can you think of things in your life that you need to clean up? Maybe it’s your attitude toward a certain aspect of your life, or a toxic relationship you’ve been putting up with for far too long. I found the graphic below and thought it might inspire some of you to take stock of some things you need to do this year–and surprise!–only one of them is overtly goal-related.

10 Things You Must Give Up to Move Forward

Which of these 10 things most speaks to you?

Birthday Bling and Food Freebies – November 2012 Recap

The best month of the year flew by! Here’s my monthly recap for November 2012. (I also posted an annual recap of 2012 on my birthday.)

Birthday Bling and Sparkle

Sparkle movie still (Source: Creative Loafing Atlanta)

Over the weekend, I took advantage of the free 1-night Redbox rental code I got for my birthday and copped Sparkle (the remake of the iconic 1976 film with Irene Cara in the original title role). I love Jordin Spark’s voice, and seeing Whitney Houston play a different kind of character was refreshing and bittersweet. Derek Luke is awesome in everything he does. Omar Epps’ dramatic turn was also pretty awesome, but I notice several comedians that do well in dramatic roles (think Jamie Foxx, Anthony Anderson)–probably because a lot of comedy comes from a place of pain.

I didn’t get any jewelry for my birthday but I enjoyed my gifts and time with my family. Any “bling” I claim came from the Cyber week deals last week. Much better than Black Friday shopping, and without the traffic.

I was able to celebrate my birthday throughout the month.  I subscribe to a ton of birthday freebies, and I took advantage of most of them, including:

Thanksgiving, Thanksblessings, and Buy Nothing

Source: Buy Nothing Day UK

You might call the day after Thanksgiving “Black Friday” (I call it my birthday–at least this year). But what you may not know is that it’s also known as International Buy Nothing Day (Nov. 23 – Nov. 24). I want to put this at the forefront of my post today because merchants are going hard starting their Black Friday sales early, and I’ve got a different kind of message post on Black Friday.

Happiness is in the Process–Not in the Results

Source: ForbesLife

It’s been almost two years since I went to L.A. and attended an event where Russell Simmons was interviewed and then conducted a book signing for his latest book, Super Rich.

I just started and finished the book this month. Awesome!

As usual, I want to share some of the points in the book that I will use. I won’t try to explain them all, even though there is much context surrounding everything listed here. (My personal comments on this list are in brackets.)

PUSHing for More: A Book Review for the Goal-Getter in You

Source: Scentsy Team Achieve

I just finished the book PUSH by Chalene Johnson. Awesome for a goal-getter like me!  Chalene is the CEO of Powder Blue Productions and a fitness/life coach. One of her programs, TurboKick, is my favorite–it’s actually the only one I’ve tried, so it has to be  !  I love it so much that I put it in my author bio!

The thrust of the book is that from all your goals, you should identify a “PUSH” goal (the one that has a domino effect on the others), and schedule daily to-do tasks to reach that PUSH goal. You start by making a list of 10 things you want to challenge yourself to accomplish in the next 12 months (she says at least one of them should be a health-related), and figure out which one will PUSH you to success in all the others. In other words, which goal will have the maximum effect? (At least that’s what I think she means.) The only thing I’m still confused about is whether you should make to-do task lists for the other 9 goals (I’m thinking yes, but it’s unclear in the book).

Getting to the Next Level? I Don’t Need It

I love Tyler Perry’s new video on his Facebook page about how to be successful. In essence, he talks about

Photo Credit: Christian Beirle Gonzalez

focusing on one thing at a time and believing in it, and seeing it through. He uses the metaphor of planting a seed, saying that you can’t spray water across the field and expect much of it to get to the one seed you planted. But if you continually plant and water in the right area, God will give the increase. I love it!

This is why I don’t get excited when people give me their (often unsolicited) advice for what I should do as a new author. I’ve heard that I should now:

- start a nonprofit
- team up with a local “megachurch”
- do a book tour all over the country
- get a show on blogtalkradio

I should do all of this to get to “the next level”? Now?

Goal Call: ’11 Birthday Edition

Credit: Angela Bax

This month I’ve given myself permission to take a break from blogging for a bit because I was overwhelmed with all the social media “to-do” stuff (in preparing for my book launch in February). But birthdays always make me reflect so I knew this post wouldn’t be hard to write. I chuckled when I looked at my post from last year and decided to do a comparison along with my update.

The Top 5 “Ballsy” Things I Did This Year (in reverse chronological order)

Traded in my lovely SUV (that I only had for two months) for a car
Started dating for the first time in the “A”
Lost about 30 pounds in 5 weeks
Established Kharacter Distinction Books
Started two YouTube channels (its not easy to watch yourself on video)

The Top 5 Things I Learned This Year

How to two-strand twist my daughter’s hair– and mine.
Choreography to Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” (yes, 3 years later)
Hiring good help for your business is a trial-and-error process (I hope all my errors are behind me now).
It is easier–and emotionally healthier– to cut someone off than I ever thought possible.
When people can see your heart, they’ll support you.

From 2010, with commentary: The Top 6 Things I Want to Do Next Year (That I Haven’t Done)

Publish my book. (I’m about 80 days away!)
Build a minimum 6-month emergency fund. (The book publishing process wiped that out)
Get more paid writing and speaking gigs. (Not yet, but I hired a speaking coach to help me)
Join the NSA Academy. (Attended some NSA Georgia meetings but that’s all for now)
Attend a writer’s conference. (Not that interested in this these days)
Earn another Toastmasters award, and get closer to Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM).  (Not a high priority anymore, but I earned an ACS this year.)

Now: The Top 7 Things I Want to Do in 2012

Get back to the Y (I miss Turbokickboxing)
Become fluent in [Latin American] Spanish (I plan on starting a foreign language certificate program at Emory University next semester).
Learn a new graphic design package (maybe InDesign or Photoshop CS) and/or video editing skills.
Expand my business out of my comfort zone by partnering with complementary youth and Christian organizations.
Speak at more conferences and presenting to more organizations across the Mid-atlantic and Southeast regions.
Publish my first book, companion journal, Cds, ebooks, etc.
Finish writing my second book.

5 Things I’m Going to Keep Doing in 2012

Line dances.
Dating/courting only those worthy of my time (not settling).
Encouraging girls and young women to accept and love themselves.
Being a great example to my daughter.
Making my family and God proud of me.

How are you feeling about your 2011? What changes do you plan to make?

TGIM!

Photo Credit:Brand X

TGIM!

Thank God It’s Monday… Tuesday… or ANY day of the week. You don’t have to wait for the weekend to be grateful.

A discussion with a friend inspired this article, who talked about the common statement from folks, “I can’t wait ’til the weekend,” or “TGIF!”  The attitude is often, “I’m going to rest so I can do it all again starting on Monday.” So in essence, you’re giving the best of yourself to someone else all week.

We create the reality that we have. You create situations that don’t improve. You CAN get over some of the barriers and obstacles you see; everything is NOT a result of things occurring outside of yourself.

There’s a difference between a requirement and a self-imposed delay. Is it worth it to pray for God to bring you out of a situation (work or personal), while you let the access to opportunities and resources (which you know He gave you) pass you by? Or worse yet, ignore the opportunities you can create for yourself?

Are you comfortable with your excuses?

Are you happy to see Monday? If not, what are you going to do about it?