Look for the bright spot because there is always a bright spot

Disney's Contemporary Resort
Official address says Orlando, but WDW is closer and more accurate

 

Ever find yourself finally ready to do something you normally do first thing in the morning… and it’s actually time for bed?

Once in a blue moon, blogging is like that.

Why so late today?

Heading out to Edmonton, Alberta tomorrow at 6am. Much to my surprise this morning before the sun came up, discovered (miraculously) the destination is actually Saskatoon.

A three hour detour to rearrange flights and hotel (business moves slower on a Sunday morning).

All fixed. Even an airfare credit.

In the moment the mantra was, Thank goodness this was caught in Orlando and not in Edmonton.

Bright spot!

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What would it be like to build a startup from nothing?

Mid Life Celebration books displayed for book club members
Provided 3 comp copies to each book club member to share (each signed with unique message)

 

What would it be like to build a startup from nothing?

Last night was the first book club featuring Mid Life Celebration: rethink • reprioritize • recommit.

Hosted by Monica Flanagin Decker in her Valparaiso, Indiana home.

As Monica posted a Facebook update, her friend in South Carolina asked what all the buzz was about.

Then and there Monica convinced her friend to start a book club too, and feature Mid Life Celebration as their first book.

The rest of last night’s story continues at the…

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What would we regret not having done when we could have done it?

Fortune cookie saying
Time is the one thing everyone gets the same amount of each day

 

Ever walk into your family room in darkness, turn on a low light and simply pause and have a moment?

What if the life of our spouse/partner or child were gone from some unplanned tragic event?

What would we regret not having done when we could have done it?

Note: Happened 10 minutes ago here. Wow, sure puts things in perspective.

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PS. Everyone is fine, it was just a spontaneous, random, powerful moment.

 

Guest blogger Lorie Sheffer: Gratitude and respect

All American worker
What if we thought every job was performed by heroes?

 

Memorial Day and Veterans Day are celebrations of and thanks to our men and women in the military. They most certainly deserve our appreciation and our respect.

Why, then, are other occupations treated with such nastiness? Why the generalizations?

“Those lying politicians!” “Those damned doctors!” “Those grease-monkey mechanics?” “Those crooked lawyers!” are a few of the doozies I’ve heard just in the last week. Can you imagine making such sweeping statements about someone in the armed services? And yet there are, in ANY line of work, a few bad apples. For example Jeffrey McDonald, the Green Beret who so famously murdered his pregnant wife and two young daughters in 1970, or the huge problem of sexual assault in the military did not ignite a cry against all others who serve.

“Laying their lives on the line”; like Presidents Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley and Kennedy. And what about the lucky ones, whose would-be assassins had bad aim? Presidents Reagan, Ford, Truman, Jackson and both Presidents Roosevelt. What about Harvey Milk, a man who knowingly put his life on the line, and lost it, for the equal rights of others? Let’s remember those who were horribly wounded and left with permanent disability, like former Press Secretary James Brady or US House member Gabby Giffords. Every single one of them “those damned politicians”.

I wish we had a day that honored all professions. I suppose Labor Day is intended to do that, although it mostly marks the end of summer. I’d like to see a day that honors the hard working men who collect our trash every Friday morning, no matter the weather, dodging impatient motorists. Imagine life without them. I’d like to honor the doctors and nurses who worked so hard to pull my brother, father and husband back from the brink of death. I’d especially like to honor the ones who volunteer with Doctors Without Borders, who willingly go into danger zones to save the lives of others. I’d like to honor the furnace repairman who comes out in the middle of night in the dead of winter, the plumber who gives up his day off to fix a broken pipe, the farmer who grows the food I eat, the waitress whose feet are killing her at the end of her shift. I’d like to thank those damned engineers; “you know how they are”. They’re the ones who design just about everything we use in our daily lives. Thanks to the lawyer whose compassion and knowledge helped guide us after the death of our cousin. Above all, I’d like to thank those “Grease Monkeys”. I remember seeing the grease embedded in my father’s hands, inhaling the smell of it on his clothing when he came in after lying on his back on a cold concrete floor for 12 hours. I thank him when I help him up the steps or retrieve his cane for him. His mobility is severely limited from all of those years of hard manual labor. He wanted to retire at 80, but he only made it to 78.

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Reminds me of Steve Jobs’ garage, and Walt Disney’s uncle’s garage

Walt Disney quote on sign at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Hire for attitude, not aptitude

 

Something special is happening in Indiana. Reminds me of Steve Jobs’ garage, and Walt Disney’s uncle’s garage and their used camera in 1923.

Seriously.

All those inspirational sayings that turn us on?

All those stories about the crazy ones, the misfits, the ones who challenged things…

You know the ones.

Ever since eighth grade he wanted to help people lead healthier, more balanced, and joyful lives.

Some advocates have stepped up to help him.

Two of them are in Indiana.

He didn’t ask.

And they didn’t care if he said no thanks. They were prepared to move forward irregardless.

And this Friday, February 28, 2014, in Valparaiso, Indiana – it will be one of those stories told in the future about “the early days” of the Movement.

It’s gettin’ real.

And it may not work, because we aren’t even sure we know what to expect.

But one thing we know for sure.

Those inspirational sayings are no longer sayings, they are our battle cries.

We will launch, learn, revise.

And then launch again.

To the ones crazy enough, and bold enough to go first…

Break a leg Monica and Donna.

Life is not a dress rehearsal.

Live like you mean it!

PS. Whatever you need. Whenever you need it.

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