I wished upon a little star

Up in the sky away so far

To be the fairest in the land

And be the best at all I can.

To be upon the stage of life

A messenger to help end strife

To be a voice for those who need

Encouraging words to hear and read.

I wished upon a little star

Up in the sky away so far

To boost you from the ugly mire

And write the words that would inspire

To lead you through the maze of thoughts

And help you learn what you forgot

When stress upon you really mounts

You are the one who truly counts.

I wished upon a little star

Up in the sky away so far

That when I stood upon the stage

To share the words from page to page

I’d speak so very loud and clear

I know that you would surely hear

And cast aside your gloomy cloud

And take your place among the crowd.

I wished upon a little star

Up in the sky away so far

To teach you how to look each day

Into the mirror and always say

“I love you, you’re the very best,

Together we will pass the test.

And when the end of day arrives

You’ll know you have again survived

Because the friend within your heart,
Was with you from the very start.

I wished upon a little star

Up in the sky away so far

To write this poem just for you

So when you’re feeling down and blue

You’ll take the time to read it through

Then tell yourself, “I Do Love You!”

I wished upon a little star

Up in the sky away so far

That you would find this little poem

And pick it up and take it home.

I made this wish upon the star

And so I wished, and here you are.

There is a lot to be said for positive thinking.  Love Yourself.

I THINK AND THINK  -

by M.J. Waldock

I think and think the whole day long,

About the things that can go wrong.

I think I’ve failed before I start

Which takes away the very spark,

To do the things I want to do

That haunt my sleep the whole night through.

What can I do to clear the path

Of obstacles that cause such wrath.

The boulders in my mind that make

The journey that my soul will take

A long and rugged road that winds

Forever twisting in my mind.

Where will it end, this bumpy road

When will I shed this heavy load?

Of always thinking of the worst,

I know I’m surely not that cursed.

I think I’ll step upon the path,

And meet the boulder with a laugh.

I can succeed, I know I can

Just think of where it all began.

A simple phrase from long ago

From one I thought was in the know

Some tiny word so negative,

Is this the way we really live?

With other peoples doubts and fears

that stop us from our goals so near?

I think I will relieve my mind

Of thoughts, that merely waste my time.

I will begin the day anew

And take a very different view,

Of life that’s far above the road

And see myself without the load.

I think I’ll think the whole day long

Of how I’ll meet the cheering throngs

Of those who honor my success

For clearing out this ugly mess

Of thoughts, that made my day so dim

And made my dreams of life so grim

I think I’ll think and think again

About the ways I’m going to win.

And when those ugly thoughts arise

That cause my dreams to be disguised,

I’ll take a step upon the road

And start to move, however slow

Until I reach the finish line.

And then, I’ll know, it was my mind

That made me think the whole day long,

About the things that could go wrong.

Were you celebrating the end of a great year, and looking forward to the 2012?        Or were you regretting all the things that you had not done?

Every year we look back with regret about the things we did not do, either in our      business or personal lives.  But we don’t have to do that.  We can take charge          and  begin this year with purpose and intention.

IN THE BEGINNING

“Life is not a dress rehearsal. Quit practicing what you’re going to do, and just do it. In one bold stroke you can transform today.”  Marilyn Grey

When you were a child you had great aspirations about what you would be when you grew up.  As time when on, you let those dreams fade.  Close your eyes.  What dream did you let go? If you could have anything in this coming year and your future, what would it be?  If you don’t think about, write it down and then talk about it, you will not do anything with intention or purpose.

MAKING A FEW CHANGES

“Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.”  Nido Qubein

Sometimes before you can start something new,  you let to let go of the old.  Begin by answering this question.  WHAT WAS GOOD IN 2012?  You want to build on what was good and really worked.  Maybe you need to go back to basics and think about the things that have worked over the years.

Ask yourself,  what didn’t work?  Relationships that didn’t work, business ventures that didn’t work, clients that overworked and underpaid you.  Get rid of them.  Bring into your life all that is positive.

