I am a result of all my thoughts!   I also understand the universe my back (TUT told me so). So what happens today is an accumulation of my thoughts combined with the universe’s interpretation – all together making sure I am pointed towards my purpose. 

I was contemplating the work I do for a client today. I calculated having saved them almost 40% compared to their alternate service provider.  This was not due to significantly lower rates – but by providing consistent, diligent, quality work.  A good portion of these savings were because the end user required a significantly lower number of “re-do” reports.

This is supported by John Wooden’s quote “If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?”

Life is like that.  

Your purpose can be like that.

Imagine if each and every one of our thoughts were like that? 

This is what we learn within the Master Key Experience.  Do it now! Do it right! Create your dream the way you want it to be created. Counting on someone else to do it for you…well, it’s just not going to happen.  So…what are you going to do about it?

Two things today – one serious and one, well not-so-serious. Most people like to here the not-so-serious aspect first.  I won’t speculate on why – just chalk it up to human nature. 

In dealing with Gregory today on a few things, and upon reflection of the last few days conversations with him, I realize I may be expecting too much from my 10 year old. Walter reminds me I have a tendency to be hard on myself – and I really need to lighten up, be kind to myself.   If I do this with Gregory, what kind of meme-infested foundation am I helping him build? Am working on a few areas where I can recognize where I’m going so I can switch lanes and be more focused and observant in my guidance. Avoid being the hard-ass my father was with me. I need to be kind to myself and therefore I can be kindness to my son. 

In speaking with a colleague of mine this morning, I commented about blood types (we were discussing the possibility that mosquitos and other biting bugs are attracted by heat and/or blood type. I commented Gregory and I are the same type – Walter is B+ (said “Be Positive”). Now that is very true. Walter is a very positive person.  Then I thought…hmmmm, well Gregory and I are as well – but we are O- (“oh, negative”)…BAM! It hit me. We were “No Negatives!” – the zero being a nothing symbol. We were an family math equation: B+ O- = Happiness! 

Onwards.
I have so much to learn. To allow. To embrace.
Onwards! 

Thank you for allowing me to share. 

Please comment if any of what I write about resonates.
Connecting with others is part of what makes me tick. 

Saw this post on Facebook today about “old math” versus “new math”.  I commented “Having tutored math for 30 years I am totally stumped why they are changing it. I do not see the benefit. However if someone knows how the the new way is more logical. …please share.”

I then scrolled a bit farther down and there was a suggested post which explained it.  I have to admit it made more sense.  I’d certainly have to get my head around how they are doing this but I then went back and commented “Just saw an article which explains why they are doing this. Makes more sense now.”   This is what got me (excerpt from the article): 

The first time I commented I shared my perspective (non understanding) and then asked for guidance.  The second time I commented I shared my newly acquired perspective (now making more sense). Being open to a different way of looking at something can unlock so many possibilities in yourself and in life.

This is what the Master Key Experience can feel like.  

What the Master Key Experience teaches is not rocket science (although one of the staff is a retired Nasa rocket scientist). It is knowledge that in many ways many of us already know. It’s putting a logical explanation on a different way of looking at something which helps you realign your thinking. But only if you are open. It gets back to one of my favourite quotes from Wayne Dyer “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”

I am going to look into this ‘new math’ a bit more – get my head wrapped around it.  If I were able to teach math in a way which helps students learn to think rather than provide answers by rote, it will not only help them with their math skills, this would help them with life.  

One of the things Walter and I recognized when he was little – he is very literal.  He once counted 4 pieces of stick – 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8.  When I asked him to only count them once. He looked down at the sticks and said 1 – then looked up at me to confirm he had done what I asked.

When you ask him a question, he answers the question you asked – typically giving you only the facts as they relate to the specifics of the question. Nothing extraneous. Today was nothing new.  

These past two weeks Gregory has been coming home early – saying school is finished. Most times it is because school is over (just part of the culture here).  Today it just seemed a bit odd. When we asked he explained one of the kids, who (we found out) has been less than welcoming to Gregory at school, told him to call his parents and go home.   It was over an hour early. This particular kid then remained at school.  Huh??

