3 ways to elicit or solicit the support of your friends

When women go through transitions stemming from the start of a new business, the breakup of a relationship, or starting a new exercise regimen, we turn to our friends for support.

There's good reason for that. They want to see you succeed. And just maybe they want to succeed right along with you. We're like lemmings, we want to go where we think the winners are going. And the more, the merrier, right?

If you're in the midst of one of these transitions -- or something else entirely -- I ask you: Where are you getting your help? Are you're friends stepping up in ways you hoped they would? If not, maybe they don't know what you need. Or maybe you're not opening up to them. If you're unsure how to solicit support from your friends (Maybe you learned that's weak. It's not. It's actually showing you know how to access your Inner strength and use your Expressive voice.), here are a few ways to let them know how they might aid you in your transition:

1) ASK FOR IT
It's one of the oldest tricks in the Holy Bible. Seriously. Not to get all church-y on you or anything, but Matthew 7:7 in the King James version says right there in printed word: "Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Just like I've always told my children: If you don't ask, you won't get. It's that simple. Just ask your friends for what you need. They might not be able to provide it, but they might be able to tell you who can.

2) ASK FOR REFERRALS
I wasn't always great at this, and sometimes I'm still not, but I have a friend who includes in his email signature the following line: "Referrals are always welcome." You know what, every time I see that, I think, "Smart guy." I haven't yet copied the line in my signature (Have you seen my signature? There's enough there already. One more line? Probably too much.), but I do consciously work at remembering to ask for referrals where I think it's appropriate or might lead somewhere. And almost any referral can lead somewhere. You never know how your carpet cleaning guy might be able to help. Mine cleans a lot of carpets, so he might know someone who knows somebody. You know? Refer back to 1) and ask for it, especially when you run into someone who cannot provide what you need at the moment. As long as you're aim is accurate, they are in the position to refer. For instance, a writer who pitches an editor an idea she liked and would have bought if it wasn't already publishing soon is likely to refer you to someone they know might be looking for a similar idea, so ask for it. 


3) SHARE YOUR STORY
Your friends are the people who will listen to your ideas about starting that new business. They are the ones who care enough to hear for the 100th time about the scumbag boss or the lowlife boyfriend, as long as you're taking proactive steps to move on. Your friends are the people who process what you tell them. They remember what you're doing, and they relate to the struggles you might be having. They care enough that when they're out in the world, just going about their business, they buy you something thoughtful -- something they know will help push you if they think you could use the support. Last night, a girlfriend of mine handed me the ring pictured above. We were celebrating her birthday, and yet she bought me a gift. She'd been reading about my renewed enthusiasm with the BIKE on Facebook and wanted to help. By buying the ring and giving it to me, she was showing her support. It's the way humans connect. So share your story. Tell your friends what you're doing. They may not directly help you. But they will pat you on the back. They'll give you the high-fives. Or they'll present you with a gift -- a token that will remind you that your friends do care about your success.

Friends are the people who want to support you, who want to help lift you up, even when you don't ask for it directly. But if you tell them what's going on in your life, if you share, they will hear you. And some of them (Not all of them. So don't be too hard on those who don't. It might not be something they're particularly good at. One can't be faulted for that.) will intuitively know how to respond. You will both be the better for it.

Can you think of a time when you didn't ask for help, when you kept your worries or concerns to yourself? That's a form of isolation. How do you think it affected you? What could you have done differently?   

Change will do you good, Part 2

As the weather cools down in Arizona, it's like spring cleaning around here. Every now and then, you gotta change things up, move things around a little, rearrange. So that's what I've been doing. It kind of goes with my branding work--still in progress. And, yeah, my house could use some of this as well, but I'm focused on the blog at the moment. Rather, I'm focused on figuring out how to make it more useful.

So I have made some changes. Not to the home page, really. But to the extra pages. Since I don't have a JackieDishner.com Website yet (though I do own the domain), I thought I should continue trying to make this place work as my main sales too. And what I'm mostly done is rewrite the extra Pages. If you have a minute, I'd love to get your input on what I've done. You may notice that I dropped the Travel Blog page, since the owner of that blog isn't really doing anything on it anymore, and it seemed pointless for me to continue writing for it. So that's gone. Yet, you can still access it via my Clips Page. The remaining three Pages I'm using more carefully to sell my services as a speaker, writer and consultant.

I'd really like to know what you think about my "Hire Me" titles. As I understand it, you want to make things clear on the blog. So that's what think I've done.

What do you think?

