People Obsessed

As often as I try not to stare, or ease drop, or get into other people's business, people tend to fascinate me.  I watch and observe with wonder and imagine what makes them tick.  I intuitively absorb their essences and sincerely try to do so without judgement.   It is a delicate mental see-saw and hard to do, however with practice it gets easier. 

Yes, we all judge other people.  But, when we move from judgement to observation, it's a much more pleasant space to share ones thoughts. 

I have sensed that dreadful judgment of others and it does not feel good.  I'm thinking, "Okay, what did I do or say or whatever?" and then I choose to move on and simply push it away, usually the person does not truly know me or they have their own issues to deal with and the judgment has nothing to do with me.  Many times I have discovered, the person was simply judging themselves.  

Anyone who is close to me, understands, I'm honest, far from perfect and I'll love you for you no matter what.  I figure, if I'm going to be open, I'll get the same respect in return.

Often, it is those closest to us that will make the harshest judgement, maybe because they care, but deep down it's always about something else.  True, unconditional love, holds no judgement.  We can love our friends and family, but their life choices are their own.

One day, I ran into a mom at a function.  She looked very put out, I was thinking..."Bad day? Fight with the hubby or she's got a major problem." (Like a bug up her butt)  Is it me or the circumstances around the event?  I never found out, but for some weird reason I cared.  My husband noticed too, so I know it wasn't my imagination.  Unfortunately, I'm not that close to the mom, but maybe one day I'll know her better....people are interesting.  They fascinate me. 

"A sour puss gets remembered long after all the other smiles have faded" 'LN

My husband and I took the kids camping on Sanibel Island for Easter weekend.  We found ourselves around so many different types of people on our mini camping adventure.

We camped among friendly families and warm retired folk from up North.  We found ourselves at a church Easter egg hunt and made ourselves right at home with the locals.  We people watched at the beach, made up stories and laughed at our similar observations.  We ventured into Captiva among the rich and most likely famous residents.  We even met people who lived a few towns from where I grew up on Long Island.

It was all good and interesting no matter where we were or who we found ourselves chatting with.  The openness my husband and I share with everyone bleeds in our everyday life, creating opportunity and leading us to new things.  It's never harmed or hindered, only enhanced our lives.  My boys seem to be following our lead.  I love that about our nuclear family. 

People are good.  The more goodness you share, the more you'll ultimately receive.  One smile, one "hello," one conversation at a time.

My Big Fat Italian Family

I grew up in a Big Fat Italian family.  We love each other through thick and thin. On occasion, we've been known to drive each other crazy.  There is drama and gossip and ridiculous banter, but we are tight and at the end of the day, no one can take our family away. 

Growing up we broke bread together, ate huge Italian dinners together for holidays and all our family events: weddings, baptisms, anniversary, birthdays and funerals.  Our family continues to change and grow year after year.

When we "break bread" with our friends, for dinner or holidays, it takes the friendship to a whole new level.  Those friends crossover into the family zone and there's something special that sticks.  There's a bond that forms indefinitely. 

Today, I live far away from all my family, but when I do see them, its always like I just saw them yesterday.  It's that constant in my life that reminds me I can always change for the better, even when some things in my life never change. 

When we do make time to be together with family, we remind each other of our love, and that it is okay when we can't be together, the love and care never dies. 

Certain relationships in our lives will stick and stay strong and solid.  Being part of a large family taught me this.  The warmth and understanding is innate and I tend to carry this over with close friends. 

I hope my boys learn to always give of themselves.  They are huggers, super sweet and caring, but as they grow, I want this to carry over into their adult lives, never to be forgotten.  Although, they don't have the same large family upbringing, when we visit my family, the boys are embraced, as if we all lived closer.  It's amazing to watch. 

Family and solid friendships can be that constant in our lives to keep us grounded when life throws us a curve ball and we need trusted relationships to fall back on.  

