Category Archives: motivation

46 Ways to be a Better Person

Thank you for stopping by my blog.

Here’s a quick list that will get your started on having a nicer day now. Good luck and let me know how it goes.

1. Take a deep breath now, hold it as long as you can. Count to 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, release, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and now another.

2. OK, two more deep breaths. Relax.

3. Concentrate on this word <<oooaahhhhmmm>> and close your eyes and take another two deep breaths, in through your nose out through your mouth.

4. Meditate. Concentrate on your third eye and just be peaceful. You can stop reading this! It’s okay!

5. Slow down. Try moving slowly.

6. Start each day as Gandhi did: Be the change you want to see.

7. Look for ways to help others.

It almost always seems impossible until it's done. ♡

It almost always seems impossible until it’s done.x♡o

8. Treat yourself great.

9. Be your own friend.

10. Go to the mirror and make funny faces.

11. Make yourself and/or a friend a nice cup of tea or coffee.

12. Take a long walk without music or distractions.

13. Clean. Go left to right, it works.

14. Be young in your heart.

15. Hug a tree.

16. Jump on one leg. Now the other. Do this in your mind’s eye. Or for real.

17. Spin like a child with your eyes closed. Do this in your mind’s eye. Or for real.

18. Hug someone. Even yourself.

19. Next time you see someone on facebook that’s down, get involved. Try sending links, messages.  Or, how about a phone call?

20. Believe in miracles. :) I do.

21. Be inspirational.

22. Forgive yourself.

6 Simple Rules to live by: Be happy, be nice, be a leader, be organized, be a lifelong learner and be healthy. Listen to the next sound you hear.

23. Push yourself to be a little bit better.

24. Count to ten before reacting. {or better yet, just let it slide.}

25. Pet an animal.

26. Turn off the tv.

27. Sell something on ebay.

28. Give something away to charity.

29. Treat yourself to a day spa.

30. Take a nice long relaxing bath or shower.

31. Bake.

32. Organize your files.

33. Make a list of three things you don’t want to do and then do them.

34. Eat well. How’s a salad sound for your next meal? A big one!

35. Exercise.

36. Take a risk with love.

37. Write a message on someone’s facebook wall saying thank you for being there.

38. Enjoy this moment.

39. You can reprogram your mind to believe anything you want it to. Triy listening to affirmations. There are tons on you tube.

40. Shine the light that God has given you.

40. Shine On!

40. Shine the light that God has given you.

41. Tell someone you love them.

42. No matter what your age, dream — even big if you’d like.

43. Remember a moment when you were blissful. Hold on to it.

44. Accept yourself for exactly who you are.

45. Send a REAL letter in the mail.

46. Give yourself a little break.

Thanks for reading and have a great day. I believe in you. I do.

In the comment section, I’d like to know what you can hear, smell and feel in this exact moment. What is around you? I can hear  boys playing, the washing machine spinning and a distant car passing.

My love affair with Apple, Mac and highest regards for Steve Jobs. ♥ ❒ Check ✔

♥ Why is it called Apple? Mouse over this picture to see.

It just works.

It started when I was working in the 80s at ComputerLand. I was hired by my mom’s friend the year after I had graduated high school. She hired me to be her assistant.

We sold IBM PCs to banks. There were no hard drives or memory on computers in those days. We saved our data on something called a 5 1/4 inch floppy disc.

One beautiful day a cute square box with an apple on it arrived that changed our lives. I got to open it. That was truly an exciting memory.

This is the first Mac that came out around 1984 I believe.

My very first computer purchase ~ the Mac Classic. I walked out of the SJSU Spartan Student Store with this in a box in 1986. It seems like yesterday.

It was the 1984 Macintosh also called the Mac Classic. We opened it up and I saw my first mouse. I couldn’t believe it. It was like a dream come true, someone, thank you Steve Jobs, had revolutionized the computer.

We had three programs to play with: a version of Word called MacWrite, a graphics program called MacPaint and solitaire.

Do any of you guys remember Wordstar? It was pre-word and used on IBM computers. Basically, you had to type a command-U before underlining and a command-U after the words to stop underlining. If you forgot the second command, your entire page would be underscored.

Bwah Ha ha ha.
That’s nerd humor for you.

Here kitty kitty kitty.  That's me talking again to my cat. : )

Here kitty kitty kitty. Click here to see my S.J. picks.