Where to host the random book giveaway

Today, we officially celebrated the end of the 2011 WordCount Blogathon with a Twitter party. Participating bloggers met on Twitter.com at 10 a.m., PST, to discuss what we loved and hated about the blogathon. We discussed what we learned and what we could learn more about. But I'll leave the serious wrap-up of what happened and who said what to Michelle Rafter; she'll blog about it tomorrow.  I just wanted to announce the cool thing that happened to me at the party.

I seized the opportunity to offer a book giveaway. I've done this before, at real parties. But without the inspiration of Jennifer Willis I might not have done it this time. I hadn't even thought of it, till I saw that she was giving away of copy of her new book, Valhalla. So I figured I could add to the fun, diving in at the last minute with a book giveaway of my own and a surefire winner on board. Michelle always offers prizes at the end of the party, anyway, so it makes sense to celebrate with our own creations and expertise. Seems to make the whole affair more personal and appreciated.

And it took the sting off my last giveaway that flopped. If you'll recall, I had a giveaway in early May here. When the winner didn't step up to claim her prize, that contest fizzled out, and I didn't have a back-up plan. Lesson learned: always have a back-up plan. That being said, today's Twitter party became my back-up plan without me even realizing it. Plus, I managed to find another guest poster in Willis. We'll work that out in the future, I'm sure.

Until then, let me congratulate the winner of my book, Backroads & Byways of Arizona. I'll be mailing a signed copy to Kim C. who is known as @mymommynme on Twitter. In the blogging world, look for her fitness tips. Congratulations, Kim. I hope you enjoy the book.

And thank you to all who joined me here during the 31 days in May. We did it! And now we can take a well-deserved break.

Sunday Collection Plate--May 22, 2011

I decided to rename my collection of posts on Sundays the "Sunday Collection Plate." For those of you who drop coin in the collection plate at church on Sundays, you'll know what I mean about this play on words. This is the blogging version of that. Value to be determined by you, dependent on if you get a chuckle out of these posts, or if they make you think, or if you prefer to pass on clicking. It's up to you.

In keeping with this month's theme (blogging about joyful things, joyful living and whatever brings you/me joy), here are my five choices for the week of May 22, 2011:

_Julia Munroe Martin writes about small town gossip in "The Police Beat" post on her blog this week. The way she tells her story should give you something to talk about, too. For sure, it will put a smile on your face. Let me know if you like her side comments. They cracked me up.

_"Mood Music" at MamaCanDance reminded me of why I loved the 80s. Sorry if you don't. I lived it and loved it. And the music still makes me smile.

_This post about the remake of the 1960s/70s television show, "Dark Shadows," stirred up fond memories, too. I loved that show as a kid. And then, by chance, I met one of the characters in person later in life. We spent seven days and nights together in the same class at a writer's workshop in Ohio. You'll have to read my comment on Mena Grazie's post to find out who that person was. Hint: It wasn't Barnabas Collins.

_I enjoy hosting parties but don't get to do it very often. Mostly, because I'm an over planner, and that takes time, which I don't have extra of right now. But this week, because of the Blogathon, I discovered The Haute Host, a site that can help make party planning easier and more fun. From the food to the wine to the favors, Lisa Elliott writes about it all here.

_I won't say I laughed out loud when I read this post, nor did I jump up and do a happy dance, but I was happy to read Alison Law's post about using podcasting as an alternative to cold calling. It's creative, something I've wanted to learn more about, and she provides justification for me right there at her Lawcenticity Blog. I need to add this one to my "favorites."

I hope you find something here that you can use. I know I did.

Enjoy the rest of your day!

Playing with names and faces

Thanks to Julie Sturgeon's post at Knowledgewebb, I learned how to turn my name into a face and had a little fun with it. But don't try this at home; it could get ugly. Here's what I mean:

This is what happened when I used JACKIE DISHNER, and from the link above, you'll see Julie and I bear a striking resemblance. But why do I have chin hair? Isn't that a goatee?

This is what happened when I used BIKE LADY, which kind of looks like me--when I was in kindergarten oh so many years ago.

But this is what happened when I used JUST JACKIE--another nickname I sometimes use. Aw, c'mon! My ears don't stick out like that, and I do have some hair.

So I think I'll keep my own face. Even in my Rough Rider moments like the one you see below, I don't look that bad. LOL.

Can you think of a time when you felt like you were just a caricature in your own life? Share your story here.
(Photo above taken by Lynn Etter at the Grand Canyon, 2011.)

