READY… “Today I don’t feel like doing anything. I just wanna lay in my bed. Don’t feel like picking up my phone, so leave a message at the tone. ‘Cause today I swear I’m not doing anything, nothing at all.” ~ Bruno Mars “The Lazy Song”
AIM… It’s summer. Yes, I realized that I did not send an Arrows of Integrity message last week. My excuse? I don’t have one…other than the simple fact that I was being lazy. The week before I was on vacation and had prepared an extra AOI message just so I could keep you in the loop while I was away. However, when I returned home, I hadn’t checked back in yet and so I just extended my relaxed schedule and remained uninspired and on lazy time.
You know, most of us really don’t know how to check out, relax and just be lazy. We’re so keyed up and stressed out that when we actually get an opportunity to rest or take a vacation, we don’t know how. Life demands so much from us from work stresses, activity schedules and home responsibilities that it’s no wonder we don’t know how to flip the off switch in our brains. It literally took me two days to unwind while we were on vacation. That’s nuts! However, once I achieved my state of relaxation, it was smooth sailing the rest of the week…and into the next. I’m happy to report that while I’m going to enjoy the low-key schedule of summer with my children, I’m back on track keeping you, my avid Arrows readers, encouraged and inspired. In the meantime, I hope you too will embrace summer and just relax your routine.
FIRE! Choose one day (or a ½ day) this week to “check out” and just enjoy some lazy time. You deserve a break, so rest already!!
Be Excellent!
Lori
June 29, 2011
June 7, 2011
On Purpose
READY… “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:9 NLT
AIM… I decided a few months ago that I was going to do something amazing for my 40th birthday. Yes, I enjoyed a few modest celebrations with close friends and family members. However, instead of focusing on receiving birthday wishes, I decided to bless someone ON PURPOSE for the forty days leading up to my 40th birthday. I sat down and wrote a list (because I can’t operate without my list) of forty different ideas on how I could bless others and make them feel extra special. Little did I know how incredibly blessed I would feel and what wonderful things would happen to me as a result of my blessings on purpose.
Many of you have inquired about what kind of things I was doing to bless others so you too could have different ideas to incorporate into your lives. The following is a sampling of the things I did throughout those forty days: I mailed several cards with encouraging messages, bought Starbucks coffee treats and breakfast or lunch for friends, counseled and prayed with troubled friends, made chocolate covered pretzels for my neighbors and cupcakes for my husband’s employees, paid for coffee for the person in the car behind me, took a bubble bath with my daughter, had a date night with my husband, took my son out to lunch, sent flowers to a friend, French braided hair for two young girls’ dance recital, sent a pizza dinner to a friend, gave away a few inspiring gifts and books, took lunch to my mom and dad, gave away a gazillion hugs, sang at church, gave appreciation baskets to my bank tellers, school secretaries and my AOI editor, paid for the grocery order of the lady behind me who forgot her wallet...and many other amazing things. As you can tell, some of these opportunities were planned and some were created by God. In return, I have felt so full of life and haven't been happier in ages. God has truly blessed me and my family so we can bless others. I dare you to try it, even for one day. You will be amazed at how great you feel and how wonderful you make others feel in the process.
FIRE! Choose to bless two people ON PURPOSE this week: someone you know and a random stranger. Use one of the ideas above or create something on your own. Honestly, you will feel fantastic and so will the person receiving your blessing.
Be Excellent!
Lori
AIM… I decided a few months ago that I was going to do something amazing for my 40th birthday. Yes, I enjoyed a few modest celebrations with close friends and family members. However, instead of focusing on receiving birthday wishes, I decided to bless someone ON PURPOSE for the forty days leading up to my 40th birthday. I sat down and wrote a list (because I can’t operate without my list) of forty different ideas on how I could bless others and make them feel extra special. Little did I know how incredibly blessed I would feel and what wonderful things would happen to me as a result of my blessings on purpose.
