LIFE IS TO BE TREASURED

I love time spent with those I care about.  Sharing stories, heartache and laughter... lots of laughter.   There is no greater gift you can give than that of your time and interest.  

Show people that you are willing to set aside time to be with them, without distractions and to just be in the moment and enjoy.  It really is refreshing and unfortunately, so many have forgotten the art of just being with others. Technology has certainly changed the way we communicate and some really do consider texting a form of true friendship.

I challenge you to change the story and meet with people face to face making memories that matter. Life is too short not to embrace those that want to share it with you.

Thoughts to ponder....

Check out my other blogs at speakerpaulamorand.blogspot.ca or my website www.paulamorand.com

BIGGER THAN YOU IMAGINED

Oh the joys of taking risks.  Often times it just lends itself to high stress and a lack of confidence, second guessing whether or not to jump in and go for it.  

Remember the last time you took a risk in your life.  How did you feel once you did it?  I am sure you felt like you conquered or at least learned a valuable lesson in the process. 

The only way we grow is to experience life.   It is through those experiences of life that we grow through the people we meet, the challenges that face us and the successes and failures we go through.

Risk is about stretching your potential and no matter what the outcome you can always count on the fact that you will be changed from it.

Thoughts to ponder....

Check out my blog @speakerpaulamorand.blogspot.ca
or www.paulamorand.com 

FEATURED SPEAKER - KATE WIGGINS on JANUARY 12th

Kate Wiggins to be Featured Speaker at momondays London         
January 12th, 2015.
The Western Fair District Carousel Room at 900 King St. London

A Bit About Our Speaker:

Kate Wiggins has worked in the not for profit sector for most of her life. She currently is the senior leader at Women's Community House where she has worked for the last 12 years. Kate is a feminist and a Buddhist. She is the mother of a lovely son, whose wife has blessed her with 3 delightful grand daughters. In addition to her mom, she lives with an understanding man and 3 rambunctious dogs.

Kate's story is entitled "Growing Up Marjorie"

This is the abbreviated story of Kate Wiggins's mother's incredible life and how it has so completely influenced Kate's own journey without her even realizing it. From Marjorie's near death experience as a nine month old, to the loss of her fiancé during the Second World War, and her marriage to Kate's father a bomber pilot with PTSD Marjorie has endured and by her example has influenced Kate.

For more info on Kate, find her at www.shelterlondon.org

You meet the nicest people at MoMondays!

For Tickets:  www.momondays.com/london 

THE CRAZIEST OF IDEAS

Have you ever had those ideas that just seem outrageous?  

I am sure there are a few on everyone's bucket list.  One thing I have learned is to have the courage to go after those crazy ideas.   It is in those experiences that some of the most memorable memories are formed and of course, the best stories will be told.

Learning to live life with more exuberance builds your vitality and keeps youthfulness alive.   Amidst the trials of life and the day to day routines, challenge yourself to do something out of the ordinary.

It just might give you the breath of fresh air and renewal that you are looking for.

Check out my other blog posts @speakerpaulamorand.blogspot.ca or www.paulamorand.com

LEAN IN THE SAME DIRECTION

The first company I owned in my twenties resulted in having to lead thirty staff members.  With little training on management, I had to trust in my own innate abilities.  I had to forge ahead and learn the best way to keep my team engaged and excited in what our collective mission was.

The responsibility of leading others can certainly be daunting and overwhelming at times. It is also a privilege.  Learning to communicate and clearly articulate what you want from them and being able to define outcomes takes skill and practice.

I learned early on that the best way to create a sustainable culture of engagement is to work on having your team lean in the same direction. When you lean into something you are poised and ready,  focused and present.  In an age where there is a myriad of distractions being able to have your team "lean in" together is a worthwhile achievement.

You can read as many books as you want but the fastest way to get others to lean is for you to lead the way and model the same behaviour that you want from them. 

Check out my other blogs at speakerpaulamorand.blogspot.ca

THANKFUL FOR SHADOWS

Shadows. We all have them.  Some bigger than others but there are regrets, experiences, decisions and those less than perfect memories that make us who we are today.   Resiliency is born out of overcoming barriers to which you never thought possible.  

It is often times when you are standing in the light and have the opportunity to reflect that you realize it was those exact trials that made you into the person you are today.

It is how you choose to see your shadows that is the key.  

Instead of self recrimination, regret and despair, take a deep breath,  raise your head up high and go forth with the intention of finding those areas of light that give you hope, purpose and a renewed positivity and passion for life.

Is it easy?  

No. It is hard work getting beyond those things that hold us back. Often times, the hardest being our own self worth.  Choosing to be thankful and showing gratitude is a powerful mindset. Working on how you perceive life and disciplining yourself with positive affirmations and self talk is a powerful tool for embracing a more hope filled life. 

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH THE RIGHT KIND OF PEOPLE

Do you remember the old adage, "You are what you eat?".  Well I believe the same is true for the types of people that you choose to surround yourself with.  How many of you are putting up with negativity, judgement, gossip and competition?  How could life change for you if made the decision to start surrounding yourself with positive people.

People who find joy in the moment. People who love to laugh.  People with great insight and who are smarter and wiser than you? Those who have challenged life and have shown resilience to overcome barriers only to be grateful and view life as a wonderful journey and not as a living hell?

Take stock of those friends you keep and ask yourself if you need to make some changes. What decisions do you need to make in the best interest of a fruitful and full life.

When you intentionally remove negativity, you allow for the sweeter things in life to appear.

Dare to Dream!

Check out my other blog posts at speakerpaulamorand.blogspot.ca

UP TO YOU

I remember getting a kaleidoscope as a kid. I love how you can look through the looking glass and turn it and see the most colourful and brilliant designs. It always reminds me of stained glass in an old church.  Thinking of my childhood kaleidoscope also made me ponder on how I view my life.

