Saturday, January 29, 2011

Here comes the sun!

So today, I definitely thought of that Beatles song - Here comes the sun - it was an absolutely beautiful day today in our area!!  You could tell that everyone was in a better mood today - it was all over facebook ha!  We haven't seen the sun in so long that it seemed like one of those days where you just wanted to run outside and dance around because it was so nice!  (or is that just me?) 

It started out a little crazy, when I opened my garage door and found a moving truck parked half-way in front of the door.  I couldn't find the driver, so I had to maneuver my SUV around it, praying I didn't scratch my car or the truck.. or the side of my garage!  I worked at a church in Dickson today and had a really good time.  I went outside every chance I got!  The people I worked with were great and I had a lot of fun and laughed a lot - which always makes for a great day.  One of the ladies I worked with (49 years old) told me that if she wasn't married, she would be going after me!  That was both hilarious and a little scary!  The church was also having choir practice today, so I did sneak in the back of the sanctuary for awhile and just sat and listened.  They were great and I wanted to get up there and sing and dance with them.  (To make the visual a little more humorous, this was an African-American church - so I REALLY wanted to join in ha!)  On the way home tonight, it was one great song after another on the radio so there was plenty of singing and dancing going on in my car.  I guess I really wanted to be a dancer today!

Leaving tomorrow for South Carolina for two days and then North Carolina for the rest of the week.  My job does require me to travel and it's actually been awhile since I've been anywhere far.  So I'm looking forward to traveling to places I've never been.  I'm sure I will have plenty to blog about!

So that was basically my day - no major life lessons, but it was a really great day and the sunshine played a big role in that - and the 49 year old of course!  I hope everyone else was able to enjoy it as well - unless you live somewhere that had bad weather today, and for that I'm sorry. 

Oh, and I would not want to end this blog without wishing a very Happy Birthday to my girl, Oprah!

Today I am grateful for:  1.  A beautiful day  2.  Seeing everyone in a better mood today  3.  A lot of fun at work  4.  Laughing with Cara on the phone  5.  Some great people-watching

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Trusting in the answer...

So I want to start today's blog off with some good news!  I told you yesterday that my finances were tight this month and I kinda freaked out about it for a little while.  One of my goals for this year is to make more money than I ever have and really get control of all things financial.  I'm not wasteful when it comes to money, but I just really want to "be an adult" and make sure I'm doing well as far as savings, keeping my credit score up, and just being smart when it comes to money.  Today I got some news that will help me this year in that area!

First off - a funny story.  This morning after my focus time, I really prayed that I would just trust in the answer instead of the problem.  That prayer was for a few different things - money being one of them.  Afterwards, I signed on to my computer to check emails and stuff and when I signed on to facebook, this message popped up saying I had won $1,000!  Of course, I gasped at first - talk about a quick answer - but as I continued reading, I realized that I would have to participate in some kind of program and blah, blah, blah - I wasn't going to just receive cash like that ha!  Oh well, I also started working on my tax return for this year.  I was unemployed for a majority of last year, so I really was not expecting to get anything back this time around.  I was mainly just not wanting to have to pay.  I'm not done yet, but I'm already getting a lot more back than I expected so that made me very happy!  The other part of the answer is that I am considering getting a roommate this year.  A really great friend of mine is moving up here and we've been discussing the possibility.  He's moving up in August and so I knew that it would probably be a smart thing for me to go ahead with this.  I talked with him today and he said that there's a good possibility that he might be moving up earlier now - which would be great and help out even sooner!  It looks like this money goal that I made has a good chance of coming true this year - and that makes me happy and feel like I'm growing up :)

I definitely like being reminded of truths in life - and today and yesterday I was reminded to trust in the answer, not the problem.  Part of trusting in the answer is taking action when problems arise.  You can't just sit around waiting for something to happen - you gotta get out there and do something! 

Today I am grateful for:  1.  A day off from work to get things done  2.  Being reminded to trust in the answer  3.  Good news about money  4.  The beautiful sunset tonight  5.  Having 2 minutes of meditation (we'll talk about that later)

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Are You Happy?

