Bushel of Apples

There are times when I feel like a bushel of apples. All the parts are neatly packed within the bushel. Suddenly, the bushel is tipped upside down and parts of me fall, spill and bounce out. At first I feel completely out of control and scattered about. Then I slowly look around and realize that everything I still need is still there, although strewn all over.

As I gather myself together, I notice: parts are bruised and I set them aside to heal; parts contain worms and are thrown away; parts of me are not yet ready to be in the bushel and are set on a window sill for the sun to nurture. The most select, complete and healthy apples are then chosen to fill the bushel and make me whole again.

If the bushel hadn't tipped, the bruised apples would have festered, the worms would have multiplied eating the immature apples. Eventually the healthy ripe apples would have rotted or been eaten.

To be a whole healthy bushel of apples, sometimes I need to upset the basket to sort out the bad apples, before they consume me.

About this poem -

I wrote this poem many years ago and still find in it an important reminder to tip the apple cart every now and then. I was honored the first time it was performed on stage by a brilliant artist, Ms. Diane Hill, during her one woman show "In Light We Grow." Now go out there and upset your cart.
Kathy

Abundance Prayer

I have found this poem to be a source of comfort and inspiration:

From The Light of God that I Am.
From The Love of God that I Am.From The Power of God that I Am.From The Heart of God that I Am.


I decree:


I dwell in the midst of infinite abundance. The abundance of God is my infinite source.The river of life never stops flowing. It flows through me into lavish expression. Good comes to me through unexpected avenues and God works in a myriad of ways to bless me. I now open my mind to receive my good. Nothing is too good to be true. Nothing is too wonderful to have happen. With God as my source, nothing amazes me. I am not burdened by thoughts of past or future. One is gone. The other is yet to come. By the power of my belief, coupled with my purposeful, fearless actions and my deep rapport with God, my future is created and my abundance made manifest. I ask and accept that I am lifted in this and every moment into higher truth.My mind is quiet. From this day forward I give freely and fearlessly into life and life gives back to me with magnificent increase. Blessings come in expected and unexpected ways. God provides for me in wondrous ways. 

I AM indeed grateful. And I let it be so.
I wish the same for the goodness of all. 
- Author unknown

Many thanks to Positively Pamela for posting this and helping me find it again. I first ran across this poem/prayer many years ago and have found it to be a source of comfort in every day life.

Give the Gift of Confidence

When I am wavering in my confidence, a
change in perspective usually helps.
Here I am testing my confidence 300 feet
in the air on a rope bridge.

I have been working with a lot of people lately who are high achievers, amazing people and truly gifted and creative - and yet, they all suffer from the same affliction...ebbs and flows in their confidence.

It really is the human condition to be rolling along doing well and then wham! get hit over the head with a bout of second guessing, a trigger that takes our breath away or simply a moment when it is just hard to make a decision about what to wear. These lulls in confidence happen to all of us. The more prepared we are with a plan when we are confronted with low self-confidence, the faster we can get on with our lives.

Now, don't get me wrong, there may be a few individuals who are out there who don't ever struggle with a lag in confidence, but I haven't met them yet. It may just look a little different than second guessing, or apologizing for everything you say and do or crawling into your bed and remaining under your covers for an entire day.

Low moments in confidence can be reflected in angry conversations, withdrawal from situations or body language - we all have our various ways of revealing to the world that we ay not be feeling the best about ourselves in this moment.

The great news about this situation is that it is temporary and there are a wide variety of strategies for moving out of a low confidence experience...my book Up and Over: Boost Your Confidence is filled with practical everyday strategies to find your personal power...and it makes a great gift for graduates, employees and friends who are going through  a life transition.

Here's a strategy that will be included in the next edition - so have fun and try these 3 simple strategies when you are feeling a little low.

Feeling a little out of sorts?

Three simple strategies to boost your confidence:

1. Walk yourself to a mirror and repeat 3 affirmations or kind things you have said to others today. Repeat the affirmations while looking at yourself in your eyes and tell yourself that you mean what you are saying.
2. Act as if: The final chapter in Up and Over: Boost Your Confidence When There is None To Be Found shares strategies to "Fake It Until You Make It" and if you are struggling to believe yourself as you repeat these affirmation, you will need to just act as if you mean it.
3. If you have not said 3 affirmations to others or kind words today - get out there and make that so immediately. Once you have completed that task - look yourself in the mirror and repeat Step #1.

Simple practical strategies to help you move forward. I look forward to hearing from you about what works for you - fill out the comment below or send me an e-mail. Let's share the gift of confidence with each other and brighten your day.


