Me: I feel like a spring.

BF: You mean like water?

Me: No.

BF: Like the season?

Me: No.

BF:  Like a twisty metal one?

Me: THAT’s the one.

It was late, my boyfriend and I were driving home from the airport. He’d picked me up after a short two-day jaunt to Kansas City to visit one of my clients. I was wired all right–twisted up tight with excitement. I’d just been through orientation with National Seminars–the premier training company for corporate employees, government workers, and individual entrepreneurs. I trained a number of topics for them from 2003 through 2006: How to be a Great Communicator, Effective Business Writing, The Grammar Guide, Creative Marketing Conference, The Women’s Conferences.

Beginning early April, I’ll be training National Seminars’ newest seminar, Social Media Marketing. Communication has taken a technological turn and the world has been united. Social Networks (Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, You Tube, and countless other sites) are changing how we talk to each other, our customers, and the world.

According to Brian Solis, Principal of FutureWorks, “Social Media is about sociology and psychology more than technology.”  Given my soc and psych background, it’s a revolution I want to be part of–and National Seminars is on the cutting edge, letting me lead the way.

Women are like teabags.

We don’t know our true strength until we are in hot water!
– Eleanor Roosevelt

The nation is in “hot water.” Each of us is being called to become clearer in our convictions, stronger in our faith, and more determined with our footsteps. None of us has a moral obligation to live our best life or help each other, but for most women those character traits come with two X chromosomes. We’re natural born nurturers—and we need strength to keep going and giving and loving and forgiving.

Tea not your thing? That’s okay; that’s the beauty of being in hot water. There’s coffee, hot chocolate, and Theraflu! All three mix wonderfully with hot water. There’s lemonade and jello and powdered milk and concrete. The flavors and possibilities are endless.

We don’t all need to drink tea. Each of us has our own preferences, our own beliefs, and our own values. If you were serving tea and someone wanted coffee, wouldn’t you do your best to accommodate them? Most hostesses would.

What divides us as a nation is not as strong as what unites us. Our strength lies in accommodating and serving a variety of flavors—no matter what you prefer in your own cup.

     When I first began teaching Stress Management for Women in 2000 I hated it! I was a full-time career woman traveling every other week while raising three kids. I loved my job and I loved my kids, but I wasn’t about to pretend I was an expert and stress-free just because I was teaching the topic! The more honest I was with my students, the less stressed we all became, and the topic has become one of my favorites to train. Through a series of exercises, we tackled our stress together.

     This Swedish proverb reminded me of an exercise we did to help cut through the feelings of being overwhelmed, of being unable to identify the true causes: The More Of/Less Of exercise.

     On a sheet of paper, list everything you “want more of” in your life. Then make of list of everything you “want less of” in your life. Take each item on both lists seriously. Brainstorm and figure out ways to tackle each item individually.

     If you don’t know where to start, start with this proverb.