Haiku Day! Celebrating the joy of bikes and biking

In celebration of the bike, and to follow today's WordCount Blogathon theme to share a Haiku Day, I went in search of the three-lined poems on Twitter. I looked for biking and cycling enthusiasts to share what they had to say in verse. There's actually a community of poets, if you will, who specialize in the subject, and they call it baiku. I love that! I don't think folks give cyclists, bike riders, and the biking community the creative credit they so deserve. So, in honor of Haiku Day, I'm doling out the credit here, sharing with you what this special community can do with just a few words when they're writing about something they love.

Drumroll please...and let the haiku begin, starting with mine:

The Trek of my dreams
takes me places on two wheels--
a land of freedom
     ~by Jackie Dishner (@bikelady on Twitter)

Joyful May weather!
Birds and flowers celebrate
Cyclists enjoy spring.
     ~by Richard Masoner (@cyclelicious on Twitter) 

Cool breeze on my face

Wind chimes calming melodies

crickets sing along 

     ~by Martha A. Boyd (@twittyboyd on Twitter) 

Bike tires deflated

The frame gathers cobwebs, dust

TLC a must!

     ~by Jennifer Derryberry Man (@mamahhhjenni on Twitter)

You can find more of these #haiku on Twitter at #baiku. The photo above, by the way, was taken by me in Portland, Me., last summer at Brad's, a bike rental shop on Peak's Island, after I returned my rental. And for another look inside the world of #baiku, here's a screen shot of one, sent to me by @bikerly. Thanks, Jim!

Happy Mother's Day with Blogathon wishes and a contest winner

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

This year's Blogathon may tend to intimidate some of the new folks. With the number of participants now (I haven't counted) topping 200 (Really?), that's a lot of bloggers uniting to improve, learn and connect. That's also a lot of bloggers to meet. That can be a tough job. So I've decided to go about it the alphabet way. That is, I'm visiting groups of blogs by letter. Michelle Rafter has the entire list organized by the alphabet at WordCount, so I'm just using her list. And let me tell you, I've not gotten too far, especially since I'm visiting the bloggers who visit here as well. Thus, the intimidation. New participants can be swayed to the dark side, if not careful. By that, I mean, they could get so overwhelmed they give up early.

To discourage that, I've decided to veer off the alphabet plan and post links to some of the new participants (or new to me) in this year's Blogathon for today's post on Mother's Day. On Sundays, I'll be running a list of favorite posts, blogs, bloggers and such that focus on joyful things, anyway, so figured I'd start this way, sharing with you what they're saying about this special day and the joyful spirit enriched by our moms. I hope they--and you--will appreciate that.

Take a look a five of them (click on the link above to visit more of us):

Billie Noakes writes her "momoir," with a simple and sweet memory of her mother who died of cancer in 1991.

Don A. Gonzalez gabs about one of his mother's greatest gifts to him.

Melissa Oakes offers a tribute to her mom about the shared love they have for gardening.

On the Bach blog, mother and daughter share equal tributes. How fascinating to know that these two women wrote a novel together. You can learn more about this by clicking on the earlier link.

At The Writing Well, you'll find a tribute to a favorite mom author that most of us know, Erma Bombeck. The famous author's no longer with us, but the tribute is touching and funny. Enjoy.

BONUS! 
Jennifer Derryberry Man was going to post her "mammahhhaiku" (creative for haiku verses written by mothers on mothering) but I haven't seen those yet. Maybe they'll show up on May 10, when we are all asked to participate in a special Haiku Day. Visit her anyway; her blog includes fun stuff for moms. 

And Happy Mother's Day to the best mom I know at the moment--my daughter--on her first Mother's Day with her first baby. See you at noon! I'd also like to send a big thank-you to both my daughter and my son for the Mother's Day gifts they sent to me: two dozen roses (multicolored) and a lovely necklace with pendants engraved with the months you were both born. It makes me want to sing out, "Oh, happy day!" 


NOW FOR THE NEWS YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR...Who won the copy of my book from last week's contest--and which logo did I choose? Drumroll please...

The winner of a signed copy of my Arizona travel guide, Backroads & Byways of Arizona, is Ms. Panda. You have till Friday, May 13, to claim your prize. I'll need your your address, please.

Oh, and I chose the logo with the rounded corners (but had to use the taller version to fit) I prefer the soft side of life whenever I can get it. ;-) Thanks to all who participated! Now go have a Happy Mother's Day with your families.

A Twitter Experiment--10 joy-filled tweets

joomla themesherpes twitter logo

For the fun of it, I searched the word "joy"on Twitter today to see what would come up. I thought I'd post what I gleaned to be the more interesting tweets, links and tweeps that popped up. So here they are, in no particular order. Maybe you'll find something that interests you here. And maybe it'll spawn a new post on your blog:

~A Bible passage tweet by @SidMohede~

The LORD is my strength & my shield; my heart trusts in Him, & I am helped. My heart leaps 4 joy & I will give thanks to Him in song.