We also ascertained that – other than the 3 friends he has connected with – most of the kids in his class are not so impressed.  When one of his friends asked him to play soccer, the other kids have pushed him towards the bench telling him to sit.  It may be that he is different, does not speak the language…so many options.  How are we supposed to coach him if we don’t know all the facts? 

So, we talked and we talked and we talked.  It was like pulling teeth how slow the information came. I eventually sat down with Gregory one-on-one and explained I was confused, things were not adding up, I asked him to be clear and give us all the information. 

Some of the details he was providing were not recent – from when he first started. Turns out some of the kids are coming around. He explained each day it gets 0.1% better.  It’s slow but it is getting better.  Whew!  

It is a new world we live in.  We are all learning to adapt.  Since Gregory is the one going to school for 4 hours each week day – he may have the most to adapt to.  Walter and I agreed we will chat with the school and find out how things are going. Check to see if there is something more we can do to help. Another day of learning. 

Started today waking up to bright light streaming in our eyes. Typically the morning sun lights up our space but is muted through the ever present clouds.  I like clouds.  It is what allows the scenery to alter so drastically – making each day a variable smorgasbord of visual delights.

This morning though…there were blue skies and bright sunlight at 6am!! 

I took this video with my phone and immediate shared it with Facebook.  I’ve come a long way from not knowing anything about Facebook a year ago.

Most mornings we are up between 5 and 5:30 but last night we were up for a few hours, in the middle of the night, to chase a good spot to view the meteor shower. We ended up with the best view about 5 minutes from where we reside – and saw 12 ‘shooting stars’ in about 15 minutes.  Hence why we were sleeping in when the sun hit us. 

I felt at peace today.  The day progressed as it was meant to. Nothing required me to be in a rush.   I had time for myself, my hubby, my son.  I even had a visit on the phone with someone locally.  

Nothing earth shattering to observe.   I felt in rhythm with myself and my surroundings. It is a nice space to reflect upon. The entire day was filled with blue skies – all the way to sun set.  

99 bottles of beer on the wall…99 bottles of beer. If one of those bottles should happen to fall…98 bottles of beer on the wall. Remember this?  Did you ever do the entire song right down to 1?  I remember doing it once. At least I have a recollection of it – LOL! 

Now seriously…what do beer and observations have to do with each other? Absolutely nothing. I sat down to observe this evening and that is what came to mind.  And no…I was not drinking. 

I recognized today that the adage of “sleeping on it” works wonders.  I have a tendency to be someone who is emotionally in the now – reacting to what is currently going on.  Taking into consideration everything I’ve learned, I know detaching myself from the outcome and allowing it to be as it is – is best.  

It’s about clearing your plate so you can receive what else is being served.  If all you do is move the current food around on the table, complaining about how much you don’t like what you’ve been served, what do you get?  A plate filled with food you don’t like and no room for anything else. However, if I scrape off my plate (clearing whatever angst is currently in my immediate vicinity) – then my plate is empty, available for whatever else is on the menu to be served.  

There is also the situation about that glass people speak about. You know the one – is the glass half full or half empty.  Guess what? It’s neither!  When you have any part of liquid in the glass and are in the process of putting the liquid into the glass…it’s being filled.  Then when you are sipping the liquid out of the glass…it is being emptied.  Since it is either being filled or emptied it cannot be half anything. 

Working with these visuals…I conclude life may be like having dinner! I can pick at my plate or consider my glass to be half something – or I can devour what I love, clear the rest, await the next course and either enjoy drinking what’s in my glass or allow it to be filled again.  I choose door #2.  

When the bottles fall off the wall, did you ever wonder what happened to them?  All I know is that no one ever said they broke.  

How do I share what the Master Key Experience did for me?

For my family? 

How do I explain a life transformation?

Dreams realized?

Awareness amplified?

An abundance of opportunities available?

This was me before the Master Key Experience.

