7 Things

One of the keys to being a good presenter is having a clear understanding of who you are.

This is a great exercise that will put you in touch with at least some of those qualities and characteristics that people find so wonderful about you.

The challenge started out with a post on my blog entitled ” 7 Things About Me ” which you might want to read before you participate.

Once you’ve read the post, email your “7 Things” to me.  I’m really looking forward to reading them.

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Major Dee (Deanna) Brasseur is a friend and a truly motivational spirit.  She rose from the position of administrative clerk in the Armed Forces to become one of the first two women in the world to fly a CF-18 Hornet fighter jet.  By the time she retired from the military, she was responsible for monitoring all jet trainer and fighter jet flight safety incident and accident activities for the Canadian military.

Why I Get Out of Bed Everyday … to explore the moments laced with learnings. Each and everyday in someway there is a pearl of wisdom waiting for each of us to discover.

What I Love … Canada geese gracefully flying in perfect formation – honking their freedom to the heavens.

Where I Have Been … to the tops of the highest clouds in the sky and in that moment in time… for an instant … I felt I could almost reach out and touch the face of a much Higher Power.

Where I Want to Go … Machu Picchu. A high level adventure on earth.

What I Know … we are unlimited potential living a life of inner unfolding.

What Motivates Me … serving the greater good of mankind. For me there is no greater pleasure than being given the opportunity to spark a light in the lamp of learning and assist another in recognizing their magnificence

What I Learned … the most important lessons in life come when we quiet our minds and listen with our hearts.

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My amazing wife was so inspired by Cathy’s post that she decided to take the challenge.

(Ginger Jacobson)

Why I get out of bed everyday

To see what happens next.  Living a life is not about waiting for things to happen to you or for you.  Living a life is about getting up and doing something about it.

What I love…

My family.  My friends.  Seeing progress.  Making music and showing others how to make music as well.  It’s a joyful experience and passing this gift on is my chosen mission in life.

Where I have been

I’ve been fortunate enough to travel extensively in Canada, a little less extensively in United States and just enough to want more in Europe.  I’ve been in happy places in my life and not so happy places.  I’ve been through easy to manage experiences to downright difficult challenges.

Where I want to go

I want to go to a place just pleasant enough to feel peaceful and fulfilled, but also just adverse enough to offer challenge to make it interesting.  Geographically?  I’d like to go back to the Scandinavian countries and see them as an adult.

What I know

My family is caring and devoted to each other.  No matter where we are geographically, in the same location as a group or as individuals scattered all over, we are ‘home’ when we’re in touch.

What motivates me

The realization that what’s happening around me is moving forward and is exciting.  The real push comes when the accomplishments lead to more potential.  It’s endless and there is no limit!

What I learned

I can push myself to the limit and when I think I can do no more, I can reach down and pull up just a little more. This I learned as a child, as a teenager, as a young adult and by redefining it as a mature adult.  Having a vision with a clear sense of purpose and direction makes the difference.

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So, I’ve taken a great deal of time to think about the “7 Things Challenge” you issued on your blog. They’re not the easiest questions to answer but how does one define those intangibles in a way that makes sense to a world caught up in the material things? Sure, I want success and financial comfort, too, but I’m already rich beyond my wildest dreams thanks to Adele, Trey, my family and great friends like you Saul.  Thanks for reminding me of a perspective I sometimes forget exists.

(Tim S.)

1. Why I Get Out of Bed Every Day …

To see family and friends and enjoy the many blessing I receive each day

2. What I Love …

My wife, my son, my family and friends

3. Where I Have Been …

Down a path I don’t wish for anyone. There’s too much pain there and it’s better left to allow healing to continue

4. Where I Want to Go …

I’ve already found a great deal of peace and love where I am at this point in my life.

