Oh, What the Hey..

Oh, What The Hey, Go For It Anyway!

It has been many years now since I learned this saying.  Over the years I have found myself using it many times.  When my children and grandchildren first heard me speak these words, they thought it was cute, another silly thing about grandma they could share at my funeral some day.  Years have passed since the first time they heard me utter these words, and now they laugh for a different reason, when they find themselves occasionally hearing the words of permission, trust and freedom coming from their own mouth. 

When I first heard the words, I never imagined what could happen by using them..  Now as I reflect on how often, when and where I have used these few words I understand more fully the power they hold.  Today, I feel blessed and honored that someone chose to share these few words with me.

The first time I used these words was while shopping.  I found myself looking at something I wished I could buy while at the same time giving myself a list of reasons I shouldn't or couldn't buy it (money is tight, you haven't paid all the bills yet and can't know if you will have enough, the kids need shoes or clothes more than you need this,  it is more than you planned on spending...).  Previous to learning these words, as soon as the list of reasons not to buy would begin, I would walk away, believing it was impossible and denying myself whatever pleasure I thought the item would bring for myself or others.   One day though I found these words coming to mind.  More importantly I remembered being challenged to try out the words and see what happened.  So I said the words out loud - "What the Hey, Go For It Anyway" and bought the item.  I don't remember what it was, I know it wasn't something big.  What I do remember is the feeling of joy at doing something good for myself.  The world did not end because I bought something extra.  The children did not go without dinner because I had used an extra few dollars that day.  I was not struck by lightning for making a bad decision or being selfish. 

I began to use the words in other circumstances.  "What The Hey, Go For It Anyway" meant it was OK to buy a pair of shoes as well as the pair of boots for one of the children even if I didn't know how I was going to pay the electric bill the following week.  The words meant the children and I went to a movie even though I was worried about money because my employment contract was ending soon.   I used the words as permission to take a risk in submitting resumes to larger corporations than I had worked with in the past.    Each time I used the phrase, I found things seemed to work out.  If I spent a few dollars more here I found I chose to save a few dollars somewhere else.  If I spent time doing something I liked, I spent less time worrying about what I couldn't do.   Taking an employment risk was hard but I learned a new business skill. 

Through the years I have learned over and over the power of these few words -"What The Hey, Go For It Anyway".  It means trusting that things will work out even if you do not understand how or when.   It means trusting that taking a risk will bring unexpected results.   These words remind one it is OK to have belief in and put  trust in a higher power, energy, knowledge or source of strength.   These words allow a person to trust and believe in  himself,.  These words give permission to experience freedom,  to relax, to stop worrying and to let go.  They empower someone to reach out for something higher, something new.  These words contain the energy to move, run, play, try, progress and grow.

It is my wish today to pass these words on to you. I encourage you to use them at least once during the next week.  See if these simple few words will make a difference in your life.  I know they have in mine. 

Starting the Next Chapter

"You can't start the next chapter in your life if you keep re-reading the last one." Unknown

There are so many ways of interpreting this, but today is a good day to think about what it could mean for you. 

Picture attribution: Pixaby free images

Life is all about growing, learning and changing.  Each of these words imply a sense of moving.  Generally it involves moving toward something new, something different or something unexpected.  Occasionally it may mean repeating something in order to make a better decision or find a better solution to a situation.  One thing about life is for sure, it goes on, with or without your permission, all around you.  The next day, the next chapter, or the next experience is waiting for you.

The last chapter of your life happened. You may have laughed or you may have cried. You may have been alone or had someone important to you supporting or loving you through. You may have failed or you may have succeeded.  You may have found some rest or worked your hardest.  You may have forgotten or you may have remembered something or someone that made a difference for you.  You may have learned something new or remembered you already knew what you needed to make it through this chapter.  Whatever happened or wherever you ended up, you finished.  Congratulations.

Like the student who just graduated, you are at a new starting point.  You have been coached, taught and encouraged. You have been presented with a myriad of lessons and experiences which assisted you in learning the skills, gaining the knowledge or improving your abilities needed to begin the next chapter or next phase of life. You have been prepared.  Just like the student you may feel uneasy about what the future holds.  Like the student, you may want to just remain as you are.  You like who you are at this moment.  Facing the unknown holds the possibility of events or experiences which may change you.  Like the student, you may want to hold tightly to the relationships of friends and teachers and the security of structured/planned days.  Instead of moving on you try to keep what you have, or re-read the last chapter hoping to find all the answers instead of turning the page.

