This week I was overcome with the idea of plugging in my “record player”. My record collection lays boxed up in the closet in my home office. For the past ten years (tomorrow!) we have owned our current house, I have never connected the turntable.
At one point in my life I was going to buy at least two dozen needles so that I could listen to my albums for the rest of my life, but I never did. I worried how long my one and only needle would last. How could I live without listening to them?
Today I went down to the basement and found the turntable packaged in the original box. I always saved the boxes because my stereo was my most cherished possession. When I graduated from college I used my graduation money to buy the system. I remember my aunt chastising me for this decision. Did she not understand? I had been a college D.J. from my second week on campus. I worked my way up to be Station Manager. I couldn’t live without the music even if I had to find a way to live without my radio station.
I hooked up the turntable. What would be first? Fingering through my collection I stumbled upon The Costello Show’s King of America. Yes, yes! Brilliant Mistake. No better way to start. I’m listening to the album right now, a real album!
Records came in crazy colors. I even found a cut-out from a box of cereal which became a square-shaped record. A box could play music!
Oh how I still love it!
Music has always played a major chord in my life. Lately the bands from 20 years ago are reuniting. It’s only proper to pull out the old albums too.
While on vacation last week watching dolphins by the Golden Gate Bridge, my family saw a young man climb onto the top of a pillar and plank while his friends took pictures. They were laughing and gathered around to see the results. I imagined him level with the underside of the Bridge. One of the boys strummed a ukulele and you could tell they were enjoying a good time together.
When my husband returned to work a photo was waiting for him. While he was gone a colleague was photographed planking on his empty desk with our family portrait on his back.
A few days later, I was pumping gas in our Town Center as a young woman was planking on a wall while a friend posed on the perpendicular side behind her. Again I imagined the shot. Her friend was most surely crouching on her back. The girls gathered around smiling and laughing to see the result on the camera.
I was surprised some claim planking has been around for a decade with different names, “Lying Down Game”. Others say “planking” started in the UK in 2008. Regardless, the trend has been travelling around the world for a while. Most of these poses require core strength.
The week before HP7 a friend brazenly embraced owling with a photo on Facebook. That was the first I heard of the craze. At the time, a search brought up only two entries.
A few days ago The Washington Post ran a story on Leisure Diving. This reminded me of jumping in our backyard pool as a child. We would spend hours leaping high in all sorts of poses trying to outdo each other. Now they are wearing clothes with props but the idea is the same. We didn’t have digital cameras to share the results instantly, but I’m sure we would have if we did.
Because it’s fun.
In the Post article, I learned some people are also batting. Since I love our neighborhood bats each night when they come out at dusk and eat the mosquitoes and gnats in my backyard, we had to give it a try. We couldn’t let all these crazes pass by this summer without participating at least once.
Although some of the photos might be taken to show off, what I have witnessed were social events. These are friends getting a little goofy. As long as it’s not dangerous, it’s all good. One man fell to his death in Australia in May so there are unsafe extremes.
Can you do it? That would be crazy! Who’ll take your picture?
Last weekend the cashier asked this question in a sporting goods store. Many chain stores require their clerks to ask, so I’m sure you’ve been asked it too. What happens when you give a negative answer?
Most of the time I don’t bother to respond but I decided to tell her the truth, “No, you don’t have the color and weight of boxing gloves I wanted.” She completely ignored me. No response was given as she rang up our items.
Now, my husband and I had found what we came to the store to purchase. I wasn’t really intending to buy new gloves even though I honestly think my current pair could knock someone out with their smell. But I probably would have grabbed a pair if the right kind were in stock. The clerk was like a robot asking the question and proceeding. There was no mechanism for her to report what I said to management. There was no offer to speak with someone about ordering a pair. There was nothing, nothing at all.
I shouldn’t have been asked. The company should not ask if they have no intention of doing anything with the answer.
Businesses and organizations need to remember this when they proceed with social media. Social networks are a dialogue. You need to think about how you will respond. Who will take action? What will they say? Ignoring is not an option!
With Father’s Day on Sunday, I couldn’t stop thinking about my dad who died 23 years ago. In particular, I found myself thinking about his business, Community Service Station. His father had named the business “Community” and for decades it proved to be an extension of their friendships and involvement in our township.
While helping businesses and organizations through my newly-founded company, Online and In Person, LLC, I often talk about creating an online community to mirror the real life community of a business or organization. I emphasize that today’s social media marketing centers on community. To me, these aren’t idle words. Over the weekend I found myself comparing real life examples from my father’s business to interactions on Facebook pages.