Many of you have inquired about what kind of things I was doing to bless others so you too could have different ideas to incorporate into your lives. The following is a sampling of the things I did throughout those forty days: I mailed several cards with encouraging messages, bought Starbucks coffee treats and breakfast or lunch for friends, counseled and prayed with troubled friends, made chocolate covered pretzels for my neighbors and cupcakes for my husband’s employees, paid for coffee for the person in the car behind me, took a bubble bath with my daughter, had a date night with my husband, took my son out to lunch, sent flowers to a friend, French braided hair for two young girls’ dance recital, sent a pizza dinner to a friend, gave away a few inspiring gifts and books, took lunch to my mom and dad, gave away a gazillion hugs, sang at church, gave appreciation baskets to my bank tellers, school secretaries and my AOI editor, paid for the grocery order of the lady behind me who forgot her wallet...and many other amazing things. As you can tell, some of these opportunities were planned and some were created by God. In return, I have felt so full of life and haven't been happier in ages. God has truly blessed me and my family so we can bless others. I dare you to try it, even for one day. You will be amazed at how great you feel and how wonderful you make others feel in the process.
FIRE! Choose to bless two people ON PURPOSE this week: someone you know and a random stranger. Use one of the ideas above or create something on your own. Honestly, you will feel fantastic and so will the person receiving your blessing.
Be Excellent!
Lori
May 31, 2011
Embracing Forty
READY… “Maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had, and what you've learned from them, and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.” ~ Anonymous
AIM… Hooray, today is my 40th birthday! In my 40 years of life, I have crossed paths with many interesting people. At times I have been angry, sad, misinformed, scared, depressed, backed into a corner, intimidated, taken advantage of, hurt, challenged, lied to, taken for granted, intimidated and let down. However, more often than not, I have been happy, encouraged, supported, humored, trusted, hugged, kept in the loop, filled with joy, lead, followed, appreciated, inspired, strengthened, celebrated and loved. Most of all, over the past 40 years, I have been BLESSED. I have a God who loves me unconditionally, a wonderful family, an amazing husband, two incredible children and an enormous amount of fantastic friends. What more could I possibly ever want?? Truthfully…40 more years to do it all again and then some! Cheers to YOU and my future of being FABULOUS and 40!!
FIRE! Celebrate something special today! Did you accomplish something amazing at work? Did you save money at a fantastic sale? Did you simply get out of bed on time? Whatever smallish or largish event you choose to celebrate today, do it with exuberance and flair!
Be Excellent!
Lori
AIM… Hooray, today is my 40th birthday! In my 40 years of life, I have crossed paths with many interesting people. At times I have been angry, sad, misinformed, scared, depressed, backed into a corner, intimidated, taken advantage of, hurt, challenged, lied to, taken for granted, intimidated and let down. However, more often than not, I have been happy, encouraged, supported, humored, trusted, hugged, kept in the loop, filled with joy, lead, followed, appreciated, inspired, strengthened, celebrated and loved. Most of all, over the past 40 years, I have been BLESSED. I have a God who loves me unconditionally, a wonderful family, an amazing husband, two incredible children and an enormous amount of fantastic friends. What more could I possibly ever want?? Truthfully…40 more years to do it all again and then some! Cheers to YOU and my future of being FABULOUS and 40!!
FIRE! Celebrate something special today! Did you accomplish something amazing at work? Did you save money at a fantastic sale? Did you simply get out of bed on time? Whatever smallish or largish event you choose to celebrate today, do it with exuberance and flair!
Be Excellent!
Lori
May 25, 2011
Live Like You Were Dying
READY… "Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives that we are
dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows.” ~ Pope Paul VI
AIM… I couldn’t help but notice that the Rapture didn’t occur this past weekend as predicted by some. Either that or I’ve been WAY worse of a person in life than I remember and all the good folks are already gone!! Seriously, we are in the midst of the end times; however, no one will really know when it will truly happen. We could all wait for years and years or it could happen tomorrow.
What if, however, we really DID know when the end of the world as we know it was going to occur? What would you do differently? Would you continue working, going to school, raising your family and socializing exactly as you are today? Or would you choose to live your life differently? What would you do differently? Some people when given a terminal diagnosis suddenly decide to do all the things in life they’ve always wanted to do because they realize their lives are now limited and have a deadline. Why in the world didn’t they make that decision years before?