Thank goodness for my big fat Italian family.  I am who I am because of that constant in my life.  We know who we were and who we are at all stages of life.  We have laughed and cried and learned.  We change, yet we are still the same. 

The video below takes me right back to my mother's home when I was a kid. Thanks to my favorite cousin for posting on Facebook and being my inspiration for this blog post.  I love ya cuz!!  No matter how many miles separates us. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?sns=fb&v=0Swzvm-gXHg

(This is not my family....but whose to say they're not distance relatives......they sure look like my family)

In The Moment

It is 2016 and distractions in our everyday life become so hard to push away.  We miss out on so many little moments that make the bigger part of life less than fulfilling.

Acknowledgment of this void, is the first step.  Doing something to become more present in the moment is the second step.  How can we live our lives and not miss a single moment of goodness?

Releasing our worries, our physical ailments, our thoughts of clutter, concerns for the future.  What if we simply lived in the now, without any real concern for how the future will unfold?

"Our true nature of life is being one with our surroundings, anywhere and everwhere"

I often make plans without controlling the outcome and allow them to come together naturally.  

I often don't feel like going someplace, especially after a long day at work, but pushing forward, reminds me I'm continuing on the path intended.

Thinking I'm tired, I'm hungry, I'm stressed, makes us feel more of the same.  Maintaining a steady, moment to moment, I'm feeling good attitude does wonders for the physique.  I have everything I need in life.  I'm not sad or worried about anything.  Miraculously, life falls effortlessly into place.  You begin to notice little cincidences, chance meetings and good luck becomes a daily occurrence.  There's a manifestation of achievements that occurs.  People fall in and out of your life at just the right time, specifically when you need them and when they need you.

I can't explain how, I simply know what is.

Moment to moment; living with intent, but without control.  It's a spiritual life from the mundane.  It takes the drudgery away and keeps us smiling, laughing and lightheated.  It is soft and warm and without warning it will become habit. 

The best feeling to be is wholehearted, it allows everyone into a safe place, and intuitively we are peaceful within, and life is free of emptiness. 

Kindness & Careness

Living with kindness and sharing "careness" can be a tricky balancing act, especially when life doesn't feel kind and caring.

When life is not feeling safe, I stop and think why and determine where the unsafe place is rooted.  Is there something I can change? Or am I being challenged by someone else's fears?  Are judgements stemmed by anothers insecurities of the unknown?   

We all have or have had fears.  They manifest from insecurities, a piece of us finds a reason to doubt ourselves and others simply because it is easier than doing the work to trust ourselves and to care for those around us.

Fears can easily be diminished.  They are diminished when we find trust within. Trust in ourselves and the world around us.

Why is trust so difficult to find and embrace wholeheartedly;  because we must conquer our fear of failure to move into a space of safety.  Our trust in ourselves is harvested and our intuition blossoms.  We can never be ready to move forward if we cower in our self doubt and a blanket of fears. 

Life without fear is productive, prosperous, it is beautiful and busting with love.  Life without fear has no judgements of ourselves or others.  It is kind and caring.  It keeps all of us thriving in a place of goodness. 

Kindness and Careness is our family mantra for 2016.  With these words we are reminded to be good to one another even when fear and doubt creep into our minds, we automatically replace the fear and allow "Kindness and Careness" to take over.  It releases the need to control, to be right, to be separated by ego.  It allows joy, love and happiness into our heart and soul. 

No one can change yesterday, but in the now we all can make a conscious effort to be better.  To be deliberate about who we are and how we want to be; to ourselves and towards everyone that touches our lives.

Black Swan with a Heart

If I contact you it's because I see something in you, I know in my heart you can make a difference, have an impact.  You could change someone's life, because you have the same type of heart I saw in the others who are already in this business. There's a culture at Rodan and Fields and it's infectious. 

But let's talk about the beginning, let's discuss what's at the heart of the matter:

Black Swan Theory is a term used in business for companies that are not expected to succeed, but they surpass all the odds and find a brand new place in the market unexpectedly.

