I’m Still Standing! I’m Still Strong!
September 19, 2008
Written by Karen D. Swim
“It don’t matter what you tried to do, you couldn’t destroy me! I’m still standing! I’m still strong! And I always will be. “– Antwone Fisher, 2002
I saw Antwone Fisher in 2002, when it was first released. I was drawn to the story line about a young man who enlists in the Navy, and is helped by a Naval psychiatrist to finally confront the demons of his past. It was a powerful movie that dealt with family, friendship and finding inner peace. In one particularly moving scene the main character, Antwone Fisher (played by Derek Luke) spoke the lines above. When I heard them something awakened in my own heart, as these words seemed to echo in my spirit. At the time I was facing no particular challenge but I tucked the words away knowing that somehow they belonged to me.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xgewaRT_ow&feature=related]
Over the years, these lines have become my personal mantra when facing adversity. I sometimes modify it to “I’m still standing. I”m still here,” but every iteration strengthens me and renews my determination to fight through the obstacles. As I speak them out loud, they seem to plant my feet on solid ground and enclose me in an impenetrable fortress. Though life may swirl around me I am reminded that I am indeed still standing.
I thought of this line this week as I received word from friends in Texas in the wake of Hurricane Ike. Friends like Robert Hruzek and Mrs. MZM who thankfully made it through the storm. As reports and pictures came in, I was glad that they too were still standing, all the more poignant as in so many instances the Hurricane had leveled so many homes.
Life may have dealt you a few setbacks but you are still standing. Your legs may shake from the effort but as long as you can proclaim that you are standing there is hope. I have been painfully aware in my own life that often it is not the movement that matters but the ability to simply stand. To stand in the face of adversity, to stand when everything seems to conspire to knock you down, to stand when the ground shakes and the skies rumble, to stand when then the torrential rains beat at your door, to stand when others are pushing you to move.
Today as I face the business and personal challenges in my own life, I am so very thankful to report that I’m still standing. I’m still strong. And I always will be.
Do you have a favorite line from a movie or book that gives you strength or uplifts your spirit? Share your favorites in the comment box below. All of your comments are welcome.
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Adventures in the Real World
August 22, 2008
Image by gniliep via Flickr Written by Karen D. Swim
Happy Friday! I hope this has been a good week for everyone. I hit the pause button yesterday and enjoyed hanging out in the “real world.” It was nice to take a break on a day I would normally be working. The brief break validated two things: 1) I have spent far too much time of late on the computer and 2) people out there (you know in the rest of our world without an avatar) could care less about the issues that seem so important online!
My first clue came when I had an urge to tweet my activities. Admittedly these could have been by best tweets yet because real life has great material! However, I was surrounded by real people and in a daring move… I talked to them! No 140 character limit or need to @, dm or add a smiley. Now don’t get me wrong I am normally chatty and strike up conversations wherever I go, but this was Thursday in the middle of a work day.
I mentioned Twitter and Facebook a few times during the day and um no one cared. Seriously. There was no talk of analytics, trends, fail whales or LinkedIn’s new group policy. Because, apparently a large part of the real world just doesn’t care.
There is however, common ground. We all care about the things that matter – life (yea, suprisingly we are all pretty darn happy to wake up each day), health, family, career, balance, etc. Essentially many of the things that we tweet, kwip and plurk are the same things discussed in the neighborhood barber shop or the corner store. So, why I wondered are we often so polarized?
Those of us who are involved in social media and online work tend to forget that we still represent only a small percentage of the population. Many more people see online as primarily email. Our online experts are often unknown outside of cyberspace. Yet those that have made a name in the real world are known by all.
So, what did I learn? I learned to not take this all so seriously. I can stress about stats, polls and SEO or I can put it in perspective and simply enjoy the journey. I also learned that well, I need to get out more! I need more days where there is no purpose other than to just hang and let life happen.
