Human Being: Just Add Water
New Year’s Resolutions, 2013:
No. 1 Just Add Water
A woman’s body is 50% water; a man’s body 60%.
Your brain can be up to 75% water—a literal sponge!
Water is vital to all of our bodily functions. It plumps up our cells, lubes our joints, regulates our body temp, carries oxygen and nutrients to every cell of our body, assists with vital chemical processes, and flushes out waste and toxins.
Water helps us lose weight, restore balance, and feel satisfied.
Water nourishes from the inside out and replenishes from the outside in. There’s nothing like a swim to energize body and spirit, or a soak in a warm bath to soothe and relax a bruised psyche. Its cleansing affect can be felt by both skin and brain.
My son, Kyle, a Cross Fit advocate, uses this equation to determine his daily intake of water:
½ your body weight in ounces + 10 ounces for every ½ hour of exercise = daily water intake
Me? Just a glass or two more will make all the difference. It’s time to add water—and grow!
2012 Major Funkin’ Ragin’ B’Niz Plan
Here’s my 2012 Business Plan written earlier this year. I got a chuckle from reading it and have no recall of writing it.
If you need help with a Mission Statement or Action Plan, model this. It’ll get you thinking. Feel free to customize, homogenize, harmonize your thoughts with mine. Declare a fresh start for 2013.
But remember, there’s PLENTY of 2012 left. Enjoy every last sunrise, snowflake, and note.
A Major Funkin’ Ragin’ B’niz Plan
By Lindee Brauer And Company
I am the courageous, outrageous, sagacious, and loquacious Lindee Brauer.
I think like a writer and write like a thinker.
I observe, I shape, I question, I dig deeper, I search, I listen for, I recognize, and I celebrate both the diversity and commonality of people.
I share what I’ve learned in a quirky, casual style honoring and giving tribute to the people and obstacles that have made me strong and wise.
I know love, good and wonderful surprises exist in all things and for all people and I tap into the unlimited supply the Universe has to offer me.
I am relaxed, peaceful, and trusting. All things happen for me and to me in Divine Time.
I give praise and thanks daily for my Angel Entourage and embrace their help always and all ways.
When I get stuck or scared I reach out to help others and calm and release myself from all fears in the process.
I write daily with purpose and direction.
My current venues include:
Douche Bag Wisdom
Lindee Brauer blog
Zelda Zingari novel
Doggie Bag Wisdom: What’s Left Over
Training Facebook Marketing is a divine calling and gift. National Seminars is my best client and I do my best to represent them how they would like to be represented. I follow their rules and guidelines and get involved in their discussions.
I do my best to stay current on the latest teachings of Facebook. I embrace their changes and gladly relay them to the seminar participants. I work daily to deliver an educational, entertaining training that meets the needs of all. I make myself available for additional help when they need it.
Facebook training is an ideal part-time job which finances my writing efforts and career. Within the next 3 years, the majority of my income will come from writing projects. I continue to travel and train because I enjoy it and the people.
I have love in my life. And until that lover shows up, I am the love in my life. So there.
“What the Hell” is Always the Right Answer
‘Ever notice how “what the hell” is always the right answer?”
Marilyn Monroe
And why not? The answer begins with the question and comes full circle.
“What the hell” is an open-ended question. The intensity of the expression implies a breach of belief has already occurred: you witness something for the first time, someone shares a confidence and changes your perspective… “What the hell?” translated is: I need more information.
What the hell? As in, ‘what the hell just happened?’
What IN hell will also suffice as an appropriate question. Again, a request for more information. (Don’t worry your mind with where “Sam Hell” is for now.)
The challenge is to embrace the “answer” with the same enthusiasm as the question. Believe it, open to it; assimilate, alter, and adapt the information you get from the question into your consciousness and use it to make decisions—stronger decision, now.
“What the hell” is always the right question…and when a logical answer alludes you, “what the hell” is always an appropriate response.
No need for a “right” answer. No need to avoid a “wrong” answer. No need to take sides or play favorites. Do as Marilyn did–go with an ubiquitous response. Play ‘open and in need of convincing.’ Go with “what the hell.”
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It’ll All Be Okay in the End
Apply this to every unresolved situation or relationship in your life:
It’ll ALL be Okay in the End.
If it’s NOT Okay, it’s NOT the End.
Time to rest easy and let the Universe work its magic.
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If You Stumble … Dance!
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If you stumble make it part of the dance.
If you stumble? When you stumble, because we all do, just make it part of the dance; just keep your feet moving. Chances are no one saw any way, or if they did, they didn’t realize you missed a step. Very few of us walk around in synchronized groups being judged—unless you’re part of a cheer squad or Olympic swim team.
People are usually so busy watching their own steps they barely notice others’. Unless it’s a big stumble, or a true fall, then hopefully someone will notice and extend a helping hand up.
But if not, and you fall on your face, just pretend you were doing the worm.
Something Wonderful Will Happen to Me
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“I believe something wonderful is going to happen to me today.”
I’ve heard Sandra Smith, motivational comedienne and president of Aspire Seminars, start her seminar day many times with this mantra. On many occasions I joined her in singing it at the top of our lungs:
“I believe something wonderful is going to happen to me today.”
Doesn’t it just make you feel positive, expectant, and hopeful?!
“I believe something wonderful is going to happen to me today.”
Yes, I can just feel it.
And even more, I believe PEOPLE are often the bearers of these wonderful things that are going to happen to me today. A smile from a stranger, an “atta girl” from a colleague, a free piece of cheesecake just because someone felt generous. When something wonderful happens to me, it usually happens through people. Some days, even angels come disguised as people; aka the gentleman who fixed my flat tire. People fill my life with joy.
