Are you Deserving?

I love what I do because I am able to experience something new everyday. I work with the most diverse population and I learn something from someone on every level... Who doesn't want peace, to be happy and feel loved? As human beings, we need all of these things but many, unfortunately keep chasing the idea they can't have what they want, instead of the fact, they can have what they want.

Do you believe you can be happy, in a loving relationship and all will be fine? Ask yourself this!

Why don't you deserve all these "truly" fundamental things? Many of us received many messages as children about our worth. Think about the following:

• What do you want that you do not have now? Be clear and specific about your desires.
• What were the rules in your home about deserving?
• Did you have to earn to be deserving?
• Do you feel that you do deserve?
• Are you good enough? Will you ever be good enough?
• What is the purpose of your life?
• Whom do you need to forgive in order to deserve?
• What do you deserve?

Our personal power is affected by the way we perceive our deservability. Think about the questions and think about your life. YOU deserve to be happy. You are entitled to be happy. Know it, live it, see it. Rock on!!!

But officer, it isn't mine...

It's always an adventure traveling with my daughter for her numerous competitions and it's a wonderful way to see new places and meet new people.  This weekend was no exception. It started with the flight.  Anxious, excited and leaving on time, we began our slow crawl to the runway when the pilot announced we were turning around due to "mechanical" issues.  Not exactly a great way to start a trip.  The nervous energy filled the cabin and Catherine gave me those big eyes, I'm scared look.  I laughed and said, "nothing to worry about" as my heart raced and a panic attack began to build.  45 minutes later and some extra fuel, they basically said they had to reboot the plane. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.  I chose laughter and off we went. 

The hotel was nice, the girls were happy to be together and off the Moms went for a much needed lunch and get together.  I decided to put my wallet and passports in the safe in the room.  After all, that's what the safe is for.  When I returned to retrieve my wallet the safe wouldn't open.  I called for help, no one showed.  I had some cash so off I went again.  6 hours later, Front Desk, Security, no one showed.  9 hours later, I was pissed.  While the team meeting for Catherine's competition was taking place, four men entered my room and with power tools in hand, basically drilled the door off the safe.  Left a mess, a vacuum and apparently a drill bit.  My wallet was saved! 

My new friend Adrienne and I had a great laugh and we were optimistic about our flying home together.  Once at the airport, we casually strolled through security when I was stopped by a very serious Screen Checker.  He asked if he could go through my purse.  "Of course" I said, praying I didn't throw some nail clippers in there.  Sternly he pulled out a 6 inch drill bit and stated, "Ma'am, does this belong to you?" I said, "I have no idea what the hell that is."  He said, "It's a drill bit Ma'am and you are not allowed to fly with a drill bit."  "A drill bit...ohhhhhh, well you see they had to break into my safe and it must have fallen into my bag." Mr. Serious no sense of humor, stated, "this conversation is getting worse and worse.  Does this belong to you Ma'am and do I have permission to discard it."  I didn't care what he did as long as the words, you are under arrest weren't said.  Another officer who witnessed the entire event and was laughing, asked if we were traveling to another airport so he could call ahead to warn them of our arrival.  Ha, ha... I'm thinking SLAMMER and he's joking. 

Flight was fast and easy and it is so great to be home.  It's great to be able to share this too because you can't make this crap up.  Most importantly, it's another lesson in patience, optimism, and knowing, all will work out. 

"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It is already tomorrow in Australia."~Charles Schulz

Yippie,
Jordan

For ALL You have done...

It was a fast and relatively warm November... Thanksgiving was wonderful but I wasn't really feeling the Holidays.  I don't want my kids or myself, getting caught up in the consumerism and I wanted to go away and forget the week.  Instead, something amazing happened.  Truly amazing!

