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Hey there Empowered Moms and Women of the world.  We thought we would try to add something new to the site to help you start saving money on certain fun, family and empowered types of services and products.  Occasionally these will come across our desk and we will share them with you.

You know baseball is our life and the critters – you guys know them as Team Toney and we found a great deal today

It is time to start planning ahead for the Fourth of July weekend.  If you are going to be in North Texas and your family loves baseball then the Frisco RoughRiders have a great deal they are offering for that weekend. But you gotta move fast – it is only good until 5 p.m. tonight.  Click to see the offer.

So the first offer is called the Frisco RoughRiders Red, White and Boom + Ballpark Food Ticket Package

-Four (4) tickets (additional tickets can be purchased at $15 per ticket)
-Four (4) RoughRiders Hats
-One (1) $20 Uncle Julio’s gift card

-All-You-Can-Eat access at ‘Riders Grab and Go Concession stand

This great offer includes All-You-Can-Eat Hot Dogs, Bratwursts, Nachos, and Dr Pepper products.  A $200 value for just $60 (just $15 per person)

But deals this good don’t last forever, and this one is only good until 5:00 pm Tuesday, June 18th!

Here is how you get the deal.  Call or shoot an email to Jeff Jackson with the RoughRiders.  He is a good friend of ours.  Get the package from him.  While you are talking or writing – please tell him you saw this on The Empowered Mom website.

Jeff Jackson, Frisco RoughRiders Baseball
phone: (972) 334-1927 l email: jjackson@ridersbaseball.com

Now you have a fantastic Fourth of July planned!  Let us know what you think of these little offers along the way.  Do you want to see more?

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Dear Daddy,

I would love to be with you today. In person. HERE. But on this Father’s Day as I reflect upon my time on earth with you….and as I write this on this Father’s Day, memories are all I now have with you, Daddy.

So many memories flash through my mind. Here’s just a few: You coming home in your Air Force flight suit at the end of the day—this little blonde 4 year-old racing to the front door, you’d pick me up, swing me in the air then rub your face against mine – forcing giggles and laughter as your five-o’clock shadow would tickle and scratch my young face. You singing, “Maria…the most beautiful sound I ever heard….
Maria, Maria, I just met a girl named Maria… and suddenly that name will never be the same to me…” Again, always making me laugh and blush.

Five years old now….my birthday, and you surprise me with a purple bike – NO TRAINING WHEELS…  you’re teaching me to ride now… running alongside, then just behind me on the neighborhood street of the Air Force base we lived in…  my purple bike with shaking wheels turning with trepidation…then turning in triumph… I turn back to show you in all my glory and pride… and BAM! How’d that car get there? I slam straight into it. You’re running to me…tears on this 5-year-old’s face, was it tears of pain, pride or fear I’d disappoint you? Didn’t matter — Your arms wrapping to comfort me.

And of course there was this song too, “How do solve a problem like Maria?” Not sure that question has ever been solved…just ask my husband. (Y’know that’s the song from the musical, The Sound of Music, sung by Julie Andrews.)

And you, Daddy, at my wedding.  (Which, by the way, me waitiing so long to marry to find exactly the most amazing man!)  You seeing me in my wedding dress for the first time.  In tears. You take my hand in yours just before walking down the aisle and whisper in my ears, “Love him like your mother loved me all these years.”

Then the vocabulary words. EVERY SINGLE NIGHT AT THE DINNER TABLE. All five of us kids. We each had to have a new vocabulary word, pronounce it, say the part of speech, define it, and use it in a sentence.

Your humor. Your incredible wit.

Intelligent. Charming. Incredibly Handsome.

Everyone always thought you were in the Mafia. That Italian skin. That demeanor.

And oh, were you strict. The Great Santini — maybe not to that extent.  But you did NOT mess with Daddy.  A good dose of fear was very much present. You demanded the best of us – in all aspects. Behavior, education, performance, respect.

Thank you for that.

Were you perfect? No, you were —thankfully — human.

And the nature of that means we are all imperfect.

But in my eyes – this little girl, now a grown woman…you will forever be my hero – my Daddy. And I will forever love you so. Though I would love you to be here to wish you this in person, I cherish the time we had and love you more than ever.

