Amazing and Inspiring Lady

 

This is the female leader Arizona should be proudest of!

 

Honoring MLK

"True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice." - Rev. Martin Luther King (16 April 1963, Birmingham, AL)

January 1, 2012

Happy New Year!

A phrase exclaimed every year with such promise, expectation and sometimes relief. We do not know what the year ahead will bring, but we are hopeful it will be good to us.

2011 was a challenging year from an unusual deep freeze with rolling blackouts and busted pipes in February to a similar snow in early December that closed the Las Cruces GLBTQ Center for most of the month. It was a year when we lost family, friends and pets. It was a year of struggle for so many and victory for few. I can’t remember a year like this in decades. 2011 was a year the majority of people I know were glad to see end and will not miss it.

What does 2012 hold? Will it be the year the 99% take our government back from the 1%?  Will it be the year the world finds peace?  Will it be a year of compassion, understanding and respect? Only time will tell what 2012 holds.

2012, whatever you have waiting for us, be gentle with us. 2011 has left us a bit battered and bruised

Emotional Intelligence

"Feelings are really your GPS system for life. When your supposed to do something, or not supposed to do something, your emotional guidance system lets you know" - Oprah Winfrey, Stanford Commencement Adress, 2008 US actress & television talk show host (1954 -)

 

 

 

Good Bye 2011

What I Am Most Proud Of From 2011
Models of Hope Honoree
Founding Member of the Dona Ana County Community Unity Coalition
City funding for Rainbow Youth
Affiliation agreement for Gallup Center
Dear Harvey production
Presenting roundtable at the New Mexico Conference on Aging
Elected to the CenterLink board
The Las Cruces GLBTQ Center at almost 2 years old
Being Dad to two kiddos
Applying for SAGE affiliation
12 years with Richard

What I Am Least Proud Of From 2011
Not achieving any of my 2011 goals
My lackluster leadership
My inconsistent results
Not paying enough attention to family

Lessons Learned
Everyone’s level of commitment is different
Everyone’s sense of urgency is different
Everyone’s timeline is different
Communicate tasks and expectations clearly
Get out of my head, it’s dark in there

2012 Theme
Positive Consistency – living the moment with a positive outlook every time.

2012 Goals
I will be within my recommended weight range of 127 – 159 by the end of the year.
I will read 8 books at least 2 of them fiction by the end of the year.
I will devote at least 7 hours per week to family time.
I will visit my sister by the end of the year.
I will spend two hours a week developing myself personally and professionally.

Light A Light (from 2010)

Melissa Etheridge - Light A Light Lyrics

Artist: Melissa Etheridge

Album: A New Thought For Christmas

Songwriters: Melissa Etheridge

'Tis the season of change

The seasons are the contrast
Heed a life and how it's done
It's time to let go of all our past
And let go of what's to come

Write down your excuses
And turn them into dust
And plant the seeds of change
Water it with trust

And light a light tonight, we light a light
We light a light tonight, we light a light
Now about this time is ending and everyone is here
We light a light, a light this year
'Tis the season of change

What do we have, what do we have not?
What do we need that isn't here?
This mindless, numb, consuming
Is driven by a subtle fear

It's time we stopped believing
That there will not be enough
I know they said it on the TV
So turn it off, break the chains
Step outside and feel the love

And light a light tonight, we light a light
We light a light tonight, we light a light
Now about this time is ending, everyone is here
We light a light, a light this year
'Tis the season of change

Ooh change, we shall change
We must change

Heaven is inside, it's all around not just above
Choose only love
Heaven is inside, it's all around not just above
Choose only love

Choose only love
Choose only love
Choose only love
Choose only love

And light a light tonight, we light a light
Light a light tonight, we light a light
We light a light
Light a light tonight, we light a light
We light a light tonight, we light a light
'Tis the season of change

 

 

2011-2012 Review and Planning

 

 

 

 

 

Every year I do a year end process similar to the one outlined here. The goal of this process is to look back and learn from 2011 and set up a fabulous 2012. 

Complete each of the following questions or activities:

• What are you most proud of from 2011 ?


• What are you least proud of from 2011 ?


• Reflect on 2011, what did you learn this year?


• Release and Celebrate 2011 - take the negative from 2011 and burn it or release it in some other meaningful way. Then celebrate the good parts of 2011 in a meaningful way.


• Brainstorm a list of things you would like to accomplish in 2012. Include everything that comes to mind personal, professional, and community. Then prioritize the list to come up with 10 goals for 2012 and list them on a sheet of paper.


• Reflect on where you are personally, work-wise and in the community, what are you happy with, what would you like to change, who are you being, how do others see you?


• Create a short theme for the year (2-3 words).Write the theme and a brief explanation of why you chose it on the same paper from # 5 above.


• Create a personal system to remind yourself of the goals and theme during the year ahead.


• Have a fabulous 2012

 

If I Find A Quiet Place ....

 

One of my simple pleasures has always been reading. The last few years it has been difficult to indulge myself given my work with New Mexico GLBTQ Centers, until July a job at Kohl's, and other projects.

With the addition of a puppy and a nine year old in June and a 15 year old in October finding the quiet place has become as much or more of a challenge than locating the time.

I had a goal of reading 12 books in 2011, six fiction and six non-fiction, I finished two. Obviously, I need additional motivation beyond the joy of reading. So I am going to attempt to play in LGBT Reading Challenge 2012 at LGBT Reading - The blog for all those who enjoy reading and writing about LGBT (related) books.

Any book suggestions?

The Most Wonderful Time

Me?