Always smiling...

My sister-in-law, Julie, contacted me yesterday to tell me that their dog, Mishka, was put to sleep because of a large tumor found during surgery. This was unexpected and we were not prepared for the outcome. I remember the last time I saw him. I think it was New Year’s Eve. I could tell he was slowing down but didn’t think much of it at the time. I wish I had paid a little more attention now.

Mishka was approx. 12 years old and a rescue dog from the pound. He was a big, white, fluffy samoyed who was always so excited to have company. If he were human, it would appear as though he smiled whenever there were friends and family visiting. He was filled with love and kindness. He beamed with light and now he is gone.

This morning as I reflect on his life, I find it very ironic that he leaves us on Valentine’s Day, a day of love. Because he was and IS love. He was one of the most loving animals I’ve ever known and it is hard to say goodbye. I treasure the time that I had to spend with Mishka. He was a great teacher and friend. I will think of him every year from now until forever on Valentine’s Day. Happy Valentine’s Day Mishka…may God open his arms to accept you into his beautiful world.

We will see you again at the rainbow bridge.

Be thankful and grateful for every moment you have with others.

I had a professor in college that introduced me to Joseph Campbell. I remember watching the PBS series on VHS in art class and not really understanding what the heck it meant to “follow your bliss.” (No HD television back then!) How was this going to make me a better graphic designer?

Campbell sounded like the teacher in the classic “Peanuts” cartoons by Charles Schultz. His message was going in one ear and out the other. None of this was making sense to me…follow your bliss? What the heck did that mean? I felt like I was trapped in a philosophy class, too many questions with no answers. My blank stare gave it away because I was clueless. My mind continued to spin out of control and all I could think about was getting out of this classroom and heading home to hang out with my boyfriend and little dog, Abby.

But on my way home, I found myself reflecting on the question that haunts me even today ”what the heck am I going to do with my life.” I couldn’t answer the question then and I’m not sure how much of an answer I can share with you now. Campbell defines history as everything in the “middle” from when you are born to the end of your life. Reflecting on his thoughts…we all make our own history and it affects everything in the universe. Perhaps I put too much emphasis on my “daily task list” instead of what really matters. Am I serving the greater good of God?

Today, I reflect on the message that my professor shared with me many years ago and the memory of the television show that I watched,  “The Power of the Myth” .  Even after all these years, I can only image what my true purpose is on earth. But I continue to seek the answers so that I continue my journey with peace in my heart.

Find your bliss.

During these difficult times, finding a job can be a challenge. As an unemployed graphic designer, I find myself in the uncomfortable position of being a sales person for myself. I’m constantly trying to mold into this “design package”, re-evaluating myself on a daily basis. It is not easy to get up every morning and look through the job boards and individual company sites hoping and praying to find that one job lead. It’s like looking for a needle in a hay stack! Job descriptions are so detailed and specific now. Online applications take more time than ever requiring more personal information and testing. Once I get past the phone interview, then there are face-to-face interviews followed by behavioral questions. It’s not surprising that self-reflection and evaluation become part of the every day routine.

Now more than ever, it is important to recognize your individual talents and passions. Employers really want to know who you are, not just what you can do. Companies are looking for employees who match the company philosophy and culture. So, you must have the passion that they do or you will find yourself outside looking in. That is probably the biggest change in the employment market today. It’s not about being a mom or a wife or even a designer…it’s about YOU! What do you love? What is your passion? If you can’t answer that question, then you may want to consider it now because when you are unemployed, you have a lot more time to think about it. In a job market like this one with over 9.1% unemployment, you’ll want to have the competitive edge over the others. It will help you define your job search, interview more effectively and be more successful in your pursuit of happiness.

Hello, my name is Lisa.

The German Coo-Coo Clock

In a past life, I must have been a little german girl because I just adore coo-coo clocks. I adopted a clock last year from a friend who was moving to Arizona. She told me that the clock did not keep time very well, but I didn’t care. I thought it was a treasure! My husband and I hung it in the front entrance hallway and we smile every time we hear the coo-coo. We don’t mind if the coo-coo can’t tell time. For us, it reminds us of a joyful childhood with our grandparents. Both sets of grandparents had coo-coo clocks and we both loved watching the coo-coo bird coming out of the hole and making the announcement that a 1/2 hour had past. For me, this coo-coo clock constantly reminds me of my loving grandparents and it honors the time spent with them.

