Doubt & Authenticity
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Hello Friends. Welcome to Mini Miracles from Minor Moments. This is your host Linda Gullo. I treasure the small things in life, because they add up for all of us. Today is my Birthday and the years are piling up along with moments of wisdom and insight from the wonderful people I have met along the way.
Hopefully here at Mini Miracles from Minor Moments, you’ll find insights and knowledge about yourself. My plan is to help you like yourself and recognize the gifts you have been given. We all have them and until someone or some experience shows us, we often miss seeing them.
Please join me here regularly for these short 10 to 15 minute episodes. They are based on simple ideas with upbeat and encouraging tidbits for you to take along.
It is easy to listen to these podcasts in your car. Just hit the media selection and make sure you follow us on your Podcast feed. When you are in and out of the car running errands I’ll be there to encourage you. Please subscribe to Mini Miracles from Minor Moments, and share it with others.
Well today one of the topics I want to talk about confusion—or better yet, finding clarity. It’s that constant part of all of us as we try to make meaning out of difficult situations. Sometimes clarity arrives through a book or something we’ve read. Sometimes a person pops up from our past and we reconnect.
I have inspirational sayings all around my office–there are enough of them to wall paper a room. Words can mean so much. It is like scripture that has been available but all of a sudden it seems so relevant. Sometimes clarity pops out at me like a jack-in-the-box; it’s usually when I am not looking for it. The lyrics of a song tell me something I needed to hear or the radio DJ articulates a message meant for me.
When I was a child and my dad would rush me; he’d say “hurry up — and wait.” It was a favorite line of his that now many years later means so much.
We rush to appointments and then wait to be seen. We rush out of the house in the morning and end up waiting in a traffic jam or for a train to pass. Now it seems so clear to me that he wanted us to be timely, but recognized things might interfere.
Often we doubt ourselves and the decisions we make. We question the truth from our politicians, feel pushed out of our doctors offices as they go from patient to patient, and worry about the long term side affects of the drugs and foods we eat. We long for clarity in just about everything we do.
Years ago I was alone at night returning from my daughter’s home. She had just moved in and it was one of my first trips home. It began pouring so hard that I couldn’t see where I was going yet I knew there was no place to pull over safely. The wipers couldn’t keep up with the intensity of the rain and the lights on the dark road weren’t too helpful. Part of the trip I was behind a large truck and I used the tail lights to direct me down the road. When it turned off, I found myself praying aloud for insight. Suddenly I stopped the car; the rain instantly lifted enough for me to see there was a large tree across the road. If I had gone any further I would have run into it. I know that I was given insight to stop.
Sometimes we are doubters. I caught myself double checking things this week. Checking out of Mc Donald’s I said, “That is decaf coffee, right?” Obviously it is good to double check on somethings, but there are no guarantees in life.
Just because we have an education, doesn’t mean there will be a job waiting. We get up each morning usually with intentions and a plan, but there is no guarantee that it’ll work out as we planned.
Perhaps the package that you anticipated would come today arrives 2 days later. That is just a temporary disappointment, but when we are presented over and over again with simple problems, — we start doubting everything.
Recently the quick exit out the door changed for me when I had a flat tire; the morning schedule suddenly had to be rearranged. Although it was not a big deal, it was another thing on my list of to dos!
One day I pulled up to our mailbox to get a newspaper and saw 8 squirrels playing tag in our front yard. I couldn’t figure out who was chasing who, but they seemed to be enjoying one another.
It is like running after certainty —you may not find it. You may run in circles like these squirrels.
Teaming up helps an awful lot to help us eliminate doubt. Doubt keeps us from doing the things we’d like to do. It creates a space for fear to crop up and stop us from succeeding and learning.
I saw on the news recently, a group of people gathered around a car that was flipped over in an accident and together flipped it upright in order to release the driver. Definitely a team approach that saved the man’s life.
In a meeting of several entrepreneurs, joint resources helped them resolve a community housing problem. Many minds worked together. In the end, so many people were helped.
Back in the 1950’s a group of couples gathered together with a priest because of delinquency and teenagers running a muck. To resolve these community issues , a marriage encounter resulted. Many couples and their families had happier and more productive lives as a result of that weekend. Parents no longer felt alone about parenting and careers. Doubt was lifted for one another.
Authenticity is a word that means being real. You know and so do I that it is hard to be authentic in this day and age. Everyone has problems and if one complains about them, no one wants to be your friend. Or you may lose business or your clients will back off. So how does one stay congruent with their feelings when things happen?
