Accept Suggestions with Grace....

When people offer suggestions I often hear people say things like “I already knew that” or “yea I was just going to do that.” When people offer you a suggestion, just smile and say thank you. They are usually just trying to be helpful and even though you may already know how to do something, you should honor the fact that someone cares enough to offer you help. It is your ego that says “I don’t need you to tell me how to do something, I knew it already without your input... look at me look at me... I'm smart!” Tell the ego to be quiet because being courteous is a gift to others and to yourself. So today, accept suggestions with grace and Live Inspired Now!

Support kids by letting them learn from experience...

Sheltering children from pain doesn't protect them from the world, in fact it makes them more vulnerable. Instead, teach children how to deal with pain and disappointment in a healthy way. Teach them to communicate their true feelings, teach them to allow themselves time to feel badly and then to move forward without carrying the baggage of past huts with them! This will teach children how to overcome challenges without giving up on them, it will equip them with the skills they need to persevere in life. Toddlers fall down so many times before they ever learn to walk... you wouldn't hold them back from learning to walk because they might fall. So continue to allow them to "fall" as they get older, these are life lessons that shape their destiny and make them stronger and more capable. So today, don't protect your child from natural consequences, allow them to learn valuable lessons that only come from experience and Live Inspired Now!

Ending relationships with grace....

Relationships don’t end badly, people sometimes act badly when relationships end! Not all relationships are meant to last forever and that is OK, but when you do end a relationship you should do so with dignity and grace. Don’t stalk the person, don’t talk badly about them, don’t try and get people to dislike them and never ever post your grievances on facebook! Allow yourself time to mourn the relationship if you need, take time to reflect before moving on and respect that the person had a special place in your heart at one time. The relationship might be over but your dignity and self worth should remain and even if the other person is acting badly, do not engage in it. So today, if you are ending a relationship, keep your cool, allow yourself time to get over it, don’t act badly and Live Inspired Now!


Upstate NY Fans:

"Making Relationships Work" class
Thursday, June 28th @ 10:30am
Family Resource Center

72 North Ave Owego, NY
RSVP: 607-687-1571
On Facebook
Join Us!!

Our last day in Montana....

Today is the last day of our honeymoon in Montana. We have had such an amazing time and enjoyed every single magic moment of this trip! We have seen and done it all and today we are taking it easy and going to the movies to see "Brave." (I have been getting comments that this young cartoon reminds people of me... it's the hair. So I will have to go check it out!) There will be no post tomorrow as I will be flying home all day but will resume on Wednesday. I am looking forward to showing you all the pictures from my honeymoon! Until then... Live Inspired NOW!

FIREWALK!!!

Women Ablaze: Living Powerfully with Inspired Heather Paris: August 18th, Ithaca, NY

Amazing, kick ass, empowering workshop for women! You will build confidence, supercharge your dreams, enhance focus, and overcome fear! Bring your daughters (16 and older) and give them these gifts at a young age and help them become more positive and self directed!

This will be one of the most exciting nights of your life. You will become a firewalker and you will learn bone-deep that you are unstoppable.

You will witness and experience incredible moments, you will deepen your connection with the people you came with, and you will have a whole lot of fun.

It will change your life for the better!

Register today at:

www.liveinspirednow.com (scroll down on the right side and register for firewalk)
or
http://ithacafirewalks.com/ (be sure to click on the August 18th date)

LIVE INSPIRED NOW!!!

