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Reflections from an RV 051712

May 17, 2012 By 4 Comments

Traveling in an RV is a good test for how strong your relationship might be. This morning Dave got up and said, “I think this is going to work.”
“what is going to work?

“Being in this RV with you for six months is going to work.”

We had a lovely first day together, driving from Titusville to Kings Bay Submarine Base, in St. Marys, GA. We have a very nice lot, overlooking the lake. It’s peaceful, quiet and very safe. Both of us had to show our military ID’s in order to drive onto the base, and the guards have guns!

Where was that guard when we were packing up this week and discovered that another GPS is missing. We had one in both our cars and the one from Dave’s car was missing.  At least it was the one that I liked the least.

Dave has checked out what’s around here and we plan on driving to Brunswick to explore the city this week. Sounds like a fun place to explore. He also found some info on kayaking so we’ll check that out too. Our goal on this trip is to check out local places and see some of this beautiful country of ours. I have done a lot of traveling outside the country for the last few years and I’m looking forward to planting my feet on USA soil for a while. What better way than in a motor home?

You know we dealt with mice in our house last week and I think I cured the problem before we left. My good friend, Julia is checking on our house and if it becomes evident that the mice are still there, she’ll work with our pest control guy to get them out. So I’m not worried about it. I was starting to wonder however, if Mother Nature had put out a message that the Helms’ were critter friendly. On Tuesday, Dave opened the door to the RV and in flew two little birds. He convinced one to leave right away but the other became disoriented and avoided the door. It took both of us shooing the little chickadee with towels to get her tired enough to fly low and find the door. That’s team work, but I’m hoping that it isn’t a test for future animal adventures! Glad they both found freedom with a minimum of anxiety.

I do have some work today –  a radio show at 1 pm EST, if you can really call that work. Its really a lot of fun being a guest on radio shows! Tune in if you are so inclined. It should be fun. I’ve not any more work then until Tuesday so we can make our plans to play for a few days.

I want to check out the exercise facility here on the base – no bike riding without a helmet and I really don’t want to buy one for just a week. I don’t really need one on a 3 wheel recumbent so it’ll stay hanging on the back of the coach for now. We’ll be in Yemesee, SC next week and hopefully there’ll be places that I can exercise on my bike. I really prefer being out in nature instead of in a gym.

You know, I’m a Certified Spiritual Coach, and what’s that have to do with RVing? Well, there’s spirituality all around us, when our hearts are open to it. Last night when Dave walked the dogs, he called me outside, and there stood a deer, off in the distance by the lake looking back at him. It was a quiet moment, and I appreciated my life so much at that moment.

When you concentrate on what you have and not worry about what you don’t have, life really is a spiritual experience.

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Reflections from an RV

May 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Wow, in one week from today, we’ll be singing that Willie Nelson tune, “On the Road Again,” as we embark on a six month adventure in our motor home.

When we were deciding to upgrade from a 32’ to a nearly 40’ two years ago, I told Dave that unless he really intended to retire from Disney, we should keep what we have. He assured me that once his 15 years of service was official, he could qualify for his lifetime gate pass and would turn in his costumes. That happened last week and now we’re packing up our little abode on wheels.

There’s food in the cupboard that I don’t intend to bring, so lots will be thrown out. And what a terrible time to get a mouse in the house! So far he’s not interested in the goodies on the conventional traps, preferring our popcorn, bagels and Hershey kisses. I’ve called in the big guns, a professional exterminator but so far his solution isn’t working any better than mine. We’ve tried peanut butter, snickers bars, tootsie rolls and still no luck. If we don’t get him before we leave, I’ll put out some poison but hope that we don’t have to resort to that.

Planning for a six month hiatus is challenging. We’ll mostly need summer clothes, but will also run into cooler fall weather. I teach for World Coach Institute, so the books will need to come along, as well as my own published books. You never know when I might have an opportunity for a book signing along the way. I’m a life coach, and it’s also mobile; I’ll be coaching from the coach!

I am hoping to share unusual reflections with this blog, so don’t look for any, “Today we drove how-many-miles-and-saw.” I’m more interested in reflecting on how it feels to share a 40’ habitat with my sweet husband and two fur babies. I want to look for more than the usual tourist traps and really see America, it’s people and unique experiences.

I’ll be bringing my 3 wheel recumbent too – there’s nothing like starting my day out with a good ride. I’ll also continue to eat healthy – I have a digital scale in my RV kitchen and plan to use it too. I’m not bringing my bathroom scale – if I weigh my food, I shouldn’t have to weigh my body.

We’re going to be in the Southeast for most of the trip. Perhaps you live along the way and perhaps I can plan a visit with you? I hope to meet lots of new friends along the way. I’ll keep you posted on our itinerary and who knows? We may be sipping a Starbucks together in the very near future!

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I am not a failure

April 11, 2012 By 6 Comments

I received some disappointing news yesterday. As much as I coach others about expectations, that they’re pre-meditated resentments, darn if I didn’t have an expectation. When I didn’t hear what I wanted to hear, my attitude plummeted.
I have been involved in a credentialing process for over a year. It’s expensive, and time-consuming. I’ve worked very hard to prepare myself for the test. And I did not pass the first time. I knew right away what I did wrong, and while some of the circumstances were out of my control, I knew it was bad.  When I received the news of failing, I just rescheduled the follow up test. (I am afforded three tries)

The second test was written, rather than oral. This gave me lots of time to think, to really put a concentrated effort into it. I took nearly the two days afforded to me. I worked hard felt confident that this time I passed.

