Turning Life’s Lemons into Sweet Success

Posted on February 3, 2025 by lizzyc1973

There is little doubt that life is going to throw some lemons your way.

It. Happens.

Last week, my position was eliminated at my job. The vertical that was being pursued didn’t yield results enough to justify the squeeze. (pun intended) And just like that, I drove home from work on Thursday with a lovely little basket of very ripe lemons.

I didn’t cry.

I’ve been seeing the writing on the wall for the better part of at least the last three months. It’s a tough market to break into and it’s a long haul. I’ve been looking for my next opportunity, passively, but it got a bit more serious when I recently interviewed for what I can only categorize as my dream opportunity! I wasn’t the finalist for the first round of hiring they’re doing this year, but remain hopeful that I will be in round two. I will also continue the much needed follow up and connection to the decision makers.

In. The. Meantime…

I have this lovely little basket of “Life Lemons” in my heart. So I thought we should talk about what to do when life throws these sour little delights your way. We can continue to suck on them, savoring every bitter drop of juice we can extract from them, but that does little to help us feel better, move forward, or be hopeful for the better days ahead of us.

Let’s make something of this…

We can make lemonade, we can be more creative and make margaritas, we can make lemon cake, or lemon poppy seed muffins.

Here’s the truth.

You and you alone can decide what to do with the lemons that life puts in your life. I and only I can choose what to do with my lemons. As for me… I am going to choose to create something amazingly sweet from my lemons. I’m not 100% sure about what that looks like yet, but I know the juice from the squeeze will be worth it and result in a sweeter outcome than I could have ever imagined.

So while you consider your “Life Lemons” here are some really great lemon recipes for ideas…

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Lemonade-when-Life-Gives-You-Lemons

And here are some great real lemon recipes… I hope the squeeze is worth it and the sweetness is something you’ll savor!

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipes/1294/fruits-and-vegetables/fruits/citrus/lemons/

Let me know what you’re planning on doing with your next set of “Life Lemons.”

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Embracing Life’s Ups and Downs: Finding Your Mojo

Posted on January 15, 2025 by lizzyc1973

The past few days… no check that, the past few weeks have been a bit of a roller coaster ride in my life.

On December 23, 2024 my husband’s father passed away. He’d long battled with COPD and clearly was never getting better, but after a short hospital stay he came home to hospice care. One short week after that he took his final breath and left this life to be reunited with his wife and Jesus. I’m sad for my husband, the feelings, the loss, the what’s next in a long list of things to be done. I am happy for Ken, his father. No more suffering, struggling for breath and the helpless feeling of your lungs just giving up on you. I’m happy that he has a new eternal body, and will have an eternity in heaven.

We knew it was coming, someday, but the intention was that it would not happen for a while. You’re never ready for death… sudden or not, at Christmas time or the middle of August, it’s just not something anyone is really EVER ready for.

Work.

It’s filled with ups and downs, some days are on and some days just aren’t. While my intention is to always roll with the punches, there are days where I find it’s a challenge. Sometimes I feel like I am really winning and then out of no where comes a gut punch. Losing a bid, missing an opportunity, feeling like you take one step ahead only to take two steps back. Can I get an Amen?

Today, my work bestie and I were going to do a LinkedIn Live presentation about giving a master elevator pitch and how to create it, only to find we hadn’t done the backbone to the technology piece of it to bring it to life. So in McGyver fashion… we did a Google Meet and carried on, not in the way we intended, but we were capable of executing… so it’s a win. Sort of.

Home.

Filled with ups and downs, and then some more downs. Today we have a water leak that originates in our upstairs bathroom and has made its way downstairs to the kitchen. Ugh…

Christmas decor has finally made it back into boxes and bins but still sits in the middle of the living room floor.

Getting my father-in-laws memorial arrangements made, getting his home ready to sell, donate clothes or not, what to do with eighty years of living…. what to do with paperwork, and boy howdy, there’s a lot!

Here’s the deal.

