Wednesday, November 27, 2013

You will NEVER guess where these crayons ended up!!!

A very funny event from my childhood happened when I was about 3 years old. My father, being in the Army, was stationed in Maryland, just outside of Baltimore. My mom had always wanted to take a train trip, so she decided that while my dad was on duty one weekend, her and I would take a train to visit relatives in Rhode Island. My mom was a little leery of traveling alone, but nonetheless, we made the trip.... What could go wrong?

Mom came prepared to entertain a 3 year old in the early 70's with coloring books and a big box of new crayons. After the long ride was underway, mom dozed off. She must have slept for a while because the next thing she new, we were at our stop to switch trains. Mom woke up and looked over at me and with tears in my eyes I stated "I want my crayons!" Confused as to where the crayons could have disappeared to, my mom said "Heather, where are your crayons?"

At that moment, I just pointed to the seat in front of us and that is when my mom discovered in complete horror where my crayons had gone! While she was sleeping, the man in the seat in front of us had also been sleeping. And while this poor unsuspecting man slept, I had pushed all of my crayons into his giant afro that stood above the back of his seat! In the 70's the afro's were sometimes really large so he must not have even felt it! My mom says she didn't know what to do so she quietly whispered to me "I will buy you new crayons" and hurried off the train!

My mom still laughs when she tells this story almost 40 years later! I am sure it must have been pretty funny and I hope the man with the afro wasn't too upset by the crayons! You just never know what funny things kids are going to do!

I hope you all have an amazing Thanksgiving! Love your family, count your blessings, and Live Inspired Now!

Monday, November 25, 2013

The full circle of things....

I thought I would spend this week reflecting on some stories that I have never shared before. Since this is Thanksgiving week and all, I am thankful for the experiences I have had that shaped who I am.

Many people don't know this about me, but I joined the Air Force in the early 90's. I got about half way through basic training when I started getting severe leg pain in my right shin. I thought something might be wrong since it was so swollen and painful but didn't say anything. One morning when I came down to formation, my drill sergeant let me have it because my boot wasn't laced properly. It was then that he noticed how swollen my leg was. He sent me to the hospital and it turned out that I had over 20 stress fractures, shin splints and severe tendinitis. After many tests and x-rays they determined that my leg was not going to heal well enough to stay in the military and I had to get out. I was so disappointed but knew that it just meant that something else was around the corner for me. I got out of the Air Force and my leg took a long time to recover, but I moved forward.

Fast forward about 20 years later, to last month when I went and watched my daughter Madison graduate from Air Force basic training! Wow! What a treat for me to be back at the same base and watching my daughter complete something that had been a dream of mine. I thought a great deal about the irony of the situation. The fact is, when I got out of the Air Force, I moved to Rhode Island and met Madison's father. Had I stayed in, I would have never met him, and Madison would not be there, graduating herself! It was like a circle closed and Madison was starting her life close to where I had started my life as her Mom.

I look back now and I am so grateful for that leg injury! How many times does something happen in your life that you think is a negative but turns into something positive? Even if the event was painful, good things can come of it! We just have to keep our eyes and hearts open and have faith in the bigger picture! Do you have any stories of things that came around full circle and worked out for the best? Think about your blessings today and Live Inspired Now!

Like my posts? Buy my book! Buy a signed copy here on my page or save a little and buy it on Amazon:  Live Inspired Now; A Field Guide For Happiness

Friday, November 22, 2013

6 Tips to Emotionally Detach From Mean People This Holiday!

One of the most frequent questions I hear from clients and fans is "How do I deal with judgmental or critical family members?" Everyone wants to know if they should keep them in their life or ditch them, and if they keep them, how then can they keep their own sanity.

Whether you decide to tolerate not-so-nice family members is up to you. My personal motto is "My love is unconditional however my tolerance is not." I don't believe we are obligated to put up with abuse or meanness from anyone. With that said, please also take a look at your tolerance level. Some things can (and should be) shrugged off.... are you emotionally detached? If not, here are 6 tips to help you emotionally detach when you visit snarky family members during the Holidays!