I hung out with the technicians. We got to open backs of computers and change mother boards and printer adapters. Fun stuff yet thoroughly educational and enjoyable. One day my friend Keary programmed a tiny musical symphony.

Why I love Apple and Mac Computers.

In 1986, after working at IBM, I bought my first Mac Classic at the student store at San Jose State University. The price was US$999. It was a bit of a novelty among my friends but me and my roommate got all of our reports done and WE COULD EDIT THEM.

Does anyone remember using white out on paper on a typewriter?

After university, I got my first job at big company in Los Angeles. There again, it was Mac all the way. To date, I have had and worked on

For my younger readers: This is what a computer screen looked like before there was a MOUSE!

For my younger readers: This is what a computer screen looked like before there was a MOUSE! See the Alt? Hold that with the U to start underlining! bwah ha ha ha, nerd humor again!

Macintosh ~ 1984
Apple IIgs ~ 1986
Macintosh LC 1990
Power Macintosh ~ 1994
Powerbook ~ 1996
iMac ~ 1998
Macbook ~ 2007
iphone – 2010

Talk about brand loyalty. The most difficult time in my life is when I moved to Europe in 1995 and couldn’t get support for my Powerbook to get my email going. I survived through it though. Europe has only embraced Apple in the last few years.

What I love about Macs?

Design. Intelligence. Font choice. The smile when you boot. User friendliness. The cool factor. That I have another mac or Apple and plan on getting more.

Thank you Steve Jobs and God bless.

How about you? Just how much do you love your Apple products? Are you loyal to any ONE brand?

Plug this into your cockpit.

ipad will replace books, in my humble opinion.

Also, I’ve never agreed with people who say Mac is just used for designers. I think ANYONE would love a mac product. Also I JUST had a long conversation how the ipad will revolutionize reading. I believe it will. I see kids with backpacks weighing 20 pounds and I get it big time.

Thank you for reading and commenting. please feel free to visit our gift store by clicking here.

#jbuliesblog supports #oohlabra w/@ideavillage at #NOEW2013 @silverlinecrm 18 Mar Wonderful job! Congrats @OohLaBra on #Leader $10k @salesforce @silverlineCRM Challenge!

How can you show your support? By sharing on pinterest, facebook or twitter. Thank you.

How can you show your support? By sharing on pinterest, facebook or twitter. Thank you.

Congratulations Lisa!

jbulie’s blog would like to extend a huge well earned mega congratulations to hardworking real life sister, Lisa, at OohLaBra.com. Lisa McKenzie is supported by family and friends when awarded the first prize for the sales challenge presented by multinational player Silverline.

In March of this year there was a conference for entrepreneurs called NOEW that stands for New Orleans Entrepeneur Week. I was thrilled when my sister called me a few months ago to tell me that her company, Ooh La Bra was selected as a finalist for more than three contests as the most innovate product. That call put her into the top five contestants as an entrepreneur.

In the following months, I watched my sister practice her pitch down to the last detail, including hair, makeup, market share and future projections.

Lisa McKenzie with her partner Susan Bopp, and members of the Salesforce and Silverline teams at yesterday's "Salesforce Challenge". Ooh La Bra was awarded the top prize of a customized software application, valued at $10k. Thank you Salesforce and Silverline!

Lisa McKenzie with her partner Susan Bopp, and members of the Salesforce and Silverline teams at “Salesforce Challenge”. Ooh La Bra was awarded the top prize of a customized software application, valued at $10k. Thank you Salesforce and Silverline. #NOEW2013

She’s truly amazing to watch as her friends can attest.

To read more about the contest, follow my twitter feed by clicking here.

Right after winning she was contacted by ABC to be interviewed. You can read and see the interview by clicking here.

http://landing.newsinc.com/shared/video.html?freewheel=91064&sitesection=wgno_newswithatwist&VID=24656069

Here’s the official press release.
Global Corporations, Investors, Startups to Convene in New Orleans for 5th New Orleans Entrepreneur Week

PR Newswire | February 25, 2013 | 12:52 AM EST

National business executives, entrepreneurs, MBAs, and globally renowned venture capitalists will meet for the 5th Annual. New Orleans Entrepreneur Week, NOEW, on March 16-22, 2013 to share best practices and celebrate innovation and entrepreneurship.

