Give Me a Break

I've never been one to sit still for very long.

I can remember this one time when we were little and my mom, sister and I were in a doctor's office.  Not sure if someone was sick or if it was just a routine check-up, but while we were waiting I proceeded to open up every jar and cabinet to examine every item in this tiny room.  It didn't matter what it was or what it was used for I was just finding something to do really.  (No patience then, and still working on my patience even now).  But what sticks out most in my memory is my sister trying to make me stop and just sit still.  My mom, I'm sure knowing better at this point, told my sister that I wasn't harming anything I just had to keep moving.  So, knowing I had permission (within boundaries) and that I was irritating my sister, of course I didn't stop.

Now that I'm older I still find it hard for me to sit still, but for somewhat different reasons.  There is always something that needs to be done.  Laundry to fold, dishes to wash, toys to pick up - I'm sure you can rattle off your own list without really trying too hard.  So making myself take a break is hard sometimes because I feel the guilt settle in like a weight with all the things I could be doing.

So, give me a break.  No seriously.  This is the one way I am guaranteed to relax and not feel guilty about it.  This past Christmas my managers and district managers gave me a 60 minute massage at Westwood Day Spa.  Is there really any better gift for a woman?  I can't think of many.  But of course, in classic mommy fashion I kept putting it off because its not convenient during the week and I hate giving up my family time on the weekends.  But finally I couldn't wait any longer - my certificate was about to expire.  And for 60 minutes yesterday morning I took a much needed break.  Completely guilt free.

Need a gift for the ladies in your life?  Call the spa and make her take a break.

Laura's ABCs

A...B...C...D.......watch and learn

Cookies & a Baby Turtle

All we needed was a project.

During our Friday play date we stretched the limit of time that toddlers usually last with a simple project.  Cookies.  We tried using the 101 kit of cookie cutters that I found at Target on our cookie dough, but very quickly we discovered that logs of cookie dough are not meant to be formed into different shapes.  But regardless the project provided enough structure and focus to make a Friday play date last almost 5 hours.  And when its raining out side this was a huge win for the mommies!

After naptime, Grant provided another treat for our Friday - a baby turtle.  One of his crews found it and he brought it home to show LB.  She loved it.  And we had to watch her cause she would get so excited and start jumping up and down right around it.  Thankfully she never landed on it and we sent the turtle on its way in our backyard.

Jon Gordon's Weekly Newsletter

TRUE FREEDOM

By Jon Gordon

I love July 4th. Not just because of the fireworks, barbeque and excitement that Independence Day brings. I love it because it’s a holiday that celebrates the greatest gift to humanity... freedom.

Freedom is not something many of us think about on a daily basis and yet if you consider the great struggles and triumphs throughout history they are stories of an oppressed group of people who sought, desired, and found freedom.

The quest for freedom is also a story that lives inside each and every one of us.

I remember three years ago when I went on a book tour for The Energy Bus. I drove thousands of miles and visited 30 cities. My wife and kids joined me for part of the trip but I also spent many hours, days and miles driving alone.

At one point on the journey I looked in the rearview mirror and realized I had all this stuff on my bus that I didn't need. Why did I travel with all these bags of useless stuff for so long, I wondered?

I believe every one of us can say the same about our life journey. We hold on to bags that only weigh us down. For some it’s the bags of the past or the bags of disappointment. For others, it’s the bags of distrust, self-doubt, mistakes, fear, anger and pain.

We may live in a free country but we are often imprisoned by our negative thoughts and emotional baggage.

You know the baggage I'm talking about. They affect your work, your life and your relationships. Just as I looked in the rearview mirror of my bus, you can look in the rear view mirror of your life and know which bags need to be left behind.

Then you can do what I did. I didn’t want to drive heavy. I wanted to travel light. So I let the bags off the bus. You can do the same. As author Max Lucado says, “You can release the burdens you were never meant to carry.”

I remember the moment I let the bags off my bus. I was somewhere past Phoenix driving through the desert. I found a big trash can and put the bags where they belonged. I got back in the bus with the past behind me and a road full of daylight ahead. A big smile came upon my face. I was now free to enjoy the ride.

I hope you'll do the same... and experience true freedom.

www.JonGordon.com