When I was in grade school through high school, home life was in turmoil. Going to school was my stability. I was a good student, and teachers recognized that and were very supportive of me. Some of them gave me special recognition and care. They probably recognized or heard something about my disruptive home life. I’m so thankful for that, for all the teachers who were kind to me and saw something in me that they nurtured and cared for. There were teachers who encouraged me to always do my best and pursue my education. That was something that I did not get at home.
Teachers like Miss Paden, my fourth grade teacher helped me become who I am today, and I’m so grateful. She was sweet and caring. She was pretty and young, and all the girls would hover around her desk and talk with her. She would hug us, and tell us about her life. She would tell us it was important to be good students and to stay out of trouble. She had long hair, and we all thought she was just the sweetest! Thank you to all the teachers out there who love and support the kids in your classrooms! You may never know what a difference you make.
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Martin Luther King Jr. was an American Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement. He was a man of ideals and of action. He knew what he believed in, and he fought for it while keeping his standards high. In our culture today we see clashing ideas about the future of our country. Culturally and politically stark differences are everywhere, on social media, TV, in books, magazines, at the dinner table – everywhere! The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. I encourage you to think today about Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy. Think about what is important to you and what action you can take. I feel it is important now more than at any time in the last 20 years for people to be involved in our society. We can be involved in large or small ways. What is not acceptable, is to withdraw from what is going on. Read, donate, volunteer, and vote. If you can, run for office, get on a board, or support someone who does. Find an organization or cause that is important to you, and add something constructive to that cause. Sign a petition, or put a sign in your yard.
For the last two years I have seen changes in our culture and political structure that confounds me. I have donated, shared information I think is important with people who will (or might) listen, and soon I will be putting at least one sign in my yard in support of a candidate that is running in the November elections. I've never put a candidate’s sign in my yard before. It has never been this important before. In the spirit and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., I cannot sit back and watch. I know that I need to be involved at least in some small way. I will donate, I will vote, and I will look for other opportunities to be involved and make a difference in a peaceful and respectful way. Will you join me? Some people say failing to plan is planning to fail. I'm planning some major success in 2018. I love planning. I adore planning and planners. I love the paper, the ink, all of the potential, and getting things done. I feel excited about the possibilities in a new year, the "blank slate" of it all. Every January we get a fresh start and a whole 12 months to accomplish some of our life's dreams. How fun!! When it comes to an actual planner, I’m both fickle and loyal. I change planners a lot, but I never give one away. And I usually come back to a good planner. I love paper systems, and I also like the efficiency of online systems. I tend to bounce around a little bit depending on if I’m working on big projects, or lots of little projects. I love this time of year, because this is when I plan my most ambitious, heartfelt, and visionary goals that are focused on me. That includes my business, my family and also my spirituality, fitness, and more. Right now I’m setting 2018 goals and outlining all the tasks and milestones needed to achieve those goals. The whole idea of wrapping up my future major achievements into a tidy list of “things to do” sets my mind and soul at peace. The dreaming part gives me a chance to be creative. I excitedly get my colored pens and pencils out, pick up a luxurious planner with beautiful, smooth paper and begin writing, planning, and organizing to my heart’s content. Ahhhh…. (click on pics for info) I’ve been a planner aficionado for decades I’ve tried them all - Levenger, Franklin, Filofax, etc. And I’ve used all the sizes. I even put tasks in Outlook for awhile. I never throw a planner out. I develop a love for each one, and I rotate through the refillables. Sometimes I look through my old planners that I’ve filled out for a ride down memory lane. During one year, I might change my planner depending on what I’m working on. I might be working on one very large project and need more of a “big picture”. Or I might be working on many small details and need more task orientation. In that case, I’ll change my format. Right now I am loving the Ink & Volt (I&V) planner and the DragonTree Dream Book (DT). They are both lovely and allow for annual planning that breaks down into chunks. When it comes to then planning daily tasks, I&V transfers to a notepad, while DT has the space for tasks in it. The DT planner incorporates more mystical and “woo-woo” recommendations like yoga and meditation for identifying goals and staying aligned. I like this, but it's not for everyone. This year I have fitness, business, creativity, and specific writing goals that I am outlining in my planner. I am starting with the DT planner which is very comprehensive. It reaches both ends of the “big picture-to-task detail” spectrum very nicely. I may stick with this planner for awhile, or I may transfer some of my daily to do list to either my Filofax or an online system that I like called Todoist. My hope for myself and for you that 2018 is a year of growth, learning, love, and success. I’m convinced that to the degree that we take time now to set our intentions, define a clear path, and prioritize actions along that path, one year from now we will be enjoying the fruits of our planning time. For now, it's important to plan like a frickin' boss. So, let's do this! I'm offering a free 30-minute consult specifically on defining your 2018 goals. Email me at lisa@lovingmylife.us for more info. I look forward to talking with you! If you're not ready for a chat, I’d love to just know what you’re planning, and what tools you use to help you. Please comment on this blog! You'll be helping me and others. Big hugs to you, my friends! Lisa |
AuthorLisa Liszcz has over 20 years of experience developing leaders and teams in four different global organizations in a variety of industries. In 2014 she became an entrepreneur and is rocking her inner superhero and loving her life like mad. Archives
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