Event headliners include Walter Isaacson, President and CEO of Aspen Institute,  Hamdi Ulukaya, President, Founder and CEO of Chobani Yogurt and Dana Mauriello, Director of New Business Opportunities for Etsy.

Additionally, representatives from Fortune 500 companies, the most prominent venture capitalists, and notable entrepreneurs will be participating, including:

  • Lisa McKenzie: Founder, President of Ooh La Bra
  • Jim Coulter: Founding Partner, TPG Capital, L.P.
  • Donna Fenn: author; contributing editor, Inc. Magazine
  • Nick Friedman: Co-Founder, College Hunks Hauling Junk, College Hunks Moving
  • Patti Greene: Professor Babson College; National Academic Director, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses
  • David Hall: Revolution Ventures
  • New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu
  • Mary Matalin: Political Consultant
  • Kathryn Minshew: Founder, The Muse
  • Wendell Pierce: star of HBO’s hit show Treme
  • Bridgette Sexton: Google for Entrepreneurs
  • Margaret Spellings: Former U.S. Secretary of Education; Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Advisory Council
  • Alan Weinkrantz: Global PR Expert
  • Tina Wells: Founder, Buzz Marketing; Huffington Post blogger; Black Enterprise columnist
Lisa McKenzie, Founder and President of Ooh La Bra an amazing person. We support her as she is a finalist at NOEW2013.

Lisa McKenzie, Founder and President of Ooh La Bra an amazing person. We support her as she is a finalist at NOEW2013.

New Orleans has one of the most dynamic and engaged entrepreneurial ecosystems in the world and NOEW is its premier showcase event. NOEW is hosted each year by The Idea Village, a 12 year old nonprofit that identifies, supports, and retains entrepreneurial talent in New Orleans. The week-long event is the culmination of The Idea Village’s nine-month Entrepreneur Season, attracting thousands of attendees.

This year, NOEW is expected to gather 3,000 of the nation’s most innovative business leaders, financiers, entrepreneurs, and students to support New Orleans entrepreneurs through over 55 events.

Highlights include Capital Pitch Competitions, which will award prizes ranging from $100,000 to a personalized, guided tour of Silicon Valley’s investment community, and an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Summit that will engage global partners to discuss best practices for sustaining entrepreneurial ecosystems.

All seminars, workshops, and keynotes are free and open to the public on a first come, first served basis.

These events range from one-on-one counseling sessions to specialized workshops on legal and marketing practices. Registration is open at http://www.ideavillage.org

SOURCE The Idea Village

How to increase blog traffic — 10 tips and tricks from jbulie’s blog.

If you want your blog or website to succeed, just love doing it.

Easy.
Even the what you can't imagine is possible. ♡ ㄥ❀∨モ

Even what you can’t imagine is possible. ♡ ㄥ❀∨モ

I’m sharing with you what I’ve been doing over here to attract visitors and increase blog traffic.

Don’t believe the guys who say they get a million visitors a day. They are like kids in a candy shop, typing in numbers. Learn from doing first hand, and ask a blogger friend.

Here are the steps you can take to make your site grow.

1. Get to know your readers. Share.

Spend a lot of time looking at your stats feature and try to understand where your readers are coming from. A lot of my readers have become friends. Thanks guys. A lot are new, welcome. I’ve also found having a stats counter installed helps.

I’ve learned that they come from all over the world and different backgrounds and ages.

ㄥ❀∨モ

From Pauline to Helen Gurley Brown: She is an unsung, deliciously sybaritic, and downright cheeky feminist heroine. She will be sorely and dearly missed.

2. Participate in comments and conversations.

One of the best ways of inviting visitors to your site participate in conversations in the comment sections of blogs you like reading. Ever since I started my blog, I’ve learned a great deal in the comments section of articles.

3. Write good content.My highest ranked day was when I wrote a piece about motivation and being a better person.

4. Write from the heart.

Talk as if you were speaking to a few good friends. Write about what you care about people are going to be supportive.

5. Make it a goal.

I have also made it a goal of mine to have a lot of visitors so in my free time, I read as many articles I can on the subject.

6. Use your real voice.

When I write, I like to picture I’m either standing infront of my peers and explaining things simply. Or, I try to imagine I’m writing my sister or mom and telling them how simple it is to make a blog grow.