My mojo is being pushed and tested in all of the ways and all at the same time. And I’ve learned that my mojo is fleeting, it ebbs and flows like a river. I’ve also realized I need to fight for my mojo. I need to protect her, like I would my child. I need her, she needs me, we’re dependent on each other to get through life. And that… my friends got me here, on this page writing about what’s troubling me today, where am I losing? Where am I winning and what can I do to feel like I have some modicum of control.

I’m winning. I’ll keep winning.

I’m winning because I have a support system to make it through the tough days, and a support system to fist bump with for the wins too.

I’ll leave you with an article I found helpful: What To Do When Your Mojo Is a No-Go.

Enjoy, and let me know your best tips and tricks for keeping your Mojo humming…: Embracing Life’s Ups and Downs: Finding Your Mojo

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Habits of Excellence: Why Consistency Matters

Posted on January 7, 2025 by lizzyc1973

What we do consistently drives the course of our being.

Or from Aristotle… “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit”. 

Consistency also seems to come much easier in some areas than others. Like eating Taco Bell today makes it easier to eat it again tomorrow. And the things we find more difficult to execute will become that much harder when we leave them on the shelf.

Eating broccoli today, if I don’t like it is hard. It’s hard tomorrow and will be that much harder every day I make the choice not to eat my broccoli (Do you wonder why we pick on broccoli so much??

So the rub… how do we embrace the harder things? Sometimes it’s just a choice, setting an intention, nothing more.

But what if it’s not that simple?

Get Help.

Super easier said than done, but necessary just the same.

What I do.

Lately, I’ve been making it a game. Pick the hardest most awful thing on my list and do that first.

Confession.

I don’t always do that. I work on it everyday, but am a far cry from perfection in this area. I keep trying. Read Eat That Frog, by Brian Tracy. The premise and the point, do the hard things first.

There are literally a million resources in the internet from amateurs and pros alike on how to tackle the things that are challenging us. I’m confident there’s an internet expert out there just for you!

Here’s a quick link from The Life Purpose Institute with 10 action items for doing the hard things. Take a read, and know there are tons more, if this article doesn’t speak to you, by all means, don’t give up. Keep looking, there’s a resource for you I promise.

: Habits of Excellence: Why Consistency Matters

https://lifepurposeinstitute.com/10-ways-to-get-things-done-even-when-you-dont-want-to/

I believe in you.

I know you can do the hard things. I know I can do the hard things too. So let’s do them. #Blazing2025

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New Year, New Goals: Achieving Success in 2025

Posted on January 1, 2025 by lizzyc1973

Here we go!

Happy New Year!

For me New Year’s Day is only out done by a few other days in the year. Christmas Day, marking the birth of Jesus Christ, Good Friday, the day HE paid it all, and Easter Sunday; when HE rose again. There are a few others… December 1st, my anniversary, and November 4th the birth of my son Daniel. Few other days hold the same magic, but New Year’s Day is definitely one of them.

What is it about January 1st that makes us believe that ANYTHING is possible and how do we bottle enough of today’s magic to sustain us for another 364 days?

Confession time.

I’ve fallen into the trap of “mentally” tracking my goals for the better part of the last two years. The problem with that…? Well, I can not say one way or another that I’ve made any real progress. At least not by my efforts anyway. And like so many, I give myself all sorts of mental talk about why I’m not writing things down. Why am I not putting in place things that hold me accountable to the aspirations I have or goals I’ve set?

I don’t have time.

Fact. Check.

I have not prioritized or BLOCKED the time I’ve needed to, to guarantee there is space to work on the goals I’m about.

I lack the tools.

Fact. Check.

I may not have ALL of the tools I need to achieve my goals, but I have a good brain in my head, and likely have some of the tools I need right under my nose. I have access to calendars, auto prompts, hand written journals and so much more.

I lack support.

Fact. Check.

I have an amazing support system. Have I done the work I need to? Have I let my friend Amy know what I’m up to and need support in? Have I communicated my goals with my family? Have I communicated my goals with my number one fan and partner in life? Have I shared them in my journal, in this blog or with anyone else in my tribe that can help support me in asking me how my progress is going? Encouraging me when I feel rudderless and helping me get back on track when I fall?