1 Arrive with a plan! Before you even leave your home to travel over the river and through the woods, devise a clear plan for escape! Decide with your partner on how long you will stay, and the exact time you will leave. If you decide to play it by ear, then at least come up with a signal to let the other know when you have had your fill. A simple ear tug, or a throat clear can be a sign that you are ready to leave and then you don't have to feel like you're the bad guy dragging everyone away from Grandma's house.

2 Distract yourself! Bring items of distraction that will keep you focused on anything but your mother's "Gee you have gained some weight" comments. A good book, board games to play with the kids, or your favorite holiday movie. Whatever it is, distract yourself from the negative comments and put your attention elsewhere.

3 Give, help, donate, volunteer! When you focus your energy on helping others, you have little time to think about the negative influences in your life. A fan today told me that she was going to have extra cards at her house for family to fill out, then she would send them to Holiday Mail for Heroes! Yay! Great way to change your family's focus onto something worthy!

4 Wear your walking shoes! Be prepared to take a little walk if you need to escape. We can't always be perfect and deflect the negativity so take a break if you need to! You can take a walk, get some fresh air, offer to run to the convenience store for more butter, or just sneak off and enjoy a quiet moment alone.

5 Discharge! If you don't express your emotions, they just pile up and you are left lugging them around in the form of baggage for years to come. If you don't feel you can express yourself during your Holiday gathering, then do it afterwards. You can talk to your partner and discharge all of your hurt feelings, or you can journal about it. Another nice way to dump hurt feelings is to write a letter to your offender and burn it. Be sure to be as explicit as you can be, then shred or burn the letter. You will be surprised at how liberating it is to free yourself of emotional baggage!

6 Breath deeply and relax! Take some nice, big, deep breaths and imagine yourself enclosed in a giant gold bubble. Nothing that anyone says can hurt, harm, or offend you. It all just slides right off as you sit back and relax. Nice deep breaths and controlled reactions. You are allowed to relax and enjoy peace, even if someone is trying to get you going. You don't have to attend every drama party you are invited to!

I hope you are able to emotionally detach and enjoy a very happy and healthy Holiday Season! You have the opportunity to practice your new-found wisdom next week on Thanksgiving Day! Enjoy, relax, detach, and Live Inspired Now!

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

A great way to show Military people that we care!

Every year our family sends cards to Military Men and Women who are recovering in the hospital after the stresses of service, or who are spending the holidays alone away from family. Please join us by mailing holiday cards to:

Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

They ask that the cards not have glitter or other substances that could fall off onto wounds. Also, don't make cards out to particular people, just use generic greetings such as Dear Service Member so they can go to anyone.

This a wonderful way for kids to get involved and learn how good it feels to do something nice for others. This year I am especially glad to be doing this project as my very own daughter is now in the Air Force. She will be with her military brothers and sisters for her birthday and Thanksgiving but gratefully we get her back in time for Christmas!

Please join our family in letting military people know how much we care! Send a card or a bunch of cards and Live Inspired Now!

Friday, November 15, 2013

The #1 gift they will NEVER FORGET!!!

In our home, we don't give birthday "presents," rather we give birthday "experiences!" I have shared about this before, but it's been a while so let me tell you what we did this year for the kids birthdays!

We took Harry to the Vidcon Conference in California. He loved it! Not only did he get to meet his favorite famous youtubers, but he learned some great new techniques for making videos, and he networked with fellow youtube friends and fans! Harry says it was one of the best trips he has ever been on!

Ethan wanted to go to the "big Chuck E Cheese" in Rhode Island. We told him that we couldn't pull it off, and that we would just do something else instead. So when we went to Rhode Island, shortly before his birthday, he was completely surprised when we brought him to his surprise party at the "big Chuck E Cheese!" You couldn't have pried the smile off of his face with a crowbar!

Carrie Sue wanted to take a mother / daughter trip to Rhode Island. We had a blast! We had tons of time on the road trip to talk and laugh and even make silly videos. Then while in Rhode Island, we visited her favorite stores and spent time with Grandma and Grandpa! Carrie still talks about the trip and wants to go again next year!

