Yesterday, while I was on the phone with a friend, he asked me a question … having never before discussed a certain fact that I revealed about myself in a recent piece of writing. Knowing me as my ‘Good Girl – Earth Mother’ self, his question (coming from a place of curiosity - not judgment) was this …
“What exactly happened that brought you to a place in your life where you were willing to ‘throw down’ with a guy who had been in prison?”
Fair question, I admit, because it does seem quite out of character for my lifestyle … and I struggled hard to encapsulate the entire experience and offer an adequate answer that would do it justice the way it deserved to be answered. I lived it, I understood it, I knew it intimately … but I had a hard time, initially, putting it into words.
I told him the story of how I had met this man, developed a relationship with him, and eventually, how we parted ways – and then I summed my experience up in this one thought …
“I guess I believe that sometimes God sends bright stars into very dark places.”
I knew he understood just what I meant.
So here now, is my story of how I met Christopher (and others) who were every bit as much a gift for me as I hope I was for them …
Until two years ago, what I knew about prison could fit in a thimble - I had never even known someone who'd been in jail. But in the spring of 2006, when I decided to have a pool put in my backyard and hired a well-known, local pool builder to do the job, that would all change.
For anyone who’s ever had a pool built, you already understand what I mean when I say that the process seems to take on a life of its own. Building a pool is a major undertaking – and your crew becomes a familiar part of the landscape, being as they are there daily for a couple of months while beauty gets created.
As it turned out, the man who became my pool project manager had been in prison in the past, and to be honest, I don’t even remember exactly what for. Since that time, he had gotten out and was doing a great job of making a life for himself, his girlfriend and son. I had a lot of admiration for that, and over the months, we became friends. Close friends.
He spent a lot of time in my yard because he said that it was a ‘feel good’ place. He absolutely loved the way I accepted him and never judged him or treated him with any disrespect, even knowing his past – it was something he wasn’t used to. As we got to know each other better and the pool project neared the end, he knew that I was going to need a lot of landscaping work done - sprinklers, etc. - so he approached me one day with a question.
I could tell he was nervous, there was an obvious risk of rejection, but he gathered up the courage and spit it out. He said that he had a few friends that were going to be getting out of prison soon – explained that they would be needing to find honest jobs, and asked me if I would be willing to give them a chance to do the ditch digging, pipe laying etc., so that they could get on their feet.
It wasn’t a long process to determine what my response would be. I asked myself the same question Neale Donald Walsch was told by God (in Conversations With God)to consider in every situation …
What would Love do now?
My answer? ‘Of course. As long as they gave me a day's labor, I'll give them a day's pay. Bring them around.’
So, over the next 4 months, I met and became what I would call friend, to five more ex-convicts in total. (One of them being Christopher.) Perhaps the first real friend they had ever had.
I shared my house with them during the day, shared my family with them, cooked for them, helped them get to their court dates, worked on re-building their belief in themselves, etc.
I served them just as they served me. I treated them with respect. And it was empowering … for all of us.
From them, I expected trustworthiness – I set my standards high. And, guess what? They were always trustworthy around my home and my family. It’s amazing the miracle that happens when you can see in others what they cannot see in themselves. I was teaching by example, by modeling.
There is an old saying “Give a man a fish, and he’ll eat for a day, teach him how to fish he’ll eat forever.”
I did not just feed bread to these men … I broke bread with them. And I got to sit front row to watch the ‘soul changes’ take place. All I can say now is, what an honor.
One thing I’m sure of … no matter what becomes of each of their lives … they were not the same when they left my home as when they arrived – and I credit Love for that.
And that is the story of how I came to ‘throw down’ with the chain gang!
Good men.
Bad childhoods.
Wounded spirits.
Desperate souls.
Brilliant potential.
So, the next time you find yourself in an unfamiliar situation, and you are unsure what the right course of action is, ask yourself but one question …
What would Love do now?
And the answer will come easily. God will surely speak volumes into your heart.
Until Tomorrow …
Hugs (from the closet),
KimbraLee =)
P.S. - No man, regardless of his outward appearance, is ever any less than a bright star in the making!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
What The Ice Cream Man Should Know
A few days ago my Mom and I were sitting talking in the house when we heard the local ice cream truck coming down the street.
We all know the familiar sound of the ice cream truck … those unmistakable carnival-like tunes – sort of like an old music box that got wound too tightly and changes speed from time to time … without any assistance from the operator of the vehicle!
Casually I glanced up at the clock. It was only about 9:30 a.m.
Hmmmmmm … this brought three consecutive thoughts to mind.
My first thought was, ‘Wow – I haven’t seen the ice cream man around here in months.’
My second thought was ,‘9:30 in the morning? Isn’t that a strange time for the ice cream man to come by?’
My third thought was, ‘Why are my kids not running out here to ask me for money for ice cream?!’
Now, it is true that at this point, I have 4 teenagers in my bunch, but everyone knows you don’t out-grow buying ice cream from the ice cream man until you are about 28 years old … which is just about the time your own kids are becoming old enough to buy ice cream from the ice cream man … and, of course – you have to start all over again and show them the ropes! Wink, wink!
