…and on that note, this week I take reprieve and leave tech and task to sit idle for a few.  Family calls across the country and my heart sings to follow.  So, perhaps this prompts you to ponder the connection with your own Alpha and Omega and do the very same.

Copyright 2000-2010 by Kimberlie Dykeman.        SUBSCRIBE to FREE feed/email  HERE!
“Pure Soapbox“ available nationwide & audiobook available on iTUNES & Audible.com!  A portion of the proceeds of all book sales is donated to LIVESTRONG. 

BOOK KIMBERLIE TO MOTIVATE  your peeps!  info@puresoapbox.com / 310- 500- 9587

So, you’ve heard that song a million times, tapped your foot to it, even sang along.  But one random radio-logged day, your steel-trap mind somehow sifts through the memorized words to unveil eerily profound meaning and magic…and something just shifts.  A veritable musical masterpiece colors your eardrums with a delightful enlightenment as the crooner sings directly to an audience of one.  At once, all other soundful distraction is eclipsed; your mind’s attention is fully focused; and understanding floods through every ounce of your being.  Amazing, you think, as the a-ha’s widen your eyes and lift your heart!  All that from just a simple song you’ve heard a million times.  Now, just think of all the points and perspectives you may have missed not truly “tuning in” to the sounds that hold much greater importance –like the voice of your loving spouse, hopeful child, overwhelmed business partner, needy friend, or special stranger… but most importantly yourself.  Prick your ears to hear the music of life and listen closely to embrace the power in its blessed lyrics whispered just for you.  

Copyright 2000-2010 by Kimberlie Dykeman.        SUBSCRIBE to FREE feed/email  HERE!
“Pure Soapbox“ available nationwide & audiobook available on iTUNES & Audible.com!  A portion of the proceeds of all book sales is donated to LIVESTRONG. 

BOOK KIMBERLIE TO MOTIVATE  your peeps!  info@puresoapbox.com / 310- 500- 9587

A nudging notion saturated with the simplest of wisdoms, right up there with the Golden Rule, that whole lemon-lemonade adage, and probably a slew of Newton’s discoveries.  Ironically, Lincoln’s loose change symbolizes all the basic needs to survive life –even in this 21st century.  But most of us limit the concept of “needs” to the Salvation Army scope of money, food, shelter, clothing, pots and pans, books…whatever.  Well, wouldn’t life be a string of struggles without other things like family, friendship, transportation, education, activity, or music?  And it’d be downright unbearable without conversation, love, laughter, prayer, fellowship, celebration, and charity.  Tell me I am not off base, folks!   For every single one of us, life is a roller coaster of times of having and needing all of these glorious symbols of sustenance.  But moreso, each day presents an opportunity of choice to ask for the sake of our own survival or to offer for the sake of another’s.  See, the world is full of abundance and so are you!   And I ain’t just talkin’ currency, folks.   When you have it… give it.  When you need it… take it.  Yup, it’s that simple.

Copyright 2000-2010 by Kimberlie Dykeman.        SUBSCRIBE to FREE feed/email  HERE!
“Pure Soapbox“ available nationwide & audiobook available on iTUNES & Audible.com!  A portion of the proceeds of all book sales is donated to LIVESTRONG. 

BOOK KIMBERLIE TO MOTIVATE  your peeps!  info@puresoapbox.com / 310- 500- 9587

Hollywood may have etched these lines of script in their Canon, but I think many of you need it tattooed in your mind’s mainframe.  So, mull with me and let the sweetness of its monumental meaning melt in your mouth.  Life is  like a box of chocolates –each day offers up a square to devour whose core confection may impact us for a flash or forever.  Indeed, some are truffles of petty delays or divorces; pralines of pitfalls or pink slips; and caramels of hangnails or heart attacks.  Oh, but do not forget that time’s beautiful gift box also offers up manna in the making …of breakthroughs, best friends, birthdays, big raises, new babies and blessings beyond words.   Deemed “good” or “bad”, they all offer the sustenance to challenge, change, and ultimately define us.  Point being, even the crappy ones ain’t so terrible.  And when given a choice between a chocolate of mysterious midsection or none at all… fifty bucks says you’ll take the treat, and probably find the surprise inside  worthwhile for the future of your family, faith, career, relationships and place in this timeline we call life.   And that, my friends, is the meat of the sweet.  

