Ride on!

"Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now." Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

There is nothing like learning something new...starting out from scratch and then moving confidently through to mastery.

There's the fear, anxiety, confusion and then it all just seems to start making sense until the moment when you realize "I got it"!

I love to learn new things. Snowboarding, internet marketing, writing, speaking, skydiving and now motorcycle riding.

I had so much fun taking the Rider's Edge course at the Glendale Harley-Davidson dealership. John and I first walked into the dealership a few weeks ago to "check it out" and I instantly fell in love. All the leather, chrome, clothing, earrings, boots and POWER!

We signed up for the course on the spot and even signed up a friend. For weeks we waiting in eager anticipating, visiting the dealership every couple of days to hone in on the bikes we want to get. We've made friends with many experienced riders and are so excited about this new adventure in life.

The course was awesome! I learned the basics of safety and then went out on the bike. We learned on little Beull Blasts. Fun bikes with a little bit of umph. Mastering the clutch, brake, throttle combination was the most challenging for me since I've never driving a stick shift vehicle.

After half-a-day of perpetual stalling, I finally mastered it and was sooooooo proud of my new ability to gooooooooo with out sputtering to a stop. Once I got it up to 25 mph and did my turns, I was totally on fire! It's is an exhillerating experience.

Watching John master the bike was equally rewarding. He had the biggest smile on his face. As a couple, we got to experience a whole new adventure together...supporting each other, laughing with each other and amusing the class with our fun-loving antics.

Many times in life, we can have a tendency to be very introverted...festering on what someone has said, or what we haven't done or have to do or all the other things we can get fixated on. Snowboarding and motorcycles have been the two activities I have found to be very meditative and extroverting. It's just me and the experience, totally focusing on the road ahead, with not a care in the world. The brain stops putting around with useless worries and just gives it's attention to the road and the plan of action. Reaction speed is optimal, energy is high and it's total peace and enthusiasm.

It's the most rewarding experience. So, whatever you might have an interest in...go do it. Yes...you will make an ass of yourself at some point. But once you're through that point and gave a little giggle about it, you'll feel amazingly accomplished with your new skills and abilities and the new conversations you get to have with people.

I've had so many friends all around me who are Harley riders and I didn't even know it! I know have a whole new bonding experience and a new community of common experience and interest that is expanding my horizons!

And, for all those who tell you to "be careful", "that's too dangerous", "I would never do that!"...just remember, you are in control. When I first started telling people I was going to ride motorcycles, you wouldn't believe the number of "death and drudgery" stories people were telling me. And...this was coming from all people who weren't bike riders. They are fearful and want to slap their fear all over me! Empty warnings coming from fearful people.

So, remember: The only thing that makes a motorcycle dangerous is the person on it. The only thing that makes a snowboard dangerous is the person on it. The bike or snowboard can't hurt you. You have the innate ability to learn anything and to master it given time and effort.

Here's a great statement from Albert Einstein...copy it and remember it.

"Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence."

THE TRUE POWER OF YOGA

Do you know what Yoga can do for your physical, mental and emotional health?

If you watch someone practicing yoga, you will notice that they are not straining or breathing heavily and that their face is placid and calm. Perhaps you may even notice that they seem very focused and they are not distracted by what is going on around them.

Yoga classes in the U.S. often focus strictly on the physical aspects of yoga (the asana postures), and there is no doubt that you can benefit from these stretches and postures. They will help to tone and stretch your muscles and keep your body flexible, and they bring live-giving blood and oxygen to every part of your body.

But most don't realize that the ancient yogic techniques, incorporate breathing and meditation so that your mind and emotions become calm and stress relief happens on more than a physical level.
Yoga meditation and breathing techniques can relieve many of the physical symptoms of stress (palpitations, shortness of breath, insomnia, nervousness and more).

How can Yoga accomplish this? Essentially, the total yoga workout (physical, breath and meditation) works on the central nervous system and through that conduit, it lowers blood pressure and evens breathing to take the strain off your body and mind.

Those who suffer from long-term stress are more at risk for heart attack and stroke, and are more likely to have migraine headaches and ulcers, as well.

So if you practice yoga regularly you will find that your digestion and gastro-intestinal function will improve, that you will feel calmer, and you are less likely to get every bug or flu that comes along.
Sounds like a lot to accomplish just by some deep breathing, stretching and meditation, doesn't it? But, it is true!

Yoga requires you to enter and remain in an altered state of mind and focus. When you focus your attention on your breathing, you allow problems and other thoughts to pass through your mind and continue on their way, and you remain connected to your body in the here and now. You don't become distracted by other thoughts or stressors. This takes some practice, but it is something that ANYONE can do!

When you relax your breathing and take longer, deeper breaths, you feed your body and help your mind and emotions relax and focus as well. Instead of the short, shallow breath you take when you are under stress or worried, your breathing becomes even and slow and you breath into your abdomen instead of up in your chest.

If you learn and practice the ancient techniques of Yoga, you will gradually enter a state of balanced health..After all, isn't that what we all strive for anyway!