My daughter Madalyn wanted to go to the "Cake Boss" store in New Jersey. I planned the visit around a Tony Robbins; Unleash The Power Within Conference and took her to both! She LOVED it! We visited the cake boss bakery and then Mattie spent 4 energy packed days at the UPW conference! She walked on fire, had some major breakthroughs, and wants to go to the conference next summer!

The kids love going on amazing adventures and doing fun things for their birthdays. The biggest thing that I love about it, is that the memories we create will stay with them for a lifetime. Much longer than a plastic toy or electronic device that they will eventually stop playing with and forget about!

We don't always do such extravagant events, sometimes they are as simple as going to a show or concert. It's about sharing the experience, spending time together, and creating loving memories! So think about how you might "do" something for your loved one instead of buying something! Create memories that will last forever, and Live Inspired Now!

Thursday, November 14, 2013

You, yes YOU, are a survivor too!

Dear Readers,

If you are reading this, then you are a survivor! For your entire life, you have survived traumas, scary situations, extreme challenges, transitions, disappointments, betrayals, sickness, loss, and heartbreak.

Yet you are still here and you are AWESOME! Don't underestimate yourself, you can do anything you put your mind to! Go kick some ass!

With much admiration and inspiration,

Heather Paris

PS: Please consider purchasing my book which is for sale on this page on the right side! :)


Tuesday, November 12, 2013

This "stupid" 8th grader is now a published author!

I thought I would do a "vlog" (video blog) today instead of a regular post! Please let me know what you think of my video!

Live Inspired Now,
Heather Paris

Monday, November 11, 2013

Thank you Veterans!

Thank you to the brave men and women who courageously risk their lives to preserve our freedom! Thank you for your selfless dedication. Thank you for your willingness to be away from the people you love the most to serve your country. Thank you for proudly wearing the uniform and honoring the flag. Thank you brave veterans, past and present. Today, and everyday, we honor you!

Sunday, November 10, 2013

What the last bed in the shelter meant for my new friend!

I was sitting in my hotel room and ready to cry, again... it had been an emotional day! I was feeling very overwhelmed by looming project deadlines and from being on the road for the past month. Just when I was about to retreat from my long day and dive into a molten chocolate lava cake, there was a knock at my door. I had asked the room service guy about the loud noise coming from the heat vent and he said he would send someone right up. What I didn't know is, he would be sending up a new friend.

Jeff, the hotel engineer, entered my room and jokingly said "what did you do?" I forced the tears back and said "I don't know what happened, it was fine but then it just started making this loud clanking noise." It took Jeff no more than 60 seconds to make the heat vent stop rattling; we spent the next hour plus just chatting. I am not even sure how we got going on such deep topics but he gave me permission to share his inspirational story.

Upon hearing about my work with under privileged children, Jeff told me of his upbringing and how he believed that the African American community was falling apart. His young life started with tragedy when his mother was shot when he was only 4 years old. He and his 5 siblings went to live with his Grandmother in a lovely but mostly white suburb. He clearly loved and respected his Grandmother and had nothing but praise for her. She raised her own 5 children and then took in her daughter's 6 children when she passed. Jeff said he often felt like he didn't fit in with the white kids because he looked different yet, the black kids didn't accept him because he was "well mannered and spoke respectfully." He felt isolated and desperately wanted to fit in.

Despite the love and generosity his Grandmother offered, Jeff made unfortunate choices and found himself using drugs and getting in trouble with the law. He spent time in jail and when he got out he moved to a half way house where he was able to stay clean for 2 years. Then, one night he chose to use again and he says it all flooded back as if he had never gotten clean at all. It was like the 2 years spent clean never existed. He did another stint in jail and was out again only to go back to drugs. At some point, rock bottom and near death saved his life.

Jeff had been admitted to the hospital after a fight. He needed 28 stitches in his face and eye area and he says the nurse kept coming into his room and saying "Are you sure you are alright?" Finally, after  this happened several times, he asked the nurse, "Is something wrong with me? Why do you keep asking if I am alright?" The nurse then explained that he had experienced a major heart attack.  Jeff had been so high, he didn't even feel it! Jeff was admitted to the hospital and had decided there was no way he was staying. He was plotting his escape when the nurse brought in his medication. He drank the medicine and then asked what it was.  He found out it was methadone and just as the medicine knocked him out; his escape plan had been foiled! With tears in his eyes, and after apologizing for becoming emotional, Jeff told me that he believes God intervened to keep him where he needed to be.  