It seems many masks are worn by all of us. Smiles are glued into place even when we rather cry. I just read a small book on Suicide (My Journey to Hell) by my friend and fellow Counselor, Geri Condon. It is authentic and hopefully will help others.
I also wrote a book called Erasing Adversity. It too is authentic and filled with pain. Both books were written to share real episodes of struggle and disappointment that crossed our paths.
When one has problems it is so good to talk about them and share with someone who cares. So this is my 10 second plug for counseling care. In counseling, one can be themselves. They can remove their mask and hear themselves speak their pain. Concerns flow out and can be reframed without judgment.
We all carry crosses in different ways, but our world is often critical and uncaring. Anyone can give up and fall into dismay, but the art of moving forward with a smile and healthy self talk can emerge and help us win. I am living proof that “delight in living” is possible. Just the act of delighting in the present moment has brought me joy in times of confusion, doubt, and kept me authentic.
I want the best for you too. Have a great day and may many mini miracles shower over you this week. See you soon and keep walking with your head high and keep your dreams alive.
Connections & Get Motivated
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Welcome to Mini Miracles from Minor Moments, where suddenly your daily events begin to overflow with great joy and the smallest successes become more frequent.
Hi, I’m your host Linda Gullo. I hope you’ll be joining me on a Weekly basis to hear stories, gain insights, and find inspiration for your day. My purpose is to help you have a happy disposition and life filled with joy-filled experiences.
A few connections I talk about include:
Motivation
PlatformUniversity.com with Michael Hyatt
You can find El at heavenandel.com or mseledwards.com I’d like you to experience her enthusiasm.
I checked out Fr. Roderick Vonhogen on U-Tube. If you like Star Wars, you’ll enjoy his Teaser Trailer! If you are a Podcasting follower, you’ll enjoy SQPN: The Walk and SQPN: The Break He is really interesting and his energy is contagious.
Do you remember the game SIMON SAYS? It was the game that if Simon said something you were to do it, but if he just gave instructions without saying SIMON SAYS, and you did it-well then you lost!
Next week I will be talking about how to walk through moments of confusion and doubt. We can do it together. Have a great week and keep moving! Bye
Children Are Delightful
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Hi, This is Linda Gullo!
Today I have a couple of stories about children and the wonderful intuition they can provide for us.
The 1st story is about a child In Geneva, Illinois—-Swedish Days are celebrated in June. (http://www.genevachamber.com/swedish_days.php)
(http://www.7thheavenband.com)
The 2nd story is about our 3 year old, shown in this picture with our dog “Lord” .
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Aging Gracefully
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Hi, This is Linda Gullo!
I’d like to ask you the question, How well do YOU LIKE YOURSELF AND LOVE LIFE?
Hopefully here at Mini Miracles from Minor Moments, you’ll find of insights and knowledge about yourself. My plan is to help you like yourself and recognize the gifts you have been given. We all have them and until someone or some experience shows us, we often miss seeing them.
Please join me here regularly at Mini Miracles. Each episode is based on simple stories. These show stopping podcasts last only about 10 or 15 minutes, but are jam packed with upbeat and encouraging tidbits for you to take along.
It is easy to listen to these podcasts in your car. Just hit the media selection and make sure you follow us on your Podcast feed. When you plan to be in and out of the car running short errands I’ll be there to encourage you. Please subscribe to our feed, Mini Miracles from Minor Moments, and share it with others.
There are so many things I’d like to provide for you. If this is your first time listening to me, you know that this is a treat for me. Podcasting allows me to reach out of the 4 corners of my office where I work as a Counselor and Business Coach. I want to be part of your day as inspiration. I invite you to like yourself and will be offering stories to inspire you.
Today, I’d like to talk about the Gift of Aging. I don’t know how old you are but I think this is a very good topic for all ages. Especially in a culture that wants us all to stay young and beautiful.
When I was in my 20’s, I subscribed to a newspaper called W. It was jam packed with the beautiful people in fashion and hollywood. It made my life look dull and uninviting. As I read it over and over again, I began to see it no real substance for me. The models in it wore clothes that were unconventional and absolutely useless for my lifestyle. I couldn’t wear any of them for grocery shopping or to a n occasional wedding I had to attend. They were fine and showy for these models who did not have to sit in them or walk across the parking lot of church in 6 inch stilettos. I’d read the magazine and go to the fabric shop for material and a pattern. I’d replicate the colors and tried to make sense of my own preferences and body image.
