Arminda Lindsay

Being On Purpose

Creating Positive: Day 15 of 21

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When falafel crosses my mind, it’s just my body’s way of saying, “Hey, I want to eat some falafel within the next three hours, or you’re going to be blending your own chickpeas by tonight.” And when I get that message, I drive to the nearest falafel-making joint I can find, and order up. There’s a newish (they’ve been open for three months) Mediterranean restaurant/bakery/juice bar in town, and I decided to see how their falafel measures up to some of my preferred spots. Nazareth Bread did not disappoint. I was able to sample the falafel, pita bread (best I’ve ever had), and some coconut cookie deliciousness straight from the baker’s oven. I just remembered I bought a piece of baklava to try, too, but forgot to eat it. No worries. Breakfast will be here in a few hours. And that, my friends, is how we turn a negative into a positive!

The Other Three

  1. Exercise – done
  2. Meditate – done
  3. Kindness – done

Gratitudes

  1. Flannel jammies
  2. Rainboots
  3. Flexibility in my schedule
  4. Falafel (any doubts, see above)
  5. Birthday parties
  6. Karen
  7. Memories
  8. Scheduling new business appointments
  9. Giggling
  10. Donated Target bag from a stranger for a clean cause
  11. Cleaning the kitchen together time

Positive Experience

  • The best of friends share the same piece of cake, but each with her own fork.
  • A true friend will dance around the kitchen with you because you relocated a piece of furniture, and you’re delighted with its new space.
  • Friends don’t need to always be speaking, just a little bit of space to write between them.
  • I am truly grateful today for my friend Karen, who pushes, and reminds, and encourages, and believes in me.

Who knew a birthday party for two could be the best way EVER to spend an afternoon with Karen?! I had brought last night’s red velvet cake for the celebration and in our search for candles, discovered the greatest heirloom tin Karen keeps in her pantry, and its only purpose in life has been to hold recycled birthday candles and the special occasion candle holders! When I opened the tin, it smelled just like my first-grade classroom 🙂 What a sentimental treasure! Karen decorated her cake in style, and then I sang to her, of course!

When I blow out the candles on my next birthday cake, I’m going to make a wish that the friendships, which have so richly blessed my life up until now, will continue to be such a source of joy to me in all my years to come.

Creating Positive: Day 14 of 21

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Growing up, my mother baked a lot of cakes. There were eight of us kids, plus a menagerie of assorted pets, and my dad, and we all had reasons to celebrate. Three cakes were regularly requested: 1) yellow sheet cake with either chocolate frosting (me), or with cherry topping (Dad), or 2) red velvet cake, which was oftentimes green, depending on whose request it was (Andy), or 3) Wacky Cake (Nathan).

And lest you think otherwise, all of the cakes and their various toppings were homemade, no mixes or cans were used in the making or the baking process. (Mom tried to switch it up on me a few years ago with  my annual yellow cake with chocolate frosting, but hopefully she learned I cannot be bought with a cake mix birthday.)

Tonight, I baked Mom’s red velvet cake, complete with her frosting recipe, and I’m going to go ahead and claim victory on this baking project (which required three separate siftings of the dry ingredients, 15 minutes of batter mixing, and 10 minutes of icing mixing – thank goodness I had sous chefs helping me!), and relish in that fact, while expressing public gratitude for the countless cakes my mother baked – I’m guessing out of sheer love for her happy eaters, because boy, was that ever a lot of work!

The Other Three

  1. Exercise – done
  2. Meditate – done
  3. Kindness – done

Gratitudes

  1. Sharing our pew with family
  2. Seeing old friends
  3. Cooking
  4. Meditating in the woods
  5. Hot water whenever I want it
  6. Baking a successful version of Mom’s Red Velvet Cake

Positive Experience

As soon as she arrived in “our pew” this morning, Claire came running to me, and jumped up for a big squeeze and a kiss, murmuring against my cheeks, “I missed you!” Sundays are always a delight to share with this sweet niece, whose Sunday service hour is wiled away on my lap, coloring, opening every app on any iDevice she can hold without detection, or having her legs, arms, back, or belly rubbed – and in just the right way or I will hear about it. Today, Claire learned how to operate the iPod camera, and took numerous shots of the ceiling, but I’m rather partial to this one.

Creating Positive: Day 13 of 21

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The trouble now is deciding which daily positive experience to share in this medium! I start out thinking it’s going to be one thing, and then it turns into a completely different moment from my day. I’m grateful for this challenge! And speaking of challenges, how’s the Dopamine Challenge treating you? What has been a particularly memorable experience for you so far?