Time out for ME.... by Jen Zatorowski

“Later, let me do this first, someday or how about I don’t have time.” Sound familiar. Too often fun times are lost and our lives are spent making excuses; sacrificing what we enjoy for what; work, money, an expected outcome? When was the last time you said “That was fun! I am doing this again! Or spent the day reminiscing on what you and friends just did, instead of project deadlines, big meetings or the next task you will be assuming. Can’t remember? Well, that is when you know it’s time. Time to put yourself in “time out for ME” and go do something spontaneous, something fun, something you have not done in a long time- something besides work! We tend to get in this vicious cycle of work life, taking work on, losing sight of the fun, since we can’t have fun we take on more work. We stay busy to trick our minds into believing we have no time for fun with all this work. It is a cumulative cycle with negative results on our social, personal and HEALTH patterns. Break the work cycle just once this week, do something FUN! Spend the money you would normally not spend, go somewhere you have wanted to go, do something on your bucket list. See and feel the difference in yourself. This is NOT dress rehearsal! You are on stage NOW, giving the performance of your life- make it fun!

Jen Zatorowski
NASM certified personal trainer
NASM corrective exercise specialist
INBF natural bodybuilder
elitephysiques@msn.com

It’s Just Me… by Peg Haust-Arliss

So, I have this friend, and every time she calls me to leave a message she says: “Hi Peg, It’s just me……..” in her kind, carefree, slow monotone. I love you girlfriend, but I must say that every time I hear you say that I want to scream:
“AAHH what do you mean it’s JUST me!?”
It’s JUST me; REALLY??? Why must you minimize your importance! Why do you constantly minimize your inherent power and beauty? How can you not realize how magnificent you are? Even the fact that you walk this earth is nothing short of a spiritual and scientific miracle! Oh, but, it’s just me. YOU are unique! There is no other creature on this earth like you! Even identical twins are slightly different, but never mind that, it’s just me. If your parents never met, YOU, as you are, would not exist! YOU are a biological masterpiece! YOU cannot be replicated! OMG, you are crazy! I am going to kick your ass! Stop it! There is no JUST about you!! You ARE Love! You ARE Special! You ARE Divine!
However, if you are my client, you very well know that nothing has any meaning until we give it one. That being said, hmm, what else could this mean? Maybe it just means: “Hi Peg, call me.”

Peg Haust-Arliss, LCSW-R

www.PegHaust.com

www.LiveMoreLifeCoaching.com

www.twitter.com/@PegHaust

www.Facebook.com/LifeCoachPeg

Act Before You Think by Gloria Pavey

Why do kids learn new things so quickly and easily? Because they don't wait until they understand something to try it. They simply see the result they want to achieve and mimic those who are already achieving that result, learning in the process and adjusting the process to their own taste once they 'get it.'

If you want to learn something new, you must act without understanding. Learn to think like a kid, and think like a kid to learn! ;)

Gloria Pavey
Inner Light Coach

www.gloriapavey.blogspot.com

Long Happy Marriage by Kevin Klein

Married for 80 Years! How'd they do it?
When you're looking to succeed at something, it's a good idea to model your behavior after someone who's done what you want to do. This holds true for relationships as well as other goals. And although it's not the only measure of a successful relationship, generally speaking how long a marriage has lasted could be considered a standard of success. Relationships don't usually last if they aren't any good. Following this train of logic, the best way to learn how to have a good, long-lasting relationship is to model someone who's done it.
I heard an interview once with a couple who claimed they had been happily married for 80 years! He was 102 and she was 100. When asked for the secret to their long, happy marriage she replied, "Always speak your mind." He simply added, "Don't listen."
To me this little exchange overflows with honesty, humor, affection and attention (he was listening for his cue wasn't he!) Smile and think about it. It's like a haiku; simple, yet profound.
Wishing all of you a long and happy relationship!
Kevin Joseph Klein
Personal Life Coach

www.theroadtofindout.com

Feeling Stressed by Jeffrey Whittaker

Most people are aware of stress and experience some form of stress on a regular basis. Stress actually shuts down the digestive system and raises cholesterol, raises cortisol levels in the body and depletes essential nutrients that our body needs to function. The problem is if you experience stress on a regular basis you are affecting all your major organs. A little stress can lead to anxiety, affect your mood and people around you.

So what are your stresses?