1. People want to feel connected.
Community Service Station was a business but it was also a social hangout. Even the minister would spend time there (much to my grandmother’s chagrin). Most of us fill up the tank once a week or so. We are regulars at the gas station. My father’s customers would park and spend time sitting or standing around the office. Everyone knew each other and friendships developed.
Facebook creates a social space in much the same way where people can gather even when they aren’t doing business or supporting an organization. With Facebook they can check in to a place page (and eventually will be able to use the new Deal feature when it is offered). A Facebook page creates a place for a community to develop. Rockville Central, which I co-manage, is an excellent example of a Facebook community which means quite a lot to us.
2. People have a need to communicate with each other.
When people hung out at my father’s service station, they inevitably discussed every news story and local happening. When I met his regulars, they always knew what I was doing too.
On Facebook people comment or answer questions in much the same way. Even though they might not be friends on Facebook, they get to know each other and respond to each other. You can always stop by and comment and discuss a topic of interest while seeing who else is talking about a certain subject. People want to know what’s going on and share their opinions both in real life and on Facebook.
3. People want information
My dad obviously shared all sorts of information and answered many questions. Most of all he gave directions to people who were lost. These were not customers. Since he was situated off a ramp from the Lincoln Tunnel, these requests were never-ending and demanded a great amount of his time.
You share when using the social networks. On Facebook, businesses and organizations provide links, posts, and explanations to demonstrate their expertise without an expectation of compensation.
4. Businesses shouldn’t be afraid of humor
Take a look at the picture for this post. A newspaper article was taped onto my father’s desk “Boss George Goes Batty”. He loved to fool around and play practical jokes. He taught me that if I wanted to dish it out, I had to take it. Customers stopped in for a good laugh daily and he would play along. Community Service Station was a lively place for many men in my hometown.
On Facebook, you often post funny pictures, jokes, and amusing articles. These light-hearted links are a good break from your work or boredom. Sharing funny instances is one of the main uses of Facebook. Successful business owners and organizations show their lighter sides. Their pages run fun content and creative photos with a personal touch.
5. People like to volunteer and help.
My dad’s business was a work-study site for our high school. He hired young men and successfully trained them to be able to hold a job. Many of these boys didn’t even know how to look someone in the eye or shake hands. My father stepped up and dedicated the time. He always offered his property for car washes for local groups too. Signs and fliers were everywhere.
Businesses often “give back” to the community. After organizing service projects, Facebook brings people together to volunteer. Posts and events provide ways for customers to invite other like-minded friends to join them and increase the good in the world. Facebook is the modern day version of a flier on a telephone pole.
When I advise businesses and organizations on using social networks, I have my dad’s terrific example in my mind along with a good understanding of the importance of community. This background is combined with the technical know-how of successfully administering a Facebook page. To me, they fit together quite naturally. I help others feel the same.
Friends and family have been asking if I experienced a revolution in my life after completing the 40 Days To Personal Revolution program at Thrive Yoga earlier this year. Realizing my enthusiasm during the program, people have been wondering if it was real.
I’ve asked myself the same question, but wanted to wait a few months before answering. Raving about a program in the moment is one thing, but a change in lifestyle a few months later is a completely different matter.
My answer is yes. I’m radically different now.
Yoga
The main emphasis of the program was yoga, so let’s start with a look at my practice. I’m still regularly immersed in yoga practice in the studio. Some weeks my schedule allows a session every weekday, but at a bare minimum I make it to Thrive at least a few times per week. Besides a tremendous improvement in my poses, my confidence in practice has grown. Some days I accept my yoga abilities and some days I push myself. Returning to the mat in the studio brings new experiences every week because the instructors always have a new twist and guide my poses to a heightened level. My practice at Thrive never fails to leave me in the absolute best mood to face all the situations in my day.
I continue to practice yoga more regularly than before the Revolution.
Besides improving on most poses, the greatest gift from the program is the ability to practice on my own. Each week I followed the yoga workouts in the book from sun salutations to inversions. The practice time increased each week and built upon the previous week so I now can lead my own yoga practice for an hour or more. This is extremely important with Vinyasa Flow because it should flow. I don’t have to wait for instructions or be led, I can move freely with my breath the entire time in the true sense of a natural flow for my body. This just can’t happen quite the same way in a group setting. My yoga has been completely transformed by this ability from within and I am much more in touch with my body.