But it is a funny thing when company comes over. So many times, I’ve been told that the clock is not telling the right time. Even on the phone, a friend of mine said, “you’re coo-coo clock just said it was 2pm and it’s 7pm in the evening…” My reply is “who cares!” and then I proceed to tell them why it doesn’t matter. But is telling time such an important thing to do? Well, I guess in some circumstances it is–for work, doctor appointments, and important events. However, what if we didn’t pay attention to time? Would the day go by slower, faster? Would we be wishing our days, weeks and years away?

For example, I go to work in the morning and every day, I look at the clock to see if it’s lunchtime or 5pm, time to go home. I am wishing the day away and then the 2-3 hours that I’m home, I’m cooking, cleaning and watching tv. What am I rushing around for–to hurry to get home and go to bed, to start this crazy cycle over again? Another case and point, most people hate Mondays simply because of the fact that Mondays are the start of the work week. What if it didn’t matter whether we started our work week on a Monday or a Saturday? Would it change your perception of Monday and Saturday? I’m just saying…consider your attachment to time and then see if you can just let it go.  What would happen? Caos? Really? I would argue that point.

Release your attachment to time today (or another day in the future) and just do what your heart wants to do.

In my world as a designer, I refer to a Pantone book for certain color choices. The Pantone Matching System (or PMS color book) is a standard tool for color. For clients who are not familiar with this color system, I usually get a snicker or a funny look when I refer to a specific color in PMS.

Why do we need a standard for color? Imagine not having a way to describe a certain color purple. Your idea of purple could be royal purple and my idea of purple could be darker or lighter like a lavender. How would you describe that color to the printer? We would all come up with a different version. There has to be a way to describe the color with a structure or standard system or results could vary greatly.  And, that is the Pantone Matching System. The PMS color system is broken down into several different parts of color including cyan, magenta, black and yellow or CMYK. When you combine these four colors in variety ways, you will get a different color result. Each color result based on a different percentage of CMYK will result in a PMS number. This number is the reference that is made to the printer.

I’ve always loved color and getting anything from Pantone is like getting a fine piece of china. You collect them as you go to complete the full set. I recently came across a Pantone promotion that I thought was really cool. And now, I must collect them all! I have no idea what I will do with hundreds of mugs. But it will bring me much satisfaction to complete my collection.

Check out their online shop to see what other fun stuff you can buy and collect. Read more about the history of Pantone.

What color would you describe how you are feeling today?

Purple Holiday Wreath

I received an inspiring email today from Marketo, a business that specializes in revenue performance management, about making the color purple the new holiday color. And you know I love purple. So, I thought I would share the news!

To my surprise, Marketo loves purple too!  It’s a revolution…we are making a case to make purple the new holiday color instead of red. Do you agree? If so, please join the excitement and twitter your thoughts and ideas about purple being the next holiday color by using the #PurpleHoliday tag and let’s see how many purple manics join the conversation.

In addition to this initiative, check out some more fun purple stuff at HaveAVeryPurpleHoliday and Top 10 Reasons Why Purple Should be the New Holiday Color.

Have fun! Making every minute count and wishing you a very happy, and “purple” holiday season and all the best in 2011!

Office Cookie Swap

The magic of the holidays has begun! 

Today, we had our company cookie swap. Everyone was in a cheery, festive mood. Co-workers were asked to bring in 36 of the same kind of cookie to share. We placed them on a round table and proceeded to collect one cookie from each tray until we ran out. In the end, each person goes home with an assortment of cookies to share with family and friends. 

If you haven’t tried a cookie swap, you may want to consider trying this with friends, co-workers or family. It’s an amazing collaborative group activity. It’s fun to do and offers a way to be creative by sharing a little bit about yourself. Isn’t that what the holidays are all about? Reflecting on old traditions, creating new ones and loving what your doing along the way, together and making it memorable?  

