I am sitting in the airport in Charlotte, North Carolina and wanting to board my next flight for the last leg of my journey home. It has been a journey that traveled much further than the actual geographical miles than the plane’s course.
I was in Los Angeles for business meetings for 10 days. That is a long time to be in one place – unless it is a tropical place and there are no deadlines or meetings to attend.
As I went to various meetings and reached in my heart for clearer direction to have a greater impact with my speaking, I was confronted with that thing that keeps getting in my way: the PAST. But this time I decided to embrace it and get to know it.
With some pain and excitement the curtain lifted and I was able to see behind it. What an exciting future is held in the palm of His hand. I do not know of all of the plans He has for me – after all it is very clear that HE knows the plans He has for me - but I do know the next step that He wants me to take. And that is all that I need to know.
I was able to step outside of myself, look at who I was created to be and the gifts that were put together that formed me, and I am more than ready to work with those.
But meanwhile I am at the airport with all of the rest of the weary travelers that have tried unsuccessfully to get comfortable in their cramped airplane seats, so they could get a few hours of uninterrupted sleep.
I wonder where their journey has, or will take them. I look into their eyes and wonder if they are open to the promptings and internal growth that will come their way. Are their hearts open to the life lessons that may block their paths? Will the insecurities that they took on in their childhoods peek their unwelcome heads in their daily activities? And then will they confront them with reckless abandonment and squeeze the lessons from them, or will they take the pain and add it to the heavy accumulation of regrets and guilt that have darkened the corners of their hearts?
When I board the delayed plane to get to my final destination, Nashville, I am sitting here in my relatively comfortable seat in the bustling airport that is waking up to the sounds of a new day and thanking God for this journey of the body and the heart. I traveled far – much farther than my travel itinerary states - and now I am smiling as I think of the next step on life’s journey.
You can learn more about me at - www.sandygriffin.com - and sign up to receive the free newsletter and to get information on the first telecourse! Your life will be better because of it!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
Enjoying Family...ahhh!
I am packing to go to Los Angeles in the morning and Lauren is walking around the house; trying to help me.
I love the sounds of having her in the house.
You see Lauren is my very animated daughter. She will be 22 in a couple of weeks, as she keeps reminding me. As if I would/could forget OR like I wasn't there on that Labor Day.
Anyway, I love the sounds of family around. There is a comfort when people who are comfortable in your surroundings are haunting the house.
Lauren is taking me to the airport at 4:30 a.m....EEKS! That is early so she is spending the night at my house. She goes to MTSU, a university that is about a half hour away from me. (And she got an A on her big test this week...the proud mom!)
As I was trying on clothes to take on my 10 day adventure to Los Angeles, Lauren lay on the bedroom floor, eyeing the outfits I was putting together and making funny comments. And she can be funny!!
In between packing and baking cookies (for her to bring to the hairdresser when she gets her hair cut tomorrow), I dyed the underneath section of her hair. We laughed, we danced, we pretended to fight. The child in each of us came out and it felt so good; so right.
Our kid's childhood expires so fast, but these are the times that I am going to remember forever: the laughter, the hugs, the looks passed between us that no one can take away, the hair dyeing, the love.
Tonight probably seems like any other night; rather boring to the reader, really.
But to me - the mother - tonight was a little slice of heaven!
I love the sounds of having her in the house.
You see Lauren is my very animated daughter. She will be 22 in a couple of weeks, as she keeps reminding me. As if I would/could forget OR like I wasn't there on that Labor Day.
Anyway, I love the sounds of family around. There is a comfort when people who are comfortable in your surroundings are haunting the house.
Lauren is taking me to the airport at 4:30 a.m....EEKS! That is early so she is spending the night at my house. She goes to MTSU, a university that is about a half hour away from me. (And she got an A on her big test this week...the proud mom!)
As I was trying on clothes to take on my 10 day adventure to Los Angeles, Lauren lay on the bedroom floor, eyeing the outfits I was putting together and making funny comments. And she can be funny!!