So I celebrate you today on Father’s Day — bittersweet though it may be —but I know you can rest assured your impact on me, my brothers and sisters, and especially on my husband and the boys we are raising now – continue on and will do so for generations to come.

I loved you so. I miss you still. EVERY DAY. And Daddy, on this Father’s Day, and on everyday, I miss you so. You hung the moon. You always will.

Love,
Your Little Girl
Now known, in part because of you, as –
The Empowered Mom

P.S. To all of you reading this:

And yes, when we said Goodbye at my Daddy’s funeral — we again each used words we thought helped describe him:

Omnipresent
Family
Curiosity
Excellence
Humor

Yes, with each of our Dads — we have this:

Each our own perspective
Each our own experiences
Not all perfect
All at once human
All at once flawed
Flawed with Frailties
Loved nonetheless.
Loved regardless.
Loved with forgiveness.
Loved completely.

And if you are blessed to have your Daddy here on earth today, cherish that. If you can call him, or better yet — hug him.  Please DO. Hug him and tell him how you love him. You’ll never have another Daddy — and despite the path that may have or may not have been perfect along the way, we are all human, which in and of itself, means we are imperfect.

But on this Father’s Day — love your Daddy with all your heart.
Just as I did. Just as my children do their own Daddy. My amazing husband.

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY TO ALL YOU DADS out there. You shape lives, you change the world, you ARE the world to so many.

Happiest of Father’s Day!

Maria is a veteran of TV broadcast news and founded The Empowered Mom, mentoring, coaching and inspiring fellow savvy business owners and MOMpreneurs. She also owns the communications and public relations company, Luce Media, LLC. Watch for her feature columns regularly on TSB.
- See more at: http://townsquarebuzz.com/ams/52569/empowered-mom-fathers-day-letter-my-daddy-heaven/2075/ams/52569#sthash.1HN2RBkb.dpuf

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So here’s how this works, and you can probably relate… I get these brilliant ideas for a story, or a story idea — even a tidbit of juiciness–sparks of creativity—glimpses of genius—and I race to capture them.  Before they race away into the vast recesses of my grey matter.

So I have probably oh, I don’t know, 27 posts ‘pending’.  27 drafts. Works in ‘progress’.

This might bother a sane mind.

It would bother my insane mind if IDIDN’T have a bunch of inspiration to work with.  Cuz, Baby, you gotta strike while the iron is hot, the sparks are flying, guns are blazin’….  and ya gotta fit it in somewhere between the phone calls, the emails, the kids throwing toys across the room, and pouring yourself another glass a wine.

One of those juicy tidbits of mine was called, “Unfinished.”

Here’s all it said:

so many things in life started

not finished

following through items complete

I started it March 31st.  Just 3 phrases.  And it was – unfinished.  My brilliant mind would only need to see those phrases and know the grand idea.

Just like some of  my other masterpieces-in-waiting right now:    ”The Problem With Drunk Priests”,  ”Kool-Aid House”, “GPS For Your Soul”, “Where’s Your Penis?”, “Margaritas & Handcuffs.”    In fact, “Brain Drain Cabernet. Comfort Me With Cabernet.” started the same way!

See, when you’re a recovering Type-A, you come to realize that in Life, under the heading of ‘Unfinished’ — there is a MASSIVE database filled with various types of ‘unfinished’.  Complete with an organizational chart with sub-headings, and categories, and branches of sub-topics, and a whole slew of sub-sets within each of them.

And the original idea of ‘Unfinished’ was one of the bigger branches of the chart.  More profound.  Intense.  Serious. Life-changing.  Life-MOLDING. And deliriously salacious. I was referring more to goals in my life or promises made and not kept – either to others or to myself.  (Those to myself usually being the most punishing.)

It wasn’t from the sub-heading of ‘daily unfinished stuff.’   Like bills to pay, laundry to finish, homework to do, desserts to drop off at school carnival, cooler and snacks for baseball, and emails to return.  Like the email I just found today that I started yesterday to the great designers of my websites about some to-do items.  And yes, it too was incomplete. Just a-sittin’ there, waiting for the rest of its words.  And I thought to myself, ‘ha ha, there’s a blog post in here somewhere’ – when, yep, I remembered I already started it and it too, was _________.

Unfinished.

So, I thought, hmmm…. maybe I could finish unfinished.

