Find the Perfect Gift...Fast

POWERFUL LIVING, POWERFUL YOU This Week's Topic: Find the Perfect Gift ... Fast! "Thunder rumbles in the mountain passes And lightning rattles the eaves of our houses. Flood waters await us in our avenues. Snow falls upon snow, falls upon snow to avalanche Over unprotected villages. The sky slips low and grey and threatening. We question ourselves. What have we done to so affront nature? We worry God. Are you there? Are you there really? Does the covenant you made with us still hold? Into this climate of fear and apprehension, Christmas enters, Streaming lights of joy, ringing bells of hope And singing carols of forgiveness high up in the bright air. The world is encouraged to come away from rancor, Come the way of friendship. It is the Glad Season. Thunder ebbs to silence and lightning sleeps quietly in the corner. Flood waters recede into memory. Snow becomes a yielding cushion to aid us As we make our way to higher ground. Hope is born again in the faces of children It rides on the shoulders of our aged as they walk into their sunsets. Hope spreads around the earth. Brightening all things, Even hate which crouches breeding in dark corridors. In our joy, we think we hear a whisper. At first it is too soft. Then only half heard. We listen carefully as it gathers strength. We hear a sweetness. The word is Peace. It is loud now. It is louder. Louder than the explosion of bombs. We tremble at the sound. We are thrilled by its presence. It is what we have hungered for. Not just the absence of war. But, true Peace. A harmony of spirit, a comfort of courtesies. Security for our beloveds and their beloveds. We clap hands and welcome the Peace of Christmas. We beckon this good season to wait a while with us. We, Baptist and Buddhist, Methodist and Muslim, say come. Peace. Come and fill us and our world with your majesty. We, the Jew and the Jainist, the Catholic and the Confucian, Implore you, to stay a while with us. So we may learn by your shimmering light How to look beyond complexion and see community. It is Christmas time, a halting of hate time. On this platform of peace, we can create a language To translate ourselves to ourselves and to each other. At this Holy Instant, we celebrate the Birth of Jesus Christ Into the great religions of the world. We jubilate the precious advent of trust. We shout with glorious tongues at the coming of hope. All the earth's tribes loosen their voices To celebrate the promise of Peace. We, Angels and Mortal's, Believers and Non-Believers, Look heavenward and speak the word aloud. Peace. We look at our world and speak the word aloud. Peace. We look at each other, then into ourselves And we say without shyness or apology or hesitation. Peace, My Brother. Peace, My Sister. Peace, My Soul." Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem By Dr. Maya Angelou This Week's Topic: Find the Perfect Gift...Fast Dear Friend, It is Christmas Eve morning and many of us are scurrying around town trying to find the perfect gift for a loved one. In three minutes I'm going to give you a better, faster more relaxed, less stressful, more personal way to select gifts for your loved ones. Author Gary Chapman has written a book entitled The Five Love Languages. In this book he suggests that we each have a primary love language and when people express love to us in this manner we receive it the most poignantly. So this year tailor your gifts to the person. Make It Happen Step 1: Write down the names of the loved ones you are struggling to find a gift for. Step 2: Use this quiz, developed by Gary Chapman, to discover the love language of each person on your list. If you don't know the answer ask them...it won't take them more than thirty seconds to answer the question. 5 Love Languages Quiz Select which one of these five sentences best describes _____________ (fill in name of gift recipient.) I feel especially loved when people express how grateful they are for me, and for the simple, everyday things I do. I feel especially loved when a person gives me undivided attention and spend time alone with me. I feel especially loved by someone who brings me gifts and other tangible expressions of love. I feel especially loved when someone pitches in to help me, perhaps by running errands or taking on my household chores. I feel especially loved when a person expresses feelings for me through physical contact. If you selected: 1. Words of Affirmation Actions don't always speak louder than words. If this is your love language, unsolicited compliments mean the world to you. Hearing the words, "I love you," are important-hearing the reasons behind that love sends your spirits skyward. Insults can leave you shattered and are not easily forgotten. 