Differences

So, here it is...the surprise of the decade...a marriage proposal!  I said, "Yes!" But now is the test...how well do we really know each other?  We looked at the question above...he chose "C" while I chose "other".

I realized that perhaps I didn't know this man as well as I thought when I watched him hang ornaments on the tree.  A relatively simple task and one that I thought everyone did the same way...wrong!  Clearly, each person has a different way of  hanging ornaments; something I never EVER contemplated.  And the truth was, his way was incorrect!  Ok, maybe not incorrect but certainly different than how I did it.  Here's his technique;  two ornaments underneath the branches close together.  Mine?  One ornament on the outer branches of the tree and spaced, oh so decoratively.  His, you could hardly see...that is, until I shuffled them around!  Admittedly, I have issues -- anxiety, to be exact.  And this was causing me a tremendous amount of it.  Were there more differences to come?

YES!  A big source of tension has been whether or not to use heat during the winter months.  I am a  person who loves a warm house in the winter.  He, on the other hand, cannot tolerate the heat as it dries out his contact lenses and nasal passages.   My suggestion?  A humidifier.  His?  A heavy comforter.  We actually came to blows when I suggested that we call off the engagement less than a week into it.  Yes, I cannot stand cold feet or fingers, which I have as I write today.  Yet, we have somehow managed a truce for now.  Thankfully, the temperatures outside are hitting the 50's, making the house a balmy 67 degrees inside.  One thing's for certain; I can never move to the Northeast, the Midwest or Bend, Oregon with this man!  That leaves me Las Vegas or Lubbock, Texas from where I'm sitting, since California is way too expensive; in other words, a desert with no more than six weeks of  hard winter.

Other differences?  He's perky in the morning.  Although not crabby in the morning, I certainly don't talk much before I have my second cup of coffee.   He hates cats whereas, I love them.  He folds his socks to prevent them from stretching out while I roll mine into a tight little ball.  He will play tennis in any temperature including 120 degree heat whereas, I will barely step outside except to dip my toe in the pool at those temperatures!  In other words, as he reminds me frequently, he is an athlete; I'm not. 

As for now, we are re-arranging furniture and decorations within his house.  He has lived the bachelor life for far too long and thankfully, he is open to my suggestions.  He craves a woman's touch and I am more than happy to provide it.  I cleared out the wet bar today and he moved around pictures at my behest.  Frankly, it is beginning to feel like home.  Having been newly widowed when he moved here, I suspect he wanted his house to feel like his old place.  He filled the empty spaces.  Now with one more person, the space is not quite so empty.  It is warmer and full of life.

At the end of the day, marriage is about love and compromise.  We are both blessed to have found one another in this crazy town.  Our personal wish lists for prospective spouses have pretty much been fulfilled.  As we work to find that perfect balance, we continue to live life like a couple of  crazy college kids.  Is the glass half-empty or half-full?  Does it matter?  The bottom line is that couples will always have their differences.  As long as there is a mutual respect, open communication and an extra blanket, almost any problem can be solved.

The Annual Christmas Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Well, as I had predicted. 2015 was a great year!  I hit five out of my seven Oola goals and returned from Oolapalooza 2015 with seven new goals. When I looked back at my key word to describe 2015, it was "growth" whereas, in 2014 it was "interesting".   I described one of the worst things of 2014 as dating.  It was probably one of the best things of 2015, as I met my fiancée.  I predict 2016 to be a year of "changes".

The last two years have taught me to be grateful for all things.  As I continue on my life's journey, I find that nothing is bad per se but rather, a teaching experience; to make one stronger, wiser and hopefully, a better human being.

This year, I moved back to elementary school from high school.  Although it has had its challenges, I love the students I work with; they are engaging and bring much joy to my life.  Most of all, they show me "real" challenge and change.  If you ever think your life is difficult, work with special needs children.  They will show you what difficult is and how they face it with strength and a quiet (and sometimes not-so-quiet) grace.  I try to explain to them that everyone is unique and that they are special rather than "special needs".  I'm not sure anyone has ever taken the time to do that in their short life within the scope of education. 

Faith has very much remained a part of my journey.  I continue to pray for all those who are too tired, weary or struggling to pray for themselves.   I remember how it feels to be so down that I could not get the words out....rather, my tears were my prayers.   I know God hears our prayers and answers them in His time and way.  I continue to blog and it is my goal that it will offer hope, healing and encouragement to those who need it. 

God has placed a call in my life to ministry.  Although I am looking at traditional paths, I am also looking at non-traditional paths as well.  Interesting how things fall into place when you open your heart and your mind.  Fear is no longer a part of my vocabulary.  Rather, gratitude, love, courage, and strength. 

