What's The Point?

The whole month of August was about what to do when the road blocks and barriers make you feel like giving up. Maybe those stops are signs that it's time to investigate new Orange Roads or more often than not, just take a break. Let go of your expectations, put your focus on something else and come back to your project a bit later.

The point is, we all know the things we need to do; relax, breathe, try something new, exercise, get more sleep, eat right, laugh, all the same stuff that keeps us well in other areas of our life. We know it, now is the time to live it. I did, and let me just tell you the time I took off was pure heaven. I even made some changes in my personal belief system about who I am and what I love about myself.

Now it's time to get into the last quarter of 2011 with four more Dreams Not Come True. I would love your input and how you apply Intentional Winning in your life. Leave me a comment here or e-mail me at Kdpartak@yahoo.com.

I Am An Artist!

Since I've admitted I can't not work, there is no sense in trying to do nothing. My goal now is to do something else. No duh! We are always doing something even if that something is getting quiet,, getting away, or being still.

As I stepped away from my disappointments, I could see a wider view of my life and some other things came into view. I am an artist. Yes! I've always known I was creative, but I never would call myself an artist - but I am. I create things that are uniquely me. I paint, color, arrange, photograph, build, sculpt and more. Gosh, why would I discount the beautiful ceramics I made as a teenager, the great cakes I decorated for celebrations of all kinds, and this one I did professionally, and the cookies I imagine and create every year? I am an artist and the creative process feeds my soul. When my soul is fed, I can do the work that I love - being a wife, mommy, writer, and more!

Dangerous and Wonderful

Dangerous and wonderful is that place we might find ourselves when we have to admit that the thing we love to do, may not provide the financial means we think we want, or need.

Teachers accept a pittance for pay when you look at what they contribute to our society. Moms don't get paid at all if you look only at the monetary form of payment. My point to dangerous and wonderful is that letting go of the idea that you can make a doctors or lawyers salary is dangerous. But in my mind, it's wonderful to find the path in life that truly feeds your spirit, the essence of who you are. When you find that, it's an easy decision.

I know, you still need to make a living but what if, just what if the saying, "Do what you love and money will come." is true? How will you know if you never do what you love? I'm feeling something coming to life inside me while I am at the river, if I can find my purpose I will trust I'm on the right path no matter how much money comes, or doesn't come. I'm getting closer.

Up And Down, Too!

You've stepped back, looked left and right, but wait! There's more! Look up and down, too! Laughing! This may seem so elementary, but the fact of the matter is, when you get hit with so many disappointments (talking about me here), you need to get back to basics and basics my friends, are elementary.

Make yourself aware of ALL of your resources. You have many and they may not seem related or connected in any way to that which you think you want. I'm finding that maybe the corporate administrative work world is where I want to be. Yes, I can be good at that kind of work and even enjoy the processes, but it's not what feeds my soul. I'm feeling a stirring inside me that is leading me into what feels like a dangerous and wonderful place. Dangerous and wonderful? How can that be? You tell me, how can that be?

Look Left. Look Right...

When you step away from that which you are so intently focused on, you can look left and look right. What do you see? No, look longer. You will see that there are other things lingering in your sphere of influence that may be able to provide for you. We live in a give and take world, so while we give, give, give, we have a responsibility to take, too.

Take something from the offerings around you so you can feed your emotional and mental resources. No more running on empty, there is simply no reason for it, except that you won't stop giving to take, even just a little.

Can You Not Work?

Why yes! I can hear you say but I wonder if it's true. As you know, I took the last three weeks off in an attempt to spend the last bit of summer vacation with Mason but also to step back from the work that I had been pushing, pushing, pushing to make, I don't know what happen (whatever it was that was suppose to happen - I've already forgotten).


The fact of the matter is, I let go of my self appointed assignments and spent lots of time at the river. While dipping my toes in the water basking in the sunshine, I was thinking about the things I wasn't succeeding at, the things that seemed unimportant that maybe had more merit than I was acknowledging, and new ideas were brewing. I can't not work. I know, that's a double negative but it is what it is! I can't not work. My work is a creative process as much as it is a business deal or administrative job. If I am breathing, I am working - it's just who I am.

Back, Side, Other Side, Over, Under, Around...

What's it going to be? If you are facing road blocks and have finally stopped pushing while getting getting nowhere it's time to make a new choice. We've all been there, hung up, disappointed and wanting to just call it quits. My question to you when you feel that way is this, "How will you feel in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years when you look in your own eyes in the mirror every day?" I'm facing this very situation and I know I will see this through even if we spend another thousand or two thousand dollars and don't get what we hope we are paying for. I can live with the money lost but not with the mystery of if it would have worked or not.

Find your way back, to the side, to the other side, over, under or around what ever is in your way. If quitting this particular path is in order, you'll know that and that's okay. Go with what you know and if it's not the road you're on, get moving on another road. Life is too short to sit idle!