Today has been a day of various emotions.  I travel with my job and I worked in Kentucky today.  The drive up there was absolutely beautiful with all of the snow!  For most of the interstate that I was on, there was a very wide median with lots and lots of trees covered in pure white snow.  If there was anything of color, it stood out dramatically and I was so happy driving!  I kept wanting to get out and walk through the woods and take pictures or film myself dancing around in the snow because it made me really happy haha!  Then later on this evening I found myself worrying about a particular problem I'm going through.  Finances are a little tight this month and I know it will get better - it's just the nature of my job at this time of year.  However, I found myself over-worrying about things and letting my mind go to that place where I kinda freak out for a little while.  On the drive home, I finally slapped myself in the face (not literally although maybe I should have) and reminded myself that worrying about it was not going to make it any better.  In fact - worry only produces more worry so why let that rob me of my happiness?  Taking action is a much better response so I made a conscious decision to focus my energy on the result rather than the problem.  So I turned the music up in my car and didn't let worry defeat me for another minute!  Dare I say it?  Don't Worry.. Be Happy

I got home and watched today's episode of Oprah and the show was about - Are You Happy?  It was very interesting to see what aspects of life define our happiness and how so many people have it wrong when it comes to what really makes them happy.  If someone were to ask me if I was happy - I would honestly say a big YES!  I have so much in my life to be happy about.  For me, the foundation of happiness comes out of my belief in something greater - that being God.  And from that, comes a very long list of what makes me happy.  Yes, there are things that I worry about at times, there are areas in my life where I still want to grow, and so much more that I want to do in life - but anything in my life that might be considered a negative is so very minute compared to all the things that make life great.  I'm still laughing that I wrote - don't worry, be happy!  Remember that song? Haha! 

So today was a good day for me to do a little check-up on myself and see how I let negative things affect me.  I would encourage you to look at your own life and ask the question - are you happy?  If not, then what steps do you need to take in order to get happy.  I am not one who lives in a fantasy world where everything is great all the time - problems arise and sometimes life is hard - but I do believe that it's our reaction to those things that define who we are. 

Today I am grateful for:  1.  Beautiful drive to work today  2.  Laughing really hard with a co-worker  3.  Remembering that God can take care of my problems  4.  Oprah's Are You Happy show  5.  The song You Are More that I heard on the radio

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Learning as I go...

I received a very enlightening comment from an anonymous reader the other day and it really made me realize something.  First, that there might be people reading my blog who really have no idea who I am.  This is exciting to me, but it also made me think that I may not be fully explaining myself or my background enough on my blog.  So I wanted to take tonight's writings and do a small intro about who I am and explain a little further my purpose in doing a blog.  (Warning:  It's a little long tonight, so you might want to grab a snack!) 

To give a little background - my name is Kevin Buchanan, I'm 35 years old, and I live in Nashville, Tennessee.  I was born in Memphis and spent most of my life in Jackson and have lived in Nashville for about 6 years now.  My mom still lives in Jackson with her husband.  My dad passed away in 2004 from brain cancer.  I will definitely write more about that at a later time.  I have two sisters - Christy, the middle sibling, who is married, lives in Murfreesboro, and has two kids, Martha Ann and Wylie.  And Cara, the youngest sibling, who is also married and lives in Lebanon.  I work in sales for a photography company which allows me to travel quite a bit and I really enjoy that.  If I had to describe myself - I would say that I am someone who has a passion for life and always pursuing something greater.  My faith in God not only shapes who I am but has also brought me through many experiences in life - both good and bad.  Family is very important to me and what I know for sure is that the greatest expression in life is love.  Some of my interests include the outdoors, running, television shows, films, great food, spending time with family and friends - and my favorite color is blue.  That's a very brief glimpse into my life but I'd say it's a good starting point.

My purpose in doing this blog is simply to put my life out there in hopes that it might encourage others.  For me, writing is a creative way for me to express myself.  So in some ways, blogging helps me to exercise this form of expression.  I also believe that I have big goals in life and putting that out there also keeps me accountable and documents progress being made in those areas.  I do realize that I haven't listed what all of my 2011 goals are.  The other day when I was at Panera Bread, I did write out a 10-step plan to keeping my goals going.  Each one builds off of the other and step one is to get a book I wrote called The Journey published.  I had it self-published last year and am now pursuing a publishing company to help get the book out to a wider audience.  The Journey gives an account of my dad's life and how he was able to make a positive difference in the lives of others.  He knew the secret to really living a fulfilled life and his story can encourage others to truly live life to the fullest.  I am currently getting my manuscript out to various book publishers and will definitely update on how that is going.

The last thing I wanted to explain further is how I end every blog.  I know of many people that keep a gratitude journal.  I definitely know that focusing on those things which we are grateful for helps to have a deeper, more enriched life.  So I like to end each day with finding 5 things that I am thankful for about that day.  Some things may seem trivial but I do believe that being thankful for the small things as well as the big things in life are important.  And let's be honest, not every day will you find 5 life-changing things to be thankful for - so it's great to find happiness in the smaller things as well.  This is something I would encourage everyone to do!

Whew, this blog is definitely my longest and hopefully no one has fallen asleep while reading - but I did want to try and explain a little more for those of you who do not know who I am.  And I promise that as the year goes on, everyone will learn more about myself - and maybe be encouraged in your own life. 

