Holiday Week

The 4th of July has always been the annual commemorative celebration of my longevity.  

Growing up the day would be spent with a holiday parade viewed from the curb of the street in a small Midwest town.  

The 4th of July was all about BBQ chicken served in the Park, swimming at the community pool with cousins or friends, and time spent with family.  

We watched the fireworks displayed over Lake Leota in the park after dusk and walked through the hometown streets where we returned to twirl with sparklers in the lawn. 

With our own family, I'd  always hope to recreate the same feeling of contentedness with my children - glossing over the whole longevity celebration. I just wanted them to feel what I felt on the 4th of July.  

Ok so realistically that probably didn't happen.  

We tried family picnics. 

We tried parties in the backyard with friends.

We scrambled every year to figure out from where we would watch the fireworks when we weren't in the Midwest.  

Every year I was asked "what do you want to do?"  

Honestly I just wanted someone else to make that decision but I am the designated family 'Julie McCoy, Cruise Director'.  

There were special longevity celebrations.  Neighbors surprised me on the 4th of July with a 30 year party in our culdesac in Puerto Rico.  I didn't even realize it was happening until cake was brought out for dessert.  

Our children pulled off a 50 year celebration right under my nose with 50 black flamingos in our front yard and a BBQ, as well as watching the fireworks together in the park. 

Often times we end up having a meal together, then going our separate ways.  We'd opt to stay home from fireworks and avoid the crowd

Earlier this year I retired as family cruise director.  Mike and I decided to take a road trip for the week of the 4th.  I selfishly wanted to go back to Wisconsin and Illinois where I could hang out with my parents and visit my sister's family house on Lake Maxinkuckee in Culver, Indiana.

After Mike was chosen to have his own special summer adventure, I decided to fly back to Chicago instead and took an entire week off. 

Because my flight brought me in late at night my folks drove down to Chicago to spend time with me at my sister's home.  They weren't going to join us at the lake but would return for the last two days of my time in Chicago.

This is my sister Di, and 1 year old Pez.  My sister works miracles to keep track of her five children and husband.  Somehow with multiple vehicles and schedules we all managed to get to Culver, Indiana safe and sound. 

We had a fabulous weekend.  Boating, tubing on the lake, fireworks on the lake, delicious food and lots of laughs.  It was exactly what the doctor ordered for a week of rest and relaxation after a month of wedding travels, photo shooting and editing.

Road trip-Culver style.  We hopped in the golf cart and drove over to the grocery store. 

Well...  duh. 

Every morning my sister and family would get up and head out to train for a triathalon.  Seriously!  I on the other hand was on vacation and started my morning with my book, a cup of coffee and my golden friends.

My sister's 'cool down' was spent walking 3+ miles with me. Hey - don't judge!

My nieces - Lauren, Mackenzie and Nicole; and oldest nephew Kevin

Culver is an adorable little town with friendly folks. 

Time to spend the day on the lake. 

Relaxing.

My beautiful niece Lauren

The Culver Cadillac

Nicole, Lauren and Mackenzie

Nicole, Lauren and Mackenzie

My oldest nephew keeps an eye on his sisters. 

Time for the 'old lady run' with my sister Di and friend Michelle.

Sisterly love.

Nicole, Kevin and Mackenzie

Big bump

Getting a little air.

Nicole goes splash. 

Always with a smile!

Kevin, Lauren and Di

More air...

Mike stays dry in the park.

On the beach

The Marina

Di kayaks

Lauren helps the dogs cool down. 

Emma and Pez

Card games in the park.

My nieces cheat - BTW

Michelle

Here's the scoop.  If Auntie Deb tossed and scored it would be cancelled by someone else's near miss.  

Thanks for a great weekend.  

I love you all!

23 Things People Who Love Their Lives Are Doing Differently - from Marc and Angel Hack Life

No matter what part of life’s path you’re traveling on, the list below will always be applicable.  These are simple, positive habits that thousands of people who have learned to love their lives, now live by.  Here’s what they do differently…

