"There's Your Sign"

By Laurissa


Years ago I had a boyfriend complain that I had to make “an event out of everything” and he didn’t like it. What did he mean by my making an “event” out of everything, you might be wondering; it’s kind of an odd complaint to make -- right?

Well this particular comment was made in reference to my driving five miles to the local farm market to buy apples instead of going to the chain grocery store located less than a mile from my home and buying my apples at the same time as I did my normal grocery shopping. I had invited him to come with my daughter and me, but he refused, because he felt that it was silly to drive that far for apples.

When somebody questions something like that, there is really no need to try and explain. When you feel that you have to defend your choice of something as small as where and how you buy apples, “there’s your sign!”

Now that September is here I’m really looking forward to my weekly visit to this particular farm market and its apple harvest. Not only do they sell an array of apples and other fruits and vegetables they also sell freshly baked donuts and pies, made to order subs, ice cream cones, apple cider for a dime a cup, and so many other items too numerous to list.

In addition to the wonderful locally grown produce, there’s a gorgeous lake with ducks and geese and a beautiful patio on the property. In October there are corn stalks, pumpkins, wagon rides, mazes, caramel and candied apples.

Oh, and by the way, he was right. It is an event, and one I won’t miss out on. I’m glad that I’m not so jaded that I can’t take pleasure in and make events out of some of the simpler things in this life. This October when my daughter is home from medical school for fall break, we’ll be there with our apple cider and blueberry donuts, sitting outside on the patio watching the children as they run and play through the maze and fallen red, gold, and orange hued leaves. It’s my favorite season, and whenever I’m there with my daughter, all’s right in my world.

Do you  have a particular activity that you participate in, place or event that makes you feel that “all is right” in your world?

Also, have you ever received an odd complaint from a boyfriend or girlfriend, husband or wife? If it's not too personal, would you mind sharing it with us?

Harvest Time

By Martha Reed


I love Fall because it’s time for the harvest. It’s a great time of year to take stock of what got accomplished over the last year, what did or didn’t happen, and then set up a plan for the coming year to either move myself in the right direction or to take a look at what didn’t get accomplished and figure out a new approach to get it done.

Fall helps me reset my priorities. For instance, I’m only half way through my manuscript, so I’m moving it to the top of the priority list for 2009, letting nothing else get in the way of accomplishing that task. Of course, unforeseen things will happen, but I’ve learned that if I keep a constant steady pressure on the top item, moving it back up to the top whenever it gets bumped off, by the end of the year it’s been accomplished.

I had three priorities for 2008: 1) organize a family reunion; 2) master the officer requirements for the local Sisters in Crime chapter and 3) help orchestrate the sale of a house. I took a look at each item last Fall, gave each item a sufficient amount of thought and planning and applied the pressure. A year later, all three items are done.

The ‘lose twenty pounds’ issue does keep falling off the list but I am still working on it. Dieting didn’t work completely but ‘eating with nutrition in mind’ has helped a bit plus I’ve added yoga and chiropractic maintenance to the mix. We’ll see if that helps; it certainly can’t hurt and I will keep the steady pressure on and craft a different combination until I find the one that works.

Last Fall I also decided to prioritize finding a new position at my day job. Truth be told I needed to earn more money – I need to start funding a Roth IRA and my health insurance premium doubled – and I couldn’t accomplish either of those at my current level. Using the same step-by-step process, I identified a new target job, formulated an approach, took extra training, volunteered for standing committees, even wrote business articles for the quarterly newsletter – anything to help raise my corporate profile. The good news is HR called me a week ago and made an offer and I start my new position on Monday.

In writing about this topic I’m not trying to show what I’ve accomplished; I’m trying to show how accomplishments can be acquired. Some folks I know blithely go through life waiting for their next lucky break. Luck is all well and good but I save it for the lottery and the casinos. I’ve learned that focused direct intent and lots of hard work will get you where you want to go plus the end results are more consistent. Maybe this is because I’m a bull-headed Taurus but all I know is, it works!

I invite you to try this approach for 2009. Make a list and identify two or three items you want to harvest next year. Post the list in a prominent place like over your coffeemaker. Each day, reconsider your items and think of what you can do that day to move them forward. If that item just won’t happen, it won’t happen, so move to the next item on your list and keep the pressure on. A year from now, take stock of your results. I think you’ll be amazed at what you can do when you put your mind to it.