~A quote tweeted by @jeremymriddle~

Know what you carry; the unique gift, expression and heart God has placed in you. Take joy in releasing that sound. 

~An affirmation tweeted by @SweetlyInspired~

I envision a life filled with love, joy, ease, prosperity and health.

~Another Bible passage tweeted by @CastingCrumbs~

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 3 John 1:4

~@KurtJacobs tweeted a comment about his day~

Mountain of receipts sorted now. Now have to put damn things into 24 plastic wallets and individual Excel sheets. Joy of self-employment

~@KenKenM is obviously having a good day~

I DID IT! I ACHIEVED MY GOAL THIS SEMESTER :) *tears of joy* Thank you Lord God, with God all things are truly possible

~@Tinkatoonk celebrates a simple pleasure~

Cafe con leche = joy

~Someone started a new business! Congrats @JoyMalone~

Joy Malone Photography is officially official... I am a certified business owner.. :)

~A tweet by @DewiLheea inspired by another~

RT @LOVE_THE TRUTH: Everything in life isn't about winning. You have to find joy in the process. You have to love what you do.

~A book review tweeted by @keithdoyle9~

Read The Complete Joy of Homebrewing by Charles Papazian

BONUS!

~I'll end with this tweet from @PositivelyZen because it promotes my monthly theme the best~

Begin today. Declare outloud to the universe that you are willing to let go of struggle & eager to learn through joy. [A quote by] Sarah Ban Breathnach

Where are you finding joy in life today? Post a comment below and let me know what you think about these tweets. Is there anything that jumps out at you--what is it and why?

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

A quick post while I catch up from an out of town trip...I just learned we have more than 180 bloggers in this year's WordCount Blogathon. So many participants this year. I'm impressed and hope you will be as well.

Why not click on the link above and visit a few of us? Post comments. Add us to your blogrolls. Subscribe. Help the blogging community grow. And at the same time, enjoy each other's stories.

Happy Cinco de Mayo! 

The Blogathon Badge: which should I use?

Welcome back!

Maybe you noticed I've posted another version of the new logo for this year's Blogathon event. I'm trying to decide which one I like best. I'm fond of the rounded edges from Day 1. But I wanted to post this one as well to see what it might look like on the screen.

For today's joyful assignment, I'm asking you to help me pick the best badge. Should I go with the badge I used on Day 1, or go with the squared edges you see above?

It's a simple request, but you'll need to visit yesterday's post to help me decide. Then use the comment section below to post your answer. If you choose the one I pick to post on the right-hand side of the page next week, I'll enter your name in a drawing to win a copy of my travel guide, Backroads & Byways of Arizona.

Hey, that's two fun things in one day! Yes, it's all about joy this month at B.I.K.E. WITH JACKIE. What brings you joy? Helping others? Winning prizes? I hope it's both.

You have to enter to win, so let's see your opinion. Post a comment and tell me which badge you'd prefer on your page. If it's the one I've decided I like best, I'll add your name in the drawing for a copy of my book. You can see the cover on the upper right-hand side of this page. The winner will be notified next week.

Blogathon 2011 Begins

Let the 2011 WordCount Blogathon begin.

Expect things to start heating up this month as I take the plunge yet again and participate in Michelle Rafter's amazing month of super-sized blogging. Click on the link above to learn more about it. And note that Ron Doyle has done it again as well. He's the guy behind the Blogathon logo designs. You can see his first from last year's event on the right-hand side of this page. Scroll down if you need to. This year's is hot pink and really brightens the page.

A list will likely go up soon on Michelle's page, so be sure to visit her link to find out who else is participating. You'll likely see many of them here as the month progresses. I'll post the list as soon as I can. But the month is beginning on a busy note, so bear with me as I get started. The first week might be a slow one. And then again, it might not be slow at all. I'll tell you more about why later.

Meanwhile, you may like to know that this month I'll focus on writing about joy...What is it? Where do you find it? Why doesn't everyone feel it? And how can you go about bringing more of it into your lives. Those are the questions I'll be asking you and posting about here. It's part of a new project I'm working on, so I hope you'll join me.

Till tomorrow.

What inspires you?

Swamped, I've taken myself away from the blogs for a bit. I just needed to get away from the act of trying to motivate or inspire others and focus on doing that for myself. Life got hectic on my end, and I really needed to step back and reaccess.

