SOAPBOX of the week: the science of love

“Love withers with predictability; its very essence is surprise and amazement.”     – Leo F. Buscaglia, psychologist, author

Lasting love ain’t interested in scientific systems, processes of play-by-play, nor sequences of schemed strategies.   She ain’t up for pressuring data for deduction and calculation.  And above all, l’amour ain’t suited for spreadsheets, where formidable, formulaic boxes limit her possibilities or forecast lofty expectations.  Nope, she’s a bit more of a rebel with a gypsy chaser, enthusiastically driven to create adventure for all involved.  An insatiable curiosity propels her into life’s nooks and crannies to reveal golden gems that leave her incredulous… yet thirsty for more!  Indeed, her daily inspiration is effervescently uplifted by the ebb and flow of spontaneity.   Let her reign freely and she will grow to overcome the troubles of time, perhaps even its reality of mortality.  When you and she meet again, remember to let her lead and simply enjoy the unmappable journey.

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

SOAPBOX of the week: life’s luscious roulette

“Life is like a box of chocolates.  You never know what you’re gonna get.”     –  Forrest Gump, shrimp boating captain

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

SOAPBOX of the week: memorial for motivation

“All the same, we take our chances, laughed at by time, tricked by circumstances. Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose.  The more that things change, the more they stay the same.”      – Geddy Lee, musician, & Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr, journalist and critic

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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SOAPBOX of the week: hush up and wise up!

“I was determined to know beans.”     – Henry David Thoreau, author, historian, transcendentalist

Whether it’s beans, Jack, or squat, for that matter… fifty bucks says at least one person has javelined a presumptuous phrase that spotlighted your erroneous exhibit of education.  And regardless if the announcer aimed to shine his self-endowed crown of wisdom or honestly point out that which you do not know for your own good, your preened feathers were ruffled and defenses immediately fired up.  Sound embarrassingly familiar, yes?  Well, next time, before you begin projecting words you’ll soon regret, let alone have no ammo of tangible evidence to debunk the claim, perhaps you pull out a notepad and take some notes, my friend.  There’s a strong chance your perceived “opponent” has a stash of golden nuggets he’s willing, if not earnest, to share, if only you retract your ego and play student for a spell.  This humble listening then reveals a path for your own diligent investigation and excited accumulation of all the right stuff.  And when paired with your own inventory of learned and logged info, the living library you create will pale in comparison to the experiences you had while stacking the shelves…of Jack, squat, or beans. 

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

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

SOAPBOX of the week: ego-driven myopia

“I don’t even know what street Canada is on.”     –  Al Capone, actor

Needless to say, I’m not taking a cheap pot-shot at good ole Scarface.  Nope, instead it’s a blatant jab at all of you oblivious, frantically-focused-on-me-and-mine people out there (and yes, we’re all guilty at times!) …whose tunnel-vision scope of the world is often your biggest shortcoming.  Left unaddressed, that microscopic, micro-managed viewpoint can infect all sacred spheres of your life.  The blind-siding result?  A self-defeating stumbling block that leaves quite a mark when you finally stand-up and shake off the fumble.  I know it sounds extreme, but the reality is too true when you “get real” with yourself.  Yeah, you know there’s an election…but do you know the issues?  You know there’s this thing called environmentalism, but do you know your carbon footprint?  You know your zip code but do you even know your neighbors’ names?  You know your kid’s school, but do you know what her favorite subject is?  It’s more than the old adage “what you don’t know might hurt you”  ringing it’s reminder bell.  Thinking the whole world revolves around you, then choosing to ignore it CAN’T NOT catch up with you!  You matter to society, to the environment, to your neighbors, to your family!  SO, choose to rotate your perspective, reel your sense of self-importance back into orbit, and participate in them all.  You’ll experience a whirlwind of understanding that brings balance and appreciation for just how valuable the sum of the parts really is to your life the rest of this thing called earth.

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

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

SOAPBOX of the week: radically transparent

“That which we are capable of feeling, we are capable of saying.”     – Miguel de Cervantes, poet, playwright, author of Don Quixote

I don’t know what to say.  I’m afraid how they’ll respond.  I’m too busy to explain everything.  They wouldn’t understand.  It won’t change anything anyway.  Sound familiar?  Of course it does, ‘cause we all think it…all the time!!  We violate the truth in our emotions with silence, for a plethora of reasons, causing all of our relationships to suffer, both personal and professional.  Ironically, though, when we were kids, we wore our hearts on our sleeves.  If we didn’t want something, were frightened, upset or anxious, or simply not budging…someone heard about it!  Equally, when we liked something, wanted to know something, and felt joy, trust, love, or hope… we broadcasted our feelings for the world to hear!  And we got RESULTS!  Changes were made, mistakes fixed, we got what we wanted, and relationships with the people that truly mattered grew to fulfilling, multifaceted new levels.  Wake up, folks!  We all still hold that priceless ability to openly communicate what’s on our hearts.  And fifty bucks says there’s a sensitive, outspoken child inside of you, just jones-ing to speak up!  It’s time you own up to the lame excuses you’ve been spewing for not sharing your heart-driven thoughts with those who could make a difference in your life…if they just heard them!  Turn up the volume of your heart without the barriers of fears and assumptions, and create the magical experiences that might just trump your childhood!

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

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