So I said to my Mom - “Remember last summer when the ice cream man came each day for about a 2 weeks in a row around 3:30 in the afternoon?” Naturally, we were out there to buy from him everyday. We even got a cool ‘punch card’! (You know the type, a ‘Buy 10, get 1 FREE’ deal!)
We would wait for him...
Listen for him ...
Look for him …
Drool!
Then, the moment we heard that rickety little truck turn the corner on to our street – away we would fly to the curb to flag him down. It was the greatest ritual! But then … at the end of that week, he just suddenly stopped coming by.
We were all so disappointed. So much for the brief family tradition we had come to rely on.
A few weeks later, he came back again – this time I think it was around 11:00 a.m. About 4 days after that? At 6:30 p.m.
Both of those times we missed him - because we weren’t expecting him! We just couldn’t get our money and our bodies together in time to hustle out in front to catch him before he went by – because the routine had been broken.
So what’s the moral to this story? (that the ice cream man obviously doesn’t know!)
If you want the best results … be it in business, relationship, parenting … whatever - you must be consistent.
Consistent hours; consistent prices; consistent products or services; consistent rules.
Humans really are creatures of habit … you gain people’s confidence when they know they can really count on you.
So, if you want to achieve your desired results – you must remember to be consistent.
Look, I have 5 kids and two adults in my house – one stop at my front curb nets the ice cream man about $12 … if he came religiously every day (and my piggy bank never ran out of ‘fun money’!) that’s $4,380 per year … just from my household alone!!!!
Imagine what he would make if he did that times only 25 houses? … $109,500 annually!!!
Someone needs to tell this to my ice cream man! It’s been 107 degrees for a week, and WOW - do we ever miss him!
Until Next Time …
Hugs (from the closet),
KimbraLee =)
P.S. – On second thought … Shhhh! No one tell my ice cream man … I’m think I’m changing professions!
We all know the familiar sound of the ice cream truck … those unmistakable carnival-like tunes – sort of like an old music box that got wound too tightly and changes speed from time to time … without any assistance from the operator of the vehicle!
Casually I glanced up at the clock. It was only about 9:30 a.m.
Hmmmmmm … this brought three consecutive thoughts to mind.
My first thought was, ‘Wow – I haven’t seen the ice cream man around here in months.’
My second thought was ,‘9:30 in the morning? Isn’t that a strange time for the ice cream man to come by?’
My third thought was, ‘Why are my kids not running out here to ask me for money for ice cream?!’
Now, it is true that at this point, I have 4 teenagers in my bunch, but everyone knows you don’t out-grow buying ice cream from the ice cream man until you are about 28 years old … which is just about the time your own kids are becoming old enough to buy ice cream from the ice cream man … and, of course – you have to start all over again and show them the ropes! Wink, wink!
So I said to my Mom - “Remember last summer when the ice cream man came each day for about a 2 weeks in a row around 3:30 in the afternoon?” Naturally, we were out there to buy from him everyday. We even got a cool ‘punch card’! (You know the type, a ‘Buy 10, get 1 FREE’ deal!)
We would wait for him...
Listen for him ...
Look for him …
Drool!
Then, the moment we heard that rickety little truck turn the corner on to our street – away we would fly to the curb to flag him down. It was the greatest ritual! But then … at the end of that week, he just suddenly stopped coming by.
We were all so disappointed. So much for the brief family tradition we had come to rely on.
A few weeks later, he came back again – this time I think it was around 11:00 a.m. About 4 days after that? At 6:30 p.m.
Both of those times we missed him - because we weren’t expecting him! We just couldn’t get our money and our bodies together in time to hustle out in front to catch him before he went by – because the routine had been broken.
So what’s the moral to this story? (that the ice cream man obviously doesn’t know!)
If you want the best results … be it in business, relationship, parenting … whatever - you must be consistent.
Consistent hours; consistent prices; consistent products or services; consistent rules.
Humans really are creatures of habit … you gain people’s confidence when they know they can really count on you.
So, if you want to achieve your desired results – you must remember to be consistent.
Look, I have 5 kids and two adults in my house – one stop at my front curb nets the ice cream man about $12 … if he came religiously every day (and my piggy bank never ran out of ‘fun money’!) that’s $4,380 per year … just from my household alone!!!!
Imagine what he would make if he did that times only 25 houses? … $109,500 annually!!!
Someone needs to tell this to my ice cream man! It’s been 107 degrees for a week, and WOW - do we ever miss him!
Until Next Time …
Hugs (from the closet),
KimbraLee =)
P.S. – On second thought … Shhhh! No one tell my ice cream man … I’m think I’m changing professions!
Wanted
Since I’ve been writing the ‘Closet Wisdom’ column, I’ve been spending more time than I used to on line. Yesterday, when I signed on, I posted a message and defined my mood as … WANTED …
Well - apparently, people actually do pay attention to that stuff, because today … about 36 hours later … I came home to many, many messages (some that I won’t share! ;-) ) commenting on the fact that I am, in actuality, wanted! Ah … to be in demand. How delicious that feels!
One particular girlfriend of mine was joking around and she said to me … “every time I check in and see how you’re feeling …I want (to be) WANTED”!!!
