Dear Melissa,

Out on a limb . . . this week's article is based on a truly recent personal experience. I am betting it will draw comments, I am hoping that it will be read in the spirit intended. I don't often share my personal life here, but being over forty and not yet married, there is some rich material in the dating experiences! (Names are changed for privacy.)

One step for me, 1000 for China! When I climbed a section of The Great Wall, what awed me most was the incredible range of humanity participating in that same event. Children as little as four and five years old were tackling each step that was for me tall and to them a mountain in each one. Grandparents as well as their middle aged children in varying stages of health and fitness all were determined to get at least a flight or two under their belt. The steps are all carved stone, so slippery and hot with the sun beating down. The only shade were the stone guard huts and lookouts at regular intervals. The awe that people felt was across the globe. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Live by design,
MG

"Believe in yourself and there will come a day when others will have no choice but to believe in you."
~ Cynthia Kersey
Author

What Keeps Me Energized!

I enjoyed a fascinating energy workshop recently. Usually I am pretty skeptical about these sort of “woowoo” events. This came by invitation from a trusted friend and business associate that has achieved great success by applying the Law of Attraction and Universal Principles. Just learning a couple of basic personal energy grounding exercises can make a significant difference when practiced regularly.

Run With The Bulls Without Getting Trampled, Tim Irwin, PH.D.

Love the metaphor in this and Irwin does a good job of introducing us to the lessons in each chapter with a family story. Whether camping with his boys, family excursion to Portugal on a budget, or literally running with the bulls, we are engaged and interested in what he has to share. He shows us, particularly those in corporate America, the qualities required to thrive at work, while not getting trampled. He has also provided active online links for a free assessment, personal change model, and a white paper download. His equation for success is Thoughtful Commitment, Authentic Character, and Exceptional Competence, with all the details that implies. Irwin is concise without being too dry. I look forward to his next step.

Are You Carrying More Than Is Yours?

Clients who have known me for 10+ years recommended I try Jdate recently. They are Jewish and knew that my value system and political outlook was similar to theirs and that religion wasn't a big deal to me. I honor everyone's individual beliefs as long as they honor my desire to be spiritual, but not religious. JDate doesn't require you to be Jewish and I had checked the boxes indicating unaffiliated. Saturday afternoon I had a spontaneous call from Mr. X, we had communicated online and agreed to meet for drinks and a bite. (I know usually I have to be asked Wednesday for Saturday, but had already cancelled one date so figured I'd give this one a try!) After we were seated and enjoyed about 30 minutes of conversation, he asked if I was Jewish. I am not. At this point Mr. X got upset and accused me of having misrepresented myself. His vehemence stemmed from his belief that I “could never understand being Jewish and the persecution they had endured.” I was stunned since almost every religion and race I know has endured persecution at one time or another, in degrees of horrificness. (Yes, the Holocaust is horrendous.) Mr. X is 44, a psychologist, never married, and doesn't practice his religion, but was outraged that I was online on JDate and not Jewish. (I know many who are interfaith dating or married and very happy, so was truly amazed at his reaction.) He is carrying values he got from his own family years ago and imposing them on both himself and others he meets without truly realizing the effect. I excused myself and left a deteriorating situation.

It made me wonder though how many of us are carrying beliefs we got from our family of origin whether they pertain to religion or money or health, without questioning them or knowing if they are hindering us. On the religion side too often it seems we are raised to view any religion beyond our own as inappropriate and incompatible. On the money side, we may have heard money is the root of all evil, rich people aren't happy, money doesn't grow on trees, or any number of other messages that create limiting beliefs about wealth and abundance. On the health side, I remember such ridiculousness as I'd get worms from raw cookie dough (never did), and if I went barefoot, I'd catch a cold, as if germs came in through my feet! We have a choice as we grow and gain wisdom to let go of beliefs that don't serve us, in fact they hold us back and keep us where we've always been instead of allowing us the chance to grow further. What are you holding onto that isn't serving you? Can you let it go and grow?

Noche - Atlanta, (Virginia Highlands), GA

Awesome tapas at tiny prices! Perfect bar food or sharing with friends, the portions are deliciously petite, no take home bags here. Dive in to lobster taco with peppers and Oaxaca cheese or blue cornmanl crusted fried green tomatoes with manchego cheese, plenty of options in salads and veggies for those non meat eater types. Crowded, noisy and colorful, you may not linger, you will leave satisfied. Great place to meet and then move on after a drink and a bite.

Noche
1000 Virginia Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30306
(404) 815-9155
www.heretoserverestaurants.com

I was howling at this one. What an incredible cast of misfits from Travolta, the biggest “poser” of them all, now broke and soon to be divorced to Lawrence a truly whipped husband, Macy the shy nerd of the bunch, and then Allen the most professional as a dentist but still in midlife crisis. Tomei is a breath of fresh air and captivating when paired with bumbling Macy for romance. Liotta is his nasty best as the “real” biker dude head of the gang that has intimidated an entire town for way too long until the Wild Hogs, our heroes, ride in and unwittingly unravel all of it. It is hilarious from burning down their tents first night out and then skinny dipping only to be discovered by a family who thinks it is a gay gathering, to the showdown in the town. Don't miss this one, you'll laugh till it hurts!