I'm a champion here of listening to the internal rhythms. The body, mind and soul does not hide from you what you need. You just may choose to ignore it. I try not to. I hope you understand the need for my absence. I always knew I'd be back.

Still, what brought me back was a comment one of my readers said to me in person, and I had to pay attention to that as well.

"You haven't been writing lately," she said to me.

Of course I've been writing, just not on the blogs.

But her comment reminded me I did need to consider my audience. Like I said, I always knew I'd return, but maybe you didn't. I wasn't doing a very good job of keeping you informed. But I didn't want to put any pressure on myself, so I didn't, not until such time that it was necessary. And, you know, when your readers notice you're missing, I figure you should take notice as well.

I did, and I'm back. And I'm back with a simple question:

What is inspiring you today? Maybe it's a person (like Martin Luther King, Jr., pictured above in bronze), or maybe it's a book, or a certain phrase you heard someone say -- and it stuck. Maybe it's someone else's blog that inspired you today.

If you're blogging, if you're riding, if you're hard at work, what is it that is motivating you to act today? If something springs to mind, just post a quick comment, and let's talk about this over the course of the next few weeks.

I've recently begun work with another writer who is in need of moving past burnout. We're going to help each other via e-mails for now. It appears that she's become uninspired. IMO, she has good reason, but, like me and this blog, we still need to work to overcome that. We still need to produce.

So over the course of the next few weeks, while I'm helping my BF convalesce from his open heart surgery (which is partly the reason for my absence--and now also my return), am working on moving past this burnout with my fellow writer friend, and am waiting for assignments to roll in from editors and other clients I've been pitching, let's talk inspiration. Let's see if we can dig deep for some answers.

Because on those days when nothing seems like it will help us move past this challenge, something will. But we may have to experiment a bit. Let's see if we can compile some handy lists of ideas to use when we need them the next time. This time, I guarantee you, the simple act of writing them down, thinking about them, talking about them, will do the trick. But next time, let's plan on being better prepared.

So, again, I ask: what is inspiring you right at this very moment? What do you wish would inspire you right now? Write it down, right here.

And, tomorrow, we'll talk.

Tips for coping when change happens

There's a discussion going on at a writers' group I frequent. The conversation started when someone asked what to do if a publication you've been writing for changes editorial direction and you don't like the new direction. My response was to stop pitching. If you feel that strongly, it's probably not worth the hassle. It's probably time to let them go. Several others' responded similarly.

And then somebody mentioned a prior conversation that occurred on this site, quoting this gem:

"All good clients must come to an end."

Perfect! It works for anyone in any business. You can serve a client for only so long, and then you've done your job or reached your peak. It's time to move on and find fresh faces, new projects, more clients. It's time to wave goodbye, metaphorically speaking.

Perhaps you've been there before. You've worked with a client that you've loved for years. The work has been frequent, the jobs have been interesting, and management of projects well executed. No problems to speak of, for the most part. But then something happens to change that perfect picture. We all need to change things up every now and then, either to steer clear of monotony or perhaps to improve or stretch ourselves in some other way.

This happens in business and in our personal lives. Change happens. A fork in the road appears before us that requires us to pause and make a decision we weren't expecting, for example. We don't have to like it. But we do have to deal with it, or else we just stop and go nowhere.

If you're struggling with a life-changing experience right now, something that's causing you pause, here are a few tips that might help you cope:

1) Accept the change. Not necessarily the situation, but the change itself. Accept that it's happening. The dealing part can wait. But acknowledging the reality of the situation will help make things easier for you down the road, when you're ready to act.

2) Consider what the change might mean. Will it make things easier for you, more difficult, or just different?

3) Think about your options. Based on what you now know the change might mean for you, what are your options? If it's a new client you need, then it's time to market. If it's a new direction of your own that you'll need to take, what would be most exciting for you? Think about going there.

4) Take a break. Sometimes change feels too overwhelming to think about at the moment, so take a break. Go for a walk. Schedule a much-needed weekend away. Do something out of the ordinary to get your mind away from what you might perceive as difficult. When you return with a renewed perspective, you'll be better able to focus on the next step.

5) Take action. Create a plan of action for what you need to do to address this change. Keep it as simple or as complete as you need in order to move forward, and then execute the plan--one step at a time, taking it as quickly or as slowly as you need to go.

BONUS

6) Use your own inner B.I.K.E. To adapt to this new change, focus on what would be the best way for you to respond. That's going to result in making decisions and taking actions that will be most authentic to you, serve your values, and leave you feeling the most sure of yourself. So ask yourself the following questions:

_What kind of attitude will this change require of you in order to ensure a smooth transition? Adopt it immediately.