The Other Three

  1. Exercise – nope
  2. Meditate – done
  3. Kindness – done

Gratitudes

  1. Sleeping late
  2. The helpfulness of Apple employees
  3. Crying (again) when Dobby dies
  4. Making my own naan!
  5. Movie candy at home
  6. Avatar cartoon series
  7. Clean Sheet Day

Positive Experience

I well remember the day I was first introduced to Harry Potter. It seemed obvious to me that any book(s) that were grabbing the interest of so many young people across the globe had to be worth at least a cursory glance from me. But like the others before me, there was no turning back once I read:

Dear Mr. Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that  you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall,

Deputy Headmistress

 

My daughter and I have been experiencing the story differently this time (who’s counting how many times and ways we’ve read them?) by listening our way through the audio version of all seven books, and we are now halfway through the final book: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Dobby just died again, and again I am overcome with tears. Driving through town, my daughter sitting next to me just as affected as me, but perhaps not as willing to show it, I allow my emotions to roll shamelessly onto my shirt, and I am grateful in this moment for the power of words, the capability of story, and my shared love of literature with this beautiful young woman to whom I’ve been reading out loud since before her ears were formed in my belly.

Creating Positive: Day 12 of 21

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I’m always glad when Friday arrives, but in a desperate sort of way. It’s as if the day has snuck up on me, and didn’t tell me it was coming so soon, which means I haven’t had time to put out the guest towels yet. Maybe that’s just me. Either way – the Dopamine Challenge is still providing me plenty of opportunities to wear my rose-colored glasses as I move through the variety of experiences I call my life.

The Other Three

  1. Exercise – nope
  2. Meditate – done
  3. Kindness – done

Gratitudes

  1. Procedures that allow me to work efficiently
  2. Public Radio
  3. Inspiration that comes from others’ successes
  4. Participating as an audience member in a live broadcast of The State of Things
  5. Chopsticks

Positive Experience

Arminda & Peter with Dr. Nido Qubein

We were privileged this afternoon to participate as audience members in a live broadcast of WUNC’s The State of Things, a live public radio program produced locally, and one of my favorite shows. Today’s guest was Dr. Nido Qubein, and if you’re unfamiliar with his story, I encourage you to click here to learn more about him. I’ve been a big fan of Nido for as many years as I have lived in North Carolina, and always enjoy hearing him speak publicly. He is charming and inspirational. I took notes, and here were just a few standout items:

  • With a clear vision, solid strategy, and good communication, amazing things can happen
  • When you have a great idea & can sell it to someone else (buy-in), the world can change
  • I want to shift my perspective from success to significance
  • The world changes by lighting one candle (person) at a time
  • The best way to prove yourself is to lose yourself in a cause
  • Anytime you have an idea, someone else will resist you based on their own frame of reference
  • We are each a product of the people we know and the books we’ve read
  • Dare to be an individual; do it your way

My notes were about what impacted me in the moment, although I want to listen again to everything that was said. Dr. Qubein’s life outlook is very much in line with our own 21-day challenge to shift our own spheres of happiness, and as we do, then just as Dr. Qubein suggested, we can change the world!

Creating Positive: Day 11 of 21

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We are at the Dopamine Challenge halfway mark today! I haven’t heard from many of you in a while, so how’s it going? This morning I realized that by tracking my gratitudes each day, I am always looking for the positive perspective to every situation. And as I re-frame the world around me, the world around me starts to shift on its own. I’m starting to slow down more, take in my surroundings, and really focus on being present. I like the way it feels. There’s not the same sense of urgency to check off so many things on my list, as there is a peace of mind that comes from knowing I did what needed to be done, and appreciated my experiences throughout the day.

The Other Three

  1. Exercise – done
  2. Meditate – done
  3. Kindness – done

Gratitudes

  1. 72 degrees in February
  2. Reconnecting with Lavonne over oatmeal
  3. Feeling compassion for another person
  4. peanut butter
  5. Nathan commenting on my page
  6. Sweet email from Jamie
  7. “Who is missing right here?” with Clark
  8. An evening at home
  9. A new apron from Lavonne
  10. Reminder to journal the journey
  11. Having all the ingredients in my kitchen to make what I want
  12. Bobbijean’s reminder that time with our children isn’t about “taking a turn”
  13. Courage

Positive Experience

Eleanor Roosevelt said, “Do one thing every day that scares you.”

Today I was courageous in the face of my past. Today I confronted a bully. Today I stood up for what is right. Today I defined appropriate. Today I remained calm. Today I was in control. Today I made the rules. Today I spoke my truth. Today I wasn’t afraid any more. Today I did something that no longer scares me.

