Archive for the Category »life enhancement «

129. Have a Meaningful Conversation with a Stranger

I was bellied up to the airport bar hoping to quickly pass the time, and ease the nerves, until my flight to Arizona. I have to admit that I am not a lover of flying, I just don't understand why there has to be turbulence or why I always end up sitting next to someone who forgot to wear deodorant. 

Though I have met some of the most interesting people at the airport no conversation had been meaningful enough to complete this goal, until today. Sipping my red wine, I inspected my surroundings. The man to the left of me was typing on his laptop, talking on the phone and drinking a dirty martini, a true multitasker…I can relate. The older man to my right was nursing his $10 Coors Light and immediately struck up a conversation when I looked his way, "Are you from here or just visiting?" Ah, the typical airport starter dialogue.

After the exchanging of generic pleasantries, we got on to the subject of bucket lists (hmmm…I wonder how that happened?) and Dave had an inspiring story.

Through his younger days he had always been interested in the ocean and learning how to scuba dive. Though, as with many of us, his day-to-day life just got in the way of him pursuing his dream. It wasn't until his late 60s that this dream showed itself again and he knew that he could not deny its fruition. He now spends his time traveling the world exploring sunken ships at the bottom of the ocean…amazing! He pulled out a bag full of related magazines as we discussed where he would be traveling on his next venture, narrowing it down to Barbados, Tahiti or Fiji.

He left me pondering what it would be like to be at the bottom of the sea swimming within a submerged treasure. I think I have just found the next thing to add to my bucket list!

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Join the new Facebook Group “Our Bucket List Journey”

Join the NEW Facebook Group "Our Bucket List Journey"

WHAT'S ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?
Rock Climbing, karaoke, flying on a trapeze, stomping grapes, milking a cow? We all have at least a mental list of those items that we want to accomplish before we die. Why not turn these dreams into a reality! This group is designed to share your life’s to-do-list, brag about your triumphs and inspire others to step out of the box! Let's work together to create the ultimate group bucket list and starting checking items off! It is all about new experiences, adventure, learning & fun!!

Join now…

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16 Ways to Stay Motivated

Motivation is something that can make your dreams come true…or not. It is completely natural for your ambition to be at different stages during the lifetime of your goal. But, it is important to dig deep and press on, especially when the outcome is not initially what you expect. Even though I consider myself a highly motivated person, there are days when I have to refer to this list for inspiration.

1. Think positive. Challenge all your negative thoughts, replace them with positive ones. Try to stay away from dream squashers.

2. Journal. Keep a daily journal of the progress you have made and the thoughts related to that progress.

3. Be clear. Define your goals so they are not "fuzzy". Make your direction clear and concise.

4. Go public. Make you commitment public so there is some accountability involved. You can do this by telling your friends & family or announcing it on a social website, such as Facebook.

5. Commit. Make a commitment to do one step a day towards achieving your goal, no matter how big or small.

6. Get support. Connect with someone who has your same goal or is a support system for you and share your experiences.

7. Reward. Give yourself kudos for even the slightest progress.

8. Persistence. Realize that hard work is the way to achieve goals. Be persistent in your efforts.

9. Find inspiration. Read about others who have achieved what you are trying to do.

10. Share progress. Choose a forum to share your progress.

11. Mini-goals. Break your one big goal into several littles goals.

12. Dream. Keep dreaming and visualize what your goal will look like when it becomes a reality.

13. Be proactive. Don't wait for the goal to magically happen, make it happen.

14. Escape. Take a break from your goal every now and then.

15. Have consequences. Decide what they will be for not moving forward towards your goal.

16. Stick with it. Even when your motivation is lacking, pull through it. The motivation will eventually come back.


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89 Things To Be Grateful For