TAKE A BABY STEPS

“You will never win if you never begin.”  Robert H. Schuller

What do you want for yourself in 2012?  Take a moment to write down your thoughts.  Then select the most import item on your list and write down three things you can do to not have any regrets at the end of the year.  You will never accomplish your goal in one step.  Keep trying. Stay focused.  Never waver.

Life is what YOU make it.  In the end, you are the only one responsible.

What is your dream?

We often talk about what makes someone successful. We say; Follow your dreams, live the life you desire and it goes on. But how many of us really do this, follow our dreams. We think we don’t have permission.

For the last few years we have watched the Apple corporation rise up from the ashes and launch one sexy piece of technology after another. An apple user from way back, I have many of them. In fact right now, we own 5 Apple computers, two IPHones and a few IPods. And they are all great. I remember when I began using my first Apple/Mac Plus, there were so many naysayers.

What makes one person be so focused and driven? Many people say that he was ruthless. I recently read an article in the NY Times that said, Steve Jobs relied mostly on his own instinct to create products. He did not have focus groups, he just knew what people wanted, sleek, easy to use, interesting pieces of technology. And even during his illness, which much have been debilitating, he still forged ahead.

So why can’t the rest of us do the same? Why do we stop and wait for something to happen before we begin following our dream. Is it that we listen to too many people?

In my workshops and breakfasts I often reference the book The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. One of the four agreements is: Take nothing personally because it is never about you. That Noise of Others, those limiting beliefs stop us all too often.

Take a step and identify the noise, then label it and give it a name. Assign it to the person it be longs to and then toss it away. Be the person you are and don’t let anyone rain on your parade.

Life is certainly not perfect. And for many, their birthright gives them much more flexibility than others. As we look around us we see people who are barely hanging on, or living with major impairments, disfigurements and disabilities. I am so lucky to live a very good life.

I can only hope that we reflect on our lives, and the lives of those who make a difference in the world and understand this. Not everyone can be a Steve Jobs. Not everyone can create things that change the way people live. But everyone can be kind to themselves and others, and can make an attempt every day to do something that matters.

This was my facebook post from the other day. Enjoy.

Make everyday meaningful. Do something important that takes you closer to your dreams. Have fun. Love yourself. Tell those you care about that you love them – you never know when they may disappear from your life. Be thankful for everything – you probably have more than you think. Think about this – what would life be like if tomorrow you received everything you were thankful for today. Make it a great one.

I will soon find the words to express all my thoughts.

I trust that you will give them to me in every way.

Throughout the day you give me the strength to be just who I am.

I ask for your help to continue the journey.

Give me the desire to be all that I can.

The will to take the daily steps.

The love to soothe my lonely heart.

The angel to guard my life and soul.

The friends with whom to share the wealth.

The time to live with no regrets.

The love of my life to lie beside.

A mother’s love that never dies.

You give me all this in such a way,

I can go out and thrive in this day.

How has your higher power helped you? Share your thoughts.

It’s been a long time since I have written anything on this blog. For me, the summer has been filled with twists and turns. An aging parent and many personal questions. I often wonder if the road ever becomes less severe.

This is a poem I wrote several years ago. Guess I have been on this path for a long time. Enjoy. Look forward to hearing from you about your journey.

THE WINDING ROAD by M. J. WALDOCK

Down the winding road

I see a pretty flower

I stop to smell its luscious scent

And stay there for a while.

The sun begins to fade

The rain begins to pour

It hit the ground with such a pound

The flower was no more.

Down the winding road

I see a fluffy cat,

I stop to stroke its silky fur

And take a little nap.

There came a nasty thud

It sounded like a clap.

And then I heard this raspy voice

Say scat you ugly cat.

Down the winding road

I see a feeble man

I stop to say “How do you do”

And take his trembling hand.

He said I’d like to walk

For just a little while

My legs are old and I am tired

I’ll never make a mile.

Down the winding road

I see a spreading tree

I climb its branch right to the top

And there’s the shining sea.

