Behind Every Gentleman is a Lady

As Valentine's Day approaches I've been thinking about love and relationships. Some say that we get what we give in life while many are convinced that we attract what we are. Others like Oprah and Maya Angelou through experience have learned that, "We teach others how to treat us". I believe these are all true statements.

How we communicate with those around us (in particular the men in our lives) shows them how we would like to be treated. It also provides a clue as to what we value (and if we value and respect ourselves at all). While it is not our responsibility per se, as women I believe our actions & behavior prompt a man's desire to be more chivalrous and refined. If this is true, we hold great power with our actions and words to positively transform a large population of men who have forgotten what it truly means to be a gentleman. 

What do YOU think? The image above is what I posted on Facebook today and the comment/question that I posed, I've never seen so much feedback in just one hour! Pop by and see for yourself. Now, I'd love to hear your thoughts and personal experiences by leaving a comment below or feel free to join the conversation with us on our Facebook Page.

I don't know about you but with the man in my life, I've learned that when I shower him with love, I get it back; when I show an increased level of respect, I receive more in return; when I make time for him, he sets aside some time for me also; when I demand more of myself to be my best for him, he raises the bar for himself also to be his best for me. Of course the opposite of this is true as well. Ladies, let's be leaders because behind every gentleman is a lady, whether it be his wife, mother or girlfriend.

 

Wishing you a wonderful rest of your week! :)

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How do you make others Feel?

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend filled with warm, breezy spring air and sunshine kisses. I've been keeping my head down and focused on work for most of the weekend and I'm nearly finished a few new designs which I'll share with you all shortly. In the meantime, I thought I'd leave you with another one of my favorite quotes from the ever wise Maya Angelou to inspire your day.

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead, see you tomorrow!


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When We Know Better

Oprah Winfrey has a famous quote she's mentioned on several occasions that she borrowed from one of her beloved friends, Maya Angelou:

"When we know better, we do better."

Isn't that the truth! It is such a simple yet powerful statement. This year, of all the personal and business goals I have set for myself, the most important one is to do better with the knowledge I have. Better than what you might ask? Better than the last year, the last week, the last time, better than before. I want to ask even more questions and research deeper for answers when the  need arises, I want to save more money this year than I did last year because the economy is always uncertain and investing in my family's future instead of the 'here and now' will never be a wrong choice.

I want to exercise harder, eat even healthier because I know what great benefits doing so has upon my life. I want to be an even better friend this year than I have in the past to those that I call my friends. This means listening more, speaking less and arranging more catch up phone dates with long-distance friends.

I know better when it comes to procrastination and as I mentioned in this post, procrastination isn't pretty and it's one of my weaknesses. While I do get a lot done in the average day there are also things I put on the back burner that get pushed aside over and over again (usually because they are things I don't enjoy doing like taxes) and eventually turn into something much bigger or more expensive than they once started out.

With all of this will come more self-discipline, less entertainment time, more writing time, more work and marketing of my business, better planning as well as smarter time management and prioritization.

I believe one of the most important discoveries in life is that of personal growth. The truth is that there are so many times that we all do KNOW better but we don't use that information to DO better almost out of habit. This happens whenever we choose the french fries over the salad, working during the weekend vs. spending time with our spouse and/or kids, watching TV vs. working towards a goal,  or buying a new pair of shoes instead of investing it into our savings account.

Now, obviously this doesn't mean that I'm aiming for perfection or going to completely deprive myself for the next year or forever, nor should anyone, but it does mean I'm going to start challenging myself to make better decisions with the powerful knowledge and resources that I have (and that we all have). Because, at the end of the day the most disappointment in my own life comes from not making the best choices that I could have and from frittering away time on things that are less important than other bigger goals and dreams. Procrastinating on a Sunday night by watching a movie or pulling out my scrapbook supplies is fun and has a place but in the grand scheme of things it isn't really helping me achieve my life goals.

So, no more sticking to a long list of what I'd like to accomplish and then reflecting on it Dec.31st only to realize that I've missed the mark and get frustrated as a result. My yard stick for success and growth this year will be doing better with the toolbox I have and although mistakes will still be made along the way, I'm looking forward to the journey.

How about YOU? What are you planning to change or do differently this year than you did the last? What is your ultimate goal this year?

~Karla

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