1. Puppy breath
2. Fuzzy blankets
3. Family & friends
4. The leaves turning brilliant colors
5. Eating dessert first
6. Warm weather
7. The beach
8. Hiking trails
9. Heaters that work
10. Feeling loved
11. Being healthy
12. Vino
13. Organized closets
14. Music that invokes wonderful memories
15. Good neighbors
16. The unkown
17. Happy hour
18. Digital cameras
19. Fresh fruit smoothies
20. Freedom
21. Good books
22. The internet
23. Farmers markets
24. Waffles with whipped cream & strawberries
25. Hugs & kisses
26. Crescent moons
27. Free stuff
28. Aroma candles
29. Ability to learn
30. Hot tea on a cold day
31. Instant communication
32. The smell of Christmas trees
33. Raw cookie dough
34. Babies tiny fingernails
35. Standing on the top of the mountain
36. Random acts of kindness
37. Ambition
38. Forgiveness
39. Kind strangers
40. Hearing "I Love You"
41. Foot rubs
42. Uncontrollable laughter
43. Pets that love you unconditionally
44. Warm rain
45. High heel shoes
46. Bargain shopping
47. Outdoor Patio dining
48. Pedicures
49. Smell of coffee brewing
50. Quiet mornings when no one is awake yet
51. Starry nights
52. Great meals
53. Girls night out
54. Being motivated
55. Cuddling with a warm pile of laundry
56. Shopping online
57. Being barefoot on the sand
58. Fresh snow
59. Making smores at a campfire
60. Puffy clouds
61. Fresh sheets
62. Flushing toilets
63. SpellChecker and calculators
64. Finding unexpected money in your pockets
65. Hot showers
66. All my five senses
67. Fine paper
68. When the trees leaves change colors
69. DVRs
70. Great pens
71. Natural Hot Springs
72. Dancing
73. Magazines
74. Smell of a BBQ
75. The perfect pair of jeans
76. Parking right up front
77. Learning the benefits of living a simple life
78. Genuine compliments
79. Super hot showers
80. Apologies
81. Laser hair removal
82. The library
83. Cookbooks with lots of photos
84. Game nights
85. A good nights sleep
86. Spooning
87. Keyboard Shortcuts
88. Free Samples
89. Setting the high score on a video game

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57 Quotes That Will Inspire You

1. Some of the world's greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible. Doug Larson

2. History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it. Winston Churchill

3. The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss, but that it is too low and we reach it. Michelangelo

4. Never tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon. Unkown

5. As soon as anyone starts telling you to be realistic, cross that person off your invitation list. John Eliot

6. Everyone who got where he is has had to begin where he was. Robert Louis Stevenson

7. What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals. Zig Ziglar

8. The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who's going to stop me. Ayn Rand

9. If we did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves. Thomas Edison

10. Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Unkown

11. A pessimist sees the difficult in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. Winston Churchill

12. Many of life's failures are people who had not realized how close they were to success when they gave up. Thomas Edison

13. If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging. Will Rogers

14. Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. Waldo Emerson

15. We all have two choices; we can make a living or we can design a life. Jim Rohn

16. Goals that are not written down are just wishes. Unknown

17. Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done. Louis D. Brandeis

18. I haven't failed. I've found 10,000 ways that don't work. Thomas Edison

19. Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen. Michael Jordan

20. Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. Unknown

21. Dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success. I think you can accomlish anything if you're willing to pay the price. Vince Lombardi

22. Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals. Unkown

23. By recording your dreams and goals on paper, you set in motion the process of becoming the person you most want to be. Mark Victore Hansen

24. Between the great things we cannot do and the small things we will not do, the danger is that we shall do nothing. Adolph Monod

25. When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps. Confucious

26. If you're bored with life & you don't get up every morning with a burning desire to do things – you don't have enough goals. Lou Holtz

27. People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing – that's why we recommend it daily. Zig Ziglar

28. Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment. Jim Rohn

29. If you want your life to be a magnificent story, then begin by realizing that you are the author and everyday you have the opportunity to write a new page. Mark Houlahan

30. The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you're willing to work. Oprah Winfrey

31. The achievement of one goal should be the starting point of another. Alexander Graham Bell

32. An average person with average talents and ambition and average education, can outstrip the most brilliant genius in our society, if that person has clear, focused goals. Mary Kay Ash

33. The road leading to a goal does not separate you from the destination; it is essentially a part of it. Charles DeLint

