it was been quite a while since my last post. i'm finding more use out of quick random thoughts that i've been posting to my facebook and twitter accounts (KerriW3 on twitter).
things are good though... one recent thing i've learned and want you to remember every day... allow yourself to be loved, adored and admired. maybe to some this is a "duh" concept, but for others, not so much. enjoy the light your friends and loved ones can bring in your life! most importantly... ACCEPT IT! you deserve it
xo
k

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG

I GOT MY ARM BACK!!!!!! ok, so many of you know that i have a rare disorder known as sneddon's syndrome (http://www.sneddonsyndrome.org) ,. i have survived many ischemic attacks (mini strokes) and one more debilitating one in june 2007 which left my left side paralyzed from head to toe.

its been a while since anyone has been able to notice any "leftovers" as i call them from the big stroke, maybe a couple years or so. those that are close with me know i may drag my foot, drop things, my fingers lock up or my pinky goes off and shakes like crazy in meetings - like i'm drinking proper english tea ;)

besides the little things that sometimes show up if i'm extra tired, dehydrated, sick, hormonal, panicky, etc... i have still had lack of muscle movement or control in my shoulder muscles and triceps and other surrounding muscles. mainly my biceps and some lats have done most of the work. i've also had still lack of hip muscle, gluts and quad & muscles around my knee....

well here i am friends... tonight i went to stretch and my arm... it reached up all slow and controlled, straight up, no angle, just like the right!!!!!! i swear i'm so excited i can barely keep it down to type. i can barely believe it!!!! AAAAAAAAANNNNDDDDDDDD i can do a sit up!!! AND i went to walk up the stairs the other day and my knee shot up like i was on a spin cycle! so my hip muscles came back, then i sat down on the floor and saw that i was able to flex my muscles around my knee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! there's new things i'm noticing every day and it's like a crazy feeling going through things babies must feel of discovery with all the aches and pains of an un-used body moving a 200 pound tv into a new apartment ;)

so...the doctors told me i would probably reach my plateau of healing after 12 months. it was then that i couldn't jump, strain spaghetti, bring an uncovered mug of coffee to the table without spilling or be comfortable carrying my neices or nephews.

don't EVER believe in "can't", if you believe in something don't EVER give up the fight!

AND THE ONLY TIME YOU'RE WRONG IS WHEN YOU THINK YOU GOT NOTHIN' LEFT.

xoxoxoxo
luvs
k

the holiday spirit is strong this year :)

so i ventured out this evening/morning to save the most money possible. my husband was a bit worried - just knowing potential danger that's out there (i mean u do hear tons of freaky, ridiculous, selfishly horrible stories on the news). i wasn't going for crazy hi-ticket items, just the deals for friends & family - especially the kids.

well, i noticed online at about 10 pm that  there was an AWESOME giveaway (which i won't mention 'cuz its a present) that was actually exACTLY what i decided to get one of the kids in my family at old navy at midnight.

i thought, hey, its worth a shot right? so i finished up some work for our own black friday sales and i headed out. i approached the algonquin commons area and it seemed pretty quiet (sans walmart traffic). then i got closer to old navy and i'm like....omg.... there's a lot of people. THEN, there's a lot of people in LINE! it was about 11:30 and the line was about 3 major big box store fronts long...i thought, hey, i'm goin for it, and if i can get this giveaway, well heck, this is a PERFECT present!!! i can't pass it up.

so i'm in line, in the company of hundreds, i'm one of maybe 4 or 5 people there alone. not too cold, but ok, cold for a light jacket, lined up at almost midnight outside of old navy. people are generally in good spirits. no one attacked anyone going in and we all made it in one piece.

i get counted as i go in. I'm thinkin' - hey could be good, they're still counting, that's possible for a giveaway! i get through the crowds, pick up what i need (and a couple things i don't) and get in the line (now starting to resemble a line for a ride at great america). a few steps in i think "hmmm, i should ask anyone if they know if there's any of this giveaway left" i overhear some people talking about a bracelet. wahhh wahhh :( i don't have a bracelet

there's a cute young, very well styled couple in front of me. i'm pondering just leaving now as they talk about going out drinking with his friends after she fixes her hair (which was perfectly gorgeous already), and then waking up (or not sleeping maybe) and getting back there at 6am, then... she has a game in the city she's asking him to drive her to in chicago later!!!! now i'm a bit work crazy at times and can go go go, but that's impressive. his girlfriend walks away to get more clothes that she says later she'll get reimbursed for from her parents. seriously, i think these are the cutest, most innocent, young souls i've ever encountered. so i hear him talking about the bracelet again. i told him, "you know you should be careful, if you don't want that and you're announcing you're selling it, you could get totally mobbed. i'd take it in a second" we laughed a bit. his girlfriend came back and he asked her if she would be ok with him selling it. she laughed.

i told him he could make some major cash as the giveaway was valued and worth quite a bit. he luaghed and said "selling for cash anyone?" no one answsered and a couple ladies said "do you take credit cards"? i just laughed with them both and listened a bit more. i said ya know if you're serious, i would seriously give you cash? he said a small amount and i said, i'll give you more than that, you're too nice!! so not only did he give me the giveaway bracelet, but his girlfriend made absolutely sure it would work out and made him stand at the register with me.

they were there at 9:30, waiting for 2.5 hours, still all smiles and gave away something they could have taken, sold or gotten more than 10% of what it was worth. no pushing, no questons, just simple good natured people. thank you old navy couple - you made mine and a few in my family very very very happy!!!

as i continued the trip to a couple more stores, i encuntered nothing but happy faces and kind words and sharing stories.

let's keep it up folks. this is a good feeling and this is a good place.

