Winning Strategies for Life & Travel

Celebrate the Life You Have

The day was beautiful today.  The weather was cool and felt refreshing after experiencing a long hot Texas  summer.  The sky was blue, and a refreshing wind blew through the area keeping the temperatures down in the seventies and eighties.  I settled into a comfortable spot on a chair and got out my writing paper.

This book that I am writing, Living the Life You're Dreaming Of, is the culmination of many ideas and thoughts that have come together over the years.  I am writing this book to get you off the couches of your life.  I am attempting to thwart you into living the life that you were born to live .  I want to keep you from going through the motions of a life fallen into- - - without living intentionally.  I am halfway through the writing of it, and I'm diligently working to accomplish it in 2012.

What goals have you set for yourself this year?  What can you accomplish in the next few months that you are seeking to achieve?  Stay tuned- - - motivation coming your way soon.  If I'm successful, your guidebook to success will hit bookshelves in 2013.

Paris Day 1- The Champs Elysees & the Arch de Triumph

We arrive in Paris and the weather is beautiful.  The sun is out and the clouds sparse.  A concierge meets us at the gate and we speed through immigration and customs faster than we have ever had the pleasure of doing.  A sedan is waiting for us and the ride is smooth and calm.

We are staying at the Marriott on the Champs Elysees.  It is a busy street amidst the hustle and bustle of Paris.  It is home to many shops and restaurants. 

Today is Saturday and it is full of people walking down the broad sidewalk, shopping, eating, and enjoying family time.  Paris is a dreamy city.  I love the sights, the sounds, and the people.  I love the smell of coffee, the bakeries, and the pizzerias. 

We check in and wait for our room to be ready.  It is only 8AM in the morning.  Caleb is busy texting and being a teenager, and Michael and I are enjoying the sights and planning out our next few days.

We jaunt down the expansive street and walk towards the Arch de Triumph.  People are busy
walking to and fro, taking pictures, and we are surrounded by high energy.  The Arch is grand.  It seems so much larger the closer you get to it.  Its size overwhelms you as you walk up to its perimeter and glare at the statues carved into its base.  The tunnel underground leading to the Arch is a busy place this morning.  People are standing in line to go up into the Arch and we saunter by to walk up next to it.

We look skyward and view the designs on the ceiling of the Arch.  It is a latticework of intricate designs.  It is spellbinding.  Our eyes wander across the statues, looking at the carved names, following the lines of the statues and landing on the latticework on the ceiling.  Wow.  This is an impressive memorial.  It is like no other than I have ever seen. 

I sit and wonder at its presence.  Each time I visit the Arch, it has the same euphoric reaction in my center being.  Yes, I’ve seen it before.  This is my fourth trip to Paris.  But each time, I find myself amazed at its size, compelled by its artwork, and intrigued by its intricacies of the designs.

Welcome to Pare’.

How Full Is Your Bucket?

I once read a book named 'How Full is Your Bucket?' by Donald Clifton.    It talks about your need to fill your bucket in order to give away a part of yourself (your time, your energy, your love) to the ones in your family and in your influence.

It made so much sense to me, as a working mother, that as our bucket 'empties' we are unable to love our families and our children the way that we need to.  It is a matter of priorities.  We take the love that others have shown us to fill the bucket of our lives so that we can love others.  Sometimes we are giving away love and receiving none back in the process. 

It is a constant struggle as a parent, how do you keep the bucket full when it seems that we continually give away more than we receive.  I think the definition of motherhood is 'give away more love than you can ever possibly receive in return'.

The bucket can be filled by friends, family, or God, and needs to be replentished often.  There are phases of our life where replentishing the bucket is much harder than others.  It is at those times that we must fortify ourselves for the long marathon of parenthood and marriage. 

Figure out a way to fill your bucket.  Find a way to fill the bucket that will enable you to spread love on all those around you.  Sometimes I fail at this miserably.  Here's hoping that you do a better job of this than I often do.

Count Your Many Blessings- Mother's Day 2012

I have so many things to be thankful for.  I am still blessed to have my mother in my life.  She is 80 years old and blessed with an independent life and is still spending her days with my dad.  It is a beautiful story.

I have three amazing children, each of which have taught me some of life's greatest lessons.  I love them dearly.  This last year I was blessed with a grandchild, and am having fun watching her grow.