"The black swan theory or theory of black swan events is a metaphor that describes an event that comes as a surprise, has a major effect, and is often inappropriately rationalized after the fact with the benefit of hindsight. The theory was developed by Nassim Nicholas Taleb to explain:"

Examples of this in business are Amazon, Airbnb, Itsy. Often catastrophic events in history also fall under this title.

My own theory, is that these companies had a true heartfelt passion and surpassed expected success because they deserve and earned it.

A sense of empowerment and a gut feeling can take any person a long way.  Rodan + Fields as proven their success in a series of business choices that have lead to catastrophic growth in the past seven years.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertsher/2013/11/04/rodan-and-fields-grew-10-fold/

Of course, not everyone may want to sell skincare products, but doesn't everyone want a better lifestyle, financial freedom and the ability to own their own time and life?  This is a universal gift of joy.

Rodan + Fields is a company that provides a vehicle to achieve dreams.  The choice is yours to own.  

I believe Rodan + Fields could potentially be a household name like 

Tuber-ware. What if you had the opportunity to  own a piece of Tuber-ware in their early years?

Everyone wants to feel good about how they look.  From soothing sensitive skin, to looking younger by preventing, masking or reducing wrinkles, or desires of clear, beautiful skin.  We all need protection from the sun, and the ability to reverse sun damage.

Every single person who takes care of themselves has a need for one of Rodan + Fields skincare products.  That's a lot of people in an untapped market.  There are many reasons to choose to be a consultant in an untapped market, if only to communicate what's available to those who have not yet heard.  This is a monumental task and this is why consultants are ready to both sell products and recruit new consultants.  The benefits are simply outstanding.

After attending convention, I saw a side of Rodan + Fields that went further than skincare and profits.  I saw a warm, human side of the people running the show.  The sincerity and down to earth attitude of the Doctors, Kathy and Katie, Board of Directors and VPs, was very apparent.

Reunions with loved ones were tear induced.  See photo of military husband, and a surprise reunion with his wife on her birthday at convention.  She had no idea he was being flown in.  Their story was precious. 

A women had an allergy attack at our Gala, and needed to be rushed to the hospital.  Our board member, Amnon Rodan, also husband of Kathy Rodan, laid down with the woman until help came. She was embarrassed and didn't want to leave, but he helped her feel safe until help arrived.  I was there and personally saw the ambulance arrive.  

These photos are keys of insight into what is at the heart of this company.  The photo at the very bottom is from the very first party I attended at convention, The Whiteout Party.  Again, Amnon Rodan is present giving his time to show, "Hey are all a team! Let's make a difference together." 

At Austin Convention - A Surprise Birthday Reunion

At Convention After Party - The Human connection goes further then, 'Are you Okay?"

Photo Op at Team White Party!  "We're all in this together!"

Open The Flood Gates!

Once in a blue moon, I experience something that truly piques my interest and gets my juices flowing.  I consider myself an intelligent, observant and thoughtful person who has the ability to foresee great things.  I write this to caveat my experience this past weekend at an event I attended in Austin.

 

I attended Rodan + Fields annual company wide convention.  I have sincerely never witnessed anything like this before.  Considering, I have only been consulting for the company for a short few months, my expectations were initially, between low and neutral.  A convention filled with 10,000 females, was more intimidating to me then anything I could imagine.  Even with my apprehensions, I went into it with an open mind and an open heart, as I always make the best of any new situation. 

What I learned and saw about Rodan + Fields was awe inspiring.  I will share the following observation without bias, as I can provide fact behind what I learned.  Rodan + Fields is a dynamic, visionary and forward thinking company.  They have a clear path for future growth and provide their employees with the tools they need to succeed.  All a consultant needs to do is watch, learn and execute.

Rodan + Fields is prepared to take on a worldwide market!

My first powerful realization at this convention was the positive energy of the women attending. There is a sense of collaboration, all these women are working towards the same goals, they have the same struggles, with the same road blocks and each is truly helping lift one another up to succeed.

