2012: My Year in Review

I am a journal keeper and I initially thought I would review my year through my own words.  After reviewing my entries, I decided that I did not write enough about what was going right but more about what was not working in my current situation. So this morning, I decided to think about the things that I have accomplished this year and focus less on what I had not.

This is my year in review...........

1. I facilitated a workshop on Empowered Parenting...now that is interesting since I am not a parent but I have the opportunity to parent Marcus and Rashad, my god sons. I also had the opportunity to facilitate a Motivational Interviewing Workshop at the RESA Conference.
2. I took my first international flight to Spain and cruised the Mediterranean Sea with stops in Provence, France, the French Riviera, Florence, Italy, Rome, Naples and a boat ride down the Almafi Coast.
3. I completed my internship which means that I am more than 2/3 f'inished with my doctorate degree. 
4. I recieved my Christian Life Coach Certification.
5. I completed the Mayor's 5K.
6. I contracted as an Adjunct Professor with Argosy and had the opportunity to teach a couple of classes.
7. I started this blog and have been consistent in posting.
8. I had the opportunity to work with a great coach....Laurie www.resourcefulcoach.com. I gained better insight about my vision...purpose...and mission.
9. I had the opportunity to hang out with my cousins that I had not seen in a while to celebrate my Uncle John's  birthday.
10. I am ending the year about 2 pounds lighter that I started which is alright with me.

I also had the opportunity to love, live and laugh with family and friends.

Before the year ends I have another question to ask...What (Who) has been the greatest influence on your life this year?

2012: A Year in Review

16..15..14..13..12..11..10..9..8..7..6..5..4..3..2..1......2013.  I was having lunch with a couple of colleagues and we were discussing what we would like in 2013. It was a deep and gratifying conversation but we also made a promise that in January we would have lunch again after we had reviewed 2012.  You can not move forward until you know where you are or from whence you have came.  So my request of you is to review 2012 before December 31st and take stock of what you accomplished, what you are grateful for and what did not happen that you wanted to happen.  So that you can establish goals for 2013 from a place of clarity.

This is not a new idea because a couple of days later as I was listening to my audio from the January issue of Success magazine Darren Hardy talked about the same thing.  This was confirmation to me that I have to take inventory so that I can experience the Best Year Yet.  I looked up the definition of review and this is what I found.  Review (noun): A formal assessment or examination of something.  (verb) examine or assess (something) with the possibility or intention of instituting change if necessary.

So to put action to review is to look at the verb meaning. It is about being intentional about what you want to accomplish or change. I have a couple of goals that have been on my list for many years that I have not accomplished. If I am completely honest with myself, I have not been intention about achieving the goals. So my plan is to identify three major goals that I will be intentional about achieving in 2013.

Assignment:  Set aside some time before the end of 2012 and review the past year.  Take 30 second and write down three goals you would like to accomplish in 2013.  Then write down steps you can take on a daily basis to accomplish those goals.

I will be your accountability partner and accomplish our goals.  Let me know the three major goals.

Preparing for Change

As we quickly approach the end of another year, I am thinking about those changes I would like to make in my current life.  I know alot of people will be making resolution or seting new goals and I will be one.  I have started to make a few adjustments to my current way of living.  For the past 3 years, I have been working on my degree which means that I have been taking some type of class or doing some type of school stuff like practicum or internship.  I have even had the opportunity to teach a couple of courses. 

Realizing that I was at the end of my rope, I had to make a conscious decision about what I was willing to give up to get to the next level.  So the choice was to put teaching on the back burner and focus on completing my dissertation.  I have also selected two other goals that I want to focus on in 2013.  These goals are more aligned with my values and purpose. 

I will also be focusing the topics discussed in my blog.  My purpose is to help grow others which mean my blog topics will help others to grow and move toward their purpose.

As you think about what changes you woud like to make in your life, please make sure that they align with your values.  So my first blog for 2013 will discuss values and assist you in defining your values and purpose.