Then, finally the email came. I opened it with anticipation and my heart sunk as I read the words; “ we regret to inform you that you did not pass the exam process.”

I just wasn’t ready to read that. I thought for sure I passed. What now?

My attitude plummeted. Self-doubt and negative self-talk rattled around in my head. Embarrassed, defeated and in sore need of a hug, I shared my bad news with my husband, who tried to console me. It was just going to take some time to allow the news to settle in and then figure out what to do next.

I’ve learned that when I’m in an emotional state, take no action. My first thought was to just chuck the whole thing and that probably was a bad idea. I had a day planned with my niece who’s here on spring break. What good would come from ruining her day too? I needed an attitude adjustment. It’s not easy to just push away from negative self-talk, but I had to move forward with my day, even though I wanted to wallow in my self-pity.

The best way to get out of oneself is to become interested in others. We headed to the beach, and whenever I thought about my test results, I asked my niece about her life, got the focus off myself. While we baked in the sun, I read a book, went for a walk and just put my bad news away for the day. In the evening, I worked and once again, concentrated on helping others.

This morning I woke up without the pity-party. I am still not sure what to do about the next test, but realize that I need some help before I take it, so that I know how to pass it! I know the material; I just don’t express myself that well in a testing process. I’m embracing that in myself and will look today for solutions to this new challenge.

So I failed a test. That doesn’t mean I am a failure. I’ve just come up against a road block on my path and know that there is another way to deal with it. And I know that this experience will come in handy to help others who may face disappointment too!

You know, it’s easy to write when things are all hunky-dory, but that’s not life – life has its ups and downs. It helps me to know that others have gone through similar challenges and have come out on the other side. I’m in that process and hope to hear your success stories, how you faced disappointment and what appears to be failure, without feeling like a failure yourself.

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Fifteen things you can do to be happy

April 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I read a great article this morning by “John” about fifteen things to give up in order to be happy. Good stuff, but ‘giving up’ always seems so negative to me. So, I thought I’d write about fifteen things I can do to be happy. Thanks for the inspiration, John!

  1. Be human. And that means I am going to make mistakes. I can just hear that voice from my childhood, “You should know better.” Well, no I shouldn’t. I can relate so much better to people who are not perfect anyway. Show your warts!
  2. Remember that control is an illusion; the only thing I can control is myself and there are many times where that’s an illusion too! Going with the flow is much more fun and allows me to not take life so seriously.
  3. Take responsibility for your actions. If it’s your fault, own it! I no longer ‘awfulize’ everything. There just aren’t that many big deals and the world isn’t going to come to an end because I screwed up.
  4. Talk nicely to yourself. I’m pretty cool! There are enough people out there who’ll run us down for me to do that to myself. My actions reflect that I’m pretty cool, when I think it about myself.
  5. Broaden your belief system. Little surprises me anymore. When I believe that I can do something, I’ll take the steps to make it happen. Doubt is the big wall to progress.
  6. Look for the Good in life! Have fun! When I look for it, I find it! You know, there are miracles occurring all around us when our hearts are open to receiving them. I saw a Great American Bald Eagle on my bike ride this morning. Now that was a gift!
  7. Enjoy the luxury of compliments. When I look for the good in people, I can always find it. Try telling the clerk at the 7-11 that her long, painted fingernails are a work of art, and watch her face light up. It’s fun to brighten someone’s day by giving them a compliment.
  8. Remember that other’s opinion of me is none of my business. I want to impress myself! I no longer need anyone’s approval to feel good about myself. Perhaps that comes with age, but if you’re not a baby boomer, start now to look for the good in yourself!
  9. Embrace change. That’s the only thing that we can count on anyway! Life changes, and if I fight that, I’ll never be happy. If I anticipate change, when it comes, I can go with the flow and find the good in everything.

10. People are different. When I look for the differences, I can find them, but if I look for the similarities, they’re there too. I can relate to anyone, if I try. So who cares about what’s different? That’s the spice in life. The synonym to perfect is boring.

11. Be brave and courageous. I no longer allow fear to block me from taking action. When I draw on my inner strength, I see that it’s really there! I’m strong and invincible – I am woman!

12. Embrace who you are. I don’t need to make excuses for who I am today. People aren’t the results of cookie cutters. I like my little ideosyncrocies, because that’s what makes me special.

13. Stay in the present. When I worry about yesterday or dwell on what is yet to happen, I miss where I am. Life is so wonderful in the moment. I used to wish half my life away. Today is all I have and I’m going to enjoy every moment of it.

14. Life an unencumbered life. Seems like I collected so much ‘stuff’ as life unfolded. And now I view that as clutter! I’m slowly cleaning out all that junk I don’t need. Give it to the kids for Christmas! Donate it! As my space becomes more free, so does my spirit. Amazing.

15. Take your time. My good friend, Cheryle Touchton  always asks if any babies are gonna die if we don’t do this right now. I no longer allow other’s sense of urgency dictate my actions. When I take my time, take decisions to prayer and talk to others, solutions I never considered pop up.

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