Common stresses are:

Money, Work, Family, Commute, Financial Problems, Too busy, Not enough free time and Major life changes.

These are just a few of many things that can trigger stress in ones life, take steps to reduce the stress, meditation, seek counseling, change in lifestyle. If you think you many be under stress and would like to learn more on how to reduce or eliminate the effects of stress on your health, please contact me to learn more.

Jeffrey Whittaker – Wellness Coach – GotStress@Jeffreywhittaker.com

Inner Commitments by Martin Lanzas

I like to think about the actions we take as stemming from a network of various inner commitments, and like to investigate people's results by the commitments they maintain.Many of the people I work with tell me they would like to become more social,but spend countless hours NOT talking to people. This is what Robert Keagan calls a competing commitment. It can be said that these people are more committed to NOT talking to people than to talking to people. People take action when their inner commitments align. One of the most important indicators I've found of whether someone will follow through on accomplishing a task is the inner commitment to accomplish something even if they deal with disappointment, struggle, and not getting things perfect.
So I ask you: what are you committed to? Are you willing and committed to dealing with all of the inevitable BS that it may take to accomplish what you want? If so, I honor your determination; if not, good luck - you'll probably need it.

Martin Lanzas
Life Transformation Expert and Coach
martin@martinlanzas.com

Happy Thather Day!

One year ago today, I married my best friend and life has never been the same! The past year has been an exciting one, full of fun, laughs, tears, trials but most of all love. Other couples might have crumbled under the weight of the chaos from outside influences we have experienced but we have grown stronger together in love.

We have combined and built a loving family with strong bonds and provided stability for our children. We have opened our hearts to many and are teaching our kids to generously share our lives and our home with the people we care about. We live each day to the fullest, making memories in every moment and teaching our kids that life waits for no one. We have taken risks and been brave together, we have leaned on one another, we have motivated each other but most of all we have INSPIRED each other. We choose to live each day as if it were our last, knowing that the most important moments in life are the ones spent together.

Our lives began the moment we met. We are blessed to have found in the other what was missing in ourselves. Our love grows stronger and bolder every day, taking nothing for granted, making memories in each moment, always remembering to put each other first, always each others biggest fan, best friends forever, learning from and appreciating one another, protecting each other, raising healthy kids, setting a good example, helping those in need, opening our home and hearts, not caring about what others think, never judging, living with passion and most of all..... loving without limits.

I love you Thad, now and always!

**We are renewing our vows today and then off for our honeymoon! I will be featuring guest bloggers over the next week... please enjoy their posts! They are all truly amazing and INSPIRED friends and colleagues!**

LIVE INSPIRED NOW!!!

Don't be ridiculous... actually... GO AHEAD!

Being silly the other day I randomly responded to my friends facebook posts with things that made no sense. It was really funny! My friend Dawn and I posted nonsensical mumbo jumbo just to get a laugh and the funny part was that people responded seriously to it. (Kind of like the time I posted about my utter disdain for raisins) lol. So today, insert a little zaniness, respond ridiculously to people in person or on facebook and Live Inspired Now!

PS.... picking up my HOT PINK convertible today!!! Pics tonight or tomorrow... check back soon!

I'm your parent, not your friend!

My friend Chris and I were swapping parenting stories the other day and she said something that inspired this post. She said she told her daughter: “I expect you to be a teenager so you better expect me to be the Mom!” That quote is perfect and I fully agree! I work with so many parents that want to be friends with their teens but that is unrealistic. Friendly yes, but friends NO. As a parent you have to do the hard work of sometimes being the bad guy, setting guidelines and telling kids no when needed. You cannot skew the boundaries with kids because kids by nature test limits and push boundaries. If they don’t know where the lines are, they are sure to cross them. It is hard enough to parent in this day and age when there are so many outside forces influencing kids, they need to have one place (home) where they know their role, they fit in, get unconditional love and acceptance as well as structure, stability and consequences. I work with kids all the time that actually crave some sort of structure because their home life is so loose and there are no boundaries. So today, let your kids know that you are the parent and they should expect you to be the “Mom or Dad” and do whatever it takes to keep them safe and healthy and Live Inspired Now!