Yes, in the moment she was being lighthearted, but in reality – wasn’t she sharing an incredible, fundamental truth for all of us? When it comes right down to it, don’t we all want to feel attractive, magnetic, admired … wanted?
The real question is … how do you get into that magical, draw others to ya’, come and get it space? Well, like every great truth – it is simple, but it is not particularly easy.
I haven’t always felt wanted and sought after like I do right now … it has been a journey and a process. There’s a basic equation to this ‘becoming attractive’ thing. (And, when I say attractive … I mean so much more than just your outer appearance … I’m speaking of having that certain edge that makes people keep coming back for more! )
There are steps, and here they are … one by one.
First, check in with your heart and figure out one thing. What is your bliss? What rocks your world? What makes you jump out of bed in the morning? What would you do 24 hours a day for free, just because it makes you feel so good?
Do you love to motivate and inspire people? (That’s my personal bliss!)
Do you love to create beauty through art?
Are you a teacher?
A healer?
A builder?
A writer?
You have a talent - a unique gift- something that lights you up and that will bring joy to both yourself and to others when shared. Find that special thing, and then when you do …
Do it! Pursue it! Become it! Live it! … with passion! Make yourself an expert on it! …
Then, deliver it in the way that only you can.
Model it.
Share it.
Gift it.
The biggest secret (which is no secret at all) is … always give more than is expected, more often than is required … and you will certainly increase your own value and start to become wanted … yes, you will find that you have become a … hot commodity!
Then? Be generous with the magnificence you’ve become. Spread it around! The more you give it out … the more it comes back to you.
Bestow it on others when they ask for it, when they need it, and, sometimes … when they least expect it. Do it with purpose. Do it with power. Do it with confidence. Do it unconditionally. And … watch what happens next …
Suddenly, one day, you will turn around and look behind you … and just like magic … as you are crossing the crosswalk of life, a small crowd will have gathered. And this, my friend, is your very own fan club!
Are you ready?
I think you are … or you wouldn’t be right here, right now, reading these words – you would have picked up the Wall Street Journal or the National Enquirer with your coffee instead.
Go … follow your bliss … work your magic … amaze your friends … and become WANTED! I’ll b e looking out for your ‘mood swing’!
Until Tomorrow …
Hugs (from the closet),
KimbraLee =)
P.S. – About that fan club? … I’ll be the President if you haven’t already got one!
Well - apparently, people actually do pay attention to that stuff, because today … about 36 hours later … I came home to many, many messages (some that I won’t share! ;-) ) commenting on the fact that I am, in actuality, wanted! Ah … to be in demand. How delicious that feels!
One particular girlfriend of mine was joking around and she said to me … “every time I check in and see how you’re feeling …I want (to be) WANTED”!!!
Yes, in the moment she was being lighthearted, but in reality – wasn’t she sharing an incredible, fundamental truth for all of us? When it comes right down to it, don’t we all want to feel attractive, magnetic, admired … wanted?
The real question is … how do you get into that magical, draw others to ya’, come and get it space? Well, like every great truth – it is simple, but it is not particularly easy.
I haven’t always felt wanted and sought after like I do right now … it has been a journey and a process. There’s a basic equation to this ‘becoming attractive’ thing. (And, when I say attractive … I mean so much more than just your outer appearance … I’m speaking of having that certain edge that makes people keep coming back for more! )
There are steps, and here they are … one by one.
First, check in with your heart and figure out one thing. What is your bliss? What rocks your world? What makes you jump out of bed in the morning? What would you do 24 hours a day for free, just because it makes you feel so good?
Do you love to motivate and inspire people? (That’s my personal bliss!)
Do you love to create beauty through art?
Are you a teacher?
A healer?
A builder?
A writer?
You have a talent - a unique gift- something that lights you up and that will bring joy to both yourself and to others when shared. Find that special thing, and then when you do …
Do it! Pursue it! Become it! Live it! … with passion! Make yourself an expert on it! …
Then, deliver it in the way that only you can.
Model it.
Share it.
Gift it.
The biggest secret (which is no secret at all) is … always give more than is expected, more often than is required … and you will certainly increase your own value and start to become wanted … yes, you will find that you have become a … hot commodity!
Then? Be generous with the magnificence you’ve become. Spread it around! The more you give it out … the more it comes back to you.
Bestow it on others when they ask for it, when they need it, and, sometimes … when they least expect it. Do it with purpose. Do it with power. Do it with confidence. Do it unconditionally. And … watch what happens next …
Suddenly, one day, you will turn around and look behind you … and just like magic … as you are crossing the crosswalk of life, a small crowd will have gathered. And this, my friend, is your very own fan club!
Are you ready?
I think you are … or you wouldn’t be right here, right now, reading these words – you would have picked up the Wall Street Journal or the National Enquirer with your coffee instead.
Go … follow your bliss … work your magic … amaze your friends … and become WANTED! I’ll b e looking out for your ‘mood swing’!
Until Tomorrow …
Hugs (from the closet),
KimbraLee =)
P.S. – About that fan club? … I’ll be the President if you haven’t already got one!
The Freedom In Being Flexible
As I was driving home yesterday through the rain, thunder and lightning, I glanced up at my thermometer on the rear view mirror of my truck and it read 52 degrees. Wow … only three days ago, I had been running my air conditioning and buying new pool toys for the back yard while the same gauge read 102 degrees!
