What’s on your Bucket List?

The “Bucket List” was made famous in a 2007 movie starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. It was about two men who were stricken with illnesses that would lead to their death. They created a list of things that they would like to do before they die. One of the men was very wealthy and could afford to pay for his friend and him to complete the things on their bucket list. A very funny movie that I would recommend everyone to watch.

So, I ask, “What’s on your bucket list?” If money was no object, and they were no obstacles in your way, what would you like to do, be, or have?

Recently I received a fun exercise via email. It was a list of things that could be on a “Bucket List” but it asked us to check off what you have already accomplished. Unfortunately the list I was sent was missing quit e a few of my own bucket list items, such as riding a horse through a river, vacationing in Fiji and visiting Hawaii, just to name a few. It was an amazing eye-opening exercise to see all the things that I have already done.

Check the current “Ultimate Bucket List” below, and if it is missing something you would like to have, do or be, let me know and I will add it.

I invite you to participate in building the best bucket list ever. Women, tell me what’s on your bucket list and then you can check back for updates

As the saying goes:
Yesterday is gone – forget it!
Today is a present – enjoy it!
Tomorrow a gift – plan to love it!
Current Ultimate Bucket List 

 

Medical Staff Poll

Based on my recent blog where I ask the question, is your medical staff making you sicker?

Are Attitudes of Medical Staff Making you Sicker?

Recently I have been to several doctors’ offices and I believe the receptionist has made me feel sicker than before I walked in.

 If you don’t like people, don’t work in the people industry. 

Usually the receptionist is the first person we see when we walk into a medical office.  We may be worried about our health or what our doctor may say to us and be feeling a little apprehensive, scared, anxious and intimidated.  Then bang, we are hit with a sharp spoken, anger omitting, frustrated receptionist who treats us dreadfully.

The energy of the receptionist determines the entire culture.  Many patients say they hate going into their doctor’s office simply because of the receptionist or administration staff.

Doctors, give your patients a break. If you get complaints about your staff being miserable – do something about it.  Maybe customer service training, maybe just bring it to their attention. Efficiency should not be your only priority, creating a caring environment is just as critical. Your team should be there for the health of your practice, not be a hindrance.

Ladies, why are you in a job you hate?  If you are angry, snappy or just miserable, find another job.

Help us be healthier and put on a smile, greet us like we are important to your office and your doctors.  Realize that your energy has a great effect on the patients who come into your office.  Don’t inflict your negative energy on the sick – we need gentle caring energy that is uplifting, positive and
optimistic.  It’s in your hands, or should we say, your attitude.

P.S.  Patients, if you are unhappy with the way you are treated – say something!

Happy International Women’s Day

This morning I arose at 6am to get ready for what I believed was going to be a wonderful International Women’s Day breakfast. The event was not a pleasant experience, here’s why.

90% of the tables we assigned to companies or organization so finding one that had no designation was difficult. When I found one, I anxiously join it. There were two employees to my left that turned toward each other and talked to themselves the hold time, to my right was a group of four women who knew each other and were there to spend some time together. In the middle of course was me. As I was new to the city and the event I went alone hoping to meet some local women and have a wonderful time chatting and celebrating women, that didn’t happen. I was isolated between two groups and not once during the entire one and half hours did they even notice or care that there was a single person there. I felt invisible and very much alone.

What bothered me the most was that for a women’s event to celebrate women and their accomplishments there was no camaraderie at all. Although everyone at the table introduced themselves and shook hands there was no inclusion, open discussion or celebration of being together.

I believe that every event should be a time of networking and meeting new people not just a chance to get together with friends. The lesson I learned was when you are at a table, look around and be sure that everyone is engaged and no one is excluded. Organizers need to include an icebreaker or have a table discussion or something that ensures that people meet each other and as a group celebrate learn or acknowledge a common goal.

There were two speakers at the event and the first one was a government official and she talked about her parties accomplishments of reducing poverty for women with children in Ontario. Interesting, but not inspiring. The second speaker tried to inspire us with several stories about women in Haitti and another in Rowanda – unfortunately the stories were about horrific hardship and suffering and way to graphic, in fact I’m sure tonight I will have nightmares about the women she spoke about.