The benefits of swear words!

I am always amazed by people who tip toe around subjects and use words that don’t truly express the intensity of emotion that they are feeling. Now I'm not saying become a complete potty mouth, and there is definitely a time and place to be more proper but there is some amount of power that comes from using a swear word in the appropriate connotation! I actually swear all the time when working with clients because the “taboo” words incite an emotional and often physiological response that you just cant get otherwise. I could have my client say “Yes, I plan to lose weight” but that really would not resonate with them on a deep level and will set them up for failure. Instead, I have my clients say things like “I AM GOING TO LOSE THIS FUCKING WEIGHT... I FUCKING HATE IT AND I WILL NEVER BE FAT AGAIN!!! You are more likely to have success with these words because they have emotion behind them! They are powerful and remap your thinking. So today, use some powerful swear words and Live Inspired Now!

PS... I am all for using swear words to facilitate personal changes and to paint a picture of reality but never for use as a name calling weapon against someone.

Relaxed Response!

So much of our life is out of our control, we falsely think we have control but we really don't. Nobody knows what will happen from day to day. Like the ocean, life ebbs and flows through the good and bad. Sometimes bringing us what we want, other times bringing us challenges but it is all part of life. When we adopt a relaxed response to life, we have decided to enjoy what comes our way, confident in the knowledge that good things even emerge from tragedies. When you accept what life offers you and you know each day is a gift, it is easier to be relaxed because you know it will always work out the way it is supposed to. When the kids are screaming, the deadline is looming, the family is visiting or your just overwhelmed, sit back, take a deep breath and relax. Everything will still be there, take a moment to sit in silence, listen to the world around you and relax. So today, try a relaxed response to life, see if it feels better than the hustle and bustle, you might even find you actually get more accomplished and Live Inspired Now!

Age is experience...

Never use age as an excuse to hold you back from doing something. Age is just the amount of experience you have living! So today, do something despite your age and Live Inspired Now!!

Thanks to Karen Wulf for the inspiration for this post! Go get em Karen!!! xo

Compliment the chef!

Last night Thad and I discovered a new restaurant called "Cobblestone" in Geneva, NY. It was incredible! The place itself was elegant and charming and the food was beyond delicious! We were positively giddy with delight over finding such an exceptional restaurant. The food was so delicious that I sent my compliments to the chef who was thrilled to get the feedback because it was apparently a new menu. I think too often people forget to pay compliments when things are good so we were sure to thank our servers as well as the chef for a well prepared meal and for such a pleasant experience! So today, if the dining is good... Ask to compliment the chef and Live Inspired Now!

Cultivate....

Prepare your life for good things to come by putting good into the Universe. I am always amazed when people say things like "I just don't get it, I am surrounded by people who are angry," or "How do I meet all the jerks?" Guess what? You get what you put out there! Your energy attracts things to you so if you are in constant drama, don't blame others, you are bringing that to your own world with your words, actions and thoughts. If you are always in conflict, start thinking about how YOU can let things go. If you are surrounded by negative people, start being more positive. If your co-workers aren't doing their job, make sure you are doing yours above and beyond! Hold yourself accountable for YOUR behavior, not everyone elses. ALL of your life experiences can be changed by altering our OWN attitudes and behaviors. So today, cultivate joy, happiness, peace and abundance and this is what you will enjoy and Live Inspired Now!

Host an INSPIRING movie night...

