I am just recently back from San Francisco where I completed a 9-month long program called Power & Contribution and in the process attended a Conference for Global Transformation. I presented a poster during one of the poster sessions and learned a great deal to help me with future Global Conferences. My topic for the poster session was, of course, food!
The growing interest in food is unavoidable as the May 19, 2008 cover of U.S. News & World Report reads “How to Solve The Global Food Crisis”, and the The Yorker magazine cover of the same date contains an article called Global food fight. USA TODAY also ran an article on May 19th called “New breed of American emerges in need of food”. There are many facets to the topic of food and with food recalls becoming more common, the increase i demand for organic foods, and overall interest in food as a health tool it seems apparent that the growth will continue.
Having presented a poster at the Conference for Global Transformation, I can submit a white paper for next years Journal, and consider submitting a workshop proposal. It was obvious that people have a hunger (no pun intended) for information on food and the relationship between food and health as evidenced by the small group crowded around my poster that got so engaged in the discussion that they never moved on to see other posters.
It was great to be at a conference of like-minded people! People who I could lovingly refer to as a bunch of “do-gooders” or people out to change the world. In either case, it felt like being home to be engaged in conversations with people about how we can contribute to the world to make it a better place for our children and our children’s children. Is there anything that you could do today for yourself in the area of food? Eat more fruits and vegetables, or perhaps a little less sugar or carbohydrates?
Do you have the resources to contribute to your local food bank or food pantry or perhaps the time to volunteer there? We can all make a difference one small action at a time. I’m looking to organize like-minded mothers and fathers to make advancements in food in our country and the world. If that appeals to you, please e-mail me through the website and I’ll add you to my list. Over time, we’ll figure out the difference we can make together for everyone!
Many blessings and happy eating!
Love,
Lisa
Living Life with No Regrets
April 28, 2008
How many of us can say that we actually live life with no regrets? I have had a chance recently to take stock and evaluate how many regrets I have (so far) in life. More than regrets, it is the mistakes that I’ve made which I wish I could have a “do-over” opportunity. But mistakes are what you learn from. Ask Henry Ford and Albert Einstein and a few others that had many things not turn out before they accomplished what they set out to do. Yes, mistakes I have made plenty of, but regrets are another matter.
I regret not doing the Dance Marathon while at Penn State. ”Thon” as it is lovingly called. But I couldn’t go back to Penn State and do more, do it better or have more fun which makes me happy. I think what makes me have few regrets is that I think big and go for the gusto! I’ve already done many things in my life that I was told were not going to happen. Doing the grunt work to get the Alpha Omicron Pi Chapter started at Penn State was just one of those things.
More than a few Penn Staters thought that I was out of my mind to even try. And then that I was even crazier to continue when the Panhellenic Council voted down allowing AOII to colonize at Penn State. And yet, we were ultimately successful because I and others were not willing to give up. What do you regret? What regrets do you have that you could still impact? Do you regret not keeping in touch with old friends? Learning a new hobby? Spending time with your family?
It’s never too late to interrupt the path of regrets. It first takes a moment of contemplation to review your own life, where you have been and what you have done. Only then, and in contrast to your own vision for your life can you look for possible regrets. I am surrounded by loving and generous friends, three great children, one hard working husband, and I am living into a vision where I am contributing my gifts to others. Now that makes me happy. What makes you happy?
Love,
Lisa
Manage Your Time, Manage Your Life
February 12, 2008
When people find out that I am a mother to three children (11 and under), cookbook author, public speaker, taking classes, involved in Toastmasters…you get the idea – they look at me in disbelief. Prior to starting college, I ran a pretty tight schedule with a part-time job, activities and organizations and school. The more you practice any skill, the most likely outcome is that you will become better at the said skill and eventually you will have mastery around it.
If you can manage your time, you can certainly manage your life. Time management is one of the areas of life that a large majority of people struggle with. Where are you on the topic of time management? Could you stand to improve your relationship to time? One of the many things that I do each week that works very, very well is to make a list of the things that I need and want to accomplish for the week.
I call this my “Things to do” list and I type it up on the computer numbering each item. I start the list by looking at my Franklin-Covey Planner and typing up any things that have to happen on Monday, Tuesday and so forth through the week. Once I have noted the conference calls, appointments, phone calls and other action items that are required to happen on a given day, I then list out the other items that either need to be done or that I would like to accomplish.
In total, my “Things To Do” list typically contains about 40 items. How much of that do I actually get done? Well, it all depends on the week. In a good week I get 50% of the items done. In a really great week, I can range up in the 75% range. And it flectuates due to items that are not in the plan like car issues, illnesses and other unscheduled meetings and plans.
If you don’t engage in a practice like this and you were willing to do it on a weekly basis, I know it would make a big difference in your life. I do my list on Sunday evening (usually), and then punch it and put it in my planner. It then drives the week’s activities! If you can manage your time, you can manage your life! Have a great week!
Love,
Lisa
Technically Challenged AND Blogging
December 10, 2007
Yes, you know that you are technically challenged when you have to ask your 10-year-old son for help with your cell phone! No shame in that! My 5-year old daughter was proudly boasting this week that she was good with technology. It gave me room for pause as I then ask her, “What IS technology?”
“Well, the microwave is technology,” she answered with the pride of any child. Yeah, even I can do that technology! So, here I am technically challenged and blogging. Imagine what else is possible. Having mastered getting a blog posted, my feat this week will be figuring out how to notifiy all of my family, friends, and followers that I now have a blog. There is some way that you can register to receive automatic e-mails when I post a new blog to my blog (yes, I’m sure that there is some technical language here that I am missing). Perhaps you will figure that out.
It is amazing how our children are growing up in a technical world and they take to it like a fish takes to water. Our world is changing. Are we changing to keep pace? I think that the work that I am doing to gain new skills to help me cause a new future would fall nicely into the “change” category. It is confronting, however. I have garnered new skills in the area of what I can say to people, what I can do on any given day, and how I can nuture and inspire people. And it is all very, very confronting.
Now I just have to confront my need to get exercising. How technical is that? What areas of life are you confronting today? What new technical skill could you gain in the coming week? Sending you good love and powerful positive energy.
Love,
Lisa
