After the Tragedy Comes the Next

It is terrific to know that no matter how bad things are now, there is a next on the way. Right now, all over the news, radio, and social media people are discussing the tragedy that occurred at the Boston Marathon. Those discussions are good and important because when a tragedy occurs, those of us left behind want to understand what happened, why it happened and how we can keep the tragedy from repeating itself. We mourn the victims and pray for the survivors and the families of those involved. Everyone around the nation and around the world wants to know what happened and why. Parents are searching for as many answers as possible so they can explain things to their children. First we want to know what happened, then we want to know why. Then comes the next.

A basic fact of life is that no matter how bad the tragedy, no matter how many tears we shed, there is always a next. The next is where hope abides.  The next is what we figure out when we tell our kids that a bad thing has happened but we will go on, there will still be Elmo and SpongeBob. The next is what happens when we tell our employees to take the rest of the day off to be with their families and come back to work tomorrow morning. The next is when we have dinner ready when our husbands come home and convince them, that things will be ok at home while they are away. When tragedies happen, we all come together, families, friends and even strangers huddle together for protection, comfort and understanding. We cling to hope and pray for understanding. Then comes the next.

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As we sit and try to figure out what happened in Boston, as we seek to understand the who, what, when, where, why and the how, it is important for us to hold on to the knowledge that the next is coming. We cannot change the bad thing that happened. In truth, we may not be able to prevent similar tragedies from taking place in the future. What we can do is be assured that next is coming. The next is important because in the next we have power, we have control, we have hope and we have possibilities. In the next, we can reach out and do kind things for the families of those who died in the tragedy. In the next, we can look for ways to be of service to the survivors. In the next we can look for ways to comfort those around us who were not directly affected or involved but are hurting. The tragedy has happened, now comes, the next.

The next thing, the next step, the next action to take varies from person to person. There is no definitive thing to do next. Undoubtedly, we will all be doing something next. Some will ignore the events and pretend they never happened. Some will look for ways to be of service to the survivors. Some will try to figure out the whys and the hows. One thing we will all do is whatever is next. Because like it or not, deny it or not, want it or not, the next is coming. In conclusion, it is terrific to know that we do not stay in tragedy forever, the next arrives. Just like the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, the next is coming. So, the question for you this terrific day is, now that we have experienced this tragedy, what is your next?

Get Emotionally Set Each Morning

It is magnificent to take time first thing in the morning to get your emotional house in order. Most often, when people talk about health, they speak of physical health. They talk about losing weight, getting into shape and eating the right foods. People rarely refer to their emotional health when they talk about getting healthy. That is a shame because emotional health is important in its own right and it often has an impact on  physical health. Emotional health is commonly defined as the degree to which one feels emotionally secure and at ease in everyday life. An emotionally healthy person has a good amount of self-esteem, reacts without panic and is able to appropriately react to life's happenings. Good emotional health is just as important as good physical health. Additionally, a person can have good emotional health even when physical health is poor.

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I am an advocate for getting dressed before one gets out of bed in the morning. By this I mean that before one gets out of bed in the morning, she should spend time, thinking, planning and getting herself ready to face the world and the challenges to come that day. The morning is a good time to take stock of one's emotional health. Before you get out of bed, take time and do some personal inventory:

• are there ongoing issues which cause you stress and aggravation
• is there a person who is making you feel ill at ease and upset in some way
• do you feel apprehensive and do not know why
• are you dreading the start of the day

If you have concerns like these or similar ones, take time and pay attention to your emotional health. Do not ignore these fears and concerns. Your emotional health is important and should be given the same serious attention you give your physical health. There are professionals who help with emotional health. If you notice your emotional health is not what is should be, seek out professional help. If your friends and family members tell you on a regular basis that you have problems in the area of emotional health, don't treat it as a joke, check in with a professional.  People think nothing of seeking out professional help if they think they may have diabetes, high blood pressure or a sprained ankle. It will be a wonderful day when we treat our emotional health with the same seriousness and regular concern.

I have a routine that works for me and helps me start off the morning well and keeps me emotionally healthier during the day:

• pray
• read the bible
• speak positive affirmations to myself
• • I am a child of God
  • I am Janeane Michelle James Davis and I love me
  • Today will be magnificent
  • I control my life
  • My outcome is determined by the choices I make and the reactions I display

Photo Credit: Janeane Davis, Get Emotionally Set in the Morning

This is the routine that starts me off on good footing and helps me leave the bed with a smile. I encourage you to get your own happy, healthy morning routine. In conclusion, it is magnificent to get your emotional health in order first thing in the morning. So, the question for  you this magnificent day is how do you get your emotional health in order each morning?

