Do you live in the present moment? Or are you worried about things you have no control over? The weather, the state of the world, the economy, etc? The second step of The Way is to live in the present moment because that is all we have. The future is not yet born. The past is over. Eternity lies in the moment. William James once said, “To miss the joy is to miss all.” When you are preoccupied about things lurking in the future, you miss the beauty of this grace filled moment. Of course, there is a balance to this. One has to dwell in the moment while preparing for the next moment. I see many people not living in the moment, and I feel that our technology-driven world has contributed to this state. How many people do you see walking into a business, texting on their phone or surfing the web? How many people do you see driving while texting? Sadly, by not living in the moment and focusing on the task at hand, one could cause an accident. Our society is plagued by hurry-sickness. But you don’t have to buy into that energy. Today, practice mindfully living in the moment, enjoying each sacred second you have been given, because that is all you really have.

Even though I follow the seven steps of The Way, I struggle with life, and yesterday I exerted no grace under pressure. I failed. I was short-tempered and mad at the world because of the way many of our units returned from Burning Man. I have a boulder in my spiritual journey at the moment, but today is a new day and a new beginning. As I meditated this morning, I asked for grace and a sense of humor because when you look at the mountain of dirty, play-stained laundry you have two choices: laugh or cry. There was one unit I was worried about–they were a day and a half late. Our big Class A (think rock-star bus). When it pulled in with lime-green tape on the outside, I knew we were in trouble. I put on my hazmat suit and entered! Wow! I can’t imagine living in that kind of filth. Thank God I have 2500.00 in deposits because the lime-green tape gave you a clue of what the inside looked like! The big question is how to get this ready for Saturday’s delivery to Air Races. So, today I am going to follow the seven steps and ask for grace and never rent to this person again!

Fall is a perfect time to learn something new–a craft, a language, a skill, etc. The list is endless. The days are shortening, the weather cooler, it’s a great time to move indoors to your studio. Don’t have a studio? Create one. I did out of the corner of the upstairs room. I made it mine–with all my art materials and art books. It’s fun going up there because it yells, “Play time!” I find myself sitting at the drafting board and playing. When I play, time melts away and I am in the moment.  The Buddha said, “Always be a beginner.” This fits into the fourth step of The Way, which reminds you that you are a creative being. Learning gives you a passion for life and involves you in its great mystery. As a former schoolteacher, I still am misty at the beginning of fall. I miss my students’ eager faces, the smell of pencils, markers, the rustling of their backpacks and school boxes. But I have moved on and have learned a great deal in the world of business. So, today decide what you want to learn. Do some sleuthing on the Internet as to how to proceed? Perhaps sign up for a class or pick up a book on your subject and be your own teacher. Enjoy the possibilities of this early fall/late summer day.

I’m going to continue my theme on energy thieves–especially after what I saw yesterday. The third step of The Way is to be aware of energy thieves. These are people who steal your energy. Choose not to be around these negative and manipulative people. Part of my business rents RVs, and last week was Burning Man, an art festival in the Black Rock Desert. People come from around the world, create their art, and make camps out on the desert. Most people return today, but the elite, you know the ones with the private jets that whisk them off to the Four Seasons in San Fran for the spa treatment, returned yesterday. These people have no regard for our product, which is brand-new. They are charged hefty rental fees, cleaning fees, re-fueling fees, and they don’t care. But yesterday was the worse I’d seen from them. Food stuck on plates, piled in the sink. Bags of garbage. Dust an inch thick. As I lugged their garbage out of their units yesterday, I thought about a quote from William Blake: “I must create a system, or be enslaved by another man’s.” And that’s when it hit me–like a pound of playa dust. I have not charged them enough. I haven’t hit their magic number. We all have it. (I think 11.99 a gallon is high for gas, but if you’re flying in on the private jet I guess you don’t care.) The rest of the units will not return that way. Most people want their deposits back. So, going back to The Way, I refuse to have the elite steal my energy. I will charge them what they agreed to, and hopefully not have to rent to them next year. None of my employees should have to clean up filth. Then I will use some of the money I’ve charged them for cleaning, and send my people in for a good spa scrub!

This post will continue yesterday’s theme of energy thieves. The third step of The Way is to be aware of energy thieves. These are people who steal your energy. There are also people out there posing as people wanting to help you, really just wanting to steal your money. The other day I was getting my monthly pedicure/manicure at a little salon in town when I overheard this woman  getting her nails done persuading the employees to come to her house, listen to this presentation, and sign up to sell some kind of product. She continued to probe these people on their lists of friends and contacts and sweetened the words with promises of all kinds of money. (English was not their first language and I’m not sure that they really understood.) She elaborated on all the money she made, the mansion she lived in, the second home they had, and how they were going to Maui because they had so many people under them making money. Scam, screamed out in my mind. MLM. The Dinner Party.  Ponzi Scheme. All they want are your friends names and phone numbers. This was just like the Dinner Party of the nineties. If you are on the top you get the money, if not you get the crumbs. A simple law of the Universe. If something sounds too good to be true, it is. Run. There are opportunists everywhere. Heck, check your email. How many emails do you get promising the world? Yes, I know some people actually win the lottery, but for most of us success in our lives is my showing up, doing the work, and living in the moment. In case you are wondering if I said anything, I did not. It was not my position. If she was at my store, I would have escorted her out.