Today, I am grateful for:  1.  My focus time this morning talking about being peacemakers in the world.  2.  A really hot shower (my shower sometimes only gives warm water)  3.  A great day at work  4.  Seeing a love for life in one of the families I worked with today  5.  The anonymous reader that helped me refine my writings. 

Sunday, January 23, 2011

A really good weekend...

This was a really good weekend.  I was able to spend time with friends and family and I enjoyed every minute of it! 

Saturday, I had lunch with a really good friend of mine, Lorelei.  I  haven't seen her in a really long time and so we went and ate at Panera Bread.  She has a 9 month old and it was great to see him too.  It was good to get caught up and we had a lot of laughs talking about things going on in our lives.  I had picked Panera Bread because when I was there on Friday I saw that they had a new salad that I wanted to try.  I definitely recommend their Thai Chopped Salad - very good!  After lunch I went to the movies with my friend Quincy.  We went and saw Country Strong.  I was really looking forward to seeing the movie - unfortunately, in my opinion, it didn't live up to the hype.  The music was really good and it was cool to see shots of downtown Nashville in the movie, but there were just a few moments that I was kinda ready to get the movie over with.  I think the words "lifetime movie" might have been used - although I've never actually seen a lifetime movie (honestly)! 

Today, I went to church which is always so good.  The music was incredible and I really do enjoy going there.  I keep saying that I want to visit a few other churches before I finally join somewhere - but I keep going to Christ Church so maybe that's where I'll stay.  If you are in Nashville and need a church to visit - it's a really great church!  I was reminded through one of the songs about all the things good and bad that have gone on in my life and how God as continually brought me through. 

After church, my sister Cara was coming over and we were both pretty excited about hanging out.  She works and goes to school and so I don't get to see her as much - so we made plans to just hang out and get caught up on some TV shows together.  When Cara and I get together - it's definitely going to be a lot of laughter and acting crazy!  Today was no exception ha!  (Ask her about her 80's aerobics class!)  We watched the Oprah Australian shows and talked about how we wished we were both there and probably would have acted crazy on national television!  Then we went and had Mexican food and had a really good conversation about things going on in our lives.  Cara definitely has a lot on her plate right now (in life - not at the restaurant) but she is doing a great job and I know that her hard work will continue to pay off and help make her life great!  We had originally talked about doing a P90X workout today - but quickly talked ourselves out of it and opted for Mexican food and watching TV on the couch instead haha!  We are both going to train for the 1/2 marathon in April so I'm sure you will hear about that as it gets closer.

It's been a great weekend and I look forward to a very productive day tomorrow!  Good night everyone!

Today I am grateful for:  1.  Being able to hang out with some friends yesterday  2.  Great church service this morning  3.  Hanging out with Cara today  4.  Laughing really hard talking about 80's aerobics  5.  The blessings of friends and family

Friday, January 21, 2011

Today's theme - productivity!!

I'm very glad to report in that it was a very productive day!  I did sleep in a little bit longer than normal but once I got up, the day was on!  I did my normal morning routine - shaving, brushing my teeth, flossing, making my bed, and focus time (which has to be done in that order every day).  I had a bowl of apple-cinnamon cheerios for breakfast and then it was P90X time.  Today's workout was all cardio and as usual, I was a sweaty mess by the end of it (and drinking water like there's no tomorrow).  After the work-out, it was shower time and then out to run errands. 

After the errands, I decided to spend the afternoon at Panera Bread and brought my computer to get some things done.  I wrote out a detailed plan for how I could get some progress made on some of my 2011 goals.  One of the goals I am working on is getting the book I wrote, The Journey, published.  It is definitely one of my proudest accomplishments and I had it self-published last year but now I want to see if a publisher could help me make it available to a wider audience.  I am going to send the manuscript to a few literary agents and publishers to see what kind of feedback I receive.  I also believe in trying to get a "big break" so I sent a copy of the book to Hoda and Kathie Lee from the Today show.  That might seem crazy, but you never know if you don't try!  And I like the 4th hour of the Today show!  I ended up staying at Panera for about 3 hours and had about 4 cups of coffee so I was pretty wired after all that!

Tonight's dinner was seared tilapia on a bed of spinach and a mixture of asparagus, zucchini, and squash that I made.  I really enjoy cooking and haven't done it in awhile - so I went to my favorite store Publix and bought everything.  I have to say it was really delicious and healthy too! 

So today was productive and I only watched 1-hour of TV (I'll let you decide what show that was).  Tomorrow I'm planning on hanging out with friends and getting a few more things done on my "to-do" list.  Hope everyone has had a great day!

Today I am grateful for:  1.  Sleeping in  2.  A good workout  3.  Some great ideas while at Panera  4.  A delicious and healthy meal  5.  Excitement about the future

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Making the most of it...