In between packing and baking cookies (for her to bring to the hairdresser when she gets her hair cut tomorrow), I dyed the underneath section of her hair. We laughed, we danced, we pretended to fight. The child in each of us came out and it felt so good; so right.
Our kid's childhood expires so fast, but these are the times that I am going to remember forever: the laughter, the hugs, the looks passed between us that no one can take away, the hair dyeing, the love.
Tonight probably seems like any other night; rather boring to the reader, really.
But to me - the mother - tonight was a little slice of heaven!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Dreams do come true...but sometimes you have to work for them!
Tonight Jacki, my oldest daughter finished her Masters Program at Lindenwood College in St. Louis. I am so proud that I feel as if she graduated for both of us.
Jacki is, and always has been a hard worker, and very determined. And this accomplishment is another result of her tenacity.
I am so proud; did I say that already?!!
You see, Jacki paid for her MBA program, finished it in 18 months and graduated with high honors.
How many times in our lives have we quit something, sometimes even before we start, because it seems like it will be too hard? How many times have we let our dreams die - often wondering what would have happened if we had run the whole race; stuck it out?
This is a world where we buy something new if something breaks; we buy new clothes if something needs sewing or a button falls off.
We are not a fix-it country. Throw it away and get a new one - whatever it is.
Clothes, cars, appliances, relationships.
Relationships?
Yes, in this technological, microwave world, we want things taken care of, and taken care of NOW. If that can't be done, if it can't be fixed; then get a new one. NOW.
Consider the divorce rate in the United States. 60%. Throw it away and get a new one - until that one is not perfect any more.
We aren't teaching our children to try to fix things...so we throw out marriage with the torn jeans.
But there are still Gen Y'ers that take pride in hard work, and figuring a way to get ahead.
That is what Jacki did this last year and a half.
She worked full-time, helped her boyfriend move to Colorado when he was offered a new job, and managed to have a social life and get good grades.
Determination. Eyes focused on her dream. Hard work.
She did it.
Jacki Griffin, I am so Proud of you!
As I have always told her...I want to be Jacki when I grow up!
Dreams do come true; what is yours?
When you were growing up; did you want to be you?!
To learn more about me and what I do please go to my website at: www.sandygriffin.com and sign in for a free monthly newsletter.
Jacki is, and always has been a hard worker, and very determined. And this accomplishment is another result of her tenacity.
I am so proud; did I say that already?!!
You see, Jacki paid for her MBA program, finished it in 18 months and graduated with high honors.
How many times in our lives have we quit something, sometimes even before we start, because it seems like it will be too hard? How many times have we let our dreams die - often wondering what would have happened if we had run the whole race; stuck it out?
This is a world where we buy something new if something breaks; we buy new clothes if something needs sewing or a button falls off.
We are not a fix-it country. Throw it away and get a new one - whatever it is.
Clothes, cars, appliances, relationships.
Relationships?
Yes, in this technological, microwave world, we want things taken care of, and taken care of NOW. If that can't be done, if it can't be fixed; then get a new one. NOW.
Consider the divorce rate in the United States. 60%. Throw it away and get a new one - until that one is not perfect any more.
We aren't teaching our children to try to fix things...so we throw out marriage with the torn jeans.
But there are still Gen Y'ers that take pride in hard work, and figuring a way to get ahead.
That is what Jacki did this last year and a half.
She worked full-time, helped her boyfriend move to Colorado when he was offered a new job, and managed to have a social life and get good grades.
Determination. Eyes focused on her dream. Hard work.
She did it.
Jacki Griffin, I am so Proud of you!
As I have always told her...I want to be Jacki when I grow up!
Dreams do come true; what is yours?
When you were growing up; did you want to be you?!
To learn more about me and what I do please go to my website at: www.sandygriffin.com and sign in for a free monthly newsletter.
And Friends are Friends Forever...
It's Thursday evening and I am sitting here taking a break from my packing to go to Los Angeles for 10 days. I checked my e-mail and I received a letter from Amsterdam, written and sent with love.
How do I know?
I have written in earlier e-mails about the wonderful friends I met from Holland - Angelica and Jerry.
Tonight I want to share them with you. They can become your family too.
