I had a wonderful trip to Ottawa, Canada to speak at the Regional Toastmasters convention.  For the first time, I told a story about my Dad's fight with Cancer.  And, his fight in life to live the remainder of his life "without regrets."  He succeeded in making better choices - to prioritize his family better in those last years, even through the pain - both mental pain and physical pain.  I learned a great lesson from him that has since impacted my life greatly.  What will it take to start prioritizing your life better?  Will it take for you to be faced with the end of your life?  I say "no"!  I'm starting now!

This week I was the mystery reader at my daughter Jackie's preschool.  She didn't know I was coming to read to her classroom and I brought one of her favorite books (and my favorite kid's book!)  - Oh the Places You'll Go!  By Dr. Seuss.  It was an awesome experience.  I loved the look in her eyes when she realized her mom was the mystery reader!  And, the pride on her face as she helped me turn the pages for her class.  I made sure I participated in this opportunity because I regretted missing it when my daughter Jessica was in Kindergarten.  I didn't want to have more regrets.  I realized having a life in full bloom for me is to live without regrets.  I told myself I would stop having regrets - and that's what I am on a mission to do for myself and the world!

It only took me 39 years to realize that the world has it all wrong!  Springtime is not for Spring Cleaning - it's for goal setting!  And, January is for Spring Cleaning....well, Winter Cleaning that is!  At least this is what works best for me.  In January, I am stuck in the house with the Winter weather - so it's a great time to go top to bottom and clean out!  Purge the house of all the clutter I have gathered the previous year.  When in doubt - throw it out!  But, April.....now when is there a better time to set those goals?!  The weather is getting nicer - the flowers are starting to sprout....there is hope in the air!  This is the time of year that I am most effective in setting and getting started on new goals.  Getting started is the key here - I have the energy and therefore the motivation to make it happen!  It's a new year....it's Spring!  I am alive - I have made it through another Winter!

How many times recently have you said - time is flying by?  I recently read a book called The Age of Speed by Vince Poscente.  Chapter 4 is called "More Life, Please."  Vince writes about the "fantastic amount of living" within our reach.  The options that we have in today's world are almost endless - and this availability of choices leads to stress.  Which way should I go?  What should I do?  Which should I choose?  He says "When we have a lot of options and many decisions to make, our destinies become less clear."  How do you choose what you want out of life?  How do you reduce the stress of all these options?  As part of the Full Bloom Process, we start with analyzing your values and priorities in life.  What is most important to you?  If you design your plan with these things in the forefront - it makes it more obvious which choices are in alignment with your values - and which are not.  It relieves the stress of your decision making process, because you have a strong value base to make those choices from.  Vince's book does a great job of talking about this as your "authentic purpose."  He believes that you can embrace the speed of our world when you are most aligned with your authentic purpose.  Here's to your full bloom life in the fast lane!

My husband, girls and I went to the Chinese Buffet last weekend.  It reminded my husband to tell me that my sister had called the previous week - gee thanks!!!!  She had been to the Chinese Buffet near her house and wanted to tell me about the fortune she received --- it said, "It's time to water your personal garden."  Now, there are many interpretations to this fortune!  But, in my book - I have a chapter called "Water it."  Have you ever felt like you've been so busy, that you've forgotten about your dreams?  You are so busy, that your dreams have been left in the corner - like a neglected houseplant - all wilted and brown at the edges?  Its important for you to take the time to review and reflect on your goals on a regular basis.  Keeping them clear in your mind, helps keep them fresh and healthy.  That night, my husband received the fortune...."Real is all a vision.  You have to see it for yourself."  The first step to having a Life in Full Bloom is to envision it - to know what you want and to design it in your mind - or even better, on paper.  I received the fortune..."There is no secret to success except hard work."  This is the perfect next step!  Having a life in Full Bloom is not easy.  You can't WILL it to happen, you have to WANT it to happen and MAKE it happen!  A good balance of desire and action is the key to your success!  You can do it! 

Almost every day I see a sample of the Full Bloom process at work.  Whether it is through a conversation I have with my husband, a friend or a co-worker, or in a book that I read.  My goal in my blog is to share these experiences, realizations and observations!  Always feel free to email me your thoughts and ideas as well.

One of the most recent observations I have had is a great example of my "weed it" chapter.  It's hard to accomplish what you want to accomplish and it's hard to feel "satisfied" in your life when something mentally, physically or spiritually is holding you back.  Recently, my husband went decaffeinated!  It was a tough week - headaches and all - but after it was all over, he has more energy.  And a great side benefit is he has less back pain.  You wouldn't think you'd gain more energy going decaffeinated - and you certainly wouldn't know that it was the partial cause of your back pain.  Taking this small step towards better health has had many impacts, and will enable him to work on other priorities.  He "weeded" the caffeine!

Hello!  And, welcome to my brand new blog!  More to come!