That’s a 50 degree temperature swing in just under half a week!
The first thought that came to my mind (in my own amusement) was, “I’m so grateful that I’ve learned how to be flexible!” Dressing for desert conditions and tornados all in the same week takes some willingness to adapt!
You know, there was a time – most of my younger life, as well as when my kids first came along – when a change in plans used to throw me completely into overwhelm. I have always been a highly organized person (blame it on my Capricorn birth sign!) and I like to know who’s doing what, when and how. Extreme planning was my ‘comfort zone’ – I’m guessing because it gave me the illusion of being somewhat ‘in control’ of my corner of the Universe in any given moment – but …
Imagine how that need to ‘stick to the plan … to the letter’ disintegrates when you have not only one child … but then a set of triplets … and ultimately 5 little beings in total - with 5 personalities and 5 schedules come along! The more rigidly I fought to stay the course unwaveringly, the more unhappy it caused the other players in my life to become – and the more crazy it ultimately made ME! At some point, I got the message loud and clear …
”Hey Lady … let go of the oars!”
Now, it is always very important to have plans and a direction. It is imperative that you know where you want to end up in the end … but what I’m suggesting is that sometimes, it is necessary to be flexible in the route we take to get there.
Our hearts don’t lie … if we listen, they whisper to us our deepest desires … but how God answers those prayers for fulfillment is none of our business! Our only job is to get up each day, focus on what we want, live a life congruent with our values and morals, follow our bliss and … navigate the curves in the road along the way!
Face it … the river flows downstream without our assistance – all we must do is get into the flow and let go of the river banks!
The more we can understand the simple truth in this process, the less stress and disappointment we will experience in our lives and the more we open ourselves up to gifts beyond our own imagining! I sort of liken it to playing a board game.
Have you ever played Candy Land? The object of the game is to get yourself from start to finish by following a beautiful candy trail. Along the way, there are sweet treats and delights … there are short cuts and … there are pitfalls - but - all roads lead to the Candy Castle in the end!
Life is like that, my friend … you can’t lose! It’s impossible!!! But you can sure make it a frustrating journey by not being willing to step through unexpected doors that open … or walking away from windows that suddenly close … without regret.
Keep your eyes and your heart open … adapt … adjust … trust… and above all else, remain flexible!
The world won’t stop spinning if things don’t always go exactly how you planned … promise! Relax and float awhile with me!
Until Next Time …
Hugs (from the closet),
KimbraLee =)
P.S. - ‘The bend in the road is not the end of the road, unless you refuse to take the turn’ - anonymous … and hey – it looks fantastic right around the next corner!!!bend in the road is not the end of the road unless you refuse to take the turn. -Anon.
That’s a 50 degree temperature swing in just under half a week!
The first thought that came to my mind (in my own amusement) was, “I’m so grateful that I’ve learned how to be flexible!” Dressing for desert conditions and tornados all in the same week takes some willingness to adapt!
You know, there was a time – most of my younger life, as well as when my kids first came along – when a change in plans used to throw me completely into overwhelm. I have always been a highly organized person (blame it on my Capricorn birth sign!) and I like to know who’s doing what, when and how. Extreme planning was my ‘comfort zone’ – I’m guessing because it gave me the illusion of being somewhat ‘in control’ of my corner of the Universe in any given moment – but …
Imagine how that need to ‘stick to the plan … to the letter’ disintegrates when you have not only one child … but then a set of triplets … and ultimately 5 little beings in total - with 5 personalities and 5 schedules come along! The more rigidly I fought to stay the course unwaveringly, the more unhappy it caused the other players in my life to become – and the more crazy it ultimately made ME! At some point, I got the message loud and clear …
”Hey Lady … let go of the oars!”
Now, it is always very important to have plans and a direction. It is imperative that you know where you want to end up in the end … but what I’m suggesting is that sometimes, it is necessary to be flexible in the route we take to get there.
Our hearts don’t lie … if we listen, they whisper to us our deepest desires … but how God answers those prayers for fulfillment is none of our business! Our only job is to get up each day, focus on what we want, live a life congruent with our values and morals, follow our bliss and … navigate the curves in the road along the way!
Face it … the river flows downstream without our assistance – all we must do is get into the flow and let go of the river banks!
The more we can understand the simple truth in this process, the less stress and disappointment we will experience in our lives and the more we open ourselves up to gifts beyond our own imagining! I sort of liken it to playing a board game.
Have you ever played Candy Land? The object of the game is to get yourself from start to finish by following a beautiful candy trail. Along the way, there are sweet treats and delights … there are short cuts and … there are pitfalls - but - all roads lead to the Candy Castle in the end!
Life is like that, my friend … you can’t lose! It’s impossible!!! But you can sure make it a frustrating journey by not being willing to step through unexpected doors that open … or walking away from windows that suddenly close … without regret.
Keep your eyes and your heart open … adapt … adjust … trust… and above all else, remain flexible!
The world won’t stop spinning if things don’t always go exactly how you planned … promise! Relax and float awhile with me!
