Category: ELAN Blog
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Be Present…
Last weekend I went to a football game. I get that college football is a big deal to many. I don’t get why. But I went along, claiming neutrality and even painting my nails lots of colors to support all the teams. I planned to people-watch and my sister suggested I do so with a theme,…
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Confidence Game…
Delving deeply into one field of expertise can build a skill set that flows to other areas. I’m unveiling a new understanding of this phenomenon. As I tone writing and editing muscles, my piano and guitar just-for-fun playing improves during grab as I can practice times. Working diligently in one area winds the inner watch,…
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Dimmer Switch…
After reading “The Outsiders” by S. E. Hinton (Stay Gold, Ponyboy), I’ve seen other references to “Nothing Gold Can Stay,” by Robert Frost. Stay gold, as in nature’s first green is gold. Keep your innocence, your unjaded view, your hope for a bright tomorrow. Our society does not favor the innocents. I personally like a…
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Outlet Shopping…
I’ll bet you do some creative thing each day that brings something new or improved into your world. My friends who throw pots have homes filled with clay creations. My painting friends grace their walls (and others’) with colorful scenes. I’m often surprised by unexpected beauty. The other day it was a naked tree painted…
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Smiling Faces…
Life can be a drag. It seems all gloom, fear and scare. But going down the long road of towering worries leaves me wanting to stay in bed, curled in a ball to fend off the looming sense of doom. Have I lost my followers yet? Those who expect a moment of joy or uplift…
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Lace ’em Up…
We know to put important things first, even when they are not the most fun, like exercise. If I put it off, or don’t add it to my daily list, it’s often past a decent bedtime before I remember. Then what? There’s always tomorrow. Or the next day. See what happens there? One forgotten link…
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Habitude…
This blog is about TAB, again. A current re-read of “Change Your Brain, Change Your Life,” by Dr. Daniel Amen, is reminding me to examine the originating thought that drives a less than ideal attitude, which in turn drives behavior. TAB, thought>attitude>behavior. Amen’s book is quite dry and technical, but there are valuable exercises to…
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Secondary Play…
Do you love what you do each day? The lucky ones get to spend their days creating beauty in whatever form and go home with a paycheck. Equally lucky are those who are filled to the brim with the satisfaction of accomplishing a previously thought to be impossible goal. As humans we yearn for someone…
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Do One Thing…
ELAN Principle 6 is Make Things Happen, the basic premise being to be active in your world, rather than sitting by, sitting out or sitting in. Pick one thing to accomplish this week. We know writing goals and breaking them down into tiny, chewable bits leads to success. Taking a Daddy bite out of a…
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Square Peg…
Being a square peg means the world’s view of perfect roundness rubs against your sharp edges. Roundness means no friction, no tension, no change. It means being okay with the way things are, never seeing a better, or more creative, way. I’m grateful to every artist who resists the rounding. They see with a painful…
Patty Mayeux Blog 