Life is such an interesting journey.   I have been reflecting on numerous memories of late and wondering if I am remembering them correctly or if it happened in a different way that I am recreating it in my memory banks.  It then made me realize and start asking myself questions about how I view my life.  There are so many ways in which we can respond or live our life and it comes down to our choice and our perception of what we have lived and how we desire to live going forward. 

I realized how easy it is to find the negative but also how beautiful it is when we find the colourful moments that make up a beautiful live that we love to think about. My goal is to be much more thankful about what I do have than what I don't have.  

How I view my life is up to me and I want to embrace everything that is good and right with it.  

What about you?

I invite you to connect with me at paulamorand.com or on social media @paulamorand.

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

It is amazing how quickly a little bit of self loathing can disrupt even the most confident of people.  Learning the importance of self worth and believing you are capable is by far the most important gift you can ever give yourself.  

Take time to think, speak and listen to positive self talk. Remind yourself constantly that you are worthy of great things and are beautifully and wonderfully made.   One of the best qualities a good leader shows is the ability to stand tall and show confidence.  If you don't always feel it, keep pushing through until you see the amazing person that others see in you.

ONE WORD CAN CHANGE YOUR WHOLE DAY - STILL

There is something beautiful about the word "still". It conjures up peacefulness and contentment doesn't it?  Learning to be still is a discipline that many people have trouble doing.   Taking time to just breathe, be quiet and to reflect in your own thoughts or to clear away everything and just be still.

If you took 15 minutes a day to just be still and to let go, you will start to notice an amazing difference in your life.  It may look like you are doing nothing but in fact you are. You are giving yourself the gift of recharging so that you can lead in a more grounded and clear way.

Enjoy the day!

ONE WORD CAN CHANGE YOUR WHOLE DAY - JOY

I remember the days when I was a kid growing up and my parents would send me out and tell me to make sure I come home when the street lights came on. We would spend our days riding our bikes, skipping, playing with friends and laughing as much as we could. Sunday was always a family day and we all ate a meal together with many extended family and friends.  Those are great memories.

As the years have gone by and experiences have been had, I am cognizant of the fact that the simple things in life are becoming more and more important.  Joy is something that is a precious feeling. It fills your heart, soul and mind and when joy is present not only can you feel it but others can see it in you as well. 

It is not something you can buy, or even choose. It is something you earn when you work hard at letting go and finding peace and purpose with your life. Of accepting and being grateful for what you have and learning to embrace the goodness that is waiting for you  

It is a remarkable feeling when you can get to a place of joy.  

Give yourself the gift of making joy something to work for.  

Check out my blog speakerpaulamorand.blogspot.ca

TRIBUTE ARTIST TIM E HENDRY TO BE FEATURED PERFORMER at MoMondays London on December 8th

ELVIS is in the house!!!!

Introducing........let the drum roll and buzz begin.....our next little secret for our December 8th show!!!!!

Please welcome to our lineup....the most famous rock and roller of all time....here to help ring in the Christmas Holiday season at momondays London...TIM "E" HENDRY!

Tim ‘E’ was crowned the 2013 KING OF THE WORLD ELVIS
TRIBUTE ARTIST WORLD CHAMPION, on August 16th 2013 in Memphis
Tennessee.
He is also the 2014 LaCrosse Wisconsin Elvis Explosion Grand Champion
The 2014 Shake Rattle and Soul Festival Grand Champion,
The 2014 SkyDancer Casino Shake Rattle and Roll

ONE WORD CAN CHANGE YOUR ENTIRE DAY - INSPIRE

Today I am going to focus my efforts on things that inspire.   

I am going to intentionally seek it out and see what happens.  You see, in times of uncertainty, disruption and disappointment, the simple act of doing something of purpose can be the catalyst for change.

The word inspire just sounds like something that is ready to take flight, soar and be carried by the wind.  

What shall you choose to be inspired by today?  

A person, a place, a thing? Or might it be a poem, a song or a kind word?  It may be the sound of the waves, the smell of a baby or a the purring of your cat. Whatever inspires you to dream, hope and smile is always worth doing more of.  Wouldn't you say? 

Wishing you a great day of soaring to new heights.

ONE WORD CAN CHANGE YOUR WHOLE DAY - LISTEN

My grandmother used to say "Paula, you have two ears and one mouth. Never underestimate how important it is to listen." 

It seems like technology, social media and our ever increasing responsibilities of life give us every excuse not to be present.   Disciplining yourself to truly listen to people and have them do the same for you is not only respectful but could be the exact remedy for giving someone the gift of knowing that they matter and are viewed as important.   

There is nothing worse than being ignored when trying to talk to someone. 

I am guilty of not listening as well and have to remind myself that moments with others are important and meaningful.  Taking time to hear those things that should be heard and not rush through life is a gift and a privilege.  

If only I would "listen" to my own advice, my days would be filled with moments that I may have just let pass me by. 

Take a moment to;

• Turn off your phone.
• Look someone in the eye.
• Give your employee the gift of time and take notice.
• Compliment someone on a job well done
• Close your eyes and listen to what is around you... or enjoy the beauty of silence.
• Allow someone the gift of hearing their story.

..and the list goes on.

ONE WORD CHANGE YOUR WHOLE DAY - HOPE

I have spent my whole career working with people to help them achieve fulfillment.  Finding clarity, building a plan and taking steps towards that goal.   We often underestimate the impact our emotions and lack of belief in self can have. I have seen first hand the powerful impact that HOPE can have.

Hope is the foundation of optimism.   

It can be the fuel that is needed to climb out of a rough situation and it can also be the comforter in getting through times of trial.

Never underestimate the power of one word, because one word can change your whole day.

HOPE