my christmas wish to you...

merry christmas everyone! so far its been wonderful for me. shared some great times with family last night and tons of food. and doing the same today :) i just wanted to take some time and let everyone out there know some things i wish for you this christmas and upcoming year...

i wish you will...
be happy & laugh lots
be patient with yourselves
get love as much as you give love
share your joys and triumphs with those who surround you

i wish you keep...
an open mind to enjoy all possibilities
an open heart to experience love to no end
looking to the stars to strive for the highest goals
the spirit of giving in your soul all year long

i wish you understand...
triumphs can only really be felt if you've experienced tragedies
you get the most out of life the crazier it seems to be
one day, hour, minute or breath at a time
how short our lives on this earth really are, so make it what u want

most of all i wish you great love, joy, luck and lollipops ;)

love, laugh and live without fear!
merry christmas everyone...
luv u all!
xo
k

live in joy

i had the most wonderful week! i didn't exactly know it when i was having it, but now as i look back it was an insanely exciting, joyful and interesting.

it started on monday with my plans not going... well... as planned. the horrible weather caused the roads by me to freeze up (my neighborhood is surrounded by farmland). so, this meant i was better safe than sorry by working from home. i was preparing for a business trip to iowa as well, so i was a bit nervous about how the roads would be (and yes, i will now take advantage of the 30 minute flight). a co-worker and i had a chance to meet with one of our most loyal and business savvy customers. i picked him up in cedar rapids and we visited our new friends at their store.

it was BEAUTIFUL. wonderfully merchandised, open and airy and she had so many tips and tricks on specific merchandise that is hard to move (but not for her ;). AND she took about 4 solid hours out of her already packed day of training new employees, running special santa sales in the store and education... to sit with us and give us all the feedback we asked for, information about the industry and her thoughts on what we could do to improve it. this was so unexpected and i am so grateful for such an experience. and how lucky are we that this was our very first store visit in our new positions.

next... came a shorter roadtrip to des moines to visit my very favorite-ist group of business partners! we're meeting another wonderfully insightful, strong & energetic co-worker there as well. first off, their agency got us an amazing deal at a choice hotel in the area - nothing we would have stayed at if we would have booked ourselves. it was so incredibly quiet, relaxing, warm, inviting and cozy! (with no-hassle, free wi-fi throughout - my favorite amenity!) the three of us started with a nice casual meeting over pizza getting ready for our next couple of days of intense information gathering. i learn so much from these two and find myself so wonderfully challenged by them to grow and move forward. then my night ends with a call home and a slo-mo landing into an enormous king bed fit for a queen ;)

wednesday morning... we get picked up by my account exec. (saving me parking fees and having to think too early and uncaffinated in the am) OH - and complimentary breakfast with custom omelet... then meetings upon meetings upon meetings with absolute EXPERTS in the industry!!!!!!! experts in their craft AND their business!!! the opportunities i gain from these relationships both personally and professionally is a dream come true. we continue our roundtables into the evening at a wonderfully decadent french restaurant over cheese flights, oysters, seared tuna, fillets, salmon, and more (not all mine ;) again, the night ends with that amazingly peaceful, plush and inviting hotel bed. (and my cheeks hurt from smiling and laughing so much all day/night)

thursday morning... the three of us meet for some coffee and then for a fun-filled drive to meet two of our new business partners for breakfast (at a french patrie shoppe no-less). i overindulged excitedly in a fromage omelet - yummmmm (brie and Roquefort.. forgive my spelling). more recaps, opportunities, excitement, etc. etc. etc. dropped my coworkers off at the airport and went onto drive home. though it was disconcerting, now i feel lucky i wasn't one of the 32 cars/semis and trucks that had landed in ditches and trees on I80. i get back into town after listening to a few hours of classic radio sci-fi shows just in time to beat the snow! i meet my ecstatic puppy and cozy hubby and get ready for a packed day at the office on friday.

