Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - June 25th

The character of a life is set in ten thousand little moments of everyday life. It’s the themes of struggles that emerge from those little moments that reveal what’s really going on in our hearts. – Paul Tripp, Whiter Than Snow (p.21)

The author experienced a major disruption in her life earlier this year when she had an apartment fire and ended up spending 33 days in a hotel.  Through that experience, she learned how important it is to have disruptions/interruptions in life and how those disruptions/interruptions grew her.

Personal experiences that disrupt stale routines result in the phenomena of cognitive dissiliency, jolting our minds and enhancing our ability to internalizing new information. ― Kilroy J. Oldster, Dead Toad Scrolls

Additionally, the author learned to look beyond the storm to see what benefits were coming from the situation.  On a regular basis, the author returns to visit the friends she made at the hotel and there are days that she literally is in tears because of how much they make her laugh.  The author’s sometimes stale routine was disrupted allowing her the opportunity to have a new outlook on life.   

Rise above the storm and you will find the sunshine. – Mario Fernandez

The author does not desire to have another apartment fire; however, she learned it was her responsibility to find ways to shake up her life.  As Terri’s Tuesday Tip of the Week discussed on May 28, 2019, the author created a summer bucket list and is using those ideas to shake up her normal everyday mundane tasks of life.  And when interruptions come while living life, the author is going to stay calm, help others, grow and learn in each experience. 

As summer is in full swing, this is the opportunity to try new things, grow and imagine what is possible.

It’s summer and time for wandering… ― Kellie Elmore

Summertime is always the best of what might be. – Charles Bowden

CHALLENGE:  How do you plan on shaking up your life this summer?  Dream BIG!

Resources

·       http://uncustomary.org/summer-bucket-list-100-things-summer/

·       https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/20/sports/julia-hawkins-running.html?fallback=0&recId=1MxZZNWoexSlFL7NAuzRBrPBRd6&locked=0&geoContinent=NA&geoRegion=VA&recAlloc=story&geoCountry=US&blockId=home-featured&imp_id=717143759&action=click&module=editorContent&pgtype=Article&region=CompanionColumn&contentCollection=Trending

·       https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2017/11/01/looking-beyond-lifes-interruptions

·       https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/when-god-interrupts-your-plans

·       https://getmorestrength.org/daily/interruptions/

Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - June 18th

What if I fall?  Oh, but my darling, what if you fly? – e.h.

Change your life today. Don't gamble on the future, act now, without delay. - Simone de Beauvoir

Last week, Terri’s Tuesday Tip of the Week provided guidance on completing a 2019 mid-year goal review.  Congratulations on the goals that have been accomplished and those that are on track to be accomplished this year.  It is always important to celebrate successes!

Now, let’s discuss the goals that are not on schedule to be accomplished this year.  While reviewing goals, what was the biggest reason the reader discovered the goal was not on target to be accomplished?  Some of the likely reasons were not enough time or procrastination. 

What new ideas can be incorporated into life to help accomplish the goals?  Ryan Blair said:

If it’s important you’ll find a way.  If it’s not, you’ll find an excuse.

The author loves to accomplish goals, which includes a lot of reading and listening to podcasts.  This year, she also included a goal of being in community with people.  For this reason, it has been a struggle to balance accomplishing goals the author loves of reading and listening to podcasts/books and socializing.  The best answer is Dean Acheson’s quote:

Always remember that the future comes one day at a time.

For the author, she started breaking down her big goals into daily tasks of reading a chapter in a book and marking it off of her task list.  By establishing the smaller daily goals, the accumulation of task completion will lead to accomplishing the bigger goals.  Vincent Van Gogh said:

Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.

Even though some goals may not be accomplished and it may feel like a setback, it is important to have a strong resolve to push forward. 

Have a fierce resolve in everything you do.  Demonstrate determination, resiliency, and tenacity.  Do not let temporary setbacks become permanent excuses.  Use mistakes and problems as opportunities to get better-not reasons to quit. – Jamie Dimon

CHALLENGE: Create smaller, reasonable goals to accomplish the larger goals for 2019.

Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - June11th

It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them.  They went out and happened to things. – Leonardo da Vinci

Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal – a commitment to excellence – that will enable you to attain the success you seek. – Mario Andretti

As summer has arrived and we are 161 days into the year (182 is halfway), it is a great time to start a mid-year goal review.  Research conducted by the University of Scranton showed that 92% of people do not accomplish their New Year’s goals.  To be part of the 8% that accomplishes their goals, it is important to conduct regular check-ups and create a plan to finish the year strong. 

This week, let’s focus on determining the progress of accomplishing each goal.      

• Prepare to review goals.  Schedule an appointment on the calendar estimating 15 minutes per goal.  Next, select a quiet location to review the goals.  Gather and organize all relevant benchmarking data to review 2019 goals.
• For tracking purposes, write down or type the progress of each goal.  It can be something as simple as:

a.       Goal #1

b.       Progress of Goal #1

c.       Questions about Goal #1:

1.       Is this goal still relevant for me in 2019?

2.       Is this goal specific and challenging, but not too hard for me to still accomplish?

3.       Am I still passionate, committed and have a good attitude about this goal? 

Ability is what you’re capable of doing.  Motivation determines what you do.  Attitude determines how well you do it. – Lou Holtz

Taking time to conduct a mid-year goal review will help refocus on goals, provide motivation and prepare to have a strong second half of the year.   

CHALLENGE: Conduct your 2019 mid-year goal review. 

Resources

·       http://www.emformarvelous.com/mid-year-goals-review-2/

·       https://www.workitdaily.com/mid-year-review-questions

·       https://www.inc.com/marcel-schwantes/science-says-92-percent-of-people-dont-achieve-goals-heres-how-the-other-8-perce.html

·       https://www.inc.com/marcel-schwantes/science-says-only-8-percent-of-people-actually-achieve-their-goals-here-are-7-things-they-do-differently.html

·       https://witi.com/articles/653/Four-Tips-for-Your-Mid-Year-Performance-Review/

·       https://awesomeaj.com/2017/02/04/7-reasons-why-92-new-years-resolutions-fail/

Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - June 4th

I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory! Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking. - Dwight D. Eisenhower

The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. - Dwight D. Eisenhower

As we will be honoring the 75^th anniversary of D-Day this Thursday June 6, 2019, I took time this past weekend to reminisce about my time in Normandy, France in 2014.  

D-Day was when the Allied (U.S., British and Canadian) forces coordinated an assault on the German forces on the beaches of Normandy called Operation Overlord.  According to the D-Day Center, the Allied forces were prepared for the large assault with:   

• 6,939 Ships & Landing Craft
• 10,440 Aircraft
• 156,115 Allied Troops 
  

Normandy had many historical sites and interesting stories.  It was a very moving experience to walk on the beaches of Normandy where D-Day occurred, look up on the enormous cliffs that the Allied forces climbed to attack the Germans and then to see the houses on the top of those cliffs.  The tour guide said that some people stayed in their homes during the assault.  Also, it was very moving walking the hallowed-grounds at the Normandy American Cemetery viewing the crosses representing a grave for each of the 9, 387 American soldiers buried there. 

However, one story stood out to me more than any other.  As we walked the beaches, the tour guide said that today people actually sunbath on the Normandy beaches.  I was absolutely appalled.  To me, that was where men had died during war and I thought the beaches were hallowed-ground and needed to be respected.  The tour guide said she understood my perspective; however, she said that she once asked a veteran that fought at Normandy if he thought it was appropriate for people to sunbath on the beaches of Normandy.  His response was, “I fought for people to be able to do that.”

CHALLENGE: As we remember this date in history, take time to remember the importance of D-Day by learning more about it or attending an event in honor of the anniversary. 

To see my pictures of Normandy, France, here is the Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/terri.flow.3/media_set?set=a.10152428980207294&type=3.

Resources

·       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY597CZZW30&feature=youtu.be&utm_source=ONTRAPORT-email-broadcast&utm_medium=ONTRAPORT-email-broadcast&utm_term=Newsletter&utm_content=Commemorating+the+75th+anniversary+of+the+D-Day+landings.+Mission+Matters+-+May+2019&utm_campaign=05302019

·       https://www.history.com/news/why-was-it-called-d-day

·       https://www.history.com/news/d-day-normandy-wwii-facts

·       http://www.dday.center/