Wishing you flowers today.

Wishing you flowers today.

7. Enjoy

You guys might have noticed how much I love to play around with my readers. I enjoy writing. I write to share, to learn and to enrich life and the people around me.

8. Add extra value, then go the extra mile.

The more you give, the more you receive. It’s so easy to get great feedback ~ just give of yourself.

You are one person writing, right? Well, there are lots of people reading so the ratio is just immense. Give of yourself and you get back so much from some many people. I strive to constantly go the extra mile and provide excellent quality in all my endeavors.

9. Be inspiring

You can be inspiring, funny wonderful, full of life. If you don’t believe in yourself, well then I do! You can do it.

We all have the ability to push ourselves to learn and make our lives better. You can do it. I believe in you.

10. Pay it forward.

Without my visitors, I’d just be here talking to my cat. She’s a good listener, however. To pay it forward it’s super simple. Just hit the tweet button if you have twitter, or share on facebook by clicking the link below.

Thanks for visiting. I appreciate your comments.

Twitter Facebook Faceoff ► Which one do you prefer? #ff @jbuliesblog

Hello!

I’m thinking about my friends clicking in here from all over the world. How awesome is the world wide web? Shout out to the www.

Hello World Wide Web.

Today I’m talking about twitter and how hard it is to understand as least for someone like me.

Please tweet or pin. Thanks!

Please tweet or pin. Thanks!

I’ve had some great great comments on my facebook page. Facebook rules by the way. Twitter, well, it’s new all new to me.

Go facebook, go!

I got comments about how to use twitter since it’s such an enigma for me. David Letterman figured it out by getting a laptop and one of his techies to turn on his twitter page so he can update it during the show.

If David Letterman can do use twitter, certainly I can do it too, right?

Are you like me? Curious about new technology?

Keep a journal. Really. It's lovely.

Keep a journal. Really. It’s lovely.

First step. I try to google twitter tips. You know what I get? More questionable information.

So for you, my friends, I’m offering you here from jbulie’s blogs, that’s me, @jbuliesblog. Please follow me on twitter, my

Top ten reasons why I prefer facebook to twitter.

1) Because I can’t figure twitter out.

2) Because one of my favorite artists, Nev, has about 22,000 twitter followers, so obviously, he rules.

3) I added a so called twitter expert to my friends list and tried to follow his instructions. He’s on my facebook account, check him out, 21 year old millionaire. Really. ;)

4) Apparently, I need to fork out cash to automatically to add friends according to the automatic instructions.

5) Nearly all articles I have read about twitter say how people don’t like twitter.

6) Celebrities are thriving on twitter. I love celebrities. I’m following them all. I can’t figure out twitter. I’m not a celebrity. Let’s do the math A + B = C No twitter followers over here, yet!

Yes. Please.

Inspired choices. Yes. Please.

7) Writer fell asleep. No number seven. Shout out to Apple and the ipad.

*8) The boy genius expert advised me to use his software to add all followers of a famous person, well, there is no add all followers button. I can’t even believe I spent time looking for it. Can I have my two minutes back?

9) Someone out there knows how it works. Now I am back to square one. I know my friends on facebook say leave it alone, but I cannot deny it is a big presence in social media.

Stop thinking about it and just do it.

I’m no social media expert, and in fact, I’m going back to being a mom and wife. It’s much more satisfying. Lots of hugs and kisses, and unexpected words.

Your turn. Going the extra mile here kids.

11) What is your take? Do you like twitter? Do you use twitter? Is it basically another social media network? Is it a cell phone application? The people who are bloggers with lots of twitter followers, do you think they did it by using automatic applications that tweet for them?

As always, thanks for following. I ♥ my readers. You guys are awesome. Hope your day is beautiful and filled with love.

Thanks for leaving your comments. I appreciate them.

Life is participation.

Vision Boarding

Vision Boarding

I don’t know about you but I keep coming across one crazier story than the next. Humanity always seems to surprise me. For example, I’m reading stories about real stalkers, robbers, ATM blow ups, unfortunate home violence, earthquakes, and flying machines. Yeah right.

I started this blog four months ago and either I think I’m Crazy News Central or my readers do. Welcome. You might be new here, so please make sure to add a bookmark above, follow me on facebook or follow me on twitter.