I planned a day away from work. I got my hair done, went to the grocery store, and planned to spend the rest of the day writing outside by the waterfall when I got the call. We were broken into at work–the thieves went into high end motor homes (ours and customers) and stole TVs, etc. My husband and service director had kept the information from me so I could enjoy a rare day off, when an employee was caught stealing things and my service director could not keep silent any longer. So, I went into work, met with my employees, consoled, and decided a course of action. Honestly, the employee bothers me more. Over the years, we have been hit by thieves. Sometimes the police catch them, sometimes they don’t, but this employee, and to do this on that day, was unacceptable. The third step of The Way is to beware of energy thieves, and this employee fits in this category. This is not the first time something has gone missing, but it’s the first time a photo was taken with a phone. (Don’t you just love technology!) Anyway, back to The Way. Everyone was worried about how my blood pressure would react because firing this person means more work on me, but honestly I was fine. I didn’t stress out. It is what it is, and once a thief, always a thief. I can’t change someone’s behavior and motivation. As Gandhi said, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” So, this week, I will be covered in playa dust, cleaning up after Burning Man and preparing for Air Races, but I will have a smile on my face and live in the moment.

“They deem me mad because I will not sell my days for gold, and I deem them mad because they think my days have a price.” Kahil Gibran. We all have the same amount of time each day. Twenty-four hours. If you are worrying or anxious, you are wasting that precious amount of time. The third step of The Way is to be aware of energy thieves. These are people who steal your energy. But sometimes energy thieves are not people, but material objects, or your own mind stressing on things you want to buy, but don’t really need. The media has trained society to want everything, and not to worry if you don’t have the money, you can just put it on credit and worry about paying later. This was illustrated yesterday with an employee stressed out because a sales did not go through, but the money anticipated had already been spent. Instead of an outside energy thief, this person was his/her own energy thief. As I watched the drama, I was reminded that living contently with less is healthier. Value your time and live in the moment enjoying the amazing grace of being alive. http://bit.ly/thewaybook

Conscious Authenticity means following the Master’s words: “This above all, to thine own self be true.” These prophetic words hang above my computer and daily I look at them and tuck them into my soul as I venture out into the vast world. Conscious Authenticity, a term my dear friend Nancy gave me, is about following your own path, staying true to your own values, and living within your means. Following the seven steps of The Way fits well into conscious authenticity because the seven steps are tailored to your own life.  I’m going to be honest–I didn’t always live authentically. When I was younger there were times I got caught up in the hype of the women on the  block, but my husband and I had little disposable money and I was forced to shop at the discount stores and clip coupons. While they all vacationed at elaborate resorts, we took our 1977 trailer out for the weekend with the kids and the dog. My husband always said, “Net worth, Cathie.” I was a school teacher and we were building a business. But what happened along the journey, is we found ourselves with a thriving business and we were bought out by a large corporation in our mid-forties. When the money came, it really didn’t matter anymore because I was comfortable in my own skin. The only thing I did was buy a nice wedding ring. (We were married in the seventies and had NO money. I had a tiny chip of a diamond set in a Mervyns gold band.) We bought land, and built another business. I don’t think anyone in the future is buying us out until the economic conditions improve, but that’s okay. We employ thirty people and have a loyal customer base. And you know what’s funny? I still shop at discount stores and clip coupons. (I love Kohl’s! I don’t own a Coach purse.) So, today, follow Shakespeare’s wise words, live in the moment, and follow the seven steps. While I’m not an economist, I am an observer and it’s not over yet. Be true to yourself and your values. Don’t buy it unless you need it. Enjoy life and plan for the future. buy the book (if you need the lessons) get bonuses. http://bit.ly/thewaybook

To live fully, intensely, and enthusiastically we need to live in the moment because we only have this moment. The past is gone; the future has not arrived. Living in the twenty-first century poses challenges to this concept. If you listen to the media or read the papers your attention is drawn to what already happened or what can happen. Now, if I’m living in hurricane alley and a hurricane is approaching then it is wise to prepare, but the rest of the information poses as distractions from my true task: living this moment. Not only does the information distract me, but it makes me jump into the future with worries. (There needs to be a balance. If a big snow storm is predicted I use that information to prepare.) This is also the second step of The Way. Live in the present moment. When you worry, you direct energy to the past or future, two areas that you have no control over. Forgive and let go. You have a savings account of energy and when you waste energy on negative thoughts and behaviors you deplete that account. So, I pose a challenge to you on this first day of September. Stay in the present moment as much as possible and open yourself to the gifts that the present moment is presenting. If you struggle with this concept, hang out with your dog (if you have one, if not there are many dogs up for adoption) Dogs are great teachers. They love you for who you are. My dog, Lulu, is an expert at living in the present moment. She rarely suffers from anxiety. (unless we visit the groomer’s or vet) She is joyful, playful, and wags her tail at everyone she meets. She lives her life fully. Be like Lulu and follow the seven steps. Buy the book and get bonuses.

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“Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself.” Saint Francis De Sales. How true is this statement? Most of us do not treat ourselves like the precious souls we are. We tell ourselves we have to lose ten pounds in a week, when it took us months to put the weight on. We convince ourselves we can earn thousands from home when that is really not possible. (Many times those are scams that other people get rich.) And we try to change behaviors in a day when they took years (or lifetimes) to manifest. The first step of The Way is to live your life to the fullest by being in good health. Invest your energy in yourself by creating a healthy body and mind so your spirit can blossom. I’d like to add something to that today–treat yourself with patience. Whatever your goals are–weight loss, increased financial wealth, peace of mind, etc. Don’t listen to the media or companies that promise weight loss in two weeks. Sadly, it’s not going to happen. It’s one pound at a time, one dollar at a time. If on your journey to your goal, you slip and fall. Have patience with yourself and start fresh the following day. I have found my journey is two steps forward and one step back. Follow the seven steps to a stress-free and full life. http://bit.ly/thewaybook