But there’s beauty in knowing it has yet to unfold itself.  So much yet to come.  Such excitement in the not knowing.  So much yet to discover.

Just like our lives.  So much yet to reveal and to discover.  Because, as humans, WE are UNFINISHED.  ON PURPOSE.

God made us beautifully designed to continue. And grow. And explore.  There’s beauty in knowing that. Beauty and wisdom and freedom and inspiration in knowing that.  And that’s so EMPOWERING!   God is never done with us, He is never finished with us. Why then, should we ever think we’re finished with ourselves?

Each day is new, each day a new opportunity for us to learn, to grow, to discover, to achieve, to take on new goals and dreams and aspirations… some we’ll finish and some that will remain unfinished.   Finished means done, over, complete.  While that’s fine for a task, it’s not okay for our souls – because when we are FINISHED growing, we are dead.

And as the saying goes, ‘God-willing-and-the-creek-don’t-rise’, I’m never gonna be finished.  With so many things. And I won’t care. I hope I’m never finished. Many I won’t finish and they will keep bugging me - if I LET THEM.  So I will let go of them. Because I am only imprisoning myself by those burdens. No one else is hurt. Just me.  And what’s the point of that?

And you shouldn’t let your ‘Unfinished’ shackle you, let it serve to fuel you for more unfinished stuff!

Because sometimes UNFINISHED is the point. Consider yourself  UNFINISHED.

UNFINISHED on PURPOSE.

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The Empowered Mom: How I Got Fired As A Room Mom.

I can’t take it anymore.  THIS is NOT September people!  It’s June.  We are done-kids, teachers, parents. Done with school!

Full-on whooped.  No more bright and shiny like when the school year started. No more everything getting done on time – much less BEFORE it’s due.

Now it’s more like, “WHAT? What is due? When is that ceremony? How many more activities?  We had 3 weeks, and you’re telling me 5 minutes before it’s due? Seriously, you’re not even thinking about asking me to do another project, play, event, are you?” I may smack the next person that tells me there’s another event.  Since that’s typically frowned upon–I could always opt for another root canal.

I am so flipping checked out of school by now – it’s surprising my kids even get there.

And get this: I’m ROOM MOM.

Not just that. I’m LEAD ROOM MOM. Oh my gawd…who allowed that to happen??

But now, I think I got fired as Room Mom.

We’re going on 4 years now.

Of being the boys’ Room Mom. From Kindergarten through Fourth Grade, I’ve either been Ace’s, Lucky’s or Blaze’s ‘Superstar’ Room Rep.

But this year.  This year may have done me in. I think in the ranks of Room Mom History, I categorically will NOT be nominated for Room Mom of The Year.

I WAS great at first.  I LIVED at the school.

And I LOVED it. As do my boys.  And pretty soon I figure they’re gonna get into that stage where they don’t want their parents there – but now they do, so I’m gonna do so. Even if it sucks the life out of me.

Then year two, again. Signed my name right there on the dotted line. (Did it say sucker?)  Regardless, I was brilliant.  Could’ve gotten “Room Mom of The Year” two years in a row.

After my second year being Room Mom, I thankfully had a Co-Room Mom. (Oh YES, there IS a hierarchy in the realms of Room-Momhood.  Do NOT cross those boundaries or you shall be shunned to Room Mom Purgatory.)

That year wrapped up and she wrapped up this gift for me:

Stop Me Before I Volunteer Again

Third year guess I didn’t use her mug for coffee that morning: Check! All signals a go. “Of course I’ll do it!”

And this year? I started out all good this year – put my name on the list as I always do.  Especially when the critters look at me wide-eyed, sweetly, WANTING me there and asking in such a way that I’d be remanded to MotherHell if I didn’t absolutely say yes.

I volunteered, I was there, I communicated with the parents.

The Empowered Mom – Weekly Volunteer Calendar!

Offered weekly help to my AMAZING teacher with chirps of,  “What do you need? What can I help you with?”  Thankfully, she’s a brilliant, supremely organized teacher that loves my child and every child in her classroom – and truly, didn’t need much from me.  I volunteered for everything.

I was still good by about Valentine’s Day.

Even Easter.

But now, at this point in the school year – well maybe not so much.