I get calls and emails from around the globe through my mentoring website, Winning Strategies (www.bethanyawilliams.com) and this week I've heard from several struggling with life.  One single mom wasn't sure where she'd get the money for groceries this week, and another was dealing with a sick child and another loss of a job.  Today, I am asking each of you to Count Your Many Blessings.  Make a list of the things in your life that you are thankful for. 

Build an Altar of Thanksgiving

In the Bible, God regularly had people stop and build an altar.  That altar was to remind God's people of all the many blessings in their life.  I think we need that as people.  I think we need to stop, pause, and thank God for the many blessings in our life.  That reminder, that pause, gives us a moment to truly remember, and give thanks for all the Blessings in our life.  It gives us a chance to re-focus and re-direct our lives towards the positives, and let the not-so-greats go.

Today i celebrate my children, my amazing husband, my mom and dad, my brother Bert, my neice Shana, Jeff's mother Lucille, Jeff's brothers' Mike and Don, Bert's kids Anne and Danny, and all the amazing friends that I have in my life: Vicki, Nancy, Regina, and Pam.

Today I build an altar to God, thanking him for his many blessings and to Him, I am greatful beyond belief.

Have yourself a very fabulous Mother's Day.

My Blessings

I have three children that have been blessing my life for many years. I write of them often since they form the fabric that is my life with kids. Some of you are in the midst of raising children as well, some have no kids, and others are in the stages of life known as 'empty nesters'. Whatever phase of life you find yourself in- I challenge you to relish the phase and enjoy the moments.  If you have children, try to enjoy your children at whatever age they are.

Two of mine are teenagers, and I have, admitedly, been struggling through this age and time.  It sometimes is a challenge that wins out over my conscious attempt to enjoy these moments despite how frustrated I can get at times.  They are, REMEMBER, only teenagers once (THANK GOODNESS)!  I'll never figure out why some of these phases seem to last longer than others.

I still remember my baby girl cuddled up on my lap in the rocking chair crying for her daddy.  I still get a lump in my throat thinking of how proud I was when she graduated college.  I think of the big hugs that my 6'4'' son Brandon gives me and I laugh when I think of Caleb flipping his hair to the side.

They are my world.  They are the reason that I've been determined to give them an amazing life.   They are my motivation.

As I near the empty nest stage of life, I wonder what is in store for me after I have no more kids at home.  I think about the next phase of life.  What does life hold for you in 5 years, 10 years, 15 years?  Are you thinking ahead or just drudging through one day at a time.

Stop for a moment and dream of a future that you would enjoy.  Think about lifes stages and the passing of time.  Imagine a different tomorrow.

Today, I celebrate today- thankful for my three amazing children, and looking forward to an amazing tomorrow.  I love you Heather, Brandon & Caleb.  You are each amazing, talented, and gifted children.  Each of you bring special gifts to this world and I can't wait to see what you do to make the world a better place.  Your mother loves you dearly.

When I Get Around To It!

 

Ever just think that you will do something 'When You Get Around To it?'  Yes, I've heard that SO MANY times in my travels around the globe and my interactions with people in varying locations, in an assortment of job positions, and even in different economic classes.  We all seem to have one commonality- we never FIND ENOUGH TIME to get to the things done THAT YOU WANT TO DO.

 We try, don't get me wrong- and we have the best intentions.  But, somehow, we just don't make time to schedule that family trip, call our loved ones, or take a moment out to chat with our children or someone at work that needs to be listened to.  We are rushed.  We are in a hurry.

I had so many plans of things that I was 'going to do' with Heather's dad (now deceased).  We had said many times that we would do something 'when we got around to it'.  How do you really know that the future you are delaying your today for will ever arrive?

Live for Today
You really don't know what tomorrow holds.  You really have only one chance to live today.  You have but one opportunity to LIVE IN THE MOMENT and seize it- grasping it to the fullest.  So, if you are reading this- there is a reason.  There is something on your 'WHEN I GET AROUND TO IT' list that you need to tackle RIGHT NOW.  Stop reading and DO IT NOW.

Ideas of DO IT NOW THINGS
1) Schedule that family vacation- if you have miles- search for a location you want to attend and CLICK the Submit button.  Book it!

2) If you don't have miles- look up package deals on expedia or kayak.  Find a package that fits you.