Bringing out the best YOU!

"Remember that the most difficult tasks are consummated, not by a single explosive burst of energy or effort, but by the constant daily application of the best you have within you." - Og Mandino.

Money can't buy happiness we are told from the time we are young, but most of us laugh, and reply, "but I'd surely like to try and find out!" Almost every person admits to trying to find the secret to happiness. Sometimes, it may seem as if others have everything going for them, and that they lead a charmed life. It may appear that they achieve success every time they try something new. Then, we may compare their situation to our own lives, and realize that we have more than our fair share of struggles.

The person who seems to have an easier time of negotiating life's bumpy roads knows that life is so very short, and they cannot dwell on what they don't have, but instead, must focus on what they do have. They learn to appreciate their own accomplishments and those of their friends and family members. They can make decisions about goals for who they want to become, and set out to achieve those goals.

So I say to you, don't let life's adversities keep you down for long, instead use the hard times to really see the beauty in your own life and learn from it!

5 Ways to Stretch Your Money in 2009!

I read this article on CNN.com/Money and wante dto share...Enjoy!


NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - You don't need to be a penny pincher, but why pay more than you need to? Especially when paying less doesn't require much effort.

Paying less doesn't necessarily mean shopping every sale, buying everything used or always opting for package deals. In fact, in doing so you might actually end up spending more or at best not saving much at all, said Jonni McCoy, author of Frugal Families: Making the Most of Your Hard-Earned Money.

Take furniture and clothing. Full-price, both are typically marked up 50 percent by retailers, so a 30-percent-off "blowout" sale is not necessarily that great a deal, she says.

With that in mind, here are five ways to get more bang for your buck.

1. Buying groceries
It's hard to save money if you don't know what things cost. When it comes to things you buy regularly, such as groceries or toiletries, "you need to know your prices," McCoy said. She recommends you keep a "price book" -- a log of prices you see advertised in different stores for products you typically use. That way, when the stores you usually shop in have a sale, you'll know if it's really a good deal. If it is (and the product is not perishable), buy four to six weeks' worth, since grocery product sales tend to come in four-to-six week cycles, she said.

2. Buying major appliances
If you're in the market for a washer-and-dryer or a refrigerator, you usually can get a significant discount if you select last year's model or a new model that has slight cosmetic imperfections, such as a ding or dent in the back of the machine. These models may be squirreled away in the storeroom or at the back of the store, so ask a salesperson, McCoy said.

If you're tempted to buy used appliances for added savings, beware. If you buy from a refurbisher, you may not be paying much less than the original price, you won't get a warranty, you'll have to pay delivery charges, and, if you're buying a product that's more than two or three years old, it won't be as energy-efficient (and hence as low-cost to own) as the newer models, she said.

When buying full retail, you still might be able to negotiate a lower price. "If they're not having a sale, ask if they're having a sale in the near future," said Larry Roth, owner of Living Cheap Press. If they sense you're eager to buy right away, retailers may be inclined to give you a price break. They know you don't buy durable goods everyday and if they lose you now there's a good chance you won't return for years, Roth explained.

3. Buying a home
You're likely to get more for your money if you put down roots in an up-and-coming neighborhood -- one where renovations of some homes have begun on the street where your home would be -- and/or you purchase a property that has "curable" defects -- i.e., things you can fix, such as the lack of a half bath on the first floor, said Roth, a realtor in Kansas City, Mo. You may pay $10,000 to put in that extra bathroom, but that could translate into an additional $40,000 or more on your selling price. Whatever you do, Roth said, "stay away from incurable defects" such as a busy street. You may get a discount to move there but when you turn around to sell you're going to have to offer buyers a discount, too, he explained.

4. Paying off a mortgage
It might be a good idea to set up a biweekly payment plan, which typically can save you up to 29 percent in interest over the life of your loan and shave years off your mortgage, but don't pay for the privilege. Such a plan is attractive if you can afford to make what is in effect one extra payment on your mortgage a year, your loan doesn't apply prepayment penalties and you don't sacrifice much in the way of tax deductions that regular mortgage interest payments offer.

Your bank may try to talk you into paying a $200 fee to set such a plan up. But you can do it yourself for free simply by sending in the extra money and informing the bank in writing that the excess should be applied to your principal, not your interest, said certified financial planner Judi Martindale. (For more on how biweekly payment plans work, click here.)

5. Going on vacation
Who says procrastinators pay more? Last-minute deals abound this year, said certified travel agent Renee Coon of North Coast Travel in Eerie, Pa. You can find rock-bottom airfares when tour and charter companies scramble to fill seats on flights that are only half full. For those planning a driving vacation in the United States this summer, a lot of good hotels are offering bargains as low as $40 a night and package deals that may be worth your while, Coon said. For instance, if you're headed to the Grand Canyon, $119 per person will buy you a night's stay at the Fray Marcos Hotel, dinner, breakfast and a roundtrip train ticket to the Grand Canyon on a historic steam engine.