♥Take me out to the ballgame♥

I KEEP getting some fairly random messages and emails, one more surprising than the last. It must be me. I attract the nutters? Not you, obviously, them. Let’s try to get it on the page and make some sense of it all.

How are you? How are you doing these days? You look great. Really. Strong and Lovely.

So wonderful to see you. Thank you for dropping in for some blog copycoffee. Happy? Well fed? Smiling? Living, loving? Being a good person? Aiming at being a better person?

♥Without my readers I’d only be writing to my cat.♥

I had a talk yesterday with one of my best friends about having over 300 friends on facebook. She said I think you should just stick to a core group of friends.

Hmmm. Made me think.

When I started this blog I had 200 friends, now I have over 300. I’m still the same person sitting at my macbook type typing away. When I started this blog I was writing to my cat. I now have 6,000+ visitors.

After I thought about it I got back to her and told her, Yes, you’re right, you must know who your true friends are. However, I do believe that with internet our lives have become more global. We have to now think in new shiny ways. We are no longer limited to our direct surroundings.

The world is getting smaller. Heck, you can book your own travel. Now THAT’S what I call progress.

What really amazes me is how these names and profile pictures are ACTUALLY real truly wonderful people who have taken a minute out of their day to read my blog. I thank you for that.

You meet them, you share part of your life with them, and believe it or not, you both influence each other and the lives of people around you. Are our comments just random thoughts in each other’s lives? Or, do you think about them, mull them over in your head during the day or before going to sleep?

Making any sense?

As my mom friend put it, Julie, you really are busy. :)

Well, I meet wonderful people in my circle of friends.

Team Update ~ ♥l i t t l e p u n e y♥ ideas ~ BIG results.

By the way, we are doing really well on promoting our little event in our little town. So far we have organized a little stand with coffee, water, drinks, ice cream, and a little bbq with hamburgers and hotdogs. That’s it. That’s the big plan.

The parents have offered to man the booth if I can figure out how to set up the gazebo thing~a~ma~jig. One sweet grandpa in particular is bringing an air popper for popcorn.

Another has offered to donate a coffee machine. My friend and I are painting park benches the worst color or rust I have ever seen.* The mayor of our little town is going to throw the first pitch of the season. He’s hot a handsome gentleman by the way, in case you haven’t noticed.

We’ve organized the event for May 1st, 4:00 p.m. Come!

Now that it’s all organized and going well, I can’t help but think, was it worth all of the trouble? Many words, hours, meetings, fun, ideas, new jackets, pictures and press are all flying about. But seriously, folks, haven’t we got better things to do? Apparently not.

Now it’s your turn. What do you think?

Do you agree with me that life is participation and it is better to be involved and make things a little bit better? Or, do you think life is strictly a spectators sport? Should we just go, grab a drink, have a laugh, watch and cheer as the others run about? Or maybe it’s better to come up with a good idea and try to implement it? Hmmm.

Let me know. Leave a comment.

I hope this message finds you happy and well where ever you are. Be a leader. Change by doing. Smile. Enjoy life. Laugh a little, for goodness sakes. Muah.

You’re gorgeous.

Julie

* It was in my garage for three years. Wrong choice of colors. Don’t ask.

Live life fully.

Vision Boarding: May all your dreams be big and may all your dreams come true.

May all your dreams be big and may all your dreams come true.

The strangest thing happened to me yesterday when I was walking down my drive to pick a fig from the tree next to my car. Totally unexpected.

I saw one of my neighbors just standing in a sort of thoughtful way. She’s usally really cheerful and supportive, asks about my work. Sweet lady.

I casually asked how her vacation was and she said it was horrible. I love a horrible vacation story but she told me one I never expected to hear. She told me that the vacation was cut short on the third day after dinner because her husband’s brother died.

I said, Say what?

My smile turned serious real fast and I thought Oh my Gosh, I’m so sorry. What?

I meean, Were you vacationing with an older couple?

No, she said.

We went to dinner, we said goodbye, then, my brother in law said, ‘See you tomorrow at the beach’, then he and his wife left to the hotel and a couple hours later, died.

It was around midnight when my neighbor got the call.

Medically speaking it was a heart attack. Her brother in law was 40. I perhaps have seen him at bbqs. He’s just a stranger but from one moment to a next this whole family’s life has been altered in a drastic way.