Until Next Time …
Hugs (from the closet),
KimbraLee =)
P.S. - ‘The bend in the road is not the end of the road, unless you refuse to take the turn’ - anonymous … and hey – it looks fantastic right around the next corner!!!bend in the road is not the end of the road unless you refuse to take the turn. -Anon.
SpongeBob Thong
Tonight, two of my daughters and I jumped into the car in and headed for Starbucks. Something about the evening, the girl time … and a coffee sounded great!
The Starbucks we frequent happens to be smack in the middle of a very large grocery store, and with 5 kids in the house, believe me when I say I am in that store almost every day. I have asked politely for my own reserved parking space, but for some reason, they have not obliged me quite yet! (Maybe when I hit the $1 million food bill? … which, by my most recent calculations, should be about next Tuesday!)
Because we shop frequently, we know everyone at this store … we know the managers, we know the baristas, we know the checkers, we know the baggers (my daughter’s boyfriend is one of them!). You know the kind of place I’m talking about.
We feel comfortable there. It’s like an extension of home … and I have the receipts to prove it!
Well, tonight, when the idea struck us to go out for coffee, we were already in our jammies. And the rule in our house? Once in jammies … stay in jammies!!!
Now, it is not really unusual for us to go to Starbucks in our pajamas. (Come to think of it, it is not unusual for us to go to Blockbuster Video in our pjs, Target in our pjs, the Little League Field or Post Office in our pjs …) In fact, it is not unusual for us to ‘feel comfy’ just about anywhere, no matter what we are wearing … especially our trusty jammies!
When we walked into the store tonight, there was a line at the Starbucks counter – about 6 people ahead of us. And thanks to Starbucks’ unmatched entrepreneurial ability to turn coffee drinks into their own food group … when the entire line of customers in front of you order something like a ‘double-shot-venti-ice blended-mocha –super-duper -concoction’ with extra whipped cream and chocolate syrup, you know you’re gonna be there a while!
So what else can you do but make a good time of it? And naturally, that’s exactly what we did.
There we were – talking, laughing … cracking each other (and anyone else within earshot) up and being our usual silly selves. We were happily waiting our turn when a very friendly Hawaiian gentleman, whose interest we’d caught, turned and noticed we were all in our sleepy attire.
After a moment of silence, he smiled and said …
“Wow … I wish I could wear my pajamas into Starbucks, but I don’t think that this place is ready for a full-grown man in …
… a SpongeBob thong!”
Then he flashed a contagious grin and started laughing, and we couldn’t help ourselves …
We burst out laughing too! It was one of those spontaneous bonding moments, when a group of people decided not to take life too seriously, and connected in a magical moment.
We all are given the choice, in every situation, to determine how we want to respond to whatever curves life is throwing in our direction. We can be impatient, frustrated, angry – serious, etc. … or we can step back, detach, relax … and lighten up.
All roads lead to the same destination, but one journey is certainly more enjoyable than the other!
Today, I share a quote that I love by Marilyn vos Savant that says …
"At first, I only laughed at myself. Then I noticed that life itself is amusing … and I've been in a generally good mood ever since."
A wise man knows life is far too important to be taken seriously!
So, laugh … with the rest of us!
Until Tomorrow …
Hugs (from the closet),
KimbraLee =)
P.S. – Now, the downside of this story is that every time we see this man in the future, we will have a visual of him actually wearing a SpongeBob thong!!! – but then again … could be worth an entire other set of laughs all together! ;-)
The Starbucks we frequent happens to be smack in the middle of a very large grocery store, and with 5 kids in the house, believe me when I say I am in that store almost every day. I have asked politely for my own reserved parking space, but for some reason, they have not obliged me quite yet! (Maybe when I hit the $1 million food bill? … which, by my most recent calculations, should be about next Tuesday!)
Because we shop frequently, we know everyone at this store … we know the managers, we know the baristas, we know the checkers, we know the baggers (my daughter’s boyfriend is one of them!). You know the kind of place I’m talking about.
We feel comfortable there. It’s like an extension of home … and I have the receipts to prove it!
Well, tonight, when the idea struck us to go out for coffee, we were already in our jammies. And the rule in our house? Once in jammies … stay in jammies!!!
Now, it is not really unusual for us to go to Starbucks in our pajamas. (Come to think of it, it is not unusual for us to go to Blockbuster Video in our pjs, Target in our pjs, the Little League Field or Post Office in our pjs …) In fact, it is not unusual for us to ‘feel comfy’ just about anywhere, no matter what we are wearing … especially our trusty jammies!
When we walked into the store tonight, there was a line at the Starbucks counter – about 6 people ahead of us. And thanks to Starbucks’ unmatched entrepreneurial ability to turn coffee drinks into their own food group … when the entire line of customers in front of you order something like a ‘double-shot-venti-ice blended-mocha –super-duper -concoction’ with extra whipped cream and chocolate syrup, you know you’re gonna be there a while!
So what else can you do but make a good time of it? And naturally, that’s exactly what we did.
There we were – talking, laughing … cracking each other (and anyone else within earshot) up and being our usual silly selves. We were happily waiting our turn when a very friendly Hawaiian gentleman, whose interest we’d caught, turned and noticed we were all in our sleepy attire.