peace on earth, good will to men
luv u all
xo
k

i get by with a little help...

there is nothing in the world that feels the same as laughing with your friends. everyone has so many different experiences, personalities and viewpoints they can bring to your table. the more you invite, the more colorful your world becomes. with love can come hurt. when you open yourself to others, you uncover a bit of vulnerability. but when i sit back and reflect, the small amounts of pain that may have occurred are absolutely nothing in comparison to the joy and light i have experienced.

take every good moment of time you can from the good times you share with the different little monsters in your life.

i am so very thankful for all of my wonderful friends. you all bring such joy and laughter to my life and without you all, i would be empty and lost.

luvs & hugs

k

If you've had a rough day or night, just remember, you get to give it another go in the morning!!!
Hugs
K

its all about the marketing in the end...

so, i was thinking, wouldn't a velcro closure, or a hidden belt of some sort, or maybe even buttons, or a zipper be an even more convenient, kick-butt, awesome feature of the snuggie?

however, at that point is it then just a robe?

then again, if they didn't have great marketers to brand the belt-less, button-less, zipper-less robe a "snuggie" and create a launch that hit every household in america and beyond via info-mercials, late night commercials, home shopping networks, drug stores, big box chains and as seen on tv stores, would it have been remotely as successful as it was/is and will be? i'd like to think not.

yet another case study leading me to further my already strong belief that what i do is essential to the success of whomever i'm doing it for. :)

so ladies & gentlemen, in the end, it's all about the marketing.
'cuz really what sounds more comfy to you... a backwards robe or a Snuggie!
:)

much luv & laughter
k

never close your eyes....

if you're looking for inspiration, all you need to do is keep your eyes open. if you look close enough or look differently, you'll find so many marvelously inspiring things in your everyday lives. :)
xo
k

i'm considering a change

i've noticed my extreme lack of postings lately and it isn't because i'm uninspired. i'm quite inspired as of late actually. so... i believe from here on out, i'm going to be not so focused on having to deliver an inspirational life lesson. instead i'm going to write what i feel, observe, create, etc. and those inspirational life lessons/stories should creep in inadvertently every once in a while.

however, sticking true to my artistic nature, i will always blog to evoke emotion and provoke thought in my readers.

do what makes you happy,
much love
k

don't worry...

life is an ever-evolving landscape. it can be rough, overwhelming, joyous, passionate, amazing, painful and even more words possibly not even yet added to webster's dictionary. what is so remarkably wonderful about this life is that we're living it. WE get to make the choice to experience each moment exactly as WE want to.

there was a commercial that aired some years back (it was either for chiquita bananas or life insurance). it closed in on an elderly woman, (the cutest woman i've seen i might ad)and she says, "i have two choices when i wake up each morning; to be happy or not to be happy. i choose to be happy." i have a friend, actually a couple of friends who are memorably pleasant every single day, which in turn makes every experience i have with them, well...pleasant. they have each changed my life in different ways and i would love to do that for others.

i know there's a myriad of obstacles, changes, mishaps, diversions that can sidetrack us from the original focus for the day. how nice would it be to be able to wake up and say "i'm going to be happy today." if we decide to make this choice every morning, wouldn't it enevitably change how our entire course of our day goes? i think so. in fact i'm going to try it. if i choose to be happy every day, then no matter what comes my way, i imagine, my outlook and therefore the outcome will be better than what it would have been had i not made the "happy choice."

this all sounds a bit alice in wonderland like, but that's a world that makes sense to me.

reflections on 2010....

i've taken some random moments over the past week to reflect back on 2010. the word that sums it all up for me is change. i made conscious efforts to change the way i react to things, people and situations. this underlying thought process lead me to many wonderful moments over the past year.

the most recent being my new career path. it's been 4th months of crazy, unending challenges and i look back and know i have loved every second of it. i am one that needs to be constantly challenged and inspired to be the best i can be. the challenges this position presents me allow me to accomplish so very much and grow along the way. making this change has also lead me to a group of people who continue to make me reach out of my comfort zone and help me to reach past what i think i might be capable of.


the "change the way i do things" attitude i've upheld through 2010 has also allowed me to experience more selfless moments. i have always liked to give and make people happy, but i believe since having to rehab from my physical & emotional downfalls from my strokes, i had become accustomed to concentrating so very much on myself and just "functioning" that i got a little lost in myself and at times, forgot how important it is to think of others as well (without losing yourself of course). this gave me more balance.

the other thing my change in attitude brought me was more courage. now granted, i don't believe anyone has ever thought of me as frail, feeble or defenseless, but there are many things in my life i would not do at all or do without being extremely shaken inside. i may not be very good at hiding my passions or emotions, but i'm really good at hiding when i feel vulnerable. this new found courage and strength has freed me from missing out on life, feeling like a burden to others or irrational fears like flying or simply being me. i still feel some butterflies or have my weak moments, but never like i had before... no shakes, no sickness or tears, just occasional self doubt that i like to think just keeps me on my toes ;).

my inspiration to you for 2011 is this... give yourself a small mantra you can repeat in your head (or out loud, whatever you prefer ;) that makes you question for a moment if this is how you want to react to whatever you're encountering. one little shift of action, attitude or feeling and entirely change your life. do NOT be afraid of change! look around and reflect on all the wonderful things in life that seem to be the most beautiful! they are ALL about change! sunsets, eclipses, gems, snowflakes, seasons, water... on and on and on and on.

"be the change you want to see in the world" - Gandhi

much love, change, chaos, strength and beauty to you all...
-k-

i will continue to take this mantra of change with me throughout my life, now, for me, 2011 brings movement... "ONWARD"

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 -