2. Quality Time In the vernacular of Quality Time, nothing says, "I love you," like full, undivided attention. Being there for this type of person is critical, but really being there-with the TV off, fork and knife down, and all chores and tasks on standby-makes your significant other feel truly special and loved. Distractions, postponed dates, or the failure to listen can be especially hurtful. 3. Receiving Gifts Don't mistake this love language for materialism; the receiver of gifts thrives on the love, thoughtfulness, and effort behind the gift. If you speak this language, the perfect gift or gesture shows that you are known, you are cared for, and you are prized above whatever was sacrificed to bring the gift to you. A missed birthday, anniversary, or a hasty, thoughtless gift would be disastrous-so would the absence of everyday gestures. 4. Acts of Service Can vacuuming the floors really be an expression of love? Absolutely! Anything you do to ease the burden of responsibilities weighing on an "Acts of Service" person will speak volumes. The words he or she most want to hear: "Let me do that for you." Laziness, broken commitments, and making more work for them tell speakers of this language their feelings don't matter. 5. Physical Touch This language isn't all about the bedroom. A person whose primary language is Physical Touch is, not surprisingly, very touchy. Hugs, pats on the back, holding hands, and thoughtful touches on the arm, shoulder, or face-they can all be ways to show excitement, concern, care, and love. Physical presence and accessibility are crucial, while neglect or abuse can be unforgivable and destructive. Step 3: Use the results of this quiz to give the perfect, heartfelt gift to your loved one. Here are some examples of gifts for different Love Languages. 1. Words of Affirmation "10 Reasons I adore you List" A heart-felt letter expressing your love for them An album celebrating their top five 2009 successes with key phrases of what they did and how 2. Quality Time Think about giving a certificate for a movie night, breakfast and coffee, lunch date, dinner out ... all of which are to be done together! 3. Receiving Gifts Something small and meaningful that they wouldn't have expected you to select - the key is that the gift isn't random...it needs to be thoughtful, not expensive or large. If they like golf a golf ball personalizer If their hands are always cold, gloves If they love wine, a bottle of wine each month or just once If they love flowers, fresh flowers several times over the next year or on a special day Here are some nice inexpensive ideas from Restoration Hardware 4. Acts of Service Gift certificate for a car wash An I owe You for: Babysitting Planting Spring flowers House Cleaning Laundry Taking down Christmas decorations Doing the dishes 5. Physical Touch A massage A beauty treatment The gift of you holding their hand An I owe You for a movie night, at home, holding hands May you and your loved ones treasure the time you have together and find the true joy of the season within each of you. Ignite Your Fire - 8 Week Challenge How is YOUR eight week challenge going? One week to go! Now is the time to persevere...hang tight ... stick to your plan! Become who you knew you could always be. My gift to you...one thirty minute coaching session before the end of the year! Call or email to schedule your free session. Blessings to you, Margaret. P.S. Encourage your friends, family, and colleagues by sharing this newsletter with them and invite them to subscribe! Direct them to www.MargaretPundmann.com where they can sign up. Margaret Pundmann is a life and business coach, speaker, and author of numerous articles on living your most powerful life. Stay tuned, Margaret's first book for emerging women will be available for pre-order in the coming weeks. To ensure you receive our newsletter each week, add Margaret@MargaretPundmann.com to your address book or your approved list of senders. Please feel free to forward the "Powerful Living, Powerful You" newsletter to friends and colleagues, but please forward in its entirety. The "Powerful Living, Powerful You" newsletter is written and distributed by Emerge Enterprise. Copyright © 2008 Margaret Pundmann. All rights reserved. www.MargaretPundmann.com.