friday - management meeting - great insight, input and feedback... saw my team who i missed immensely over the past week (and who i am so incredibly thankful for keeping things running)... and then got to end the week with a company christmas party! our presidents had wonderfully motivating messages for us, the food was super yum, HR team made it a most joyful affair and their were games and prizes to boot! ok, soooo THEN I WON, i won a sewing machine!!! everyone's dancing (even me-without my left side making me fall at all!) everyone's laughing and loving and enjoying each other's company! i would have never even imagined it all could have been this great! the night ended with some nachos and a couple planning talks with my co-workers who challenge me... but also inspire me, a pep talk that meant the world ;)

SOOOO - where once i was overwhelmed, stressed, etc. i am now insanely grateful, excited, inspired, enthusiastic, driven, motivated and more!!!!!! my main inspiration here is this...

life is truly what you make of it. do NOT allow those nasty tired "eeyore" voices in your head make you lose sight of every tiny and great joyous moment you get to experience in life!

live in joy and joy will find you

love you all and thank you for making my life more joyous!
xo
k

what am i thankful for?

there's not enough bits or bytes of memory in the entire universe of of this vast internet space to fit all my thankfulness and gratitude!



i reflect back to times that have been difficult in my life and i'm actually thankful for these hard times as well. reason being, so much laughter, so much joy and connectiveness has come from those hard moments. what i'm most blessed with is an intensely loving and supportive group of family & friends that are always by my side. i have been able to not only just pull through hard times because of you all, but pushed through, conquered fears and grown from all these experiences.


i always encourage people to discover life, don't miss what's here for you to explore. be thankful you're alive, be thankful you have people to share these moments with and make more of them to remember!


be thankful for every tear, laugh, fall, triumph, tingle, journey and experience... THIS IS WHAT LIFE IS FOR!!!!!

love you all & thank you all!!!!!!!!
happy thanksgiving
k

some freeverse inspiration for you...

it's weird to fly by moonlight

i'm closer to the stars i've been wishing on
they don't look so far away to me anymore
i dance among them and sparkle right back
the moon is no longer a distant friend
but he's more like a lover
i imagined existing in this dark center
surrounded by shimmering gold light
until now i didn't know the vision was my reality
now i know each dream, each 2nd sight,
each imagined scene is my destiny
i paint my path & walk down it with intense curiosity and mild fear
coll said the path of fear is the path of the warrior...
i'll battle it all for i've seen the outcomes &
my dreams are a wonderful future to be

flying by moonlight is where i should be

a candle loses nothing by lighting another candle

a friend inspired me with this quote today. as my blog title says, i do believe i'm here to inspire others. "a candle loses nothing by lighting another candle" sums up exactly what my core being is about. the most rewarding times in my life are when i can brighten someone's life. if you share yourself to make others feel good...whether it is about themselves, something they're doing, or simply in general you fill yourself with a remarkable joy!

don't be afraid to share your gifts with those around you to make their day better or help them help others. relationships are one of the greatest gifts we all share. use your flame to help enlighten our world. your brightness will never dim, you'll just burn stronger!

xoxoxoxo
k

transitions

so tomorrow i start a new job. today is my last day at my current job. these past months... from considering looking for a new job to accepting and soon entering the doors of my new "second home" i've been through just about every emotion known to man. i've been excited, scared, nervous, sad, hesitant, elated, revived, dejected, cautious, overwhelmed, happy, content, surprised, angry,proud and renewed.

i'm one to always hold the hands of my friends and encourage them to leave their "safe zones" or "comfort spots." when we reach beyond what we're used to is when we find our dreams. i've also always been one to strive to new heights, grow and improve myself in every way and be STRONG and most of all... get what i want :) what i'm walking into on thursday is what i want. i'm sooooo incredibly excited about this opportunity and it's almost surreal (i'm sure it will be even moreso once i get my hands dirty)! i guess, or i know, what i'm having the most trouble with is leaving my current "second home."