_Will you be able to withstand any chaos that may arise? Are you prepared for any fallout? Believe that you are.

_What are your gut feelings saying you should do--Are you listening and paying attention at the same time? Trust that you will.

_Do you know who might be able to help you make this move? Will you be willing to call on that person, or those persons? Assure yourself it's okay to ask for help.

If you follow these steps, you'll wind up embracing that which you once feared, and all that you need to adapt will reveal itself. Because, just as all good clients must come to an end, new clients are just around the corner. Goodbye. Hello. It's the natural balance of things. Don't you think?

Motivation for Mondays!

There's nothing so fun (and flattering) as discovering who else besides your publisher is carrying your book and selling it front and center. I made the above discovery on Sunday, while researching another book project I'm hoping to write in the future.

Can you see my book? It's right there on page 1 of the Southwest Books section at this online bookstore. It might seem like a little thing to some, but to me it was highly motivating! It made my day, as if it were a little shot in the arm for self-esteem health.

For the week ahead, so you're sure to stay motivated and productive, consider what little things like this have motivated you in the past, or what's pushing you now. Make a list, and stick that in front of your computer or somewhere visible near your work station. Let yourself be reminded of your contribution to the world.

Even if you haven't received any recent feedback, your work matters to someone. And sometimes we find this out unexpectedly, or by accident, as I did on Sunday. After I stumbled upon this site, I realized my book provides this online bookstore with product, and that's something that matters to them. It helps the store stay in business, and that's a nice way to think about what I created.

So think about what you're creating (a book, articles, artwork, etc.) or think about what service you provide to others. Who benefits from your work? Remind yourself why you keep doing what you do, and let that be a motivating force for you this week.

By the way, the discount offered for my book at this site is a better bargain than what I've seen lately at Amazon.com. So if you know anyone who's looking for a great guide to Arizona's backcountry, spread the word. Send them the above link, or refer them to my site. I appreciate any and all referrals--and purchases. Thank you. Have a great week!

New! Motivation for Mondays

Hey, I'm back!

After quite a bit of traveling, and some much needed time to catch up with business marketing, administrative tasks and taking some down time from social media (but not much down time), I'm back.

And I have some good news for you.

It's Time to Get Motivated!
A fellow tweep from Twitter and I are starting something new on Mondays. We'll be posting tweets under the hastag #MotivatedMondays in order to help our followers, friends and connections get motivated after the weekend. We'll be posting tips, quotes and other positive bits of inspiration to help jump start your week ahead. In addition, we'll be using our blogs to post lengthier motivational posts on Mondays as well. So watch for those links. We want to see you move your lives in the direction you want it to go.

Because #MotivatedMondways occurred after a few spontaneous thoughts, we're not sure exactly how this is going to work. Expect it to grow organically. But we hope you'll join us and read our tweets in the Mondays ahead--and on other days, too, of course. If you have any ideas of your own, please join in and help us grow #MotivatedMondays into a service that will benefit us all.

Meanwhile, here's a story from one my trips...

The Mini Grand Canyon Tour
As you might be able to guess from the photo above, I just returned from the Grand Canyon. Over the 4th of July weekend, my boyfriend and I joined three other couples to tour the North Rim. We hiked to Bright Angel Point (not to be confused with Bright Angel Trail on the South Rim). An easy hike, it's really just a walk around the rim to an overlook of Bright Angel, and the views are amazing. It is the Grand Canyon, after all.

The part in the picture shown above comes from the patio in back of the Grand Canyon Lodge along the trail, the only lodging on the North Rim. We weren't staying there; we stayed at Lee's Ferry Lodge at nearby Vermillion Cliffs--a great stop for anyone who doesn't mind rustic rooms, more beautiful views and good food at a cafe where the waitress named Charlie is as cantankerous as they come. If you're a woman living out there in the middle of nowhere, I guess you have to take on that kind of protective attitude. It's a funny thing for city folk. No matter. You'll have a good time; she's just teasing. But the place definitely isn't for whiners.

And as we were out in the middle of nowhere, on purpose, I was slightly disappointed we'd driven the five hours to get there and all we were going to do was this simple hike along the rim. No strenuous climbing. No daredevil jumps. No panting or out of breath need for big chugs of water. Just an easy ramble along the edge of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. But I didn't whine about it. I know some of my friends aren't nearly as ambitious as I am when it comes to outdoor adventure.

Luckily, I got what I was looking for two days later.