Happy Holidays,

Lacrecia

Tis the Season to be Thankfulness

On yesterday, I completed the 30 Days of Thankfulness and to see other people participate was great.  Each day I reviewed my day to see what I was thankful for, I found that I truly have great friends and family. Most of all, I am thankful for who I am in Christ and how God has shown me so many different aspects of my life. 

God reminded me that He was still in control and if I would take time to surrender to His will that He has the plan.  So of my highlights for the month were three of my friends did really neat things for me (1) made my favorite Christmas cookies and (2) helped me to outline my dissertation topic visually.  I was able to turn in my prospectus this month.  A colleague and I had a great conversation about future enrichments and she shared a great book that is helping me to prioritize my life. He kept me at a stop sign a minute longer because a car ran the stop sign. 

At the end of each day, I realized that it is the simple things in life that I am thankful like family and friends but most definitely my relationship with God.  I am thankful for my mom and dad for introducing me to Him.

I think I will continue to journal about thankfulness! Oh give thanks unto the Lord for He is good!

THANKFUL.........

An Attitude of Gratitude

As I continue to be intentional about my daily posting of what I am thankful for, I am finding that life is about the little things.  I don't want to take life for granted and not be appreciative of those things that happen.  I was listening to my Success Magazine CD and one of the speakers said that he made a 90 day commitment to not complain.  I have thought about making a similar commitment because I find myself complaining and grumbling about little things.

I find myself not enjoying everyday life because I am waiting for the spectacular or extraordinary to happen.  I can truly say Thank You Lord for all you have done for me.  Since I have become mindful of those things that I am grateful for,  I have noticed that my attitude has changed about getting up in the morning or how I see things.  I am thankful for family and friends, I am thankful for my relationship with God and how I have access to the Word. I am thankful for my health and strength, I am thankful for my job because I am working in a field that I truly feel like I am in purpose, I am thankful for those small thngs such as the opportunity to read a good book or listening to my favorite song. 

On Thursday, we will celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends.  Although, the retail business world has seem to by past Thanksgiving and went to celebrating Christmas.  We have to have an "attitude of gratitude" on an everyday basis.....look at  each situation from a spirit of gratitude.

Days of Thankfulness and Gratitude

I have completed 8 days of thankfulness.  Each day, I think about the day and say what I am thankful about or for.  I have been thankful for family and friends, my relationship with God, laughter, etc.  This week I have had the opportunity to look for moments of gratitude.  On Tuesday, I was shown by two friends different aspects of friendship.  I had lunch with a friend and we chatted about world events, the election and before the end of the conversation, she asked me about my struggle with writing my prospectus.  I shared with her my thoughts and the direction, I wanted to go. She took out a sheet of paper and drew out what I said to give me a visual.  This diagram helped me to put things into prospective and now I can work on my prospectus.

Another long time friend brought me some Christmas cookies that she use to make when we worked together at the bank.  These cookies remind me of the cookies they would sell in the cafeteria when I was in high school.  The sugar/butter cookies in the white bag. She met me half way in the cold just to bring me the cookies. 

I am thankful that I have friendships that have lasted for years.  We may not see or talk to  each other all the time but when we connect it is like it was just yesterday.  I am thankful for long time friends that I met in church, elementary school, high school, college, work and play.  Each of these individuals have added to my life and I appreciate each of you.

Tell your friends how much you appreciate him or her.

Thanksgiving and Gratitude....November 2012

This month we celebrate Thanksgiving on November 22nd so let's kick the month off right by thinking about what you are thankful for or grateful for each day.  I know that we have been impacted by alot of different things that could be seen as negative but when you have a grateful/thankful heart you see things differently. 

Yesterday on my drive to school, I was listening to a Darren Hardy-editor for Success Magazine and he was talking about how he keeps a gratitude journal for different people and areas of his life.  He takes 5 minutes a day to write down what he is grateful or thankful about for the person or situation.  He shared a story about how he had began keeping a gratitude journal for his wife and presented it to her as a gift.  The gift was proclaimed the best gift that she had ever received.

As I think on this first day of November and what or who I am thankful for or about, I am thankful for my relationship with God and my family and friends.  This people I sometimes take for granted but I truly and thankful!  So each day think about and journal- What am I thankful for today?

Be Blessed