I never practiced on my own without a recorded session before the Revolution so this is life-changing.
Diet
On my own for breakfast and lunch, I continue to choose vegetarian options. We have incorporated several of the vegetarian dishes in our family dinners too. I know the power of fruit to cool my body and bring rejuvenation. During the fruit fast I started drinking fruit smoothies with vitamin boosts and now these drinks are a constant in my diet. When I do deviate from healthy choices, I recognize how bad my body feels.
I can notice the difference food makes in my body more than I ever did before the Revolution.
Meditation
I love meditating in the morning before I start my day. Sometimes I need to meditate in the afternoons and can easily slip into a good meditation when necessary. This ability makes all situations better and easier to handle.
Renewal from meditation is something I knew nothing about before the Revolution.
Centering
Throughout the program I worked on figuring out what I really wanted in my life. I knew the year was going to bring several endings to long-time activities, but when one of the most important of my endeavors was suddenly put on the chopping block on the last day of my Personal Revolution, I had to contend with more than I expected. If I hadn’t completed the Revolution that day, I don’t think I would have been able to be as honest with myself and let a major part of my identity go. Each part of the Revolution helps to bring you to a higher place of peace in your life and I had no idea how necessary my newly-found inner strength would be.
The Revolution is a blessing in handling the changes in life.
Gray
Five days before the end of my 40 Days To Personal Revolution, I had a bad snowboarding accident which injured my tailbone. Not wanting to miss the last days of this program, I tried everything possible to continue my practice. After such physical improvement for 35 days, it was tremendously upsetting to be unable to do simple poses without extreme pain. I couldn’t even do the resting pose. Painkillers didn’t help. I didn’t let it stop me.
On the last day of the program I showed up for yoga practice with Dave who was leading the Revolution program. Devastated by the pain throughout the week I explained my situation to him before class and my eyes started to tear up. He immediately understood. He knew I was a black-and-white person. Either I do something full force or I don’t. I can’t approach things without giving them my all. His pep talk made all the difference and was particularly timely on the last day. From that day on, my Revolution would be in a “gray” area. My mind wouldn’t be totally dedicated to the program and I would need to find a way to weave it into the fabric of my life for the long haul. I could do it.
In the final chapter of the book, After The Revolution, Baron Baptiste explains why you shouldn’t have goals in life.
My goals were an attempt to manipulate reality in my favor (or so my ego thought). My purpose, however, was to be a vessel for good in the world, in whatever form that took. In this way, I could live out God’s goals for me. Really, giving up goals is a high form of faith.
If you look at young children, you’ll notice that they have no goals. They tend to be much happier than we are as adults, much more free and light. Why? Because without goals, they can simply relax, be creative, and learn from reality as it is. When we have fixed goals, we are struggling to force things turn out a certain way. Hence we close ourselves off from seeing what is possible and what else is available to us. We can’t see the bigger picture.
My physical injury taught me a valuable lesson in feeling accomplishment even if you can’t do something perfectly. The Revolution taught me to accept life’s constant turns with total trust.
The book ends with Daily Practices, which I occasionally re-read to remember to live the way I want to live, not react to the world.
Yes, I have had a Revolution, but it means constantly practicing.
Many people ask me about blogging. Recently I gathered my thoughts for a panel discussion on Communication in the 21st Century for professional women.
My presentation was meant to encourage people to write a blog by thinking through the basic questions to get started. What do you need to consider? Should your company be blogging? What will it take?
Here’s a Powerpoint presentation to help you think through starting a blog. By clicking on the link below, you can either view or download the slideshow.
Information from the social networks washes over me daily. Sometimes these messages meld to inspire.
Yesterday a friend linked to The Architecture of a Lifelong Dream by Urban Samurai. He encourages people to find their passion by exploring their interests. You are never too young or too old. If your lifelong dream is to sit on the couch and watch tv, then he says go for it. But if not, what are you doing to make your dream a reality? What’s stopping you? The post has stayed with me since I read it.
If you can’t say there are things you are truly passionate about, you really need to start expanding your reach. Put yourself out into spaces and places that you’ve never been. Expand your mind and your experiences. Passions will start to develop. Staying in the same stagnant pool of water won’t get you anything but malaria. Get out and walk around. Go see things you’ve never seen. Experience things you’ve never experienced.