It came unexpectedly, actually. As we packed up and were ready to return home, the lodge owner's friend invited us to go with him over to see the old homestead built by a one-time Mormon leader John D. Lee, a practicing Mormon polygamist (common at the time) who was sent to this area along the Arizona Strip by Brigham Young to operate a ferry across the Colorado River. One of Lee's wives named the homestead the Lonely Dell because it was so isolated. It's now an interesting look at a part of the Colorado River history, and I did want to see that--and grab a peach off the trees in the old orchard, maintained now by the park service.

A Three Hour Tour
On the way to see Lonely Dell, we stopped off for what we thought would be a quick hike, a mile and a half in, we were told, through a slot canyon. If I'd have really listened when our "guide" asked, "You're not afraid of heights, are you?" I might have questioned the time frame. But I'm glad I didn't.


This turned out to be the hike I had hoped for. Called Cathedral Wash, it took us through a rough and tumble slot canyon that led straight to the Colorado River itself--where you could watch river rafters float by if you timed it just right. On the way in, we climbed canyon sides, jumped across ledges, hunkered down to crawl through tight spaces, trudged through sandy soil, hopped, skipped and jumped over large and small boulders, and kept a look-out for cairns so we could be sure to take the safest path--and not get lost.

We often encountered loose rock and gravel. But we made it--three hours later--back to the car in one piece. Thank goodness my boyfriend and I stopped off for lots of water on the way, because one of our hikers didn't. And this quick hike turned out to be a long and very hot trek in mostly sun. We wound up sharing our water with him so he wouldn't be without. And we sure embraced the shade when the canyon walls provided it.

We did not get to spend near enough time at the cool water when we reached the Colorado River bed. That was a beautiful sight to see. But our guide wanted to turn right back so we wouldn't miss the chance to see the homestead.


So speaking of Motivated Mondays--or any day for that matter--next time I return to hike this area again, I'm planning a much longer stay at the river's edge. It seems a shame to have taken in all that heat and hard work for such little time at the Colorado--which is one of the world's most amazing rivers.

How about you? Have you ever been motivated to do something again because you felt like you missed the best part the first time around? I'd love to hear your stories.

Huffington Post reports on who inspires the world?

Since my blog focuses this month on inspiration, when I read a similar headline as the one above, I was drawn in immediately. Of course! I wanted to know who Huffington Post thinks inspires the world.

Could it be...me? LOL.

My reach, apparently, isn't far enough. But I follow many of the people on the list, including @Marcome, @LoriMoreno and @Eleesha.

If you wrote a similar list, who would you include on yours? Who in your circle of influence inspires you and why? Better yet, in what ways do you inspire others?

(Photo taken above by Jackie Dishner at Our Lady of the Sierras Shrine in Hereford, Arizona)

Let humor inspire you

If you know me personally, you know I like to laugh.

I'm not at all like this cantankerous old cowboy on the left. Psst. He's not real. So it would be quite the feat to get him to laugh. Nonetheless, I know you know people like him, people like the English palace guards in Buckingham. They won't crack a smile about anything, no matter how absurd you might act in front of them.

I prefer to hang out with people who have a sense of humor about life. Some people who meet me for the first time, and who come in contact with my laugh right away, have called my laugh infectious. I lean toward the loud side, though, because I believe in belly laughs. I know it's not for everyone.

Once, when I had the opportunity to attend a taping of Jon Stewart's The Daily Show, friends found out and asked me to be sure to laugh on set. They said they wanted to see if they could hear me on national TV. They said they'd recognize my laugh if they could hear it.

Of course, as I sat there in the dark studio, on folding chairs with my group, not 50 feet away from the famous talk show host, I envisioned my friends sitting in a room together, giving each other the high-five whenever they heard my laugh. Maybe they would have made a game of it, I thought, taking swigs of beer every time they heard a cackle. Unfortunately, I must not be loud enough--they didn't hear me, after all. But it sure made me laugh a lot to sit there and try. This, in addition to what Jon Stewart was saying behind his desk on the set.

My point is that laughter, laughing, being able to see the funny side of things is a positive trait, and I'm glad to have it. I find the whole idea of laughter and what makes people laugh inspiring. If you do, too, but don't find yourself laughing enough, here are a few ways you can welcome humor into your life and let it inspire you:

_Sign up for one of those joke-a-day sites. They'll send them in your e-mail box. You can read them when you have time, or you can make it a part of your daily routine. If you're having a bad day, you can read one to cheer you up. You can pass them on to your friends if something you read is particularly humorous.

_Listen for subtle humor in a casual conversation. It happens daily. In our everyday dealings with people, we sometimes say or do stupid things. We misspeak, we say words backwards, we trip over nothing. It's unexpected and catches you off guard. Even if it's not belly-laugh worthy, subtle humor is sure to leave a smile on your face and a quicker pace in our walk.