Read a Book While Waiting in Line

It is sensational to find a fun thing to do while standing in line. For me the fun thing to do while standing in line is read a book. Everyone stands in line for something at one time or another. We go to the market, bank, car wash, clothing store all kinds of places. I have seen people do all kinds of things while standing in line:

• paint fingernails
• argue with kids
• comb hair
• pay bills
• talk on the cell phone

All of those things have their place in life. I understand why people would do them while standing in line. After all, if you are in a stationary place for an extended period of time. Most people can't just stand and do nothing, the boredom would drive them insane, so, they look for something to do. For me, that something is reading a book.In the old days of my youth, I always carried a paperback with me. I read hardback books of course, but they are heavy to carry. Just like there is always room for jello, in my mind, there is always room for a book. Today, I don't carry physical books anymore. I carry my Kindle e-reader. I like having 3,000 books in my purse with the ability to instantly get more.

So, when I am in line at the market, I pull out my e-reader and pick up where I left off. I read all kinds of things waiting in line:

• the Bible
• novels with no redeeming value
• books on HTML code
• professional development books
• self-help books
• foreign language learning series
• classic literature
• mysteries

In other words, if you walk up to me while I am line at the market waiting to pay for my groceries, there is no telling what you will find me reading. But, one thing for sure, you will find me reading.  It is sensational to read a good book while standing in line. So, the question for you this sensational day is, what book are you going to read the next time you are standing in line?

Kick it Up a Notch When Balancing Home and Work

It is fantastic to kick it up a notch when you are balancing your obligations at home and work. Increasingly in my travels, I come across women like me, women who have chosen to work at home rather than a traditional office and have a family at home. When we meet each other at a school event or at a networking or business meeting, the talk always comes around to the struggle to balance home and work obligations. At the same time, when I speak with women who work at traditional office places talk about the difficulties they face in balancing home and work obligations. Even the stay at home moms I talk to  about trying to balance the things they do for their families at home and trying to find time for themselves. In other words, no matter what kind of work women do, they are all looking for ways to balance home and work obligations.

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Today I am suggesting we kick up our balancing acts. We all have plans for balance. I have a calendar that strictly delineates time for work, home, school and all other activities in my life. I planned everything out carefully and the times I put in the calendar are adequate for each task. When I follow the calendar, things run smoothly, everything gets done and I feel satisfied at the end of the day. However, when I just go with the flow and don't follow the plan, I fail. In other words, I don't get everything done, I miss deadlines and I feel dissatisfied at the end of the day.  So, I need to kick things up a notch.

I often remind myself of the "if you fail to plan, you plan to fail" line that is common in today's world. At the same time, I have to start reminding myself  that "if you don't work the plan, the plan won't work." In other words, creating a plan that balances home and work is a great first step. It is a crucial and important part of the plan. However, creating the plan is not the end of the matter. Once you set up a plan that works for you, and it may take several weeks to work out the timing, start working the plan. Kick things up a notch!

Work during work hours. It doesn't matter if where the work takes place:

• If you are working at a traditional workplace, during work time, stay away from personal activities, do your job
• If you work at home, set up a dedicated work space, even if it just a corner of the dining room table and work during your work time, do not do any household chores
• If you are a stay at home mom, when you are supposed to be doing household work for your family do it, do your personal things after your work is done
• When it is personal time, put away your work, do not answer work calls, do not read work emails and do not do work activities
• When it is personal time, dedicate your time, attention and efforts to yourself and your family

Photo Credit: Janeane Davis, Kick it Up a Notch When Balancing Home and Work

We all work in one form or another. It is crucially important to find a way to balance the obligations to work and home. If you are not satisfied with the balance between the two in your life, stop complaining and do something. Kick things up a notch. For me, I am going to start sticking to my schedule like wet on water!

It is fantastic to find a way to kick it up a notch when it comes to balancing home and work. So, the question for you this fantastic day is how can you kick your balancing act up a notch?

Learn to Juggle When Dealing with Employees

It is thrilling to be able to run a healthy business by learning to juggle when dealing with employees. Most entrepreneurs know they have all kinds of responsibilities to their employees. Some of these responsibilities are:

• Provide pay on time
• Provide a safe work environment
• Provide consistent and predictable policies and procedures
• Provide support to employees in need
• Provide a policy for the airing and resolution of grievances

This list is a basic bare minimum of things a good employer should be providing to employees each day. The more employees that are involved in an enterprise, the harder it becomes to provide all these things.

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In many ways an entrepreneur can be thought of as a juggler trying to balance the needs of employees, the desires of customers, the demands of governmental and regulatory agencies and the need to operate profitably. It is not an  easy task to handle the demands and desires of each of these stakeholders individually. Trying to keep all the balls in the air and handle the demands of each of these groups at the same time takes discipline, strength, perseverance and most of all, a plan.

One of the most important things you need to do as an entrepreneur is keep a list of all your various roles, obligations and desires. Along with that list, write down the way you would like to handle each of these things and keep the information readily available. The following are situations that come up often in the life of an entrepreneur in dealing with employees:

• A disagreement as to how to handle a customer
• Dispute between hours' work and hours for which pay is given
• Insubordination
• Intimate relationships between employees
• Employee confessing a substance abuse problem
• Time for promotion and more than one viable candidate

Some entrepreneurs will keep the information in hard copy format in a loose-leaf book on a shelf or a desk drawer. Other entrepreneurs keep the information in electronic form on a computer, tablet or even a smart phone to be reviewed when needed. It doesn't matter what form the information is stored in, the important part is to have the information written so it can be immediately accessed when needed.

