Day Sixty-Three ... The Great in Today

Today I had the pleasure of talking with a new friend about book suggestions and it really started my day off just right. I did not rush into work or writing programs. I started off with a happy conversation and thinking about books I like. She had asked for a book recommendation. Something about being happy. Talk about being right up my alley! I recommended three books, one I have read, and two are on my "get immediately" list.

First, I suggested The Power by Rhonda Byrne (no relation ... )
Great book by the author of The Secret that just about everyone has heard of. I think the sequel gets to the point faster and has more easy to follow suggestions. Suggestions I still follow today. I could use a brush up on the book though.

Second, I told her about The Seed by Jon Gordon
This is a book recommended by the CEO of 24-Hour Fitness and it is newest on his book review list. I have read three other books by  Jon Gordon. They are great; fast and simple yet deep. It is interesting how he can combine simple yet deep in a book but he does. This one is about finding happiness and meaning in life and work.

Lastly, I told her about Focus on the Good Stuff: The Power of Appreciation by Mike Robbins
I think the title sums it all up and makes it pretty obvious why it is on my must get and read list at this time. I have no idea where I came across it or how I heard of it ... I find that funny.

Grateful for all my friends,
Nicola Byrne

A friend accepts us as we are yet helps us to be what we should.
-Author Unknown

Day Sixty-Two ... Strengths

The CEO of 24-Hour Fitness writes a column or a blog about the books he reads. I check it periodically and get the books that sound interesting to me. All save one that I have read I loved. The one I did not love I will most likely revisit at another time, it was so dense I had trouble deciphering it and staying awake reading it. All the other books though kept me interested and I learned from them.

One of the books is called Strengths Finder 2.0  by Tom Rath. One line that had the most significant impact on me was

"From the cradle to the cubicle, we devote more time to our shortcomings than to our strengths... Unfortunately, this is taking the path of most resistance."

That is so very true. I have strengths. I have weaknesses. Putting my energy into developing my strengths rather than overcoming my weaknesses seems like a logical way to get the most of out my time. I can manage my weaknesses by being aware of them and also by growing my strengths.

My strengths per the survey were very interesting to me and also rang fairly true.

1. Learner:   People who are especially talented in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. In particular, the process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them.
2. Input:   People who are especially talented in the Input theme have a craving to know more. Often they like to collect and archive all kinds of information.
3. Intellection:   People who are especially talented in the Intellection theme are characterized by their intellectual activity. They are introspective and appreciate intellectual discussion.
4. Developer:   People who are especially talented in the Developer theme recognize and cultivate the potential in others. They spot the signs of each small improvement and derive satisfaction from these improvements.
5. Empathy:   People who are especially talented in the Empathy theme can sense the feelings of other people by imagining themselves in others' lives or others' situations.

Those are my five themes. The Developer theme is the only one I do not actively see in myself. The others I can relate to, especially Learner and Input. I know I love to learn and to improve myself. That is a daily thing.

Every day is a lesson,

Nicola Byrne

Most people think they know what they are good at. They are usually wrong ... And yet, a person can only perform from strength.
-Peter Drucker

Day Sixty-One ... Back on the Horse

Ugh, I missed an entire day! This morning I woke up at about 5:45 a.m. give or take five minutes and was just running through my day in my head. Wham! I realized I fell asleep and had not written the blog last night. For Father's Day no less. I had it all planned out.


I could have written it earlier in the day, Sunday, right after work, before meditation. I delayed because I really wanted to go to meditation class and see if there was anything that came up to add to it. When I arrived at meditation I discovered it was canceled. I went home and my husband had just walked in from work. We figured out dinner, ran out to get something to cook, sat and watched a silly movie. I went upstairs and was asleep much earlier than my norm.


Amazing how a change in my "plan" (or routine) for the day changes everything.


A few thoughts on that come up for me.


First, I am not getting as much rest as I need. I have increased the intensity of my exercise routine a lot, in fact it is at as high an intensity as I can physically tolerate during the workout. That means my nutrition has become more important, my hydration and my rest. It seems I have been slacking in the rest area. I will take an extra night off tonight and exercise tomorrow instead. I will listen to what my body and energy seem to be telling me.


Second, I believe I have slacked on looking for the good in my day. Not that it is not there and certainly not because I am thinking negative thoughts all day. It is more the complacency of things are going well, work is busy, and my focus is more on chores and work. This is something I want to improve on because I do believe that writing this blog, along with the feedback I receive, is instrumental in making my life happier and more full. Yes, I have had some "opportunities" to work on of late, but overall, life really is good.