“The road to hell is paved with good intentions“

The exact origins of this phrase are unknown though it was first known to have been published in a London paper in 1828, cited as a Portuguese proverb. (Wikipedia)

And so is my road.

It’s chock full of good intentions, and at the end of 2025, I’d really like them to be so much more than intentions, but things I’ve taken action on which translate into goals met, 365 days of me taking action so when I next look back at the year passed, I do so with a smile.

So I leave you with this.

Here are some tips for achieving goals in the new year:

  • Focus: Focus on a few key goals instead of spreading your efforts across many. (consider a short and sweet vision board)
  • Set SMARTER goals: Make goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound, evaluated, and revised and rewarded.
  • Make a plan: Break down your goals into steps, set deadlines, and celebrate milestones. 
  • Find your why: Consider what you want to achieve and why. (this is so necessary in sustaining your drive)
  • Celebrate progress: Recognize your wins, even the small ones. (especially the small ones when you’re first staring)
  • Hold yourself accountable: Share your intentions with others to help you stay on track. 
  • Adjust as needed: Be patient and be willing to adjust your goals as necessary. (your life doesn’t happen in a vacuum adaptability is huge!)

Other tips include: Writing down your goals, Keeping it interesting, and Including friends and others. 

Today’s goals…

Drink 64 ounces of water.

Set up auto transfer for savings.

Book a weekly appointment with this blog.

One of these… already done.

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Blackeyed Peas: A New Year Tradition for Luck

Posted on December 30, 2024 by lizzyc1973

It’s December 30, 2024, and we’re staring the end of the year right in the face. There have been ups and downs. As I prepare to blaze into 2025, I intend first, to eat my blackeyed peas.

It’s a tradition hundreds of years old, but new (ish) to me. I wanted to learn more. I want to know why this little “cowpea,” as it’s often called, is a symbol of luck and prosperity.

In my reading I’ve found a couple of reoccurring stories. The first cites the Union Army during the Civil War raiding food supplies and burning crops during battle leaving only behind the blackened pea, which was considered to be livestock feed. With limited food supply , people including slaves and the confederate army turned to blackeyed peas and salt pork to ward off starvation.

Other folklore claim blackeyed peas were eaten by slaves on January 1, 1863. This was the day the Emancipation Proclamation became law, freeing the slaves of the south. They ate them not for luck, and not for celebration, but because it was the only food they had.

Hoppin John, a combination of blackeyed peas, vegetables and pork, served over rice is probably the most common preparation; dating back to the Civil War Era. Later, as folklore and legend grew often a coin was placed in the pot while cooking; whomever was served the coin in their peas would have an extra helping of good fortune in the coming year. it’s also said if you want to ensure a year of good luck and fortune you need to eat 365 of these little beans one for each day and to leave three on your plate, one for good fortune, one for good luck, and the last for luck in romance.

In addition to blackeyed peas, you may want to include a portion of collard greens, representing paper money, as well as cornbread representing gold.

Here’s the recipe I’ll be trying brought to you by Bad Manners, one of my favorite places for great recipes that make amazing meals and share my love of the word FUCK.

https://www.badmanners.com/recipes/hoppin-john

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Doing the things…

Posted on December 21, 2024 by lizzyc1973

There are habits I have and things I do.

So seamlessly I often don’t even realize I am doing it.

And I bet you do too.

It’s not necessarily bad. Yet, it happens. At a recent visit with my therapist, I was reminded of just how often I do it.

Put. Me. Last.

Be. The. People. Pleaser.

Do you do it?

We all do, to a certain extent. I think it’s just a part of the natural condition of being humans in relationships. And I realize I have a checkered past of doing it to the point of detriment.

Person: What do you want for dinner?

Me: I want Thai.

Person: I don’t want Thai.

Me: Okay, whatever you want is fine…

I end up at a local Mexican eatery or somewhere else. When really, what I wanted was Thai food. This example is not exclusively indicative of my current partner. It is true of any partner, friend, coworker, sibling, or anyone else in my life. It’s happened a million times. And…there’s nothing particularly wrong with individual cases of the above conversation happening. Still, if left unchecked, it can leave you feeling powerless. You find yourself just doing the things to keep the peace and harmony in a relationship.