There's Always Another Orange Road

When you are heading down one Orange Road and it's not going smoothly, I've already mentioned just pulling over and stopping. Let the dust settle and look around, lift your head up and see what's around you. Is there another path you can take around the pot hole laden road you are on? What about turning around and backtracking a bit to see what you might have missed with your eyes so intently focused on the direction you were going? See, there are so many options it's just a matter of if you choose to see them as possibilities.

While I Was At The River...

While I was at the river, something happened. An e-mail came from someone who had seemed less than instrumental in my earlier quest with an introduction to one of the very people I was pushing to meet. WOW! I sure didn't see that coming. Of course I didn't, I was feverishly pushing on these other things barely looking up to see my family at dinnertime. How could I see anything while trying to force an outcome in one single area?

While I was at the river, something else happened. The introduction I mentioned above brought another of my ideas (one that had been on the back burner) back to life. Something new is happening on several fronts, all while the old projects are not dead, just not moving forward at my desired pace.

And yet another thing happened while I was at the river. I reconnected with a woman who upon giving her my full, undivided attention I learned she has a background in film production and would love nothing more than to work with me on my Intentional Winning project. Really!

None of this is a guarantee of any kind, but it is clear that when I stepped back and let the energy around me be, there are so many more options than what I had my laser focus on - therein lies the message of this post, travel all your roads with open eyes, an open heart, and an open mind. There is way more available to you than you can imagine. Where is your river? Go there and let go... see what happens when you do.

Dealing With Disappointment

In every journey there are road blocks, stumbles and even moments of complete failure. It's those very things that are what make the journey interesting. I know, it sucks to find out the great idea that you have invested so much time and money in is not going to work like you thought it would, or learning that you thought your education was on track and now you find out your funding is not available an you need 12 more units to graduate.

The fact of the matter is, this is life. Shit happens and you have to be able to take in the new information, see where that puts you now, what are your new options, and adapt. No matter how crappy the news is, you're not quitting (even if you REALLY want to in the moment), so take a breath, take a break and if you're anything like me, giving yourself permission to stop working toward your goal will allow new ideas to surface.


I've been going through this very thing and I refused to stop. I kept pushing, pressing on, intending the answers I wanted to hear and not one thing went the way I wanted it to go. I finally broke down in mound of exhausted tears and stopped. I felt like quitting, I felt guilty for wanting to quit, I felt guilty for wanting to succeed! I struggled with the idea that I am so blessed with a wonderful husband, a vibrant son, great friends and excellent health... why on earth would I want more? This is the tape that kept playing in my head while I wallowed in what I felt like was failure after failure. I stopped working on all of it and went to the river near my house. Mason and I jumped off big rocks, skipped little rocks, and played in the water. It was just what the doctor ordered!


While I was playing in the river with Mason, something happened.

...to be continued.

Surrendering Is Not Giving Up

This is something that had me perplexed for years! I felt that if I were to surrender that I was quitting or giving up - not so! To surrender is to let go and let be. In my mind, it falls in line with the old adage, "I may have lost this battle but I have not lost the war." And it's not just in the negative, sometimes it's necessary to surrender your heart to allow love to come.

The way I see it, surrendering is turning the power switch off. The power you give to the push, the pull, the fight, the angst, the struggle, resisting. Just because you stop fighting does not mean you are not regrouping to come back with more energy, and better ideas about how to confront the things that need your attention. Surrendering is not giving up, it is letting go and letting be. Surrender to something today and see how ready you are to come back traveling a different Orange Road in much less time than you might think.

Setbacks In Progress

Making your dreams come true is not always easy, even when you have an Intentional Winning mindset. As you get started down the Orange Roads, there will still be setbacks. Remember, Orange Roads are not the most direct, easiest or least expensive - but they are still on the way to where you want to go.

I was recently on multiple journeys and was sure one would come to fruition. Not only did they all dead end, I got the news that each one was a no go four days in a row! Talk about rejection, I was crushed and then kicked while I was down. I questioned my dreams, my ability to make them come true and even whether I was worthy of them. Can you believe that? Of course I am worthy of my dreams, and you are too - your dreams for you, you know what I mean!

There are several things you can do when you get hit with these kinds of road blocks and that is what we are going to cover this month, how to stay on track when it feels like you are going about it all wrong. For the most part, if you long to do something and have for many years, I feel there is something organic about why you are drawn in that direction. We all need to take a break and regroup so let's look at ways to do just that and get back on the road to wherever it is we are going.

Graduation Time!

We've spent the month of July looking at how you can fulfill your dream of going back to school and getting your degree, did any of the ideas resonate with you? I know I learned so much just looking for Orange Roads for all of you. Congratulations on your education graduation!

I'm back in school and this information already has me investigating avenues or money to pay for classes beyond the obvious and easy to obtain. Hopefully all of you have visited the FAFSA web site and are getting your ducks in a row to start school soon!

Next month I have something a little different in mind. We usually look at dreams not come true and find ways to bring them to life. August will be a different spin on how to make our dreams come true. Join me, won't you?