Thought for the Day: This blog and my social media efforts have always been designed to be a resource for my readers as they move towards their dreams. I have tried to inspire you & expose you to ways to overcome all obstacles in your way. However, I also want this to be a forum where you can help one another to reach for and attain your dreams. I know there are an amazing group of parents, teachers, authors, therapists, artists, musicians and people from many more walks of life following this blog, my facebook fan page & twitter feeds. I want to help facilitate a supportive community where you can help one another reach for your dreams. So today, I am turning to you. In families, it often helps to have everyone share their highs and lows of the day so that they can support one another through the good and bad moments of their lives.
So today, I'd like you to share your dream highs and lows or what I'm calling your Wake Up Moments. What has been your greatest accomplishment of the week and what has been the biggest obstacle to achieving your dreams? I know it may be hard at first to share your wake up moments, so I will start.
My Wake Up Moments for the last week or so made me decide to try this kind of blog post. My high was connected to my low which is often the case. It was a huge high to watch the downloads of my book happening a little over a week ago and see my book reach #1 on two categories on Amazon Kindle's Best Seller List. However, it also brought an unexpected wake up moment.
I realized that although I have tens of thousands of fans and followers across the globe on Google +, facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social media sites; I have failed to build a virtual community where my fans and followers feel comfortable helping each other along their journey towards their dreams. I spoke with my team of interns about my dilemma.
Here's what I propose, a new kind of post where your needs, not my inspirational thoughts & lessons, become central to the post. In order to do that I need to set some simple ground rules to insure that this community feels safe enough to share your highs and lows.
So here are some guidelines:
1) Avoid making judgements of other people's life choices, 2) all comments should be supportive & constructive, 3) feel free to share advice based on your experiences recognizing that they may or may not be accepted by other readers, 4) treat all comments with respect; 5) no dream is too big or too small to share; 6) all accomplishments will be encouraged; and 7) all challenges will be met with constructive supportive suggestions.
With those guidelines in mind, what were your wake up moments this week? How can we help you or support your endeavors? If you are an author & are giving a talk or promotion, please share it here. If you are a parent concerned about your child's return to school and wondering how to bolster their self confidence, ask a question. If you are out of work and have an interview or a new job offer, let us know and we will support your preparations for the interview. If you downloaded my book recently and have questions or accomplishments you'd like to share, please do. Your question may help another person who is dealing with a similar question or issue.
Let me know what you think & have a Wonderful Wednesday!
4 comments:
Looks like I get to start this...
My low for the week relates to my kids. I have 2 that have been living with their father (my ex). My daughter has been very unhappy because of things going on and wanting to return. She's talked about things her father is doing that bother her and how he treats her compared to her brother. My son is allowed to get away with anything, including threatening his sister. Their father uses his health issues and memory problems to tell my daughter that she needs to remind him when she's told him about things her brother has done so that he remembers to reprimand him. This lead to 3 altercations in my home in less than a week. I resorted to calling law enforcement in after he jabbed me in the throat (fist to the throat) when I stepped in between him and his sister because he was threatening her. I reacted and slapped him but did not leave a mark what-so-ever. He then slammed me into a door twice, using his forearm across my throat the second time. Things resulted in hi being arrested. Now, he is back with his dad because I admitted that I slapped him during the altercation. I want my son to learn boundaries and to treat women with respect. Unfortunately, he's not learning it there. To boot, I've had an attorney that I've been trying to get to get papers filed with the court to reopen things and he's dragging his feet. I'm depressed and feeling at the end of my rope.
On a positive note, I had to move. It was a state to state move. I've started getting things organized. Almost have my kitchen to where I like it and have started getting things posted on an area on-line site so I can both downsize (necessary) and earn some money while I look for a job. Plus, I got a resume set up with the state workforce office this week.
I attended my 30th high school reunion. I recognized many people, but they did not recognize me. In high school, I was a person that blended well with the wall. My father was an alcoholic, my mother a woman that needed a man, to make her feel worthy. My only goal after high school was to be happy. Honestly, I can say I have achieved that. I am a strong woman, wife, mother of 2 & 1 angel, survivor of a terrible car accident in 1990 (my car went under a semi-truck), and even survived a year off in 2009-2010 due to the economy.
The reunion was a great wake up call to remind me what I have accomplished, and that nothing is impossible, if I can dream it, it can happen.
Thank you being first to share here on Wednesday's Wake Up Moments. It can be very discouraging when you have a very rough week, but I'm glad to hear you made some progress, too. From working with people who are divorced, I know how hard it is to hear about an ex-spouse doing things you would not want to have happen to your kids. It is even harder when you are in another state. How old are your children? The most important thing to remember is that you are getting your life in order and that will help with all the other issues. Hopefully, in time, you will be able to bring your children to live with you. Keep focusing on getting your life on track and be supportive of your kids as much as you can. Your son may need some additional professional help. You may have to fight for custody. I hope you will keep us informed on Wake Up Wednesdays. If anyone else here has gone through similar struggles or has helped people going through similar life circumstances, please share your thoughts or advice.
Dear Cathie,
Congratulations on your accomplishments! Thanks for sharing your powerful Wake Up Moments! Your story will surely help others who have grown up in less than ideal situations keep reaching for their dreams! Turning adversity into a strength is the silver lining you found and utilized to live a happy life. I hope you realize that you should stand out as a role model to others, not blend into the wall any more. I feel sorry for the people in high school who missed the opportunity to get to know you better. Perhaps at the reunion they got a glimpse of who they missed!
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