34. You can't hit a target you cannot see, and you cannot see a target you do not have. Zig Ziglar

35. We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible. C. Malesherbes

36. Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all. Dale Carnegie

37. Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michaelangelo, Mother Teresea, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson and Albert Einstein. Life's Little Instruction Book

38. The future you see is the future you get. Robert G Allen

39. To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe. Anatole France

40. You see things and you say 'Why?' But I dream things that never were and I say 'Why not?' George Bernard Shaw

41. I don't dream at night, I dream all day; I dream for a living. Steven Spielberg

42. At first dreams seem impossible, then improbable, then inevitable. Christopher Reeve

43. If we're growing, we're always going to be out of our comfort zone. Author Unknown

44. No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. Eleanor Roosevelt

45. Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. Confucious

46. The greates mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one. Elbert Hubbard

47. Remember, you can earn more money, but when time is spent it is gone forever. Zig Ziglar

48. The harder you fall, the higher you bounce. Author Unknown

49. There are two ways to face the future. One way is with apprehension; the other is with anticipation. Jim Rohn

50. if you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. Dr. Wayne Dyer

51. Your attitude, not your aptitude, determines your altitude. Zig Ziglar

52. Life has no limitations, except the ones you make. Les Brown

53. This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us. Western Union internal memo 1876

54. Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing, that we see too late the one that is open. Alexander Graham Bell

55. The real measure of your wealth is how much you'd be worth if you lost all your money. Author Unkown

56. Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. Michael Jordan

57. For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness. Ralph Waldo Emerson

QUOTE BOOKS

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157. Pay the Bridge Toll for the Person Behind Me

This post is part of My 40th Birthday Bucket List Extravaganza day.

I was driving over the Richmond Bridge on my birthday, feeling pretty good about myself after performing my first flying trapeze trick and knowing that I was going to pay the toll for the person behind me. I jockeyed for position making sure that there was actually a car behind me to pay for. I was content with the 4-door blue sedan that was now tailgating me, though it was dark and I had no idea who the driver was.

"Today is my birthday and I want to pay for the car behind me too!" was what I told the bridge toll collector. She let out a laugh and I was on my merry way. I was giddy the whole way across the bridge; Who did I just pay for? Did I just make their day? Will they pay-it-forward the next time they cross the bridge? All that happiness for a mere 4 bucks! Totally worth it!

See my complete bucket list.

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150. Write a Letter to your Future Self

 This post is part of My 40th Birthday Bucket List Extravaganza day.

To My Dearest Self,

Today is your 40th birthday and as you look back you realize that you have had many fortunate experiences and time appears to have flown by. But, looking forward you are filled with hope, dreams and excitement. The one thing you wish is that what you know now you knew when you were 20.

WHAT YOU KNOW NOW:

CAREER
You now realize that in your 20's you thought that your career defined you, but now it enhances your life. Though you have worked for fabulous companies, you know that your heart lies in being your own boss and hope to continue down that path for the rest of your life. You definitely feel that the restaurant business is a passion, but you have many others and dream of becoming a writer of "bucket list" books, creating cork art to sell and otherwise having a career that allows you the freedom to travel.

MONEY
In earlier life your main concentration was on "becoming a millionaire" and now you just want to simplify. You understand that you can only wear so many clothes, friends don't really care what kind of car you drive and huge diamond rings don't equal true love.You still have the desire to have money, but you would like to spend it on creating experiences instead of accumulating material items.

RELATIONSHIPS & MARRIAGE
You have been married for 12 years and the dynamic of the relationship has changed dramatically since year one. You were once obsessed about knowing the security of the future and now know that things happen and no matter what you will be okay. You know that acceptance of your partner is so important and you have been successful at that. You realize that marriage is not always roses & butterflies, but nothing is and you are willing to work at making it better. With that said, you believe that relationships should mostly be roses & butterflies or else it's not worth sacrificing your happiness. You truly love your husband, but still stuggle with "unconditional" love and need to continuously strive to make sure he feels it .  