My husband would never wear the outlandish crazy prints or colors the models wore either. They were not comfortable or practical. Although he was dressed in a sports jacket or suit for sales meetings, he was a more conservative dresser.
Well now many decades later, I see the world is still trying to sell us images that don’t fit the average person. We are all valuable people walking around and doing our every day jobs. We have work, children, church and community projects.
Our guys work hard, some of them coach our children’s soccer teams. They serve as volunteers on community projects. They help their neighbors with maintenance projects like cutting up tree branches or painting the back deck. Time, talent, and money limits most of us .
And while it is true, we want to look and feel top notch, we need to be practical and reality based. We use the clothes we have, fix the cars we own, and try to pay our bills.
Our bodies and our minds work together to help us become resourceful and happy people. Aging gracefully simply means accommodating to the changes and temporary limitations we may have due to allergies, minor injuries, or aches and pains. We consume the seasonal allergy medications and forge ahead.
We must remain patient and accepting of these changes for ourselves and those around us. I have seen many young people who have to face arthritis and wrecked knees and those in their 80’s without the need for even an aspirin.
Our world assumes everyone is perfect until a certain age and then they fall apart. It is so unfair and judgmental; it puts limitations on success. It leads us to ignoring a population of valuable contributors, who with little prompting can excel to the very end of life. I often forget my age until I am told, “you shouldn’t do that”. And while I don’t jump up on a ladder to clean my own gutters anymore, I could literally still do that.
Now more than at any time in history, people are viable and renewing their minds on a daily basis. They engage in coaching, yoga, and spiritual practices to pray for others.
For years I was active on boards in our community. This past year, I actually took myself out of these so I could free up time to do other things of importance.
Having age on our side means you actually have wisdom from lived experiences. When I hear people are traveling, I know where they are going not only because I like to read, but also because I have been fortunate to travel to many places and have friends who share they experiences.
My grandmother worked until she was 72 down in the Chicago Loop. She quit because my mother and aunt insisted that traveling by the El alone wasn’t prudent. I think that it took her purpose and self esteem away. She wasn’t connecting with people on a daily basis. Aging is a mind trip. It is important to keep learning and moving, as much as, possible. There is so much to learn. We need to stay connected and engaged to stay competent.
Being a life long learner is always a drawing card for me –and hopefully for you too. Keep learning, keep growing. Relish in the time each week to collect insights by using the power of silence to refresh and renew your mind.
Today I heard on WGN radio that Orion Samuelson was 82. He’s an example of a man who is still an active contributor to the radio station His voice is strong and yours can be too. Obviously he has loved his work and we all can do the same. Find something you are passionate about. Reactivate an old hobby or find a new one. Keep moving and see all the Mini Miracles shower over you.
May you find or become that special mentor for another person.
Validation
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DO YOU LIKE YOURSELF AND LOVE LIFE?
Welcome to Mini Miracles from Minor Moments, where you’ll find of marvelous & magnificent pieces of knowledge about yourself. My plan is to help you like yourself and recognize your own talents. We all have them and until someone shows us, we often miss seeing them.
Hi, I’m your host Linda Gullo. Please join me weekly. Mini Miracles is a brief encounter with simple stories. These show stoppers last only about 10 or 15 minutes. It is great to listen to when you plan to be in and out of the car when you are running short errands. Please subscribe to our feed and share it with others.
There are so many things I’d like to share with you. If this is your first time listening to me, you know that this is a treat for me. Podcasting allows me to reach out and be part of your day. I welcome your ideas so stay tuned to the end for contact information. So thanks for joining me again and taking this time to listen to an episode on Validation.
If someone were to ask you, “what makes you the person you’ve become?” What would you say? Do you think you know yourself well? If you asked the people closest to you, what would they say? Would it be hard to receive feedback? Are you being validated in a good way? Validation is meant to be a positive way of knowing our worth. I don’t mean money-wise here, but value in how one interacts, shares, or takes things on willingly.
Often the feedback we get from others helps us define ourselves. What do you bring to a conversation? Do you have a valid contribution? Do you jump right in and help others or begrudgingly do things?
Being validated is valuable. It makes us who we are and they enable us to move ahead. They also come from the people who love us the most. If you listened to an earlier podcast on Reflection, you know how valuable they are to helping us become better versions of ourselves. do you feel validated by the people you are with each day? If not, how can you change your own image to feel more congruent with your values?
I have found that interesting people are fun to be with. they make a game of life. Like dodge ball they stay in the safe zone, but also have a good disposition. I wrote a list of what makes them interesting. I thought you too probably could create a list, but here goes with what I have found.