Jerry and Angelica are both accomplished artists in Europe - he a pop singer and her a jazz singer.
BUT that is not where their strengths lie. Their warmth, humor and ability to give and receive love is the greatest gift that they shared with me when they were in Nashville.
Let me tell you how I met these incredible people that are entering your house tonight with this introduction.
I am a speaker and a life coach. I coach musicians (among other professionals and not-so-professional people, and I was downtown Nashville a month ago to support and encourage an artist that I had been helping.
The artist (with an award-winning singing voice) asked me to walk the tip jar around the tables to ask people to give. Of course I will - it gives me the opportunity to get to know every person in the establishment.
As I walked around I chatted with people at every table, found out where they were from, and why they were in Nashville.
As I approached one particular table, I asked the obviously-in-love beautiful couple where they were from, and they told me Amsterdam.
In all of my years of talking with people (which is all of my years!), I have never met anyone from Amsterdam. So I dug into the deep recesses of my mind to try to come up with something that I knew about Amsterdam - to connect us.
Ah! Anne Frank!
So I proceeded to tell them that the only thing I knew about their country was Anne.
Angelica replied, "Ah yes! Anne Frank in the little closet."
And then I commented that Anne's death was so untimely because one day later she would have been set free... ONE day!
Angelica looked right at me, waved her hand in the air and retorted, "Oh yes, but then she never would have had a bestseller!"
I burst into a fit of laughter that took on a life of its own, and Angelica sheepishly said, "THAT probably wasn't nice...but if she had lived she would have had a journal - just like everyone else!"
And that started the flood gates of love and laughter opening up.
One thing led to another and I asked them where they were staying, they told me, and then they got their belongings and moved into my house - and my heart! - for the next two days that they had planned on staying in Nashville, and added three glorious days to the stay!
You may wonder why we spent so much time together when they were just going to go back to their country anyway. We have no answer for that; only that the love was so evident and strong between us.
A couple of days before Ang (Miss Happy Hat...another story for another day!) and Jer (Mr. Happy Shorts) were moving on I mentioned that they don't have to hang around me; they can take their rental car and do whatever they want. I had given them a key to 'our' house...the house that God built!
Jerry looked me in the eye and said, "We are only going to be here with you for a couple more days. We want to stay as close to you as we can. We were talking today and we were saying to each other that 'we miss you already!" People I had only met days earlier!
We loved and laughed the days away: eating, laughing, sharing, dancing, meeting friends, touring Nashville. Jerry even had the opportunity to sing on two stages in Nashville - and boy is he good! - and he got a standing ovation in a crowded bar! That was a first for me to see!
We always made sure that we were in bed by 4 a.m....a couple of days...actually three in a row were pretty close to not making that curfew. We could not get enough of each other.
The day came for my new 'family' members to leave. I closed their fingers around the house key and told them to keep it on their key ring so they could have it when they came back. The house was theirs now too...they had come home!
We all stood in the front foyer with tears streaming down our faces as we soaked in one last look at each other, with Angelica in her cute style saying that they were going to send me a windmill, piece by piece, for my front yard!
And then they were gone, as the tears that had grown out of love, flowed down my cheeks, off of my chin, onto the brick porch on the front of my house.
My house is empty now, but my heart is so full.
People from so far away...loving in a language that is almost incomprehensible. As I pore over the 316 pictures I took in that seemingly short, but eternally long period of time that they danced through my life, I am aware that these two wonderful people have become my family...my family by choice...and will never be out of my heart.
I will see them, and I know that it will not be long. Amsterdam is calling to me as Nashville is calling to them. Thank God for technology because we are in close contact, and as impersonal as e-mail seems, the words sing when I read them from the monitor. And in that one click of the SEND button, Angelica and Jerry Givens (Griffin) are transported back into my/our house once again.
People from other churches? Cities? States? Countries?
Why get to know them? They live too far away!
Hearts are never far apart. Tear down the walls and let someone into your heart; someone that you would not have considered getting to know. And feel your heart grow! The miles will disappear....
How do I know?
