| p> Recently, my husband Greg was in the hospital | | | | care partner is there to support you in your |
| for a health issue. He started in the emergency | | | | journey to move ahead, wherever you are going. |
| room and was eventually admitted to the hospital. | | | | Who's your care partner? Does anyone come to |
| This experience created a lot of thought and | | | | mind? It's essential if you are going to renew your |
| reflection for me on many levels. One that I think | | | | life, re-invent yourself, or make a change that |
| might be helpful to you is how Smart Women | | | | you have a care partner and support system |
| occasionally need a personal or business check-up | | | | around you. Start thinking about where you need |
| if they are to truly realize their Big Idea, Dreams, | | | | support and care in your life. In my Women's |
| and Goals. This week, I'm going to offer you | | | | Success Circles, there is a care partner |
| some simple solutions on your "personal" check-up. | | | | community that is created. Women come |
| Next week, I'll share some reflections and simple | | | | together and become part of a caring support |
| solutions on your "business" check-up. | | | | system for one another so that they can ask |
| "What am I passionate about?" "What am I called | | | | themselves the big questions and move forward |
| to do?" "What would provide me with a happy | | | | in their passion filled journey. |
| fulfilled life each and every day?" I asked myself | | | | 3. Create a Plan for the day. On the white board |
| these questions 8 years ago. I knew I deserved | | | | in Greg's room, there are the words "Plan for the |
| to wake up every day full of energy and | | | | day." Every day, Greg's expert physicians and |
| anticipation. Unfortunately, there is no "magic" pill | | | | care partners are reviewing the progress from |
| that provided the answers. I needed help. I made | | | | the day before and making decisions about what |
| a decision to get my own "personal" checkup, and | | | | needs to happen today so that Greg will continue |
| went through a process of evaluation. Follow | | | | to move forward. Do you have a plan every day |
| these easy, simple solutions that I've created for | | | | to move you forward to living a life filled with |
| you to begin your "personal" checkup: | | | | energy, passion, and purpose? Is it moving you |
| 1. Get Connected With an Expert - Ask the | | | | toward your life goals? Getting up every day and |
| "Right" Questions. During Greg's entire stay at the | | | | "winging it" won't take you very far. I know |
| hospital, there was one constant at all times: He | | | | because I was "winging it" in my life some years |
| was asked questions, a lot of questions. And | | | | ago and it quickly brought frustration, as I did not |
| when you thought there could be no more | | | | seem to make any progress. Think about your |
| questions, the experts asked more questions. | | | | plan for the day. Is it like a rocket ship that will |
| Why? To clarify what was really going on; to get | | | | launch you to your desired goals or is it like a |
| focused on what seemed to be the root of the | | | | merry-go-round that seems to move but never |
| problem. It's important to spend some quiet time | | | | goes anywhere? |
| thinking about where you are right now in your | | | | Why is all this so vitally important? When I walk |
| life and ask some clarifying questions: What's | | | | the halls of that hospital and glance into each |
| working? What's not working? What do I need to | | | | room, I know that if I went inside, took a seat |
| change? What do I need to let go of? Get | | | | beside the bed, and asked each patient what they |
| connected to a coach, mentor, or other wise | | | | wished they had more of in their life, they would |
| individual that can help you ask the "right" | | | | most likely reply, "I wish that I had spent more |
| questions so you can get on the right path to a | | | | time doing those things in life that made me |
| life that you love waking up to every day. | | | | happy, that filled my soul with passion, that made |
| 2. Find a Care Partner. On the wall in each | | | | me feel my life had purpose and meaning." |
| patient's room is a big white board with the words | | | | Get your "personal" check-up right now and open |
| "care partner" and each day someone became | | | | your arms wide to embrace the world with all of |
| Greg's care partner. I like that word--care partner. | | | | its possibilities. |
| It means this person cares about you, your | | | | Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you. |
| healing, your life renewal, and moving forward. A | | | | |