While in the hospital, Jeff met a man with AIDS, that had lost a leg to diabetes, and was about to have a kidney removed too. This man inspired Jeff by letting him know that though his time was very limited and he had lost so much, at least he could say "Today, I am clean!" He talked to Jeff about the importance of staying clean and sober and making the best choices he could.

Homeless, penniless, and busted up, Jeff had no place to go when it was time to leave the hospital. He had one last hope and that was a bridge he thought he had already burned. He called a shelter where he had stayed before. They remembered him and although they were reluctant, they said they would give him a bed but ONLY if he got there before 2am. It was 1:30am and he was at the hospital on the other side of town. Jeff said he wasn't going to lose this opportunity like everything else he had lost. Jeff, after spending time in the hospital for a heart attack, brutal physical beating, and completely doped up on drugs, literally ran all the way across town and made it to the shelter by 2:00am. It was there, that with help, he made the choice to put his life back together.

After some time, and many drug and alcohol meetings later, Jeff started looking for jobs which was proving to be very difficult with years of prison gaps in his employment history. He heard about a job here at the hotel and applied for a maintenance position. In yet another instance of divine intervention, Jeff got an interview because the hiring manager went to the same high school as Jeff, so he gave him a chance. That chance, along with Jeff's hard work and determination for a better life brings us to today. Jeff has been with the hotel for 18 years, has been clean and sober for 19 years, and is now the head of his department! He takes 100% of the responsibility for the bad choices he made, yet offers most of the credit for his recovery to the people who helped him out, and to God for not giving up on him.

Jeff is grateful that he is no longer dependent upon the "system" to take care of him. He works hard and earns everything he has. He spends much of his free time talking to the dis-advantaged youth in his community and trying to teach them about "freedom." He want's them to know that a small welfare check and a cheap apartment in the projects is not freedom, Rather, he feels you are a slave to a system that will never let you rise above your circumstances. He want's the young people to be free to go to the movies, take trips to Europe, laugh and enjoy their youth before they start to have babies. He want's them to appreciate the small things, and to know how good it feels to make positive choices and to inspire others. He want's them to know that drugs will rob them of youth, and wants them to make choices they won't regret when they are older. I have no doubt that Jeff is doing wonderful things to inspire the youth in his community. Jeff told me that when he lays down each night, it is just him and God. He prays, and thanks God for his blessings. He is grateful, he is happy, and he is an example of how life can be awesome if you decide to make it so!

I shook Jeff's hand and thanked him for his heartfelt sharing. and thanked him for being a new friend!

I know it seems risky to befriend strangers who come to your hotel room, but I truly believe it is a much bigger risk to shut out people who may be in your life for a reason that you don't even know about. I can't be certain why our paths crossed but I am grateful to be able to share his story!

I emailed this post to Jeff before I shared it with you and he loved it. He shared this quote with me that he keeps next to his bed in a frame he purchased while volunteering at the Salvation Army: "Within the maddening maze of things, When tossed by storm and flood, To one fixed trust my spirit clings; I know that God is good!"

Live Inspired Now!
Heather Paris

Thursday, November 7, 2013

BOOK RELEASE!!! Order NOW!!!

OMG ya'll!! I am so freakin' excited!! My book is currently being printed! I am offering pre-sales to my readers, starting today. Every single pre-order (from this site only) will be autographed no matter how many copies you buy! So be sure to let me know who you would like me to sign the book to in your order. The books will be shipping around December 1st.

I am so grateful to all of you: friends, family, readers, and loyal fans! Your encouragement has been instrumental in keeping me motivated through the "not as glamorous as I imagined it to be" publishing process. I am beyond touched by the love and support you have offered me.

