Appreciation Goes a Long Way

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Appreciation can go a long way
A simple thank-you can make someone smile
A grateful heart takes root in some easily
Others however, it seems to take a while

It should be a natural instinct
To see our blessings and to appreciate
But most seem to be programmed to see what is wrong
And then blame circumstances, other people, or fate

Appreciation goes a long way
In fact when you’re grateful you attract more blessings to you
And while guilt, anger, blame and fear might get a response
Gratitude makes people want to do even more for you

Gratitude is a virtuous and divine quality
That the spiritual actively seek to cultivate
Who would you rather be around, someone who is always complaining,
or someone who in spite of the tests in life
Always seems to find something for which they can appreciate

Appreciation goes a long way
It brings happiness to both the one who gives it and to the one that receives
Appreciation stems from your clarity of vision
Your inner eye opens and your capacity increases because you believe

You believe in the goodness of others
Your kind and searching eyes are always looking for the best
You are not blind to others faults, but instead
On their goodness is where you choose  to let your focus rest

Appreciation goes a long way
Its antithesis, ingratitude attracts unhappiness and pain
Ungrateful people accomplish nothing from this vice
While the appreciative have so much more that they gain

Appreciation goes a long way
It fosters the development of so many virtues and qualities
Appreciation always brings out the best in you
And it brings out the best in me

(c) 2007-2010, Original Poetry of  Barbara S. Talley (The Poet Speaks)- All Rights Reserved
From the 2010 Book Release, ‘Cheer-Up’- Poetry to Get You Back on Track

I’ll Race Toward the Sun

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One of these days I will grow old

But that day doesn’t have to be soon

Society tells us we must grow old, gray, and useless

But I plan to be singing to a different tune


And I hope and pray that when that day comes

That my most important work will be complete and done

And I won’t be afraid and trying to relive my youth

Instead of dragging my feet, I’ll race toward the sun


The sunset of my life will be joyous

The sunset of my life will be glorious indeed

From the mundane, unimportant, unspiritual ties

I plan to be detached and freed


I’m eating healthier and exercising more

I’m keeping my mind stimulated so it can do what it was created for


I’m not rolling over and letting the aches and pains take over

I’m singing to a different tune these days

I have to let go of familiar foods, customs, and beliefs

I have to consciously choose life and change many of my old ways


Maturing in age is not synonymous to growing old

Or with atrophying, growing weaker and having low energy

This body was designed to live long and help us prosper

But we changed how we thought about our mind and body


Our minds can create the reality we wish to have

Our bodies are temples, powerful beyond compare

There’s so much we can do to preserve them both

But first we must care, then learn and become aware


You must eat right by choosing live whole foods

You must drink plenty of water and get enough sleep

You must exercise and stretch your body and mind

And beware of the company you keep


Because before you can grow old in your body

You must grow old first in your mind

Choose friends carefully because their words have influence

Thoughts multiply and generate more of their kind


One of these days I will mature in age

But I plan to continue to grow wiser each day

By avoiding dead processed foods, caffeine, and drugs

And to listen to what my body has to say


If my body and mind need rest I’ll give it

If it needs raw fresh foods and vitamins I will comply

So that I will be able to live fully up and until

The day that my spirit breaks free and my body dies


I plan to run toward the sunset

And not drag a poor diseased body in tow

I plan to run toward the sunset

And be happy when it’s my time to go


(c) 2007-2010, Original Poetry of  Barbara S. Talley (The Poet Speaks)- All Rights Reserved

From the 2010 Book Release, ‘Cheer-Up’- Poetry to Get You Back on Track

Change Is In The Air, But Are You Changing With It?

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changeFIVE CHANGES WE CAN IMPLEMENT NOW

The fall season symbolizes change.  Change is in the air.   The leaves are changing colors and the wind is stripping them from the once lush branches of the trees.  The temperature is dropping.  People are settling down after a summer of moving about and starting to focus on what they want to accomplish in the two and a half months still remaining in 2009.  We see change everywhere and the old familiar is no longer so familiar.  The things that we have come to depend on no longer offer the security we once relied on such as Health, Job Security, and Retirement.

Current Changes Demand That We Be More Vigilant, Aware, and Responsible Than Ever Before

You can’t turn on the television without hearing about the Swine Flu or the H1N1 virus, job losses, unprecedented home foreclosures, or about another failed company and along with it the loss of the retirement money that so many hardworking people had relied on.  And, while we’d like to snuggle in and take it easy, the current changes demand that we be more vigilant, aware,  and responsible than ever before.   This article discusses five small changes that will have dramatic impact.