Speakers – keep your message positive and talk about the achievements and accomplishments that have taken place, not the gruesome details of struggle, abuse and death. With over 240 women attentively listening your message should be inspirational and uplifting not making us feel guilty that we live in such a rich country.

I certainly did not come away being encouraged, empowered or excited to be a women, nor did I feel that I was part of a sisterhood. What a shame.

We have come a long way baby, but we still have a long way to go, let’s try and make every women you meet feel special and show your compassion and grace. You just don’t know where they have been, who they are or what they are capable of.

Get your Address/Phone Book in Order

The number one complaint I hear from people who need to start the bereavement process is finding telephone numbers. 

This process is more difficult when partial numbers or numbers with no reference are written on bits of paper, backs of envelopes or stuck on the fridge, pinned inside books or delicately placed in bibles.  Then there are those old tattered addresses books that have so many scratched out telephone numbers, or numbers that wrap around the side of the page – it is like a jigsaw puzzle figuring them out. 

Make this a job for a quiet afternoon or evening. Gather all the information you can; names, addresses, email addresses, telephone numbers (include cell numbers).  If you have your numbers and address on your computer or in your cell phone, record them in an address book. Finding passwords or the software program and specific file you have stored them in may be very hard for someone who is not familiar with technology. You may want to print a copy and keep it inside your address book.  An address book is the first place people will look, not your computer.

If you don’t have a phone/address book, get one, they are available at any dollar store.  On the front page put the date you are inputting the numbers.  This will tell anyone how recent these numbers are.  Inside the front cover record I.C.E. numbers.  ICE is an acronym for “In Case of Emergency”.  These numbers should be immediate relatives or closest friends.  These are the people you want called first.

Keep your up-to-date address / phone book in a drawer close to your main phone.  If you were a stranger and you suddenly had to go into your home, where would you look? 

Letting loved ones, friends and important people know when an emergency happens is critical and having a recently completed, up-to-date telephone/address book will make all the difference.

Don’t forget this is a job that everyone needs to do, regardless of age.

Personal Space

I don’t know about the rest of you but I need my personal space. I’m talking about that one foot radius around me that I consider mine. This is protected space where only I decide who comes in. When strangers invade this space I feel threatened and violated.

Recently I was grocery shopping and as I stood in line a woman came behind me with her cart dragging behind her. I’m sure my personal space was not on her mind at all. As she approached she kept getting closer and closer. There was no one behind her pushing her forward. She stood so close that I felt as if I could feel her breath down my neck. I could feel her energy, and I could feel the heat that she was omitting. I knew that this was too close.

I quickly began thinking of strategies that I could use to clear my personal space. I felt it would be rude to simply turn and say “Could I ask that you move back and give me my space please”.

First, I consumed a few inches in front of me and that allowed me to stretch my leg out behind me and of course it touched her and I turned to apologize and she smiled and acknowledged me but didn’t move. Then I stretched out my back with my elbows on my hips, of course that also hit her. She didn’t move, so I decided to rest my elbows on my cart, sticking out my rear end until it touched her (believe me, it wasn’t much of a stretch). That didn’t work.

In time I got the chance to move myself in front of my cart and then the handle of my cart could continue to bump into her, she didn’t seem to mind, in fact she just rolled with it.

Perhaps culture plays a big part in our sense of personal space. Different parts of this world are so populated that having your own personal space would be considered a luxury and not part of the conscious mind.

Is this a Canadian/American thing? Where was it instilled in me to want my own personal space. Not much, just a foot of area that I can move in and not disturb or interact with others.

We could all use a little personal space. Let’s try and give that to one another.

Be open to criticism and learn to love it!

Don’t you just love when someone asks “are you ready for some criticism?”
Does your heart sink or does your back stiffen? Your self-talk begins – “it sounds bad”. You begin to question yourself – “what have I done wrong now”. Brace yourself, here it comes. This all happens in a nanosecond. I’m sure there are not many of us that could honestly answer yes?