PASSION
You have spent many years searching for your passion, hoping that there was that one thing you would be excellent at. You now know that the search is your passion and within this search are the times you feel most alive. You have now dedicated much of your life to experiencing new things and truly feel that is your permanent infatuation.

LIFE ENHANCEMENT
The power of being present has changed your life. Having the ability to not think about the past or worry about the future has been a long, challenging path and is still a work in progress. But, you have realized that it is a huge key to happiness. Also, you spent much time challenging your negative thoughts, pointing out the positive every time you had one. It has proven to be successful in the process of being joyful. Another important thing you feel is that, in most cases, honesty truly is the best policy. It has not failed you. You now feel that happiness is a choice and you try to choose it whenever you can! You have also realized that the one person that has to take care of you is you!

FAMILY
You have accepted the faults of your family with love, though these faults still emotionally affect you more than you wish. You take comfort in the fact that you know your mother would take her own life for you, but hope that she will realize that her healthy lifestyle means more to you than anything. You have almost stopped fantasizing about having the father figure you see in the movies, though you still long to have a stronger relationship with him. You have effectively cut out the communication with family members that do not enhance your life and don't feel guilty.

STYLE & AGING
For the most part, you feel pretty. Pretty in a way that lacks the insecurities or conceit of when you were younger. You can see the effects of aging, but do not compare yourself to younger versions. On most days, you feel that you look good for your age and your goal is to have that feeling at every age. You still love stylish clothing (at a discount!) and dressing nice gives your self esteem a boost. Brand names still do not impress you, you don't understand the purpose of paying 4 times as much for designer jeans, but definitely would if it made your butt look fabulous! Aging or dying does not particularly scare you, what frightens you is that you will not be able to experience all the things you want to.

In the past couple of years you have been caught thinking, "I love life" and you hope to feel this for many years to come.

Love & Respect,
Annette

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My 40th Birthday Bucket List Extravaganza! (Vuja De Birthday)

Yes, I am that person that gets excited about every birthday. Why? Because every year I do something I will remember (typically something new and just a little scary) to commemorate that special day. In prior years, I have rappelled, skeet shooted and went on a $500 shopping spree. This year is the BIG 4-0, I can't believe I'm admitting that! Though I have been to countless 40th birthday parties for my friends which were great fun, my dream is to forgo the big bash and complete as many items as I can on my bucket list in one day. I planned a Vuja De Birthday, an entire day dedicated to new experiences.

Here's what the itinerary is looking like so far:
7:00am: #150. Write a letter to yourself that you'll read in 5 years
7:45am: #20. Make an origami animal
8:30am: #84. Try a new food (#13 mochi)
8:45am: #23. Contact someone with your own name
9:30am: #72. Wear fake eyelashes
11:00am: #112. Buy an entire outfit at a second hand store…wear it!
12:30pm: #26. Eat at a memorable restaurant
2:00pm: #67. Get fitted for a bra
6:30pm: #119 Fly on a trapeze
8:00pm: #26. Eat at a memorable restaurant
9:00pm: 157. Pay the bridge toll for the person behind me
9:30pm: #97. Dress in super sexy lingerie

Extras, if there is time:
#132 Look 10 years younger
#148. See a foreign film

 Phew! I hope I can complete them all in one day! Either way, I'm pretty sure I'm going to remember this birthday forever…

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5 New Things Added to My Bucket List Journey

159. Sew something you can wear
I have taken one 6-week sewing class in my life where I learned how to make a shirt that I never wore. I'm hoping with these limited skills that I can actually create something wearable and maybe even attractive!

160. Create your own cocktail
I am strictly a red wine girl, so this may be challenging for me. My head is already racing with ideas of what liquor I can mix with my favorite vino to make it a cocktail.

161. Visit a butterfly sanctuary
Having hundreds of these delicate creatures flying about your head sounds like a dream to me.

162. Go to the movies by yourself
This doesn't  terrify me terribly, but I will be sitting in the back row…maybe even wearing a hat and sunglasses!

163. Learn how to create the perfect "smokey eye"
Every time I put makeup on I feel like a clown, though I long to create the perfect nighttime eye that I have seen so many famous ladies have.