I am a bit surprised

The road it winds no more

There is a straight and narrow path

Directly to the shore.

And so the winding road

Has finally seen its time.

The only place it twists and winds

Is in the shadows of my mind.

“One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life. That word is LOVE!” Sophocles

Then the day arrives when we look into the mirror and wonder where all the time went and what have we done with it.

Our March Inspiration Breakfast focused on the Law of Attraction. One of the ways in which we attract what we want is to talk, think, and write down the things we love. Think about something you do, people with whom you associate, a place and activity, anything that you hear the words in your head –

I love to do this or I love that.?

FOR THE NEXT MINUTE OR SO – WRITE DOWN EVERYTHING YOU LOVE – DON’T HOLD ANYTHING BACK.

Below is a poem I wrote about smelling the roses. I remember the day I wrote this, I was standing in my old office, thinking about how frantic life was and that I needed to stop.

STOP! SMELL THE ROSES

by M.J. Waldock, May 2003

Running, running to and fro

Scattered thoughts

Shattered dreams

Fractured days

In a maze

Stop and smell the roses

Swift and sweet the enemy time

Important things

Nothing done

Much to do

With no value too

Stop and smell the roses

One more day with no pay

Thoughts abound

Make no sound

Reach the spot

At the top

Stop and smell the roses

Take a break, break a leg

Change the pace

Find new space

Turn around

Stomp the ground

Stop and smell the roses

Find a friend with time to spend

Take a trip

Buy some stuff

Clear your mind

From the grind

Stop and smell the roses

It’s the day you’re okay

Time and money

Make their way

Find your niche

Scratch the itch

Stop and smell the roses

I love flowers. In fact I have often thought that in my next life I would be a florist, or something that had to do with flowers. I love them when they have been refrigerated and there is a cool freshness about them. Think about the petal of a rose, how soft it is. And then of course there is the luscious scent. I can smell it, can’t you?

A friend of mine recently sent me an e-mail with all types of roses. She said, share them with your friends. So I am sharing them with you. Close your eyes and smell this beautiful rose.

Now ask yourself, how often do I stop to smell the roses in my life? Do I take the time for myself, give myself permission to want what I want?

The More You Think About And Verbalize What You Love,

The More You Will Attract It To You. We Are All About Energy!

I also love the opportunity I have to share my thoughts with you.

Please share your thoughts with me and share these flowers with your friends.

Be kind to you today. You deserve only the best.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed bythe things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sales. EXPLORE, DREAM, DISCOVER.” MARK TWAIN

February is the month of Love. At our February Inspiration Breakfast we talked about giving yourself a Valentine. It seems to be so difficult for us to do nice things for ourselves.

It’s part of our upbringing. We were taught not to focus on ourselves, Why? We are the most important person in our lives, and if we aren’t good to ourselves, who will be?

START THE DAY OFF RIGHT

We are primarily energy. How we think and feel contributes to that energy, and then is transmitted to everyone around us. When we think good things, the energy is positive. When we feel negative, the energy reflects that attitude. The people around us feel our energy and react accordingly. Therefore it is important to always think positively and well of ourselves.

What is the first thing you say to yourself in the morning when you look in the mirror? Is it something good? Here is a poem to help you think about it.

REFLECTIONS by MJ Waldock

When I look into the mirror

I see a funny face

A crooked nose, and eyes too close,

And lines that I can trace.

A body that goes up and down

The scale and dress size too

It’s not what’s in my mouth so much

My head is like a zoo

Sometimes I feel I’m in a cage

A lion with a roar

And other times I’m oh so free

An eagle, I can soar

If only I could fix the flaws

And look like all the rest

Then I could hold my head up high

And feel I’m at my best.