Now, it’s your turn. How do you manage your online time? Have you ever felt the need to dial it down? Do your real world peeps share your online interests? Talk to me, because I’m back and I am interested! 
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Stick It! 5 Lessons Learned From Olympic Gymnasts
August 15, 2008
Image via Wikipedia Written by Karen D. Swim
Gymanastics is a fascinating sport. The combination of power, speed and grace require athleticism and artistry uncommon in other sports. I watched the Olympic Women’s All-Around Finals last night awed by the performances. One by one each tiny little gymnast running toward a balance beam. Their bodies moving down the runway with such speed you could almost visibly see the wind behind them. I watched the power of their leg muscles pulsating as they ran and then with a forceful bound up in the air, twisting and landing on a tiny 4 inch wide piece of wood.
It takes an incredible amount of power to perform any of these gymnastic routines. I know how hard it is to simply do a few sets of military push ups (aka the boy kind). I cannot imagine propelling my weight in the air and then precisely controlling my movements in that way. Wow!
As I watched I thought of the lessons from these gymnasts that could be applied to life.
You can get the same score with a different style. Shawn Johnson is 4′9′ and weighs 90 pounds. She is all muscle and power much like former gymnast Mary Lou Retton. Teammate, Nastia Liukin is tall for a gymnast, 5′3″ and she is lean and graceful. Each approached the balance beam differently but received the same score. Whether you do two and half twists or one your outcome can rival others in your space. Do your routine to the best of your ability.
The way you take off impacts your landing. You can’t meander toward the balance beam. To gain the power needed to carry you through, you must run headlong at top speed. The speed powers the momentum that enables you to bound upwards toward your goal. If you want it, you have to go for it, commit to yourself and your actions and take off at top speed.
There’s room on the podium for more than one winner. Even when it was apparent that Liukin had locked up the gold medal, Johnson approached her final routine ready to rock the performance of her life. Liukin did take the gold but Johnson stood next to her as the silver medalist. Don’t let the accomplishments of others intimidate you. You have earned the right to compete. Rock the performance of your life. This is your moment in the spotlight, so shine.
You can’t control the actions of others. The gymnasts could only control their own performances. The judges had the power to deduct points and downgrade the difficulty of routines. We can prepare and execute but we cannot control how others respond to our performance. You can use their feedback to improve but you are truly only in control of yourself. Give it your all and trust the results.
Stick the landing. You may wobble a bit on the beam or get to close to the low bar on the uneven bars but still have a great landing. As you tumble through the air, spot that target and focus on grabbing hold of it with all you’ve got. When you land upright, both feet on solid ground, you can raise your hands in victory. All the effort of the journey, even the missteps led to that moment. Stick it and smile!
Remember, even if you do land on your butt, you’re still looking up!
Now, dear readers over to you. What are your Olympic words of wisdom? Feel free to share whatever is on your mind right there in the comments. Hey, and if you like this post, click the “Share This” beneath the post to stumble, digg or post to your favorite bookmarking site. 
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The Breath of Change
August 8, 2008
Image by Air Force One via FlickrWritten by Karen D. Swim
Happy Friday! Well, if you’re a returning friend (because here there are no visitors), you may have noticed a few changes here in the cafe. The new custom theme is courtesy of the brilliant Men With Pens. Any bugs, or errors are courtesy of yours truly! I am still unpacking boxes and moving things around so please bear with me while I make the place nice and comfy for you.
I am a big fan of change. I move my office and home around all the time. I find that the physical change somehow provides me with a new perspective and revitalizes my energy. However, I am aware that some changes can shake us from our comfortable positions and force us into unfamiliar patterns or routines. Rather than energizing, we may find ourselves initially drained and more than a little cranky. A new job, or a physical move immediately come to mind.
When I engage in a physical move I tend to do it fast. I hate the transition phase so clean and unpack everything immediately and put it away. I will work until I am so exhausted I can no longer stand but I will go to bed on fresh sheets with no boxes in the house. However, once moved, the decorating is never done. There is always something more to be planted, changed, painted, taken away, well you get the picture. Yet, it’s not a chore but a journey that is savored with each step.