This year, I met a man who changed my life.  He proposed to me after 10 months of dating.  Okay, more like after 3 days but I accepted after 10 months!  He not only pursued me with purpose and passion but made me understand how completely beautiful God made me.  He lifts me up every single day with his words of encouragement.  Although this could be considered a May-December romance, I am okay with that because he is everything I have ever wanted in a man; be careful what you wish for!  No wedding date as of yet.  I am, if nothing else, understandably gun-shy!

I have a total of six grandchildren now with another on the way.  I have been fortunate enough to visit all of them this year.  There is nothing I enjoy more than running around with those kiddos and visiting with my own children.  I am officially an empty-nester which has left me with some very mixed feelings;  I am thankful they are all raised yet miss them terribly!!

God has blessed me in ways I cannot fit into this short note.   Although I would never wish my former life on anyone,  I never want to forget where I've been.  I not only know but have experienced that nothing is impossible with Christ.  This season...this life... is about Him.  I pray that you are all blessed in ways that you cannot imagine.  May you have a Merry Christmas and much joy in the coming year.

Peace in Him,

Lisa

The Power of Positivity

After Oolapalooza, I went home and have been reading through my goals.  Although I spoke with all of the Oola guys, I spoke with one in particular; Cornell Thomas the author of "The Power of Positivity:  Controlling Where the Ball Bounces."  Cornell is one of those people you can't help but love.  He does a couple of Periscopes a day, and of late, I have been thinking about his messages.  So much that I have decided that I needed to change some things in my life.

I came home from Oolapalooza a different person; changed on many levels.  I re-evaluated my past year, my thoughts and my actions and a Bible verse kept ringing in my head.  It is Psalms 19:14 which says, "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer." (NLT)  I began to not only think about what I say and how I say it, but also the feelings associated with my words.  You see, I was raised in a very negative environment.  Although I have overcome a lot, I have not overcome everything.  As a result, if something bad happens during my day, I tend to dwell on it.  And in fact, one bad thing can set off a host of words and feelings that are just not Christian at all.  Yes, I am human!

As I read over my handbook from Oola, one of my Oola goals was to remove negative thinking and dwelling on bad things.  Rather, I will just say, "Stop!"  and move forward.  The funny thing is, when you write down goals, they tend to happen.

Well, the Holy Spirit convicted me with regards to this goal.  Ever since then, I have been meditating on this verse.  It is now my daily mantra before and during work.  You see, I don't just want to talk the talk but rather, walk the walk.  I want to do God's work and in order to do that, I need to be very intentional in my walk with Him. 

So, every morning before leaving for work, I begin my day with prayer.  I pray not only for myself but for others.  When you pray, it does not have to be specific.  My prayer is for anyone who is suffering emotionally, physically, spiritually or financially.  I may or may not know who the prayer is for but I want to lift up those who have no one to pray for them.  Since I began doing this, I am not only happier at work but seem to be a much more effective teacher.  I don't sweat the small stuff, have much more patience and come home happier.  Life is good!

So, for those of you who are struggling with positive thoughts, meditate on this verse.  God will lift you up.  Your thoughts will be more positive and although your day may not be perfect, you will find yourself  being happier.  This has been a real gift from God to me!

So if you want to grow in your faith walk or even, just have a better day...think good thoughts!  Meditate on a  Bible verse that resonates with you.   Don't let the negatives in your life pull you down.  It's easy to get caught up in the drama.  Instead, let God bless you so that you can be a blessing to others! I promise...it works!  

 

OolaPalooza 2015: Day 2

 

 
Day 2 is considerably more complex than day one.  It is where you discover what inspires you.  Now, there is a huge difference between inspiration and motivation.  Motivation is what puts you in the gym on January 1 and by January 8, you're finished.  Inspiration comes from the spirit.  Wiktionary defines inspire as "to infuse into the mind."  However, upon reading about inspiration and the Holy Spirit, I found that inspiration comes from the word which means 'to breathe'.  In other words, God's spirit is our very breath of life and inspiration.  From it, we are able to discern our purpose.  And what does Oola say?  We are designed by God for greatness and purpose.  Read that again...WE ARE DESIGNED BY GOD FOR GREATNESS AND PURPOSE.

So, day one was to figure out what our dreams are and what we want for our life.  Day 2 focused on what prevents us from reaching our goals or what accelerates us toward our goals?  What do we value?  And how can those values be used to help us increase areas that we find less valuable?  And so, we begin to look at Oola as a wheel and what is the hub (our foundation).  Now, if we consider our life as a wheel, each area of Oola (field, finance, friend, faith, fun, fitness and family) could be considered like a spoke.  If one or two spokes are shorter than the others, then the wheel will still be functional but wobbly.  The goal of Oola is to balance your life so that it runs smoothly.