The first change we must make has to do with our health.  We must make it a priority, do our own research, and take care of our bodies.  Note:  This is breast cancer awareness month, so make sure you get your checkups! The second change has to do with taking care of others.  This is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Is there someone in your life that requires your support and nurturing now?

The third change is to begin preparing for your next job right now.  With the lightening  speed of change, who knows when opportunity will knock.   You’ve got to be ready and poised to make a move.  So make sure that you take advantage of educational offerings and stay at the top of your game.  While others may be pensive and fearful, you must remain positive, focused, and productive.

The fourth change has to do with interpersonal skills.  People who get along with others tend to have longevity.  Be sure to appreciate and work well with diverse people. Hispanic Awareness Month was September 15 to October 15. What did you learn about the contributions of Hispanics during that time?   Be a leader and set small goals to learn more about the diversity in your organization.  Don’t wait until a specific month; instead incorporate learning about others into your daily routine.

The fifth change is to prepare for the future.  Start putting into place backup plans for your retirement and future well-being.  Are you learning to live within your means and spending less and saving more?   With all the fear in the air, it’s easy to get paralyzed, confused, and apathetic.  But, for leaders and winners, change implies, taking charge.  And, those that take charge are noticed and rewarded! We have a choice; we can be swept up by change or we can learn to face it, embrace it, and manage it.  We must be firm, yet flexible at the same time.  Spencer Johnson’s #1 bestseller, Who Moved My Cheese tackles this subject with humor and insight.  If you haven’t read it already, you’ll want to read it. It inspires great thought and offers a wonderful perspective on how to deal with change.  In it he uses four characters, Sniff and Scurry and Hem and Haw to represent the search for cheese in the maze of life.

How Are You Handing Change?

The Cheese in the story is symbolic of whatever we spend our lives searching for to make us happy.  The maze represents the search for our own particular cheese and the twists and turns in life we encounter defining our cheese, locating our cheese, enjoying our cheese, protecting our cheese, and preparing for when our cheese is moved.  The characters Sniff and Scurry are represented as mice. Their lives are simple and uncomplicated. They search and find cheese using a trial and error method. They have a routine that works.  They arise early, race to work, do what they need to do and enjoy the cheese they find. They always stay prepared, alert, and ready to make changes when they are necessary without over analyzing the situation.  When the cheese moves, they move.

Hem and Haw are Little People.  Their lives are a bit more complicated.  They wind up at the same place as the mice and enjoy the cheese for many years.  They get complacent however and don’t plan for change.  They don’t stay prepared.  They don’t remain alert, and they have no contingency plans.  They expect that the cheese they have found will always be there.  They also expect that if it moves, they are entitled to be compensated.  Even when it becomes obvious that the cheese is no longer there, they ignore blatant facts.  All four characters however, each based on their vision, values, and virtues search for their own kind of cheese, define what cheese means to them, and handle change in their own way.

We Must Face Change with Courage, Resolve, and Hope

Now the question for you is how are you handling change?  Are you being swept up into the winds of change and enjoying the journey or are you fighting it and falling back into your old familiar routines.   The past as we know it is gone.  We’ve got to embrace new tecnnologies, learn new strategies, and be open to new possibilities.  We must face all this change with courage, resolve, and hope.  If we do, we will be the leaders.  If we don’t, the dizzying  rate of change will consume and paralyze us.  Fortunately, you are not alone.  Help is all around you.  Reach out to others going in the same direction that you are and turn this seemingly uncontrollable chasm of chaos into a journey of joy!  I’ve written a book that focuses on change called On Track, On Fire, and On Purpose.  It discusses three critical tools for harnessing the power of change, your vision, your values, and your virtues.  You can purchase it on Amazon.com or from my website www.thepoetspeaks.com.

Barbara Talley is a Poet, Author, Publisher, and Keynote speaker who speaks on Time Management, Goal Setting, Empowerment, Communications, Diversity, Leadership, and Women’s Issue. To book Barbara for an event, phone 301.428.4831, email her at barbara@thepoetspeaks.com or visit my website.

Tip#5: Plan Your Work And Work Your Plan

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plan

Would You Start A Business Without A Plan?

Would you have a wedding without a plan?  Would you take a trip without a plan?  Would you start a business without a plan?    Well, why would you expect to live your most fulfilled life without a plan?   Why would expect to garner the perfect job, business, family, home, or partner without a plan.  Without a plan, how would you know when you’ve reached your goal?  How would you know the best ways to proceed?

A Plan Is Not a Luxury; It Is Essential!

You’ve heard these wise quotes on planning before, “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.”  And, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” Plan thoroughly and review daily if you want to stay on track.  There are far too many distractions in this world to keep us from doing what we want to do.  A plan is not a luxury; it is essential!