6 Tips to Maximize Your Holiday Season

POWERFUL LIVING, POWERFUL YOU This Week's Topic: 6 Tips to Maximize Your Holiday Season Links Margaret's Website More About Margaret Coaching Teleclasses Margaret's Writing Margaret in the News Join Our Mailing List Join LinkedIn Network of Friends Link to Margaret's Blog In the News & Upcoming Events Welcome to our new subscribers! You inspire me to keep writing. Please keep forwarding the newsletter along. Thank you for sharing this column with your friends around the world. Article in College Connection Magzine a publication of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch "Navigating change: a roadmap to independence" Ignite Your Fire - 8 Week Challenge How is YOUR eight week challenge going? Wow, we've passed the half way point ... we are five weeks into the challenge. If you haven't yet begun...that is okay...start today and do a mini-challenge...it isn't too late! Select something that has been pestering you and go for it over the next month ... a cluttered life, too much talking, being late...YOU name it and YOU can conquer it in the next three weeks! For those of you well on your way...here are some reflections questions to help guide you through the next week: Why is this goal so very important? ('WIIIFM' - remind yourself what is in it for me - in the long run!) What are your successes? What is working? What isn't working? What adjustments do you need to make? How are you and your buddy best supporting each other? What is your celebration at the end? For extra motivation start planning it today! Use your answers to these questions and your reflection time to help propel you to the next level! You can do it!!! This Week's Topic: 6 Tips to Maximize Your Holiday Season Dear Friend, "Peace on earth will come to stay, when we live Christmas every day." ~Helen Steiner Rice With the holiday season in full swing this week enjoy six tips to reduce your stress and maximize your holiday season. 1) Focus on What is Important and Drop the Rest! Coaching Q: What is really important to you between now and the New Year? Come up with five things that are truly important and focus your time and energy on those. 2) Experience the Joy, Fully Coaching Q: Stroll down memory lane, when you look back over past holiday seasons, what memories bring you the most joy? Is it the decorating, baking, time with family, parties, music, worship services or something else? Ensure that you weave these activities into your plan for the holiday season. 3) Don't Stress over Gifts to Give The gift of love is the real joy of Christmas. The best gifts are authentic and pure and ask for nothing in return except a thank you. We lead our families by example. When we give joyously and ask nothing in return we, of course, get the largest gift. Coaching Q: What would this person really enjoy that I have the time, money or resources to give them? Is it dinner out and a movie together, a lovely trinket, a practical tool for work, or perhaps something to wear? Keep it simple, don't over complicate the give giving process and neglect the reason for the season. 4) Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance Begin doing things to prepare for your holiday events. Prevent procrastination and make a plan for these days and weeks. Use a schedule or your work calendar to plan out both your personal and professional responsibilities. Don't forget to plan in the fun stuff too! Refer back to the items you listed in questions number one and two to ensure they are part of your plan. Coaching Q: What must I do in the next several weeks? What do I want to make sure I do during the holiday season? Each day review your plan and ensure you are moving your goals forward. 5) Don't Blow Your Budget It is easy in the excitement of the season to forget to stick to your own financial plan. It doesn't matter if your bank account has lots of "0's" or very few - we all need a budget for the season. Coaching Q: What is my budget this season? (Be sure to include gifts, decorations, food, parties, tithing, etc.) Create a budget that reflects your current situation. Find the balance between being miserly and finding yourself with a huge debt in January. 6) Continue Traditions and Create New Ones As we hear in Fiddler on the Roof, "Traditions, traditions. Without our traditions our lives would be as shaky as, as... as a fiddler on the roof!" Traditions hold families, groups and societies together; they bind us together. They reflect our morals, values and customs. Coaching Q: What are my traditions and how do they serve me and my family? What new traditions might we want to include this year? During this season remember to continue that which serves you and your family in a meaningful way and drop what no longer works. If the jell-o mold isn't getting eaten at the dinner table, then perhaps this year it is okay to pass on preparing it! Make It Happen Use these six tips to shape your holiday season and create what you want. Stay focused on the real reason for the season. Blessings to you and your loved ones, you have my greatest gratitude for continuing on this journey each week. To ensure you receive our newsletter each week, add Margaret@MargaretPundmann.com to your address book or your approved list of senders. Blessings to you, Margaret. P.S. Encourage your friends, family, and colleagues by sharing this newsletter with them and invite them to subscribe! Direct them to www.MargaretPundmann.com where they can sign up. Margaret Pundmann is a life and business coach, speaker, and author of numerous articles on living your most powerful life. Stay tuned, Margaret's first book for emerging women will be available for pre-order in the coming weeks. Please feel free to forward the "Powerful Living, Powerful You" newsletter to friends and colleagues, but please forward in its entirety. The "Powerful Living, Powerful You" newsletter is written and distributed by Emerge Enterprise. Copyright © 2008 Margaret Pundmann. All rights reserved. www.MargaretPundmann.com.