By this time – I’m a bit exhausted.  Doing so much. Giving so much. The god-forsaken chain of RoomRep emails that takes at least 30 painstaking minutes to read through to find out…uh, nothing.

My communication with everyone had-at some point–officially gone fully off the rails.

And another Room Mom had, well, ‘taken the reigns’ so to speak of “Lead Room Mom.”  More like ripped them forcefully out of my hands so that things would get done!  (THANK YOU – you know who you are and am fo-evah grateful!)

And of course, in the interim, there’s this whole “RUNNING MY BUSINESS” I kinda have to attend to as well.  And guess what?  The Empowered Mom.com and Luce Media, LLC won’t actually run themselves. SHOCKING, I know.

So – back in the classroom. I’m missing things. Not communicating everything. I’m apologizing to the parents. I’m starting out every conversation with, “I’m sorry….”.

“Lucky” (Twin A) said to me, “Momma, how come you’re not in the classroom as much anymore.”  Jeez, kid, couldya stick the red-hot blazing poker straight into my heart?

So me getting fired as Room Mom?

Well, Pretty sure it wasn’t OFFICIALLY announced. Not Like on PR Newswire and it didn’t run as Breaking News on CNN or Fox News.  But I knew it.  The cold hard truth.  I’d gotten fired as Room Mom.  Parents were wondering if there even was a Room Mom. Room Mom Ghost.

I couldn’t possibly run businesses, a household, my brain AND be Room Mom and maintain sanity too, could I?(Ah,scratch that maintain sanity part – that’s always been questionable.)

I think I kinda maintained a smattering of capability. Talking to the other Room Moms, organizing parties.  FRANTICALLY getting to Dollar Store to make 23 goody bags – GRABBING my husband to help – no option for him – at the last minute because I was chasing my tail and COULD NOT – WOULD NOT – disappoint the kids.

So I hope not to really get fired, maybe uh, re-trained.  I could be on “Official Room Rep Probation” or even go into a Room Mom treatment center.  (Or some other type of treatment center?)  But certainly I can be on rehabilitation don’tcha think – before I have to walk the plank?

So I’m hoping to make it to the end of the year….  And yes, the end of the year party WILL be done, it WILL be amazing, the kids will NEVER know any better – and will have a BLAST.  Kicking off an amazing summer of whatever we want to do…which should last for all of about…hmmm, a week… then they’ll all be saying:

“I’m bored!”

 And next year? Yep, the boys have already asked me to be their Room Mom.  And I wouldn’t miss it for the world.  So if I haven’t gotten officially banned from Room Mom ranks, I will sign up again.  Maybe there’s a “Room Mom Rehab” I can attend this summer. Or at least get an ankle belt and monitor for next year.

FOUR MORE DAYS JAM-PACKED with activites….I am at once thrilled and weepy – for yet another year of my children’s sweet days are passing so quickly.  And I never want to look back and wished I would’ve been there more.  Nothing, NOTHING is more important than that.

And I will make every ceremony, every event, every second I can – I will grasp and hold in my heart forever. I wouldn’t miss one second of any of these precious moments.

 For my kids, yep, I’ll do anything.

 I remember one day having a conversation with our Pediatrician.  A brilliant, hard-charging woman I trust implicitly and highly respect.  This was just after I’d recently made the transition from ‘Career Woman’ to Stay-At-Home-Mom (and in the midst of identity crisis meltdown).  We’d been discussing how Type-A we both are, all that we want to accomplish, our bucket lists, the changing role(s) we have as women – especially when we become Moms.  She was encouraging me on the importance of my identity as simply, and most importantly, “Mommy.”

At that time, “Ace” (Critter #1) was now in Kindergarten.  And I very sarcastically said:

“Oh, but guess what? I AM a Room Mom.”  Thinking to myself:  Like big flipping deal – can I toss that out to CEOs and make the list on Forbes’ Top 25 Business Women with that title?

I furthered, ” I don’t remember that being a room mom was ever on my bucket list.”  She replied prophetically,  “Yes, but it is on his.”

 Amen.  Thank you for that, Doc!  It was all I ever needed to hear.

Related Posts:  Frenzy. Frazzled. Frenetic.  Not After My Martini Breakfast.