But beauty comes from deep within

It’s not a surface thing

And even with my flaws and such

I have a lot to bring

To feel secure within my soul

All I need to do

Is love myself, for then you see

My beauty will shine through

May 2005

FALL IN LOVE WITH YOURSELF

“To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance.” Oscar Wilde

What makes you, you? To grow you must nurture yourself in every way. If you expect to be loved by someone else, you must love yourself first, in spite of the flaws. What is good about you? Begin by listing the good things about you – physically, personality, skills. Then be thankful every day. This is part of our abundance.

IMPRISONED BY SELF CRITICISM

“I CAN, is 100 times more important than IQ.” Author unknown

The CRITIC WITHIN is our worst enemy. We often berate ourselves over the tiniest things. We do something that we think is stupid or dumb, and then we dwell on it or hours, sometimes days. This self-criticism negatively affects everything that we do, and we miss many opportunities being stuck in our own jail cell.

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE THAT WAS GOOD? DID YOU PRAISE YOURSELF FOR IT? DO IT NOW!

DON’T BE A WORRY WART

“There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our own will.” Epictus

CONTROL WHAT YOU CAN – YOU!

We have all heard the saying: “The only thing is life that you can control is yourself and your reactions.” So then, whey do we worry about things for which we have no control? When you worry, you create anxiety which is negative energy, and impedes your ability to be you and live more fulfilled. WHAT DO YOU WORRY ABOUT?

TRUST AND TRUTH – IN OURSELVES ALWAYS

“Trust Yourself. You know more than you think you do.” Benjamin Spock

IF YOU DON’T TRUST YOURSELF, WHO CAN YOU TRUST?

Do you have confidence in your own abilities? Do you talk to yourself about what you can’t do instead of what you can? What do you want to have happen and why don’t you trust yourself that it will? Visualize it!

HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY.

Are you truthful and honest with yourself? Loving yourself requires that you be truthful about your feelings. If you are sad, feel bad, are scared, acknowledge it. By acknowledging it, you can change it. What truths are you not acknowledging?

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sales. EXPLORE, DREAM, DISCOVER.” MARK TWAIN

YOU ARE A BEAUTIFUL, DESERVING BEING. Follow these steps.

1. NURTURE YOUR DREAMS

2. BOOST YOUR SELF CONFIDENCE

3. RELAX

4. HAVE FUN

5. LOOK FOR THE BEAUTY IN EVERYTHING

6. LOOK AFTER YOUR BODY

The Dream, by M.J. Waldock

“A Dream is a possibility waiting to happen.

Open your eyes, your future is now!”

Here we are, at the end of another year. And what a year it has been. If you are like most of us, you feel as though you have been on a giant roller-coaster. But then, isn’t life just a “Wild ride!” One of the things we often forget is that it is the JOURNEY that is important, not always the destination. Before you get that pencil sharpened to write down all those New Year’s resolutions, take a moment to think about these few points.

YOUR MIND IS NOT AN ANTIQUE SHOP

Begin the new year by clearing out the clutter. Not just the clutter in your home or office, but the clutter in your mind. Whenever you write down an idea and the little voice jumps in your head to say things like – “What makes you think you can do that” or “You are not smart enough or you don’t have enough money” and so on, write it down. Keep a journal of all these negative thoughts. Then ask yourself this question – is that really true? Do I really own that phrase, or does it belong to someone else. Remember the FOUR AGREEMENTS – Nothing is ever about you. Even if you don’t have all the information you need right now, that doesn’t mean that you have to abandon the idea.

I recently met with a women about the TV Show idea we have. She told me that I needed to get the show on the internet to build up a viewing audience. Other than putting a video up on U-tube, I know nothing about how to put a TV Show on the Internet. So, one of the first things I will do in this new year, is to gather all the information I need to put the TV Show up on the internet. NEVER DISMISS YOUR IDEA JUST BECAUSE YOU THINK YOU DON’T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION OR SOMEONE ELSE THINKS YOU CAN’T DO IT!

The Critic within is always with us, nagging at us and trying to sabotage our forward progression. A friend of mine who attended the November breakfast said – ” The Critic is the Devil trying to destroy your success, because he knows that you will be successful.”