I moved the blog from blogger to WordPress and that was the “let’s roll, get it done” phase. Now, I am taking my time to savor the decorating. So, I’ve tried to clean it up so that you have a comfy experience and don’t trip over boxes, but there’s still work to be done. I really and truly enjoy each and every one of you and hope that we can continue to entertain one another in this new space under the bamboo tree. And hey, there’s even room for more, so feel free to invite a friend or two.
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How Will You Measure this Month?
August 1, 2008
Image via WikipediaWritten by Karen D. Swim
“Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure – measure a year?
In daylights – in sunsets
In midnights – in cups of coffee
In inches – in miles
In laughter – in strife
In five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure
A year in the life” –Seasons of Love, from the musical Rent
As I danced around in the gym after my workout singing this song along with the TV, (yes I danced and sang and could care less who was watching!), I considered the question. It is a brand new month, how would I measure it? What would I do with the next 31 days? What would I do with this day and the minutes, seconds and hours that stretched before me? Would my month be measured in smiles or tears? Would I measure it in chances taken or opportunities that passed me by?
Sweaty and winded, and flying high on endorphins I heard the music – the music of life. A heart pumping bass line accompanied by joyful horns that reminded me I was fully, completely alive. I am here in this moment, in this time. Yesterday is gone, but this moment is here. I could waste it with petty worries of things gone wrong, or plans that failed…or I could rejoice in the present.
“Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today
Tomorrow will be dying.” – From To the Virgins, To Make Much of Time, Robert Herrick
I have no stinking idea what tomorrow holds but today I intend to live and to live boldly. I will dance in the middle of the gym, laugh at my own jokes and live life at my own pace. This month I will not play it safe, because the same flower that smiles today, tomorrow will be dying. If I take a risk and fall flat on my face, who cares? I will have lived, learned and created another blog post.
Now, it is your turn. How will you measure the month? Be bold, express yourself, the mic is open.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCuMDMGLDKU]
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Go-Go Boots and a Zest for Life
July 25, 2008
Written by Karen D. Swim
When I was 8 years old, I had a pair of black go-go boots. They laced up the front and zipped on the side. I loved those boots. I wanted to wear them with everything! One Friday, I put them on with my favorite fire engine red jumper and planned on going to school. However, in my day wearing red and black on a Friday was scandalous. (Don’t ask, some hooker connection). I of course did not defy my mother, but it did not change my love for those boots with that red jumper.
The year was 1972 and I was growing up in the era of Hippies and Black Panthers. My little hands alternately made the peace sign and the black power sign. I had a fondness for love beads, afro hair styles and head bands. Ah, but the boots were my favorite. In them I was fierce. I walked a little different, and posed with one hand on my hip and my head held back.
At age eight I was not questioning my choices or comparing them to societal norms. Like all children, my days were carefree and life was safe and joyous. I was ready to take on the world in my go-go boots and youthful exuberance. (Even then I believed in the power of shoes!) With my boots on, I could read the lyrics of Marvin Gayes’s “What’s Going On?” (released in 1973) a million times but still find hope in the world.
As adults we could all do with a healthy dose of childhood hope once in awhile. The ability to see the world not only as it is but how it can be. A belief that we can make a difference, that we have the potential to change the world. My black go-go boots are long gone but a little bit of their spirit remains with me. It is that spirit that encourages me to wear my boots with pride and live life with vigor, hope and absolute joy.
Are there things that you can learn from your childhood self? Do you find yourself being too serious at times? If so, how do you lighten up?