So weather plays a part in my job sometimes and I just found out that the next two days have been cancelled - and since we are always off on Sundays and Mondays - I have a 4 day weekend now!!  I would say that's pretty exciting, but I also feel a responsibility to really make the most of these next 4 days.  Why do I say that?  Because I could easily see myself taking a day or two (or 3 or 4) and sit around watching TV and being kinda lazy.  Laziness is not really a characteristic of mine - I'd much rather stay busy and productive most of the time - but with the weather, it's easy to lean more towards "the relaxing lifestyle." 

Earlier today I was thinking about some of my goals I made for 2011 and I really have a strong desire to make some progress in these areas.  So I am making a commitment in front of all who read this that I will use the next 4 days to really keep my goals on track and make some progress!  Of course I will take a little time to watch TV or a movie (and might even sleep in one day) but I'm also going to focus on being productive!  So feel free to keep me accountable on this and I will report in each night on my blog :)

Today I am grateful for:  1.  A good work day  2.  Good thoughts on goals for the year  3.  The snow tonight 4.  Taco pizza for dinner  5.  A surprise 4-day weekend  

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

But the greatest of these...

I hope everyone has had a great day today!  I just got done watching Day 2 of Oprah's Australian Adventure!  Those people really did get a trip of a lifetime - I have to admit it makes me mad that I didn't write in to be an Ultimate Viewer.  It's still really fun to see what all that audience got to do!!  Maybe one day I can go to Australia myself - and take a few people with me - but I won't be able to pay for it haha!

This morning during my focus time, I read about the characteristic of love and how this really is what life is all about.  It talked about how when we reach the end of our life, we will not want to be surrounded with our accomplishments or things.  We will want to be surrounded by those we truly love.  So if this is what's most important at the end of our life - shouldn't it be what we put the most energy and focus into during the course of our lives? 

I do consider myself very fortunate to have such great people in my life.  I have awesome friends and we all know how much I love my family.  My intention for desiring a bigger life is to provide more opportunities and a full life for each of them.  I never feel like I do enough, but I am thankful for so many great experiences I've  had with family and friends. 

My challenge for everyone would be to look at what is most important in your life.  Is it your career, the pursuit of money, fleeting moments, or is it to love those people in your life that are there for a reason.  I believe that everything has its place and there's nothing wrong with careers or material things - but I think it's remembering what really counts in life.  Love is such a powerful force and it is truly what will matter in the end. 

Today I am grateful for:  1.  Focus time this morning  2.  Those that I love  3.  Fun times with my customers  4.  Good conversation with a friend  5.  Laughing so hard watching my Wednesday night shows

Monday, January 17, 2011

The hardest job in America...

I've been wanting to do this blog for awhile and today seemed like a great day to write about it.  Everyone has a job in their life and there are probably hard parts to every job.  Some jobs pay very well, some pay the minimum, and some pay nothing at all - but we all have a job.  My opinion (and I know I'm not alone in this) is that the hardest job in America comes without a paycheck.  That job is being a mother.  I have a great mom and I'm sure I will blog about her throughout the year - but tonight I am writing about another mom that I know - my sister, Christy! 

Christy is now a mother to two of my favorite little people.  Martha Ann is almost 2 years old and Wylie is 1 month old.  I have been able to closely observe Christy in this new role for 2 years now and I can honestly say that I admire and respect her more now than ever.  Being a mother comes very natural to her and it definitely shows!  I'm always amazed at how she keeps everything organized, creative, and fun!  It can be daunting to think about how huge of a responsibility it is to be a parent - and to be a great parent.  I believe that Christy understands this responsibility and is definitely doing something that she was meant to do.  And of course her husband Lane is a great dad as well.  I don't want to leave him out and I love that they are doing this together - but this blog is more focused on being a mother :)

Is Christy the perfect mother?  No, but who is?!  (Don't hit me Christy haha!)  There's never been a mother who did every single thing right.  One observation that I've made is that no matter how many books you read, or how many other mothers you observe, it's really a job where you have to learn as you go.  One thing that seems to be "coming to light" on talk shows and various interviews is that parenting is hard, challenging, and some days just not fun at all.  I think that it's great that mothers are being honest about this, and I think that Christy would say that this is true as well.  But I also believe that she would say that even when days are hard - Martha Ann can sing or dance or hug or say a new word and make it so rewarding!  Wylie can give a little smile or look at her and it's like nothing else. 

I got to hang out with Christy, Martha Ann, and Wylie today and I really thought a lot about how great a job Christy is doing.  There are lots of great mothers out there and they really do not get enough credit so this is my small way of saying "way to go moms!"  One way I know that Christy is doing such a great job is to see Martha Ann and how loving, fun, and creative a person she is already.  Wylie has only been in the world for a month now, but it's evident that he loves his mommy so much.  So to all you moms out there - it really is the hardest job in America and I wish there could be a "paycheck" for all of you.  And to my sister, Christy - you are an incredible mother and you're doing a great job!!!