5. What I Know …

I have my health and a loving family. Everything else is a bonus. I also know there is no greater gift than today. Learn from the past, live the present and don’t fear the future

6. What Motivates Me …

Watching others achieve things they might not otherwise achieve without my help

7. What I Learned …

I can make a difference…if I allow that change to happen on it’s own schedule, not on mine

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(Colleen V.)

1. Why I Get Out of Bed Every Day – There’s so much to do.
2. What I Love – Me and everyone that I have in my circle.
3. Where I Have Been – It felt like Hell, but I’m through to the other side.
4. Where I Want to Go – Everywhere!
5. What I Know – It’s all about Choices.
6. What Motivates Me – I still am not sure of the why, but I have a burning need to help.
7. What I Learned – I have learned to own up to the fact that I cannot change people.

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(RaeAnn D.)

1. Why I Get Out of Bed Every Day … Because I have been blessed with the ability to actually rise out of my bed and I must never take that for granted.  Regardless of whether you have 43 years or 93 years on this earth, life is short.  Every day is a chance to do it right and getting out of bed and thanking God for the day ahead is a good place to start.   My wonderful husband of 26+ years and I have been blessed with two awesome children:  Matthew – an accomplished, handsome 22 year old Queens U student and Victoria – our gorgeous, brilliant 20 year old Ottawa U student.  These great kids, along with our precious puppy, Tanner, are my life.  Without them….well, I don’t want to go there…

2. What I Love … Family gatherings, relaxing over dinner with old friends, receiving a surprise card/package in the mail, listening to my children’s laughter, curling up beside a wood fire, taking in a sunrise, coming home to dinner waiting, memories of my beautiful sister, Cathy, watching her children grow.

3. Where I Have Been … East and West coast of Canada, several US states

4. Where I Want to Go … Hawaii

5. What I Know … if more people tackled life with a spirit of generosity and gratefulness, the world would be a better place.

6. What Motivates Me … I love the song “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”.  If I’m there for you and you for me – we’ve got it made.

7. What I Learned … Live life with no regrets.  “Do your best work…be your best person”

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(D. Yorke-Slader)

1. Why I Get Out of Bed Every Day … Why not get out of bed?  There are so many blessings, opportunities, people to meet, places to go.  I get out of bed because life has taught me that people are here for a reason.  I need to fulfill that reason, adhere to my responsibilities.

2. What I Love … Friends that care about you, no matter what the situation.  Family is the most important thing to me in life, since my mother died when I was 11, and family is always there, always cheering you on.  I love social opportunities (probably because I can’t stop talking )  Traveling, Rock Music (actually, almost all kinds of music, I tend to expose myself to everything)

3. Where I Have Been … As far as Canada, I’ve been from BC to PEI, I’ve been to Florida, several States

4. Where I Want to Go … Seattle (Rock N Roll Hall of Fame)

5. What I Know … He who goes to bed early, wakes up early.

6. What Motivates Me … Memories of my mom, all the amazing things she accomplished, the amazing person she was, and she did it all in only half a lifetime.

7. What I Learned … Do your best work, be your best person…greatest advice I’ve ever heard.  When I was younger, I took it for granted, but now, I don’t hear it any more, and I follow life by its guidelines.

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(K. Vrieling)

1. Why I Get Out of Bed Every Day … Because of the unknown. The things I want to do and the things I have left to accomplish in my life. The hope that I have good things ahead of me. And I get out of bed because of the people that surround me everyday.

2. What I Love … Music. Music lifts my spirit and fills my soul. My friends, my family, and my extended family.

3. Where I Have Been … All across this beautiful country (even to the Yukon!) , New York City, and Las Vegas

4. Where I Want to Go … There is nowhere I want to go in this world more than Paris.

5. What I Know … treat others how you want to be treated. Giving is better than receiving.

6. What Motivates Me … All of the amazing people in my life, living or not, and the impression they have left on me. I can only hope that I leave an impression (a positive one of course) on the people I come across in my life.

7. What I Learned … Life is short, live it to the fullest.

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