I love surprising people. I wanted to surprise someone with a gift of a birthday card and guess what? I am the one who ends up with a gift. My colleague and dear friend Debbie Mrazek, author of The Field Guide to Sales was celebrating her birthday. She mentioned that sometimes the family gets a bit disappointed when she cannot celebrate every minute of her birthday with them. (She is a loved woman!) So her girlfriend told about the BIG BIRTHDAY plan! I loved it so much I wanted to share it with you. Do you want to know?

For every year you are celebrating, extend your birthday celebration by that many days. So if you are turning 43, add 43 days where family and friends can book some time with you to celebrate. Come on, why have only one day when you can have 43! Everybody’s happy – including you!No extra candles for goodness sake!

Celebrate your birthday in style! Live your life rich from the inside out with relationships that fill your core! Thank you for the special gift Debbie! Keep celebrating and nibble on some chocolate!

I just came back from attending the eWomen Network Conference in Dallas, Texas at the beautiful Hyatt Regency Hotel. I had the sincere opportunity to to hear Les Brown and Dr. Julie vanPutten speak on stage. The strongest message I share with you in the following video:

“The ideal situation to die is to have family and friends praying around you versus the ghosts of the dreams and passion you did not pursue that must die with you. What story will die with you?” – Les Brown

If there is something you are passionate about, please go after it. You rob the world of your talents, skills, charisma. The world will not be as it should without your gifts.

Share with us how you live life to the fullest and let your cup runneth over!

To be truly happy in life is to be truly happy with the person you are right now. You made choices bringing you to where you are today. You might have heard people say, “I will be happy when…”

• I am out of debt.

• I lose 10 pounds.

• I graduate from school.

• I get married.

• I have saved $1500.

• I get rid of these stretch marks.

If you waited to be happy, you may not get there. You may lose your motivation. Remember the stretch marks may be from birthing a child – you gave life. Now that’s pretty amazing! Happiness in a bundle. You need to realize you do not know what tomorrow may bring. You can choose to be happy or you can choose to be miserable. It is up to you. Happiness is a matter of attitude.

Can you be a happier by paying double the minimum payment of your debts, cutting up extra credit cards (really, how many do you need?), or putting an extra $35 to your savings account today? Can you enjoy a healthier lifestyle by making healthier eating choices and exercising with a friend? Can you enjoy your extracurricular activities and meet your soul mate in the process? Of course you can – these are action steps instead of waiting…what if tomorrow doesn’t come – you may come up with a new excuse tomorrow not make the choice to be happy in this moment. Love who you are and where you are right now. Make the choice to change the course of your destiny – be happy today. You are continually evolving into the person you were meant to be.

Whatever your goal may be, it is important to take consistent steps of action to create momentum. One time efforts will not move you forward. Determination and discipline will lead you in the right direction – closer to your goal. Your habit of action will reward you but you must not give up. Time prevails. The longest distance to your goal is the one getting you from where you are right now to the first step.

Your goals add passion to living. If you want to write a book, save a domain name, write an outline, write a sentence or a paragraph before bed, or even apply for an ISBN number. Whatever you do, do something, especially if you really want it! Maybe you would like to run a marathon, join a running group like The Running Room or a Team in Training for Diabetes (fundraising and training), go for a walk and advance to a run at your pace, and feel the breeze on your face as you breathe in the fresh air. Sweetness of the journey my friends! Consistency will take you to the finish line!

Have you ever been to a football game or another sporting activity where the fans toss a beach ball around to see how far it can make it around the stadium? Did you ever wonder what would happen if no one participated? No – maybe ’cause with all the excitement, people cannot help but be a part of it; perhaps you were one of them. They feel the energy and want to feel the excitement of being part of something bigger than themselves.

Each time you take a step toward or a hit at your beach ball or goal. You are creating motion and with motion comes momentum. Share your goals with others so they can be a part of creating and moving your goal from motion to achievement. Take daily actions to keep the ball in motion. What happens when you stop moving the beach ball around? You need to start all over again and need to regain the momentum every time you stop and start. Your daily actions have greater impact than just doing something once in a while. Maybe you need to hug your kids one more time each day or pay attention to your finances and spending patterns each day so you can create an awareness and an intention to keep your goal or beach ball in motion.

When you focus on your goals every day, before you know it, you will have achieved them due to the daily actions and choices. Where your energy goes, momentum will follow. It takes time to get the beach ball around the stadium but with consistent effort it makes its way around. Hear the crowd roar – you did it! You reached your goal! You will have a reason to celebrate because it is going to be a GOOD NIGHT!