Today I am grateful for:  1.  The new Passion CD I've been listening to  2.  The Mexican food we had for lunch today  3.  Martha Ann's hugs and making me laugh  4.  Wylie's new little smiles  5.  Me and Christy's conversations and laughs today

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Mahalia Jackson and Celine Dion...

So how do these two people fit into my life today?  Let's get right to it...

I have to say that this has been a really good day.  I go to Christ Church here in Nashville and I really like it there.  The music is really good, the preaching is encouraging and challenging, and the members are made up of various races and cultures.  I really like that about the church.  Today's service was no exception.  Halfway through the service we watched a video of Mahalia Jackson singing right before Martin Luther King Jr made his famous I Have a Dream speech.  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TALcOreZi0A)  The story of her life is very inspiring.  Through all that went on through the civil rights movement, she focused on the good in her life and what she knew to be true.  I learned that her singing actually had a profound effect on what Martin Luther King Jr said that day.  It was really good to see different races singing together at church and seeing the progress that has been made since that historical day.  Every Sunday I am definitely motivated to live life more fully and to be very grateful for the blessings in my life.  Today's service and Mahalia Jackson's story definitely did that today. 

As I was eating lunch today, I watched Celine Dion's special - Through the Eyes of the World.  You may or may not be a fan of Celine, but watching this movie made me see how big her life really is.  The video documented her world tour and all that she got to experience during that year.  It was amazing and I love seeing how big some people's lives are.  I definitely believe that every person can experience a full life in many different ways- and not everyone is going to travel the world to do it - but deep inside me is a longing to have a very big life.  It's a great movie to watch (especially for all the Celine fans - my mom being one of them!). 

I love my life and I have experienced many things in the past 35 years but I also have this longing to do so much more.  That's really what my goals for this year center around.  I really want my life to make a difference in the world.  I have so much to be thankful for, but I don't know that I will ever be content - because I always want to push myself to do more.  To open my heart wider, to experience life more fully, and to really live out the purpose that God has placed in my soul. 

So today I am thanking Mahalia Jackson and Celine Dion for motivating me to truly live life - who knew?!  :)

Oh, and my new favorite sandwich at Subway is the Buffalo Chicken sandwich - you should try it!  And I went to Target today and got a pair of jeans, 2 zip-up pullovers, and a pair of boxers for just $20!  I love their clearance rack and the nice lady at the register celebrated my "great deals" with me ha!  I'm looking forward to watching the Golden Globes tonight - being a professional actor is something I've always wanted to experience (you should see home movies of me as a kid lol) so I love watching the awards shows and seeing if my favorite movies win.  So it should be a really good night! 

Today, I am grateful for:  1.  Great service at church today  2.  Buffalo chicken sandwich at Subway  3.  Being motivated to live a bigger life  4.  Target's clearance rack  5.  The life of Mahalia Jackson

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Having A Vision...

I got home tonight and was watching the Oprah show (surprising I know).  One of her guests was Bob Greene and he was talking about sticking to our New Year's goals.  I liked what he said and I know that I can apply these to my own life and goals I have set for the year 2011.  I thought I would share these for anyone that has set goals for this year or just has a dream in their own life that needs to start!  He gave 5 steps to keep things going in the right direction.  I've listed the steps and then written out my take on it: 

1.  Have a realistic vision for yourself.  I definitely believe that everyone should have a vision for what their life should be about.  In my focus time each morning, I'm reading The Purpose Driven Life and it has really helped me to refine the vision I have for my own life.  The other key word is realistic.  We all know what our talents, abilities, and strengths are and so our vision for our life should align with those - not someone else's.  (Although I may look like Michael Phelps, being a gold medal winner at the Olympics is not a realistic vision for my own life at 35 haha!)  One thing Bob said that I definitely am trying to apply to my own life was this - When you know your vision, every decision you make in life should align with that vision. 

2.  Convince yourself you deserve your vision.  It is very easy to get caught up in doing for others and being too much of a "people-please" that we forget our own dreams and end up putting ourselves last on the last.  I believe that if we know the vision for our life - no matter how big it might seem to us - we should believe that it can happen and that it will help us live the most fulfilled life - and yes, we deserve that!!

3.  Identify the barriers that are holding you back.  Bob said that these barriers could include things like toxic relationships, unfulfilling jobs, and money worries.  It could also be fear or lack of motivation or your life getting off track.  However, once we can identify what's holding us back, we can move on to step 4.

4.  Break through the barriers.  Most of us know our barriers and we also know what we need to do to break through these barriers.  It's simply a matter of doing it.  I know what my faults are (many of you know too haha!) and I know what my struggles are.  If we know our vision and our decision need to be aligned with that vision, then barriers only get us off track.  In my own life, it's deciding not to let my faults or struggles get the best of me.  And sometimes breaking through means making tough decision that will help us out in the long run.