I know there are days when I don’t feel like I’m living like I would if I knew I was dying; however, there are days I know I wouldn’t change a thing. So…what are you going to do to live like you were dying today?
*Note – My daughter and I were in a bad car accident last evening. Thankfully, by the grace of God, we are ok with lots of scrapes and big bruises (p.s. It wasn’t my fault.) I wrote this message earlier having no idea what would occur later in my day. I am grateful this morning that I can live another day to send this to you and encourage you to LIVE EACH DAY TO THE FULLEST!!
FIRE! Choose to do something different in your routine today that will make you feel totally happy and fulfilled. Live and embrace life like there’s no tomorrow!
Be Excellent!
Lori
dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows.” ~ Pope Paul VI
AIM… I couldn’t help but notice that the Rapture didn’t occur this past weekend as predicted by some. Either that or I’ve been WAY worse of a person in life than I remember and all the good folks are already gone!! Seriously, we are in the midst of the end times; however, no one will really know when it will truly happen. We could all wait for years and years or it could happen tomorrow.
What if, however, we really DID know when the end of the world as we know it was going to occur? What would you do differently? Would you continue working, going to school, raising your family and socializing exactly as you are today? Or would you choose to live your life differently? What would you do differently? Some people when given a terminal diagnosis suddenly decide to do all the things in life they’ve always wanted to do because they realize their lives are now limited and have a deadline. Why in the world didn’t they make that decision years before?
I know there are days when I don’t feel like I’m living like I would if I knew I was dying; however, there are days I know I wouldn’t change a thing. So…what are you going to do to live like you were dying today?
*Note – My daughter and I were in a bad car accident last evening. Thankfully, by the grace of God, we are ok with lots of scrapes and big bruises (p.s. It wasn’t my fault.) I wrote this message earlier having no idea what would occur later in my day. I am grateful this morning that I can live another day to send this to you and encourage you to LIVE EACH DAY TO THE FULLEST!!
FIRE! Choose to do something different in your routine today that will make you feel totally happy and fulfilled. Live and embrace life like there’s no tomorrow!
Be Excellent!
Lori
May 18, 2011
Clutter Chaos
READY… "The more you have, the more you are occupied. The less you have, the more free you are." ~ Mother Teresa
AIM… There it is…the looming pile of mail, papers, magazines and STUFF on your dining room table or kitchen counter. What is it that makes those areas such clutter magnets? Sure, there are other places where clutter piles up, but because the kitchen is normally the central hub for us, that’s also the location where we drop our junk. Why do you think every house has a junk drawer in the kitchen? Because that’s the place for items that don’t seem to have a place anywhere else in the house! Typically, we endure the mountain of clutter because once it starts to accumulate it becomes an overwhelming task to tackle. You simply have to pick a starting point, give yourself a time limit, and start sorting through it a little at a time. Trust me, inch by inch it becomes a cinch!
Professional organizers will tell you there are simple steps to decluttering your home. Check out this link for a few truly helpful ideas: http://www.oprah.com/home/Clutter-Control/1.
Just like our homes, we let our minds and souls get cluttered with too many thoughts, crazy gossip and unnecessary worries. We need to take time and declutter ourselves as much as our kitchen counters. What things are you storing up inside yourself that you can let go? Most days, this is easier said than done. I realize that. However, as the musical group En Vogue sang “Free your mind, and the rest will follow.” It’s true. When your brain isn’t overcrowded with junk, you feel better, you act better and you smile more often. Evaluate what you’re personally holding onto and start letting it go. Your life depends on it.
I’m excited for you and can’t wait to see and hear about your decluttering stories. Don’t wait another day; free yourself from being imprisoned by STUFF!
FIRE! Set a timer for 15 minutes today. Clear out as many things from your office, computer desk, or kitchen counter as possible. Make 3 piles: keep, throw away and donate. I just know you can do this and believe me, you’ll feel GREAT!
Be Excellent!
