"LIFE IN A WORD"

The word is OPPORTUNITY

Definition: Merriam-Webster Dictionary: a favorable juncture of circumstances

Posted 6/9/22

Have you ever noticed how often your basic instincts reject opportunities that come your way? Instinctively, you respond by saying no, no thank you, or I can't. My story will illustrate how going against your initial instincts might add more joy to your life.

My Story on Opportunity

Picture a panoramic view of a mountain range. Now imagine the sensations you feel as your body and mind breathe in their beauty. Take that moment a step further to experience the temptation of their allure.

With full disclosure, I admit to binge-watching the series “Yellowstone” the past few weeks. The vastness of the Rocky Mountains strikes me as a metaphor for the world beyond our front door. That temptation that calls out to us to venture into new territory is real. When opportunity knocks, we should allow ourselves to experience the joy it can bring us.

Note, I am not promoting irresponsible behavior, quite the contrary. I'm merely proposing the probability that change from our daily routine allows us to explore, learn and grow. Instead of rejecting an opportunity, by instinctively saying no, we should let curiosity address the doubts our instincts prevent us from acting upon. Let the answers to the questions absolve those doubts and free us to embrace the opportunities and experience more joy in our lives.

I did just that when presented with the opportunity of going to Europe for what would be my first vacation abroad. A friend's daughter was taking a college semester in Italy. He was going to visit her and asked me to join him. Was I excited at the prospect of going to Italy? Definitely. Could I go? Instinctively, no, because I had started a new job just two months prior. My instincts told me I had not earned the right to ask for ten days off, and it would be bold of me to do so. But my desire to take advantage of this opportunity inspired me to question my instincts. Instead of assuming my bosses would say no, I met with them to satisfy my curiosity and put to rest any doubts in my mind. The results were gratifying. I went on the trip, I kept my job, and when I returned, my bosses enthusiastically viewed the many photographs I had taken there.

I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the enormous respect and loyalty I hold for those bosses and the company I was working for at the time. They saw the person I was (not someone looking to take advantage of them), and they acknowledged I was new to the company and my absence for ten days would not jeopardize the company or my standing in it. They went so far as to tell me I could take the full two weeks off if I so desired.

If you don’t ask for what you want or take steps to make changes in your life, you may be robbing yourself of the joys that come from them. Embrace opportunities, relieve yourself of doubt, act responsively and glow in the joy it brings into your life and possibly the lives of others.

If you or someone you know are closing the door on opportunities, and regretting it later, it might be time to talk to a Life Coach. I hope you’ll reach out to me. Thank you for reading my “Life In A Word” blog and for checking back next week.

"LIFE IN A WORD"

The word is CHUTZPAH

Definition: Merriam-Webster Dictionary: “supreme self-confidence: Nerve, gall.”

Posted 6/2/22

When translated, there are certain unfamiliar words that miss the mark, or their meaning isn’t conveyed strongly enough but not this word. Chutzpah (hu̇t-spa) sounds like what it means. To have supreme self-confidence.

My Story on Chutzpah

Think about how often you tiptoe or dance around a situation with your boss, your friends, or even your family. You’re careful not to say the wrong thing so as not to "rock the boat". You figure it’s safer to avoid conflict than to speak up for what you may want or more importantly, what you may need.

Maybe it's time to shake it up by speaking up. If you’ve never told the people in your life what you really want then chances are they don’t know. Unfortunately, people are not mind-readers. And everyone has their own agenda, so they’re not necessarily in tune with yours. Don't shy away from the microphone, grab it and say, hear me. The people in your life may not be able to change, but they may come to understand you better and be more mindful of your feelings even when they can’t deliver on them. The same is true in reverse. We have to open our minds up to the needs of others if we truly want to find happiness with them.

We’re on this earth for a very short while. Gather up the nerve to kindly express your needs when they are not being met. If the people in your life truly care about you, it should matter to them. And if it doesn’t, it may be time to pause the relationship, take a step back, and reassess. Doing nothing doesn’t feel good and life is too short to live it feeling bad.

If you or someone you know is feeling sad and alone because they are not being understood, it may be time to talk to a Life Coach. I hope you’ll reach out to me. Life is hard, let’s start you on the path of making it a bit easier one step at a time.

Email me at innervoicelifecoach08@gmail.com.

Thank you for reading my blog and coming back next week for the next posting of “Life In A Word”.

"LIFE IN A WORD"

The word is MEMORIALIZE

Definition: Merriam-Webster Dictionary: “something that serves to keep alive the memory of a person or event”

Posted 5/26/22

Memorial Day is almost here. “Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings, and participating in parades. Unofficially, it marks the beginning of the summer season.”

- History Channel

My Story on Memorialize:

As we approach Memorial Day weekend, I thought it fitting to remember both the brave heroes who served our country and the brave heroes we were fortunate enough to have had in our own lives. We miss them and carry parts of them with us always. They’re the ones we looked up to, learned from, and aspired to be. They’re not the celebrities we see in the media they are the people who held a special place in their hearts for us.

I had a few heroes in my life that I will memorialize this weekend.

The first was my dad. He was someone I saw as a hero because he devoted his professional life to saving the lives of others. By example, he allowed me to embrace the survivor and protector in me.

The second was my paternal grandmother. She introduced me to the world of literature and the world of fashion. She was an independent woman ahead of her time who instilled in me a sense of self; read so you can learn about the world and dress the part to live it boldly.

And the third was my maternal grandmother. She was the trailblazer in the family, the hugger, and the woman who made sure everyone had full bellies. She was a woman ahead of her time as well, an immigrant from Turkey who came to America by means of an arranged marriage. With a smile on my face, I proudly say that my grandmother was one of the few women drivers in all of Brooklyn back in the nineteen-twenties. Her Middle Eastern recipes have passed from one generation to the next. Sharing her love, she treated each of her sixteen grandchildren as if they were the best of the best. It wasn’t a competition, just a fact in her estimation. I credit her for teaching me fearlessness, love, and how to cook a delicious boreka (you might have to look that one up, but it was a staple at every family gathering).

This Memorial Day weekend, I invite you to reflect on the hero in your life. Or the many if you were so blessed. Remember the person you learned from and aspired to. Embrace a few minutes of reflection as you memorialize them this weekend and if you’re so inclined, hold your own little parade to celebrate their memory.