I hope you enjoy the book. Each chapter contains: an overview of how to achieve happiness in different aspects of life, a life lesson with my personal stories, and quick tips for easy reference on the chapter topic. You might be surprised by some of the stories! Each chapter gives a deeply personal story to allow you to get an idea of how my beliefs and understandings of the world developed. From funny stories about a "dildo" to my "darkest moments of despair," I don't hold anything back! If you have always wondered how a person who has been married 4 times could become an incredibly successful relationship coach, now you get to find out! You will laugh, cry, and learn how to be happy!

Here is what some readers have already said:

"Live Inspired Now; A Field Guide For Happiness is an easy to read, fun filled yet touching journey to inspiration and the realization that happiness is right there waiting for every single one of us!" 
-Betsy Chasse; Tipping Sacred Cows and What The Bleep Do We Know?!

"Heather's perspective is absolutely refreshing. She reminds us what is really important and how easy it is to be happy. She reminds us that it is always our CHOICE and that we are more powerful than we realize or give ourselves credit for. I laughed and cried while reading her truly heartfelt, honest and sometimes vulnerable stories. Don't waste time, read it and start Living Inspired NOW!"
Peg Haust-Arliss, LCSW-R

Thank you again so much! I am deeply grateful and I look forward to hearing what YOU think of Live Inspired Now; A Field Guide For Happiness!

Much Love, Inspiration, and Gratitude,

Heather Paris



Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Guest Blogger: Meer Fennema


Money Reflections:
As you see the world around you as a Meer-or, all external situations are a reflection of your inner self. By changing yourself, you will change the world around you. For a lot of my clients right now, a shortage of money is a major roadblock. What’s the mirror of a money shortage? The most common reflection is a lack of self-worth. But there are more reflections. Because of the recession, a collective reflection right now is fear of shortages, fear of not having enough. If you really believe that in your core being, that’s what you radiate and will come back to you.

An antidote for fear is gratitude and asking the Universe what you really want. Every day in my meditation I express my gratitude for everything and everyone in my life and ask the Universe to help me with the goals I want to manifest. I also use incantations (affirmations said while moving and really feeling it) while I power walk to change the limiting beliefs I used to have about money. A short one which I repeat every day is: the truth is money is energy and it flows to me. Another reflection is grounding. If you are not grounded well enough, your company can’t have a strong foundation either and it’s more difficult to earn money. Sounds logical, right? Since I know this, I do a lot of grounding exercises like dancing, stamp your feet on the floor, ask Mother Earth to ground me even more and meditate with Boji stones.

How you really have to keep on asking to get a clear reflection, shows the story of one of my clients. She told me that she had a shortage of $900 dollars a year. She works in the department of eye specialists in a hospital. A job in which she is really good at and which she loves. A clarifying thing was that she told me that she felt that she was short sighted. She wanted to have more money in her life and really find her life mission, but … did not want to step out of her comfort zone. For her the external situation reflected her life purpose of ‘looking further’, practically meaning to look for a better paid job at a hospital further away. Other clients I coached had limiting beliefs like: money is dirty or rich people are unethical. It’s good to be aware of your thoughts and beliefs about money. Are they limiting or are they serving you? What you radiate, will come back to you.

Meer Fennema (Dutch, 1967)
Your Inner Voice Coach, International Speaker and Author
www.circlesofenergy.com

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Guest Blogger: Jodi Brichta-Coyne


What happened? Where did all the kids go? You know the ones who use to play outside and were curious about the world. The ones who used their imagination to dream of far away lands with dragons and knights in the woods of their own back yards? The ones yelling, playing kickball, laughing and smiling at each other.... where did they go?

I think they forgot.. forgot what it was like to stop for a moment...put down the phones... go outside... breathe in the fresh, crisp air and stare at the world with wonderment.  We (the 70's/80s kids) have forgotten.....WE have forgotten what it is like to just 'be' a kid.

How can we expect our children to do the same when we ourselves, don't set the example. We are so stressed out, overworked, overburdened and overwhelmed that instead of turning everything off, sharing quality moments with our kids as we walk around and absorb the world, we give them things to tune out instead. Then we go ahead and label them as lazy, unmotivated, introverted, shy and call them the entitled generation... etc. We start to blame the world, the economy, schools, government, food and everything else before we turn that finger around and point it at ourselves.