Lori
AIM… There it is…the looming pile of mail, papers, magazines and STUFF on your dining room table or kitchen counter. What is it that makes those areas such clutter magnets? Sure, there are other places where clutter piles up, but because the kitchen is normally the central hub for us, that’s also the location where we drop our junk. Why do you think every house has a junk drawer in the kitchen? Because that’s the place for items that don’t seem to have a place anywhere else in the house! Typically, we endure the mountain of clutter because once it starts to accumulate it becomes an overwhelming task to tackle. You simply have to pick a starting point, give yourself a time limit, and start sorting through it a little at a time. Trust me, inch by inch it becomes a cinch!
Professional organizers will tell you there are simple steps to decluttering your home. Check out this link for a few truly helpful ideas: http://www.oprah.com/home/Clutter-Control/1.
Just like our homes, we let our minds and souls get cluttered with too many thoughts, crazy gossip and unnecessary worries. We need to take time and declutter ourselves as much as our kitchen counters. What things are you storing up inside yourself that you can let go? Most days, this is easier said than done. I realize that. However, as the musical group En Vogue sang “Free your mind, and the rest will follow.” It’s true. When your brain isn’t overcrowded with junk, you feel better, you act better and you smile more often. Evaluate what you’re personally holding onto and start letting it go. Your life depends on it.
I’m excited for you and can’t wait to see and hear about your decluttering stories. Don’t wait another day; free yourself from being imprisoned by STUFF!
FIRE! Set a timer for 15 minutes today. Clear out as many things from your office, computer desk, or kitchen counter as possible. Make 3 piles: keep, throw away and donate. I just know you can do this and believe me, you’ll feel GREAT!
Be Excellent!
Lori
May 10, 2011
Living In The Fast Lane
READY… “Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save.” ~Will Rogers, Autobiography, 1949
AIM… Zoooooommm! Recognize that sound? It’s the sound of your life rushing past you. Before you know it, it’s midnight and you’re still plugging away on that project for work, typing a report for a new class or attempting to clean the dirty dishes from the past few days. We fill our days with so many obligations and activities that we don’t allow for any down time. We have become so accustomed to shifting our lives into overdrive that when our bodies give us that uncomfortable check engine light signal, we choose to ignore that warning and continue operating on cruise control, or just shift into a higher gear. Sooner or later, if we don’t heed those warning signals, our bodies will literally shut down and stall out. Surely you’ve been in this situation before: You are coasting along at high speed and you just KNOW you need to slow down and shift into a lower gear, but you simply don’t know how to make it happen.
Friends, if we do not re-evaluate our life schedules and our commitments, our over-drive lifestyles will drive us right into an early grave. Heed the warnings. SLOW DOWN!! A speeding ticket is an expensive reminder to back off the throttle. A hospital or doctor’s bill is an expensive reminder to shift your life into low gear and reprioritize your commitments. If you don’t start taking time to slow down, rest and enjoy life, your body will come to a screeching halt whether you want it to or not. Look at your schedule and pencil in a 15 minute break to breathe today. You deserve to put your life in neutral for a few moments. As important as it is to schedule time for others, it is equally as important to schedule time for yourself. In a short while, life will be zooming past you again. Make time to back off the throttle and coast.
FIRE! Start carving out time each day, or initially each week, to rest. Your mind, body and spirit need to recharge their batteries to perform at their maximum potential. You car requires regular tune ups and maintenance, doesn’t your body deserve the same attention?
Be Excellent!
Lori
AIM… Zoooooommm! Recognize that sound? It’s the sound of your life rushing past you. Before you know it, it’s midnight and you’re still plugging away on that project for work, typing a report for a new class or attempting to clean the dirty dishes from the past few days. We fill our days with so many obligations and activities that we don’t allow for any down time. We have become so accustomed to shifting our lives into overdrive that when our bodies give us that uncomfortable check engine light signal, we choose to ignore that warning and continue operating on cruise control, or just shift into a higher gear. Sooner or later, if we don’t heed those warning signals, our bodies will literally shut down and stall out. Surely you’ve been in this situation before: You are coasting along at high speed and you just KNOW you need to slow down and shift into a lower gear, but you simply don’t know how to make it happen.
