Be The JOY!

This is Sugar Mama. Just turned 10 years old in human years. The little give away is her now very grey snout. She is supposedly a black Labrador mix. Yes, she does appear black, but I can attest that she has brown hair mixed in with those black and greys. No matter. It is not what's on the outside that makes her so special. Not her size. Not her breed. It is her spirit that I want to talk about.

Look into those deep brown eyes. That's right, take a minute to just look deeply into the window of her soul. She is totally seeing you! And I know you are seeing her! Some incredibly wise Buddha resides inside her. She is nothing but 72lbs of pure love.

Even after all these years, this old lady moves like a joyful pup. "She's just a baby puppa," I tell her all the time.  Regardless of the many challenges that came to her or all around her in the last 10 years, she always has unconditional love.

Now I will admit that every once in a while she goes totally unconscious (just like most us humans!) and completely slips into her doggie ego, especially if you dare to try to take her food bowl while she was eating. Nevertheless, from the core, Sugar is all heart. Like many canine (and feline), she is a teacher of spiritual truth. 

Yes, we must give them love, feed them, nurture them, play with them and look out for their well-being. In return, you get to learn about True Love by experiencing it in action. So today, consider Sugar Mama's philosophy in life... BE the JOY!

Making Our First Movie - Take 1

Yesterday, my good friend Roxanne and I sat together once again to explore a couple of the new applications we are learning in our self-study Internet business course. After setting up our Stumble account, we decided to check out the video capabilities of our new Mac Pros.

So we clicked on iMovie and let it rip! I share here our first clip with some bells and whistles I added later as I walked myself through some editing features. Needless to say, we had fun, and that's what working is supposed to be--a joy-filled experience!

Maggie Kalas and Roxanne Browning --
Making our first movie - TAKE 1

iMovie...Hmmmm, how does this thing work?

Hope we made you laugh or at least spread a smile!

I have been cracking myself up every time I watch it because I love to see us in our natural inquisitive state of learning. The work we will be doing, though different--me with my meditation and Rox with her healthy raw chocolate--will in some ways be serious business. On the other hand, we always have to remember not to take ourselves too seriously.

Joy is in the lighthearted way we go through the journey of life!

With love and humor,

Mags

Attitude ISN'T Everything!

Hey! Is anyone out there? Not a creature was stirring, not even my "mouse"! Forgive me, but it has been nearly 5 months since my last blog. I am happy to share once again...

In finally getting to one of John Maxwell's books, The Difference Maker, I was surprised when I read him saying that "attitude isn't everything." Maxwell admits that there was a time in his life that he truly believed it was. "If you believe, you can achieve!" In his subsequent years of experience, however, what he realized was that one needed a bit more than just a dream to succeed. An positive attitude of perseverance was certainly a difference maker, but what he discovered was the real clincher for reaching your goals --"SKILLS." It was concrete know-how, along with wishful thinking that was the key to success.

Your attitude is like Chef Emeril Lagasse secret "BAM!" spice up; your attitude may be the difference maker in bumping up your outcome, but first you need a solid recipe, all the right ingredients, formative training, a bit of talent along with practice, practice, practice before you can achieve stardom!

We are eternal beings ever expanding... From a spiritual perspective "if you believe, you CAN achieve!" But in a physical reality, you need to do the WORK! LEARN as you go. Your life becomes the vision only by participating in the unfolding of it. Do what you love, love what you do. Your attitude isn't everything, but I do believe, like Maxwell, it is "the difference maker!"

Make everyday an opportunity to master your unique skills and gifts! Then "BAM" them up a notch with an attitude of faith and optimism!

MagsJOY