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4 Habits of Happy Famillies

POWERFUL LIVING, POWERFUL YOU This Week's Topic: 4 Habits of Happy Families Links Margaret's Website More About Margaret Coaching Teleclasses Margaret's Writing Margaret in the News Join Our Mailing List Join LinkedIn Network of Friends Link to Margaret's Blog In the News & Upcoming Events Welcome to our new subscribers! You inspire me to keep writing. Please keep forwarding the newsletter along. Thank you for sharing this column with your friends around the world. Article in College Connection Magzine a publication of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch "Navigating change: a roadmap to independence" Ignite Your Fire - 8 Week Challenge How is YOUR eight week challenge going? We are four weeks into the challenge. We are 50% there!!! If you haven't yet begun...that is okay...start today...it isn't too late! Select something that has been pestering you and go for it over the next month ... a cluttered closet, a foul mouth, a soda habit...YOU name it and YOU can conquer it in the next four weeks! For those of you well on your way...here are some reflections questions to help guide you through the next week: Why is this goal so very important? ('WIIIFM' - remind yourself what is in it for me - in the long run!) What are your successes? What is working? What isn't working? What adjustments do you need to make? How are you and your buddy best supporting each other? What is your celebration at the end? For extra motivation start planning it today! Use your answers to these questions and your reflection time to help propel you to the next level! You can do it!!! This Week's Topic: 4 Habits of Happy Families Dear Friend, "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." ~Leo Tolstoy A friend recently reminded me, her father on his death bed, wasn't detailing professional successes, of which there were many. Rather, he was looking around at his family - at each of his children - appreciating the moments they shared together and the joy they brought him. As we are in the middle of the holiday season filled with family time, this week I want to focus on your family and review recent research that suggests that happy families share four common characteristics. Give Thanks - Be Grateful Ideas to Achieve: Select five things to give thanks for each day and write it in a journal or have your children write it in a visible place in your home. Pick one family member each month and have each family member write a letter of gratitude to this person. To celebrate, around the dinner table read the letters aloud. Once a week at the dinner table have each person give thanks aloud for five things that have occurred that week. Have Satisfaction in your Choices Barry Schwartz, professor of psychology at Swarthmore College and author of the book "The Paradox of Choice," says, "explicit lessons are the least important ones. The most important thing you can do is to model the behavior for your child." Ideas to Achieve: Repeat three times, "You get what you get and you don't get upset" Lead by example, when we question our choices rather than stand firm in them we lead a ripple effect through our communities, workplaces, and homes. When you make a choice that just isn't right, focus on your lesson. Life isn't about the end point, but rather the journey. Choices define the journey. Lose yourself in the moment - Focus on the Moments of Joy Research indicates that happy people focus on the moments of joy in their life. Ideas to Achieve: Take time to remember the good things in life - open the history books of life and share. Document the joy in your life through the photo albums, stories, and even the internet. As you drive around your town remind your children, that is where you had your first...step, piano lesson, ice cream cone, etc. These anecdotal stories help cement joyous moments. Spread Out the Joy Research illustrates that when you compare a group of people who spend a day doing things to please themselves vs. a group of people who help others ... the group who helps others feels happier and more joyous at the end of the day! Ideas to Achieve: Put this research into action in your own home, community or office ... challenge people to give their time and resources to others...let them reap the joyous benefits. Remember more isn't always better ... for your children space out the giving and receiving of presents and space out their activities. Make It Happen This week select one of the four ways above to add joy to the life of your family. God bless you and your family. I hope you are able to return to the basics and have a happy, healthy and joyous holiday season. To ensure you receive our newsletter each week, add Margaret@MargaretPundmann.com to your address book or your approved list of senders. Blessings to you, Margaret. P.S. Encourage your friends, family, and colleagues by sharing this newsletter with them and invite them to subscribe! Direct them to www.MargaretPundmann.com where they can sign up. Margaret Pundmann is a life and business coach, speaker, and author of numerous articles on living your most powerful life. Stay tuned, Margaret's first book for emerging women will be available for pre-order in the coming weeks. Please feel free to forward the "Powerful Living, Powerful You" newsletter to friends and colleagues, but please forward in its entirety. The "Powerful Living, Powerful You" newsletter is written and distributed by Emerge Enterprise. Copyright © 2008 Margaret Pundmann. All rights reserved. www.MargaretPundmann.com.