1- There are the readers. These people are well rounded. They tend to have up-to-date information on the news of the day and the politics around the country. chances are they’ve read a umber of BEST SELLERS. They have a stack of books on their pile to read.
2- There are the collectors. These people have “zeroed-in” on a hobby of some sort. They may collect stamps, records, memorabilia or something from a period of history. The reason for their collection also tells you about them. They tend to be driven and consistent. They are avid learners.
3- There are the travelers who have set goals to do walking tours in the USA, or visit specific countries, or continents. They have learned 1st hand about the cultures , the people, and the cuisines of each area. Recipes flow from their vast knowledge and simply delight in sharing. They have stories to tell of people they have met and the impact of experiences can help any of us as we prepare for tips. Be sure to mentally note those people and talk with them, as often as, possible.
They are like walking historians and geography wizards –especially if they have recorded things in photographs and videos. Traveling confirms what we learned from textbooks. It helps us to be open to others and their actions. Travelers collect ideas and their minds are brilliant.
There is a lady who comes to our church. We have learned that we have a few things in common. Both of us love to travel and we are past educators.
She does more traveling now that I am able to do and comes in to sit next to me when she is in town. She is retired and thrives on her time to be out and about. She is filled with smiles and sparkles with delight. Her traveling itinerary is filled for the next year or more and I long to get the updates. I live vicariously through her trips.
Number 4. Next there are the musicians. They entertain on the spot and connect people with music. They sit down at a piano and start a sing-a-long. Or they pull out a guitar and begin rocking. In Europe I saw the Mariachi Bands in the community squares. Large groups of people would gather and enjoy the music.
In Ireland, the pubs are the place to see the talented people gathering to perform. In between their gigs they sit and share with you. They add to the hospitality of their country and make one feel accepted.
5- Talkers –They seem to collect stories. Give them a topic and away they go. They make great salesman and they are comfortable with themselves. They usually have developed a sense of humor and ease in sharing. Being with them brings out the best traits in a group. They end up being the first to volunteer.
There are the experts in every area. The technicians who can unscramble flaws in a cars system. The researchers who contribute to medical discoveries. Gardeners who make our yards beautiful.
Any of these people can to on for hours carrying on a great conversation. What a delightful way to learn from these masters the secrets of their trades.
So where are the mini miracles? People who are conversationalists take us out of our pity-party. They do more than entertain us; they have the potential to inspire us to be better. They wake us up and help us forget our misery, our aches, and pains. They give us balance and emotional stability. They help us believe in ourselves and create trust amongst us. Talkers teach us to listen so we can learn from them about things we would never read or experience ourselves. They impact us and stimulate us.
Just one note as I wrap up today.
Being careful to accept healthy reflections is important and to know who is giving them to you is also essential. We need to be congruent with who we are and what we are really good about doing. But learning from those around us is precious and for that I am grateful. I hope it rubs off on you too.
Enjoy your week. Feel free to send me feedback on topics or to get on our email list for free updated PDF’s and handouts. That address is www.lindagullo.com
Please join us regularly for Mini Miracles from Minor Moments.
Reflections
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DO YOU LIKE YOURSELF AND LOVE LIFE?
Welcome to Mini Miracles from Minor Moments, where you’ll find of marvelous & magnificent pieces of knowledge about yourself. My plan is to help you like yourself and recognize your own talents. We all have them and until someone shows us, we often miss seeing them.
Hi, I’m your host Linda Gullo and it appears that I’ll be touching base with you on Friday each week. There are so many things I’d like to share with you. So thanks for joining me again and taking this time to listen to an episode on Reflection!
A reflection is an image turned backwards. If you ever had prints made of a photo and it looked all wrong, it may have been because the negative was backwards. It used to happen more before the days of digital photos. We had a dog by the name of Petey years ago. He had one ear and his opposite eye brown in color. He was really cute and comical in his manner. I remember seeing a picture of him reversed and it made him look frightening to me. A crazy image that caught me off guard. He would stand in front of a mirror and bark at himself.
Reflections
The most common thought that comes to mind about reflections is when we see ourselves in a pool of water. One sees himself or herself in the stillness or the rippling of the water.