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Embrace Your Obstacles
July 11, 2008
Written by Karen D. Swim
“Obstacles are necessary for success because in selling, as in all careers of importance, victory comes only after many struggles and countless defeats. Yet each struggle, each defeat, sharpens your skills and strengths, your courage and your endurance, your ability and your confidence and thus each obstacle is a comrade-in-arms forcing you to become better…or quit.”—From The Greatest Salesman in the World, Og Mandino
Can you imagine your life without obstacles? Go ahead close your eyes and envision your life completely free of challenges? You may have smiled as you imagined a trouble free zone without stress of any kind. The thought of a challenge free life is appealing until you start to examine the consequences.
If everything was easy, we would never push ourselves to reach higher. Strengths and talents would go undiscovered and we would simply live in complacency. Where’s the fun in that?
As I look back over my own life, those darn obstacles have been my greatest teachers. Obstacles have forced me to overcome fears and try new things. They have moved me from a comfort zone to greater discoveries of my abilities and myself. Obstacles have not blocked my progress instead, they have opened new paths for me to travel and given me just the right tools to navigate the road.
As you consider your own life, I am sure that you have countless examples of the good that came from challenge. I am acutely aware that there is no testimony without a test. We have all benefited from being students of adversity. Yet, with every new obstacle is the potential to forget that it is a “comrade-in-arms.” There are challenges that we believe we simply cannot face down and we get scared and want to quit.
Quitting is always an option, of course but it really is not a solution. You may forego the immediate discomfort, but the lingering impact is far more damaging. You will never build up your endurance to challenge if you simply quit. In the same way that regular workouts make you stronger and faster, obstacles are the weights that build your faith muscles. Each workout makes you stronger, better and more confident.
Embrace your obstacle, it is your partner in success. Use it to make you tougher, smarter and better. You will never regret facing a challenge but it is almost certain you will regret quitting.
How do you deal with your obstacles? Please share your thoughts and insight in the comments box. Remember you don’t have to be a blogger or even have a website to join in the discussion, everyone can comment.
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Ride the Magic Bus to Success
June 27, 2008
Written by Karen D. Swim
“Contemplation often makes life miserable. We should act more, think less, and stop watching ourselves live.”-Chamfort, French Playwright
This week, I spent a great deal of time learning. I read, participated in webcasts, teleseminars and soaked up wisdom from anyone willing to share it. I had the opportunity to interact with business leaders I respect and learn some of the techniques that have worked for them. Throughout the week I found validation for a long held belief of mine – The Secret is that there is no secret.
We are surrounded by people who have accomplished the things we want to do and are happy to share how they did it. Never before has information been so readily accessible. Yet so many continue to seek that one magic thing that will finally propel them to their dreams. The only difference between you and the people who have accomplished what you want to do is action.
As Brett so eloquently pointed out this week, you have to be a participant. Sitting on the sidelines and learning the rules is useless if you don’t take action. The masters, gurus and leaders can’t make it happen for you, no more than watching someone else work out will give you six pack abs. They can impart information, and share from their experience but then you have to take action.
“I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.”–Leonardo da Vinci
Our life is very much like a garden. You must plant something in that patch of dirt before anything can bloom. Thinking about how you want the garden to look will not cause it to magically sprout plants. The seeds and the soil are the materials you need for a garden but you still must take the action of planting thm. You then of course have to tend to the garden by watering, fertilizing, and weeding to keep it in good shape.
The funny thing about taking action is that even that is not magical. You can get very excited about planting a garden and run out and buy seeds, fertilizer and garden tools. You can come home, load it all up in the yard and decide it’s too late to start planting that day. The next day, it’s too hot. The next day you have errands, a business trip, the kids have soccer practice. Before you know it, months have passed and you have the materials for a garden and no results.
You have to act and then keep taking action until your act becomes a habit. This is when the real magic happens.
Have you ever allowed excuses to stop the momentum of your action? How did you overcome it? Let’s talk about it and learn from one another! Add your two cents or nickel in the comments.
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Are you a commitment phobe?
