Author Archives: Karen

The Battle of Consistency vs. Perfection

consistency
 
Okay, so I’m not the most consistent blogger in the world.

In my dreams, I aspire to do meaningful things with my life. One of them is to write a post each week. What am I saying. I would be happy if I posted once a month.

And I was doing amazingly well until I became…inconsistent. Which to me is totally irresponsible. I mean, how hard can it really be? Unless you’re a perfectionist like me and then we’ve got a whole other problem to overcome.

Consistency is not the same as Perfection.

Yet, it is necessary in order to make progress, whether at work, within the family circle, in dealing with others, or achieving some level of success in our life.

It is the act of repetition that is more important than our perfection.

But try telling this to someone who is a perfectionist!

There is power in the knowing that consistency will help us to succeed, but once we realize this, it can become easy to obsess over becoming perfectly consistent.

Habit Formation and Continued Improvement.

It’s all about balance and setting priorities.

And that’s hard to do when we’re dealing with life. Too much happens during each day, each week that can play havoc with being consistent. Which only serves to escalate within the realm of our perfection.

Or should I say imperfection.

And that’s the point.

James Clear, a Human Behaviorist, recommends that in order to be consistent, we need to plan for failure.

Yes, consistency is essential if we are to succeed in any area of our life. But if we want to keep our sanity and increase the odds of our success, we need to “plan for failure as well as focus on the consistency.”

Rebound from Failures and Setbacks.

This doesn’t mean we won’t deal with moments of frustration. Every one of us has our own personal journey with many detours and distractions that happen along the way. However, if we choose not to allow our failures to have undue impact on our personal success, then we’re able to continue forward on our journey to achieving consistency.

Remember, any negative feelings and thoughts are temporary and subjective. We are always going to fight the should’ve, could’ve, and would’ve, since we’re constantly in our own heads, alone with our thoughts, which can be dangerous in itself.

Constancy is not the same as Perfection.

Let’s not let temporary illusions of stress, anxiety, worry and insecurity derail us from our journey to success. Let’s make a plan geared towards staying consistent and motivated.

And embrace our imperfection.

For me, this means not giving up. It means making a goal to achieve Consistency and letting go of Perfection, accepting failure as a normal part of being successful.

It’s a constant battle, but by taking this one step at a time, I think its one that you and I can achieve!

So what do you think? Has life gotten in your way of attaining your goals? Are you a perfectionist? Do you find it difficult to be consistent? Is it hard for you to accept your own failures? What do you do in order to achieve your goals?

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Already Gone

article-0-13E8BBDA000005DC-98_634x442 (dailymail.co.uk)

Did y’all watch the Grammy’s?

It was heartbreaking to watch Jackson Browne and the Eagles play together as a tribute to Glenn Frey who passed away on January 18th. They performed “Take It Easy”, which Jackson Browne wrote with a little assistance from his upstairs neighbor Glenn, while living in the Echo Park area of Los Angeles.

Jackson would end up giving this song to the Eagles and it became their first #1 hit on their first album in 1972.

There’s been many other times that Browne and the Eagles have played together throughout the years. And one of those times I remember with fondness, because I was there along with the other 55,000 in attendance.

It was the most anticipated concert of the year, the twentieth anniversary of the death of James Dean just two days away; a gorgeous Sunday afternoon, the skies clear and blue, the temperature perfect for an outdoor concert at Anaheim Stadium in Orange County, California. My boyfriend (now husband) had asked me out on a date and purchased tickets to see one of my favorite groups. I was so excited. I had only been to a couple of concerts before and this was my first outdoor concert at a stadium and it was huge.

Huge perhaps is an understatement. Yes, there was a huge crowd. Yes, there was huge anticipation. Yet, it was the performers that made this concert such a huge event.

You see, the Eagles weren’t the only band who played that day. Besides the opening act Toots and the Maytals, we were entertained by Linda Ronstadt and Jackson Browne with his two year old son frolicking across the stage. Cute!

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Do you see how much it cost for this concert?

Ten bucks! Ha, ha, ha! Mind you, ten dollars only bought you general admission. But that just meant it was festival seating. Since the stage was set up in center field, everyone stood and sat as close as possible. Yet, as it turned out, we were at an advantage because those with assigned seats were clear in the back.

Score!

First to perform was the group Toots and the Maytals. While they never achieved the commercial success of the Wailers, Toots & the Maytals were nearly as important in the history of Jamaican music as Bob Marley.

