Last year I played camp councilor for the first time at Pacemaker Camp in Duxbury, MA. I had so much fun I went back again this year. Each year I’ve learned a tremendous amount and I wanted to share a few of this years lessons with you today.

Be Yourself

So often we’re told to be ourselves, be authentic, show the real you! Who is the real you, anyway? During the weekend I heard a few of the girls talking in the bathroom asking questions like “Do you have a pacemaker?”, “How big is your scar?” and “How many surgeries have you had?”

Imagine if we were able to live our lives completely open about the good and not so good in our lives? Freely and without judgment? Sure it helps to be surrounded with like-minded people (bonus lesson!). It’s also nice to imagine a world where we communicate freely and aren’t afraid of sharing ourselves.

How can you let go of who you think you should be and simply be you?

 

Do Something Different

When did you last do something different? Spending a weekend in a sleeping bag, on a bunk bed watching over 10 girls between the age of 10 – 13 living with pacemakers, needing medication, special attention and lots of love, not to mention creating a tie dye shirt, wearing a duck hat and eating ice cream for breakfast! That is different. And that difference changed my life.

I don’t even consider it stepping out of your comfort zone. That’s uncomfortable. Just do something different.

What can you do that’s new and makes a difference not only in your life but the life of someone else, too?

 

Worry about what really matters

As my co-councilors and I prepared the girls for the Saturday evening activities, we gathered coats, sprayed bug repellent and made sure they had their water bottles. One of the campers didn’t budge. When I asked if she had everything she needed, she looked at me and said, “The only thing I care about is that my pacemaker doesn’t get disconnected.”

Wisdom from an 11 year old.

What are you worried about? The small stuff or what really matters?

 

Pacemaker Camp is a fun filled, fast paced weekend that I look forward to year after year. The campers appreciate it, the camp organizers appreciate it, and I learn so much from this very kind, very loving group of young people.

Pacemaker camp is definitely a weekend of feel good living.

Your turn: what activities do you participate in that make you feel that good?

Summer is officially here and so far the weather is perfect in the Boston area. Low humidity, bright sun, windows open. I couldn’t ask for anything better.

To celebrate the start of my favorite season I thought I’d share a few of my favorite things about Summer. At the end I hope you’ll share yours. Enjoy your summer season. I know it’s a season that definitely makes me feel good!

The Beach! Day or Night

 

 

Ice Cream! Our favorite place is Nona’s in Hingham

Summer hikes, both local and within a few hours.

 

Trips to The Nauset House Inn in Orleans. Heading there in August.

 

Sunflowers (and other wonderful items) popping up in the garden. Not to mention time spent on the deck writing or hanging with Michael (Photo from last year)

 

Whether from the heat or the fact that people are on vacation, the Summer just feels slower and happier to me. I’ll take it.

This summer I hope to utilize that slower pace to work on some new projects – a book and a locally based health and wellness publication.

What do you have planned this summer? What are you looking forward to about the warmer weather?

With the exception of the ice cream, all photos taken by me or my husband Michael.

“ ‘Why not?’ is a slogan for an interesting life.” – Mason Cooley (1927-2002) American Aphorist

Sometimes I think we worry too much about what we should and shouldn’t do in our lives. Eat this, don’t eat that. Do this work, not that work.

When it comes to the health of your mind, body and spirit – who knows what you should or shouldn’t do better than you?

So here are some thoughts I have – if your actions feel good for you and your life, why not?

If eating that extra piece of pizza on movie night feels good, why not?
If skipping the pizza and opting for salad with grilled chicken or fish feels good, why not?

If spending more time at work feels good today, why not?
If using a personal day and spending more time with your family feels good, why not?

If not exercising feels good, why not?
If exercising feels good, why not?

If there is a book you want to read and spending the first 30 minutes of your day reading it feels good, why not?
If reading your favorite gossip magazine or blog feels good, why not?

If sipping an extra glass of wine on the deck with friends feels good, why not?
If skipping wine and alcohol all together feels good, why not?

If starting a part-time entrepreneurship activity nights/weekends feels good, why not?
If working full-time for a larger entity feels good, why not?

If staring too long at the cute guy/girl in the cube across from you feels good, why not?
If you stare too long and get caught and it still feels good, why not?