Today is the beginning of your next chapter.  It might be only a new day or it may be a new month. Perhaps you are at a crossroad, ready to make a choice of which new path to take.  Perhaps you have experienced a recent life event such as marriage, the birth of a new child and you now have someone new to share joys and sorrows with.  You may have just experience the loss of a companion through divorce or death and now must move forward without the thought of including them in decisions.  Are you the one starting a new job or a facing an opportunity you thought would never come your way?   Whoever you are, what ever your circumstances and wherever you are at this moment, now is your time to turn the page.  It is time to start a new chapter only you can write.  

Nothing is Impossible

shutterstock.com/impossible

Nothing is impossible - the word itself says "I'm Possible."

How many times have you or I found ourselves looking at a project, idea, task or offer and said "That is impossible!"  How many times have you then tried anyway and proved it was indeed possible?  Or seen someone else succeed at what you perceived as impossible to accomplish? 

Many times it is not the idea or task that seems impossible, it is the way we initially expect or envision it happening, and perhaps we could be right.  However, in almost everything, there is more than one way to try, act or accomplish it.  Many years ago I sat in a room with about seventy-five others and were challenged to cross a room.  The only rule was that you could not do it exactly the same as anyone before you.  The idea seemed impossible, after all there are only so many ways to walk, run or skip, or so we believed.  As the challenge proceeded, imagination and thought grew among the group.  Not everyone walked, or ran, or skipped or used shoes or feet or held their arms or hands or feet the same.  We found surprisingly that not only were there 75 different ways to cross a room, but also many more we did not have time to attempt. The experience was one of the best I have ever had in helping me understand that if something looks or sounds impossible, I need to take a second look and remember the way may just be something I haven't thought of or tried yet. 

What looks or feels impossible to you right now?  Now say to you yourself, this is possible.  Take another look and try something different. Remember too, what seems impossible for one person may be absolutely possible for someone else only because they did or thought of something the other person had not explored yet.  Remember you are the one that may be perfect, have the knowledge, will, determination, experiences or imagination to do what someone else also thought impossible. 

Take a chance. Look for the IM POSSIBLE ways in everything you see or try.






Well Done Is Better Than Well Said

I have been doing a lot of research lately and I have found this thought comes to my mind often as I sift through all the material and look for information. 

 

Sometimes in life things become so overwhelming that you find you need to pause, sift through what you have or are looking for and set a limit.  You have to decide what is important and what you can let go or walk away from. You have to create your own level of deciding what is of worth to you in the present moment.  Circumstances change, so it is okay if you find what you decide today you feel differently about at a later time. 
I decided to do some research lately on writing, for business, as a business or just for fun.  What makes the difference between a well written story or book and a best seller?  As you can imagine, there are hundreds of books already written and many more everyday coming out everyday on "How To......(write a novel, write good characters, write a plot, write a novel in X days, or write a book in X hours).  I could see quickly, with so many to choose from, I needed to narrow my search.  So I decided to look for authors who I admired because of their well done best seller novels or books. What I found is that those who are busy creating the stories and books I love to read are not the ones out there expounding how to do it.  I noticed that they are examples to me of well done is better than well said.   Their accomplishments speak louder than any words they can speak and are much more powerful.  They don't tell how to write, they show how to write with feeling, power or personal knowledge.

Saying I am a writer means nothing if I am not putting pen to paper, fingers to keyboard or screen to paper.    I have to do these thing well before I can say they are well done.   Until I share what I write I am a writer not a teacher or author.  It is the well done act of sharing that makes the difference.   I can write as many pages as I want but it is the well done act of combining them into a book you can enjoy or learn from that makes the difference between saying I am a writer and saying I am an author.  Well Done is better than Well Said. 

This concept can be a positive motivation tool in everyday choices.  It is better to do, to act, to move, to take a step than to just say you are going to.   How many tasks, jobs, chores or projects do you accomplish during a day?  Do you consider them well done?   Did you use a skill, tools, instruments, knowledge, energy, effort or personal intuition?  Give yourself credit for a job well done.  Never mind whether someone else from their experience or perspective considers it well done, you are the one whose opinion counts.   

So take a moment today to stop and see how you can use this idea in your life.  Make this phrase personal to you.  Share it.  Show it.  Say it.   Be the best you possible today.