Happy Thanksgiving...Let Us Give Thanks

POWERFUL LIVING, POWERFUL YOU This Week's Topic: Happy Thanksgiving...Let Us Give Thanks
Links Margaret's Website More About Margaret Coaching Teleclasses Margaret's Writing Margaret in the News Join Our Mailing List Join LinkedIn Network of Friends Link to Margaret's Blog	In the News & Upcoming Events Welcome to our new subscribers! You inspire me to keep writing. Please keep forwarding the newsletter along. Thank you for sharing this column with your friends around the world. Article in College Connection Magzine a publication of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch "Navigating change: a roadmap to independence"
Ignite Your Fire - 8 Week Challenge How is YOUR eight week challenge going? We are three weeks into the challenge. Did you have a false start? That is okay...start again. Or perhaps you haven't started at all...no problem...it isn't too late! Pick something that has been pestering you and go for it over the next five weeks ... a cluttered closet, a foul mouth, a soda habit...you name it and YOU can conquer it in the next five weeks! For those of you well on your way...here are some reflections questions to help guide you through the next week: Why is this goal so very important? ('WIIIFM' - remind yourselfwhat is in it for me - in the long run!) What are your successes? What is working? What isn't working? What adjustments do you need to make? How are you and your buddy best supporting each other? What is your celebration at the end? For extra motivation start planning it today! Use your answers to these questions and your reflection time to help propel you to the next level! You can do it!!! This Week's Topic: Happy Thanksgiving ... Let Us Give Thanks Dear Friend, "Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action." ~W. J. Cameron In the United States, each year we gather 'round with our family and friends and celebrate Thanksgiving. I've always loved this holiday because it is purely American and cuts across cultural and religious divide. Once Halloween has passed, there is eager anticipation for the Holidays. We work hard to complete projects at work, we clean our homes, we cook food to be shared, we decorate our homes, many of us travel, and we prepare our homes and our hearts for this joyous holiday. In all of this preparation we often get overwhelmed and become irritated with all around us. We are ready for it to be over before we've even eaten the turkey and before the tryptophan results in a nap. The question I want us to consider this week is, How can we each make the most of this holiday and ensure that we turn Thanksgiving into Giving-Thanks? Let's make this year about giving thanks for the blessings around us rather than perfecting what is already pretty good. Close your eyes and imagine that Thanksgiving has passed. The dishes are done, the house is empty, you are back at your desk working away, but you can't remember what was said at the table because you were so worried about...the food, the decorations, a looming project at work, the mess. This year you have a chance to prevent being derailed by the minutia. This year stay on track. Set your attitude on gratitude and your thoughts on thanksgiving and turning it into action! What is important about this holiday is spending time with those we love and giving thanks to them and for them. So as the chaos sets in - avoid the temptation of getting bogged down in what must be done and let go - what is done is done and what isn't done just doesn't really matter. Allow yourself permission to return to exactly what is important about this holiday. Remember that having meaningful connections and coming together as friends, families, and communities is what Thanksgiving is really about. Enjoy this time! Make It Happen This week give thanks, above and around. Below are some ways to give and show thanks. Let's give thanks for Our electricity; Our heat in the Winter; Our running water; Our firefighter; Our postal worker; Our abundance of food and water; Our home; Our freedom to worship. Before you leave your office for the Holidays Write a note to three people you work with and say, "thank you;" Write a note to three clients and thank them for their business this year; Call three people and simply tell them what they mean to you. Before Your Thanksgiving Meal Visit a local shelter or charity and cook for and serve others; Cook Thanksgiving dinner for a family around you who is in need; Invite those who are alone to break bread at your table with your family; Donate warm clothes and nourishing food to your local church or temple. At Your Thanksgiving Meal Have everyone at the table say what they are thankful for; Have everyone focus on each person for a minute or two and say what this person means to them, and what they are thankful for about this person. God Bless You and Your Family. I hope you have a tremendous time Giving-Thanks during the Thanksgiving Holiday. To ensure you receive our newsletter each week, add Margaret@MargaretPundmann.com to your address book or your approved list of senders. Blessings to you, Margaret. P.S. Encourage your friends, family, and colleagues by sharing this newsletter with them and invite them to subscribe! Direct them to www.MargaretPundmann.com where they can sign up. Margaret Pundmann is a life and business coach, speaker, and author of numerous articles on living your most powerful life. Stay tuned, Margaret's first book for emerging women will be available for pre-order in the coming weeks. Please feel free to forward the "Powerful Living, Powerful You" newsletter to friends and colleagues, but please forward in its entirety. The "Powerful Living, Powerful You" newsletter is written and distributed by Emerge Enterprise. Copyright © 2008 Margaret Pundmann. All rights reserved. www.MargaretPundmann.com.