Take Time for Your Life - Review

In today's fast paced world, it has become increasingly difficult to carve out time for yourself and those you love, but doing so is extremely important. We are often pulled in so many directions and can easily lose sight of our values and true sense of self.  One book that has become a personal favorite and a regular read to ensure that I maintain balance in my life is Take Time for Your Life by Cheryl Richardson.  Cheryl is a life coach as well, and she really drives home the concept of "extreme self-care" throughout this book. Extreme self-care is a concept that involves looking at all aspects of your life and really focusing on how you gain more joy and fulfillment from your work, family and leisure time. Exercising extreme self-care involves removing any negative or draining obstacles from your life, and only allowing in elements that uplift your spirit and add more joy to your existence. Doesn't that sounds so refreshing? A life full of positive, energizing thoughts, work, and people. Who isn't longing for more of that in their lives?  If you've been feeling the need to stop, refocus, and balance yourself from the daily grind of life, I highly recommend you check out Take Time for Your Life.

Cheryl's book can be purchased via Amazon.com by clicking on the link below.


Enjoy...and take extreme care!
Coach J

Why not today?

Sunday is always a great day to catch up on those things you've been putting off all week (or possibly longer). It's usually the day we have the most amount of personal or leisure time as well. Why not combine the two and tackle your "to-do" list? You'll feel so much better when you can check a few tasks off!  We often don't realize how much space our subconscious task list is taking up in our head.  Everytime you walk past that closet that needs cleaning out or that basket full of laundry, you think about all things you still need to do, but haven't. The compounded stress that those little tasks create in your head can easily be relieved by simply doing one or two of them today. Now, I know many are planning their day around a certain football game that is taking place this evening, but there are several hours still pending before it begins.  Use your time wisely and productively - mark a few of those nagging errands you've been dreading off your list - you'll be so happy to have them behind you!

Be Observant....it's Amazing What You Take In!

One of my favorite past times is people watching. I love to sit in crowded places and watch people interact with one another. You learn so much about human nature and peoples values when you watch how they interact with strangers as well as loved ones.  I have long believed that you can learn far more about a person from their actions than their words.  Most humans have learned to conform to societal norms, so they have conditioned themselves to say what others want to hear - or what they believe is appropriate for the situation.  Our behavior tends to be more innate and not as conditioned to mask our true feelings. Today on a visit to Naperville, IL, I had the opportunity to visit several establishments that allowed me to observe patrons interacting with each others. I saw such things as kindness, caring, and generosity.  I also saw moments of anger, impatience and intolerance. I doubt that most of the people I observed were aware that so many others were watching their behavior. After all, most of them appeared to be quite immersed in discussions and personal conversations.  Studying your environment can provide a window into where society is headed and why.  It may act as both a mirror and a lesson every time you step out of your front door.  So, the next time your out for dinners with friends or family, running to your local big box store for a few supplies, or simply out walking the dog, take a moment to survey your environment.  I'm sure you'll return home with a new and different view of the world around you!

Oh...the weather outside is frightful...

The last 24 hours have been an amazing experience for a great majority of the country. The worst snow storm of the century roared across the country, blanketing everything it touched with thick layer of ice and snow. People were stranded, left without power, and absolutely chilled to the bone in its wake!  The landscape is certainly a sight to behold and a time to reflect on the power and beauty of mother nature. After all, we may never see such a storm again in our lifetime - and for many of us, that's a prayer we hope comes true!  As I spent 2 hours clearing my driveway this afternooon, I tried to stop from time to time to take in just how much snow had fallen in such a relatively short period of time.  Several times, I just stood in amazement of how large the piles were along my street. One thing I'm fairly certain of is that tomorrow I will certainly "feel" the effects of mother nature throughout my entire body.