3 weeks before Christmas, I was informed there were over 25 kids who weren't going to have Christmas.  Their parents had no money and not a single gift was going to be opened.  As I stated earlier, I never enjoy the craziness of buying so much stuff but I love the idea of giving.  Especially giving to those in need.  I received the list and sprang into action. Owning Full Circle Counseling and working with over 65 families in need throughout New Jersey has its own set of sadness so I knew there wasn't much time.  I decided to think like Santa and do the next best thing... EMAIL!  I emailed my normal list of friends, colleagues, women's groups and in less than 4 hours, the most amazing thing happened.  Emails were forwarded and forwarded and by midnight that night, 68 emails were in asking for the list.  I couldn't sleep, I couldn't stop typing.  Kristen Totaro, a friend and colleague, spread the word as if it was the NY Times Headline... Within 3 weeks, the car loads kept dropping off and my home was bursting at the seams... Kristen texted me, "Jordan, the Marines want to help".  WHAT?  Annemarie Acquaviva from town was one of the first to respond.  She emailed a few days later and said, my sophomore boys from Don Bosco have started a facebook fan page and 60 people signed up.  My heart was overwhelmed.

Bill Lockwood (from the Padded Wagon Moving Company), whom I met once at a wonderful networking lunch, donated a huge moving truck to pick up the gifts.  985 gifts were collected and distributed to children in three counties.  Since we directly work with many of these families, it was so amazing to see the expression of children seeing wrapped gifts being delivered.  Christmas Eve was the busiest and happiest day of my life.  The
response from people wanting and willing to help was overwhelming.  The gifts were amazing. The thoughtfulness beyond my wildest dreams.  This was the greatest holiday season of my life. 

I know times are hard and many people are struggling.  I have never, ever seen such generosity. Such love. Such genuine concern for kids completely anonymous.  This was the hardest 3 weeks and the most memorable and enjoyable 3 weeks.  I am completely addicted to happiness.  Won't you join me.  I guarantee you will never be the same!!!  Join the Happiness Project NJ!!!!

HAPPY New Year
I love you
Jordan
http://www.happinessproject.nj.com/

When Love Hurts...

I am a lover of life. I love so many things my head spins. I am compassionate about people and animals and I accept I am a sensitive, yet strong person put on this earth to help and heal. I knew this at an early age and I know it more and more every day. I spend my days working with the most amazing people. People who hurt, people who have lost, people who have nothing, people who have everything. I love what I do. I am energized and I know this is what I am meant to do.

So when does love hurt?

A recent experience rocked me emotionally and physically and where my love was so intense, the heartache matched it. After a wonderful night out with friends, I was driving home with my husband and best friend. In the corner of my eye was movement in the leaves at the side of the road. I told my husband to stop the car and I got out. To my dismay, a precious fawn was hit by a car and was thrashing about, scared and dying. I called the police crying for someone to come and put this angel out of its misery. No one showed. My husband knew I couldn't leave. I knew I could not either. Kneeling down and using a calm and loving voice, I kept saying, it's okay sweet baby, you are not alone. The baby was so scared and her eyes focused on me staying with her. I was heartbroken. I began to cry quietly and was able to hold her head in my hands until she took her last breath.

I felt tremendous love and was so grateful I could be there for this baby but the effect on me was so profound. I cried so hard my body hurt. I walked in my home with my 3 babies looking at my swollen eyes and I told them, Mommy loves big. Seeing them, made me happy. Seeing them smile, made me know, love is so grand and mostly it's amazing but sometimes, love hurts...and that's okay.

I am willing to love everyday despite the risks. Think about it. It's so worth it!

I love you!

Jordan

Do YOU have Power?

Living here in the Northeast and being battled lately by some pretty unusual storms, this is a common question asked by everyone I meet lately. The true story comes from within YOU.

Do YOU have power? Not electric, not heat, not the dumb t.v. for background noise.

True Power. Real POWER. Power from within to withstand and see through all of life's obstacles with clarity, knowing and peace.

These past few days have been hard on many of us. Some more than others. It could be a valuable lesson for preparation, patience and optimism. Will it? Will it be for you? What is your story? How did you plan and prepare with no heat, no lights, streets inaccessible? I know for me, the first night, reading by candlelight felt so intense. How far we have come and what those before me had to endure to simply live. Fast forward to now and we are lost without our accommodations. Gratitude remained a constant for me and I continue to be grateful for all the things we take for granted.

