Thriving on Thursdays: Ever Feel Like You Are Just Inching Along? Change Your Perspective!

IMG_0591I took this picture while fooling around at the gym this week. Yep…that’s me.  But that isn’t the complete story.  I used to be a 2 hour at a clip daily gym rat, in the front of the room, hugging-the-mirrors, kind of girl! Neither the trainer nor the teacher, I was the girl who stood at the door of the class and welcomed people in. I knew the names of all the strangers even though they weren’t exactly my friends. I quickly memorized all the steps in every routine, taught them to my children in the kitchen while cooking dinner, even practiced them on my very public walks in the park (sometimes drawing a crowd…oh how I wish I were kidding!) My game was on point, I was cut, thick and fit! 😁

Then pain began. After every workout near excruciating pain in my groin lasted for days. Conventional Doctors couldn’t figure it out. Natural doctors struggled with remedies. The stretches that my trainer recommended did not do the trick. I changed my nutrition. Took hundreds of vitamins and herbs. I started walking instead of high-intensity workouts. But the pain persisted. After 4 surgeries and procedures and the wonderful complications that come along for fun, I am no longer the same person. Nowadays, riding a bike, a little elliptical and weights is where I can be found. That’s my new perspective. It’s slow but it’s going. Wishing doesn’t change that and neither does feeling sorry for myself. I had to adjust my gauge!

When it seems as if your progress is moving so slowly that you cannot notice the differences, it’s time to turn over how you look at it. If you do something today that you couldn’t/didn’t/wouldn’t do yesterday, that is progress!

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My Fitness/Health Vision Board for 2017 is a LOT different than it used to be…But I’m still moving and I count that as progress!

Remember: Comparing your “now” self to your “very best past self”, will come often leave you felling way less than. But when you hit the mark of doing just a little bit more than what you did yesterday – that is when you tap on the shoulder of movement and tug on the skirt of success.

If you are struggling with a come back, and your progress is inching along, be willing to change your perspective. Rejoice in your regularity. Celebrate smaller successes. Hold a vision for different victories. Be compassionate in your climb. Most of all be present. Be grateful. Focus and take time. Slow is better than stopping.

Chatone Morrison ©2017

Ready to get your positive energy in check?  Looking to clean up your self-talk, create a personal affirmation plan or ease your way into releasing your negativity so your positivity can reign?  Complete the questionnaire for a free coaching strategy session.

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Don’t Miss The Weekly Sunday Corner Show on YouTube:  Bit.ly/ChatoneYT

Coaching Website:  ChatoneMorrison.com

Facebook:

@chatonemorrisonconsulting

@princessofpositivity

@chatonemorrisonMK

Instagram:  @realprincessofpositivity

Periscope/Pinterest/Twitter:  ChatoneMorrison

Interested in starting your own business?  Let’s set up a marketing chat. chatonemorrison@marykay.com

“Be You, Beautiful!” A Poem in Support of Self-Acceptance & Showing Up Positive

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Self-Acceptance is a movement that is hard won by most women.  It’s something we want, need even, but a serious challenge to get and even more challenging to maintain.  I should know…I’ve been at it for a long time!  

Last week’s Sunday Corner video on my YouTube channel broke down part of my journey to self-acceptance.  If you missed it here is the link:  http://bit.ly/selfieacceptance

If you are in in the midst of your own personal journey – it’s my hope that this poem nudges you along.

Be You, Beautiful!

Carry bits of dreams
Use them to find your glow 
Stuff them in the pockets of your jeans
When looking out every window

Be You
Beautiful
Clary-Saged
Clarified 
Out loud 
Big
Broad
Personified
Dignified 
Undeterred
SteamedBoiledRaw
Undeferred 
Dreams

Carry them in elaborately woven 
Burlap sacks 
Brimming 
9-5 Tears
Pennies
Crumbs
Daily grinds 
Positives 
Prerogatives & 
Dog-eared Envelopes full of 1990’s
Negatives

And when it’s time to show
Be you ready!