5.  Get the support you need and put yourself first.  I think that sharing your goals and dreams with others helps to get the support that you need to accomplish these things.  Also, surrounding yourself with other like-minded individuals helps motivate you to stay on track.  Putting yourself first is not something everyone agrees with or even feels comfortable doing.  I don't believe it means being overly selfish or never putting others before ourself.  But the truth is, if we don't take time out for ourselves, we will never be able to truly give to others. 

I'm hoping to share more of my goals and dreams in the coming weeks.  They definitely tie in to what I believe is the vision for my life - what God has planned for me.  I liked these 5 steps and hope they help you in your own journeys. 

Today I am grateful for:  1.  Getting back to work today  2.  Seeing the sun shining outside  3.  Another dancing video I got of Martha Ann  4.  President Obama's speech last night  5.  Heat! 

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

5 minutes until midnight...

Well, I have 5 minutes left in the day, so I'm going to skip to the end and write out the 5 things I am grateful for today.  It was a really good day today and I do have some things to write about, but I'm going to save it for tomorrow when I have more time.  So now, with 4 minutes left....

Today I am grateful for:  1.  Waking up to more snow today  2.  Going to 3 of my favorite places - Home Goods, Chick fil A, and Target  3.  The new Passion CD that I got in the mail today  4.  Hanging out with my friend Willow tonight  5.  Double Chocolate Brownies that I made (although they didn't bake fully and you had to have milk to help get it down)

Monday, January 10, 2011

Snow Day!

When I woke up this morning and saw all of the snow, it was kinda like being a kid again.  Although I already had the day off, I got excited to sorta be "snowed in"!  I decided that my agreement to myself would be this - if I got up, did my normal morning routine and got a good P90X workout in, then I could spend the rest of the day watching movies and just being kinda lazy.  I did hold up my end of the deal - well sorta.  I did my workout, but it was one that I haven't done before, and it was filled with lots of different kinds of push-ups.  I have no problem admitting that I can't do many push-ups at all.  And by many - I mean, anything past 10 and my arms collapse!  Well, I was supposed to do one-handed push-ups and the ones where you clap in between.  The one-handed ones were impossible and I almost broke my nose doing the clapping!!  But at least I got through it (somewhat) and so I did spend the rest of the day watching movies and looking out at the snow.  It's been beautiful!!

So tomorrow, I need to get back to being productive.  I've got a few things to finish up to keep my New Year's Goals going so I plan on doing that tomorrow. 

Not much else to write about tonight - but it was a great day!  Hope everyone else had a great day as well!!!

Today I am grateful for:  1.  Waking up to the snow  2.  A great focus time talking about what life is really about  3.  A great time with family and friends yesterday  4.  Great service at church yesterday  5.  Cherry Pepsi (my favorite drink)

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Staying on track...

I've already learned that when you have a routine going, getting off track a little bit can really get you off focus if you aren't careful. Even though it's still early in the year, I have a morning routine and a nightly routine that I've kept up with. Well, I got a little off track the other day (when I forgot to blog) and before I knew it - I was messing up everything (not sticking with other new year goals). It wasn't really anything wrong - but I had just lost focus. And yes, I know that sometimes life happens and breaks up our routine. When it does, we don't beat ourselves up about it. We just stay focused, regroup, and keep our eyes on the goal. It felt really good to get back on track today and stick with my goals.

This seems to be how the bigger picture of life works as well. We have dreams, we set goals, and we make plans. But life doesn't always happen the way we want it to. Things come at us that can easily get us off track. If we aren't careful, we can lose focus completely and stop living the life we were meant to live. However, what we should do when we start to lose focus - is stop, regroup, and get back to the life we were meant to live - the full and abundant life that God gives us. Don't feel defeated when we mess up - because it's going to happen. It's what we choose to do in that next step that's important.

It's day 8 of the new year and I'm still very excited about the direction my life is taking. I'm beginning each day with a great "focus time" that helps set the tone for the rest of the day and ending each day thinking about what I am grateful for. I'm also working hard to make progress with my goals I set for this year. I love the dreams that I believe God is giving me and I'm believing that they will come true! I hope this is an encouragement to any who read this. When life doesn't go exactly how you want it to - don't give in to believing it's a failure. Just start new the next day. That's a beautiful thing about each morning... it's a new day.

Today I am grateful for: 1. The snow falling this morning. 2. Having time to work on Pay It Forward 3. Talking with my best friend, Autumn. 4. My favorite Mexican food for dinner 5. Feeling good about life

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Day 6 and I already missed a day...

Well, I already missed one day of blogging. I got in really late last night and was asleep before I blogged. I was a little disappointed to miss a day so early in the year (it's only day 6!) but I'm getting back to it tonight so here we go!