Next came Jackson Browne. Okay, I’ll just come clean right now and tell you I had a huge crush on Jackson Browne. What girl didn’t? And when he sang Doctor My Eyes, no girl in the audience had a problem with their eyes. We could see just fine. My, oh my. ☺

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(This was taken at the concert. I told you Jackson Browne’s son was cute!)

Then Linda Ronstadt took the stage and wow what a voice. “You’re no good, you’re no good, you’re no good, baby you’re no good.” I don’t know who or what she was talking about because she sounded really good to me.

Finally, last but not least, the Eagles walked on stage. Now you have to know this was quite a turn of events since the Eagles were once the backup band for Linda Ronstadt. Oh what a difference a few short years can make. But that’s the amount of success the Eagles had achieved even before their Greatest Hits album was released the following year becoming the best selling album of the 20th century.

And to think this occurred before the Hotel California album.

Huge indeed!

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Yet, here we were rocking out to hits such as Already Gone; Witchy Woman; On the Border; One of These Nights; James Dean; Take It to the Limit; Peaceful, Easy Feeling; Desperado; Best of My Love; Along with the rich harmonization of Take It Easy and Lyin’ Eyes.

Now how many bands do you know can kick out a stream of hits such as these in a matter of 3 years?

But that wasn’t the end of the concert.

As the Eagles began to end their set, a surprise guest walked on stage.

Joe Walsh.

The crowd went crazy. None of us knew this was his initial introduction into the band. We had no idea he would be there. His name wasn’t on the ticket.

He began strumming a riff with his guitar. Over and over, the notes flowed through the airwaves and took over the entire stadium. We all knew we were in for a special treat when we recognized the song.

Oh yeah, baby. Rocky Mountain Way.

The crowd went wild. Everyone was on their feet, including those in the back in their seats. People were dancing, jumping up and down, hootin’ and hollerin’. And when we turned around, we noticed something strange, something quite frightening.

We watched as the whole upper first tier of the stadium tottered. We’re talking reinforced concrete nodding up and down like an ocean wave filled with row upon row of bouncing people.

Was it an earthquake? Were we actually having an earthquake? After all, this was California.

We had no idea if the tier would collapse, or if the people would live through the song, until it became evident that the tier bobbed up and down to the beat. Ah, this was no earthquake. The girders were reacting to the weight as everyone danced and stomped to the rhythm of the music.

I looked over to my boyfriend who knew a thing or two about construction and he reassured me that the building was made to give with weight or in case of an earthquake. Okay, that made me feel a little bit better. But at the end of the song, they made an announcement from the stage asking everyone on the first tier to sit through the encore.

What an experience. It was a one of a kind experience that I will never forget.

This memory brings me back to the other night. I was surprised and amazed how Don Henley and the rest of the band were able to pull it together so soon after their founder and close friend had died. Although, if you watch closely, you can see the strain and bittersweet sorrow on their face, as each respectable member cladded in black, struggled to make it to the end of the song. In fact, when Jackson Browne sang the line, “but we will never be here again,” he almost lost it.

Well, I lost it and so did many other fans. Yes, it would’ve been nice if they’d had a more formal introduction. And of course the fans would have loved to hear more than one song.

But you know what? How they got through that one song is beyond comprehension. These men were dealing with raw emotion. Their hearts were still bleeding from the unexpected loss of their colleague and friend, and the knowledge that they might never play as the Eagles again.

We’re all going to miss you Glenn.

“There’s a hole in the world tonight,
There’s a cloud of fear and sorrow,
There’s a hole in the world tonight,
Don’t let there be a hole in the world tomorrow”

So even though Glenn Frey is already gone, let’s hope his memory will still linger on.

So what do you think? Did you watch the Grammy’s? Are you an Eagles fan? Who is your favorite group? What fond memory do you have of your favorite concert?

Cheers everyone! I hope that life is treating you well. And, as always, thank you so much for all your support and wonderful comments!
Karen

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Sugar & Spice and Everything Nice

sugarandspice(Courtesy of Kate Gabrielle)

Wait. Isn’t that what girls are made of?

You better believe it!

Yet today, I decided I’m not going to focus on the sweet part. Although, when it comes to my brand new baby granddaughters, that my friends, goes without saying. Sugary sweet! ☺

No, I thought I would take a moment to focus on Spice.

And no, I’m not talking about the Spice Girls. I’m talking about adding a little zest and zing to those blustery, wintery days. I’m talking about something that will make everything nice, something special for those day’s when the wind howls and heavily darkened clouds pepper the endless sky.

Burrrr. Baby, it’s cold outside.