Glorified & Purified with
White rose and Orange essence 
Heady with the fragrance of Success
Already unjarred 
In the distance but
Not-too-far 

So keep carrying your bite sized bits
Fit them deep down in every crease
Let them run down your face like grease
Lubricating every move
Fall into the sole of shoes
And sneakers
Every step you take
Be you
Beautiful

Stand closer to the speaker
Hear today 
Here tomorrow
Even when the vision seems imprisoned

Don’t forget to look out every window
Fingertips to lips 
Shhhh

Your dreams are whispering
Cup your ear &
Listen

Poetry By:  Chatone Morrison  ©2014

Ready to get your positive energy in check?  Looking to clean up your self-talk, create a personal affirmation plan or ease your way into releasing your negativity so your positivity can reign?  Complete the questionnaire for a free coaching strategy session.

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Don’t Miss The Weekly Sunday Corner Show on YouTube:  Bit.ly/ChatoneYT

Coaching Website:  ChatoneMorrison.com

Facebook:

@chatonemorrisonconsulting

@princessofpositivity

@chatonemorrisonMK

Instagram:  @realprincessofpositivity

Periscope/Pinterest/Twitter:  ChatoneMorrison

Interested in starting your own business?  Let’s set up a marketing chat. chatonemorrison@marykay.com

STORY TIME!! The “Get To Know Me” Tag – Blog #1

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In the spirit of having a bit of fun and opening up, I have decided to do a series of “Getting to Know Me” blog posts.  As a wife, mom, mompreneur, writer, coach, and of course, the Princess of Positivity, I wear a lot of crowns…I mean hats!  I’m often so focused on uplifting others,  I forget that most of the people who visit my sites or read my material have never met me!  So here goes.  Look out for an accompanying video…there just might be one coming!

1.  Are you named after anyone?

I am!  When my dear mom was pregnant with me she met a lady named Chatone.  She fell in love with the name and told my dad.  He said if I was a boy she could name me Chatone.  If I had been a boy I would have been called, Aaron-David Richard-William Curley.  Talk about a mouthful.  Guess I could have still been the Prince of Positivity!  The strange thing is that I never liked my name.  No one can ever pronounce it and I am often called something very close to a curse word.  (grrrr)  My dream name as a child was Priscilla.    But alas, when I turned 14, just 2 years shy of the age my parents had agreed I could legally change my name, I fell in love with being the only person on the planet (at least it seemed) that had my name.  And since I felt so odd and unique it seemed apropos.  But then think of it… Priscilla, the Princess of Positivity.  Can’t you just hear the ring in that?!

2.  What’s the first thing you notice about people?

I notice eye contact and the facial expression.  When I encounter people, I always make eye contact and smile right away.  I want to see if I can get them to smile back.  It’s probably a bit corny.  But then again, positivity is my super power!  I am looking for the like-minded ALL THE TIME.  Warm eyes and kind faces get my attention.

3.  Do you have kids?

Yes!  Two kids, Katelin (15) and Levi (11).   I also lost a boy and girl to miscarriage and one that was too early to know.  Saddest time in my life I have to say…but it’s made me a stronger and more compassionate person.  Isn’t it amazing that our scars make us beautiful?

4.  Do you use sarcasm a lot?

Oh boy…sarcasm is not a great thing.  But the wit and quickness involved is something we simply cannot do without in our home. It’s so bad that when Levi was 3 years old he gave his first eye roll, head tilt and “oh pulease…”  Enough said!

5.  Scary movie or happy endings?

I hate like scary movies.  I’m that annoying person in an action movie that actually screams when the guns come out.  My blood pressure literally rises with suspense, and I cannot stand to be frightened!  Like when someone jumps out of a corner or is standing in a dark room…nope!  Not me.  Not my thing.  Hubby will be sat there enjoying it and I have a scarf blocking my eyes!