No one else did this to me… I did this!

Because I did not know HOW to make my dreams a reality.  

I had a dream. I just had no clue on how get there.  ANYBODY with me here??  I worked diligently, spending long hours at the office, climbing my way up the proverbial corporate ladder only to find when I reached a senior position I had more work, longer hours and someone else still telling me when I could take vacation. 

So…I became my own boss figuring this would get me where I was going.  NOW I had the benefit of working all the time.  I did not get paid when I took a vacation nor did I have paid sick days. Long hours turned to longer hours since work was now in my home.  It appeared I had traded one set of not-so-nice circumstances for another AND I was still no closer to my dream. 

Then THIS happened…

There is no miracle pill which you can pop and BAM! you are skinny. 

There is no weekend miracle course which has you going home to a different life.

Manifesting your dream takes effort! 

The Master Key Experience shows you HOW to utilize your effort in a way which reaps results. 

There are numerous examples of dreams being realized from those who graduated from the same class I participated in – September 2013 to March 2014.  

• A young lady who envisioned being pregnant by a specific date….Her daughter is beautiful!
• A woman who left her 15 year teaching career to start a new business venture….Success realized! 
• A man’s desire of following the monarch butterfly migration to Mexico…A Reality he got to share with his family! 
• A book being written and published. Woo Hoo!  
• A family’s dream of moving to Costa Rica…now our reality!  This is our view the morning after we arrived in June 2015.

We’ve had numerous people comment they don’t have the opportunities we’ve had…so they could not possibly do what we have done.  We did not know about these options. They came to us when we needed them.  THIS is what the Master Key Experience allows you to recognize and tap into.

Road blocks disappear.  Everything is possible.  I am a miracle.  I am a hero.  Each and every one of us is a miracle and a hero.

To hear why you are just as much a miracle as the next person and why this is something you can access…watch this.   No….LISTEN! 

Endless possibilities await you.  The Master Key Experience shows you HOW to access them.

To be first in line – early notification – enter your details below. 

We had our first visitors today.  A couple we took the Master Key Experience with a few years ago. They reached out to us a few weeks ago to let us know they would be travelling to Costa Rica on vacation. Turns out they are staying just up from one of the beaches we visited so we understood what the drive would be like time wise.  A warm welcome to Don & Kathy Ketterhagen.  

In drafting up helpful hints on how to get to the main town close to us, I realized we had started to understand a bit of how to communicate about where we now live. Today, while sharing our space and our surrounding countryside, I recognized we also had connected quite a bit with the community – both expat and locals – in the 8 weeks we’ve lived here. I observed we were able to answer most of the questions about the surrounding area, sharing stories and history which had been shared with us. 

Don and Kathy had 2 things they wished to purchase – a hat and a bag of coffee.  The coffee was easy – one of the local grocery stores carried the brand which had been recommended.  The hat we had to ask about.  Turns out they could be found at the feed store, which Walter knew from having purchased cat food.  They even offered choices.  AND in the process Walter managed to purchase a pair of rubber boots (a must here if you ever wish to walk in the jungle).  Mission accomplished.  

We are in a world of people – connecting and sharing.  Imagine if that is all we ever had to do? 

We may be slow…but supposedly we already know over 2,000 words in Spanish.   

We started listening to Michael Thomas’ version of learning Spanish and am thoroughly enjoying it. Within 30 minutes all three of us were creating simple sentences which we can use. A few things we learned: 

Many words are very similar/similar (English/Español).  Once you become familiar/familiar with the active/activo vocabulary/vocabulario you will immediately/inmediatamente recognize how much you truly comprehend/comprender.  Many of these words are the same other than slight nuances in the endings and and the pronunciation/pronunciación. 

Are you with me?  Pretty cool huh?

One of the areas I struggle with as a parent is balancing Gregory’s use of electronics compared to non-electronic play time.  Today I came up with an idea.  Each day Gregory is to write out which new Spanish words he has learned at school and what the English meaning was.  The minimum is 3.  Anything over 3 is to be considered bonus work and will result in electronic time. Today he wrote out 9 sentences at school.  Woo hoo!  Between what he learns in school and what we learn with our CD training…we are well on our way! 

