Do you choose easy or do you choose hard? There is no right or wrong answer. I have friends who are quite proud that they choose easy. By their choice, they have a much smoother way of life. Also by this choice they choose the consequences, which will likely be to stay where they already are in their potential. If that is what they want, may they have the peace they seek.

If, on the other hand, you choose hard, you are looking at the possibility of being frustrated, down, stressed, and wondering what in the heck you’re doing—until the blessed gift of slipping into the zone arrives. Choosing hard isn’t for everyone. It requires a lot of determination, persistence, and grit. It also requires you to be a gambler because there is no guarantee that it will all turn out in the end.

The rewards can be huge. I submit—excluding divine intervention—that nothing great has ever been accomplished without choosing hard. There is a difference between choosing hard and deciding the task is hard. I am all about simplifying and not complicating things in order to reach objectives. In the long run choosing hard is, in fact, choosing easy. If I choose to make the hard decision of staying healthy, down the line, when others who didn’t make those choices are getting ill, I will be reaping the benefits of that hard beginning choice. The same goes in all areas of life, for everyone.

Posted in: Step It Up Living at 9:23 pm | Comments (0)

I am so excited to announce how one of my client’s is stepping it up and launching a great new business.  Check it out!

Cable Care Couture is a fashion blog committed to showcasing the cutest modest clothes on the market!  Cable Car Couture features spotlights on real women, incredible designers, big and small, as well as fantastic giveaways!  Visit www.cablecarcouture.com for the whole scoop!

I was inspired to create Cable Car Couture as I was researching fabulous modest clothes in preparation for America’s Top Model.  I knew I couldn’t keep these marvelous modest frocks to myself and thus, Cable Car Couture was born.  It is a true labor of love.

Please add www.cablecarcouture.com to your blogroll and spread the word!

A recent post you may enjoy:

WSJ: Assets Covered

Posted in: Step It Up Living at 6:03 pm | Comments (0)

         As a mother and an employer there are two characteristics I praise above all others.  They are accountability and responsibility.  When a person is straight with you about their actions, when you can trust that they will do what they say they will do, then true comfort and trust can be built.  Give me a child or an employee with these characteristics and I will give you someone that is easy to rely on and who will be successful in many areas of their lives.

Posted in: Self Improvement, Step It Up Living at 2:00 pm | Comments (0)

I wanted to share a success of one of  my client’s.  It is so exciting to watch people to step into their dreams.

When I was 8 years old, I took a modeling class.  And let me tell you, I had a kick butt runway walk – even then!  As kids, we dabbled in the entertainment industry, being involved in commercials and movies.  As a teenager I totally wanted to model and even went to an agency!  I was instructed to lose an inch off my hips and come back.  Though I never did, I have thought about modeling for years and gone through phases of enthusiasm… but never really done anything about it.

Until now.  In November, I started working with life coach Lisa J. Peck, the Step It Up Queen.  The weekend before, this urge to model had been rekindled so we talked about it.  She told me how she could hear the color in my voice whenever I talked about modeling and encouraged me to make time for and pursue my childhood dream.  It’s been amazing how Lisa’s encouragement has helped me move forward these last few months, not just with modeling, but life in general.  With her help, I’ve made incredible progress in trusting my instincts, living with confidence and actively pursuing my dreams.  I live with greater clarity and direction.

Here’s some of my favorite shots from some recent photo shoots… more to come!

Photo care of Robert Parker

Photo care of Chris Blackburn

Photo care of Chris Blackburn

Photo care of Justin Hackworth

Posted in: Self Improvement, Step It Up Living at 9:55 pm | Comments (0)

My daughter was sixteen months old, dressed in a light pink felt coat that flared.  Her long, light baby hair twisted in slight curls that spilled down half her back, and her bangs were pulled up in a twisty on top of her head to keep out of her bright blue eyes.  With her first few steps in New York she took to the city like she owned the place.  She trotted down the street, ignoring the bitter wind, smiling and waving at everyone that she passed.

I followed closely behind, shocked, as one hardened New Yorker after another stopped their busy rush forward to look at my child, take in her wave and smile back. 

 “Oh, how cute.” 

 “What a doll.”  

 “Well, hello there.”

The show didn’t end on the streets.  We made our way into the small restaurants filled with divine-smelling foods.  My daughter perched herself up on the highchair and smiled, waving at anyone and everyone whose eye she could catch.  Then, as the music swept through the room she’d wave her arms and dance to the beat to receive more gushing and laughter.  I saw no one resist at least smiling at her act.

Why did my baby bring so much happiness to a place that is known for its business and rushed attitude?  Why did everyone respond to her no matter what race or language they spoke?

I have a theory.  There at the toddler stage my daughter had fully embraced gratitude.  She was living in the moment.  She loved life.  She loved any and every flickering moment of attention she caught.  If she was unable to catch someone’s eye she didn’t let this bother her.  She kept trying until she did catch their eye and then when she got the desired response, she would light up and be grateful.

She was grateful for life.  She totally embraced the living of it and people recognized that joy and recognized when someone was grateful for their natural response.  It only took a moment of attention for her to light up and the people who gave it were immediately rewarded with the best she could give back.  This brought happiness to both her and them.

I often wonder if we could be grateful for the small things—like the ability to trot down the street, or a smile, or to be able to rock to the music—how much happier would we be?  When we stop and enjoy the little things, our lives are enriched.

Posted in: Self Improvement, Step It Up Living at 9:39 pm | Comments (0)