My motivation comes from within to squeeze every ounce out of every day. I am definitely not the person that sits around waiting for things to happen to me. I like to make things happen. I have lists written down of things I need to do and I don't want to forget things (although I still do). I have reminders on my Outlook to keep my schedule on course. I love to multi-task. When I go to bed (tired) I sleep much better if I did accomplish things. I know I can't have it all, and do it all, but I sure do try. I'm currently researching out the on-line services for taking my lists and helping me organize them. Isn't it amazing what technology can do for us?

Although I don't get (or take) tons of time to just sit and read, I do like to read magazines and short stories to keep the juices flowing.

One such book is Creating a Charmed Life by Victoria Moran. I keep it on my nightstand and read one or more entries on nights when I need a little extra push or want to expand my thoughts for the day. Sometimes her points hit home so perfectly that I'm sure she secretly knew something about my day to have written that.

I've recently started reading WholeLiving, a magazine from Martha Stewart. (I got one of those offers from an airline company to use my miles to buy subscriptions! Love that. Great way to see some that I probably wouldn't have bought otherwise. Two things I gave great thought to recently:

This quote from Breathing Space: Twelve Lessons for the Modern Woman by Katrina Repka and Alan Finger.

Carpe Diem "To live each day as if it were your last, you would be trying to remedy all the mistakes you had made, all the regrets, all the things unsaid. If you live each day as if it were your first, you are freed from all obligations, all guilt, all regreat."
 
The second thing was a story entitled "Reach Your Goals." The art work is cute...but the words were good, too. I even went on-line and took the test. The results were pretty accurate!

I'm signed up for several newsletters that I find a tidbit of inspiration from. I love to jump from blog to blog to get creative inspiration and meet people working hard to live their dreams. Just a few of my favorites are in my blog roll. It's an ever growing list.

Finding inspiration and motivation can come in so many places and so many forms. Last night after a long day at work, I picked up the kids and headed home. We were in the back hallway taking our coats and boots off when Henry asks, "Mom, did you get your hair cut today?" (He's just a boy and he noticed.) "Yes, Henry, I did. Do you like it?" "Yeah, it looks nice." Tug at my heart strings...but it was enough to pull me out of the funk that my afternoon had brought upon me. My evening was a new time, and my time. So, the kids and I ate and played (Jeff was at a business meeting.). After the girls went to bed, Henry and I headed upstairs to "work". I crossed things off of the to-do list. I found inspiration and ideas for the retreats I'm hosting this year. And, I went to be tired, but feeling like something was accomplished.