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This is really hard. So, this is me baring my soul.  This is revealing and – at the same time- empowering. Not what I’d intended to post today. But I know many will relate, empathize and understand.  This is what was on my heart to write and share with you. 

In the mirror I see

A lot of failure in me.

The mirror reflects back

Only a person on attack.

Why can’t I be

The best friend to me?

Instead all I do

is repeat the bad to you.

When instead there lies

So much that’s beautiful in my eyes.

Why am I the first

To attack with the worst?

Why these glasses of negativity

Instead of all the good that others see.

Why do I push such hate on me

When through tears I write and can not even see.

I have no illusions of who I am

But why do I push such crap and spam?

Why can I not love and just show Grace

For the reflection in the mirror of my face.

If I were my child or even my best friend

I would show loyalty to the end.

Why the hate, why the failure, why such ‘you don’t do enough’

When I would only LOVE someone else SO much.

So I reveal my soul, hoping you can relate

And give back love, not hate.

So this I wish for me, for all -

That we would love ourselves, all of y’all.

I continue my path, God as my guide;

I know His love is deep and wide.

Thank you, as I learn to love myself

Empower and not put on a shelf.

This reveal, this authenticity

Is part of you, certainly part of me.

I wish from now on only hope, only love,

Continuing as my guide, God above.

Wishing you love, and empowerment today, my friends.  Thank you for letting me share just a part a who I am – and a part of the journey that is: THE EMPOWERED MOM.

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I write this with tears streaming down my face.

I write this, along with a nationwide collective broken heart, for everyone in the path of yesterday’s massive killer tornado in Moore, Oklahoma.

A monster, grinding tornado dropped out of the sky – leaving in its wake utter devastation and obliteration.

In place of homes and kitchens and family rooms, now replaced by piles of rubble. In place of schools and classes and learning, now replaced by shredded buildings and the shredded lives of its tiniest victims.

“Oklahoma is strong. People here are strong, resilient and When mother nature is at her worst, mankind is at its best.” says,  Lance West, reporter, KFOR-TV, “here in Oklahoma people are rallying around each other like I have never seen before. And we will rebuild and we will rise through all this devastation. It’s gonna be a long, tedious, emotional process, but we’re all in it together.”

Growing up in “Tornado Alley” – you learn to always plan, to always be prepared. You never learn to avoid the heartache that follows these killer tornadoes.

Now – as I recall my afternoon yesterday with my kids, I am awash with grief for those parents in Oklahoma that no longer have the chance for these moments with their young school age kids:

My kids arguing in the carpool line. One brother popping the other in the head – after they both simultaneously yell, ‘Shotgun!’ and race for the front seat position.  Me disciplining the eldest. Me scolding, “CAN YOU BOYS AT LEAST WAIT UNTIL WE GET OUT OF THE SCHOOL ZONE!?!” Though why I used even that reasoning is beyond me.

Then the frogs. The two new frogs to replace the one caught in the filter of the aquarium.  In the additional afternoon melee, I hear: “MOM!! He’s GONE! ONE OF THE FROGS! HE’S ON THE FLOOR SOMEWHERE, I CAN’T FIND HIM!”  Now I’m on the ground, searching for a tiny (less than an inch) brown frog on my brown floor.  The 10-year-old is crying and I’m on all fours, hollering, “STOP! With all your CRYING, I CAN’T SEE!!!”  Huh?

Then the arguing over getting all the baseball uniforms together, shuffling through the ‘uniform drawer’- eager to send the twins to their games with their OWN jerseys and their correct numbers – not both in the same jersey number as I’ve done before.

And then the horrifying images on television.

The shock of knowing two schools took a direct hit from the tornado.  Now classrooms left in splinters. Hundreds of elementary children missing. Teachers saving some tiny lives by literally covering them with their own bodies – risking their own lives to save the kids.  Parents desperate to find their children. A bullhorn announcing the ones found breathing.

Sadly, many do not find their children alive.

So today, I pray.

Though I struggle to find words big enough, to love enough, to pray enough.

I am thankful today for the laundry. For that silly frog I found on the floor.  Thankful I have a floor for the dirty socks. Thankful I have a table for the toys the boys left there this morning. Thankful to have a sink full of dirty dishes. Thankful for the messy floor littered with the boys’ toys. Thankful for a staircase strewn in action figures.  Thankful for my couch with laundry waiting for me to fold and the legos coloring the cushions.