I would love to hear any of your suggestions, tips and ideas that have worked for you to help boost your confidence!

Poverty Alleviation…Put Your Sandals on the Streets…and Walk Humbly

International aid and development assistance has changed dramatically over the decades, yet individuals maintain the inherent desire to matter, to be in relationship with others and to grow. They hold their dreams close and hope for better lives for the children and the communities they serve with driving motivational force. As the international community looks for more efficient and effective methods of delivering scarce resources through international aid, a new dynamic, interactive methodology, immersion, is worth consideration. 

September 17th Book Signing and Discussion

Some of the goodies that will be available at the
Stories From The Streets Book Signing

Come and hear stories, experience exclusive behind the scenes action, engage in discussion and watch videos of the book launch in  Ghana, West Africa. Enjoy an evening of books, refreshments, door prizes and goodies. 

For Event Information Click Here

Stories From The Streets is Available on Amazon

Follow Your Heart

Sitting here at the lake getting ready to take a huge dive, I am surrounding myself with some of my inspirations; channeling Ram Dass and running through all ten chapters of my book “Up and Over: Boost Your Confidence When There is None to be Found”  all at once…

1.      Breathe

2.      Create Cue Cards

3.      Move

4.      Release Self-Defeating Thoughts…and on and on until we get to Chapter 10…

Act As-If.

Each of these chapters speak to me and I am reminded why I wrote the book in the first place –  the strategies and ideas in the book are practical, useful and they work. They work for me at least and as I am preparing myself to take a huge leap into the next chapter of my life – I am finding something within each of these chapters that is helping me to get ready, to start dreaming and to prepare myself to be open to what comes next.

If you are in that state of confusion, that place in life that to me looks like a murky water, sometimes described as chaos, or confusion or even unrest – then my book on boosting your confidence is just your ticket to start moving forward. Moving through that place of ambiguity, that place of fear, or denial and find some comfort or fortitude to move forward – even if you don’t know where that next place or stage will take you.

Dancing between the dots of ambiguity is not a bad place to be – don’t get me wrong, I actually

Stories From The Streets is Launched

Issah, Gifty and Rose share memories of former
street girls - Issah and Rose interviewed girls for
Stories From The Streets

To My Supporters - As a result of your support, Stories From The Streets was launched in Ghana on June 30th to a crowd of dignitaries, staff and supporters from Street Girls Aid and Rotarians. While there were many highlights that you will read about soon - a few of the special moments that happened during the whirlwind trip include the following:

While reading an excerpt from the book at the launch, I was moved to tears - looking up from the book I spied Phidelia, Fred and Rose intently watching me as I read their words, the stories that they had spent months collecting out on the streets. And, as I stammered, struggling to take a breath as the tears welled up trying to compose myself, in unison, they all smiled at me, even giving me the thumbs up sign to demonstrate their confidence in me that the words would flow - their words, street girls' stories - and finally they did...along with the tears.

The delight and pride that welled in my heart and soul was fueled and fanned each time I got to watch someone open the book and start reading - sometimes flipping pages to look at the photos, sometimes glancing at a page and then returning to confirm what they had just read, and sometimes (mainly) as the reader hunkered down and got lost in the book. I don't know how many authors get that kind of privilege - to watch as someone devours their book. There are not sufficient words to describe how that felt.

Stories From The Streets is an important book, and I can't wait to share it with the world. It is a useful and practical book. Stories From The Streets will help to inform global citizens as we strive to understand how to make a difference when the odds seem overwhelming. If you have not yet purchased your copy, go to Amazon right now and buy your copy today.

Kathy and Fred at the Homecoming Event
Fred was one of the interviewers for the book
Stories From The Streets

And finally a sneak peek at behind the scenes at the homecoming event on July 2nd. Some of the women featured in the book, former street children who are now successful entrepreneurs, businesswomen and mothers, returned to Street Girls Aid and held a workshop mentoring current street children and beneficiaries of S.Aid. Challenging, hopeful and inspiring all rolled into one...kind of like the reviews we are getting about the book - here's what one reader had to say about Stories From The Streets, "We are finding the stories to be fascinating, hopeful and disturbing all at the same time."

Stay tuned for updates about launches and reading near you, or if you or your community group would like to host a reading in your library or community organization - please contact me, Kathy Stutzman at kastutzm@smig.net and we will organize a book event that is sure to inspire and inform.

Thank you again for all of your support - now it is time to get the book out there - now is the time. Go to Amazon and order your copy today... and be sure to check back for updates coming soon.