Woman's Day

I'm in the January issue of Woman's Day magazine, with my picture and everything!

This picture. On page 32.  :-)

How did I get into Woman's Day magazine?  I answered a reporter query from HARO. If you've ever gotten an email from me saying "Answer this query! It's totally you!" You know what I'm talking about. Anyway, Woman's Day is a magazine I actually read, so I'm pretty chuffed to be in it. It's a Yay Me Moment--plus it impresses my mother! :-)

HAPPY Anniversary, Peter!

Today is the one year anniversary of HARO, Help A Reporter Out. This is a free service that links up reporters from all media genres to sources (e.g. y-o-u). Queries come 3 times a day and if you qualify as an expert, you answer them. There are different categories: business, travel, lifestyle, etc. I just recently answered one about labyrinths. And here's an article on dreaming pets that features a picture of Barkley! I've FW'd different queries to friends & fam as they apply. Everyone's an expert at something! Some queries will be specific: e.g. looking only to talk with doctors & acupuncturists. Others are asking for experiences from regular people. The pet dreaming article references both.

HARO was created by Peter Shankman, PR Guy & author of Can We Do That? AWESOME book, BTW. If you are a writer, entrepreneur, or have an expertise in something, become a HARO member & sign up here. Query emails are easy to whip through and Peter keeps them v. entertaining. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, PETER! :-) H.

Grasshopper Notes

I’m a huge Grasshopper fan and my blog is sprinkled with John Morgan quotes. A day doesn't go by when I don't write something down that he's said that's profound, thought-provoking or funny. I’m *SO EXCITED* because Grasshopper Notes is going to become a book. He’s asking for people’s 3 favourite blog posts/newsletters to make sure they get included. Only 3? In return, he'll include you in a drawing to win 5 fabulous John Morgan products of your choice. You can find out all about it here. These are some of my favourite blogposts with quotes:

Mad Libs

“You do not become good by trying to be good, but by finding the goodness that is already within you, and allowing that goodness to emerge.” ~Eckhart Tolle

As I wrote it down, it became clear to me that any desired outcome could be substituted for the word “Good” and the adage remains just as profound. The framework of the quote acts as a cosmic Mad Lib. For example, you could substitute these words: “Happy,” “Joyous,” “Rich,” “Sexy,” “Insightful,” “Loving,” “Caring,” “Fulfilled,” etc. for the word “Good” and the source of emergence is always the same.

Inspiration
John’s eloquent tribute to Dave Dobson.

Frustration/Dissatisfaction
John's take on "falling apart."

He has 2 posts called "Creation." This one:

"You created this. Now what else can you create?” ~The Grasshopper

Your life begins to change when you recognize that you are a creator. You’ve created a past that has a hold on your present. It isn’t necessary to get into therapy to find out the causative factors. That may be interesting information, but it’s most often used to justify why you are the way you are now. “I’m the son of an alcoholic parent,” “I’m an incest victim,” “Clowns scared me when I was 4,” are some examples of how the justification keeps you in place.

“I’m the son of a bricklayer” is my answer to all the justifications. So what? The building of the causative factor into an entity is just another wall you will have to break down to change things up – so don’t build it in the first place.”

Creation
“Who you are is someone that you made up and got comfortable with.”

I quote that last one a lot! The deadline for entering is this Friday, March 7th. So go check it out!

P.S. AlSO, tonight is Susan's Invocations of Grace teleconference at 9 p.m. EST.

Accomplishment

This is a picture of the day my mother showed me around the house "just to look." It didn't take too long after that to decide to make the move. Prominent in the photo is the woodstove, which I thought I would never use. HA. HA.

Then it got cold-very-cold. And I had my first oil delivery. And was prompted to give the woodstove a go. Afterall, I grew up with wood heat. My Pioneer Sister has a beautiful, original, pot-bellied stove. I have a huge woodshed FULL of wood. How hard could it be? HA. HA.

Is the flue open? asked my mother as I regailed her with tales of fire-starting failures. You've got to have the flue OPEN. OK. I retreated to the library with a space heater. Nice and toasty. I was talking to my boss about the wood stove. Is the flue open? he says. Hehhh....

Then Fisherman Willie gave me firestarters for Christmas. Is the damper open? You've got to have the damper open. I said, "You know, I keep hearing about this mysterious damper-flue. How do I know it's OPEN?????" So he helped me start a fire, and eventually I learned not to let it go out. It's much easier to keep it going than to have to start a new one every morning. I've made quite a dent in the woodpile.

So here's my thought: we get a sense of accomplishment from doing. Whatever it is: learning a new skill, or creating something, or completing a task--that is the foundation for self-esteem. It is the YAY, me! place where you know without a doubt that you are good at something. You don't need validation from anyone else, you have complete ownership of the skill. And now, in the area of woodstoving...YAY, me! All cozy-toasty in the cold.