Mary Pierce

TODAY’S LAUGH: Coming home from a recent speaking trip, I caught my sister-in-law (she and my brother had been staying with DaMama) in the middle of cleaning our house.

“I was worried you’d be offended if I cleaned,” she said. “Are you?”

“Heck no!” I said. “I love the smell of Pinesol–especially when someone else is swinging my mop!”

I told DaMama later, “Imagine that! Jeanette thought I’d be offended if somebody else cleaned my house.”

DaMama said, “Does she know any other jokes?”

TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT: There are times in life we simply need to graciously accept help from others. But how hard it can be to admit we can’t do it all. I know. I’ve been a Wonder Woman Wanna-Be in life.

But I’m getting over it. I’m learning–thanks to DaMama’s example–to surrender my pride, my stubborn “I can do it all!” attitude and accept help when I need it.

How about you? Still trying to keep it all together? Why not let it go this week–maybe just a little bit–and accept help from somebody else?

Maybe somebody else can bring part (all!) of the next dinner gathering. Maybe somebody else can do some of your holiday shopping. Maybe somebody else can help with cleaning or decorating for the holidays.

Letting others do for you is a little gift to yourself–and to them! So surrender your Wonder Woman fantasy (especially that metal bra) and let somebody help you this week.  You’ll be glad you did!

P.S. UPDATE on DaMama: I’ve been MIA for a few weeks as we adjust to new schedules for DaMama’s care, and the many new helpers (Bless them!) who’ve been coming and going to provide the increasingly “hands on” care she needs. We’re enjoying these precious days together, and taking life one day at a time, which–(Thank You, Lord!)–is all we get anyhow. And one day at a time is plenty, isn’t it?

Thanks for your patience, your well-wishes, and your prayers. Thank you for blessing my life!

It’s been one of THOSE months.

Family issues, DaMama’s health, and computer breakdowns have me completely derailed. Discombobulated.

I hope to be back on track soon.  Meanwhile, keep smiling, my friend. And be an encouragement to somebody today!

P.S. Prayers for DaMama and her family are greatly appreciated. Thank you!

TODAY’S LAUGH: “I love Thanksgiving,” I told a friend. “We have so many family traditions.”

“I hate Thanksgiving,” she said, “for the same reason. Our Thanksgiving traditions? My father tells my sister she’s too fat. My mother nags my oldest brother about getting married. My other two brothers argue about politics, and my grandma can’t shut up about her religion. Meanwhile my Aunt Thelma drinks too much and yells at my Uncle Hank for smoking in the garage. And somewhere between the turkey, which is always dry and the soggy pumpkin pie,  my parents tell us all what a shame it is we don’t get together more often. HA!”

Desperate to find a bright side, I said, “Well, at least you have some traditions.”

“Yeah. Lucky me,” she said. I think she was being sarcastic.

TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT: Okay, so some traditions–especially the stressed-out holiday kind–are not worth passing along. The best traditions are often simple, everyday things.

DaMama bowled on Wednesday nights when I was a kid while DaPapa took my brothers and me out for ice cream and then to the library. It was a tradition, at least for bowling season. With our own children, Friday night was pizza and movie night at home.  Simple things, fondly remembered.

What good traditions do you remember growing up? (Root beer floats on hot summer nights. Jumping in dry leaves. Loving holiday gatherings.)

What wonderful traditions are you establishing with your loved ones? Sometimes the most memorable times are the simplest times. Nothing fancy. Just time together.

And if your family still carries on “bad” traditions–especially around the holidays–maybe this year you can be brave and break the cycle. Maybe this year, you’ll refuse to participate and set yourself free.

I’d love to hear about your traditions, holiday or otherwise. Maybe your story will inspire someone else to start a tradition of their own.

May you be blessed as you remember and as you make new, good memories this week.

Listen and laugh along…

TODAY’S LAUGH: It’s the new math for my life: ten days, four cities, over a thousand audience members. And meanwhile, back at home, thirteen people were in and out of our house taking care of DaMama while I was on the road speaking.

I told her yesterday, “Wow, Mom, this has been a crazy week. Thirteen people in and out, coming and going. Don’t you feel special? It ‘takes a village’ just for you!”

She said, in her usual deadpan, “And the village is called Crazyville.”

TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT: Crazyville, indeed! And you know the feeling. It takes a lot of planning to make life work. Thinking, charts, notes, phone calls, anticipating — all are needed for life. All are needed for some of us to just get out the door in the morning.

Planning is the key. Crazy week worked because we planned ahead. We knew what our goal was, and the goal was NOT just to endure it and collapse exhausted at the end.