I want to introduce one of my goals for this year. It's an idea I've had for a long time, but am really determined to see it become a reality this year. I want to start a Pay It Forward event here in Nashville. The inspiration for this idea comes from two different things: 1. My dad's life - he knew it was much more rewarding to give than to receive and he always looked for ways to help others out. It was simply a part of his life and that has always motivated me to do the same. 2. My Oprah show experience. Being able to help a family on a grander scale was amazing and I've always wanted to do more of that.

So here's my plan: I'm sending out letters to a number of various media outlets in the area telling them of my idea. My hope is that they will get on board and help spread the word about Paying It Forward. From there the plan is to do an event once a month. It would target a person, family, or group of people who really deserve something great in their lives. There are many opportunities to help people in need or doing something nice for those already making a difference. My desire is that it would grow each month and each time it would be a new surprise for someone! At the end of the year, there would be a Pay It Forward Christmas event and really do something big for a group of very deserving people. I believe that getting the media involved would help not only get the word out but also build excitement for each event and help get area businesses involved as well!

I'm going to mail the letters out tomorrow and see what kind of response I get. I really believe that this could be an amazing thing for Nashville and a way to unite a lot of people who might share the same goals and desires for making the world a better place. When I had the chance to do this for the Oprah show, it was a lot of work - and I know that this would take even more work, but I'm ready and know that the results would definitely be worth all the time and energy put into it. It's exciting to think about it!!

That was pretty much what I worked on today. I didn't sleep much last night because of some crazy scary dreams I had so I'll probably be going to bed earlier tonight - and hopefully will only have sweet dreams tonight. I'm not sure what happened, but it was those dreams where you wake up and you are scared to even move - there's many times that I wish I had my own reality show and I'm sure watching me last night would have been really funny haha!

Oh, and for those that read the previous blog - No, I didn't win the lottery. I did see where most of the numbers were the same from "Lost." I don't know why I didn't think to play those numbers! Oh well, I helped someone else get rich for now :)

Today I am thankful for: 1. Finally getting through my scary night. 2. A hilarious video that Christy sent me of Martha Ann singing and dancing. 3. Dreaming up ideas for Pay It Forward. 4. My Blue Coast Burrito dinner 5. Focus time talking about living life with the eternal in mind.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Will I win the lottery?

I don't do this often, but tonight I bought a lottery ticket. I heard that it's up to $355 million dollars so I thought that might come in handy. Driving home I thought about what could happen if I do win - life would definitely change! Sure money doesn't buy happiness, but $355 million could help, right?!

I got up earlier than usual today because I had a job to do. Back in December, I did "Kevin's Favorite Things" for my sisters, Christy and Cara. (If you want to check it out, the video is on my facebook page!) One of the things I gave them was 6 free house cleanings to be done by me over the course of this year. Well, Cara didn't waste anytime and redeemed one of her coupons for today ha! So I spent most of the day at her house doing some really good cleaning. I actually had fun because I had my iPod turned up and danced around her house while I cleaned - I wonder if the neighbors saw me? A clean house is definitely one of my favorite things - the only thing I had to remember was that this was not my house I was cleaning. I kept wanting to throw things away and rearrange stuff. Cara called me a couple of times tonight to ask me where things were ha!

The rest of the day was spent running errands, doing P90x, eating what I like to call "the perfect turkey sandwich," and watched a movie tonight. I love independent films and this was a good one with Natalie Portman called The Other Woman. And for those who might be wondering, yes, I do have a job but I don't start back until next week!

Well, I'm going to watch the news now and see if I'm the big winner. If I do win, I could afford to get Cara a housekeeper - she'd love that :) Hope everyone had a great day today!

Today I am grateful for: 1. Getting up early - I love early mornings 2. Dancing around while cleaning 3. A good conversation with a good friend 4. A really good focus time this morning on knowing what is eternal 5. That perfect turkey sandwich

Monday, January 3, 2011

Day 3 - What drives your life?

Today seemed to have a theme centering around the question of - what drives your life? Every morning I like to have what I call "focus time" and starting January 1st, I decided to go through the book, The Purpose Driven Life. I've read this book twice now, but one of my goals for this year, more than ever, is to live my life with true purpose. This book contains 40 chapters (one for each day) and I believe it's a great way to help start my year on the right track. Today's chapter talked about what drives your life. It stated how many people are driven by guilt, resentment, anger, fear, materialism, or the need for approval. Although in the past, these may have driven various moments in my life, I know these are not factors that drive my life now. However, we all know people where this is true. It definitely gives way to a very unfulfilled life and one that constantly goes in circles. The book went on to say that when we know what drives our life - what gives us purpose - then we have meaning in life, it simplifies our life, gives us focus, motivation, and peace about what is eternal.