Copyright 2000-2010 by Kimberlie Dykeman.        SUBSCRIBE to FREE feed/email  HERE!
“Pure Soapbox“ available nationwide & audiobook available on iTUNES & Audible.com!  A portion of the proceeds of all book sales is donated to LIVESTRONG. 

BOOK KIMBERLIE TO MOTIVATE  your peeps!  info@puresoapbox.com / 310- 500- 9587

Stumble through this quote, and you’ll swear Yogi Berra concocted yet another puzzler. And though the labyrinth of lyrics wax ironic, the message nails the undercurrent of life in one fell swoop, regardless the language.  Change and her relentless rhythm unashamedly convicts and collectively connects us as we stand in awe of the seeming bombardment of negative events that the past decade has delivered: The tragedy of 9-11, the failing markets, the additional violence throughout America, the war in the Middle East.  You name it and it’s more than just front page worthy. And as the media cumulatively frightens the bejeezus out of us, many of us find ourselves re-evaluating, re-booting, and re-promising to re-unite and make this world a better place.  Geez, what’s the scurry all about, now?  Why are we feverishly trying to concoct our own band-aid therapy, while still fearing that the worst has yet to come down on us?

Folks, whether it’s  the 21st century or the 1930s, the barefaced backdrop may have changed along with the countless events of devastation, but we as a nation remain the same. We’re all still just a bunch of folks living on a big plot of land called America.  That said, there has never been a right time to share fellowship, take care of each other, go to church, invest in ourselves, our families, and our businesses; respect our elders, donate to charities, take time off, question our value system, show our emotions, pray for one another, or stand together.  Every day is the right time. So, fling open the doors, settle down and keep the home fires burning.  Change your perspective and, believe me, you’ll see how it doesn’t really matter where your assigned seat is.

Copyright 2000-2010 by Kimberlie Dykeman. This article contains a copyrighted excerpt from Kimberlie Dykeman’s book PURE SOAPBOX.

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Some wise person once enlightened me with the deflatingly realistic truth that people can and will let us all down.  Weaved amidst the plethora of people, places and things you see, go and do, are situations that arise to tangle your plans, stomp your expectations, and defeat your hopes.  In virtually every place you and someone else cross paths, that somebody has the ability to let you down.  Be it with benign backfiring or malicious intent, their actions will cause nuisance and nuclear blast alike, leaving your spirit with wounds of hurt, anger, loss, and regret.  Left to fester, they poison your heart and mind, while the wrong-doer simply moves on.  But regardless the impact, it’s ultimately your choice -if and when- to forgive.  Electing absolution allows for your healing and rebuilding with a mere memory of the mistake left to fade.  Learn to let go, and you’ll learn to hold on to what matters –living a fearless life still chock full of positive plans, expectations, and hopes.

Copyright 2000-2010 by Kimberlie Dykeman.        SUBSCRIBE to FREE feed/email  HERE!
“Pure Soapbox“ available nationwide & audiobook available on iTUNES & Audible.com!  A portion of the proceeds of all book sales is donated to LIVESTRONG. 

BOOK KIMBERLIE TO MOTIVATE  your peeps!  info@puresoapbox.com / 310- 500- 9587

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”     – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Are you upset with your sweetheart?  Unsatisfied with your raise?  Bearing physical pain?  Worried about something?  Suffering from depression or feeling ignored?  Yet you say “I’m fine” and sweep your emotions under the rug.  We’re not dealing with burnt toast, folks!  The experiences and issues that weave the threads of your life together warrant both attention and discussion.  What’s worse…many of you keep silent the good stuff as well.  If you’ve got a brilliant idea; can help out a situation, or love someone with all of your heart…well, SPEAK ON, DEAR FRIEND!  We spend half of our lives biting our tongues when we should speak up and share ourselves!  Chat up your truth –the connection you make will bring solution, satisfaction and peace of mind.