After a moment of silence, he smiled and said …
“Wow … I wish I could wear my pajamas into Starbucks, but I don’t think that this place is ready for a full-grown man in …
… a SpongeBob thong!”
Then he flashed a contagious grin and started laughing, and we couldn’t help ourselves …
We burst out laughing too! It was one of those spontaneous bonding moments, when a group of people decided not to take life too seriously, and connected in a magical moment.
We all are given the choice, in every situation, to determine how we want to respond to whatever curves life is throwing in our direction. We can be impatient, frustrated, angry – serious, etc. … or we can step back, detach, relax … and lighten up.
All roads lead to the same destination, but one journey is certainly more enjoyable than the other!
Today, I share a quote that I love by Marilyn vos Savant that says …
"At first, I only laughed at myself. Then I noticed that life itself is amusing … and I've been in a generally good mood ever since."
A wise man knows life is far too important to be taken seriously!
So, laugh … with the rest of us!
Until Tomorrow …
Hugs (from the closet),
KimbraLee =)
P.S. – Now, the downside of this story is that every time we see this man in the future, we will have a visual of him actually wearing a SpongeBob thong!!! – but then again … could be worth an entire other set of laughs all together! ;-)
Something For Nothing
It was the beginning of December. I was in a difficult place. And even though it wasn’t a ‘feel good’ place, it was a place that I had been unknowingly asking to arrive at for my entire life.
At the time, I was employed by a company that I had only gone to work for several months earlier. Well known company, fortune 500 player. I had a good salary, a company car, company gas card, company credit card, complete authority over my staff … but a spirit that was one day closer to death every time the alarm clock went off and I drug myself out of bed and back to the office.
When coming on board, this company boasted values that were in alignment with mine … things like ‘Do the Right Thing’ and ‘Honor God in all you Do’ … and I thought I had found home. I listened to the talk, I saw the vision – but once I left the corporate training headquarters and landed in the day to day operations of this business, there was really no room to actually ‘implement’ that foundation. There was a chasm … a gap – and it was one I was unable to bridge. I was completely disillusioned. I woke up each day dreading going to work … and that was completely against my golden rule.
At the same exact time, I was in a long distance relationship. It wasn’t with a handsome stranger I’d met on a business trip or an intriguing lover I’d met on a solo vacation … it was with a family friend, who’d become more than a friend … after standing squarely by his side when he went to prison for a crime he didn’t commit, leaving behind 3 small boys.
Me? In savior mode - Southern California … Him? In victim mode - Northern California. 486 miles between us. Many rules. Few visits. No support on the home front. Difficult … to say the least. And he still had a long time to go.
I believe it was December 20th – and the only reason I would remember the date is because of the proximity to Christmas when I got the ‘straw’ that broke the ‘camel’s back’.
The branch office I had inherited to run was had been completely neglected and was in poor condition when I got it. The last quarter of our year – namely the holidays – was our busiest season and I was 40% understaffed.
I was working 14 hour days, 6 days a week. My team was already working a mandatory 6 day work week – about 12 hours a day.
These people had families, relatives, traditions, religious practices … and so did I - but 5 days before Christmas, I received an e-mail from my Regional Manager stating that the company as a whole didn’t look profitable enough going into the new year so there was an immediate need to increase revenue before the end of the month, therefore, all employees were required to work not only on the Saturday before Christmas, but Sunday as well … and I had 2 days to break the news to my associates.
In disbelief, I read it … again, and again, and again. And then, at that moment, something in me snapped. I didn’t say a word to my team. I gathered up my coat, purse, papers … I let my office assistant know I wouldn’t be back that day and I headed out the front door. Home I went.
When I pulled into the driveway and walked into the kitchen, the looks on my children’s’ faces was one of shock. I got all the comments like “Mom, what are you doing home so early?” and “What happened – how come you’re not at work?” and “Are you sick?”
Oh … I was sick alright. I was sick and tired of working harder than I ever had and having less than ever to show for it.
I had no time for my family (who was the most important part of my life)
I had no money in the bank (because I likewise had absolutely no internal abundance at this point)
I was being asked to take advantage of a group of wonderful individuals (who obliged because they were suffering from the same basic ’disease’ I was at that time and didn’t know what else to do)
And, I wasn’t doing anything that I knew I was put on Earth to do –
I was completely and totallyout of integrity with myself
I had sold myself out … and , on December 20th …
I was finally … done.
I QUIT!
I quit it all.
I quit ‘something’ for ‘nothing’ - and I never looked back.
I called my boss, blessed her and wished her well and said goodbye. I wrote a letter to my boyfriend, blessed him and wished him well and said goodbye. I picked up my address book … took an inventory of who was no longer serving the real purpose of my life, blessed them and wished them well and said goodbye.
And I made a promise to myself that very day … that finally, after all these years, I would grow into the whole package I was meant to be all along and I would no longer play small.
I stepped it up.
Was it scary? Hell yes! I have 5 children looking at me every morning expecting food on the table! I have a lender who expects the mortgage to hit the bank on the first. I have bills and obligations …
But guess what? I asked for the means to do what I LOVE … to follow my bliss … and to be supported in that. Believe me, the Universe supports a heart on purpose … so - grateful and happy - here I am!