_Go to your favorite independent store and read greeting cards. Even when you're not sending one, how many times have you found yourself standing in front of the greeting card display at the drug store or Hallmark store, reading the funny ones. It's a great way to pass the time if you're waiting on a prescription or something. My favorite are hoops & yoyo. They're so utterly annoying and so, so fun to give to others.

_Tell a joke to your friends, even if it's not all that funny. That might be the funny part about it.

_Watch for oddball road signs, and take a picture with your phone/camera. Then share them with your friends and family. If you want it to be better than just watching the humorous headlines with Jay Leno, make a big production out of it and create a slide show. If you're really ambitious and creative, you could post it to your YouTube channel.

_Open one of those funny notes sent to you via e-mail and read it, even when you have no intention of forwarding it on to your 20 best friends (who has 20 best friends, anyway?).

_Hang out with your funny friends. That way, if your witty side stays home, you can rely on others to crack open the humor.

_Skip the dramatic movie and go to a comedy club. Even if there's that overpriced two-drink-minimum charge, the comedians at a professional club are going to give you a good show and a few good laughs--in person. It's better than watching a flat screen, easier on your stomach than eating the gallon-tub of buttery popcorn, and you'll have a greater appreciation for the person who is obviously more funny than you are--he's getting paid.

_Make note of the funny things you hear in public. Write them down so you can remember them later. If you're a writer reading this, you should be doing this already. I get a lot of story ideas when I let the humor inspire me.

What about you? Do you have a joke to share with us here at BIKE WITH JACKIE? Can you share with us what happened the last time humor inspired you?

(Photo above taken by Jackie Dishner at Greer Lodge in Greer, Ariz.)

New year, new direction

Look at the three of us! This photo was taken by Armor Todd in Sedona. He runs the Sedona trolley you may see around town if you've ever visited. His wife Patti is the PR representative for Sedona Rouge. The three of us in the photo, me, Christine Bailey and Teresa Bitler, were in Sedona two weekends ago giving a presentation about Arizona. We were also there to sell and sign our books.

Since late last year, we've joined forces to form the Arizona Authors & Adventurers, and I wanted you to meet us. You can find more about us and what we're doing together if you click on the link at the top of this page--on the right-hand side. But for now, I wanted you to know that this is a new direction I'm taking this year, and I expect it to be a very productive one. Each of us work on our own as well, but we thought it would be fun to figure out how we could work together to promote Arizona travel and our books.

Don't worry. I'm still the BIKE LADY. I'll still be coaching. I'll still be speaking and teaching my BIKE Lessons. I'll still be coming here. It's my passion. But from time to time, you'll be hearing about what the Arizona Authors & Adventurers are doing as well. I hope you don't mind. It's just if there's anything I've learned about the social media networks it's that you don't benefit if you don't use them. So use them I will.

And while you're here, be sure to keep me updated on what's new with you in 2010. It's a new year. Are you seeking any new or additional directions?

Last Day of the January Blogathon

Today is the last day of the January Blogathon I organized with about a dozen Arizona Speakers. It's been a fun exercise to undertake. We'll next be celebrating with a Happy Hour gathering. After we do, I'll post some photos so you can learn a little more about who we are.

Also, watch for some guest posts to come. A few of my fellow Blogathoners have expressed interest in taking part in some guest blog exchanges. I'll let you know ahead of time when those will occur.

Tomorrow, we'll begin regular programming; however, if you haven't had a chance to read this month's posts on the topic of Recovery, spend a few minutes here to see if you find anything useful.

Meanwhile, here are a few of my favorite January posts--a mix from the Blogathon group:

Quotes to Live By
(I love inspiring quotes)

15 Things I Love About My Work

Fire Escape Gardner
(This was just so interesting)

Six Key Ways to Motivate Adults
(I'm curious who agrees)

American Idol Rant: Parenting
(My parent friends might like to comment on this one)

Collaborating With Yourself
(A surprising story in this one)

Are you patient?
(It's just a good question to ask yourself from time to time)

I thank you for continuing to support my efforts at helping you turn your obstacles into opportunities--even if that means remembering to blog more than once a month. I look forward to seeing more of you in 2010.

Stay tuned...
,

Recovery Reminder #5: Use repetition

That's right. Use repetition. If you find something that works, keep doing it. Something must be right.

That's my short and sweet message for this Saturday. Come back tomorrow when I share the story of my best Reminder of them all. Can you guess what it is?