Category Archives: empty-nester

SOAPBOX of the week: test the waters, folks

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 “Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.”       -T.S. Eliot, poet

Do the words “high-dive” conjure up a memorable moment or two?  As a kid, it meant “infinity and beyond!”  But not impossible! And as you trekked to the top your brain filled with an unnerving fear of the unknown.  Still, you pressed upward and savored the satisfaction in taking the leap!  Proving again that curiosity and courage make a powerful pairing…but not just for kids.  Sooo… be a little reasonable: reach beyond your comfort zone.  Climb above fear and judgment.  Pursue an adventurous life and the exhilarating splash might just drive you on to your next stunt.

Copyright 2008 by Kimberlie Dykeman

Pure Soapbox launches June 25!  Site of TV Personality Kimberlie Dykeman

SOAPBOX of the week: woulda-shoulda-coulda

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“Waste not fresh tears over old griefs.”     – Euripides, playwright

Do they still perk up to haunt you?  Life’s countless regrets. The fashion trend you fell victim to.  Unexplainable hairstyles.  Person you dated.  Speaking your mind!  Quitting your job.   Spending the extra money.  Smoking this or drinking that.  Saying goodbye.  Saying I love you.  How about -that it’s taken forever to figure out what you really want to be when you grow up!  Pardon me, but aren’t you bored yet with the reruns, folks?  Unless you’ve got the power to turn back time, there’s no changing it.  And maybe some of those choices were really lifesavers!  Plus, the weight of grief…along with that weepy pout, ain’t making you any younger, smarter, or delightful to be around.  So dry your eyes and be glad you survived those not-so-fabulous experiences.  You might even come to laugh about ‘em!

Copyright 2008 by Kimberlie Dykeman

SOAPBOX of the week: Patience trumps perception

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“Some people lose sight of the fact that of two evils, it isn’t necessary to choose either.”                  – Anonymous

Ahhh…the lesser of two evils.  Liver and onions or Brussels sprouts. Heartache or loneliness?  How about: a punch in the gut or a bloody nose?  Geez, what a fabulous selection.  Funny though, when confronted with lousy options, we still force ourselves to pick one, thinking: make it quick and move on!  Ugh!  Well, how about choosing neither?  And yes, folks…that is an option!  Because fifty bucks says exercising a little patience will open up space for a better option to show up.  Better still, it creates the opportunity for you to create that which you do want.  Why settle for the liver or the sprouts when chocolate cake is what you really crave.  And folks, Betty Crocker is just around the corner.

Copyright 2008 by Kimberlie Dykeman

SOAPBOX of the week: Gandhi’s timeless vision

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“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”   – Gandhi

Pride, wrath, greed, envy, lust, sloth and gluttony.  The infamous Seven Deadly Sins.  Or for some of us, the vices we find guilt or pleasure in daily.  Confess this with your 6.5 billion worldwide neighbors, and there’s your answer to “why we just can’t all get along”!  Thankfully, it’s not your job to change or fix the world.  But, if you think globally and act locally, IT SHOULD BE your priority to work on YOU to replace those not-so-fabulous habits with more promising, positive virtues.  Choose humility over vanity.  Forgiveness over anger.  Charity over avarice.  Admiration over jealousy.  Chastity over lechery.  Diligence over idleness. Self-restraint over excessiveness.  Folks, start with yourself -to experience the domino effect of promising change that knows no borders.

Copyright 2008 by Kimberlie Dykeman

SOAPBOX of the week: Feel like a kid

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“Fun has a sacred dimension.” – Adriana Diaz, life coach

As kids we set up camp in that realm, only coming out when paged or prompted by someone in charge. We experienced “fun” in just about everything -down to a Cracker Jack prize!- and saturated our present tense with laughter and a contagious carefree attitude. So, how now do you define “fun”? Where do you go to find it?

Stumped? Well, perhaps you’re light on amusement TODAY because you’re caught up in creating TOMORROW. The “land of fun” is found in an entirely different sphere of your perception …but it’s always there, twinkling in the background. So choose to dip into its unending supply of amusement, uninhibited laughter, and memories of wonderfully pointless activities -and that special sparkle you bring back to the “real world” will confetti your perspective with the delightful new energy of a kid.

Copyright 2008 by Kimberlie Dykeman