I’m amending my mantra:
“I believe some ONE wonderful is going to happen to me today.”
Hmmm, I think this will work. Say it with me:
“I believe some ONE wonderful is going to happen to me today. “
“I believe some ONE wonderful is going to happen to me today.”
I believe it.
Do you?
T.H.I.N.K. Before You Speak
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Truth. Truth is in the eye (or brain) of the beholder. One person’s truth is not another’s truth. And, just because it’s true for you does not make it true for me. Can you really know truth for yourself, let alone another?
Helpful. “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” How many times has friendly, “helpful” advice been misinterpreted and twisted into tangled, hurt feelings? Even suggestions given with an open, loving heart can be misconstrued. “Helpful” is also in the mind of the beholder. Just because it’s helpful to YOU, does not mean it’s helpful to ME.
Inspiring. If you want to inspire me, keep your words to yourself and SHOW me. Lead by example and I’ll naturally be inspired. Who are you and where are you going?
Necessary. Who determines that? Who are you to question my path, my purpose, my motives or my actions? Sure, if I’m walking too closely to the ledge and I’m in eminent danger, I might need a course correction. But who’s to say a fall (or a leap) from that ledge is not the best action for me?
Kind. “If you can’t say anything nice then don’t say anything at all.” Words of wisdom by parents, teachers, educators, and philosophers alike, all extolling the virtues of saying nice things to each other. THIS one I believe in and this one I practice. And practice is truly the word, because this is hard to do. Unkind words, mean-spirited and abusive, don’t just hurt the person they’re directed toward, but the person saying them as well. We’re all familiar with the “I’m rubber and you’re glue” defense when someone says something that hurts.
When someone says something unkind to you, however, it’s because they think they’re speaking the TRUTH. They think they’re being HELPFUL—and INSPIRING. And, they probably think the words are NECESSARY—for your own good.
But what you really have—when you THINK before you speak—is a whole lot of judgment being wrapped up in a KIND words burrito. It doesn’t matter what kind of flavorful, colorful wrapper you’re serving up or what kind of watered-down words you’re using, judgment still comes through—and that’s what truly hurts.
Perhaps we should go one step further: If you can’t THINK of anything nice, then don’t think anything at all.
Divine Madness: Your Creative Spark
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“You’re only given a little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it.”
These words, uttered by the Master of Madness, Robin Williams, who’s channeled his spark into a brilliant acting career and charitable life. Remember when he burst on the scene in ‘Mork and Mindy’? Doctors today would label him ADHD, drug him, and ultimately mug him of his Divine Inspiration—the brilliance of the madness of the voices in his head.
I’ve been going a bit “mad” these days. Say it with an English accent and the phrase is fodder for a sit-com. (Ooooo, a sit-com…) See, there goes that voice again! I’m getting ideas most people, including me, would call crazy! My astrologer, Phyllis Firak-Mitz, might attribute it to the SuperMoon and Mercury coming out of retrograde.
I can only attribute it to one thing: there is a character inside me just needing to bust loose. I hope it’s less like a scene from Aliens and more like when Counselor Deanna Troi gave birth to a splendid baby boy with no pain. I’m referring to an episode of Star Trek, The Next Gen, of course…and of my mad idea to write a romance novel that turns into a movie, and a sit-com!
Your Divine Spark is itching to bust through, too!! Don’t deny it. There’s something you’ve thought about, something you’ve wanted to do, some place you’ve wanted to explore—even if you’re spelunking into your computer to unlock the secrets of the internet. Something is calling out to you now. What is it?
If you succumb to your own “spark of madness,” that voice in your head, who would you be? What would you do? Na-noo, Na-noo. (Sorry, couldn’t help myself, Mork and Mindy fans.)
Anger Goes Down with the Sun
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Gretchen Rubin, author of the #1 New York Times Bestseller, The Happiness Project, wonders “should you ever let the sun go down on an argument” and decides Yes!
Arguments are anger expressed–think the earthquake scale, 1-10. I’ve never been much for arguing and I haven’t allowed myself to explore the hollowing and healing powers of anger. It’s been a “negative” emotion to work through quickly on the road to feeling positive and “happy.” And I’m afraid I’ve been judging others using anger as a way to resolve their internal dialogs. I now understand. Anger etches it’s own pattern in the sands of our brains; and thoughts and beliefs we know to be true simply wash from beneath us like sand moving out with the tide. The shift in energy–and footing–makes for a powerful conviction of step. Anger makes you stop, take notice and declare an allegiance to yourself.
Anger is good. Anger makes you strong, sharp and clear. Anger chisels away what doesn’t serve you; sculpts, molds and defines what thoughts now do. Anger is a motivator, a driver, an insistent, sometimes prickly nudge in a new direction. It turns upside down energy on end and demands you step in the opposite direction. Anger is GOOD on so many levels.
And then, once you’ve polished and honed your beliefs and you’re rock solid again in who you are, anger is a needy emotion that can hang on too long. It’ll cling to you like cellophane so gently squeeze out or shimmy out, unroll out, or slice that wrapper open knees to nose; but wiggle free and step aside. No need to express anger, you’ve left it, allowed it to be, walked away from it.
Let the sun go down on it. Thank you Gretchen Rubin for the spin. Oh, and Sir Elton John as well.
2. Do let the sun go down on anger.
I had always scrupulously aired every irritation as soon as possible, to make sure I vented all bad feelings before bedtime. Studies show, however, that the notion of anger catharsis is poppycock. Expressing anger related to minor, fleeting annoyances just amplifies bad feelings, while not expressing anger often allows it to dissipate.