Friends, if we do not re-evaluate our life schedules and our commitments, our over-drive lifestyles will drive us right into an early grave. Heed the warnings. SLOW DOWN!! A speeding ticket is an expensive reminder to back off the throttle. A hospital or doctor’s bill is an expensive reminder to shift your life into low gear and reprioritize your commitments. If you don’t start taking time to slow down, rest and enjoy life, your body will come to a screeching halt whether you want it to or not. Look at your schedule and pencil in a 15 minute break to breathe today. You deserve to put your life in neutral for a few moments. As important as it is to schedule time for others, it is equally as important to schedule time for yourself. In a short while, life will be zooming past you again. Make time to back off the throttle and coast.
FIRE! Start carving out time each day, or initially each week, to rest. Your mind, body and spirit need to recharge their batteries to perform at their maximum potential. You car requires regular tune ups and maintenance, doesn’t your body deserve the same attention?
Be Excellent!
Lori
May 3, 2011
Disappointment
READY… “Reverend Mother always says when the Lord closes a door, somewhere he opens a window." ~ Maria speaking to Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music
AIM… Life doesn’t always go in our expected direction. If you’ve seen the movie or the musical The Sound of Music, Maria doesn’t recognize God’s true calling on her life until well into her assignment with the Von Trapp family and she tries to change directions by making decisions herself. Of course, the movie has a happy ending, but when life throws YOU a curve ball, how do you handle the disappointment?
When we run after the desires of our heart and a metaphorical door gets slammed in our face, it is hard to muster up the strength to stay on that course. Our human nature is to run and hide and feel sorry for ourselves because the situation didn’t turn out the way we expected. However, did you realize that how you handle your disappointment is a direct reflection of your character? Yes, we are going to be disappointed. Yes, there are going to be times of sadness or anger. The true test of your personal integrity is whether you allow yourself to wallow in self-pity over your disappointments or if you choose to get back on your feet and take another step in the right direction.
Unfortunately, we cannot choose how other people act or some of the circumstances we’ll be faced with in life. However, we CAN choose how we REact to our situations and the folks who are involved. Remember, others are always watching our behavior. If we pause long enough to take a breath, and look for perspective, perhaps we’ll actually feel the breeze from the window God is opening around the bend of opportunity. Consider how many times you have had an opportunity pass you by only to be thankful when a better one arrived later.
FIRE! Don’t put a period where God places a comma! Give yourself about 60 seconds to have a little pity party and then stand up, pull your shoulders back, hold your head up and confidently go forward in pursuit of your dreams.
Be Excellent!
Lori
AIM… Life doesn’t always go in our expected direction. If you’ve seen the movie or the musical The Sound of Music, Maria doesn’t recognize God’s true calling on her life until well into her assignment with the Von Trapp family and she tries to change directions by making decisions herself. Of course, the movie has a happy ending, but when life throws YOU a curve ball, how do you handle the disappointment?
When we run after the desires of our heart and a metaphorical door gets slammed in our face, it is hard to muster up the strength to stay on that course. Our human nature is to run and hide and feel sorry for ourselves because the situation didn’t turn out the way we expected. However, did you realize that how you handle your disappointment is a direct reflection of your character? Yes, we are going to be disappointed. Yes, there are going to be times of sadness or anger. The true test of your personal integrity is whether you allow yourself to wallow in self-pity over your disappointments or if you choose to get back on your feet and take another step in the right direction.
Unfortunately, we cannot choose how other people act or some of the circumstances we’ll be faced with in life. However, we CAN choose how we REact to our situations and the folks who are involved. Remember, others are always watching our behavior. If we pause long enough to take a breath, and look for perspective, perhaps we’ll actually feel the breeze from the window God is opening around the bend of opportunity. Consider how many times you have had an opportunity pass you by only to be thankful when a better one arrived later.
FIRE! Don’t put a period where God places a comma! Give yourself about 60 seconds to have a little pity party and then stand up, pull your shoulders back, hold your head up and confidently go forward in pursuit of your dreams.
Be Excellent!
Lori
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