I have written in earlier e-mails about the wonderful friends I met from Holland - Angelica and Jerry.
Tonight I want to share them with you. They can become your family too.
Jerry and Angelica are both accomplished artists in Europe - he a pop singer and her a jazz singer.
BUT that is not where their strengths lie. Their warmth, humor and ability to give and receive love is the greatest gift that they shared with me when they were in Nashville.
Let me tell you how I met these incredible people that are entering your house tonight with this introduction.
I am a speaker and a life coach. I coach musicians (among other professionals and not-so-professional people, and I was downtown Nashville a month ago to support and encourage an artist that I had been helping.
The artist (with an award-winning singing voice) asked me to walk the tip jar around the tables to ask people to give. Of course I will - it gives me the opportunity to get to know every person in the establishment.
As I walked around I chatted with people at every table, found out where they were from, and why they were in Nashville.
As I approached one particular table, I asked the obviously-in-love beautiful couple where they were from, and they told me Amsterdam.
In all of my years of talking with people (which is all of my years!), I have never met anyone from Amsterdam. So I dug into the deep recesses of my mind to try to come up with something that I knew about Amsterdam - to connect us.
Ah! Anne Frank!
So I proceeded to tell them that the only thing I knew about their country was Anne.
Angelica replied, "Ah yes! Anne Frank in the little closet."
And then I commented that Anne's death was so untimely because one day later she would have been set free... ONE day!
Angelica looked right at me, waved her hand in the air and retorted, "Oh yes, but then she never would have had a bestseller!"
I burst into a fit of laughter that took on a life of its own, and Angelica sheepishly said, "THAT probably wasn't nice...but if she had lived she would have had a journal - just like everyone else!"
And that started the flood gates of love and laughter opening up.
One thing led to another and I asked them where they were staying, they told me, and then they got their belongings and moved into my house - and my heart! - for the next two days that they had planned on staying in Nashville, and added three glorious days to the stay!
You may wonder why we spent so much time together when they were just going to go back to their country anyway. We have no answer for that; only that the love was so evident and strong between us.
A couple of days before Ang (Miss Happy Hat...another story for another day!) and Jer (Mr. Happy Shorts) were moving on I mentioned that they don't have to hang around me; they can take their rental car and do whatever they want. I had given them a key to 'our' house...the house that God built!
Jerry looked me in the eye and said, "We are only going to be here with you for a couple more days. We want to stay as close to you as we can. We were talking today and we were saying to each other that 'we miss you already!" People I had only met days earlier!
We loved and laughed the days away: eating, laughing, sharing, dancing, meeting friends, touring Nashville. Jerry even had the opportunity to sing on two stages in Nashville - and boy is he good! - and he got a standing ovation in a crowded bar! That was a first for me to see!
We always made sure that we were in bed by 4 a.m....a couple of days...actually three in a row were pretty close to not making that curfew. We could not get enough of each other.
The day came for my new 'family' members to leave. I closed their fingers around the house key and told them to keep it on their key ring so they could have it when they came back. The house was theirs now too...they had come home!
We all stood in the front foyer with tears streaming down our faces as we soaked in one last look at each other, with Angelica in her cute style saying that they were going to send me a windmill, piece by piece, for my front yard!
And then they were gone, as the tears that had grown out of love, flowed down my cheeks, off of my chin, onto the brick porch on the front of my house.
My house is empty now, but my heart is so full.
People from so far away...loving in a language that is almost incomprehensible. As I pore over the 316 pictures I took in that seemingly short, but eternally long period of time that they danced through my life, I am aware that these two wonderful people have become my family...my family by choice...and will never be out of my heart.
I will see them, and I know that it will not be long. Amsterdam is calling to me as Nashville is calling to them. Thank God for technology because we are in close contact, and as impersonal as e-mail seems, the words sing when I read them from the monitor. And in that one click of the SEND button, Angelica and Jerry Givens (Griffin) are transported back into my/our house once again.
People from other churches? Cities? States? Countries?
Why get to know them? They live too far away!
Hearts are never far apart. Tear down the walls and let someone into your heart; someone that you would not have considered getting to know. And feel your heart grow! The miles will disappear....
