My core competency is development, through building long-lasting relationships.  That, I’m sure about and have passion for.

At the end of the day my focus has always been about helping children in need.  When my sister and I started the nonprofit (SOC) the driving force was getting household goods  to parents in need, because less stressed parents are less stressed children.

The question comes to mind if it makes sense to go through raising the tons of  money it takes to run for office, run myself ragged to in hopes to get elected and hope even more to make an impact? Or use my core competency to get needs of children met sooner than later?

Yeah, I have two choices and I’m leaning away from “the office”.

This book takes a deeper look at successful, what he calls “Deja’vu” people.  It also ranks high with me that pages are adorned with quotes.  One of my favorites “Wanting it all keeps you from having any.”

The single largest take away is about mistakes as I have made some DOO-ZIES, lemme tell ya!  In short, and paraphrased, “Anyone who builds anything gets duped or fooled or surprised, at least once…successful people are humble and accept failures and mistakes, own their part, see them as a part of the process and move on.”

Dr. Cloud thoroughly answers two questions published on the back cover of the book. “Ever wonder why some people keep getting what they want out of life, and others don’t? What’s the difference between those who reach their goals over and over and those locked in survival mode?”

Excellent.  Thank you Dr. Cloud.

It focuses on the stress that the custodian faces  from the minute he wakes up, rushing to catch his bus, while walking past dilapidated buildings and liquor stores.  The life of the mid range worker is significantly better, yet the CEO’s life is best.  Please don’t hold me liable on my description, there’s obviously more to it, I’m just giving you a general idea.

Anyways, I remember after we watched the documentary, sitting back in my chair thinking “Wow.”  It opened my world on the topic of poverty in a big way.

This particular documentary may not be of any interest to you and that’s great simply because the differences in all of us are what make this world go ’round.

The community awareness event is Sunday, September 19th, $3, at the Mission Theater & Pub in NW PDX (their regular menu will be available for purchase), doors open at 1:30, documentary at 2:00 with a panel discussion afterward.

I’m proud of myself for getting an inspiration to do something and following through until it comes to life.

The hiccup in the system is that  its been well over ten years since I’ve experience all of the things that take place when working in an office.  I’m just not sure if I’ll ever not be tired again.  My hope is for a pattern to fall into place and eventually not  feel like dying at the end of the day.

I’m thankful for this opportunity as it is sending me in my ultimate direction, adjustment period and all.

I just finished reading Wayne Dyers book  “10 Secrets for Success and Inner Peace”.  The “Fifth Secret; Give Up Your Personal History” really stuck with me because it has taken me a long time to let go of my own personal history.

“When a speedboat zooms across the surface of the water, there’s a foamy froth behind it that’s called the wake of the boat.  The wake is nothing more than the trail that’s left behind…It does not drive the boat”

True enough the experience of our history makes us who we are today.  The difference for me was separating  what is over and done with, because no amount of toiling would change it anyways, from what is now, today.

What is driving your boat?  Do you know or are you too busy looking back at the wake?

1. I think part of a best friend’s job should be to immediately clear your computer’s history if you die.

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you’re wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn’t want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest needs to start their directions on #5. I’m pretty sure I know how to get out of my damn neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

9. I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren’t going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don’t want to have to restart my collection…again.

13. I’m always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to the ten-page paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. “Do not machine wash or tumble dry” means I will never wash this — ever.

15. I hate it when I miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Damn it!)but when I immediately call back it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What’d you do after I didn’t answer? Drop the phone and run away?

16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

17. I keep some people’s phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

18. My 4-year old son asked me in the car the other day “What would happen if you ran over a ninja?” How the hell do I respond to that?

19. I think the freezer deserves a light as well..

20. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lites than Kay

You see, my niece Elizabeth, is 23 and has downs syndrome.  She was not particularly interested in my mission and took her time browsing, walking and chewing her food.

Liz saw a friend while we were shopping and their joy in seeing one another was so sweet.

She is a natural force and a healthy reminder about the wonder of  life and letting go of control.

Carol also told me that she “did not enjoy” the Wild Women III; Free to be party “It was giddy.”  She went on to say that I speak with “charisma” and have a way of “bringing people together and energizing them” and that I should “find something to do with my skill…otherwise you are wasting.”  She suggested politics.

You know what? I think Carol is cooler than hell and respect her straightforward style of communication and told her so.  Imagine that.

Imagine being in a space in life where we choose to hear people, especially when their thoughts do not align with ours and it isn’t the least bit upsetting because we know who we are.

Imagine living life knowing that the only person that has the power to make or break us, is us.

I left this conversation full, confident as hell because I not only imagine this place of being in life, I live it.

that we

and we alone

have the power to change our reality;

the power to live our dreams.

Our dreams can become our reality

at the moment we refuse fear,

eliminate distrust and orphan assumption.

It is at this moment, when we open

ourselves to the possibilities of greatness

and warmly embrace love,

that we find all things we feared were illusions,

and all our dreams have been there

before us,

waiting all this time for us,

to love ourselves enough to be them.

Mardica Hicks ~ August 29, 2007 ~ All Rights Reserved

Over the past several weeks I’ve been given opportunities left and right to see things from another point of view, therefore asking for forgiveness for mistakes and hurt feelings.

The bitter~sweet lesson is wanting to be forgiven, while sharply being reminded of  how I have not been so  generous with forgiving others. Nice wake up call, huh?

Its true that we can not give that which do not have or are not willing to see.

My life is a work in progress and I’m in it to achieve my highest good…wish me luck…its obviously needed.