So, what is the hub?  The hub is the center of the wheel -- what holds it all together.  Your hub can be self, money, God, legacy, power, things or image.  None of these things is bad, it is just a measure of where you are in life.  For me, my hub is self.  That would be a fair assessment since right now, I am in a stage of life where survival is number 1.  Granted, I was divorced nearly 3 years ago but believe me, the after-effects continue.  And so, I embrace the fact that this journey is about me.  At some time, I hope it will be more about the legacy I leave but for now, I have to be okay with where I am.

So, what prevents us from reaching our goals?  These would be our OolaBlockers; fear, guilt, anger, self-sabotage, laziness, envy and (lack of) focus.  What propels us toward our goals are OolaAccelerators; gratitude, love, discipline, integrity, passion, humility and wisdom.

Lastly, we analyze what blocks us and what propels us.  We sit down and write down what they are, what happens if things remain status quo and what "self-talk" can we give ourselves in order to move past these blockers and into the accelerators.

This is not an easy day for many.  There are many tears as stories by the OolaSeeker are shared.  We are reminded how difficult it can to be grateful in all circumstances and to remain humble.  Yet, he and the OolaGuru have managed to do just that.

The process is overwhelming on many levels as we look at our goals.  Many cried because their goals are incredibly personal to their circumstances.  I would dare say that a fair number of people in the conference are broken or just coming out of a state of brokenness.  The good news is, we are at rock bottom and now, the only direction left is up!

And so, at the end of the day, the biggest lessons I learned were --
"Don't settle for ordinary when extraordinary is inside you!"
"Write SMART goals -- specific, measurable, accountable, realistic and time-driven."
"You were designed by God for greatness and purpose."

Most of all?  "Be grateful and have faith!"

Thank you, David Braun, Troy Amdahl, Jay LaGuardia and Cornell Thomas for an amazing week-end!  Thank you OolaTeam for all your hard work!  It was an incredible two days and now, thanks to your help, it is going to be a fantastic 2016!

To my fellow "flockers" -- go get your Oola life!

OolaPalooza 2015: Day 1

Thursday night, I met up with my "partner in crime" -- a gal from Canada that I met on Twitter and in person at last year's conference.  We went out to dinner and caught up on the past year of our lives.  After a night of not so much sleep (5 hours to be exact), we sucked down some caffeine and lined up early for the conference.  Last year's conference was a first come, first served seating and my partner in crime and I did not want to be at the back again.  As it turns out, there were assigned seats and the room configuration was such that everyone had a great seat.

Day 1 consisted of going over the rules -- yes, there are rules to this conference.  They are:

1.  Be humble.
2.  Be courageous.
3.  Be free of judgement.
4.  Be authentic.
5.  Be committed.
6.  Be ready to hustle.
7.  Be Oola.  (awesome)

Next we were to reflect on how our last year went?  Top 3 highlights versus top 3 lowest moments.  What word would describe our year?  For me, it was growth.  Then, we proceeded to reflect some more and come up with goals in the 7 key areas of our life: fitness, finance, family, field, faith, friends and fun.

This first day was no small process.  It took much time and thinking about what was accomplished last year and what wasn't.  Although I made strides in many areas, as I rated how well I did, I fell quite short.  For instance, I lost weight in the area of fitness but how much do I exercise?    The truth is, I hit several goals -- perhaps 5 out of my top 7 but still have a long way to go. 

I also realized that although I have hit goals, I seem to be at a mediocre place on the high side (on a scale of 1-10, (7's) and likewise on the low side (4's).  I'd like to see myself stretching this year and taking those 7's and turning into 8's and 9's and the 4's up to 6's and 7's.

Of course, numbers aren't the only way to view one's life.  The bigger questions; Are you happy?  Are you accomplishing what you set out to do?  If you're falling short, why?  If these 7 things will make your life better, why are you missing the mark?  Is it lack of focus? Direction? Not clear enough goals?  Inner turmoil?  All these things are talked about during the conference.

There are many tears shed over the two days, particularly on the second day.  We all have baggage; the question is, how much?  And does it prevent us from reaching our full potential?  I know from a personal standpoint, I have come a long way.  My financials, fitness and field are not where I want them to be and I will be working on those goals even harder this year.  However, I hit most of my field, friends and fun goals this year.  Faith was met but not in a way I expected.  This year, that is already changing for the better.

Day 1 concluded with a reception in a penthouse that was not to be believed -- 5000 square feet, complete with a bowling alley.  Yea, it was pretty sic, as kids today would say.  We had the opportunity to meet with the speakers and talk about our past year and where we were going. 