Monday, September 15, 2008
Strangers are Friends, Just Waiting to Happen
It's early Monday morning and I got up early to go over the weekend and to thank God for everything good and (not-so-good) that had taken place.
When I recount all that had taken place in my life I am overwhelmed at how seemingly simple, yet so complex, life is.
I would like to share with you a bit of the good.
On Friday night our guest speaker, Michel (pronounced Michele) Neray, the National Speaker Association President from Toronto, Canada dined with Raeus (NSAT President) and I. That was just the beginning.
Michel spoke at our meeting on Saturday morning, and then he was going back with Raeus to Knoxville (2 1/2 hours away from Nashville) to see that part of Tennessee. THAT was the plan.
No one had anticipated the gas scare, and the escalating cost of gas that was to follow.
So Michel was stranded in Nashville, looking for things to do.
The stage: Nashville:
The actors: people who had met the night before OR were about to meet and become friends
The time: now and forever
Stage left. In walks Sandy
Since Nashville has become my stage I knew that I could be in this production.
On Saturday afternoon I met Michel on the main street in Nashville: Broadway. (Now he can honestly tell people that he was on Broadway in the United States).
Michel and I walked the length of the stage and met as many actors as we could. We watched musicians, chatted with them and admired their art. Some that I had met before shared their art with us and gave us their cd's as gifts.
We had fun BUT the best was yet to come.
We met up with my girlfriend Lane Brody (http://www.lanebrody.com/) to grab a bite to eat and then head back to Broadway. Or so we thought.
This stage: a cozy Greek restaurant called Yanni's; outside on the back porch that had a garden-like feel.
The food: delectable items that Lane ordered (she's Greek) with names that I cannot begin to pronounce.
The actors: Lane, Michel,; my girlfriends: Karen Shayne and Katie Combs and me
The climax of the evening: great conversation, friends, love
We sat on that stage for the duration of the evening; most everyone having met each other for the first time. But that didn't matter.
It was a perfect evening: wine, laughter, great food, friends who now consider each other family, and love
And the greatest of these is love.
We are such a fast-paced society that we feel like we have to keep going and everything that we do had to be on a grandeur scale. After a while the well is dry; we have nothing left to give.
But enter a stage with 'real' people and fill the well up one drop at a time: enjoy every chuckle, savor the taste of every bite of food, every sip of wine, store in your heart every look that passes between new friends that are now connected at the heart - regardless of demographics, touch the arm of your hard-working server, and just drink in the gift that you have been given.
My weekend might sound boring to the fast-paced, jet-setting group; to those that have the need to be in The Scene part of the newspaper. But to those that value connecting to others hearts...ahhh!
This weekend was a slice of heaven!
If you would like to walk on my journey with me, and learn more about who I am, please go to my website www.sandygriffin.com and sign up for my free newsletter and a free article.
When I recount all that had taken place in my life I am overwhelmed at how seemingly simple, yet so complex, life is.
I would like to share with you a bit of the good.
On Friday night our guest speaker, Michel (pronounced Michele) Neray, the National Speaker Association President from Toronto, Canada dined with Raeus (NSAT President) and I. That was just the beginning.
Michel spoke at our meeting on Saturday morning, and then he was going back with Raeus to Knoxville (2 1/2 hours away from Nashville) to see that part of Tennessee. THAT was the plan.
No one had anticipated the gas scare, and the escalating cost of gas that was to follow.
So Michel was stranded in Nashville, looking for things to do.
The stage: Nashville:
The actors: people who had met the night before OR were about to meet and become friends
The time: now and forever
Stage left. In walks Sandy
Since Nashville has become my stage I knew that I could be in this production.
On Saturday afternoon I met Michel on the main street in Nashville: Broadway. (Now he can honestly tell people that he was on Broadway in the United States).
Michel and I walked the length of the stage and met as many actors as we could. We watched musicians, chatted with them and admired their art. Some that I had met before shared their art with us and gave us their cd's as gifts.
We had fun BUT the best was yet to come.
