The other day as we were driving to school, my daughter Jenna boldly stated, “Mom, for my birthday, I want a Pogo Stick.” This statement made me curious so I asked her, “Jenna, why do you want a Pogo Stick?” Jenna’s reply was “Mom, it’s easy. You just get on, fall off, get back up, and get on again. Then you learn how to do it.” Very true, my adventurous 5- year old. As we continued down pacific coast highway, this answer got me thinking about achieving goals and dreams and the process we need to go through before really making the impossible possible in our lives.

There are times when we have a big idea or goal and we might take a step toward making it happen. However, we will often come across a challenge or obstacle that stops us in our tracks. Unfortunately, we may give up on our goals, without getting back on our “stick.” Didn’t we all go through this process, as kids, learning how to ride a bike without the training wheels — lots of skinned knees!? (more…)

As I was unpacking a box in our new house the other day, I found a beautiful drawing that my son Jack had done when he was in Kindergarten last year, in the spring. It’s 4 pieces of paper layered together with drawings and these 4 words: seed, roots, stem, flower. There is a lot of sunshine and rain above to illustrate how growing something meaningful needs both. When Jack saw it, he immediately began to explain to his younger sister Jenna how this works. “You plant a seed, give it water, then a root grows, then a stem and then you have a flower one day.” Wow, if only it were that simple!

Realizing a big idea, dream, or goal is a lot like planting a seed in your garden. The first step is to decide which seed (idea) you want to plant. There are so many choices. Which one seems to be the perfect fit for you right now in your life? After you decide what seed you want to plant, you need to learn about that seed and how it needs to be cared for to get the best results. When you have a big idea or goal, you need to find out everything you need to make it successful so that you can realize a meaningful outcome. Now you need to plant the seed. For example, if it’s a business idea, you need to take all the necessary steps to start a business. Next you need to make sure the seed gets enough water and sunshine so that it will form good roots. This can be challenging for some of us. In this example, I’m talking about starting a business. We come up with a winning idea; we give it a name, print business cards, tell a few people we are in business, and wonder why the phone isn’t ringing off the hook with customers? Remember the water and sunshine? In the business example, you need to have a solid marketing plan for your business that includes plenty of networking and support. This is how a business develops “roots” in a community. (more…)

While on our way to school listening to a solo piano CD this morning, (it’s a great tool that I use to calm everyone down after a hectic morning rushing to get out the door!) my 5 year old daughter Jenna asked me, “Mom, how do you make music?” It reminded me of when I was a little girl and my piano teacher once told me, “It’s the space between the notes that makes the music.”

I did not fully understand the value of her answer back then. Most days I just wanted to hurry up and finish my lesson so I could get outdoors and chase a ball! If it’s the space between the notes that makes music, let me ask you - Are you creating some space in your life to make your music? If your life, dreams, and goals were a song, what would it sound like? Do your days have “space between” all of the “to-do’s”, or is it one long note being held down?

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