Power is:

P for Perserverence

O for Outragenous

W for Wisdom

E for Excellence

R for Resilience

True power means being as strong as you need to be and no stronger. It's not power over anyone. It's not control of anyone. It's not power you take. It's a power with others, a power of influence, and a power freely given to you. This kind of power enables you to say what you mean and mean what you say without being mean when you say it.

Don't confuse a strong reaction with power. If someone can provoke you, then they have power over you. Master your own emotions, reactions, and choices.

Commit to life learning. You're not done learning just because you finished school. You'll become irrelevant is you stop learning. Share your knowledge to help others achieve their objectives.

Be a Doer. Don't limit yourself to what has already been done, and what's wrong. Powerful people spend more time talking about possibilities than limitations. Consider and communicate new perspectives, things as they could be, and possibilities.

Deliberately build networks, connect, and bond. People like to support people who support them.

Practice patience. Don't think you need to win every battle. Consider long term objectives when choosing what to do. True power is built over time. The louder you talk, the less they hear. Power is not about throwing your weight around and making a lot of noise. It's about getting results.

Are you ready to have real POWER?

Say YES!!!

I support you!

Blue Skies,

Jordan

Do you complain in any weather?

The interesting part of living in New Jersey is the vastly different seasons. Born and raised here, I always marveled at people's complaints whatever the season. You know it's hot in August, why complain? You know it floods in the same spot, same towns, every year, don't drive there. It snows in the winter, sorry to tell you!

I would be perfectly happy living in 85 degrees 12 months a year but I don't at this time so I accept and appreciate all this earth has to offer. If it is sunny, I refuse to be inside. But rain and all the beautiful music it makes, makes me productive in different ways. I even did laundry today and was excited doing it :) I have all my windows open and love listening to the rain. No sense in complaining, life happens. Use everyday's weather as a jump start for you to do something different. Complaining takes energy. Use that energy to be happy, make someone happy, get rest or be productive. Whatever you need. Think before you choose to complain. Enjoying everyday and what nature brings is so much more fun.

Enjoy friends...

You deserve the best life has to offer...Every day, every season!

Quotes to help you with the rain...

"Don't pray when it rains, if you don't pray when the sun shines" - Satchel Paige

"You pray for rain, you gotta deal with the mud too. That's a part of it." - Denzel Washington

"I'm just waiting for people to start asking me to make the rain disappear." - David Copperfield

"Don't threaten me with love, baby. Let's just go walking in the rain." - Billie Holiday

"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain." - Dolly Parton

Reach for the sun, the stars, the moon, just REACH!

While in my office today, I couldn't help but notice one of my many plants. This particular plant was so dramatic in leaning almost out of its roots and over the pot toward the sunny window in my office. I sat still staring at this plant and marveling at its need to be in the sun. I thought how significant it was. So many of us in need of warmth, encouragement, life, chances...

Looking at this plant extending itself to get what it needs I realized how limited some of us become when reaching our own goals. Think about it. What are you willing to do to reach a goal, not many goals, a goal, one goal. Are you willing to sleep less, eat less, do more, ask more, say no more? Think about it. What is your goal? How far can you go? Can you reach over your own base like the plant in its soil? Can you think the impossible? Does it seem impossible? Do you gravitate toward negative people or people who shine and warm you like the sun?

Take inventory of your life. Look around at what makes you happy, warm, encouraged, alive. You deserve to have an amazing life. Stop putting boulders in front of opened doors. You can do it, you can have it all and you can have the support and love and warmth to do it.

You are on this earth for a reason. You are a gift. Embrace your gift and share it. Like this beautiful plant, stretch, expand, grow toward the warm sun. Open your arms and be open and willing to have great things happen. Only YOU can make change happen. Only YOU can feel the sun's warmth and know, I deserve this... I want this... I am this...

You are AWESOME! Be Awesome!

I believe in YOU!!!

Blue Skies,

Jordan