Ms. Roosevelt, with all due respect, today I didn’t listen.

Creating Positive: Day 10 of 21

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I have had such a great response, both on and offline, to the Dopamine Challenge! It’s so gratifying to hear from many of you about the daily journals you’re keeping of your gratitudes, and that you’re noticing changes. For some of you, the changes are significant, and for others, incremental. For many of you, committing to all five of the requirements is extremely difficult. Pick one and start there. If you can, at the very least, focus on the positives, then after twenty-one days you’ll be in that habit, and can add the next item. Go twenty-one days, and add another, and so on. You’ll be on the 105-Day Plan! No worries. And for those of you just now finding us, jump on in and get started! Your 21 days can begin today. Let us know how it’s going!

The Other Three

  1. Exercise – done
  2. Meditate – nope
  3. Kindness – done

Gratitudes

  1. Productive lunch meeting with a client
  2. Being a resource for my client
  3. Getting contacted to film some commercials
  4. Sunshine
  5. Leftovers
  6. Lots of positive feedback on the Dopamine Challenge
  7. Arriving on-time all day long
  8. Razor slept through the night
  9. Peter’s responsiveness
  10. Honesty

Positive Experience

If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you already know that I am in love with a boy named Clark. If you want to know more, you’re welcome to read about a particularly memorable walk we took together.

This afternoon I parked my car and stepped onto the sidewalk when Clark, who was outside playing, noticed I was home, and came barreling toward me the way only a 2 1/2 year old can (barely keeping his balance and never in a straight line). My bags were on the ground just before Clark leapt into my arms, wrapped his arms around my neck, smooched me, and said, “Hi, Mimi!” How could life possibly be sweeter than that?

Creating Positive: Day 9 of 21

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Go ahead and acknowledge you have stress in your life. Embrace that fact. Stress exists for all of us, and comes from a variety of sources – some of which we control, and others over which we have absolutely no control at all. I’m no sociologist, but it seems to me that stress is the main barrier preventing our personal happiness. If that’s true, then would you agree that breaking through that barrier could lead to significant improvement in your emotional health and well being? Would you also agree that when you are stressed, it is difficult (if not impossible) to recognize the positive? It’s as if one displaces the other, and you only have space enough for one of them. Stress and positivity cannot coexist. At least, that’s what I’ve been pondering today. Granted, there are different kinds of stress in our lives, but if we focus on emotional stress – that is something we can control 100%!

How do you manage stress? We collected a small sample of ideas this morning during our training session, and the flip chart pictured captures many of those ideas. There are ways to shift away from stress while you’re at work, and ideas to implement while you’re at home. This list is far from comprehensive. What would you add? What do YOU do to relieve stressful situations in your own life?

 

 

The Other Three

  1. Exercise – done
  2. Meditate – done
  3. Kindness – done

Gratitudes

  1. Hearing about significant ROI for a client – after only ONE month!
  2. Watching my daughter mature and grow into a beautiful young woman
  3. Reconnecting conversation with Laura C
  4. Safe and uneventful business trip
  5. Youth leaders who love my daughter
  6. New random dishes to capture better photographs of my food
  7. Warm fuzzy socks
  8. Email from Nancy about her start to the Dopamine Challenge
  9. Laughing when I realized I was wearing 4″ heels while doing dishes, knowing there’s no social expectation (because I am so not Donna Reed)

Positive Experience

Accepting the fact that it takes a variety of communities, our modern-day villages, to create great people (I wrote about that here), I witnessed my daughter in one of her most significant community circles tonight.

She was a key participant in a church youth program this evening, and as parents we were able to attend. My daughter was given an assignment in advance, and on her own prepared a talk, which she delivered with better oral skills than many adults I know. She performed a duet with one of her friends, and her voice sang out with such sweetness, purity and clarity, I was proud of her confidence and ability to share her many gifts and talents with others. Immediately following the program’s conclusion, she hurried to introduce me to one of her favorite youth leaders, about whom she’s been telling me since July of last year.

If community is about creating quality individuals, I am certainly grateful tonight for the community of strong women my daughter is building around herself.

Creating Positive: Day 6 of 21

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We are about to start our second week together in the Dopamine Challenge. Have you noticed any patterns in your behavior? Any inconsistencies? Any observations? What are the biggest challenges you’re facing in completing the challenge? How can our community help? I know how important accountability is for my own success. Knowing I have to publish my daily results is keeping me on my toes and my fingers at the ready! If you haven’t already, you may want to consider partnering with someone else to go through the experience together. If for no other reason – being accountable to someone other than yourself is important for success. Let me know how I can help.

