Cherie's Random Thoughts

Just in case you forgot what it means to HAVE FUN! All too often we as adults lose our ability to HAVE FUN and spend each day being SILLY! Laughter, fun, and health go hand-in-hand. So if you want to live a little longer, embrace your inner child. 

Students at Pa. school must ask for toilet paper The above story is a true testament of the ridiculous! When has the use of toilet paper needed to be monitored with such scrutiny. What makes no sense is that toilets across the country have been stopped up-deliberately and unintentionally-across settings-schools, homes, workplaces, and public spaces. Also, targeting boys as the perpetrators of the toilet offense is wrong. Girls probably stop up just as many toilets as boys during their lifetime. Boys will be boys, and girls will be girls! Somethings are just a right of passage. This one happens to be both a right of passage as well as something that occurs in everyday LIFE!

In a Mark and Angel Hack Life article entitled, "9 Lies Unproductive People Love to Tell", the authors name nine lies we must delete from our vocabulary if we want to be productive.  They are:  1-"I can't". Another word for you won't.  2-"A good idea is all it takes." This statement is wishful thinking and implies that you do not believe that effort is needed.  3-"I'll get that done tomorrow." Right! Rarely happens.  4-"I don't feel comfortable yet." Another word for you are afraid to fail and/or move out of your comfort zone. Movement beyond our comfort zone is necessary for true production.  5-"My best work isn't good enough." This statement means that you may have some underlying self-esteem issues. Let go of the pass to see your future.  6-"It's better to quit now and cut my losses." When we say this we revoke our right to complain about the outcome.  7-"All pain is bad....

In mid December I had the pleasure reading a great article from Inside Higher Ed regarding a community college in North Carolina that will be grading students on their ability to develop soft skills. Soft skills are the skills that are lacking in many academic settings and are critical to a human's success professionally and personally.  The included having the ability to do the following:  Self-manage: Employers need employees who have the necessary skills to move through projects without having to have constant supervision.  Work Ethic: Employers need employees who the difference of a crisis and a small road block.  Time Management: Employers need employees who have a strong internal clock and are able to manage their time effectively.  Communication: Employers need employees who can effectively communicate in person and virtually. Employees must be able to  use technology effectively to communicate and be wary of engaging in inappropriate means of...

What is money really was not issue? Would you be happier? Would life be easier? Would you pursue your true purpose?  The answer to this question is: YES.  If you are fortunate and wise you have long since learn that money does not buy you happiness. There are many wealthy and comfortable people living a life that is a lie. A life that does not reflect their true self. A life that denies them true happiness and makes them simply do things because others do and want them to.  As I have gotten older I have learned that it really doe not matter how much money is in my bank account (although it does sometimes makes things easier), what matters is that I am doing what I was born to do and doing with passion: TEACHING.  Here is a great video by Alan Watts: What If Money Didn't Matter?  http://youtu.be/xaLDRSg6vic

Alicia Key's Brand New Me is my new anthem for life. As I take time to reflect my journey over the past 39 1/2 years I realize that I have gone through and overcome many challenges. I am thankful for all the wonderful adult role models, great parents, and friends who helped me during my journey to a "Brand New Me".  Without them I could never have done the following:  Commit my life works (passion) to something worth doing and will impact many: teaching and help others achieve their goals. The courage to speak up when I disagree with people, yet still respect and love them as human being.  To remain drug free.  Survived school- High School, BA, M.Ed. and PhD-coursework all while having to deal with very challenging circumstances (mother's illnesses and death, my father's Parkinson, challenging bosses, and one step from being truly homeless).  The ability to take ownership for the choices I make about how I live my life and own them. Excuses not allowed...

Tonight I listen to Michael Hyatt's podcast: The Importance of the Leader's Heart and as I listen to it I realized how profound it was. Often as leaders we forget how important our heart is and how we need to protect it. Between 2006-2010 tremendous strain was placed on my heart. I found myself progressively going through cycles of burnout and losing my love for work. I learned three things during this period:  1) My heart is stronger than I thought but it is not invincible. Although during a 5 year period I experience changes in my work, starting and completing a masters degree, dealing with a mother's illnesses, three deaths in 45 day period (boss, friend's mother, and my mother in 2007) I some how survived but had several warning signs that I had to change my outlook on life. During this period, I experienced frequently eye ticks, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, and irritability.  2) If my heart is unhealthy my ability to help others is diminish...