And thankful I have my children to argue with each other and race for the ‘shotgun’ position, and thankful I have my kids to tell a hundred times to ‘Hurry! Grab your backpacks and snack so we’re not late to school!”

So today, put down your laundry, put down the phone, pick up your kids. Hug them.  Because you can.

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The Digital world may overwhelm us often.. but then again, it can be priceless. Precious.

Time captured forever.

Especially in the everydayness of Moms, Lives, Work, Kids, Bills, Laundry, Homework, and on and on…

In the blink of an eye, though, this is gone.  So capture it now while you can.

Here’s what I mean.

I take pictures.

A lot.

And I did on Mother’s Day.

Here’s a peek at The Empowered Mom capturing all those precious moments.

I wake up to this:

 Of course Legos, silly!

Singing, Coffee, Homemade Mother’s Day card AND a Minecraft 3-D guy!

Made me cry.

Onto brunch…

Picking my battles – what can I say, he wanted his jeans tucked in.

Playing with the champagne glasses. Hey, at least his is empty!

My champagne glass, however, is full!

Hey that waiter works magic! My glass is full… well, for the few minutes it takes for me to drink it…

Two – why not? It’s Mother’s Day after all!

Salut!

And the kids?

Chocolate for brunch – why not?

And…

Legos are part of mi familia!

He did eat… now onto what’s important: playing.

Just a bite…but I wanted to BATHE in the chocolate fountain…

I see sugar… and I resist the temptation…

Chose some healthy, Clean Eating options…

Like salads, shrimp and crab legs…

And of course – I want it everyday served in ice sculptures…

Oh, and then there’s always the fruit…

Of course! Everyday served with special carvings…. No, that’s not the everydayness.

But, THIS IS:

And this:

and this:

I may be The Empowered Mom, but I’m a lucky girl.

And this to MY MOMMY:

To my amazing Mom, my best friend – to our Lola-Lala-Lolly-Lolita-Bloom-Where-You-Are-Planted-Mom:

I love you!

Spending the day with my kids, my hubby and then with the rest of our big, crazy, loud, AMAZING family poolside – oh – and one last toast:

Because you – Mom, are everything.

And because you hardly let us take your picture – thanks for letting us this day.

Yet another forever moment.

While the ‘holiday’ of Mother’s Day is once a year…  we all know – THIS is what matters EVERYDAY:

Enjoy your every days with your families too.

Now THAT’s Empowered.

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Oh my.  Totally think I just peed my pants.

With laughter!

This is absolutely HYSTERICAL!

MEN experiencing the pain of labor and contractions.  What would it be like? Watch this! 

Labor Pain Simulation from Kensington on Vimeo.

And only MOMS know it’s MUCH worse than even this video!  Even those of us who went through labor and THEN had to have an emergency C-section!

Thanks, though, for the laugh.

Though, we all know women and MOMS are really the world’s ROCKSTARS! (Kidding men. No I’m not. We really are.)

Have an EMPOWERING day!  And add some laughter to your own world and those around you!

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There’s a crime wave sweeping the country.  Are YOU their target? Or are you, this very minute, being ROBBED?

It happens to all of us.  And it’s happened to me.

I’ve been ROBBED!

Energy Robbers have stolen my time and energy and the Negative Nellies threaten to take over.  Yes, Negative People are Energy Drainers. Has this ever happened to you?  They are everywhere. And they will steal you blind! They are Energy Drainers and many are Complainers.

Here’s what YOU can do to prevent yourself from being a victim of negative ENERGY ROBBERS. Instead – here’s some powerful tips you can use right now to EMPOWER yourself and remove the negative, energy-drainers from your life.

So, since so many of you are my faithful followers online (Clapping! THANK You!! I appreciate you!), many of you are aware of my recent rants….like:

and…

You can find more “Let’s get real rants” and the Empowering solutions here on The Empowered Mom Page on Facebook.

And I VERY MUCH appreciate the OVERWHELMING support. (And yes, I seriously did say,’Don’t make me go all Italian on you!’) That’s when you know: Be afraid. Be VEWY VEWY afraid. My kids and my hubby know better – heck, even the dog goes running when I get ‘there’…

Yes. I had been a victim of a crime. ENERGY ROBBERS! and NEGATIVE NELLIES! They’d somehow set up base camp in my own personal space.