6.  Do you have any special talents?

Music is my thing.  I sing.  Play piano and flute.  And I love to dance.  If you pay me enough I can rap free style – I mean spoken word poetry…

7.  When was the last time you cried?

I cried really hard last weekend (7/29/17).  I was at a themed convention called, “Don’t Give Up!” in Tampa with my family.  There was a dramatization of a woman who lost her dad and how she coped with it by relying on God.  It felt so real!  Exactly how I felt when I lost my dad.  Even though it’s been almost 20 years (October 1997), I still miss him.  Full out ugly cry ensued.

8.  What is your favorite drink?  Animal?  Perfume?

OK seriously what a strange series of questions!  Drink would be fizzy Pellegrino with lime twist. Animal is Portuguese water dog.  Perfume is Belara Midnight by Mary Kay.

9.  What phone do you have?

Currently I am loving my iPhone 7+.  I was a super slow adopter of apple products.  Old school lover of a blackberry until my friends all laughed me into submission.  Now I am an Apple product robot.  Sorry, I’m not sorry!

10.  What was your favorite trip/vacation?

My hubby Mark is the “King of Travel” so we have had some great travels in currently 28+ years of marriage.  However, one of the very best trips we have taken, was for our 10th anniversary.  We went to the south of Spain.  It was a 5 day trip; hotel, air, food for $500 per person.  My brother-in-law saw a tiny add in the NY Times and we thought it might not even be a real offer.  We called, found out it was legit and started our planning.  I was super excited.  A month or so later we found out we were pregnant with our first baby.  Crazy!  Even more excited.  10th anniversary.  After only just trying to get pregnant for a short time – boom!   We were flying high and all was right in our happy world…until it wasn’t.  Imperfect life happened and on May 10, 1999, the same week we were supposed to travel, I miscarried our baby.  The devastation was real!  I never thought I would understand anything again, let alone laugh, have fun or have even an ounce of self-esteem or self-love.  We called the travel agent and told our story.  Without even asking for any proof from our doctor, and without insurance they allowed us to cancel, reschedule for a month after my surgery and honored the $500 price even though going in the month of June would have doubled the price.  

So why was this the best trip/vacation ever?  The endless days summer days when the sun set around 10pm, the blue waters of the Mediterranean sea, the pink mountains capped in snow all around, the warm loving friends we met, the tiny, smooth, multi-colored pebbles on the beach and the miracle of knowing only God could create an earth so perfectly beautiful, fostered my faith that I could feel good again.

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“How agreeable is to feel the sea breeze playing upon one’s face. The heroine of this piece seems to have gone to the sea shore to feel this sensation that is so refreshing and restorative for her skin.”  Elisa Sculpture – Brisa 1999/5000

And by the time we came home I was on the road to healing.  

To commemorate that time in our lives and for my anniversary, Mark gave me “Breeze” a 5000 piece, limited edition Elisa sculpture.  Ironically we got number 1999 without even asking.  And until Katelin was finally born in 2002, Brisa, as she is known in Spanish, was my treasured daughter.  Now I have the real thing to accompany my doll.   Positivity really can be born during adversity.

 

 

 

 

Ready to get your positive energy in check?  Looking to clean up your self-talk, create a personal affirmation plan or ease your way into releasing your negativity so your positivity can reign?  Complete the questionnaire for a free coaching strategy session.

=======================================================================

Don’t Miss The Weekly Sunday Corner Show on YouTube:  Bit.ly/ChatoneYT

Coaching Website:  ChatoneMorrison.com

Facebook:

@chatonemorrisonconsulting

@princessofpositivity

@chatonemorrisonMK

FullSizeRender 4Instagram:  @realprincessofpositivity

Periscope/Pinterest/Twitter:  ChatoneMorrison

Interested in starting your own business?  Let’s set up a marketing chat. chatonemorrison@marykay.com