The warmth and easy going nature of all the consultants, regardless of their income, was both extraordinary and empowering.  A room full of 10,000, passionate, independent, intelligent women was a phenomenon, the energy very apparent.  I could not compare this to anything else, and words do not capture the true magnitude of the event.

Registration was insane - but yet still flowed smoothly!!

Another huge awe inspiring moment, was the extraordinary leadership at Rodan + Fields.  The executive team is with us, growing the company from the top down as the consultants are growing the company from the bottom up.  The dynamics of this are very clear.  It is, as if, we are all part of something larger than life and the leadership is in the trenches with us, spreading the word of how extraordinary and life changing the R+F products truly are.

From packaging, to new technology, and communication, Rodan + Fields is truly a first class organization.   This company is not only about premium skin care products, there is also a passionate force behind the skincare; an organization that cares about their employees.  I personally felt like an employee, part of a positive movement, to give a gift, with the best of intentions; I was not only one of 10,000 consultants. 

San Francisco Home Office Team - All  Direct Employees of  Rodan + Fields

Attending convention proved to me, what sets this company apart is that they are the real deal in every aspect.  This is what I want to share with potential customers and consultants.  Be part of a movement, change how you think about creating your future, Rodan + Fields is an innovated company with heart and 10,000 women and a few men can NOT be wrong.

The Unknown

How often do we think:"  Am I invested in myself and in those around me?"  "Am I being sincere and true to my thoughts from deep within?"  Do we honestly care for and nurture our inner child each and every day?  Are we in tune and sensitive to those around us or quick to judge their differences?  

Are our choices in line with who we are and what we want out of life? 

Each day we wake up and immediately begin thinking, "What do I need to do today?"  It may be followed with feelings of excited anticipation or it may be followed by feelings of dread.  I immediately think, "How am I feeling today?"  Is the feeling positive or negative and if it's not a good feeling, how can I transform the bad Into something good.

Each day is an unknown, we don't know how our feelings will navigate us, but we can choose 

the best direction possible.

First thing in the morning, I will also consider if I am following my path of choice or someone else's expectations of what I should or shouldn't do.  (This can be rough when you feel no one else understands your choices.) And finally, I think about all the stuff I need to do that day.   It sounds like a lot of thinking, but it's all very instantaneous with sincerity.

I recently took a trip to New York to visit a friend who just moved from Florida to Long Island.  The weekend away had been planned for months, and we had a very busy weekend planned.  I learned a few weeks before my trip, that my aunt was having a huge family affair which I very much wanted to attend.  I ultimately could not attend due to timing and I sincerely did not feel good about not seeing my family.  I chatted with my husband about the situation, and we mutually agreed we would plan a family trip to New York during the holidays.  The thought of dedicating a holiday trip to my family satisfied my discontent and made me smile inside. 

When we have too many days when we question our choices, we also feel insecure and unhappy with our life.  We may feel unsettled, unappreciative, ungrateful for all the good already in our life.  This calls for some serious revaluation of how we are choosing to live each day.  Nothing is ever unchangeable.   

We may want more money, more time, more love.  We want less stress, less heartache, less work.  

More understanding, less judgement;

More vacations, less bills, more care, less resentment.

There is always something we want or don't want in our lives and it's a vicious cycle of Ying and Yang.  But, choosing to believe in the good and inviting more goodness into our life, instantly pushes the bad out. It's always a choice, we should choose to be happy, even in the midst of the unknown.

I have been looking for a ring the last few months.  A special ring that meant something to me.  I found one last weekend at the 69th Annual Shinnecock Pow Wow 2015 Native American Indian Festival in South Hampton, NY.  

The ring felt perfect. It will remind me each day to live well, be true to my feelings and to love carefully.  

Good things do come to those who wait, especially when we least expect it.

And through patience & care we discover, we can uncover The Unknown. -LN