A recent conversation with my son Daniel prompted me to take serious ACTION. It helps me work on my habit to speak up. I want to make my thoughts and desires known, acted on, and most importantly, validated. I love that we’re taking ACTION together to stop Doing The Things. I’d like to invite you to STOP doing the things too!

We’ve started reading Not Nice, by Dr. Aziz Gazipura, PsyD. It’s an interesting discussion about why we are people pleasers and where it comes from. Most importantly, it addresses how to break the cycle to become more authentic to ourselves. We become more empowered to act on our wants and needs, speaking up, saying NO, and unapologetically being yourself.

Now don’t get me wrong… I don’t think I’m always the “nice girl.” I’m not. Nonetheless, I definitely see patterns in my life. These patterns show behaviors where I totally get sucked down the people pleasing rabbit hole. When it’s unchecked, it leaves me feeling icky, resentful, victimized, and just gross.

I’ll continue posting about our journey into being Not Nice. I hope you’ll think about how being Not Nice can make you stronger. It will help you become the happier person you’d like to be in 2025.

Here’s a quick link to Dr. Aziz’s book and website, feel free to pick it up and join us!! #Intention #Blazing2025 #NotNiceBook

https://www.socialconfidencecenter.com/notnicebook

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And the OLW (One Little Word) for 2025 is…

Posted on December 19, 2024 by lizzyc1973

As the year draws to a close, I take this moment to reflect on my accomplishments, the areas where I fell short, the proud moments, and those that perhaps didn’t shine as brightly. Amidst this introspection, I am focusing on Identifying my OLW (One Little Word) that will shape my path in 2025. Surprisingly, the word that resonates with me once again is “Intention.”

Recently, I came across a compelling graphic and quote crafted by The Strategy Lab x Emma Kate Co. that truly struck a chord within me. It’s that kind of moment that stops you in your tracks and demands attention. Having intention is one thing, but truly embodying it demands much more; otherwise, it remains a mere abstract notion confined within boundaries. Clarity, unwavering focus, vocalizing your intentions, and then forging ahead with determination are the essential ingredients to elevate yourself in any aspect of life or endeavor.

Let’s raise a toast to the experiences of 2024, embracing both the highs and lows, as we eagerly anticipate #Blazing2025.

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I’m in LoVe… with a woman.

Posted on January 29, 2024 by lizzyc1973

And I just can’t seem to get enough of any word she speaks…

It’s Mel.

Robbins.

I recently had lunch with an acquaintance I work with in our industry and along with the natural catch-up and newness of sharing our positions, we got chatting about podcasts and books. Stephanie suggested the Mel Robbins Podcast on Audible.

So I started with her audiobook, Kick Ass. If you haven’t listened to it, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s eight recorded LIVE coaching sessions with people at various ages and places in their lives and she coaches them through what’s blocking them. And what’s blocking them isn’t the thing that’s really blocking them. It’s a symptom of what’s blocking them, the block is so much more covert, hidden, childhood trauma, life things with ninja-like reflexes that really fuck with us, and impair our ability to be about the business of being the people we’re created and meant to be.

Every story, every session was relatable to me, they all felt like me in one way or another, and that was shocking, scary, and somehow comforting all at the same time.

My blocks… what’s fucking me up from losing the weight I need to make me healthier? What’s fucking me up to stop and ask for the help I need… well, there’s a ton…

There’s being told from a really young age that I am 12 going on 25 and being forced to be the caregiver I shouldn’t have been nor was I ready for. Which then cleverly keeps perpetuating a need to be good enough. After all, I am 12 going on 25…

Except I’m not. Now, I’m 50 being 50.

And it shows up EVERYWHERE. Getting fired from my first job every at nearly 50 years old did a number on that 12 going on 25 year old. And not to say that I should have been fired, I shouldn’t have. I should have never stepped in to the position in the first place, but that’s a by gone story.

It’s everything; every interaction in my life where I wear a mask that shows the world I can do literally ANYTHING and the deep held limiting belief that even if I present perfect, I’m just not, nor will I ever be good enough. And seriously… what kind of bullshit is that?