A reality of life in business is that often problems come up in the middle of other problems. At my business, employees do not wait in line patiently for me to resolve one problem or put out one fire before bringing another to my attention. Instead,  I am often in the middle of putting out one fire when I am told about two others happening at the same time. As a result, I am forced to juggle several hats, several roles and several responsibilities so I can handle everything that needs to be handled. I find it is very helpful to have my policies and procedures written down so that when I am in the heat of battle, I can stay calm and follow the rules and regulations I have created.

Photo Credit: Janeane Davis, Juggling with Employees

Juggling responsibilities to employees and managing their various needs and demands is not something extra. It is an everyday task entrepreneurs must carry out. Prepare for this role by planning in advance how you will handle problems as they arise. You do not have to share these plans with the employees. The plan is yours as the business owner. Keep in mind the old saying, "if you fail to plan, you plan to fail" and act accordingly.

It is thrilling to make your business healthy by learning to juggle all the responsibilities to your employees. So, the question for you this thrilling day is how do you juggle all the responsibilities you have to your employees?

When Out of Work Get on the Internet

It is wonderful to take time to get your life in order while you are out of work. So often when people are out of work they see only the problems. There is good reason for that after all. If a person remains unemployed and without income for a significant period of time, there may be unemployment, homelessness and hunger! However, if using the look for the silver lining approach, one would see there is a good thing in being unemployed for a period of time. If you should find yourself unexpectedly unemployed, get out your favorite device and get on the internet. There are several things you can do while on the internet in order to make life better:

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• Job Search - employers are increasingly posting and accepting resumes exclusively via the internet
• Hone or Develop Skills - the internet is a treasure trove of resources one can use to improve one's work skills
• Get Educated - there are numerous websites one can use in order improve one's education via the internet
• Self Improvement - if there is an area of you life that could stand improvement hit the internet to find a useful video or book

When you are out of work you have more of a precious resource - time. Use that time to make improvements in your life. If  you have been trying to get in shape, get on the internet get some advice, check out some videos and join some support groups.  If you lost your job because you have a bad attitude, get on the internet and learn how to get a better one. If you do not have the skills you need to do the job you want, get on the internet and get some new skills. Instead of looking at your time away from the work place as a curse, take the silver lining approach. Look at your time away from work as an opportunity to get on the internet and do those things you have been planning to do . Instead of just talking about it, take action now and do it!
In conclusion, it is wonderful to use your time away from the workforce to get your life in order. So, the question for you this wonderful day is, how would you use your time away from work to organize your life?

Use Your Technology to Get Healthy

It is thrilling to use the technology in our hands to help us live healthier and more physically fit lives. The word healthy is commonly defined as being in good health, of being free of disease. Increasingly technology,which interestingly is our friend has helped us to be stationary and as a result increasingly out of shape. Recently, women in a bloggers group to which I belong complained about "blogger butt," a condition that results from sitting at the computer and writing for extended periods. In sum, blogger butt is the increase in weight that happens when you stop being active and start using your technology for long periods. This phenomenon seemed to be common with women across race, class and age. In other words, it happens to everyone. Even with this new and increasingly common affliction, I think technology is still our friend and can be used for good health.

Increasingly applications for our tablets and smart phones  are things that can make our lives better. It is common for people to solve problems in their lives by asking, "Is there an app for that?" More and more, the answer to that question is a resounding yes! Check out these apps that are on my Kindle tablet for example:

• Daily Ab Workout
• Daily Arm Workout
• Daily Butt Workout
• Daily Cardio Workout
• Daily Leg Workout
• Evening Yoga for Women
• Fitbit Activity Tracker
• Virtua Gym Fitness Home Workout
• Yoga-Pedia

These are a few of the workout and exercise apps on my Kindle. One of the great things about these apps in particular is that they were all free. More importantly, they provide a kick butt workout. It may be difficult to follow these apps on some smart phone screens. However with tablets, these are all easy to see and easy to follow. These are my weapons to battle at first and then win the war against blogger butt.

I like that I can take the tablet to any room in the house and work out. Like many moms, I have started working out in the living room only to be pushed out by Elmo and laughing children. I have been in the bedroom trying to get my workout on when a tired husband comes in and really needs to rest. On those occasions, I have taken my tablet and hid in the bathroom so that I can do the workout. A tablet's flat nature and small footprint make it easy to put on a counter or floor easily in the line of sight in order to workout.

Increasingly our obligations at home and work have made it harder to find the time to take proper care of ourselves and to get to the gym to work out. That is why the large number of exercise and fitness apps on our tablets and smart phones is a wonderful thing. While lying in bed, riding the train to the office, or watching your kids at the playground search the applications store for your smart phone or tablet provider to find workout and fitness apps that work for you.

It is thrilling to use your technology to help you stay fit and healthy. So, the question for you this terrific day is how do you use technology to stay healthy?