Today another friend posted a video. The short clip is based on a true story. Depressed about the loss of their loved ones and struggling with disease, the men decide to “Let’s ride motorcycles!” Watch it if you have been thinking you are too old while reading my words. After training for six months, they rode those motorcycles on a long trip.
For the first time ever, our church gathered writings from parishioners and created a Lenten devotional booklet.
Do we need these writings? Yes.
Today I found myself looking at an Easter display and thinking I needed to get the ingredients for our Easter dinner. “Wait a minute,” I thought, “Easter is 40 days away.”
I need Lent.
My writing is based on the passage for Ash Wednesday, Luke 18:9-14. For those of you who know about our decision to move our local site, Rockville Central, exclusively to Facebook, I wrote this before we had the idea. We’ve had so much publicity because of the move that I believe my resolve was being tested.
During Lent I never give up or “fast” from something. When I was younger my minister encouraged us to add something, perhaps to make the world a better place, and this idea has stuck with me. To me Lent is a time to take a look at myself by adding a daily reading of the Bible, a contemplative book, or a Lenten study. This is why I love the idea of our church having a Lenten Devotional so much.
In today’s reading, Jesus tells the story of a Pharisee who is praying with a tax collector. The Pharisee thanks God that “I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers or even like this tax collector.” Meanwhile the tax collector beats his breast and begs “God, be merciful to me a sinner.”
Jesus’ response is to be humble because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and everyone who humbles himself will be exalted.
How often do we think we are better than others and “toot our own horn”? In today’s world Facebook and other social networking sites are always open for bragging, pride, narcissism and egotistical behavior. We’re encouraged to market ourselves and list our accomplishments. Where do you draw the line when you can broadcast anything every hour of every day? Can you find the restraint to not judge others and be modest?
Lent is a time to turn to a daily reading and find the strength to look in your heart and be humble.
When my oldest son was born with multiple food allergies, I asked why they couldn’t make a shot for food allergies like they do for dogs, cats, and the environment. For 13 years I’ve continued to repeat this question.
Last week my son was tested to see if he physically qualifies for a milk allergy study. Every participant will receive the milk cure because they are testing an additional injection to find out if it will aid the process. The possibility of my son helping to create the treatment for food allergies was never expected. If he gets into the study and continues to a certain level, he will be cured. Every time I allow myself think about it, a wave of emotion rushes through me.
Over the years I read the articles and listened to the lectures on the scientific research. I was never one of the people who believed there would be a cure for food allergies. Some families packed up and moved to be closer to research facilities, but I never, ever allowed myself or family to believe it could happen. Early test results did not seem promising. All the projections for success indicated he would be an adult before you could go to a doctor’s office and get the treatment. We accepted the fact that he simply couldn’t eat certain foods and created a healthy family-oriented lifestyle.
Now this.
Until we went last week, I still didn’t believe it would happen. Even if he qualified, I wasn’t sure we would agree to the risks. Also, the study will take 31 months with an hour of travel to and from the facility plus many days of missed school. The commitment is substantial.
But when we discussed all of our questions and fears with the research team, I found myself hoping.
I hate hoping. For me hope always winds up “dashed against the rocks of despair” which is a frequent mantra.
We won’t find out for a couple of more days. Many things could ultimately prevent his participation. I’ll push back this hope and wait. I’m finding it too emotional to believe in concrete miracles.
Many people have been asking me how to meditate. At the end of my 40 Days to Personal Revolution, the goal was two 30 minute meditations each day. But the program started with 5 minutes twice a day and added five minutes each week. Those beginning meditations were quick releases from my day, a solid way to start and finish. You always have 5 minutes!
To demonstrate how I started, I have created a brief video. You can listen and follow along. I promise it will be over before you know it. After you listen, you can incorporate the basic thought pattern when you try it on your own. When I hear it out loud, the instructions seem busy. But when you are on your own, you can slowly choose to do some or all of the instructions. Slowly stretch out each thought with many more full still breaths between each one, or pick one mantra and repeat it. Before you know it, you’ll be meditating even longer.
Along the way I've discovered a love for blogging. First for my local community with RockvilleCentral.com (now exclusively on Facebook), then almost immediately with TryingNotToBNeg.com when I needed to express my thoughts beyond Rockville, MD.
My company, OnlineandInPerson.com works with businesses, organizations and individuals to improve communications with social media and offers complete marketing plans along with ongoing assistance and training for owners, staff, and members. When not practicing yoga or kickboxing, I spend my free time volunteering to make lives better in our community.
Please share your thoughts here. It always means a lot to me!
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