i've jumped around a bit in my career for a few different reasons, but mainly because i was just moving forward to find my dreams. the easy part in the beginning of my career was that some of the environments or people i worked with/for were, let's say, just not ideal... so it wasn't too hard to leave.










the place i'm transitioning from now has been my safe spot. the people i saw everyday were my second family. i got 5 years of laughter and tears, ups and downs, madlib days and days that were just maddening. no matter the situation or the day, these people and my comfy office were/was ALWAYS there for me. like my childhood bedroom and any apartment i've lived in, i leave behind scuff marks and holes in the walls of my office (and in some others' walls too ;)












i knew i would fall in love with my job, that's always been a goal of mine... to love what i do for a living. i never thought i'd love the people i work with this much. my closest and dearest relationships have been built in my office or down the hall to the next state over or across the world.









i know that i am able to make this next leap because of the strength and support i have gained from my current 2nd home (and of course all of you that are in my first home hehe). i have learned a myriad of lessons about work and life and myself here. i would not trade one minute here for anything.













so i'm off... onto the next chapter in my life. i go with excitement, enthusiasm, passion and a full heart. thank you all so much for everything you've done for me. just being in my life has been so rewarding for me!


love you all & i'll see you soon!
- k -

life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away

not sure if i've posted this which i'm re-borrowing again from a friend, but if i did, why not again? it's so meaningful, and like it says, breathtaking in itself. it's breathtaking to me, i think, because i live in passion. i can automatically relate and go to a time when i lost my breath. i typically move to the joyous or passionate moments, but it's also true that the hard times, the painful times, the ones we'd never want to relive make us who we are. and if we've survived them, then we've all lived the cliche... "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger."


imagine how much stronger and wiser you are now than you were 5, 10, 20 or more years ago. how much you've experienced, how much you've grown! how many incredibly remarkable or incredibly painful moments you've been through. ones you never wanted to end and those that you never wish happened.

every moment in our life is an experience you can learn from. it's about how you perceive those moments that create the meaning. don't allow any one to get away from you. how you perceive life's moments is something you actually DO have control over in this chaotic life.



what moment do you remember that may have not lasted longer than a second, but you remember it like it was hours? was it feeling a baby kick in a mother's belly? the first free road trip you took, or nighttime drive in a convertible? the brush of a hand or shoulder from a stranger you knew before? a warm tiny nuzzle and sigh from your little puppy? connecting with the eyes of a soul you'll know forever? the first time you saw the sun set over the mountains or the moon rise over the ocean? that delectable bite of a perfectly baked flourless chocolate cake? or maybe it was that kiss that you ached for in your dreams and it finally evolved?

whatever your moments are or were... MAKE MORE OF THEM!!!! our life is what we make of it, let's make it up with the moments we long for and love.

xxxooo
k

don't be scared to share

i really have never been one to share, just ask my sister. or my cousin who lived with us for a while and ate my cheese... i never have let that one go matty! ;) however, i have always enjoyed giving, is that in a sense sharing? i get joy out of seeing people happy, especially those i love. recently i had lunch with a wonderful new friend. i shared a bit of "my story" with her. mind you, a bit faster than i normally would give the gory details. but the great thing is that she shared with me too. in 20 minutes we may have learned more about each other, and in my eyes, created a bond that can develop into something stronger than what many people have with their own family members!

we have to remember that we're not in this world alone. the difficult, challenging, crappy, nasty things we experience on any day whether now or in our past, have (believe it or not) been experienced by someone else as well! maybe the names and places have been changed, but the events remain the same. even our joys, likes, hobbies, and activities that feed our souls have been experienced by someone else! i challenge you to go out and find someone or some way to share your story! enlighten us all!


i have this blog so i can share my life, stories, challenges and creations that help me get through this life in the hopes i can help someone else shed light on their day if they need it. to me, if i can reach out to even just ONE individual, and change their life in a positive way, i continue to fulfill my purpose and can continue to inspire. i wouldn't be able to do this without those i learn from and those that share their experiences with me. we are all wonderful, beautiful creatures and ALL of our stories are important and all of our experiences are worthy of being heard. if you want to share your story, I'll post it!!! I want to be a platform for you to inspire .... kwickersheim@gmail.com or you can comment below and share yourself :)


let people know what you've been through... let people hear your pain, your joy, your humor and sadness... let others experience you! you are not alone, we are not alone.

much love... xxoo
k

From the Brave Girls Club...