There is a new series on OWN called Master Class. It gives an in-depth look at someone who has mastered their craft, learned valuable lessons from life, and can inspire us to live better lives. It's an amazing series so far, and this morning I watched the one featuring Diane Sawyer. It was very inspiring to hear her take on life, her curiosity to hear people's stories, and her philosophy on what drives her life. It made me want to do better and to pursue excellence in my own life. If you get the OWN channel, I encourage you to watch Master Class - it will definitely make you think.

I also was able to spend time today with my sister, Christy and my niece, Martha Ann (almost 2 years old) and my nephew, Wylie (2 weeks old). It was my first time to keep the both of them by myself while Christy went to the store. It went great and while we hung out, I was reminded of another driving force in my life: family. I love seeing Martha Ann's love for life, her curiosity about things, and how any kind of music compels her to get up and dance (seriously, she can't hear a song playing without bustin a move)! I also love knowing that the world is brand new to Wylie and that his story is only beginning.

So what drives my life? My faith is definitely a strong driving force in my life. One thing I know for sure is that true purpose and joy in life comes from knowing God. I also have a strong desire to make a positive difference in the world and this drives what I do in life. Some of my goals for this year - which I will talk about later - definitely come from this motivation to use my life for even bigger things. Last but not least, the love of family drives my life. I want to be the very best son, brother, and uncle that I can be. I constantly want my family's lives to be better because of what I do with my own life.

So what drives your life?

Today I am grateful for: 1. Starting my day with such a great focus time 2. Being inspired and motivated watching Master Class 3. Spending time with Christy, Martha Ann, & Wylie 4. Martha Ann's smiles, hugs, laughter, and dance moves. 5. The new spicy chicken biscuit from Chick fil A :)

Sunday, January 2, 2011

New Year, Day 2

Well, the 2nd day of the year didn't quite start off like I had planned. I attend Christ Church and really like it there. I haven't been in a couple of weeks due to the holidays and so I've been looking forward to starting off the year with a great service. I go to the 11am service and so I pulled into the parking lot around 10:50 and noticed there were lots of cars, but no one was walking around inside. I then figured out that they only had one service this morning at 10am so I was an hour late. I left and decided to visit a church that is right down the street from where I live. When I arrived, I saw that their services started at 10:15 and 12:15 so no luck there either. So if I couldn't go to church this morning, I decided to do the next best thing - I went to Target!!

After my retail worship service, I went and met my family for lunch. Trying to make healthy eating choices I had blackened Tilapia, broccoli, and steamed veggies (delicious!) It was great to all be together and for those who don't know - I have a new nephew, Wylie, who is 2 weeks old - so it's always great to see him! (I guarantee that you will hear lots about him and my niece, Martha Ann, in future blogs)

I have to be honest and say that the rest of the day was spent hanging out at home and not being too productive. I have this week off of work and have lots planned so I decided to just hang out before a busy week starts. Overall, it was a great 2nd day of the year!

Today, I am grateful for: 1. WayFM being my "church service" today 2. Lunch with my family 3. My nephew, Wylie 4. Brothers & Sisters starting back tonight 5. My very comfortable bed that I will be getting in soon!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

A Brand New Year!

So one of my New Year's Resolutions is to blog every day this year! It's quite a commitment, but something I've always wanted to do. It's a way for me to "put on paper" my thoughts on the day and keep track of how my year is doing. In making this commitment, I have also decided to allow myself to be very vulnerable as I blog. I consider myself to be a pretty open book to those that know me, but I plan on being very honest in my writings. Showing my strengths as well as my weaknesses. Giving my candid opinions and perspectives on life. My hope is that the reader would be encouraged, inspired, challenged - and some days we can both just laugh about what life brings. Yes, there will definitely be lots of laughter. So here is Day 1 of 365 blogs :)

I love January 1st. It's a new beginning, a chance to get rid of bad habits or negative experiences from the previous year and start anew. Over the past few years I have grown to love setting goals for each new year. For me, writing it down and staying focused on these goals really turns them into a reality. I have seen many goals accomplished in my life and it definitely encourages me to keep dreaming big! This year is no exception. I have some big goals for 2011 and I will be sharing them in the next couple of weeks. If you haven't already, I encourage you to write down some goals for this year - small things about yourself that you want to improve and big dreams that you have for life. It's so fun watching them come true.

I'm also a big believer in the power of gratitude. Every blog will end with 5 things I am thankful for about that day. I hope everyone has had a great first day of this new year! The unknown is very exciting and remember - the possibilities in life are endless!

Today I am grateful for: 1. A new year with a new beginning. 2. The delicious sandwich I made for lunch 3. Oprah's new network (OWN) starting today 4. Going for a run 5. Dove dark chocolate candy :)