In listening to Mel, daily, and, I’m showing up different. She makes sense, she’s direct… and she swears, and I love it. She’s not sugar coating anything. And it’s not to say she’s not exercising compassion, because she does, just in a way that won’t let me sit on my rear and not work at breaking the patterns of the things that consistently show up, and that if I do choose to stay status quo, at this point, it’s on ME.

I am in-dependence of finding my way through to really being the person I am made to be, the one out there kicking ass and showing up. Thank you Mel Robbins for that.

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Two. Unicorns and Billygoats.

Posted on January 16, 2024 by lizzyc1973

I love love love my job. Like REALLY, I’m loving it.

Now I know what you’re thinking and you’re not wrong.

I’ve just finished week two and going in to week three and it’s got new job smell (closely related to new car smell) and… we’re in the honeymoon phase.

That’s all true.

And… I consider how this relates to my OLW for the year — In-Dependence. In my new position with ServiceMaster, I am depending on my leadership to foster a place where I can learn, grow, make mistakes, correct, contribute, and be “safe” gosh I wish there was a better word, I hope it comes to me, in learning, growing, mistaking, correcting, and contributing. And is secure a better word? Allowed? Encouraged?

Let’s go with Encouraged, I like it better.

Jon and Dan, and the rest of my team are depending on me. They’re depending on me to know my business, build relationships, understand what’s possible, what’s not, to learn, to grow, make mistakes, correct, and contribute and to always default to thinking things are always done with good intent.

It’s a realization I wish I had come to long ago, and maybe I had but was unable to articulate it.

So what’s the point?

Well… I’m also in my second month of marriage, and I wake up every single day, in disbelief that I’ve married my perfect match, my best friend, safe harbor, challenge giver, chief cheerleader and I want to keep this feeling every day.

I realize these types of euphoric, rainbow and unicorn days aren’t guaranteed, and I also know without the challenges, the sweet days well, they’re just less sweet. But here’s the thing, realizing what I depend on Ken for, what he depends on me for will help us stay in the honeymoon zone, where we know 100% that we’re right where we’re supposed to be.

I think the same is true for me, and for anyone really in their working lives. We’re not promised perfection, goodness knows that just doesn’t exist, but when we step back, remember what our teammates are depending on us for and they remember what we’re depending on them for then we all stand a better chance of great outcomes, more good days than bad, and more happiness in the work we do and the relationships we have. So go find your unicorn… understand that sometimes he or she could be just a horse rocking a horn, or a billygoat hiding one, but it’s just darn amazing what a little perspective does.

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Week One…

Posted on January 7, 2024 by lizzyc1973

And what a great feeling to be back at work!

And… what a great feeling to be missed by the team at Safeway, and to be excited for what the new year can be. This week was definitely a win and the way I hope you all started your new year.

I started with ServiceMaster by Desert Dry on Tuesday, and really what a great group of professionals. From Jon and Dan who own the business to the team they’ve built, I feel like I’m in the right place, and that hasn’t happened for a while.

As I consider my OLW for the year, I am looking forward to exploring dependence… and independence and much like the sermon at church today, that independence isn’t just a good thing that relegates a state of dependence to being something negative.

Let me explain…

Today Gary, one of our deacons was speaking on where we draw our narratives from, good and bad, right and wrong… and how a strong sense of faith depends on the written word, tradition, and my ability to reason those things with my experiences and place in the world. That in the beginning, there was God created the light and called it good… and that left to our human understanding that relegates the dark to being negative…and I’m not sure that’s true. Dark is different… and we need that. If not for the dark would we be able to appreciate the millions of stars in the night sky or a beautiful harvest moon. If not for the dark, would we see the beauty of fireworks and shooting stars… without the dark we’d miss out on striking sunrises… without the dark, the Star of Bethlehem may have not been visible to guide the Shepards and Magi to the manger where a sleeping baby and Savior for the world would lay.

So what’s the point??

Darkness and light live together in a beautiful relationship that each gives the other what it needs. The same is true of independence and dependence. Neither are exclusively good, nor are they exclusively bad, they are partners in a wholistic truth that”s our life.

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