Don’t Quit Before the Miracle. – Theoren Fleury

Image via WikipediaGive me physical pain, lots and lots of physical pain but not emotional pain. It is the worst.... Emotional pain makes us do some insane things. - Theoren Fleury

Today I attended a lecture at the University of Manitoba given by NHL superstar Theoren Fleury, or as most know him – Theo.

I have not yet read Theo’s book Playing With Fire. The courage to do so has not found me. My brother attended the same hockey camps as he did, and it was at those camps where Fleury met Graham James.

Theo did not go into a lot of details about the abuse inflicted up on him by James. It wasn’t necessary that he did. He wrote Playing With Fire as part of his healing journey but also with the hope that if one child could be helped then it was going to be worth it.

Instead he focused his talk on the journey that led him to today. He did describe what it was like not to be able to sleep for 25 years and that alcohol was the best medicine at the time to make those feelings go away.

Eventually, the hard living and running caught up and after having a wonderful conversation with a few cactus in my backyard I decided I didn’t want to be here anymore. He went out, bought a gun and some ammunition. He still remembers what the gun tasted like and how it felt in his mouth.

His battle with substances did not end that day but, eventually he surrendered, looked himself in the eye and began to deal with things.

Theo Fleury narrates with raw honesty, wit, grace, and in a way that is refreshingly relatable; reminding his audience that drugs and alcohol will take you to three places: jail, a treatment centre, or a coffin and that you only as sick as your secrets.

Throughout his talk he kept saying, he shouldn’t be here. Well he is and that is the miracle, he walked through the dark side and came out to say it wasn’t such a great place. But, during that time when he was swallowing all that emotional pain Theoren was one of the smallest NHL players who accumulated over a 1,000 points winning the Stanley Cup and Olympic Gold for Canada. He was and still is inspiring young people across the country who love the game of hockey to pursue their passion.

An ardent believer in the 10,000 hour philosophy, Fleury repeatedly told the crowd, if you want to be a professional at anything you have to put in 10,000 hours, practise, practise, practise. I did and it meant I never had to think... I just had to react and it was fun. The rink was my happy place. The moment I stepped on the ice, I fell in love and I told everyone that I was going to play in the NHL.

Since sobering up and facing his secret Theo describes his life like playing a country music record backwards, I got it all back.... the wife, the kids, the truck, the dog. Everyone has a miracle inside of them, don’t quit before the miracle.

Now that is a lot to ThInQ about. Here is a little George Jones as posted on YouTube: Choices.

The Bombshell Bible, Part Two: The Carriage

Image by jean-pierre jeannin via FlickrWalk with a purpose don’t let your body portray your state of mind. – Jacqueline Bradley

Chapters five through nine of The Bombshell Bible focuses on how to make an impressionable entrance and leaving a memorable exit. One’s carriage – how you present yourself physically - is key feature of Ms Bradley’s coaching. She provides great insight on how to prepare for the most difficult situations like running into the dreaded ex.

During any social engagement Bradley advises that eye contact is not staring! Suggesting that if one is uncomfortable with making eye contact practise on a baby or small children first as they give the best feedback. Jacqueline also gives tips on how to talk to strangers like asking "someone of interest" for the time as a good ice breaker.

My favourite part so far has been the advice on shopping with style and cleaning out the closet – the most important feature is how many pairs of shoes do you really need to own and what style of foot wear should really be in your shoe collection.... which of course gave me the excuse to purchase a pair of smart looking silver pumps, but I will get on that cleaning out the closet thing - eventually.

For the past two weeks I have been practising my smile, walk, and those entrance and exit moves - doing it my way. The place where I practise? The gym. And for those of you who may be tentative to practise walking as a Bombshell let me help you out because even when I run smack dab into one of the weight machines... which I somehow manage to do frequently - I just simply chuckle at my clumsiness and keep going remembering that Positive Thinking is a Bombshell’s best friend and that the bruising will eventally go away!  

Stay tune for a review and final reveal of the last five chapters!

Commitment, Clarity, and A Moment of Yes!

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Ever have one of those moments where the world has suddenly aligned and all you can do is raise your hands above your head, pulling them down towards you, and with utter glee you shout: Yes!

When that moment happens you feel awesome. There is nothing that can wipe the smile from your face. You walk with a little zip-pity-doo-da because you know that some really extra ordinary has happened.

