Hmmmmm…09-24-12

Hmmmmm…09-24-12

"If and When were planted, and Nothing grew." ~Proverb

The tough row to hoe is paved with good intentions.  It’s impossible to harvest when you haven’t planted.  How’s your crop yield looking?  Have you planted any of the following fruitless seeds of If and When?

If I made more money, I would_________ (fill in the blank).  If I had more time, I would_________ (repeat).  When I retire, I will_________ (insert ideal life plan here).  When I lose 20 pounds, I’ll _________ (ditto). 

Along with the Ifs and Whens, you may also be planting the garden-variety Buts.  I’d like to try_________ (ideal life plan again), but I’m too_________Old. Young. Busy. Tired. It stands to reason that all of this talk would make one a But Head.

Barren land is the result of planting nothing.  Choose carefully the seeds you sow through your thoughts and deeds to become the farmer who reaps a bountiful harvest.  The cream of the crop is yours for the taking.

Hi, hoe! Hi, hoe! It’s off to work we go!

Gina J

Hmmmmm...09-17-12

Hmmmmm...09-17-12

“Sometimes I get the feeling the whole world is against me, but deep down I know that's not true. Some of the smaller countries are neutral.” –Robert Orben

Kickin’ a can?  Takin’ your ball and goin’ home?  Does your new theme song start with the line, “Nobody likes me, everybody hates me...”?

Before you go eat worms, dig this: the Rule of 20-40-60.  It may help you to take the focus off of yourself.  It goes like this: at age 20, you care what everyone thinks of you.  At age 40, you don’t care what anyone thinks of you.  And at age 60, you realize that no one was thinking of you to begin with! 

So hold off on throwing that pity party.  You’ll be the only one in attendance anyway. Laugh and the world will laugh with you.  Weep and you cry into the punch bowl alone.

What you give to others is exactly what you get back. Be the life of your party.

You’ve got the whole world in your hands!

Gina J

Hmmmmm…09/10/12

Hmmmmm…09/10/12

"Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life."
-J.K. Rowling

If your life is on the rocks or you’ve run into a stone wall, take heart.  They don’t call it solid as a rock for nothing.

Just as a whetstone is used to sharpen knives and blades, perhaps the stony ground of rock bottom is merely honing the tools you’ll need to rebuild your life from the ground up.  Perhaps it is polishing skills that are essential for you to acquire before you can construct and live comfortably in your forever home—your own skin.

So if you’ve been shaken down to your very foundation, you have been given the opportunity to redesign your life.  You are the master craftsman and sole proprietor of where all new construction begins—between your ears.

Nothing is etched in stone.  Maybe being between a rock and a hard place isn’t so hard after all.

Bottoms up,

Gina J

Hmmmmm…09-03-12

Hmmmmm…09-03-12

“End of Construction. Thank you for your patience.”

-As seen on the tombstone of Ruth Graham (wife of Evangelist Billy Graham)

Wouldn’t it be great if all of life’s sticky situations came with really obvious signs, like the ones posted on our roadways?

Imagine that you’re about to make a colossal career mistake and accept an offer for the wrong job.  In the nick of time, you look up and see the Wrong Way sign.  Whew!  Crisis averted.   You’re on a blind date with someone who seems like your soul mate.  Thankfully, you spy the Dead End sign, saving you months of heartache.  Your teenage child is acting like a two year-old.  Both the Caution and Rough Road signs gave you plenty of warning and time to mentally prepare. 

Unfortunately, if you’re presently in a Fog Area, it can be difficult to find a sign.  Maybe it’s time to Stop at a Rest Area until the confusion clears.  When you take time to Reduce Speed and Yield to your intuition and inner voice, it may be the only sign you need.  If life is indeed a highway, this is One Way to successfully navigate it!

Don’t forget to buckle up.

Signing off,

Gina J