1. They flow with life, not against it. – When everything in life seems to be going wrong, mostly it’s meant to go wrong so that you may outgrow the things you need to outgrow.  Keep this in mind.  Life may wreck your plans when your plans are about to wreck you.  For everything you've lost, you've gained something else.  You don’t have to accept it; it’s just easier if you do.  When you try to control too much, you enjoy too little.  Sometimes you simply need to take a deep breath and appreciate what is.
2. They let go of self-defeating thoughts. – Breath by breath, let go of fear, expectation, anger, regret and frustration.  Let go of the need for approval too.  You don’t need any of it.  The world is as we are inside.  What we think, we see, and we ultimately become.  So choose your thoughts wisely.  Think how you want to live.
3. They prove themselves to themselves, not others. – If you find yourself constantly trying to prove your worth to someone else, you’ve already forgotten your value.  Don’t do this to yourself.
4. They believe in the possibilities ahead. – You are a victim of the beliefs you live by.  And a belief is not merely an idea the mind possesses, it is an idea that possesses the mind.  So believe in yourself.  Believe in your capacity to succeed.  Believe that there are many roads to what’s right.  Believe in your intuition, especially when you have to choose between two good paths.  Believe that the answers are out there waiting.  Believe that life will surprise you again and again.  Believe that the journey is the destination.  Believe that it’s all worth your while.
5. They find the positive in every situation. – The most underrated trait of all successful people I've ever met: Positivity.  Your attitude directly determines how well you live your life.
6. They appreciate what they have. – Every now and then it’s good to pause in your pursuit of happiness, look around, and simply be happy for what you already have in your life.  (Read The How of Happiness.)
7. They nurture their own inner peace. – In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you.  Take a few deep breaths, a relaxing walk, or a moment to meditate.  When you find peace within, you who can live at peace in any situation.
8. They find the courage to be real. – It takes courage to grow up, grow wiser, and turn out to be who you really are.  Find the courage to own your story.  To speak your truth.  To ask for what you need.  To set boundaries.  And to reach out for love and support when you need it.
9. They maintain high personal standards based on strong values. – Goals are important but they are temporary.  Values on the other hand are forever.  Raise your standards by taking a values-driven, not just a goal-focused, approach to life.
10. They walk the talk and always set a great example. – Be the change you want to see. Give what you expect, reflect what you desire, become what you respect, and mirror what you admire.
11. They help themselves by helping others. – We all die.  The goal isn't to live forever; the goal is to create something that will… an idea or gesture that helps others live better.  Strong people stand up for themselves; stronger people stand up for others too.  Remember this next time you feel like flexing your muscles.
12. They use self-reflection as a tool to keep things in perspective.– Never forget where you've been, lose sight of where you’re going, or take for granted the people who travel the journey with you.
13. They make their important relationships a daily priority. – An incredible thing happens when you pay close attention.  It’s by participating more in your relationships that you breathe life into them. (Read The Mastery of Love.)
14. They accept that not all relationships are meant to last. – This is a harsh truth.  And what we do with our pain is nearly everything.  To punish people for not loving us is a heartbreaking, broken sort of justice.  It just doesn't work out for anyone.  So let the wrong ones go, willingly.  Ultimately, you will meet two kinds of people in life: those who build you up and those who tear you down.  In the end, though, you will thank them both.  Because the wrong relationships eventually lead to the right ones.
15. They leave the past behind. – Don’t let the past steal your present.  Your past has not defined, deterred, or defeated you.  It has only strengthened who you are today.  Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask yourself if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future.
16. They make every day count. – What you do daily matters more than what you do every once in awhile.  Your life will not improve unless you start making daily improvements.  It’s not about being the smartest, it’s about making the smartest decision. It’s not about being right, it’s about doing the right things.
17. They do the work. – The near-term cost of discipline is always less than the long-term cost of lack of discipline.  At some point you have to stop wishing for it and start working for it.
18. They focus on effectiveness, not busyness. – The great paradox of our time is that many of us are busy and bored at the same time.  Busyness and effectiveness are two different things.  (Angel and I discuss this in detail in the “Goals and Success” chapter of 1,000 Little Things Happy, Successful People Do Differently.)
19. They get uncomfortable. – You can’t learn, grow and succeed until you get comfortable with being uncomfortable.  The best wins in life often come only after you dare to lose.
20. They break-up their routines to seek new insight. – You will often see what is wrong when you are doing it right.  But you will rarely see what is right when you are comfortably in the routine of doing it wrong.  If you want a new tomorrow, then make new choices today.  Mix it up!  Sometimes a break from your routine is the very thing you need.
21. They take action in spite of their fears. – Dreading is often far worse than just doing the thing.  Dread rehearses a scenario over and over without progress and success ever showing up.  So just do it already!  Stand strong.  Do what you fear, and fear disappears.  Let your dreams be bigger than your fears and your actions speak louder than your words.
22. They use change as an opportunity to grow. – Life is change, but growth is optional.  Choose wisely.  To be a success in life you don’t have to be perfect, you just have to remain perfectly capable of improving.  Let your mistakes, and life’s twists and turns, strengthen you.  Growth and change may be painful sometimes, but nothing in life is as painful as staying stuck where you don’t belong.
23. They always give themselves another chance. – Sometimes the bad things that happen in your life put you on a direct path to the best possible things that could ever happen to you.  You just have to give yourself another chance to get there.

Afterthoughts

Do the best you can to smile.   Be so busy loving your life and the people in it that you have no time left for hate, regret or unnecessary stress.  In the end, loving your life is about trusting your intuition, taking chances, losing and finding happiness, cherishing the memories, and learning through experience.  It’s a long-term journey.

You have to stop worrying, wondering, and doubting every step of the way.  Laugh at the confusion, live consciously in the moment, and enjoy your life as it unfolds – struggles and all.  You might not end up exactly where you intended to go, but you will eventually arrive precisely where you need to be.

For more from Marc and Angel - Practical Tips for Productive Living - check out their website. 

http://www.marcandangel.com/

Perfect Thoughts

Charlie Brown's Wisdom