The goal–the outcome–we really wanted was to be a blessing to those we met along the way, to have DaMama blessed with the TLC she deserves, and to be grateful for all we have–the family, friends, resources and opportunities. (THANK YOU to all who helped us out!)

And now another “crazy” time is coming–the holidays. Advance planning is needed.

As you anticipate holiday gatherings with your “village,” what’s the outcome you really want? (Surely not to collapse exhausted on January 2nd!)

Make your goals to “Be a blessing” and “Be grateful.” Let those outcomes determine what should be on your to-do list.

Planning now will make your holidays less “crazy” and more a time of joy, connection, fulfillment and fun.

Thank you, dear reader, for blessing my life. I’m grateful for you.  Now go be a blessing to someone else today!

I’m on the road with a busy week. I’ll look forward to connecting again next Tuesday. Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week!

Listen & laugh along…

TODAY’S LAUGH: I watched the news report of a group of science and math teachers experiencing weightlessness aboard a special airplane. As they floated about I tried to imagine a weightless life. No more scales? No more diets? The stuff of dreams!

Oh sure, it would be harder to hold onto ice cream, but weighing, um, ZERO would more than compensate, don’t you think?

TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT: One of those teachers had been in a wheelchair since an accident at the age of two. At zero gravity, he said he could “stand alone” and was thrilled to be able to see things  at eye level. He said, “I want MORE!”

Weightlessness set him free.

So many of us feel trapped and frustrated in life, thinking I want more… not realizing that our attitude is the only thing weighing us down.

Attitudes keep us from the heights God intended for us to experience.

What attitude is weighing you down today? Anger? Jealousy? Fear? Unforgiveness?

Whatever it is, choose to let it go. Replace anger with understanding. Examine jealousy to find inspiration to move forward. Face your fears and take a risk–it’s exhilarating! And forgiving somebody will set your spirit free to soar.

Want more? God has a plan for more for you. So jettison the weight–the attitude–that holds you down and fly, fly, fly!

Thanks for blessing my life today. May you soar higher than you ever dreamed!

TODAY’S LAUGH: We had a record warm September around here and we whined, “It’s too late to be this hot! The bugs won’t die! This is awful!”

Now it’s fall. It’s finally cooler. Are we happy? NOOOO…

We’re STILL whining! “It’s like winter already! What happened to fall? This is AWFUL!”

Good grief! It’s bad enough we talk about the weather so much. Do we really have to WHINE about it too?

TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT: I can just imagine God saying, “People, people, people. Do you think that by complaining you can make one degree of difference in the temperature?”

Of course not. We know we can’t do anything about the weather. But we whine anyway, as if whining will change things.

We whine about lots of things we can’t control. The world economy. Our age. Our children. Our spouse.

If we’re not whining to somebody else, we’re whining to ourselves, feeling sorry for us, making ourselves more miserable than ever. Before we know it we’re living a “life of inner complaint.”

Try the rubber band trick. If you’re living a life of inner (or outer) complaint, declare a WHINE FREE DAY. Put a rubber band around your left wrist. Anytime you think or speak a complaint, give that band a good snap.

I did this. By noon I had huge welts on my wrist. I also had a whole new attitude!

Try the rubber band trick and let me know how it works for you.

Meanwhile, focus on and be thankful for whatever is good, whatever is worthy of praise in your world today–and may you find tomorrow even better!

Thanks for blessing my life. Now go encourage somebody else today!

Listen in and laugh along…

TODAY’S LAUGH: Last year the doctor put me on calcium supplements to strengthen my thinning bones. Now a study in New Zealand shows increased heart attack risk for women who take calcium supplements.

My first thought? GREAT! I’ll have a heart attack, but at least I won’t break a hip on the way down…

I’m doomed if I do, and doomed if I don’t!

TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT: Isn’t that just how it is these days? One study shows that coffee is good for us. The next study says it’ll kill us. Hormone replacement was what we needed until another study scared us half to death. Makes for anxious living, questioning everything we do.

What are we to do? Take a deep breath. Moderation and common sense are the key. Yes, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. And that applies to everything: supplements, hormones, coffee and yes, even chocolate. (Click here before your common sense kicks in.)

So whatever’s got you worried, do your research, consult the experts, and make your decision. YOUR decision.

Don’t be blown about by every passing wind. Don’t let the today’s headline determine your tomorrows.

What’s on your mind today? Ask your questions. Make your choices. It’s your life. Live it well.

Thanks for blessing my life. Now go be a blessing to somebody else today.

