Hi there
How was your March? Did you make time for ‘palm trees and margaritas’* however you define them?
I certainly didn’t. I am a palm trees and margaritas hypocrite. Thinking along the lines of Bridget Jones, my report card this month looks like this –
Social outings – none
Time out to just think – none
Following up on the promises I made to myself last month (eg booking a holiday) – none
Work, housework, running around after kids - plenty
Sometimes life is just like this and it is in fact just life. If there is a problem other than the ‘all work and no play’ adage, it is in leaving it unchecked.
I hereby declare to take my own advice next month. I am going to hop online to www.palmtreesandmargaritas.com and read some back issues, take stock and aim for a more balanced April. I wish the same for you.
I love to hear (and publish) your stories of how you are living your life. Please get in touch and share your tips, stories and reflections. Each month, the reader who sends us the best contribution wins a copy of Palm Trees and Margaritas - Finding Your Oasis in a Busy World and I was really touched by this month’s winner.
Karen Morath
karen@mpowercct.com
www.palmtreesandmargaritas.com
March 2009
* Life can’t be all palm trees and margaritas, but there are worse game plans.
The book Palm Trees and Margaritas - Finding Your Oasis in a Busy World is out now, go to www.palmtreesandmargaritas.com to buy your copy.
TIPS
1. What do you love most about holidays? Here are some more tips to add a little holiday joy to your life...
Holiday joy: Me time
Everyday ploy: Instead of blowing the budget on one holiday, use some of that money to outsource cleaning and babysitting and use that time for rest or pampering.
Holiday joy: Thrill rides
Everyday ploy: Take up rock climbing or surfing and throw more parties. "When we are excited, the hormone adrenaline turns on our alertness," health expert Saah Brewer says. "Without that spark, life would lose its colour."
Holiday joy: Family time
Everyday ploy: Make every Sunday Family Day: go on a picnic and play sport or games.
Holiday joy: More romance
Everyday ploy: Couples could designate a Date Night each week to be alone.
Holiday joy: Getting back to nature
Everyday ploy: Splurge on flowers and make time for walks and picnics.
Source – The Sunday Mail, body+soul, January 11, 2009
STORIES
Palm trees and margaritas is not necessarily to be taken literally (although if that’s what you like, cheers!) It’s about seizing the day and remembering you only live once and you don’t know how much life, let alone good health you have left. Continuing our year-long series inspired in part by Bill Clinton’s book ‘Giving’, here is this issue’s story about people giving to others.
1. THE OIL IN THE WHEELS
There is a woman who is involved in my son’s scouts group who amazes me with her energy, enthusiasm, commitment and her ability to be everywhere. Funnily enough, for one so accomplished and critical to the running of an organisation and so many of its events, she is also cheery, charming and so very humble.
It would be fair to say that it is quite some time since she has had scouts-aged children. Even longer since she was the mum of cubs yet there she is a night a week running a cubs pack. Why? Because there is no one else. There she was last weekend at a major event she helped organise, filling the chief first aider role. Why? Because of course she is qualified, she got so because there was no one else and now performs that function because there is no one else. Two weeks ago she was at a district meeting, the next night a regional meeting, the next day she spent the whole day giving talks about the history of scouts to primary school aged kids at an expo. Why? No one else. That’s why she came straight from the expo to an emergency meeting of our local group of scouts. Why? She is the only person with the knowledge to enable the new committee to function.
It makes me wonder what traditions will die out with the likes of Marge when there really will be no one else.
READER STORIES
1. This month’s winner. It is truly special to think that something I wrote can matter to someone. Best wishes to Ian.
“Thank you for the newsletter Karen it was most informative and very moving.
Ian is not well at the moment but I will read it to him and hope he enjoys it as much as I did.
Great work. Chris”
2. BREAKING OUT OF THE FOOD RUT
Bored with cooking (and eating) the same old food night after night reader Leah committed to a week of cooking and eating meals her and her husband had never had before. Not every dish was a hit but they enjoyed looking forward to something new for dinner each night. A week of Thai and Indian curries later they had discovered some new favourites and resolved to cook at least one brand new meal each week to keep themselves from falling back into that rut. Read between the lines for some romantic connections too!
If you are looking for a speaker for an event, click here to talk to me about a ‘Palm trees and margaritas’ presentation. I have formats that are ideal for business women’s networks and motivation or work/life balance aspects of conferences or training days. Or let’s discuss tailoring something especially for your needs.
REFLECTIONS
1. Is your life on auto-pilot? Time to take back control?
2. What’s it all about? Alfie? Anyone?