BE IN THE MOMENT!!!!!

Have you ever stopped to think about why life seems to rush by so fast? Maybe it’s because we are so busy looking at the finish line that we forget to live today. BE IN THE MOMENT. Savor what is happening every step of the way. BE IN IT – That’s the journey. You will eventually get to the destination, but think about what you will have enjoyed along the way.

A couple of years ago when I was producing the Because We Are Women one day symposiums, I would experience overwhelming anxiety because I was focusing on the end. It wasn’t that I didn’t need to be aware of what had to happen to make the event successful, but focusing on an outcome that hadn’t happened yet was causing all the anxiety. When I decided to just focus on what had to be done each day, I got into the moment and got rid of the anxiety. In the end, the event of a huge success and I was a lot more relaxed.

BE IN THE MOMENT and LIVE each day to the fullest and all your dreams will definitely come true.

DREAM BIG – REALLY BIG!

“Don t just see the magic, engage it! Challenge it! Dare it! Dream big, with every expectation that your dreams will manifest.”

When you see someone get were you are, do you ask yourself the question – ” Why Them and Why not Me?” Maybe they just had a bigger dream than you did. People who make it to the top of their game and realize all their dreams and goals, do so because they do two distinct things:

1. THEY DREAM REALLY BIG.

2. THEY BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES.

In Don Miguel Ruiz’s book – The Fifth Agreement – he says that we are born into truth. We learn not to trust ourselves and believe other people. We certainly need to believe what other people tell us when it comes to things that can truly help or harm us. But we don’t need to believe other people when they try to “Rain on Our Parade.” We need to live in in our own truths. Dream the Big Dream. I remember when I was younger saying, “If I shoot for the moon I may land on a star along the way.” How bad is that? If I shoot for nothing, I will always remain right where I am.

Close your eyes and dream it Big! I am closing mine and envisioning myself in the homes of millions of women and some men, helping to empower and inspire them.

NOW! – BELIEVE in YOU!

You are the most important person in your life and you deserve everything. Give yourself permission. I know that I have said that many time, but do it now. And then believe in you. What you may not realize is that when you begin to believe, lots of things will happen. People will show up to help you. And, they will not only feel your passion, but they will join you in it. There is something magical that happens when you begin to believe. You exude a certain confidence that attracts other people. Learn the Laws of Attraction. Believing is the first step.

I CAN By MJ Waldock

There is a plaque upon my wall
That says how great I am.
I read it each and every day
Just so I know I can

Go out into the world to seek
The fortune and the fame,
Or maybe just acquire the grace
And learn to play the game,

For life is like sports event,
With dreams, and goals, and teams.
And only those who play it well

In the end succeed.
It’s not about how sure or swift
You reach the finish line
But more about how much you cared
And how you spent your time.

To be aware and give a smile
To all who pass you by,
With fortunes less and little hope,
But for the grace go I.

So on the plaque upon my wall
That says how great I am
It reads. “You won the game of life.”
Because you said, I Can!

BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE!

“I am thankful for the overflowing abundance in my life”

List all the things that you are thankful for each day and they will multiply.

If the rich get richer it’s because they live in a state of financial abundance. Think what you can do when you too live in ABUNDANCE! Be thankful for what you have, and if you don’t have it yet, write it down as though you do. Envision that it is already there, and then start moving forward.

ACTION/ATTITUDE

Action changes attitude. Take an action any action. You have to keep moving forward – one step at a time. Don’t wait for your attitude to change, act, act, act!

A TINY STEP M.J.WALDOCK

It only takes a tiny step

To change a life

To have no regrets

First is the idea, for which we toy

The fear and the doubt

Then the rush of joy

To laugh and cry

To Say Goodby

To ideas that halt us so

Open our eyes and our heart

To a day renewed

Is just the start

A life that’s yours

Forever more

A tiny step to help you soar

One step at a time.

MAKE IT A WONDERFUL YEAR AND REMEMBER – life is yours for the taking – do it all and make it big.