The Other Three

Exercise – Done
Meditate – Done
Kindess – Done

Gratitudes

  1. The promise of snow
  2. Vehicles that work
  3. Shoes designed for walking
  4. Strangers willing to share
  5. Cameras to capture life’s moments
  6. Great parking spots
  7. Knowledgeable people
  8. So many people in such a wide variety of industries working & contributing to the greater good

Positive Experience

I hope there is always something special for me about sleeping late on a Saturday morning. When we were kids, Saturday was the one day of the week my parents didn’t have to wake us up; we got up of our own accord – and early – to watch Saturday morning cartoons! I still love cartoons, but they no longer hold the influence over me they once did. Of course, sleeping late is a relative term, isn’t it? There’s always the next thing to get done, and getting my day started always energizes me. I let it all slide this morning, and enjoyed the comfort of the comforter a little longer.

Creating Positive – Day 2 of 21

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I am well underway with my commitment to creating more positivity. Thank you for joining me on this journey. I carried my journal everywhere I went today, so I could make an immediate written record of the things for which I am grateful. That left nothing up to speculation at the end of a long day.

Christie also reminded me that in addition to keeping a record of three new things for which I am grateful each day, and sharing one positive experience I’ve had in the last 24 hours, I also need to meditate, exercise, and commit a conscious act of kindness. My biggest challenge in that list is the meditation. What tips can someone share with me on how to more effectively meditate? My mind just wants to wander, and I have a hard time sitting still for too long, or I fall asleep (just being honest). I have only two switches: On and Off.

Gratitudes

  1. Electronic flowers from my daughter
  2. Synergistic networking meeting with Leigh Anne
  3. Connecting with real people through Twitter
  4. Hot tea on a cold day
  5. Lunch with Karen
  6. Chocolate-covered strawberries (somehow this made the list twice!)
  7. Oxi Clean (that’s a whole other blog post)
  8. Valentine delivery with a hug from Clark

Positive Experience

Life can be too busy a lot of the time. I suppose I am to blame for that, but when I focus on scaling back, sadly, there always seems to be something else filling the welcome void. Because of this, spending time with those whom I love sometimes feels like my last priority, when I want it to be my first. Just as I finished my great meeting with Leigh Anne, I received a text message from Karen to see if I wanted to meet for lunch. Of course!

Every single time I am with Karen, I come away feeling like the king of the world. During our lunchtime conversation this afternoon I remembered all over again how fortunate and blessed is my life for having Karen in it.

I love our friendship and the numerous ways it continues to enrich my whole world.

Creating Positive: Day 1 of 21

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For those of you just joining us, you may want to start with The Dopamine Challenge.

My Original Happy List

I am not only committed to the 21-day challenge, BUT I am going to share my daily gratitudes and my daily journal here with you! In preparing for this journey, I remembered that many years ago, while living in Russia as a full-time missionary for our church, I was having a hard time. Life wasn’t easy, and to reverse my own downward emotional trend, I started keeping a daily “Happy List.” I continued to add to that list long after I returned from Russia, and it is still one of my most prized possessions in the world – meaning it’s in my top five “grab it if the house is on fire” items.

I bought a new notebook today so I can keep a daily written record of gratitude, or in my case – my Happy List. Once I started making my list, I found it difficult (not like I was trying) to keep myself to just three.You may discover you have similar things that make you happy, or you may have very different kinds of items on your list. I don’t think it matters. This is about what elicits gratitude within you.

  1. Being called a “Renaissance Woman” by my friend AJ.
  2. Getting LOTS of hits to my Dopamine Challenge article!
  3. Finding my missing Happy List from Russia
  4. Impromptu Xanadu singalong with Rachel
  5. Productive networking lunch with Tommy
  6. Playing Muppet Monopoly while singing with the newest Muppet soundtrack
  7. Valentine surprises one day early
  8. Great early morning run
  9. Successful practice with Heather via Skype
  10. Having my whole day turn to positive with just one phone call and a gentle reminder

My younger sister, Rachel, came over this evening, bringing happiness with her. We enjoyed supper, visiting, an impromptu Glee-worthy vocal performance of Suspended in Time (from Xanadu – which should also be on my Happy List), and finished the evening with muffins hot from the oven and a game of Muppet Monopoly. While we were playing the game, we all sang (loudly) the entire soundtrack from the newest Muppet movie: The Muppets.

What were your three new gratitudes from Day One, and what was your positive experience?

 

allarminda.com | 2024