I get a little email snippit each day from this amazing website...
http://bravegirlsclub.com/
This is too good not to share, please read on :)

It's so important to seek out the beauty that life has to offer, or life can get quite unappealing.

It's so important to look for the good instead of the bad...and to see all of the wonderful little things all around you rather than letting yourself feel annoyed by other little things that really aren't important.

Try to find peace, and then remember that feeling and seek out whatever it takes to get back to that feeling when you seem off-track or uneasy. When life feels dark, just step into the light...one step at a time, and before you know it...the darkness is gone.

Every day there are a million choices competing for your time, your brain-space and your commitment....

Go where the peace is...go where the beauty is....go where the good stuff is. Most of it is just a choice... use the gift of choice wisely!

You know this stuff....just remember to remember it. :)


xxoo
k
thanks brave girls club!

What are you worth?

If you’re a working girl or guy, you inevitably ask this question of yourself at least once a year. You may have a better idea of my point behind this post if you aren’t a working girl or guy, but you should still be asking yourself this question… What are you worth?



Most of us translate this into a monetary value, which in certain situations, is necessary. One thing to remember though, your monetary worth on paper means a heck of a lot less than your true worth to those you choose to share yourself with.

Most of those I share my life with are worth an absolutely immeasurable amount to me. My life, my heart, my creativity, my happiness is all due to you who are my friends & loved ones. My goal in life is to be just as important to all of you.

Yes… I know & agree, money matters, especially in these times. And if you work hard and do things right and make things happen you ARE worth more than those that don’t and you need to be shown that you are. But my point here is to just simply understand that your business and monetary worth is not ALL of your worth.

Your heart, strength, compassion, understanding, love and support are worth more to me than a trillion dollars. I hope to give you all at least 10% of that in return if not all of it!

remember giving so little of yourself could make such a huge difference in someone else's life.

Gracias apuesto ;)

xxoo
k

who inspires you?

i've had a couple rough weeks. this being "said," i'm finding myself actually uninspired. however, i thought if i looked to others who inspire me, i could pass that onto you rather than inspiring you directly. win, win maybe? ;) so here's a number of quotes that i've heard or read that have gotten me through some days and hopefully lift me up through the next few xxoo -k

Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.
-William Shakespeare

life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take are breath away.

Imagination is more important than knowledge.
-Albert Einstein

we are responsible for what we are, and whatever we wish ourselves to be... we have the power to make ourselves.

Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.
-Benjamin Franklin

I never think of the future - it comes soon enough.
-Albert Einstein

Heaven never helps the man who will not act.
-Sophocles

the only way to achieve the impossible is to believe it is possible.

If we all did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves.
-Thomas Edison

a desire can overcome all objections and obstacles.

The way to gain a good reputation, is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear. - -Socrates

It is foolish to fear what you cannot avoid.
Stultum est timere quod vitare non potes.
-Publius Syrus

don't be pessimistic, it's not your style.

Insist on yourself. Never imitate.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

if you surrender completely to the moments as they pass, you live more richly those moments.

giving so little of yourself can make such a huge difference in someone else's life

feed your soul

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.
-Helen Keller

one day at a time, rome wasn't built in a day.

It is the trouble that never comes that causes the loss of sleep.
-Chas. Austin Bates

you have a brain in your head and feet in your shoes, you can move yourself in any direction you choose.
-dr. suess