Yeah, it is. And that’s my point.

Colder weather means saying goodbye to the summery things we love. Bright beautiful flowers. Tender green leaves on trees. And all our favorite fruits and vegetables that keep our health at an optimum.

Fruits and Vegetables --- Image by © Fukuhara, Inc./CORBIS

(Fruits and Vegetables — Image by © Fukuhara, Inc./CORBIS)

Part of the reason why we love those gorgeous colorful produce is because of their deep vibrant color. But did you know it is the color that gives fruit and vegetables their rich antioxidant character?

Antioxidant, you say? What exactly is that?

It’s a Spicy buzzword denoting a substance that inhibits oxidation. And oxidation my friend leads to nasty harmful molecules called free radicals. Yeah, they’re rad man. They’re so powerful they can spread and cause infection and disease.

Like a cold. Or the flu. Or something more serious, which I hope is not the case with you.

But here’s the cool part.

When we add those antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies into our daily diet, it will strengthen our ability to ward off infection and fight disease.

Say wahoo to antioxidants! They’re almost as sexy as Kale. Oh wait. Kale is loaded with antioxidants. See what I mean? Sexy!

But what do we do now that those beautiful fresh Superfoods we ate over the summer are gone?

We spice things up!

That means, instead of eating Peppers, Berries, Cherries, Cucumbers and juicy Beefsteak Tomatoes, we make the switch to more understated winter varieties of fruits and vegetables. Several which are known to be the most powerful antioxidants to compliment our cold weather foods.

376950340_d74a902609_z(Curtesy of Brian Snelson)
 
And that includes Spices. Spices so valuable, they brought Christopher Columbus across the ocean blue.

Did you know spices and herbs are among the highest of antioxidant foods? This in turn helps to lower the risk of inflammation, cancer, degeneration and other diseases.

Including the common cold, which is very common indeed!

Think warm flavors such as Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Allspice, Ground Ginger, Cardamom, Cloves, Peppercorns, Rosemary and Sage. Any one of those lovely spices on a chilly day can pack more antioxidant punch than our highly coveted Blueberries!

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So warm up the soup, casseroles and stews people! Make your own chai tea with loads of yummy spices like Cloves, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Anise, Peppercorns and Vanilla Bean. Dash the Cinnamon on those sweet potatoes and squash. Rub Rosemary and Sage on that succulent roast.

Because even though girls may be sugary sweet, it’s the spice that makes everything nice.

Nice and healthy, that is.

So what do you think? Are you ready to add a little Zest and Zing to your blistery winter days? What do you do to Spice things up in your neck of the woods? Do you prefer soups, stews or casseroles? What is your go to recipe to warm things up? Tea anyone?

Cheers everyone! I hope that life is treating you well. And, as always, thank you so much for all your support and wonderful comments!
Karen

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I’m Not Complaining!

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Nope, I’m not complaining.

Well, maybe I am.

No, I’m not.

Okay, you caught me. Yes, I’m complaining.

Although I’m not speaking about complaining in the sense that something was underdelivered or overpromised, as if my hamburger was still mooing on the plate or charred to perfection like an overcooked hockey puck.

Even if that were the case, I’m not certain it ever feels good to complain. Do we really enjoy listening to one another complain all the time?

So why do we do it? Why do we allow ourselves to be sucked in by something so destructive, when all it seems to do is tear us down?

Well, it could be we don’t feel well. I sure know what that’s like. I seem to have caught the cold of the century. Almost everyone has had it or is presently consumed by it. It just won’t go away.

Or perhaps someone incited a negative thought. Check! Been there, done that.

Or unrealistic expectations may also provoke a feeling of pessimism.

Uh, do we really have to talk about this?

If we’re truly tired of hearing ourselves whine and moan, than maybe we do.

You see, when we complain, what we’re really saying is we’re not happy with the way things are.

Maybe we’re not happy with ourselves. Maybe we’re not happy with others. It doesn’t really matter. Because for the most part, this “thing” is something we are unable to control. Yes, there are some things in life that are beyond our control. And for those control freaks out there, myself included, it is the one “thing” that can drive us nuts!

But there is something we can control. That is our perspective. We, and only we, control what we choose to focus on. So every time this underhanded need to complain bubbles forth, we can make the conscious effort to change our attitude and how we view “things”.

And it will also help us gain a greater sense of gratitude.

Gratitude.

Now there’s an interesting word.

It is a feeling of acknowledgment that one has received or will receive something to their benefit. It is an emotion that expresses thankfulness for what we have. It is an attitude that will generate acceptance and appreciation.