See my entire bucket list

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155. Ask My Spouse 20 Questions That I Don’t Know About Him

Hubby & Me (Annette Renee White)Hmmm…what could I possibly not know about someone I have been with for over 15 years? Turns out…a lot! After completing this list, I decided that I will continue the questioning at a rate of about 1 per week. I don't want to overwhelm my poor husband, you know how men love to communicate!

 

1. What was your funnest subject in high school & which one did you dread? "The easiest was Math and I dreaded English."

2. What is one attribute of your mother that you see in yourself? "She is great at wanting to build and create things and I think I have a lot of that. She is always envisioning what she could do with her house and I'm the same way."

3. How did your mother and father meet? "I think at a bar in Sausalito."

4. Who would you like to have a closer relationship with? "My mom, but it is difficult to have a close relationship with her because of her hearing impairment and if you spend  a lot of time with her she'll put you to work!"

5. What do you think happens to you when you die? "I don't think anything happens but it would be nice to believe that your soul lives on."

6. Would you rather be on the cover of Time, People or Food & Wine magazine? "Food & Wine Magazine with the title Best New Restaurateur."

7. What would you do with one week to do anything, all expenses paid? "Go to Italy, rent a Ferrari & Ducati and tour the countryside."

8. Would you rather be a painter, writer or musician? "Feasibly I would want to be a painter, but being a Musician would be great (guitarist or pianist)."

9. Do you think you are hard on yourself? "For the most part I am, but the older I get the less I am. I think I challenge myself more than most people, but being afraid of failing stops me from trying some things.Though, I do think I try more than most people."

10. Do you have any phobias? "No, not really. I just don't like people standing too close right behind me or crowded areas."

11. When home alone, do you shut the door when you use the bathroom? "No."

12.  If you could afford it at this moment, what would you buy? "A cool, badass restaurant."

13. What is the greatest goal you want to achieve in the next five years? "To have good recognition for our restaurant and us as restaurateurs and chefs. So, people around the wine country would know who we are."

14. What are five things you are grateful for? "I'm very healthy, better than average physically, I've been very successful in many things I have done, little to no baggage, great marriage (he said that all on his own…I swear), great career, comfortable home."

15. If you could own the world's largest collection of anything, what would it be? "Cars & cookbooks."

16. What is the most boring thing you can think of doing? "Being a security guard at an open air mall."

17. What one month on the calendar would you like to eliminate? "January, it's too cold. I just like warmer days with less rain."

18. What age would you like to be for the rest of your life? "27 to 30, old enough to be considered an adult and young enough for people to not have the expectation of you having to be too responsible."

19. What would you like to build if you knew how? "The accomplishment of building anything to me is exciting. Starting something from concept to a finished product would be rewarding."

20. What signs of aging are you starting to see in yourself? "Dementia! My vision and hearing is not as well as it was."

Read other Life Enhancement entries:
Donate Toys at the Holidays
List 10 Things I am Grateful for

TIPS ON ASKING YOUR SPOUSE 20 QUESTIONS
1.
Make sure you actually want to know the answers! This is not suppose to be an interrogation, but an exercise in getting to know him/her better.
2. Come up with questions from a variety of different categories; childhood, family & friends, leisure time, habits, love, politics, spirituality, work.
3. Ask open ended questions. Select questions that require more than a one word answer.
4. Choose the appropriate time to ask these questions. You don't have to finish all in one sitting, take your time so the answers will be thoughtful.
5. Listen actively and focus. Listening without disagreement will encourage your spouse to express themselves.
6. Contribute to the conversation by answering the questions yourself after he/she has finished.
7. Continue getting to know your spouse by asking one question a week.

FACTOID
Married men have a greater life expectancy than single ones

RESOURCES
4000 Questions4,000 Questions
, a book for getting to know anyone and everyone
 

 

 

Table TopicsTable Topics, couples edition, entertaining question cards that entertain and provoke
 

 


Loaded QuestionsLoaded Questions, a board game that tests your knowledge of other's opinions

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