I am writing every day. I am coaching every day. I am teaching every day. And I am making a difference in people’s lives the way I have always known I am supposed to. How do I know it’s working? Because YOU tell me all the time!
I now have time for my beautiful family. I have amazing new friends. I have the most incredible partner. I am blessed beyond words.
And I have all these things because when I knew what was necessary … I trusted, and I jumped off the cliff without a parachute. A leap of faith …
Left ‘something’ for ‘nothing’.
Wow, what a beautiful nothing it has turned out to be!
And as great as it feels to give all this to others … because it is my joy … I receive every day more than I share.
That, my friends, is the true meaning of abundance.
So, can I ask you something? Are you living your bliss every day? Do you wake up so grateful for everything in your life that you can’t help but spill it out all over everyone around you everywhere you go?
If not, step into your own closet … do some soul searching … listen to what your soul is telling you. You know what you were meant to do – and if not, find someone who can help you uncover it.
Then? Go to the appropriate cliff. Spread your arms out wide. Speak a great prayer of trust. And … jump.
And, with the right intention in your heart, I can promise you – that the landing will not be hard and painful … it will be into the arms of those at the foot of your valley who have been waiting to catch you all these years.
Until Tomorrow …
Hugs (from the closet),
KimbraLee =)
P.S. – I will be the one yelling ‘you can do it!’ … louder than anyone else! ;-)
At the time, I was employed by a company that I had only gone to work for several months earlier. Well known company, fortune 500 player. I had a good salary, a company car, company gas card, company credit card, complete authority over my staff … but a spirit that was one day closer to death every time the alarm clock went off and I drug myself out of bed and back to the office.
When coming on board, this company boasted values that were in alignment with mine … things like ‘Do the Right Thing’ and ‘Honor God in all you Do’ … and I thought I had found home. I listened to the talk, I saw the vision – but once I left the corporate training headquarters and landed in the day to day operations of this business, there was really no room to actually ‘implement’ that foundation. There was a chasm … a gap – and it was one I was unable to bridge. I was completely disillusioned. I woke up each day dreading going to work … and that was completely against my golden rule.
At the same exact time, I was in a long distance relationship. It wasn’t with a handsome stranger I’d met on a business trip or an intriguing lover I’d met on a solo vacation … it was with a family friend, who’d become more than a friend … after standing squarely by his side when he went to prison for a crime he didn’t commit, leaving behind 3 small boys.
Me? In savior mode - Southern California … Him? In victim mode - Northern California. 486 miles between us. Many rules. Few visits. No support on the home front. Difficult … to say the least. And he still had a long time to go.
I believe it was December 20th – and the only reason I would remember the date is because of the proximity to Christmas when I got the ‘straw’ that broke the ‘camel’s back’.
The branch office I had inherited to run was had been completely neglected and was in poor condition when I got it. The last quarter of our year – namely the holidays – was our busiest season and I was 40% understaffed.
I was working 14 hour days, 6 days a week. My team was already working a mandatory 6 day work week – about 12 hours a day.
These people had families, relatives, traditions, religious practices … and so did I - but 5 days before Christmas, I received an e-mail from my Regional Manager stating that the company as a whole didn’t look profitable enough going into the new year so there was an immediate need to increase revenue before the end of the month, therefore, all employees were required to work not only on the Saturday before Christmas, but Sunday as well … and I had 2 days to break the news to my associates.
In disbelief, I read it … again, and again, and again. And then, at that moment, something in me snapped. I didn’t say a word to my team. I gathered up my coat, purse, papers … I let my office assistant know I wouldn’t be back that day and I headed out the front door. Home I went.
When I pulled into the driveway and walked into the kitchen, the looks on my children’s’ faces was one of shock. I got all the comments like “Mom, what are you doing home so early?” and “What happened – how come you’re not at work?” and “Are you sick?”
Oh … I was sick alright. I was sick and tired of working harder than I ever had and having less than ever to show for it.
I had no time for my family (who was the most important part of my life)
I had no money in the bank (because I likewise had absolutely no internal abundance at this point)
I was being asked to take advantage of a group of wonderful individuals (who obliged because they were suffering from the same basic ’disease’ I was at that time and didn’t know what else to do)
And, I wasn’t doing anything that I knew I was put on Earth to do –
I was completely and totallyout of integrity with myself
I had sold myself out … and , on December 20th …
I was finally … done.
I QUIT!
I quit it all.
I quit ‘something’ for ‘nothing’ - and I never looked back.
I called my boss, blessed her and wished her well and said goodbye. I wrote a letter to my boyfriend, blessed him and wished him well and said goodbye. I picked up my address book … took an inventory of who was no longer serving the real purpose of my life, blessed them and wished them well and said goodbye.
And I made a promise to myself that very day … that finally, after all these years, I would grow into the whole package I was meant to be all along and I would no longer play small.
I stepped it up.
Was it scary? Hell yes! I have 5 children looking at me every morning expecting food on the table! I have a lender who expects the mortgage to hit the bank on the first. I have bills and obligations …
But guess what? I asked for the means to do what I LOVE … to follow my bliss … and to be supported in that. Believe me, the Universe supports a heart on purpose … so - grateful and happy - here I am!