When we adopt this outlook, we are less likely to become frustrated, stressed and overwhelmed. We seize the opportunity to feel empowered rather than disempowered.

In a nutshell, we’re less apt to complain.

And that thought inspires me.

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Forget the cold. Forget the negativity. Forget unrealistic expectations. I want to remain grateful. Grateful for my family. Grateful for my friends. Grateful for this day, this new year, no matter the uncertainty it will bring.

But I’m not complaining.

Well, maybe I am.

No, I’m not.

How about you? Do you feel like the grass is always greener? Is it easy for you to fall into the sinister throws of complaining? If so, what do you do to stop the cycle? And what are you grateful for?
 
Cheers everyone! I hope that life is treating you well. And, as always, thank you so much for all your support and wonderful comments!
Karen

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Hello!

Yep, it’s me.

We are at the brink of winter with cooler temperatures.

14942170017_4acdcb505e_z (Photo Curtesy of Kevin Schaer)
 
Time to get out the sweaters, hot cocoa, scarfs, parkas and boots people. (Yay!). It’s exciting. Especially here in the Sonoran Desert since this means we’ve made it through another hot, scorching summer.

Let’s hear another big “Yay” for that one!

I. Am. Thrilled.

Meanwhile, what have I been up to?

Well, that’s a good question.

It seems this girl finally got her act together and polished up the manuscript enough to send it out to beta readers. Now, considering I’m a beta virgin, I took every precaution necessary so the reader would not be thrown out of the story.

That doesn’t mean it’s perfect! I do realize things could get a bit ugly around here. I don’t expect it to come back to me without being tattered and bruised.

Yet, I did hear from my first beta reader earlier this week. (Yay!) It made my day. My whole day actually since the message came on my 40th wedding anniversary. It was a cause for celebration all on its own.

I thought I’d share the highlights from my first response. What do you think? Would you like to know what was said?

I thought so.

Okay, here it goes…

“I really wanted to read your story, because I always enjoy your voice on your blog, etc.”

That’s cool!

As a writer, you always hope that your words come across in the manner in which they are intended. Of course, there is this small matter known as “subjective.” Everyone has their own likes and dislikes where entertainment is concerned. So to find someone who actually likes my voice is remarkable. (Yay!)

Here’s the rest of what was said…

“You have a lovely story here. I have to agree with Marcy (the editor), the tone does remind me of ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’ And I also got the Debbie Macomber vibe as well. Your writing really evokes your setting and the time period, I especially got a beach vibe. I can “see” the entire story. I read in three nights, probably would have finished sooner had my Kindle cooperated!! Congrats, Karen! I know this has been a labor of love, I really like what you’ve done here.”

I. Am. Thrilled.

Let’s hear another big Yay for that one!

Who knew?

So the very next night, hubby and I watched the Adele concert on TV. We happened to like Adele. Maybe not everything Adele. But for the most part, we like her voice and style of music.

Here’s the kicker: It had been four years since Adele had been in concert here in the U.S. Lots of things have happened since her last performance. She had a baby and has a new boyfriend. But she also had surgery on her vocal cords.

I think we all remember how well that turned out for Julie Andrews, right?

So this made Adele beyond terrified. She mentioned the surgery had influenced her range of pitch. She could now sing higher highs and lower lows. Which in her case worked to her advantage. So (yay), things came out better than anticipated. Still, she expressed relief that she had made it through her concert without breaking down.

Oh, there were a few tears, mind you. I cannot conceive the pressure that woman must have felt while she grappled for any measure of composure during each song. Yet, at the end, when she walked off stage, she threw herself into her boyfriend’s arms as she entered the elevator and cried.

I just know I’ll react the same way.

At this point, I am not expecting the rest of my betas to come back with the same result. No, that would be just a little too perfect. IYKWIM. *wink*

And that makes me nervous. Though I’m determined to keep pressing forward no matter the outcome, tears and all that goes with it.

Like Adele.

Hello!

Yep, it’s me.

Don’t worry, I’m not going to start singing. But you may enjoy watching this.


So what do you think? Are you ready for Old Man Winter? How do you feel about Adele and her music? What is your writing process? Do you participate in a critique group? How does the Beta process work for you and what’s been the response from your feedback?

You have my sympathies my friends! This is all quite stressful. I’m taking lots of deep breaths.

Cheers everyone! I hope that life is treating you well. And, as always, thank you so much for all your support and wonderful comments!
Karen

  

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