Anne L. Denmark - Bug Juice Discoveries
Jan
8

Inspired by the New Year

I am inspired by the start of the New Year. I want to kick it off just right.
And I am still inspired six days into 2012.

There is something motivating about fresh starts, clean calendar pages and renewed focus on the things that matter most.

I get a sense that somehow this year will be different. I love that.

So I jot down my goals – less chocolate more fiber – less work more fun, etc.
They are now all translated from head and heart into bulleted points. The first step is complete.

My approach however will be different. I am going to focus on each new day instead of a whole new year.

  • Every morning a fresh review of what I hold precious – by re-reading those points
  • Every day a fresh start with hours to use as I choose – by focusing on what is precious
  • Every evening is a fresh reflection of meaningful moments – by closing the day with thankful thoughts for a peaceful sleep.

This is my new approach for a New Year – with a new start every day. I am enjoying my goals one day at a time.
And each day I will in very small ways move closer to the year I desire to live.

How about you? Are you inspired by the New Year? I would love to hear your thoughts.

Posted in Fulfillment | Leave a comment
Dec
28

Transitioning Out of the Holidays

Yes, I know. All great holidays must end. I get that.

Yet after weeks of dreaming and wishing … after days of planning and preparing … it is so hard to say good-bye to three year old hugs and the ring of “grandma” in your ears.

My head knows the drill but today my heart is fragile. I am reluctant to say farewell at the airport. Transitioning out of the holidays is hard.

Helping people navigate transitions – the hellos and the good-byes – of habits, careers, relationships, beliefs, etc. is what I do as a life coach.

Funny isn’t it? One would think by this point in my personal experiences and professional life, I would have the perfect strategy to align my head with my heart to avoid the tears. Truth is, I don’t.

What I do have are a few ways of closing the gap between the anticipation for and the transition out of the holidays.

  1. Create a list of all the meaningful moments. This gets your mind remembering what your heart doesn’t wish to forget.
    Nice collaboration!
  2. Consider the blessings of our diverse digital communication systems – perhaps a quick text before takeoff. Ah – yes, that felt better.
  3. Comfort yourself – a rich coffee, a good read, a warm sweatshirt, some soothing music and perhaps a few Zzzz’s. When you wake up at your destination, life will be waiting to welcome you home.
Posted in Transition | Leave a comment
Aug
18

Why Call It Bug Juice?

I am so glad you asked. It all started when I was a child spending countless hours of discovery on my grandparent’s farm. I loved the family farm.

After the evening meal when the heat and the day’s work were done, my granddad would take a folding lawn chair out to the front lawn to sit. That’s right. I said sit – just sit. In the summer it was the coolest place to be. There was no air conditioning in the century-old farm house.

Soon other family members including cousins and sometimes a neighbor or two would pull up a chair to join him under the honey locust tree. That’s when granddad would say to my grandma; “Mom, can you make us some “bug juice?” Bug juice was Kool-aid mixed up in a plastic pitcher and brought out with a stack of metallic colored cups. We sipped flavored water and reflected on the happenings of the day.

My grandpa was a master story teller and he shared wonderful recollections of people and quirky neighbors (at least they sounded quirky to me). Maybe quirky is a way of saying they had lots of character and just maybe my granddad embellished the details. There was laughter and idle chat. It was a time to ease up and listen. It was a time to reflect on the progress of the day and chew on the good things.

Meanwhile mosquitoes were drawn to the sweetness of the Kool-aid and soon several were swimming in the red or green or purple water. And so … like many others, my granddad called our refreshment ‘bug juice’. The name sticks to this day.

I named my blog Bug Juice because it is a reflective perspective on my work as a life coach. It is a chance to sip on the sweetness of the day- to pause and savor the stuff of life – the comical, the disastrous and the deeper stuff too. Pull up a chair and join me.

Did you ever drink ‘bug juice’ as a child?

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

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