Es possible para mi!

I was laying in bed last night and reviewing the day – you know R2A2: recognize, relate, assimilate and apply. The thing which struck me was how my son was learning to work with me when I get into my moods.  

Isn’t this supposed to be the other way around?

The fact that he has had opportunities to learn to work with me is something I needed to delve further into. I gave it some serious thought last night and throughout today. 

I don’t claim to be a perfect parent – actually far from it.  I cannot imagine there is such a thing – otherwise would it not be written about, copyrighted and millions sold? Over the last 10 years I have constantly considered what the possible long term effects may result from each of our parenting choices and in many cases have had long conversations with Walter to ensure we approach whatever these choices are as a united front. This was not something I recall having experienced when I was a child. 

When I was a little I was physically punished for a variety of misdemeanors, talking back, using inappropriate finger gestures, and even such things as talking during church. I don’t recall what was the resulting option for the first (although I do recall my siblings getting the belt).  I distinctly remember the second situation resulted in a wooden Dr. Scholl sandal being used. The last action resulted in bruises caused by the use of a wooden hanger.  Although I have no personal recollection of the action, they were confirmed by my sibling and my mom.  When, as an angry teen, I realizing I had the potential to be my parents all over again. I chose at the age of 12 to never hit a child – to not repeat what had been done to me. And many (many) years later, I have not. 

I still experience moments of anger. I used to control it with medicine but I found it dulled every aspect of my life so I stopped.  Now I use the tools we’ve learned in the Master Key Experience – and during the odd moment I am unable to see the forest for the trees – Walter reminds me of the tools to use. Occasionally though we weather the storm (thankfully short) and I eventually see reason. But the storm still exists and my son is now in a space (age and proximity) where he is around to hear it. 

I’ve noticed recently Gregory has been interjecting himself into the discussion and adding his perspective on how we resolve the situation.  My 10 year old is helping me to recognize that I need to stop and listen – allow him to be a part of the solution (especially when he is part of the situation which resulted in the moment). 

I stopped and listened to my son today. I was present in the moment.  I allowed.  And when a situation arose this evening, he and I both handled it differently. The result was more in keeping with my vision of what a parent is to a child.  And what a well raised child can be when working with their parent.  

I am blessed to have these tools. I am even more grateful that by learning them and living them, we have shared them with our son who now uses them to help himself and us!  

What an amazing journey we are on together! 

This afternoon we decided to go on a family adventure. I had originally suggested we go explore Cañas which is about 30 minutes away and has a population of just under 24,000, the largest of any of the towns close to us – with Tilaran only 10 minutes away having just under 9,000.  Then a friend mentioned a little town about 20 minutes away  – Libano – which has a wonderful waterfall.  I looked at the map and we agreed we would head to Libano and then cut across to Cañas afterwards for a bite to eat. 

Here is what Google Maps showed us:

You will see the estimate notes a total driving time of just under an hour with about 29 km to go.  The first distance (from where we started to Libano) was indeed as estimated – about 20 minutes – and for the 14.2 km that works out to just under 43 km/hour.  

The 2nd part of our trip (from Libano to Cañas) is estimated at 33 minutes – it took us just under 2 hours (after we removed the time we took stopping for pictures and such).  I figure this had us averaging just under 10 km/hour.   The road pics I took do not show the joy we had travelling this part of the country. 

The road was mostly dirt, gravel and rocks with the odd piece of pavement – which was typically only on one side of the road. This trek led us up and down the mountains, in and around properties which ranged from expansive to the opposite of expansive.

While the road allowed for much slower speeds than Google estimated (even driving an all wheel drive vehicle), we totally enjoyed the scenery.  There was a slew of really tall straight trees with huge trunks – Greg posed for comparison (he’s about 4’6″). 