Several years ago I read the book “The Art of Possibility” by Benjamin Zander. It was what gave me the foundation for Because We Are Women. For five years I produced one-day symposiums to help inspire women. In 2008, when the economy was tanking, we celebrated our 5th Anniversary with two events. The strain and stress was so great that I haven’t produced the large event since then.

This year, as a result of our efforts to get a National TV Show to inspire women, I launched monthly Inspiration Breakfasts. We had a great time this fall at these breakfasts. The group is small, but very interactive and supportive. Each month during we selected a different letter of the alphabet upon which to focus.

In September it was all the “F” words in your life – fulfillment, fear, focus, future, fun, and more. There is a post on this blog with a poem about putting fun back into your life. Our October meeting focused on “Coping with the Big “C” – Commitment to Change. Please take a look at that post to review all the “C” words that affect change.

In November talked about “Give Yourself and “A.” It was a great morning with 25 people, men and women. The sharing was fabulous. As you look back on this year, maybe our discussion will help you. Here are some of the things we talked about.

ABUNDANCE – “I am thankful for the overflowing abundance in my life” List all the things that you are thankful for each day and they will multiply.

If the rich get richer it’s because they live in a state of financial abundance. Think what you can do when you too live in ABUNDANCE! We have the power to create our own reality. We attract those things in our life (money, relationships, employment) that we focus on. If we focus on having less, we will have less. When we focus on what we have, the Universe will give us more. SO WHAT DO YOU HAVE – PROBABLY PLENTY!!! THIS IS SOMETHING YOU NEED TO DO EVERY DAY.

ASSESS - Now is the time to look at all the things you have accomplished!

You will be surprised that it is probably more than what you think. Make a list, in fact it is important to make a list of accomplishments at the end of every day. Sometimes we just need to take a step back and assess the situation to get a clear picture of where we have been to that we can create a plan for the future. I’ll bet you’ve done more than you think!

ADAPT/ADJUST - In this challenging time, what type of adjustments do you need to make to adapt to the circumstances. ie: refocus your goals, get more education, reach out to different people or groups…..

ACHIEVE/ACCOMPLISH -If what/how we think can change our lives, what can happen when we actually write down our goals, dreams and desires? What do you want to achieve before the end of the year? Also, what things do you want to do in 2011. There is no time like the present to begin thinking and manifesting them. Once you have defined what you want, each day write down the IMPORTANT things you have done to get you closer to that goal.

ASSUMPTIONS/ANXIETY –

The Critic within is always with us, nagging at us and trying to sabotage our forward progression. To quiet the critic we must be aware of those thoughts when they creep in to poison the mind. The Critic Assumes that we are not capable and we believe it, causing us undo ANXIETY. What assumptions did the critic make? What did it say? What anxiety does it produce?

AFFIRMATION! Positive affirmations will quiet the critic. Turn the assumption into an affirmation.

ACTION/ATTITUDE – Action changes attitude. What action steps are you going to take to eliminate the critic?

“There are angels in our midst, and we need only to open our eyes and align with the positive forces.”

REMEMBER YOUR MIND IS NOT AN ANTIQUE SHOP – GET RID OF OLD IDEAS AND THOUGHTS. THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO, BECAUSE YOU CAN!!!!!!

I CAN By MJ Waldock

There is a plaque upon my wall

That says how great I am.

I read it each and every day

Just so I know I can

Go out into the world to seek

The fortune and the fame,

Or maybe just acquire the grace

And learn to play the game.

For life is like sports event

With dreams, and goals, and teams.

And only those who play it well

In the end succeed.

It’s not about how sure or swift

You reach the finish line

But more about how much you cared

And how you spent your time.

To be aware and give a smile

To all who pass you by,

With fortunes less and little hope

But for the grace go I.

So on the plaque upon my wall

That says how great I am

It reads. “You won the game of life.”

Because you said, I Can!

Thanks for sharing your stories. I look forward to hearing from you.