Criticism is a tough thing to hear, but sometimes it is just as tough for others to tell you. Usually the message is given from a place of love. The person feels so passionate about an issue that they need to express it to you.

You must love yourself enough to say “Yes, I’m ready, help me improve”. Most of the time, when we listen and understand where the criticism is coming from, it provides enlightening insights of another’s perspective. Listen, and love the learning.

Recently this happened to me, I so proudly sent a layout to a dear friend and then the dreaded question came. “Oh…are you open to some criticism?” Okay…., I think I’m ready to hear some criticism. In her kind gentleness, she conveyed to me that my image could be seen as old-fashioned, not modern and contemporary, like I wanted. It also didn’t match the essence of the mission. It was time to raise the bar. She agreed to work with me and help me choose another design. Wow what a difference, it took me a couple of tries but I get it now. The new layout was simplistic and modern thanks to a little bit of criticism from a friend.

So, next time someone asks you if you want to hear some criticism, say yes, right away, avoid all the self-talk and be open to new ideas…it will be worth it.

Receive it as it was meant – to improve you!

Courage

 

Courage, such a simple word, but when you try and implement this word into your life, courage takes on a much greater importance. Sometime it can become frightening to be courageous almost to the point of paralyzing.  You must believe that you have the power and the courage within.

 

Courage can be as simple and putting your hand up in school.  When you thought you knew the right answer all you needed to do was to raise your hand above your head and wait for the teacher to acknowledge you.  When your time came you were brilliant, confident and sure of your response.  Sometimes just putting up your hand takes courage. Knowing that you are ready, able and willing gives you the confidence to be courageous.

 

Remember when you asked your mother to buy that beautiful rain hat and then you waited for the next rainy day to where it.  You mother questioned your courage. Your courage was the belief that you looked fabulous, no better than fabulous, incredibly stylish.  You had all the confidence in the world and in your mind, it had nothing to do with courage.  Your mother thought it would take great courage to where that big, wide-rimmed plastic hat with the overly large pink neon pok-a-dots.  Nonsense you were full of courage.

 

Courage can also be a life transforming concept.  Some women live in abused homes where they wish they had the courage to change, but when the time comes to make a move or to take that first step, courage escapes them. Courage is often seen as commitment, confidence and a unyielding goal or drive.

 

Others who are inflicted with cancer must have the courage to fight for their life and kill this horrible disease with every fiber of their body and every thought of their mind. Other are born with disabilities and find the courage to face life head on with courage and strength.

 

Sometime courage is displayed when an accident happens and the witness jumps into a very dangerous situation to help another.  This kind of courage is sometime spontaneous and comes before we have time to think about it, contemplate our action and our response.

 

Having the ability to face danger, difficulty, uncertainty or pain without being overcome by fear or being deflected from a chosen course of action, this is how courage is defined.

 

Courage take on all kinds of forms; charge when you should run, rise above adversity, persevere through abuse, preparing for medical miracles, recovery above the odds, dancing to your own rhythm, trying something new or simply believing in yourself.

 

You can become more courageous one step at a time.  Begin with standing up for yourself or for others or for a cause that you believe in.  Vocalize your thoughts and feelings, don’t be a victim, is does not serve anyone well.

 

Have the courage you seek.  Say it to yourself, “I am courageous”, I am not afraid of anything” feel empowered, hold the thought of be courageous and you shall be.  So go on be courageous on any level.  It will make you feel amazing.

Conscious Awareness

Many ask, what is this “conscious awareness” stuff.  I’m conscious, I’m awake and I am aware of the phone, the TV and people when they speak to me.  I don’t understand what people mean by becoming conscious aware, are there people who are not aware of this stuff?  This was the response I got when I first mentioned these words to a woman in her late twenties. 

 

I recognized that we need to spend some time sharing what Conscious Awareness is and what it means to our own personal growth.  First off, becoming aware simply means recognizing that something is. 