When you exercise and build muscle that muscle only sticks around for as long as you use it, actively, and continue to create the stimulus that your body needs to maintain it. I mention that because I have a feeling that if I stop looking for the good, stop focusing on writing something significant to me every day I will begin a slow return to where I was before. Use it or lose it applies to most things in life.


Next is going to be coming up with a strategy to keep the focus where I want it. Choosing Good Thoughts. Blogging about the process. Writing first thing in the morning works well for me, but there are days where I cannot squeeze the time out. There must be another answer and I simply do not have it yet.

Thinking good thoughts,
Nicola Byrne


Failure does not exist. Failure is simply someone else's opinion of how a certain act should have been completed. Once you believe that no act must be performed in any specific other-directed way, then failing becomes impossible.
-Wayne Dyer


Supposing you have tried and failed again and again. You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call "failure" is not the falling down, but the staying down.
-Mary Pickford


USE this time of fresh beginnings. Use it as an impetus, the force or energy toward change. Become stronger, a better leader, more focused in your thoughts. Exert more influence over your dreams by bringing them closer to your thoughts, every day.
-Mary Anne Radmacher

Day Fifty-Nine ... An Uplifting Day

I had a long but fun day today. Very positive and enjoyable. It ended with seeing the final show of a local cover band's lead singer. I have not been in Vegas that long but for the past ten months I have greatly enjoyed the Yellow Brick Road and their shows. It was a special show and the perfect way to end today.

Ready to call it a night,
Nicola Byrne

Day Fifty-Eight ... Ends Great

That rhymed ... ! Even if the day did not feel like it started off great (which was purely an inside job, there was nothing at all wrong with it) it ended wonderfully.

Dinner out at Sirio at the Aria Casino. Tom and I were able to go out and enjoy ourselves at one of the restaurants in the casino where he works. They treated us like VIPs and royalty. It was an absolutely lovely evening from start to finish.

A great way to end a rather challenging week.

I had all kinds of good things. There was a sommelier who paired wines with the foods. Cheese. Risotto. Chicken. Vegetables. Tom had steak (which I was able to try several times, it was the best steak I have ever had).

After dinner we went for a little walk, I climbed every staircase I saw instead of choosing the escalators. A small concession after the feast I had.

I'm grateful for a wonderful evening!

Stuffed,
Nicola Byrne


After dinner sit a while, and after supper walk a mile.
-English Saying

Day Fifty-Seven ... Late.

I woke up this morning and wham! was hit with the realization I forgot to write the blog last night. It wasn't a casual oops I forgot, I had a genuinely stressful day and I allowed it to take over. Driving home from work last night I was crying, and the next hour at home that seemed to continue or worsen. Then I made dinner and went out to run a few errands.

When I got home I was as emotionally drained as could be and fell asleep. Neither the blog nor positive thoughts were uppermost in my mind. I honestly hope that doesn't happen again because I truly believe the blog is helping me. Once in a while though the cumulative effect of everything overwhelms.

As I sit here and sift through the memories of yesterday looking for a good thing to write about what comes to mind is hugs. Lots of hugs from my husband when I got home, he was genuinely worried and concerned. He helped me feel better and supported me through a bad day. I am extremely grateful for that and this is the best thought to choose from yesterday. I'll continue to put my focus there.

Hugs work.

The Friday blog will be up later ...

Thank goodness it is Friday!
Nicola Byrne

Hugs are the universal medicine.
-Author Unknown

Day Fifty-Six ... When Good Thoughts Go Bad

Today I felt blue. So blue you could call it indigo. I amused myself by repeating the phrase "when good thoughts go bad" for quite a bit of the day. It made me smile. The silliness of it.

I listened to music a lot today and the Universe cooperated a lot by playing a significant number of my favorites.

Tonight I am going out to see a band at the Suncoast which will also play a nonstop selection of music I love. That should really help banish some of the blues.

Tomorrow I intend to wake up in a great mood, no excuses. I will also make sure I exercise. No matter how I looked at it there was just no time to squeeze that into this day. I did manage to get on the rebounder twice though and it moved those blues back for a bit. Exercise has such a beneficial effect on our outlook and mood that when I miss a day I can feel it.

There is good in every day. Work went well. Every client worked hard and left happy, albeit fatigued. I was also able to see a client have Dexa Scan and VO2-Max test. It was a privilege to be included in the testing. I have not had this client for long and the real credit goes my friend who trained him before I took over and to the client, of course. In the end we can only show a person what to do. They have to do all that work themselves.

Bring on tomorrow!
Nicola Byrne

Music's the medicine of the mind.
-John A. Logan