June 20, 2008
by Karen D. Swim, Photo: Jeff Belmonte, Flickr.com
”Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes… but no plans.” –Peter F. Drucker
Do you have a fear of commitment? According to Queendom.com, “Commitment phobia is the fear and avoidance of having to commit, particularly to relationships.” The site offers a commitment readiness test to help you assess if you are commitment phobic or “ready to take the proverbial plunge?”
Commitment phobia is not exclusive to relationships. You may fear making a commitment to yourself. You will not invest the time and resources in your goals and dreams because you are not quite ready to take the plunge.
Commitment to yourself requires a willingness to accept change, and that can be scary. However, change is necessary as standing in the same place, doing the same thing will yield the same results.
“The relationship between commitment and doubt is by no means an antagonistic one. Commitment is healthiest when it is not without doubt but in spite of doubt.” –Rollo May
Commitment moves your “I Want” to “I Will.” When you are fully engaged, losing is no longer an option. Tiger Woods did not delay surgery because he wanted to win the US Open. He made a firm commitment, stating his intention to win the US Open.
Melanie Roach captured the #1 one spot on the four woman 2008 Olympic Team. Melanie has a full life as the mother of three small children under the age of six, one of whom is autistic, owner/operator of a gymnastics training facility with over 500 students, wife of fourth term incumbent Washington State House of Representatives legislator, and Sunday school teacher! Yet, she committed to her dream of making the Olympic team and made it happen.
As in relationships, commitment does not come without bumps in the road. You are certain to hit some speed bumps along the way. Work through them and keep moving forward. As you move through challenges you will find that your commitment will deepen. Do not fear the challenge, fear quitting!
Are you willing to take the plunge for YOU today?
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A Divine Slap on the Head
June 13, 2008
by Karen D. Swim
Photo: Ian Britton, free.foto.com
For the past week my truck has been doing community service. As such, my only transportation has been my two feet (you don’t even want to know what happened to my bike!). My typical errands are roughly 5 miles. Normally I enjoy the additional exercise and the good feeling of being environmentally friendly. Yesterday, however, I was not feeling quite so gracious. I strapped on my backpack and headed out in the hot, humid weather. One mile into my errands the internal conversation began:
I really wish I had my truck. What was I thinking? Stupid pinecones, don’t they know people walk here. Geez, trim your hedges it’s like a forest out here. I wonder if I look fat in this shirt. This heat is really going to destroy my hair. Hey, wild bunny..oh man is that dog poo?
I got to my first stop,sweaty, cranky and in no mood to go on, but I had no choice. I started my internal grousing again.
It’s hot. Man, how much further. Oh man it’s hot. I’m tired, no you’re not tired,this is nothing. Is that a…
My litany was interrupted by the sight of of someone heading my way. I spotted the pink sponge rollers first, and then took in the elderly woman in a sleek wheelchair. I perked up as our paths drew closer. We smiled and exchanged greetings and then with a hearty smile she said: “I wish I could walk.” Oomph! Talk about a divine slap on the head. I continued on and uttered to myself, “I can walk, and for that I should be thankful.”
I quickened my step as I asked forgiveness for being such a petulant brat. I had two legs able to carry me on 5 miles of errands with a sack on my back. The woman in the wheelchair reminded me that I was indeed blessed to be able to walk.
I continued my errands with renewed gratitude for the many gifts in my life. My eyes were open to the people and places I passed along the way, and the journey was much faster with a better attitude. I even took the long way home.
While I am in no way proud of my bad attitude, I am thankful for the gentle reminder to count my blessings.
Today’s post is a bit of a departure from the typical Fierce Friday fare. However, I believe true fierceness is tempered with humility and thanksgiving. If you have had a tough week, I invite you to let go of what went wrong and focus on all the ways that you are blessed. Your list of blessings will far outweigh your list of annoyances.
Thank you for reading, commenting and continuing to inspire me to be a better person.
What was your most memorable or recent gratitude lesson? How did it impact you? Let’s learn together. Share your thoughts in the comments.
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