I am writing every day. I am coaching every day. I am teaching every day. And I am making a difference in people’s lives the way I have always known I am supposed to. How do I know it’s working? Because YOU tell me all the time!
I now have time for my beautiful family. I have amazing new friends. I have the most incredible partner. I am blessed beyond words.
And I have all these things because when I knew what was necessary … I trusted, and I jumped off the cliff without a parachute. A leap of faith …
Left ‘something’ for ‘nothing’.
Wow, what a beautiful nothing it has turned out to be!
And as great as it feels to give all this to others … because it is my joy … I receive every day more than I share.
That, my friends, is the true meaning of abundance.
So, can I ask you something? Are you living your bliss every day? Do you wake up so grateful for everything in your life that you can’t help but spill it out all over everyone around you everywhere you go?
If not, step into your own closet … do some soul searching … listen to what your soul is telling you. You know what you were meant to do – and if not, find someone who can help you uncover it.
Then? Go to the appropriate cliff. Spread your arms out wide. Speak a great prayer of trust. And … jump.
And, with the right intention in your heart, I can promise you – that the landing will not be hard and painful … it will be into the arms of those at the foot of your valley who have been waiting to catch you all these years.
Until Tomorrow …
Hugs (from the closet),
KimbraLee =)
P.S. – I will be the one yelling ‘you can do it!’ … louder than anyone else! ;-)
Purple Cows
Today, I ask you … have you ever woken up to find yourself surrounded by a ‘theme’ in your life? I think it happens to everyone from time to time … perhaps when someone up there is trying to get our attention, if you know what I mean!
Let’s just use purple cows as an example -
You get up first thing in the morning , flip on your radio and your favorite d.j.’s are talking about a great new movie all about purple cows that just started showing in a theatre near you.
On your drive to work, you turn the corner by your usual coffee stop and the billboard at the side of the road that’s always advertised new cars? It’s now plastered with a huge, unpretentious, grinning … purple cow.
You get into the office and your receptionist lets you know three people need your immediate attention to discuss something that they claim just can’t wait – you call them in, one at a time, only to find out each one wants to talk to you about … yep, you guessed it … purple cows!
You know what I’m talking about, right? It’s a purple cow invasion!!!
The burning question that begs to be asked here is … do you ignore this happening and write it off as a coincidence? Or do you step back, get quiet for a minute and pay attention to what message might be in it for you?
Life is full and we are all so busy. We tend to ‘power through’ so much – and trust me, I can be as guilty as the next guy of falling into ‘get ‘er done’ mode! But since I’ve been around the block a few times now, I’ve discovered that ‘learning things the hard way’ is just not as enjoyable as it was in my younger days when I had far less to lose!
The Universe has its ways of teaching us our lessons … some subtle, some not so subtle. It may not be particularly gracious, but that’s just the way things work.
Take our cow scenario, for instance …
The first cow? – reasonably subtle.
The second cow? – not so much.
The third cow? – about as subtle as a two by four over the head!
Listen, you needn’t endure an entire stampede to catch the drift … all you need to do is begin to tune into your more sensitive side … your intuition, your sixth sense, your built-in spiritual GPS system, if you will, and pay attention.
And when you start to really ‘listen’ for the message - you will ‘get it’ easily! … Maybe even before God has to send the entire herd!!!
Until Tomorrow …
Hugs (from the closet),
KimbraLee =)
P.S. - Cows are cute, but man - do they make a big mess!
Let’s just use purple cows as an example -
You get up first thing in the morning , flip on your radio and your favorite d.j.’s are talking about a great new movie all about purple cows that just started showing in a theatre near you.
On your drive to work, you turn the corner by your usual coffee stop and the billboard at the side of the road that’s always advertised new cars? It’s now plastered with a huge, unpretentious, grinning … purple cow.
You get into the office and your receptionist lets you know three people need your immediate attention to discuss something that they claim just can’t wait – you call them in, one at a time, only to find out each one wants to talk to you about … yep, you guessed it … purple cows!
You know what I’m talking about, right? It’s a purple cow invasion!!!
The burning question that begs to be asked here is … do you ignore this happening and write it off as a coincidence? Or do you step back, get quiet for a minute and pay attention to what message might be in it for you?
Life is full and we are all so busy. We tend to ‘power through’ so much – and trust me, I can be as guilty as the next guy of falling into ‘get ‘er done’ mode! But since I’ve been around the block a few times now, I’ve discovered that ‘learning things the hard way’ is just not as enjoyable as it was in my younger days when I had far less to lose!
The Universe has its ways of teaching us our lessons … some subtle, some not so subtle. It may not be particularly gracious, but that’s just the way things work.
Take our cow scenario, for instance …
The first cow? – reasonably subtle.
The second cow? – not so much.
The third cow? – about as subtle as a two by four over the head!
Listen, you needn’t endure an entire stampede to catch the drift … all you need to do is begin to tune into your more sensitive side … your intuition, your sixth sense, your built-in spiritual GPS system, if you will, and pay attention.
And when you start to really ‘listen’ for the message - you will ‘get it’ easily! … Maybe even before God has to send the entire herd!!!
Until Tomorrow …
Hugs (from the closet),
KimbraLee =)
P.S. - Cows are cute, but man - do they make a big mess!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