We met up with my girlfriend Lane Brody (http://www.lanebrody.com/) to grab a bite to eat and then head back to Broadway. Or so we thought.
This stage: a cozy Greek restaurant called Yanni's; outside on the back porch that had a garden-like feel.
The food: delectable items that Lane ordered (she's Greek) with names that I cannot begin to pronounce.
The actors: Lane, Michel,; my girlfriends: Karen Shayne and Katie Combs and me
The climax of the evening: great conversation, friends, love
We sat on that stage for the duration of the evening; most everyone having met each other for the first time. But that didn't matter.
It was a perfect evening: wine, laughter, great food, friends who now consider each other family, and love
And the greatest of these is love.
We are such a fast-paced society that we feel like we have to keep going and everything that we do had to be on a grandeur scale. After a while the well is dry; we have nothing left to give.
But enter a stage with 'real' people and fill the well up one drop at a time: enjoy every chuckle, savor the taste of every bite of food, every sip of wine, store in your heart every look that passes between new friends that are now connected at the heart - regardless of demographics, touch the arm of your hard-working server, and just drink in the gift that you have been given.
My weekend might sound boring to the fast-paced, jet-setting group; to those that have the need to be in The Scene part of the newspaper. But to those that value connecting to others hearts...ahhh!
This weekend was a slice of heaven!
If you would like to walk on my journey with me, and learn more about who I am, please go to my website www.sandygriffin.com and sign up for my free newsletter and a free article.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Happy Make Your Bed Day!
I woke up this morning with the windows open, and the only sounds I can hear are the incessant chirping of the crickets. There is not a breeze but it is very comfortable here before the temperatures get near 90 today.
September 11th...National Make Your Bed Day!
I am not down playing the tragedy that paralyzed our world 7 years ago today. I spent time in my prayer room and prayed for the affected families and friends (that encompasses all of us somehow) and then I turned my prayers to thanksgiving.
Those of us that are living have the opportunity to enjoy this day. We are gifted with yet another day, another chance to make our mark in this world.
I was making my bed when I got up at 4:30 (heaven only knows why I woke up at the ungodly hour!)...and then I remembered that it was National Make Your Bed Day!
And a smile came to my face. And I made my bed.
Seven years ago our towers came down. But our spirits survived.
I am enjoying this day...I started out by putting in a CD of my Amsterdam friend, Jerry Given. You will be hearing so much about this pop phenomenon and his classy, jazz singer wife, Angelica, in future blogs I am sure. This is a couple that everyone should know, so I am going to introduce you to them and through the pages you will grow to love them like I do.
September 11th...I am going to honor the fallen and the injured from that fateful day by enjoying every moment of this day. I am going to appreciate every rain drop that falls today (we need it - to keep my flowers smiling!), I am going to smile at every person that passes me and I am going to drop a coin in every outstretched hand that reaches to me today. In honor of the heroes.
September 11th...National Make Your Bed Day!
I am not down playing the tragedy that paralyzed our world 7 years ago today. I spent time in my prayer room and prayed for the affected families and friends (that encompasses all of us somehow) and then I turned my prayers to thanksgiving.
Those of us that are living have the opportunity to enjoy this day. We are gifted with yet another day, another chance to make our mark in this world.
I was making my bed when I got up at 4:30 (heaven only knows why I woke up at the ungodly hour!)...and then I remembered that it was National Make Your Bed Day!
And a smile came to my face. And I made my bed.
Seven years ago our towers came down. But our spirits survived.
I am enjoying this day...I started out by putting in a CD of my Amsterdam friend, Jerry Given. You will be hearing so much about this pop phenomenon and his classy, jazz singer wife, Angelica, in future blogs I am sure. This is a couple that everyone should know, so I am going to introduce you to them and through the pages you will grow to love them like I do.
September 11th...I am going to honor the fallen and the injured from that fateful day by enjoying every moment of this day. I am going to appreciate every rain drop that falls today (we need it - to keep my flowers smiling!), I am going to smile at every person that passes me and I am going to drop a coin in every outstretched hand that reaches to me today. In honor of the heroes.
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