Five years ago this month I started this blog with a Musical Monday Life Coaching theme. I’ll bring it back this week, as I feel that many in our nation are under pressure. We live in highly uncertain times. What will the future hold?
Read moreMusical Monday -- Take it Easy
Take It Easy, written by Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey, was The Eagles’ first song released in 1972 and became one of their most memorable hits.The advice to take it easy and not drive yourself crazy is very timely as we prepare for the holiday season.
Read moreMusical Monday -- Take This Job and Shove It
The person is truly fortunate that has not thought at some point about saying “you can take this job and shove it.” What was once a workingman’s anthem now applies to positions all the way up the corporate ladder.
Read moreTransitioning to Hurricane Recovery
Growing up on the Florida Gulf Coast, Hurricanes have always been part of my life. Most people think of the year as having four seasons. Along with Gulf Coast we have three -- pre, post and Hurricane season.
Hurricane Camille in 1969 was my first experience with this type of natural disaster. Camille is still one of the most powerful category 5’s to hit the U.S. My family just happened to be visiting relatives right in the Mississippi Coast strike zone. Our evacuation in the driving rain and wind is still a vivid memory over 45 years later.
The storms themselves do not last very long, but the consequences live on for years or even generations. As an adult, my experiences have been more about Hurricane aftermath; finding ways to reach devastated Pensacola, Florida to help my family and friends recover.
Hurricanes Harvey and Irma have left many in the dire circumstances. The recovery effort will be a major transition for individuals, families, cities and nations. I thought it would be appropriate to share some tips for navigating this transition.
Lend a Hand – when devastation is all around, it is natural to focus on what is lost. One way to access positive energy is to help others. Simple kindness and assistance to others will lift spirits immediately and have a pro-longed effect.
Take Care of Physical Needs – lasting resilience and strength is enhanced with good physical conditioning. When overwhelmed, it can be tempting to push through without enough food, water or sleep. An adrenaline rush can be helpful in devastating situations, but it is not sustainable. Maintaining your health provides needed energy for the long term.
Express Emotions – traumatic events cause unexpected emotional responses. It is important to let these emotions out to help retain a sense of balance and ability to focus.
· Take time to talk to those in the trenches around you
· Share your feelings with loved ones farther away
· Keep a journal of your experience
· Laugh or cry out loud or on social media
· Stop and focus on something that makes you happy
Ask for Help – asking for help provides someone else the gift of giving. Many people want to help those effected by Hurricane aftermath, but don’t know exactly how.
One Step at a Time – we are often trained to look at the big picture, but in the aftermath of Hurricane devastation it can be too overwhelming. Focusing on what needs to happen first and taking progressive steps can be calming. Establishing a basic routine can also increase feelings of security and progress.
What tips can you add to help others? When the media interest moves on, how will you continue to provide support to those in need?
The Road to Hana and Happiness
If The Scenic Route to Happiness concept had a birthplace it would be the Road to Hana in Maui. I had the opportunity to experience this drive for the second time last weekend in Hawaii. The journey was magical in a completely new way.
Maui’s Road to Hana stretches 52 miles including 59 bridges, 46 of them only one lane wide, and boasts approximately 620 serious curves. The sunny coastline is often in view, but a rainforest atmosphere prevails along the picturesque route.
The last time I took the journey I was alone, grieving the loss of my parents and looking for solace in nature. The dangerous hairpin turns, breathtaking vistas and climbs to waterfalls made me feel alive again.
This trip on the Road to Hana was totally different. I was a passenger with my fabulous friend Elizabeth behind the wheel. I was able to really focus on the magnificent scenery and not on my driving skills. The mood was so cheerful, despite the passing showers and Thelma and Louise references. I am filled with gratitude for this new journey along the historic Hana Highway.
The Scenic Route always delivers perspective. Nature’s gifts can soothe, inspire, excite or terrify depending on our personal view.
What’s your view of adventure? How do you get off the beaten path? Where does nature affect you the most?
Moving Mountains
“Where in the World is DeLisa?” is not only the name of my first travel blog back in 2005, but also a common question among my family and friends. This month marks another new location, Old Town, Park City, Utah. After living in cities like New York, London and Singapore, I’m settling into a picturesque mountain town.
While most people consider moving to be extremely stressful, changing physical locations always inspires me. I love a fresh start. Meeting new neighbors, learning new routes, even filling the kitchen with new local produce gives me a sense of excitement that is hard to create after years in one home. I would say that I see the glass half full, but I have no idea where to find a glass.
My 5 Tips for Fitting in Anywhere
1. Prioritize People Over Things
As the first box arrives, immediately introduce yourself to neighbors and ask for local recommendations. People like to be helpful and it opens the door for ongoing conversation. Invite neighbors in while things are in disarray. Don’t wait until everything is unpacked and perfect.
2. Become a Regular
Select a neighborhood bar or coffee shop, introduce yourself as new to town and once again ask for local advice. Remember servers’ names and visit everyday to establish a relationship. You’ll feel like a local in no time.
3. Keep Moving
Put yourself out there, literally. Take a walk, join a gym, garden in plain view. Get outside as often as possible to wave and talk to others. New friendships start somewhere and it’s usually by the mailbox.
4. Get a Haircut
Find a new stylist or barber who’s connected. You learn more about a community from one haircut than reading the paper.
5. Share Your Passion
Do you love golf, biking, cards, wine tasting, sailing, hiking or books? Find a local group to join. A new group of friends is waiting for you!
What feels fresh in your life? Where have you always dreamed of living? How can you reinvent yourself right where you are?
Mindful in Manhattan
“If I can be mindful here, I can be mindful anywhere.” While not exactly what Frank Sinatra sang about in New York, New York, the analogy certainly works. There aren’t many more interruptive places on earth than New York City. So naturally this is where I decided to get serious about my meditation practice.
I’ve meditated in majestic temples across Asia, but have never committed to a regular practice. It’s inspiring to turn your thoughts inward while surrounded by magnificent golden Buddha’s or chanting Monks.
It gets a bit harder to focus on being present when surrounded by 8.5 million people and the musical sounds of Manhattan.
In search of the perfect place to get centered in New York City, I wondered into Inscape (www.inscape.life) and fell in love with myself. Trying all the different guided meditation techniques was as heady as tasting my way through an exotic cocktail menu. Today I’ll try mantra and mindfulness, tomorrow relaxation and vision…
Within two weeks I was in a state of bliss and committed to a mindfulness practice that can travel with me anywhere.
In case you don’t live near an inspiring meditation center, a guide is already in your pocket or purse. Healthline.com recently rated the top mediation apps of 2017 and inspired a great dialog on the subject. If you are interested in trying a new mediation app, I recommend you check out the article and comments for a great list of options.
http://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/top-meditation-iphone-android-apps#1
How do you get centered? Do you prefer group mediation or private reflection? If you have a meditation practice, how has it changed over time?
Musical Monday -- Asking for HELP!
Music is one of life’s inspirations. The artists who motivate us to think, while we tap our toes, deserve to be recognized. I’m kicking off a Musical Monday blog theme with The Beatles’ Help!
“When I was younger so much younger than today
I never needed anybody’s help in any way
But now these days are gone, I’m not so self assured
Now I find I’ve changed my mind and opened up the doors”
-- The Beatles, Help!
In a 1971 Rolling Stone interview, John Lennon said that Help! was one of the few true songs he had ever written about himself. Lennon was only 25 in 1965 when he opened the door to ask for a little help. However, he had already undergone one of the biggest life transformations imaginable.
Life transition on any scale is often stressful. It’s easy to become “not so self assured.” The good news is that like John Lennon, we can always ask for Help!