That’s when the real conversation took place. The words of sympathy. The words of trying to understand life and death. The words of how to handle a tragedy. She had to logistically think on her feet. Her vacation turned into a funeral.

So sad. So I ask you if you are reading this here and now to please just close your eyes and send a little love to the poor woman who came home from her vacation a widow. She’s going to need the positive thoughts and I believe in the positive thoughts of prayer.

So what did she say she learned? She said, You know Julie, it really made me think. She said, you know all of those petty things we worry about, the silly things we argue about? She said, let them go.

Just let them go becuase this just might be your last day.

Well, sorry to have brought you a sad story today. I do believe there’s a lesson in every story. I know you didn’t expect it. Nor did I.

As always, I hope this post finds you lucky, in love.

I’ll tell you what I’m doing. I’m painting flowers in my garden and sharing it with you now.

Painting flowers in my garden.

Painting flowers in my garden.

Here’s to new beginnings.

Tulips

These are my tulips from my garden. They don’t bloom every year but when they do, well, there you go.

I think most people who are reading this can read between the lines and know exactly what I’m thinking. I may be wrong on that I may be right but generally speaking I think people are smart enough to tell if I’m being a true person over here expressing what my heart feels or if I’m trying to make it all look lovely with a bunch of pretty pictures and smiles.

I think you know. Then sometimes I think you know but then how could you know if I don’t tell you what is going on in my life? How could you know? Tell me. Use your words.

Words. Here they are. Ready? Since starting my blog, I’ve had a lot of fun with it. I’ve learnt that the most rewarding parts are when you receive compliments that turn into long conversations of people actually helping each other. I’ve met people I didn’t expect to meet. Hello. Nice to see you.

I’ve also learned that if I don’t say how I’m feeling you aren’t going to know. So I’ll tell you.

I’m doing well, and you? How are you?

All things considered. I’m making a decision now in this moment to be nice, to be kind, to have integrity, to be a whole person and hopefully to have a cheerful disposition.

Love you mom. ♡

Love you mom. ♡

I’m choosing to publish this article and then spend some time around the house that desperately is calling for love and attention. It’s a lot to handle. It’s a lot to balance.

Life is just an act, isn’t it, an act of balance, give and take. Who would have ever imagined that by publishing a blog I would have heard some of the comments I have heard, met the people I’ve met.

I miss my family abroad. I miss my friends who are far away.

I feel connected with them here on facebook and over the internet. Thank you for that.

I love my house — so call me a pentofola if you will. A pentofola is a house shoe or slipper generally regarded as something you wouldn’t go out in. It’s not a compliment. It’s just me being lazy and enjoying my garden.

How are your days passing? I’m working on spiritual and physical health by exercising, reading, eating well but more than anything trying to put into practice the ideas of love and forgiveness.

Each day is a new challenge and I fall short of God’s wonderful mercy and love but I pray and I start again. For the most part, it seems to be working.

As always friends, I hope this post finds you lovely, lucky and in love.

God bless. Thanks for visiting.  Also on a special note, I would like to say hello to my friends who have been reading this blog since I’ve started it. It means a lot to me.

Julie

#6 My Amazing Friends also known as MAFSS guest M. Risser

You might be new here, so please make sure to add a bookmark, follow me on facebook or follow me on twitter at jbuliesblog.

Running side by side friend.

Run the Hill by guest blogger Michele Risser

Run the hill is a phrase I use when things get hard. Run the hill is focus. Run the hill is determination. Run the hill is tenacity, strength and endurance. Running the hill is the thing you have to do to become a better runner.

On a long stretch of highway you can see the hill, ahead in the distance waiting for your arrival. There are certain things you must do as you approach it. You must unclench your fists and relax your shoulders. You must straighten your back and expand your chest. You must raise your head. Most importantly, you must turn up your music.

Stay focused.

As you begin the ascent, you must find a point just ahead of you to become your mini goal. It may be a crack in the road, a sign or a post, a tree or a flower. All you aim for is that next little goal. It is very important not to look, glance at, or focus on the top of the hill, it is overwhelming.

You must stay focused on your mini goal until you pass it and then hone in on the next crack, tree, post or flower until again you must select a new one.

As your music keeps your pace, as your eyes look forward, as your chest expands to receive oxygen and your head is held up to supply that oxygen, you begin to realize you are running the hill. Little by little, breath by breath, one leg and then the other stepping up, up, up. You are running the hill.