Copyright 2000-2010 by Kimberlie Dykeman.        SUBSCRIBE to FREE feed/email  HERE!
“Pure Soapbox“ available nationwide online and where books are sold.   AUDIOBOOK DUE FEB 2010!  A portion of the proceeds of all book sales is donated to LIVESTRONG. 

BOOK KIMBERLIE TO MOTIVATE your company!  310- 500- 9587

Perhaps it’s because your numbered days seem to race by with haste, fulfilling the agenda of Father Time.  Or, maybe because your roster of fumbles and failures rivals your collection of shining moments and successes.  Regardless which perceived doom or disgrace you choose to pick a fight with, some of you ultimately succumb to the stealthy seep of cynicism, and allow it to kill off your once-unshakable vision of the world as your proverbial oyster.  As if one experience too many tilted the scale, and the game of life shifted the odds against you …or so you think.  Sound familiar?  Sound…overly dramatic?  Well, perhaps you owe it to yourself to reexamine that turning point that buried your self-esteem and self-preserving passion for enduring the risk for the reward.  Sure you may not be able to revise the results, but you can always change your defeated perspective to pave the way for future-perfect positivity.  Remember: the whole world can’t be against you!  Folks, when you choose to accept your history without judgment and punishment, you in turn resuscitate your current reality and free yourself from falling prey to pessimism again.  Crown yourself for surviving the past-tense and you’ll thrive as the knight in shining armor for all your days to come. 

Copyright 2000-2010 by Kimberlie Dykeman.        SUBSCRIBE to FREE feed/email  HERE!
“Pure Soapbox“ available nationwide online and where books are sold.   AUDIOBOOK DUE FEB 2010!  A portion of the proceeds of all book sales is donated to LIVESTRONG. 

BOOK KIMBERLIE TO MOTIVATE your company!  310- 500- 9587

Can I get an Amen?!  This woman just may have summed up the reason why everyone’s ears perk up when the word chocolate is mentioned.  Better still, the motivation why most folks will do, say, try or suffer through just about anything…if there’s chocolate involved!  Because IT’S JUST THAT GOOOOD!  Ah, yes, the magically enticing universal dessert.  Be it unassuming and undecorated or luxuriant and decadently layered, its alluring nature is uncomplicated and comforting, pleasurably sweet and arousing, and effortlessly smooth; and its flavor always seems to enhance and bring out the best in its counterpart.  No matter what shape, size, or color, you don’t have to figure out how to enjoy it, you just take it as it is.  It melts at your touch and in turn makes you week in the knees.  Curiously, it seems to want you as much as you want it!  In a word, the power of this captivating concoction is indescribable.  Mmmmmm.  Makes you wonder how you could ever consider living without it.  Makes you wonder if I was really talking about…LOVE.

Copyright 2000-2010 by Kimberlie Dykeman.        SUBSCRIBE HERE!
Pure Soapbox available nationwide online and where books are sold.   A portion of the proceeds of all book sales is donated to LIVESTRONG. 

BOOK KIMBERLIE TO MOTIVATE your company!  310- 500- 9587

…And so, as it is the end of the year, folks, I am taking some rest from pursuing this weekly creative writing episode…and letting it, instead, have forty winks.  Not to worry, next Monday will knock on my door and hand me yet another ditty to share.  Sooo, ’til then, cheers to this time of rest for all of you.  Let it swaddle you in ease and comfort, for the hustle and bustle of the birth of 2010 is just around the corner!             – kd

Copyright 2000-2009 by Kimberlie Dykeman.  This article contains a copyrighted excerpt from Kimberlie Dykeman’s book PURE SOAPBOX …a cleansing jolt of perspective, motivation, and humor.Pure Soapbox available nationwide online and where books are sold.   AUDIO BOOK COMING JANUARY 2010!  A portion of the proceeds of all book sales is donated to LIVESTRONG.   SUBSCRIBE HERE!

BOOK KIMBERLIE TO MOTIVATE your company!  310- 500- 9587