3) Book out a lunch time on your calendar for Spring Break- plan to have lunch with your kids or spouse.  Why not?

4) Plan a dinner/date night with your spouse.  Surprise them!

5) Book out a vacation week on your work calendar.  It will be more likely that you spend some time with the family if it is booked on your calendar.

SUMMARY
Life speeds by.  It quickens past us and before we know it, many of the plans we had have dissipated into the wind.  They no longer apply.

Make something happen today.  GET AROUND to SOMETHING that you haven't DONE- but SHOULD.   I encourage you to plan something special.

Las Vegas Machine Gun Experience

Our Vegas vacation weekend was a blast. Saturday we stopped in to visit the Machine Gun Experience (www.discountfirearmsinc.com/rentals.html )  in Vegas. It is located quick close to the strip. The place was loaded with people. We stood in a short line and signed up for a gold package. It was a chance to try 11 different guns, each of which we would get a chance to shoot several rounds. The four of us decided that we would split the rounds and get an opportunity to each enjoy the experience.

It was much funner than I expected (funner- is that a word? Laugh). I never thought I'd enjoy it as much as I did. For those of you with only daughters, you may not be off the hook. We were there for about 1 1/2 hours cycling through the guns and each getting a chance to shoot the guns. Wow- what a rush! Some had extensive kickback. They sure make it look easy in the movies, grin. A few of them had difficult to pull triggers and some were hard to hold- because of their weight. Some had switches to move that moved them from semiautomatic to automatic. Holy cow, most of the time my aim was perfect- straight to the kill zone. I held my own with the boys ( don't I always) lol.

 

I highly recommend the Machine Gun Experience for all you adventure seekers out there. It is certainly different than anything else you might do on the strip in Vegas. Enjoy!

Indoor Skydiving Fun in Las Vegas

Eons ago I saw a spot on television about indoor skydiving. It looked fabulously fun. I even thought it would make for an incredible birthday party one year for my adventurous son Caleb. Well, unfortunately I couldn't find anyplace near Dallas that offers this fun sport.

Now in Vegas on a family together weekend before a tradeshow that I'm attending called HIMSS, we head over to 200 Convention Center Road to the Las Vegas Indoor Skydiving Center (http://www.vegasindoorskydiving.com/). We met our instructor and guide Chris Baker and sat through our quick class.

Untitled from Premier Pixels on Vimeo.

 

We suited up in skydiving suites, goggles, gloves and shoes and walked into the wind tunnel. Ever wonder what it would feel like if you ever actually did jump off a building or out of a plane? We were about to find out.

The giant fan assimilates the wind as if you are freefalling. We step onto the fan and took turns floating high above the earth as if free falling. It is exhilarating. It is breathtaking. It is hilarious to watch.

See if you have time while in Vegas to check out their facilities and free fall away!

They Don't Know

 

My kids have never gone to bed hungry, never wondered where they'd sleep the next night. They have never gone without clothes and struggled to stay warm in an empty alley all night.

They have never cried themselves to sleep, wondering if they would wake up alone with no parent by their side- or woke up next to a drug addicted parent- passed out and unable to be awakened.

They don't know what they don't know. They don't know the feeling of living alone on the streets, struggling to support themselves, or moving from shelter to shelter sleeping on old cots. They've never had to deal with that.

Because of the limited things they've seen, they do not REALLY know all that they have to be thankful for. They do not fully comprehend the blessing that is their life and their circumstances. They are missing the chance to truly celebrate all that is good in their lives.

I'm saddened that I've been unable to truly teach them this one lesson: life is a gift, enjoy and treasure each piece of all that you've been given. It is truly more than you recognize and FAR MORE than you celebrate on a daily basis.

Today- celebrate the gift of your life and all the blessings that you have in it!

 

TGIF

Yeah!!!! It is Friday.  I love Fridays.  I relax on Friday nights and enjoy some time with the family.  I take time to NOT do much of anything.  I TRY to be LAZY.  I take time to find a little quiet time.  I take a mental vacation to the last beach I've visited.  My mind drifts away to the places I've been, the world that I've seen, and the people that I've been able to motivate and inspire. 

I've been blessed.  On Fridays, I work to remember all the ways that I've been blessed and I think on those blessing.  Happy Friday.