Last night some of my girl friends came over to watch the movie Fried Green Tomatoes! We had an awesome time!!! If you haven't seen this movie I HIGHLY recommend it. It is such an empowering movie about two women who become friends and inspire one another. It is a tear jerker in some spots and totally hysterical in others, you won't be disappointed!
It was nice to have a "ladies night" with my friends. We all brought snacks and wine to share and just so you all know.... All foods are calorie free on ladies nights! ;) So today, plan an INSPIRING movie night, eat lots of junk food and laugh with your friends, get inspired by an empowering flick and Live Inspired Now!

Yes Ma'am!

I was on the phone yesterday with a friend and he asked me to hold on while he placed his drive through order. At the end of the order, the attendant said something and I heard my dear friend say "Yes Ma'am." He got back on the phone and I mentioned how I don't hear that very often at all and praised him for being so polite and respectful. I hear all the time people (especially teens) talking about wanting respect but what are they doing to earn that? If you want to be respected, act respectful. If you want to be taken seriously, be professional. If you want to feel important, make yourself an asset to other people. Nobody get respect by acting like they belong on a Jerry Springer episode. Treat people with a higher level of respect and dignity than you desire. "Yes ma'am, no ma'am, yes sir, no sir," are great ways to start showing respect for your fellow man. Earn respect today by being respectful yourself and Live Inspired Now!
PS... Tony, stop eating at McDonalds!! ;)

Be your own HERO!

It is so awesome to have friends and family who are supportive but sometimes you have to be your own HERO! Have you ever met those people whom no matter what you suggest to help their situation they have a reason why they can't do something or can't be happy? They are determined that their happiness hinges upon what others do or say.
Other people impact us for sure, but it is up to US to choose happiness, to advocate for ourselves and to be our own hero. Put on your imaginary cape, shoulders back, chest out, strap on your confidence, speak up for yourself, meet your needs, set an example of leadership and LIVE INSPIRED NOW!!!

Re-purpose...

This weekend Thad and I went to a festival and we met artist John Jackson that makes these cool statue sculptors out of recycled items. He had found purpose for discarded bikes, instruments, tools, auto parts and more! These sculptors were adorable and very animated too! So today, think about how you can re-purpose used or old items. Maybe you could become an artist and create something new, or use something old in a new way. For example, I have a kitchen Hoosier that I use in my bedroom as a media cabinet and it looks amazing! So today, think about how you can re-purpose an old item, breath new life into it and create something useful or cool and Live Inspired Now!
PS: Here is a link to John Jackson's website: www.whimsicalmetalsculpture.com

Don't turn a blind eye...

Don't turn a blind eye to people in need. So the other day I was pulled over because my car needed transmission fluid (it has a leak.) I was on a back road and the car had steam pouring out of it and a man pulled over and asked if he could help. I asked if he knew where to put the transmission fluid and he did so he very kindly helped me. (Good thing too, I was going to put it into the oil thingy... ooops!) Anyway, plenty of people had driven by without even asking to help. If you see someone in need, ask to help them, don't just turn a blind eye and think that someone else will help. There are so many opportunities all the time for us to step up and help someone and it feels awesome when you lend a hand! So today, if you see a person broken down, or you see someone drop something, or maybe you see someone hurt, don't turn a blind eye, stop and offer assistance and Live Inspired Now!
PS... my husband bought me a brand new Jeep after breaking down! ;) Thanks baby!!! <3

All or nothing!

Yesterday, my daughter Mattie told me she was running for Secretary of her class at school. While we were talking about it, she mentioned that she really wanted to run for President but thought she had a better chance at getting Secretary. I told her, aim higher, RUN FOR PRESIDENT! I would rather see her run for President, give it her all and fail then to settle for something she didn't really want because it was easy to get! She agreed and got very excited about the idea and I helped her write a really great essay about why she should be allowed to run. By the end of it, she was making "Vote for Mattie" pins and was more determined than ever to give it her all! I could not be any prouder! Folks, so for GOLD, don't lower your standards for what you want to achieve, take a risk and if it doesn't work learn from the experience and it may work next time. Keep giving it your all! So today, think of something you put your ALL into and Live Inspired Now!