Slowing down to keep pace with

Hey, friends. Here we are on almost the last day of July 2023.

Yup, I have some goals for this year and so far some are on track:

• Relationships as a priority, including God, family, friends, co-workers and new-to-me people
• Intentionality and being present to the moment as a daily practice
• Slowing down enough to encounter Jesus as often as possible throughout the day
• Pursuing creative/life-giving practices weekly
• Vulnerability and showing up as my true self to the measure that He enables me to do that
• Saying yes to some things that are outside my comfort zone and that are not necessarily in my skill set
• Reflection about the events of the day and my responses throughout the day
• Personal retreat in the spring

Some of the things that I have not successfully pursued as of yet:

• Quilting – repairing a quilt and sewing a new quilt are on my list
• Learning to use my new-to-me sewing machine – it’s computerized and has so many amazing features
• Gardening – my “Charlie Brown” garden is kinda sad. Not sure what happened to some of the seeds, but they did not sprout. I even tried a second replanting and still nothing in those bare spaces. To be fair, I have probably had a return on my investment that matches my investment. I would like to be more knowledgeable and prepared for next year.
• Hiking and camping combined
• Frequent visits to a beach
• North Carolina trip to visit our daughter and her family out there
• Personal retreat in the fall
• Blogging more consistently and more often than once a year

In other news:

I have started learning to play Pickleball thanks to some friends from our church. I think I could get to the point where I truly enjoy playing for the fun of it. Time will tell.

Due to lack of clients, I deleted my VA website. I am still available for projects; I’d be happy to discuss the possibility of working with you: https://calendly.com/amydemoss/ .

And yes, the team I am a part of at one of my jobs is STILL working on the project we were assigned almost two years ago. It continues to astound us with its intricacies and complexities. I think the seemingly never ending new scenarios in this project reflect the challenges of being a company that innovates in response to customer requests for products which meet specific needs in the niche. Our team has a BIG goal of being completely finished with this project by the end of 2023. . . And then one of our team members is being pulled into a different team to help until a key position is filled. That’s life.

~still living large, on the Indiana prairie

Core Values for a Meaningful and Fulfilling Life, or How to be a Super Star Volunteer

I need these reminders as we head into Tech week.

And now, in no particular order:

• Your real life is your own to guard and to steward intentionally and purposefully. Even though you might not realize it just yet, in retrospect you will not want to leave a trail behind you full of details and photos for the whole world to view at the convenience of a search and a click. Because you cannot see the end from the beginning, wisdom says remember that not everything or even most things belong on social media.
• It. Is. Never. Ever. Ever. About. You. Never. Ever.
• That being said, remember that you do get to control someone. Actually is it your responsibility. Wait for it. . . on a good day, the person that you get to control is y. o. u. And only YOU.
•  The good news is that you are a powerful person. So get rid of the lies that you believe about being a victim. You always get to choose how you respond – always. Monitor you own emotions, thoughts and actions. Whatever is true. . . think on those things.
• While you are controlling you, include time to renew yourself. If you do not take care of you, you will be unable to help others.
• Know yourself. You are a special and unique person. When you begin to know yourself, who you really are, you will realize the importance and value of the one in front of you becoming who he/she really is.
• Always choose to go lower. Ask “how can I help?” Recognize and value the privilege of embracing the cross is saying “no” to what you would naturally do, so that the one in front of you can do what he/she would naturally do. Never reject the opportunity to die to self; you will only feel pain in the places where you are not already dead.
• God first. Others second. Self third. Be third.
•  Be quick to forgive, to ask for forgiveness, to apologize, to clean up your mess.
• Choose your ‘tude. Choose positivity. Find the gold worth fighting for in the one in front of you.
• Practice faithfulness.
• Listen > talk. Ask questions for clarity. When you speak, speak the truth in love.
• Think critically. Think like the leader. Ask yourself, “how can I make this situation better?” Then, lend a hand.
• Get outside your silo and discover the bigger picture.
• Find something no one else wants to do and own it.
• Find ways to serve; take initiative.
• Don’t go boneless; reject passivity.
• Ask yourself, “who is wearing the hat now?” Then be an exemplary follower.
• Plan a solution. Plan time in your calendar to plan. Hold your plans loosely.
• Pray and rely on God’s strength.
• Adventure = Faith. Faith = Risk.
• Be “famous” for love. Love looks like something.
• Honor, respect and love, especially when you disagree.
• With each person, seek peace always. The one in front of you cannot be your enemy unless you choose for them to be. And even if they were your enemy, love your enemy and everyone else.

Been there done that

I had what I thought was a great idea for a blog post.

So I’ve been reminding myself of it for over 24 hours.

Moments ago I researched a bit and discovered that someone had already done the work I was planning to do. LOL.

That being said, I want to point you to some resources out there which are superb.

“Don’t believe everything you think.” One of many of my fave Cy Wakeman quotes.

Visit her web site and her You Tube channel for leadership tools which actually work.

But wait there’s more. Access the extras from Cy here.

Ditch the drama and equip yourself with leadership skills that will benefit you and others around you, whether you are “in charge” or not.

 

~ it’s a rope, not a snake