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THANKS to all who helped celebrate the HAPPY BLOGAVERSARY. Your notes were so uplifting and encouraging to me and I appreciate your support! Winners of the book giveaway are: Susan Engebrecht, Cheryl Reznick, Joanne Woodman, Joanne Fimreite, Mary Robinson and Sarah Maples.

Use “CONTACT MARY” and let me know which book you want and where to send it. Enjoy!

Listen in and laugh along…

TODAY’S LAUGH: Improv Part Two started this week. How did I feel, as a seasoned veteran after eight weeks of Improv Part One, including that public performance?

Scared. Not quite as scared as I was before, but still scared. Especially when we danced the chicken dance in class. (Before this I was the one person in America who had never danced the chicken dance.)

It’s the potential public humiliation that’s scary. (It’s why we always dance the chicken dance in groups–never as a solo.)

But doing improv means trying to purposely humiliate yourself in public. And I did. I faced my fears. I humiliated myself. YES!

TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT: We all face fearful things. Even if we have voluntarily undertaken the task, we can still be afraid. The good news is we can feel the fear and go ahead and do it anyway.

It takes courage to risk, to fail and to try again. It takes courage to be less than perfect, to learn and to grow.

A paraplegic man learned to ride his horse again. He said, “I fell 500 times before I got it right.” It takes courage to get back on the horse.

It takes courage to try again. It takes courage to forgive. It takes courage to forget. It takes courage to love.

“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is that little voice at the end of the day that says, ‘I’ll try again tomorrow’.” (Anne Hunninghake)

So true. Courage doesn’t always roar.  Sometimes it clucks like a chicken.

What scary thing are you facing? “If I were brave, I’d…”  Feel the fear and do it anyway.

May you be blessed for your courage today. And encourage someone else to be brave, too.

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HAPPY BLOGAVERSARY celebration continues: As my THANK YOU to you, I’m giving away  SIX BOOKS to six winners- your choice of my titles.

If you haven’t already entered the drawing from September 15 to September 28, 2009, use “Contact Mary” with “HAPPY BLOGAVERSARY” in the subject line.

If you’d like to include a note about your favorite post of the past, or just how “Today’s Laugh” has helped you, I’d LOVE to read that!

Enter for yourself and please pass the word to your friends. THANKS!

(One entry per verified email address. US Mailing addresses only. Winners will be drawn on Monday September 28, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. (CDT) and announced on the website on 9/29/09.)

Listen in and laugh along…

TODAY’S LAUGH: Who’da thunk it? This old girl entered the blogosphere two years ago this week. And now I’m FaceBooking, Twittering, YouTubing… whew! What a ride!

Thanks to DaHusband first-he’s the one in charge of all things tech around here. And thanks to CatBoxBoy, who brought my website—and his mother—into the new millennium. And thanks to DaMama and the rest of the fam for so much material.

But most of all, thanks to all of you who visit week after week. The list has grown, thanks to your forwards to friends. I’m so honored every time you do that.

I looked back to find a favorite post from the past to repost today. The November 2007 post “AS SEEN ON TV” (featuring the late great Billy Mays, who I think would agree) sums it all up. Here’s the replay:

TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT (from November 3, 2007):

“What matters most is what lasts in this life. Faith. Family. Friendships. What matters is the connection we make with our fellow travelers.

“Take time today to connect, to turn away from the transitory things and give thanks for the things that matter most. Enjoy that baby’s smile, that friend’s hug, that loved one’s laughter. Be a blessing to someone else.

‘As Seen on TV’? Nope.

‘As Seen in Real Life.’ Much, much better.”

(Couldn’t have said it better myself… )

Thank you for sharing two wonderful years of “real life” with me.  You are a blessing to me!

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HAPPY BLOGAVERSARY: As my THANK YOU to you, I’m giving away  SIX BOOKS to six winners- your choice of my titles.

To enter the drawing from September 15 to September 28, 2009, use “Contact Mary” with “HAPPY BLOGAVERSARY” in the subject line.

If you’d like to include a note about your favorite post of the past, or just how “Today’s Laugh” has helped you, I’d LOVE to read that!

Enter for yourself and please pass the word to your friends. THANKS!

(One entry per verified email address. US Mailing addresses only. Winners will be drawn on Monday September 28, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. (CDT) and announced on the website on 9/29/09.)
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P.S. If you haven’t seen it yet, check out the Twister video trailer!

P.P.S. We’re walking on Saturday September 19, 2009 in the local Memory Walk to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. Click here to support our efforts on behalf of DaMama. Thank you!