This joy comes from experiencing success: when a goal, vision, dream or possibility has been realized.

There are many factors that come together for these moments, but one of the most important and perhaps critical elements of success is an unwavering and active demonstration of commitment.

According to Wikipedia commitment means to show loyalty, duty or a pledge to something or someone.

Sounds simple enough; however, it seems as society evolves commitment has become a lot more complicated.

With more freedoms, the influx and speed of information, and greater opportunities presenting themselves the more difficult it becomes to be loyal to any one thing, person, or organization. It can be all so overwhelming.

Now more than ever commitment is something that is becoming less understood and practiced. We seem to have one foot out the door at all times just incase the next best thing creeps up.

Have we traded the value of commitment for opportunity?

How do we know when we are just plain afraid of commitment versus looking for the best thing?

And, how does this affect our decision making?

The good news is that clarity seems to be the precursor to commitment.

So, how do you know when you are clear? Big tip: if you are disguising who you are to please anyone around you, including yourself – then you are not clear. You are experiencing the world outside of yourself and not from within. The other litmus test: when our time has come to meet our maker passing from one existence to another the only person in the room will be ourselves. What will be your story?

We need to ask ourselves important questions like: What is my intent? What would I like experience? What I am really afraid of? And, why?

Without clarity, there is no commitment, leaving success to become a fleeting moment of unattainable ideals resulting in a feeling of emptiness.

Fortunately, we have also learned not to give our commitment away for free. We are learning how to demand better. We have learned to question our leaders, the products we purchase, the media, and the treatment of ourselves and others. Commitment is not remaining loyal to an abusive or suppressive situation. That is something else entirely. Staying in that environment is just plain stupid and so is keeping people around us that don’t match up to who we are either. Harsh I realize, but it is truth.

Once clarity is realized, confidence is built, decisions are made, and a commitment is put into action. Before you know it, high fives are being smacked around the room.

There is nothing like experiencing success as an individual, a group, or in organization. It just feels good, plain and simple. Success requires commitment, clarity, and a moment of yes!

ThInQ About It!

And while you are thInQing About It, here is a little gem from the Pointer Sisters Yes We Can,Can as posted on YouTube.

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The Bombshell Bible, by Jacqueline Bradley

Image by thegreattiny via Flickr

When the successful Bombshell enters any room people will stop and notice, not because she is clapping and laughing and jumping up and down but because her soul is clapping and laughing and jumping up and down.

-Jacqueline Bradley

This fall Busty at Bust a Blog suggested that our book club read The Bombshell Bible  by Jacqueline Bradley. You may have seen Jacqueline on the W Network’s Style by Jury ; she is pretty easy to pick out she is the blond Bombshell. 

Before I go any further I should note that our book club has some unusual characteristics.

Firstly, it is exclusive there are only two of us; secondly the members of this club are interested in self exploration and understanding - which actually means we have NO idea what we are doing; and thirdly one actually has to read the book and apply the material. In other words it is about learning; which is why I our club is sssooo exclusive... it is actually a lot of work!

As heavy as all that sounds, the one thing I am assured of is that this club has afforded me the opportunity to laugh harder than ever before, partaken the crazy of activities – like driving 18 hours one way to swim with a polar bear, walk lighter, stand taller, and most importantly I have developed a new appreciation of what the word liberation really means.

The Bombshell Bible was specifically chosen because as much work as we have done on the inside the members recognized it was time to polish up the outside.

Being that this is January and it is the season of New Year’s resolutions I dusted off my Bible and began reading the first five chapters. What I really like about Jacqueline’s approach is her direct and humorous way of dealing with the details Hairy Lips and Lawn Maintenance along with a splash of team effort – white wine and an afternoon of dying hair! She encourages the reader to be aware of the bottom line advising where to make extra investments and where to save a dollar or two. Entering into chapter five my favourite: Do It Bombshell Style Activities! Yay, homework!

So, before moving onto the next five chapters I am going to apply some of her techniques. Stay tune for an update on PageTurners and if you would like to join the Bombshell adventure head over to Jacqueline’s website for details about her book.

Jacqueline states: That thing you do, that signature move...
Songbird asks: Do you have one?
I do.

ThInQ About It.

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