Thursday, February 17, 2011

Values and Leadership

This semester I have started a new program at USD titled Leadership U and we have had anywhere from 30-50 students show up to the workshops in the last two weeks (making this new program a HUGE success).  This week we talked specifically about personal values and how they relate to leadership.  It got me thinking about what I value most in life.  I have done a values evaluation before and for the most part I can always remember my top 3 but the others on my list change based on life's changes.  In the worksheet there are a list of 45 values and you are asked to put them into one of 5 categories, always value, often value, sometimes value, seldom value and never value.  I found 6 values that have the most meaning in my life and they are:
  • Family
  • Love
  • Friendship
  • Inner Harmony
  • Helping Others
  • Balance
While these are all the things I value most in life they are things that I often struggle to recognize in the mundane, day to day.  So I am starting a new routine to help me think more about these values on a daily basis.  Each day of the week I will devote my energy to one of my values and find ways to carry out it's purpose.  Today I chose to start at the top with family.  So for any family out there, look out, you might be getting periodic calls, texts and notes throughout the day so that you know how much you mean to me! 

I hope that by making this change in my life I can begin to find some peace in this move that has been a constant struggle for me.  By focusing every day on a core value I hope that I will be able to live each day to the fullest and find the joy in all that I do!

If anyone would like a copy of the article on personal values please let me know and I will send it to you in an email!

Hope you have a great day! Ciao! 

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Heat WAVE!

Since I have been doing this whole blog thing the temperatures here in Verm have been plummeting.  In fact, just last week we were experiencing wind chill in the -20 to -30 range!  Completely unbearable, to say the least.  The roads have been covered in ice and the snow is piled high in the parking lots all over town.  However, late last week, a heat wave rolled in.  As soon as it happened students all over campus were whipping out their shorts and t-shirts and yesterday I even saw a few pairs of open toe footwear!  Now I realize, even I have felt warm in this beautiful weather, but still not warm enough for my favorite pair of rainbows.  I called my mom last Friday and said "you know I've been in the north too long when I say 30 degree temperatures is warm!" And the amazing thing is, the temps didn't stop rising today's high is 47 and tomorrow's is 55!

With the sun beaming down on this small town the ice is melting and the snow is disappearing at a rapid pace.  Where the roads have been lined for weeks with piles of snow, now all you see is dead grass and puddles.  Yesterday I was even brave enough to go without a coat after lunch to bask in the glorious warmth!  I never thought this Florida girl would be so excited to see temperatures in the 40s.  Just last year I had to pull out my winter coat when the temperatures got that LOW!

I wish I could say that these warm temperatures would last forever but, sadly, by this weekend we should be getting more snow and cool temperatures once again.  This spring time tease can't last forever so I suppose I will keep my winter wear handy.  This weekend I will have the pleasure of heading up to the Twin Cities with the beau's family and I am sure the winter coat will be a must pack item.  I will spend the next few says enjoying the beauty as I knew it couldn't last forever.

ta ta for now!