Jumping over obstacles.

Those things in life which are the hardest to do are the things we must do. They make us stronger, more patient, compassionate, they improve us.

They give us the experiences in life which require focus, determination, tenacity and perseverance.

Doing hard things helps us to grow. At times those hard things may seem overwhelming and so you set a mini-goal.

Perhaps solving one problem at a time, improving a fault little by little, mending a relationship, gaining knowledge, overcoming pain, hurt, anger, depression or addiction. One hour at a time, one day at a time, one lesson at a time, one achievement at a time.

Triumph

When you reach the crest of a hill and you know within a minute you are will be at the top, you must push with that one last burst of energy that is hidden deep inside of you, but is always there.

For a brief second, just an instant, you are able to see the view from the top of the hill. The view is glorious, spectacular, breath taking and not because of what you may see, but because of what you feel ~ your moment of triumph.

You will feel your strength, your determination, tenacity and endurance, all of the those characteristics that helped get you to the top of the hill.

You can do it. I believe in you.

Then, you begin to run, down, down. No longer is a mini goal needed. Your breath begins to relax, no need to concentrate on the song to keep pace.

For a moment you have a repose, a rest from the intensity of pushing yourself, from doing something physically and mentally challenging.

Even though you know that there will always be another hill, you immerse yourself in the glory of running without effort. You feel light, you are floating, you are free from the burden of climbing the hill and all you can do is look in wonder and gratitude at what is around you.

You feel like you can fly.

Becoming a stronger you.

We cannot avoid running the hill, we must run it when it is there before us. We must not be discouraged if it not our best run, or our strongest, or fastest or our most successful. Running the hill will be different every time, because all hills are different. The constant lies in us and the tools we use from experience, to make the run bearable, to finish. Remember that each time you run the hill, you become a stronger you.

Run the hill, run the hill, run the hill. It is what I repeat over and over in my mind as I make the climb, both in running and in life.

If you’d like more information about Michele and running you can leave a message here below, contact her on twitter, or contact her on facebook.

If I can figure out how to write a blog, anyone can.

 Would you like to write? Please do.
I am safe in the universe and all life loves and supports me. Thx LH.

I am safe in the universe and all life loves and supports me. Thx LH.

If you would like to be a published writer, it’s easy, just do it. I started writing as soon as I got a crayon in my hand.

When I was 11, I started keeping a small lock and key diary with a bright yellow and red Snoopy picture. I would write whatever came to an 11 year-old’s mind.

I have entries in my diary about what I would do for my birthday party, where my family went and who I liked and didn’t like at school. The diary entry that makes me laugh is My sister hit me. Now I realize the importance of those four words.

I found a place for myself, a place to put my own thoughts but most importantly I have proof 30 years later that my sister hit me. ;)

As I got older, I started writing travel diaries. I have about 15 handwritten diaries in my garage that I wrote when I was between 19 and 30.

I like to keep a journal while I’m travelling. I like reading them after a number of years has past as reading the words brings me right back to the place I wrote them.

If you want to write, do it. Just take out a pen and write. 

How to get published.

The first time I got published as a writer I was in high school. It helped to have friends. I was president of my high school so the job was sort of just assigned to me. One of my teachers came up to me and said Julie, you are going to have to write a weekly article for the school newspaper.

A couple of weeks later, I saw my name in print for the first time with a headline saying Howdy Cowboys. What a laugh.

From then, I moved to Europe and remained one of the few people who actually knew English so it was pretty much certain that I would get published in the first English magazine in our city. Luckily for me, the publisher was a good friend of mine. She had great taste in style and the magazine was a big success in my humble opinion.

From there, I just continued writing. I would write or suggest stories to my publisher and she usually printed them. Sometimes, my publisher friend, Ali,  would give me assignments, for example she’d say Julie, there’s a new art opening on Friday, can you cover it? I continue to write for pleasure just as I continue to paint pictures of flowers, just as I love reading other people’s stories.

Also, I would suggest you write from the heart and write as you speak. Finally the easiest way to get published is to publish yourself — just as I am doing here.

Thank you for visiting. Comments are appreciated. Have a great day.

Have you ever been published? What sort of things do you like to write about?

I’d love to hear if you’d like to leave a comment below. Thanks.