Vacation… Local or Abroad, It’s a Life-Changer and Quality of Life Enhancer

Are You Taking Enough Vacation? (Thanks trendhunter.com)

I’m having a fantastic  summer vacation this year. I don’t know how it came to be, but I’m loving it. I have actually marked days off on the calendar to PLAY!

What’s made the difference? I can think of a few things that may be the reason:

• The weather : Something about the Polar Vortex has created a perfect mix of sun, breeze, open-air sleeping weather and a resort-like climate.

• I am sorting efforts into four distinct categories: My non-profit work, my publishing and production work, taking care of my aging parents, and home (I took a week off of work and truly enjoyed a staycation).  I decided to re-route the merry-go-round. I have been go-go-going on this ride for years. I am also more mindful of my pace. I am sleeping more, “doing” less and transitioning to a less impactful physical routine (outside of my weekly travel between Chicago and Central Illinois).  I’ve been pounding the pavement from a business perspective and a workout perspective for a loooooong time. I’m ready to mix things up a bit here. I’m finding myself drawn to a gentler workout routine.

• I’m focused on some new projects: I created a summer school course that’s a mix of mastermind and coaching, using my second book as the activity model (Building A Powerful Vision Planner: A One Year Guide For Creating A Life You Love). Beyond this, I am creating a new Building A Powerful Vision product, and I’m exploring ways to share my books/workshops/coaching with the world in many more ways.

• Finally: I chose, without apology, to take a little holiday from the disciplines I’ve  developed over the past few years (the goal of blogging twice a week, hosting a radio show every other week, planning my social media marketing plan 30 days out). Am a getting a bit out of practice? Yes. Is this a chance to step back and figure out the most productive use of my time? Yes!

I laugh as I re-read what I’ve written. I call this slowing down. Some people would describe this as a crazy pace. Whether I am slowing the place or simply issuing a re-mix is not as important as feeling re-charged and refreshed.

My challenge to you this week is to take a look at your pace and the ways you choose to spend your 24 hours a day. Might you be in need of some Holiday time? Need a little convincing? Here’s a link to trendhunter.com. They’ve got a slide show that shows the health and wealth benefits of taking time off.

If you’d like to share your findings, I welcome your comments!!!

As always, make it a great week…

~Tess

Copyright 2014

Destiny Rising, LLC

 

 

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A Fresh Half-Year Can Yield A Bounty Of Success!

Make This A Juicy Summer!

 

Imagine the moment when you slice an ice-cold watermelon in half. You can hear it crack open once you’re at the halfway point. As you gaze at the melon on the cutting board, you appreciate the perfection of its shape. and the scent of its rind and juice fill the air. In that moment, don’t you want to claim the juiciest center slice for yourself?

July is the juicy middle of the year. Back in January, the days were cold and short and the nights were loooooooong. As we work our way toward the middle of the year, things really heat up – literally and figuratively.

June, July and August are the growing season – for crops and for ideas. What are you growing this season? Summer is a time of transition for many people. As school ends, families think about moving or growing before school starts again. Many of us decide to look for and be settled into a  new job by summer’s end. Our dreams seeds have been planted, and we are hoping that this year will have a high yield.

Sometimes, our dreams and ideas stagnate a bit. If we aren’t careful, they can dry up and wither. Tend to your Vision. Making life juicy requires planning, nurturing and a framework. Toward that end, I’ve got an idea for you. Create a virtual garden for your ideas and goals for the second half of the year.

Here’s how it works:

1. Decide if this project is just for you or for you and some others in your life (at home or at work).

2. Make a list of 5 to 7 ideas and goals you’d like to harvest this year. Set it aside.

2. Get a piece of foam board at a local office store/drugstore/grocery store (These run from $1 – $4). Buy a glue stick while you’re at it. Grab a pair of scissors out of your kitchen drawer – they’re probably not in the silverware drawer. They’re in the messy drawer next to your silverware.

3. Flip through magazines or browse the internet. Look for pictures of produce – lettuces, tomatoes, squashes, melons, beans, herbs, fruits, etc. Cut out pictures of those that appeal most to you.

4. Arrange these pictures on your foam board so that they look like a garden you’re growing. Glue them onto the foam board.

5. Grab your list of ideas and goals. match each idea or goal with a crop in your virtual garden. Label each crop with the matching goal.

6. Consider how much you will need to feed each goal in order for it to come to harvest, and make a note of this.

7. Look at your calendar and decide what sort of schedule you need to create to tend to your garden of ideas and goals. The care and feeding of ideas and goals is what will determine your harvest.

8. Tend your garden. Keep a journal of your activities and results. It can become your almanac for future goal setting.

9. At least once a month, prepare a harvest dinner with fresh fruit and veggies, and gather with friends to talk about your successes and challenges in tending to your goals. You’ll likely reap some great advice and encouragement about your goals.

10. When each of your goals is ripe, enjoy its juicy reward!

As always, I welcome your comment. and make it a great week…

~Tess

Copyright 2014

Destiny Rising, LLC