 

Some know that they want a better life, but don’t know what that means let alone how to get it.  They desire more, but what is that more.  How do they change to bring more and better into their life?  Do the work, become more conscious aware.  It begins with exploring and giving yourself credit for your growth to date.  Start at the beginning make a list of what and how you have grown.  You will become more aware of what growth is, next you will ask yourself “why do I want to grow?” What will that bring you?  How will it affect your life?  Then start to recognize the patterns that keep you where you are. The way people treat you, how you react, what are you attracted to and why? 

 

Start to become aware of your inner voice, we all have one.  I once heard somewhere if you ever say to yourself “self we are going to…” or you may say “I’m going to remind myself to…”  who are you talking to?  You are talking to your inner self.  We all do.  It would be a very lonely place if we didn’t have ourselves to talk to.  So if you acknowledge that you talk to yourself, you must become more aware of the inner voice talking to you.  Now you are on your journey of conscious awareness.

 

Once you have become more aware of your growth to date, the patterns in your life, the difference between you and your inner self and you begin to hear your body, you are ready for real change.

 

The Personal Growth Sheet entitled Conscious Awareness guides you through this process by asking thought provoking questions.  Become a subscriber and work on separate elements of your personal growth each month in the privacy of your own home.  Each month the Women’s Growth Network will send you a Growth Sheet that will offer one personal growth topic to think about. Visit www.womensgrowthnetwork.com

Affirmations

Affirmations don’t work.  That’s an affirmation that most people say if they have tried and not succeeded with affirmations.  Negative beliefs, such as believing that affirmations never work, means that affirmations will never work.  If you want change, you must change your thinking, your belief in affirmations, and your attitude. 

 

You are what you think you are.  So if you are not the way you want to be, you must firstly believe that you have the power to change.  You can begin this transformation through affirmations.  Affirmations are simply statements that you write to yourself.  A way to reprogram your mind.  These simple words can change the way you think. 

 

A few years ago, I was very unhappy and I knew that I wanted to change, but how?  I kept telling myself that I was happy, I made my passwords happy, I put a message on my phone wishing myself a happy day.  Soon I started feeling truly happy.

 

Affirmations don’t have to be a scary thing; they need to be a direct statement that excites you.  For instance, an affirmation for getting more money is “I am a magnet for money”.  Isn’t that a lot better way to think than the doom and gloom statements we are telling ourselves each day.  One of my personal favourites is “something wonderful is going to happen today”.  I say this one FIRST thing when I awake and it gives me a wonderful feeling of anticipation, because I know that something wonderful will happen, and it usually does.  

 

Affirmations work if you keep saying them to yourself over and over.  You must begin to believe your affirmations.  We often hear fake it till you make it.  Change the way you think by reprogramming your mind with affirmations.  Say it, read it, sing it or shout it.  It really doesn’t matter how you get the message through to your brain, just do it.  The next thing is you must start imagining what it will feel like to have that thing which you desire.  Believe that this is true.

 

Affirmations should be written in the present.  Don’t write “I will have” because that means that it is always out there.  You want to write affirmations like they have already happened.  If you want money, allow yourself to be the magnet, feel what it would be like to be drawn to opportunity for wealth.  Believe it is possible.

 

Write affirmations for each part of your life that you want to change.  Be brave, nothing comes from nothing.  Do something.  Write an affirmation for your relationships, for your health, and for your bankbook.  Go crazy.  Each time you feel lacking or negative, write a positive abundant affirmation.

 

Every night before retiring read your affirmations and feel each one of them and imagine your life that way.  For some people mornings are better.  Begin each day by reading your affirmations and get your mind going in the right direction.  For others putting affirming statements around the house is a great way of keeping your thoughts focused.  You could write them out and attach a few to the mirror in the bathroom, on the fridge, or at your workstation. 

 

If you are really stuck and don’t want to write your own affirmations you may want to consider the pre-recorded affirmations that are available from ThinkRightNow.  There is a link to these wonderful affirmation audio products through the Tools Page at www.womensgrowthnetwork.com