Some travel websites, like Travelocity, feature last-minute travel deals. If you're not comfortable buying online, you can use the Web to research your trip and then call a reputable travel agent to match or beat the offers you've found. For some of the latest travel bargains, check out our weekly "Best Travel Deals." And for vacations that offer good value for the money, check out MONEY magazine's Best Places to Vacation.

One of the best money-saving tips for all travelers is to think carefully about what you hope to get out of your vacation before slapping down hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. "Think about why you're going," McCoy said. If true R&R is on the agenda, a five-star resort is likely to charge you far more than a friends' cabin by the lake. And if you're averse to Beautiful People and trendy spots, the cheaper alternative may in fact be the preferred one.

A smile goes a long way

We all know how frustrating airports can be. Lines, angry TSA workers, panicking tourists rushing to make their flights. It can be a crazy place! Especially LAX.

John and I headed to Auckland yesterday day for our Bridging the Gap Workshop. We've been travelling so much lately...and having a blast!

In the next week weeks we're heading to Acapulco, The Caribbean, Florida, And back around..all by the end of March!

So, to make a long story short, I love travelling so the trip to the airport and through the airport is all part of the adventure. I kept my energy up and my smile bright and wouldn't you know it, the gate manager gave us the most spectacular seats we could get.

When we got to the gate to get our seating assignments, I greeted the obviously stressed out gate manager with a smile, a kind tone of voice and lots of patience. She reciprocated by giving us the best seats there were!

We enjoyed a very comfortable flight with plenty of room to relax and enjoy the flight.

As the plane pushed back from the jetway, I saw the gate manager operating the jetway. I gave her a smile, a thumbs up and so-long wave. She smiled back and waved back and it was obvious she was in a much better space than when I first met her at the counter.

So you see, a smile goes a long way. Not only did I make a difference in my own experience by getting great seats, but I also helped a very weary and frustrated airline employee feel good about her day.

Keep smiling!

Fulfilling YOUR Destiny!

What is "DESTINY"? In simple terms, destiny is
God's purpose for your life. It is your appointed or
ordained future. Destiny is what God has predetermined you to be and to become, in His divine will.

Do you know that there is something that you are uniquely designed to do?Maybe you are already doing that. Maybe you are not. Let me run some questions past you just to make sure:
Do you spring out of bed every morning with boundless energy, eagerly wanting to throw yourself into the day ahead?
Does your work fulfill you to the point where you would do it for much less than what you are already being paid for it?
Do you have endless ideas running through your mind that inspire you to do more and be more?
Do you feel as though you are a valuable member of society and that you are being well rewarded for the value that you give?
Do you feel respected and admired by others for what you do, the value you give and the person that you are becoming?
And lastly, are you really & truly content and happy with your role in society and does that feeling manifest itself in your daily dealings with other people?

If you cannot answer yes to the questions above then you are not being fulfilled. You are not working towards your ULTIMATE destiny. You see, there is something that you are uniquely designed to do and if you ever want to be truly HAPPY you must find out what that thing is! So I say to you, look deep inside yourslef, find your passion then start the process needed to Fulfill your destiny. Turn your life into a work of art because YOU deserve it!

GIVING is GOOD for the HEART!

In Giving to Others, You Don't Have to Be a Millionaire! Every day we are confronted with choices: what we wear, what we eat, how and with whom we spend our leisure time. These choices reveal something about us: Our Priorities and Our Personal Values.

The same is true for our charitable giving. How much (if anything), where, and to whom we give is a reflection of who we are. We can support a community foundation, a donor designated fund, a nonprofit organization, a community service program, a religious institution, an entertainment benefit, or even a race for a specific cause. We can give $5 or $1million, depending on our budget and our good will. Remember it's not about how much you give, it's truly the thought and act of giving that takes us a long way..so even when the seasons change, our hearts remain the same and the genuine generosity never ends!

- Shannon Lavenia

If Only We All Took A Little Initiative.

Hot off the Press- Sort of….

Hot off the Press- Sort of….

Posted using ShareThis

2009 Here I Come!

I have been looking at my goals this week, thinking about how I can work toward making 2009 my BEST Year ever. And here are four tips I've come up with to help you make 2009 your best year ever too!

1. Get your body moving. Walk, run, jog, dance, or workout…doesn’t matter what you do, just get that body moving!

2. Eat more whole foods. Foods spiked with synthetic vitamins have shown to cause health problems in multiple studies. Eat more whole fruits and vegetables and if you would like to get multiple servings in a simple to drink whole food liquid, try Eiro.

3. Connect with people you care about. Facebook is a great way to connect with people that you may have missed in your life. Life is too short to forget about the people that are most important to you.

4. And last but not but DEFINITELY not least, Improve Yourself. Work to become a better you. Read more, listen to more positive audio, study more successful people and find yourself a mentor.

Remember: When you are Working, Work harder than anyone else. When you are Resting, truly REST because you have earned it!