Fitness Friday - Get Inspired

Photo Credit: All photos are courtesy of Pinterest

Get up, get moving, be the best you can be.

Words of Wisdom – National Independent Bookstore Day

Photo Credit

Are you a Bibliophile? Have you developed the love of all things books? You need to know that April 27^th is celebrated as National Independent Bookstore Day. This day is a booklovers jamboree.

Support your local independent bookstore by stopping by especially on April 27^th, you may be in for a treat. Some stores celebrate with kids’ events, readings, local author visits and plenty of fun.

Why should you celebrate independent bookstores? The indie books website says that indie bookstores are “community centers run by passionate readers.” These stores are “universes of ideas.” Check out more about the celebration of Independent Bookstore Day by clicking here.

If you’re in Michigan, here are a list of independent Bookstores that I’ve visited.

Black Stone Bookstore & Cultural Center – Ypsilanti

Nicola’s Books – Ann Arbor

Baker Bible Bookstore – Detroit

God’s World Superstore – Detroit

Fenton’s Open Books – Fenton

Book Bug – Kalamazoo

Independent Bookstore Day is a great reason to pick up a new book. Open your imagination when you open a book. I love my indie bookstores.

Let’s go celebrate.

Motivational Monday – One Amazing Thing

Can you complete the phrase to the following clichés’?

1.      When life deals you lemons, make…

2.      Every dark cloud has a…

3.      If at first you don’t succeed…

Here are your answers…

1.      Lemonade

2.      Silver lining

3.      Try and try again

What do all of these statements have in common? They provide encouragement, look at the brighter side of an unpleasant or challenging situation. Along this same vein, I challenge you to find one amazing thing that you come across each day this week.

Your amazing thing can be as simple as listening to birds singing outside your window or watching how rain crashes against a window sill. You decide what amazing looks like to you. Sometimes when we put things in perspective, problems that seem insurmountable are not as grandiose as they first appear.

Have you ever gone through a challenging time and reflected later with the thought, I don’t know how I made it through that? Perhaps it required faith, prayer, and determination. The amazing thing was you made it through and you are a stronger person because of it.

I am a fan of affirmations and positive quotes. Below are a couple of affirmations I came across on Pinterest.

·         “Awesome things are happening for me.  Windows and doors are flying open everywhere.”

·         “I am ready to prosper beyond my wildest dreams! It’s time.”

Are you ready for your challenge? Each day this week observe or even write down one amazing thing that you encounter. And remember…if life deals you lemons along the way, you know what to do.

Feel Good Friday – Postcards from Jesus

Photo Credit: Send Love Instead (not the cards I received)

As I shuffled through the daily mail, I stopped when I came across a large postcard that read, “Don’t change a thing – Jesus.” I chuckled to myself and tossed the card on the table with the rest of the advertisement mailers.

A few days later I pulled the mailbox door open and on top of the pile of envelopes was another postcard. This time the postcard read, “Come follow me. – Jesus.” I felt like I had stepped into a Hallmark Movie. I looked around to see if the actress from the old movie Touched by an Angel was behind me. There was no one in sight.

There’s a message here somewhere. I have not yet figured out whether the message is for me or someone else, but I held onto the postcards. Maybe you or someone you know is experiencing a situation you have been struggling with. You may be familiar with the saying, “Things happen for a reason.” This is one of those things.

Often when we pray about a situation, the answer comes in unexpected ways. If you have had a heavy heart about something, release it now into the atmosphere and believe it is taken care of and take the advice from the postcard…follow Jesus.

Have a blessed weekend.

Wordless Wednesday - Take a Comedy Break with Chonda Pierce

YouTube Video Credit:lifetodaytv

Muffins with Mom – The College Tour and Menopause

I’m different. I like the college campus atmosphere – the structure of historic buildings, the landscape, the library, etc. On a recent college visit, I told my son, “I like this campus.”

His response was, “You like every campus. What didn’t you like about the campus?”