If walking around barefoot feels good, why not?
If it doesn’t, put shoes on.

If splurging on that new outfit feels good, why not?
If saving your money for that upcoming vacation feels good, why not?

What if, instead of worrying so much about what you are told or what others think, you lived your life based on what you think is best for you?

We’re all individuals with our own interests, thoughts and goals in life. What feels good for me, may not feel good for you. And vice versa.

I know a woman who lived to be 99 years old. When asked about her “secret” she said, “I eat a scoop of vanilla ice cream every day after dinner.”

I say, Why not!

BUT: if whatever activity you participate in stops feeling good for your body, mind and your soul, it might be time to re-evaluate your actions and try a new path.

What do you think?

David Trotter over at Launch52.com released a new ebook to help you FUEL your life. Last year he interviewed me and several others for his weekly video interview on Launch52 TV. Now, he’s taken those interviews and created an ebook. FUEL: 11 Passionate Voices Empowering You to Launch Yourself is filled with tips and inspiration from the following folks:

01: Quit Conforming to This World – Colleen Wainwright
02: Go After What You Want – Jenny Blake
03: Clear the Clutter and Get Organized – Monica Ricci
04: Stop the Stress Before You Make a Mess – Stacey Shipman
05: Tame the Thoughts that Run Wild – Dr. Amy Johnson
06: Master Your Wild Monkeys – Dragos Roua
07: Escape Mediocrity – Sarah Robinson
08: Fall in Love With Yourself – Lori Race
09: Initiate Fierce Conversations – Jevon Perra
10: Start Gathering Momentum – Katie Tallo
11: Savor and Serve the World – Jennifer Louden

The best part? This ebook is available FREE. To download your copy go here: www.launch52.com/fuel. And feel free to share it with friends who might benefit.

Enjoy!

All around the country people are celebrating their loved ones. Are you?

I’ve never been one to fall for Valentine’s Day. Do I really need one day out of 365 to remind me to love someone? If there is truly love, shouldn’t we love them all year long?

And in the end I can see the irony.

For many years my heart was closed to other people.

I didn’t trust or see the good in people or the world around me.

Because I didn’t trust or see the good in myself.

I created a wall that kept people out. And those I let in, I let in slowly.

As a result, I closed myself off to friends, family and colleagues. I kept a distance with an attitude that said, “I don’t care.” And “So what?” This is how I kept myself “safe”.

Because of that same fear, I closed myself off to a world of opportunity.

In 2006 I met my first coach. She suggested two words that changed everything.

She told me, “Stacey, I want you to trust and soften.”

I’ll never forget the impact of these two simple words.

Soon after, I was reminded of my high school year book quote: Before you can learn to love others, you must first learn to love yourself.

Our younger selves know a lot.

I spent a good part of the last five years learning to trust and soften.  It’s not easy to undo almost two decades of work. Strong support systems combined with practices like yoga, meditation, and journaling made a big difference in how I viewed myself and the world around me. I woke up.

Just the other day I sat with a colleague and as we shared updates and stories about our lives and our business she said, “Stacey you’ll be successful in your endeavors because you’re easy to be with and people will want to join you. I can see the excitement in your eyes.”

I smiled back and said, “Funny, I haven’t always been that easy to be with or relate to. I spent a long time living behind a wall, and a good part of the last 5 years taking it down.”

It’s an ongoing process and practice to keep it that way.

Learning how to love and appreciate me, I realize, allows me to love and appreciate those around me. Feeling good about yourself allows you to give fully to others, without expectation. It’s not arrogant when giving to others comes from a genuine place. In fact, it’s necessary.

On this Valentine’s Day I offer two questions in an effort to create more genuine interactions between people:

What one thing can you do today to show love and compassion to yourself? Whether you exercise, eat well, share a hug with a loved one or notice your self-talk, (or something else) what can you do for yourself today?

What one thing can you do for someone you care about (or maybe someone you don’t know yet?). Something as simple as a smile, a quick phone call or a “thank you” may have more of an impact than you think.

When you feel good about yourself, you feel good about how you can help, support and love others. And that is feel good living.

How do you spend Valentine’s Day? Do you see it as a special day to share love, or is it just another day?