Then it occurred to me.

Ah-HA! Lightbulb Moment People! I have all the Energy!

Why was I LETTING these negative people ROB me of my energy???!!!

Keyword: LETTING!  It’s so easy to happen. They are very tricky. And VERY insidious. Before you know it – they’ll call YOUR Life Headquarters too!

Here’s some tips to remove the Energy Robbers – those Energy Drainers and The Complainers:

You must remain diligent and aware for people affectionately called, “Negative Nellies.”  I prefer the more proactive and empowering: ENERGY ROBBERS!!

Arrest them! Sentence them and send them away.  Or rather: SIMPLY REMOVE YOURSELF from the situation.

And where it’s not possible to literally remove them out of your life completely (say at office, workplace, neighborhood, school, everydayness) – then take a gut check on yourself! And make yourself impenetrable from their toxicity.  Face it, some people just WANT to be toxic – they get something out of it. But you don’t have to let them infect you with their toxins.

Be aware of your surroundings. It’s better to be around people that you want to be inspired by and motivate you to do your best then around people that are trying to drag you down with them all the time.

People inspire you or they drain you – pick them wisely!

I’ve had a situation recently that has stolen so much positive and left only negative DRAMA!

Said a dear, trusted close confidante: “Why give this anymore of your time? This just seems to be dragging you down. If it’s such a good thing, then why are you letting it have so much of you?”

Wow. That one stung. And they were right! (Thank YOU!)

I was GIVING it/them/the situation my time, energy, and expertise.

What was I getting?

Drama. Negativity. Shadows. Secrets. Misinformation.

RED FLAG. RED FLAG. RED FLAG!

That’s a gut check people!!!!

Be aware of the warning signs!  Intuition. Gut. Instinct. Flight or Fight Response. Guttural, visceral alerts all over the place. Listen to those – do NOT ignore the signs!

Like those nifty, high-tech alarm systems we have on our homes – y’know: designed to keep the bad guys OUT. Put on your own alarm for people just waiting to steal your Power, your Light, your Zen. They are Energy Robbers in disguise and THEY WILL RANSACK YOU – IF YOU LET THEM.

Set your alarm.  Then LISTEN to it!  Red Flags, intuition. Whatever your favorite term is  - just know it’s an internal alarm for danger.  Kinda like the robot, remember….  from um, that TV show…

Ya, like that.

“Danger Will Robinson. Danger.”

Heed the warnings but here’s the best part: You can do something about it! Right now!

Empower yourself.  You have ALL the power!  YOU hold the keys.  You have the double-secret ‘code’ – if you will. So EMPOWER Yourself.  Set your own personal code – and when Energy Robbers are lurking… they are looking for an easy target or ANY target.  DON’T let that target be YOU!

Know your needs, your desires. Play to your strengths and not to their insecurities or their need to be negative.  Pick up on the cues and consciously notice when you feel uplifted or plunged downward by the people in your life.  And again – if you can’t remove them altogether, then remove their ability to negatively impact YOU.

Surround yourself with what – and who – matters most. 

Don’t let the Energy Drainers, The Complainers or the Energy Robbers steal from you.

EMPOWER yourself and stay in the positive!

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There you are.

On. Off. On. Off. On. Off.

Waiting. Taunting. Teasing. Beckoning. WAITING. and BLINKING BLINKING BLINKING.

That damn cursor!

Have you ever had tons of work to do and yet stared at a blank screen?  That’s what happened to me today.  If you have EVER struggled for thoughts, words and and simply blankly stare down at the screen, the keyboard and that infinite blinking cursor – then you can NOT miss this!  This is how I kicked my cursor’s butt this morning!!  This will definitely inspire you and make you laugh!  Read on for how I turned my ‘damnit!’ into this ditty.

I hope you enjoyed my fun for this Monday – and if you ever need more, just know I will be tapping away – either that or staring at the blinking and yes, cursing, “CURSE YOU, CURSOR!”

If you liked this post, you will also like , “Brain Drain Cabernet-Comfort Me With Cabernet!“  Now, I need to return to the work I originally started this morning…

Until next time, The Empowered Mom says Have fun, laugh and EMPOWER yourself today!!