After we were outside of Lebano for about 10 minutes – without seeing any signage about a waterfall – we saw a tourist bus heading the opposite way, into Lebano. A moment later I said “We should have turned around and followed the bus…they may be going to the waterfall.”  

Gregory piped up and said we should avoid saying “should have” because it’s a waste of time and our words.  Hmmm…interesting.  I asked why.  He explained ‘should’ means it would be something you could do but ‘should have’ means it is something you could have done – and that’s in the past – and you didn’t do it – so commenting on it is a waste.  

We all agreed this was a good DoWoo. 

We  ended our trip eating dinner in a little place in Cañas. Greg enjoyed 2 pieces of chicken, rice, salad (he even got to ride the pig out front) and then topped it off with a Bomba ice cream (similar ingredients to a banana split but served stacked in a tall cup).  Definitely a fun filled family adventure.  Gregory commented it was a great way to start off our August. 

On the way to the hot springs today, my friend’s husband asked how I was able to go – it being Friday – was I not working?  I explained I had nothing in the pipe, business wise, so I was in a position to enjoy myself.  

Earlier this week my main client asked me to do something which was not in line with how I act as a consultant. Being asked to work with incorrect or incomplete information, or leaving holes in the information I provide, is so totally not my style.  I asked for further clarification, in as polite a manner as I could (email can be a tricky way to communicate), referencing a few current situations.   When no reply came in after 3 business days, I called and left a message. I did not receive a response.

Today started with the realization the consulting portion of my life may be at the end of its cycle – its purpose for me.  5 years ago I left the corporate world, and a VP position with all its trappings, to pursue a happier and more fulfilled me.  A year later I went back and worked on contract in the same field and have acted as a consultant for the last 3.  While I am very knowledgeable in this field, and I enjoy what I do, it is not where my true passion lies. So…what am I still doing here?

When I put aside the numerous opinions and work my way down to the observation of the situation…I realize I do not want to be doing this anymore.  Why am I? 

I live with comfort zones. Even if they are challenging zones, they are where I feel most comfortable.  However, by continuing to do what I do well, I do not allow myself the opportunity to explore what other talents and passions I have within me – those talents which I believe are there…just below the surface…itching to be freed.

Almost 4 years ago, after an entire lifetime of saying I could not paint I found out I had the ability to paint.  What talents am I meant to uncover now?  The possibilities are endless.  BUT, and that’s a very big BUT, if I stay in my comfort zone, working with what I know…how am I going to be able to explore those possibilities?

Today I vow to step out of my comfort zone. I will resolve the situation with my client in a manner in keeping with my business ethics. Once I implement and release I am free to embrace whatever possibilities come my way.  Look out world!

Wayne Dyer is a favourite author of both Walter and I.  After initially meeting Walter he explained how Wayne’s first book – Your Erroneous Zones had saved him from where he was after his divorce.  It helped him so much he purchased a case and kept it handy whenever any one of his friends was going through a difficult time. He would hand them a copy of Wayne’s book and ask them to reconnect AFTER they had finished reading the book. 

Within this book Wayne recites his definition of Love (which Walter shared) “Love is the ability and willingness to allow those that you care for to be what they choose for themselves without any insistence that they satisfy you.” – Dr. Wayne Dyer

We spoke this evening about replacing the ‘those who you care for’ with “life”.  Now imagine having the ability and willingness to allow LIFE to be what it needs to be without a requirement that it needs to satisfy you?  The key word here for me is “allow”.  

“El amor es la capacidad y la voluntad para permitir que los que usted se preocupa por ser lo que deciden por sí mismos sin ninguna insistencia en que le satisfacen.” (translation – Dr. Wayne Dyer)

There are a lot of books we have shared with others over the years.  In addition to Wayne’s work, Deepak Chopra, John Maxwell, Darren Hardy, James Allen, Napoleon Hill… and of course we have Charles Haanel.   The teachings of the Master Key not only encourage you to allow, it encourages you to allow with purpose – it’s the law of least effort (7 Spiritual Laws of Success) at it’s finest. 

I allow….with purpose!