Friday, January 23, 2009

Thoughts on Fathers

I have been thinking a lot about Fathers in the last few months. About my father. About the father I hope Gareth will one day be...

One of the people I look up to recommended the book Strong Fathers Strong Daughters. So much so that he actually purchased a copy for every man in his office with a daughter. Hearing this made me curious, so I requested a free chapter here.

Below are a few lines that most resonate with this daughter...

I have watched daughters talk to fathers. When you come in the room, they change. Everything about them changes: their eyes, their mouths, their gestures, their body language. Daughters are never lukewarm in the presence of their fathers. They might take their mothers for granted, but not you. They light up - or they cry. They watch you intensely. They hang on your words. They hope for your attention, and they wait for it in frustration - or in despair. They need a gesture of approval, a nod of encouragement, or even simple eye contact to let them know you care and are willing to help.

When she's in your company, your daughter tries harder to excel. When you teach her, she learns more rapidly. When you guide her, she gains confidence. If you fully understood just how profoundly you can influence your daughter's life, you would be terrified, overwhelmed, or both. Boyfriends, brothers, even husbands can't shape her character the way you do. You will influence her entire life because she gives you an authority she gives no other man.

An Intention

One of my beautiful co-workers has started a routine in our office.

Once a week, she walks through our office with a deck of cards. Each of us pulls one card at the start of each week. It is random, like pulling from a deck of cards for a magic trick. Going on my third week, and so far, I seem to pull the exact intention that I need for the present. Here is the one I have been meditating on for this week.

Loving others is easy when I love and accept myself.

My heart is open. I allow my love to flow freely. I love myself. I love others and others love me.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

A First Step

"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step."

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

It Doesn't Take Long

I've only been back in the office for a week and a half. I'm already exhausted...and think I need another vacation.

Tagged

I've seen this one on a couple of blogs, but my beautiful friend Jessica was the one to call me out by name, so here goes.

Go to your fourth picture folder and select the fourth photo. Here's mine...


We have my dear friend, Michelle and her husband (fiance at this point, I think) Jon. We're trying to keep cool at the Austin City Limits Music Festival, circa 2005. It was a hot one!

Now, Joni, Mel, Katie, and Erin...you're tagged.

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

What To Do?!?

I think that I'll take Will Muschamp's advice on this one.

"I'm not rooting for them," Muschamp said. "I might watch the game but I'm not rooting, I guarantee you that."


I even sent my OU SUCKS pin with Lindsey to the game for good measure.

Sunday, January 04, 2009

Dave Ramsey

I was introduced to Dave Ramsey about six months ago. I wasn't actually introduced to the man, but introduced to his message. I watched the documentary Maxed Out and Dave came on at the end to share his Baby Steps toward Financial Freedom. I bought in and it seemed easy...until I tried it. I didn't even last through the first month. It was H-A-R-D!

I am in his online class right now. Only on the 4th lesson, but already I am learning something. These are some of his one-liners that are my favorite...

"Live like noone else, so that later you can LIVE like noone else!"

"I want to find out what rich people do to get rich. Don't tell me what your broke friends think you should do. They're BROKE!"

And today, with tears in my eyes, I listened to his lesson on paying off debt. He was talking about "Gazelle Intensity". He was running around the stage like a crazy man describing the attitude needed to kick debt (imagine National Championship passion). He said, "You have to sell stuff, you have to change your thinking, you have to kick it! That's how you get it done. RUN! DO IT! TAKE YOUR LIFE BACK!!"

Maybe I'm the only one in this situation, but I don't think so. Either way, I'm taking my life back. I'm doing it Dave's way -- and I'm going to scream, "I'M DEBT FREE!" sooner than anyone thinks (even me).

This is my New Year's Resolution.

Sunday Secrets

I read PostSecret every week. When I do, I always look for the one I wish I had written. Here is my choice for this week...

Maybe someday I'll have the courage to write my own.