“It was windy.”

And so goes the story…

During the college visit, I experienced menopausal moments.

I entered the small auditorium and plopped down on a cushy aisle seat in the fourth row from the front. My son was moments behind me because he had to complete a survey in another room. As he sat down he said, “Why did you sit so far back? I usually sit in the first or second row.”

“This is close enough for me,” I replied.

A half hour into the presentation I began to shift in my seat. I turned sideways, crossed one leg, uncrossed it; twisted the other way, crossed my arms. I repeated the leg, arm volley a couple more times, then my eyelids felt like 20-pound barbells. I blinked twice to keep them open.

Eventually, my eyelids won the battle and closed. I rested my elbow on the armrest of the seat and placed my closed hand underneath my chin. At least I could pretend I was thinking.

This was a menopausal moment – that feeling of tiredness for no reason. I had plenty of sleep the night before. I think my son was glad we sat in the fourth row, I know I was glad. However, this episode did not free me from experiencing another round of menopausal mayhem.

Do you remember that I said I didn’t like the windy day? I had a good reason for that statement.

My hair is going through a change again. The morning of our college tour I gave my best effort at pulling my natural hair into a ponytail, but it was…not…long…enough. I refused to leave the house looking like the Heat Meiser from my favorite animated Christmas movie (The Year Without A Santa Claus).

I pulled out my favorite ponytail wig and gave my best attempt at stretching short strands of hair together, then attached the wig combs. The wig was fluffy enough to cover the short hair on the sides of my head, until…

We were led outside to walk to another building. A gust of wind as strong as the wind that scooped up Dorothy and Toto in the Wizard of Oz, slapped me in the face. I grabbed the front of my head and held on.

My son held onto the back of my head and said, “Ma, who’s going after your wig if it goes rolling like a tumbleweed?”

“Just yell FIRE and point in the opposite direction and one of us will go after the wig.”

Some days, I’m different like that. I’m learning to embrace this new chapter in my life. Is there a situation or thing that you’re learning to embrace? Try a little humor to get through it.

Fun Friday - How will you celebrate National Humor Month?

Photo Credit: My Identity Doctor

It was a cool almost spring, night, sleep had overtaken my body early. The temperature in my bedroom was warm, yet I was curled underneath a fluffy blanket. My young adult son arrived home from work and disrupted my slumber. He stood in my doorway and announced, “Ma, can we please turn the heat OFF? Not everyone in the house if going through menopause.”

I replied by shifting my body sideways and kicking one leg from the blanket. Then I grumbled “hmph.”

The month of April is celebrated as National Humor Month. How will you celebrate? Take time this month to uncover the humor in everyday situations. Make a commitment to frown less and smile more.

Everybody has a story to tell. Think about a situation that has happened to you, can you find something funny about the incident?

It may not seem funny when you’re experiencing financial difficulty, but you find a way to make it through. Here are a couple of scenarios that were birthed during a time I was struggling.

Bill Collectors

How many of you don’t answer your cell phone if you don’t recognize the number? As I was talking to my mom on the phone one day, her cell phone rang. She looked at the screen and saw it was an 800 number. She began to read the number aloud “800 -4-7-7…”

I cut her off mid-sentence, “Oh, that’s XYZ Energy.”

She wondered how I knew the number, “they call me a lot.”

In fact, the other day when I saw the number pop up on my phone, I ignored it and the voicemail. After a couple of hours I finally listened to the message, it said, “We apologize for any inconvenience, while the power is down in your area. We have a truck working to restore your power.”

Whew…and I thought they were hounding me for that $297 I owed.

Isn’t it funny how the bill collector asks you when you think you can make payment or payment arrangements…”when I get a higher paying job??!!”

If I knew when I could pay, I wouldn’t be avoiding your call. Duuuh.

I told the man, “When I get paid next week, I’ll set aside $200 and you and the phone company can decide who’s going to get paid first. How about that for payment arrangements?”