Our children are only in our lives for a short time and then they grow up. It is our responsibility to guide them to be a contributing member of society. To get along and survive in a world that can seem cold and cruel at times and yet can be beautiful, amazing and full of endless possibilities.  It is our job to provide them with tools and strategies to navigate through the ups and downs and let it be known that giving back and inspiring others is what makes the world go around, and happiness is always achievable.

Our hearts are in the right place, but are actions speak otherwise. The good news is that there is always time to turn things around.  They say that kids today are so disconnected from their families, environment and themselves because they have been handed an electronic and a false sense of security. I have also heard the saying that we should be providing our kids with the correct information. Think about it... who is the better salesman?... YOU or the drug dealer. If they don't hear it from you, there is always someone out there that will be happy to tell and sell them what they need.
Spending 20 minutes of quality time with them per day is all it takes for them to feel safe, connected and loved in a world that (thanks to the media) has scared them from taking risks. Our children are crying out to be noticed and are desperately seeking our approval and love. They deserve that much and speaking positive and uplifting words such as "I am proud of you" or "great job today doing___" can do wonders instead of "lazy, good for nothing, slob" and other demeaning labels.

Isn't it time, we stop blaming others and stop labeling them.  We are responsible, and they are our responsibility. It's time to put down our phones and be there for them and just listen...

Jodi Brichta-Coyne, Certified Life Coach and Strategic Interventionist, helps busy moms find their inner voice by helping them go from chaos to calmness by aligning their values with what matters most. "I help my clients face their challenges, develop a plan and get results so they can find time, joy and happiness again."  www.momgoddesscoach.com  or  facebook.com/momgoddesscoach

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Guest Blogger: Donna De Luca


I have been asked recently why I consider myself an inspirational speaker instead of a motivational speaker. I replied "inspired" means being in spirit, being in your truth therefore I simply need to show up and allow whatever message my soul has to deliver to be delivered. I am the messenger of a message guided from my heart to empower and touch your heart.

Motivation is motion in action. This is more of a performance based approach. It is just as effective but can fade because it touches your mind and less your heart. This is more like a pump your jam workout where I get you excited to get you moving.

This leads us to the Art of Inspired Action, the balance of both in order to achieve our dreams!

With LOVE,
Donna De Luca
Inspirational global leader of BE THE CHANGE
d.delucainternational@gmail.com
514-803-7203

Friday, November 1, 2013

Guest Blogger: Karen Comitto Beijer

Three years ago I needed a colonoscopy at the age of 39. Well below the normal age of 50. They found 4 precancerous polyps and removed them. I would or could have been one of those women at age 50 who had silent colon cancer...and it may have been too late. I have had candida issues and immune issues for a long time. I had always wondered if all of these things were connected.
I started selling Arbonne, a little over a year ago. Arbonne means "from the earth". We carry skin care and nutritional wellness products that are vegan, botanical, gluten free, trans fat free, cholesterol free, paraben free, mineral oil free etc. This lead me into a whole other world about the foods I put in my body and my families bodies!
I watched the following documentaries: Genetic Roulette, Forks over Knives, Vegucated, Fat sick and nearly dead, A Beautiful Life, and started reading Dr. Fuhrmans book Eat to LIve. I started buying all organic fruits and veggies and cooking differently.
Last December I decided to take out meat, dairy, gluten, caffeine and see how my body responded. Some or all of these foods would usually mess with my candida issues and cause stomach issues/diarrhea.
In 10 months, I have only had two stomach issues....and that's because I strayed from my diet.This is a huge improvement!!! I have since taken out alcohol as well.
I have to say that in all honestly, I can't say I am a total vegan or vegetarian. I would say I am more of a nutritarian...I eat clean 80-90% of the time and cheat the other percent.
Changing all of these things sounds drastic, but I know my body and I know how it responds. It has been so educational and empowering....so much so that my friend Julie and I are writing a cookbook. See, not only has it improved my stomach issues, but it has also increased my libido, it has helped my complexion, it has improved my sleep, and I have gotten off of my prilosec, and my restless leg meds. I know when i stray from my diet now, i will probably get sick...and i like to avoid that at all costs! I am in charge!