One of my first reflections was in murky lake water. Sometimes those reflections are unclear and confusing. I also recall the shadows that are cast along the outside of windows that may seem almost threatening at first. They were of other people not me. We need to see ourselves, good or bad, and accept ourselves with approval. You are unique. I am unique. We need to appreciate our differences and help each other with a spirit of acceptance
Reflections can occur in the glass of a store window. I recall seeing myself as the leader of a group of walkers on a State Street department store window. What a cool image it was. At first I didn’t recognize myself. Not all images are clear or make us think so much, but that one did. I was 18 years old and walking briskly.
I walk fast and probably learned the habit back then to walk with determination and drive. I had motivation and a purpose. I didn’t second guess myself or my reason for being there.
I was moderately dressed with a bounce in my step and feeling the cool breeze coming down Jackson Blvd. It was Fall and refreshing. I can tell you the incident still is vivid in my mind because of what I saw.
Think for a minute about your own image? Pause the podcast if you’d like. Take time to journal on it or take notes. (Pause)
Reflections are valuable. They make us who we are and they enable us to move ahead. They also come from the people who love us the most. Even the smallest child will look to Mom or dad for confirmation. They look to see if they are able to do something. They check to see if they’ll get into trouble turning the dial or pressing the button on the controller.
We are all testing our own reflections. Do we appear to others as we want them to see us? Do we modify the way we dress or the profession we take on? Do we make ourselves more present to our family, our work, or our friends?
The reflections we get from spouses are precious. I recall making a change in a stock portfolio many years ago. I actually bought stock on a recommendation from someone I trusted. I thought about it all day and when I came hoe I told me husband. “I’m not sure I should have invested that money”. He said “don’t worry about it Linda, you make good choices!” This is coming from a man, who has trusted me with his life and medical decisions for years. Thank you honey for all your encouragement!
Wow what a perfect reflection that was for me. He trusted me. He believed in me. He was just what I needed to put the “energy wasting” concerns aside. Those are the reflections we need to receive and the ones we need to give out too.
Just one note as I wrap up today. Being careful to accept healthy reflections is important and to know who is giving them to you. Saying things for the sake of being kind isn’t good. We need to be congruent with who we are and what we are really good about doing.
Enjoy your week. Feel free to send me feedback on topics or to get on our email list for free updated PDF’s and handouts. That address is www.lindagullo.com
Please join us regularly at our blogging site where you will see the daily updates and podcasts as well. Again it is www.lindagullo.com Thanks and again, have a great week
Dad’s Secretary
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Starting on a regular basis, our Podcasts will be out each Friday. While I continue learning the process, I find this to be a good day to get them out to you. Today I welcome you to Mini Miracles from Minor Moments where suddenly you’ll find a host of marvelous things coming your way.
I look at the media and the false sense of urgency it gives us to buy more and need things we don’t in fact, really need. God is sprinkling wonderful insights and gifts to you each and every day, but we don’t always recognize them.
Today I look back at memorable times with my father. Enjoy this PODCAST.
Skateboard
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Welcome to Mini Miracles from Minor Moments, where suddenly your daily events begin to overflow with great joy. I am grateful and excited to have you join me. This is a short 6-minute Podcast to keep us connected to leading a life of adventure and using our common sense along the way.
Linda shares about the idea of feeling “Rushed”! Is your skateboard able to stop? Figuring out the direction of our lives changes with the goals we set in place. A well used Skateboard can carry us forward, but even if it is in the best of shape one can crash.
Revising our direction can be a good choice. Be safe and re-evaluated if necessary!
Ruby
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Welcome to Mini Miracles from Minor Moments, where suddenly your daily events begin to overflow with great joy.
Hi, I’m your host Linda Gullo. Thank you for joining me today on this weeks Podcast. Today’s story is based on an insight I had today. Perhaps you’ll find your own insight after this podcast. Usually I do one podcast a week, but this week I have done an extra bonus. My hope is that I’ll be more comfortable and improve with each one.
My goal is to help you find balance in life, like yourself a bit more, and recognize mini miracles are happening each day. I think God sprinkles us daily with them and we don’t even recognize it.
Join us on this podcast when Linda discovers one of reasons she takes Ruby out on the weekends and leaves Joey home to rest. It is all these little insights that open up the doors to the Mini Miracles in life.
Memories
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Today as I was writing my blog I recognized that mini miracles are trickling down over and over again from past times in my life. I have been blessed with a memory that takes me back to the age of 3 and offers me many insights.
Buttons have a wonderful purpose and hold memories too!
Please listen to the podcast!
I see things in relationship to people and events that happened along the way. I have seen cultural changes, a shift in how people perceive one another, and the potential we have in caring for each another!
May you be blessed with many mini miracles in your past.