A Plan Is Just A Written Itinerary of Your Intentions

The human mind needs focus in order to be the most productive.  It needs a program to follow and a place to direct your energies, otherwise it is bored, scattered, or confused.  A plan is just the written itinerary of your intentions.   As I’ve said before, “You can’t live on purpose by accident!”   Everyone wants to lead a purposeful, meaningful life, don’t they?  But, we’ve got to be an active participant in making that happen.  What you see is what you get.  If you don’t see where you’re going, how do you expect to ever get there?

A Plan Gives The Conscious Mind Direction and Focus

The word plan is both a verb and a noun and answers the questions, What? and How? As a noun, the plan is the written document of your intentions.   A plan gives the conscious mind direction and focus.   Without focus it will be difficult to achieve any real goals or meaningful results.  A well defined plan answers  the questions.  Where are you going in life?  What do you want out of this life? Why do you want what you want? How do you plan to get it?  And, when do you want it by?  Verbs imply action.  As a verb, planning means to prepare, map out, or state your intentions.  That means you have to act!  You have to do something.  Even with the best plan, you have to make it happen.

Your Results Will Only Be As Good As Your Plans

Planning requires time to think, reflect, and strategize.  Your results will only be as good as your plan.  Your plan will be only as good as your reflections.   Spend some time on your plan.  Your plan will be your marching orders, your blueprint, and clarifies your vision and intentions.   Some people like to graphically depict their plans as vision boards.  Some write them as small written affirmations.  Others create detailed charts, goals, and task lists.   A plan is like a map and clearly defines where you are going and how you intend to get there.  So, what are you waiting for?  Pull out your map and get going.  If you don’t have a map, a plan, or a strategy for living your best life, get one.

Barbara Talley is a Poet, Author, Publisher, and Keynote speaker who speaks on Time Management, Goal Setting, Empowerment, Communications, Diversity, Leadership, and Women’s Issue. To book Barbara for an event, phone 301.428.4831, email her at barbara@thepoetspeaks.com or visit her website at www.thepoetspeaks.com.

Tip#4: Clarify Your Vision Before You Aim and Fire!

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On Track On Fire and On Purpose Cover2 Ready, Fire, Aim or Ready, Aim, Fire?

Before you start sprinting to the finish line, first know where you are going.  Planning your time before you have planned your life is like firing an arrow before you have aimed it.  Sure it will fly, but to where?  Aiming is clarifying and focusing on your vision before you fire.

In my book, On Track, On Fire, On Purpose, I define vision as:  “the masterpiece of  imagination, the blueprint of destiny, and a sneak preview of coming attractions.”

What do you see for your future?  What possibilities have you imagined?  What dreams have you pondered?

Your Vision Is A Gift

Did you know that your vision is a supernatural gift?  It allows you to see with your mind’s eye the future before you see it with your physical eyes.  Your vision is the blueprint of your destiny.  Destiny is preordained and is yours for the claiming.  Your vision is real.  It shows you the possibilities for your future.   Think of it as a sneak preview of coming attractions.

Believing Is Seeing!

“Seeing isn’t believing; believing is seeing.”  My ten year old daughter heard this quote once on television, and couldn’t wait to share it with me.  She said, “Mom, this sounds like something you’d like.”  I agreed.  I loved it.  It stated something more profound than the obvious.  Seeing isn’t believing. It doesn’t take much faith to believe what you see.  But, to believe something that you can’t see with your eyes yet, now that’s faith.

Your Vision Is What You Choose to See for Your Future

Believing allows us to see with our mind’s eye, long before we see it with our physical eyes.  When we believe that’s when we begin to see.  Because, even though your vision previews the future, you must still acknowledge it.   Vision is what you choose to see for your future.

Your Plan Should Capture Your Vision

Your plan should capture your vision.  The bible says that, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”   Now, that’s on pretty good authority that we must have a vision.  To perish means to die.   Visionless people waste time, have a hard time seeing where they fit in, and may also become bored, depressed, and lifeless.  Having a meaningful goal engenders life.   A vision gives us direction, purpose, and passion.  People with vision know where they are going and are excited by what they see.  People with vision are energized.  People with a clear vision, thrive!  So, what’s your vision?  What do you see?  What do you believe?  Now that you see it, Get Ready, Aim, Fire!     Continue to Tip#5: Plan Your Work And Work Your Plan

Barbara Talley is a Poet, Author, Publisher, and Keynote speaker who speaks on Time Management, Goal Setting, Empowerment, Communications, Diversity, Leadership, and Women’s Issue. To book Barbara for an event, phone 301.428.4831, email her at barbara@thepoetspeaks.com or visit her website at www.thepoetspeaks.com.