When you’re going through a stressful time, keep going and remember, this too shall pass.

In observance of National Humor Month, I’m offering a free gift with the purchase of my book Menopause Ain’t No Joke Blending Faith and Humor in Perfectly Imperfect Situations.  To qualify, order from my website (or Amazon or Barnes and Noble) and show me something that indicates your purchase. I’ll mail your gift to you (anywhere in the US).

Leave a comment today through April 14^th and I will send you my tip sheet on How to Uncover Humor in Stressful Situations. Be sure I have your email address.

Celebrate National Humor Month by uncovering humor in life’s not so fun situations.

Wordless Wednesday - National Siblings Day

It's National Siblings Day. Post a picture of you and your sibling(s).

High School

Tip Tuesday - 3 tips for a happier life

Happiness is...getting lost in a good book.

You can create your own happiness. Take a moment right now to pause and think about what makes you happy. What brings you peace, joy, happiness? Whatever it is find time to incorporate this thing or things into your life...frequently.

Below are three tips to get you started on the road to happiness.

1. Surround yourself with positive people - as much as you can. If you can't find any positive people, you can be that person. When you're feeling negative vibes from someone find a polite way to remove yourself from the situation. If all else fails...run.

2.  Do something fun - whatever fun looks like for you, schedule time and do it.

Create your own wacky videos

3.  Take care of yourself - self-care is important, this is a statement that we hear often.

Making healthy choices

"Do the work, get the results"

Complete this statement -

"I am happy when________________________________."

Now take your statement and put it into action. You are on your way to creating happiness.

Fitness Friday – 3 Tips to transform your attitude about fitness

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.” – Henry Ford

My mom completing a chest press - age 72 yrs (taken today)

Is your fitness level where you want it to be? If you answered yes, you can stop reading now. If you answered no, read a little further.

“If you can believe it, the mind can achieve it.” – Ronnie Lott

Just for fun take my quiz below about your thoughts on fitness. Answer each question True or False

1.      I’m too old to worry about fitness or begin a fitness routine.

2.      I’m too tired to exercise.

3.      I don’t have time to exercise.

4.      I don’t want to give up all the food I like, just to be in shape.

If you answered “true” to three or more of the above statements, it’s time to transform your attitude about fitness. Below are a few tips to get you started.

1.      Believe in yourself – sometimes you have to encourage yourself. Picture yourself achieving success in whatever you set your mind to do. No matter your age, you are not too old to begin a fitness routine. You can begin by taking walks, start where you are comfortable.

2.      Tear down negative things – get rid of self-doubt, negative perceptions of why you “can’t” achieve what you want. For every reason you have for why you “can’t” do something, come up with an alternative way to make it happen. If you feel like you don’t have time to workout, think about an activity you can eliminate to fit in exercise. Fit exercise into shorter periods of time that will fit your schedule.

3.      Make small changes – make small changes over a period of time until you build a routine that fits your schedule and lifetime. Participate in a healthy eating challenge or fitness challenge. Challenge yourself to give up certain foods for a short period of time (30 Day challenge). You could also begin a fitness challenge for 30 days. Take baby steps, then add on as you accomplish a goal.

Whatever you believe, you can achieve. Are you ready to take fitness to the next level?

Words of Wisdom - 5 Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month

Photo Credit: Borrow.Read.Repeat

Roses are Red, and Yellow too,
I wrote this poem just for you.

Did you know that April is National Poetry Month? You can celebrate by writing something more creative than I did; that was just a warm-up exercise for you. If you're looking for ways to celebrate Poetry Month, poetry.org lists 30 ideas that you can try.

1.  Attend a poetry reading at a local bookstore, cafe or library.

2.  Buy a book of poetry from your local bookstore.

3.  Memorize a poem

4.  Share a poem with a friend.

5.  Sign up for a poetry class or workshop.

To view the entire list of ways to celebrate National Poetry Month, click here.

What would you add to the above list?