Message to me:

Beginning January 1, 2011, remember your promise to yourself to do the following:

Write a minimum of 1000 words a day about something...ANYTHING...that gets your attention.

Do something to be a better person.

Foster positive thoughts.

Address negative thoughts with positive reframing and potential solutions.

Accept that you have only one voice on this planet of billions; know that it has an equal right to be heard or, at minimum, expressed.

Check in with your agenda. Be honest about it.

Review this list and add as necessary!

Guilt for a neglected day.

I didn't post yesterday; I broke an agreement with myself.

I was tired and really not in the mood. Tonight, I am preparing to leave town and all I want to do is shower and get cozy. The flight is early, and most of my packing is done, but I will do the regular anxious crap I always do ahead of leaving town.

So, singular reader, I am going to leave this post short, but with a list of topics to cover:

Potential for a new studio

Relaxing my throat and tongue...you know, for singing.

Friends who listen to grousing.

Misplaced loyalty.

AND the list goes on...

/half-masting eyes

Kyle

Holding your ground...

Remind myself about this tomorrow...sticking to your guidelines for behavior from self and others is very important.

More on this tomorrow...tired now.

K

A quiet day..

Today was pretty darned grand.

Grand because it was simple. Grand because it was low on drama. Grand because I got a decent night's sleep. Grand because I spent zero time fretting about anything.

The objective is to have more of these days. Grand.

Moi

Whose homework is it?

I am new to the whole "near step-parent" thing.

I never intended to be a real parent, as in birthing a real live human, but it seems as though I have acquired a couple of wee ones by proxy.

One of the "little-uns" is in 3rd grade, going on 4th. Big homework is starting to come her way. As in her "Explorer's Project", where she selects an explorer to research, write about, and create a map to illustrate his voyages. To a road-weary 45 year old, this is a no-brainer. But in a 3rd grade universe, it is huge.

Fortunately, this kid wants to do her own work. Unfortunately, one of her parentals seems hell-bent on making sure her daughter look GREAT and BRILLIANT and PERFECT for her classmates and teachers. Why unfortunate? Well, as I understand it, 3rd graders are supposed to do their OWN homework. Yet in this case, it became the case that "Mom" became so "excited" that she "helped" her daughter out. Helped so much that, in fact, the work wasn't her daughters, but hers.

Don't get me wrong: Helping people is good. But doing it for someone else? Give me a break.

So this weekend, we all spent time re-creating a map, thinking that this was the only thing that required a re-do. The first map was great...too great. So she got to do again, all by herself. There were tears, fibs, confessions, and in the end, a sparkly new map.

But the drama didn't stop there. Another portion of the assignment required the drafting of a letter from the explorer to someone back at home. This is where my advice to parents comes in:

If you are going to write a fictional, yet factual, letter for your child's homework, make it accurate:

• Don't write a letter to an unborn child.
• Make sure the supplies taken to the New World are things that you can get in the country of origin...not items indigenous to the place you are traveling to.
• In referencing gifts from unborn children, make certain you describe what they are really designed to do.
• Get your travel times right.

I now understand the biggest reason for not doing your kid's homework. Chances are good that you aren't quite as smart as they are. Worse yet, if you aren't as smart as your kid, and they have to present YOUR inaccurate and continuity-challenged work, it will be your kid who looks like the idiot. Is that really what you want for your children?

Let your kids do their own work. Let them skin their knees; be ready with the Bac-Tine. Encourage them to do better each time. Remind them that perfection cannot be had, only attempts that can get closer to that mark. Finally...

Give them the chance to show you up.

Now, where's my apple?

KLM

Imposed compliance for whose gain?

I was recently invited to attend a training "update" for one of the techniques I teach in my movement profession. I love to attend educational events to get new information so as to improve my skills as a practitioner.

What I don't love and quite candidly resent is when something is represented as one thing, when, in fact, it is a very different animal.

There is little point in revealing who I perceive to be the offender in this case. Suffice it to say that a major "educational" event in my industry smells strangely of a "trade-show" event where I have been asked to part with some of my cash to be "sold" on different methodologies.

What irks me most is that I was sorely tempted to do this, because I was being offered the opportunity to take courses with several people I respect and admire. But when I heard that the presenters themselves aren't being compensated for their time or travel costs, I had to ask myself:

Where does the buck stop? Whose pocket does this go in?

In today's economy, everyone is looking for ways to bolster their bottom line. Hell, people are scrambling to save their bottoms...period. And I understand that folks who have products/ideas/programs to sell need to promote their wares. But do tout these events as educational (which, in part, they may be) versus marketing is quite unethical to me.

Case in point: I want to take an update training for one of my certifications. This update training is taking place not independently of said forum, but is mixed into the curriculum. I can't just take the training; I have to pay for the entire day to get a four hour update. On top of that, I have now been informed that the person doing the update isn't getting compensated for his work. How does this work?

Here is a person who needs to promote their body of knowledge to get more people involved, i.e. get them to pay for training. I get that. But for me to pay some other organization to get a training where the person doing the work doesn't get squat (he doesn't need for me, or any other trainers, to be sold on his methodology...my finances readily show that I am a devotee of his methods) seems a trifle insane.

Fortunately, I can and will say no. I will wait for an update on my the materials when I know the person creating and teaching them will be fiscally rewarded for their efforts.

In times like these, "Buyer Beware" needs to take on a new and more vigilant meaning. Everyone is uncertain, and worse, many more are very frightened about what comes next with a near and dear friend...their wallets. I encourage anyone who is being told that they "must do" this or they risk professional death and/or dismemberment to pay very close attention to the fine print and any rumors that lead to a falling sense in their gut. Your gut is likely right, and if your brain still isn't sure, ask questions.

Your wallet will thank you.

K

Home again, home again...

...back in the the fray.

I returned home, picked up my dog (Az has been at the kennel for a week and is too SKINNY!), and got my head ready for what can best be called re-entry into my professional life.

This evening, I attended a meeting of the United Pilates Collective, formerly known as the Bay Area Pilates Collective. I wasn't so sure I was going to attend, but being duty-bound by my RSVP, I went.

I am almost always glad I do these things. I get to reconnect with others in my profession, catch up with them, lament our mutual woes (economy, anyone?), and have the privilege of sharing time with others who really want to make a difference in people's lives.

What this post is really about are two people: Nancy Myers and Tracy Sylvester. Ladies, if I spelled your names wrong, my apologies. These two remarkable women have taken it upon themselves to bring together a group of professionals that is in need of unification. To date, they are doing a bang-up job of it.

These two are doing this all gratis. That's right; they do it for free. From where I sit, it appears they are pouring their hearts, souls, and finances into creating a productive and beneficial organization that works to serve the Pilates professional. The thing I find so refreshing and remarkable is the fact that they want to be able to provide potential members with a list of services...tangible benefits...BEFORE they actually sign-up members.

Thus far, they have hosted most of the events, done all of the research, acquired health insurance for future members (remember, there is no paying membership as yet), and have become the process of putting together relevant committees to help create an organization that works for the professional and not the other way around.

Labours of love. Where the heck did they go? Maybe I am too cynical, but I find that people like Tracy and Nancy are pretty tough to come by:

Committed
Generous
Hard-working
Inclusive

So tonight's post is for all of you out there, like Nancy and Tracy, who are willing and able to dedicate their most valuable asset...THEIR TIME...to make something happen that will benefit such a large group of people. And for those of us who think we SHOULD be doing something? Let's get off of the fence and step into it, whatever "it" may be.

Give.

As long as it is positive...

...just give.

Kyle