As mentioned, each cookie was different and came with a little story to share. When I look down at my completed set of treats, I realize that each individual made their cookie for different reasons. One person shared her story about her grandmother’s secret, shortbread recipe that was passed down from generation to generation. Another co-worker collaborated with her son and came up with a reindeer cupcakes. (Ok, not a cookie, but just as sweet.) And another colleague laughed as she shared her frustration with removing each cookie from the cookie sheet as they started to crumble and cool down. For me, I try to do a different cookie each year. I like to take risks and create something new as I explore the possibilities of the new year. It’s a metaphor. So, everyone has a different approach to their cookie making ideas and skills. 

During these hard times, it gives me joy, hope and faith that the challenges and difficulties in our daily lives can be overcome and filled with blessings and memories. Make sure you take the time to enjoy the special moments and make them your own. Memories are the best presents we can receive. So, wrap a little memory around a “moment” this holiday season.

Following Your Path

It was just a month or two ago that I received a post card in the mail about getting a master’s degree. Usually, I throw those direct mail pieces out without even looking at them. But, I’ve always wondered what it would be like to continue my education. I just never thought I would pursue it. So on a whim, I called the school to find out more about the program. Suddenly, I am in grad school sitting in a class in Entrepreneurial Thinking and Innovative Practices. How did that happen?  

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you just jumped right into it without thinking? Many times, a hasty decision like that could get me in a lot of trouble. But in this case, I might’ve made the best decision of my life. 

It is so easy for me to talk myself right out of doing something different. Why change? It’s easier to stay with what I know than to take a risk and walk into the the abyss. Whether it’s an emotional risk like falling in love, or an intellectual risk, like going back to school, each decision in life is an opportunity to grow. In this case, I’m glad that I didn’t think about it too much or over analyze the cost of tuition because I probably wouldn’t be writing about this topic today.  

Now that the shock is gone and the reality has set it, I realize that I could come up with a million excuses why I can’t take the time to go to school (i.e. working full-time, family/household obligations, financial, etc). But my faith tells me that it will all work out. I’m confronting my fear and I’m realizing that I have a lot to look forward to. I choose to engage in life and enjoy the endless opportunities for growth that come along with it. Who cares what others think? It doesn’t really matter as long as I follow my path.  

It’s all up to me! 

Take a risk today and follow your path to hapiness, success and fulfillment.

Pumpkins and Mums are perfect in the Fall.

As soon as the leaves start to turn, I know that the Big E is finally here! It is a sure sign of Fall and colder weather to come. There is less daylight to enjoy after work and it is a time to hibernate, burn scented candles and snuggle in a warm, cozy blanket in front of the fire. I look forward to making apple crisp, picking the perfect pumpkin and decorating the front of the house with colorful mums, cornstalks and scarecrows. It is my favorite time of the year!

As the weather changes, I go through my summer clothes, pack them away and replace shorts and bathing suits with sweaters, turtlenecks, flannels and jeans.

This is where the lovely background music ends, (birds chirping, summer wind blowing through the trees) and the story takes a turn…

Today, it is a rainy and chilly day in New England. It’s time for long pants. So this morning I decided to where my jeans to work only to find that the waist band is much too small. How could this be? I exercised at least 4 times a week during the summer, biking 80+ miles a week, hiked and walked all around town only to be disappointed that I can’t fit in my stupid jeans. Maybe they shrunk in the laundry? Dam!

Losing weight has been a life-long mission. It consumes me, changes the way that I feel about myself and affects my life in a negative way. (I got that line from the show Intervention.) Instead of enjoying the beautiful display of Fall colors, I’m worrying about why I can’t fit into my jeans! Not today…

You know, I really don’t care anymore! If I have to buy a pair of jeans that are a little bigger, than so be it! I’m tired of this fight. I’d rather feel comfortable in wearing a pair of jeans that fit me well, then try to figure out how I’m going to make it through the day without exhaling. 

My challenge today is to accept myself whereever I am in my life, take one day at a time, enjoy every day with family/friends, love everyone and ignore the people who judge me. I saw a tattoo last month on a guy’s arm that said “No one can judge me but God.” (I wish I snapped a photo.) The message kept drawing me in and I read it over and over again as I judged the guy for drinking and smoking and carrying on. (Oh well, I’m not perfect.) I thought about getting a tattoo like that for a moment, and then I remembered that it hurts. So nevermind…

You are perfect just the way you are, accept that thought and move on.