I think probably the most amazing thing about these guys is that they not just know each and every one of us, but they know our stories.  Oola is more than about selling books; rather, it is about relationships.  Yes, we are part of the so-called "flock" but we are also a part of their lives and the lives of one another.  It is all intertwined quite nicely.  Two days of writing down goals and dreams with 9 other people at your table will tend to do that.

And so, the day ended with a trip down to Fremont Street at First Friday (my first time ever!) with a gal from Canada.  She zip-lined while I waited for her at the opposite end of the street, listening to a country-western band.  It was cold but a nice way to end a long day.  We fell into bed around 1 AM.  It was a spectacular ending to a great day!  More tomorrow as I continue with Part 2.  Until then, be blessed and know that you too, can have an Oola life!

"I'm created for greatness and a purpose.  Don't settle for ordinary -- be extraordinary."
                                                                                  ---Oolapalooza

My Oola Journey: From Fat to Fabulous

Again, on a time crunch, as I'm getting ready for work but decided this has to be written.  Spent the week-end at Oolapalooza 2015 and yes, threw caution to the wind.  Not with regard to the conference but rather, with my eating.  Here's the thing...you can't do that!  Let me repeat...YOU CAN'T DO THAT! 

The OolaGuru told a story of how he went to Thailand and ate and drank what he wanted and gained some ridiculous amount of weight.  Folks, I went to a 2 day conference and gained 5 pounds.  I guarantee some is water weight, as I drank my fair share.  However, a lot is food weight and that is so darned hard to lose. 

And so today, as I drink my black coffee (no cream or sweetener for me), I reflect on how I could have done better.  I could have had black coffee instead of a Starbuck's flat white with real milk.   I drank copious amounts, as I stayed up quite late.   I could have eaten fruit or yogurt instead of a bagel for breakfast.  I could have done a thousand things better.  

On the positive side, in the evening, we walked a LOT!  So much, that today I am feeling it in my glutes.  I rarely walk so much that I feel actual muscle pain.  So, in spite of poor eating choices, I definitely made, by virtue of the fact that Vegas is made for walking, a decent fitness choice! 

At the conference, we look at our goals and what they call OolaBlockers (things that make it more difficult to reach your goal) and OolaAccelerators (things that make it easier).  Under fitness, I have 4 out of 7 blockers and 3 out of 7 accelerators.  That means, I have to be hypervigilant in order to reach this goal.  It is one area where I struggle the most and I have a better understanding as to the "why?"

Today, I am back onto good eating habits and will remain this way until Christmas.  I am part of a group on Facebook and there is a challenge from now until Christmas to stay with our eating plans.  I'm so there.  I will keep you posted as to how I get through the holiday season.

In the meantime, I lift my coffee cup to those of you who are on this journey with me.  A special toast for those who are crushing their fitness goals.  To those who are still struggling, this journey is about you.  Do what you need to do in order to make your life better.  Remember why you are doing this -- and it better be a pretty darned good reason.  If not, as they said at the conference, if it's not a stronger "why" get a stronger one.  I want to be fit because...  My reason?  So I can dance at my grandkids' wedding and live a long, productive life.  I don't think it gets much better than that!

OolaPalooza 2015: The Day Before

And so begins the yearly trek to the Vegas strip where the Oola "flock" gathers.  I have not had time to pack my bags but rather, am filled with nervous energy; so much, that I decided to write a short blog.  I am incredibly excited to see what this year's conference holds for us. 

Aside from entertainment, we will be setting yearly goals in the areas of field, finance, family, friends, fun, fitness, and faith.  I'm not sure where the next two days journey will take me but it will be interesting to find out.

I am meeting a friend that I met last year and we are spending the week-end together.  I took a day off of work in order to attend the conference; yes, it is that important to me!  I have been thinking about the goals I would like to set for the upcoming year.  I have some ideas for field, finance, faith and fitness.  Friends and fun?  Not so sure on that front; maybe because those two areas always seem to take a backseat in my life?

Tonight, I celebrate my third year of following my Oola life plan.  I will definitely drink a toast with my friend and catch up on the last year.  We will have an amazing dinner and who knows what after that....I do know, this is not just a week-end of R & R -- rather, it is definitely a working week-end.  We will be thinking about and writing down our goals and our dreams.  We will set the stage for the next year.  This is about growing and balancing our lives; no small task.

And so, as I gather my things and get ready, I will do a little soul-searching.  It takes getting real and honest with oneself in order to figure out what you want for your life. And before I go, I will say a prayer; after all, this week-end is not just about my goals and dreams but to follow God's plan for my life in the process.  If I can do that?  Well, that's pretty Oola!