Rant Wednesday: 3 Things to Stop Saying if you Don't Mean It

Happy Wednesday, Everyone!

I hope your week is great so far. This week's rant is based on things we often say out of habit that we should stop saying in an effort to avoid confusion and hurt feelings.

These are things that most people have good intentions about but they say them without thinking, when they truly do not mean it.

Here are 3 examples:

"How are you doing?"

This is something that most of us say when greeting others. I do not believe anyone means any harm but have you ever noticed yourself saying this but not paying attention to how the person responds? Or, someone asks how you are doing but keeps walking? Also, most of us just say we are fine even when we are not because we know the person is being polite and likely does not have the time or capacity to listen or assist. We could all benefit from removing this from our greeting and only asking when we truly mean it.

"Can I bring anything?"

Often, when attending a party or dinner at someone's home a person will ask the host what they can bring. Now, if you mean it, then please ask because it is an awesome thing to do. However, if you cannot afford to bring anything or you know you really do not want to, then simply do not ask. This avoids stress and frustration. Do not ask just because it sounds good. If money is the issue and you still want to help, then instead of asking what you can bring, wait until you are there and ask how you can help in the kitchen or in some other way.

"I will be there."

I am sure we can do a whole new blog post on this one :) How many of us have committed to something without thinking and either cancel at the last minute, or decide not to show up. This is very inconsiderate to the person counting on you. It is better to think it through and not commit right away. Or, if something comes up, let the person know right away as opposed to not showing up.

What has your experience been with these things? Are there other sayings you can think of that we should all stop saying?

Monday Fitness: Bad Food is like a Bad Relationship

Happy Monday, Everyone!

I will jump right in. Ever since I allowed myself to eat whatever I wanted for my birthday weekend (which was quite a few weeks ago) I have remained with my old habits. These are habits that I had successfully broken for 4 months straight. My weight was down and I was feeling good.

But, I allowed myself to indulge, telling myself it was just for the weekend. It was fun while it lasted but my weight is back up and I feel the sluggishness in my body.

It wasn't until I stopped for coffee this morning and also got a burrito and a hashbrown that I realized that bad food is a lot like a bad relationship.

• It looks, smells, and tastes really good
• It is comforting (temporarily)
• It is cheap...LOL
• It is like an addiction
• It can leave you feeling bad physically and emotionally
• It is easy to run to
• It welcomes you back time and again
• It damages you
• It impacts what you see when you look in the mirror (both externally and internally)
• It doesn't stop until you have had enough

Can anyone relate?

So, what do we do about it (Other than airing it out in a blog)? :)

My Marriage Ebook Project - Are You Totally Winning At Marriage? It is Time to Teach and Guide Others

**Here is the notice I sent out to couples interested in contributing to my book, Totally Winning At Marriage. This book will be given out completely free once it is completed. If you would like to contribute, please see this notice and email me at michagoudeau@gmail or michaidanawrites@gmail.com with your responses***
 

I am so excited to provide you with the questions I am attempting to tackle in this book. I am even more excited for all of the people who will learn and grow as a result of your shared wisdom. My prayer is your feedback is the precise key needed to breathe life back into someone's marriage.

The question are listed below. Please answer what you are comfortable answering and do not answer anything you are uncomfortable with answering. 

Please review this with your spouse and give both of your thoughts. If one person has feedback on a question but the other does not, please indicate if it is the husband or the wife providing the answer.

Let me know if you have any questions and thank you so much! I pray God blesses you with 100 more years of winning marriage.

• People often say the key to marriage is communication and trust. While no one would disagree, please give a deeper answer as to the key(s) to winning at marriage.
• How did you choose your spouse? (Not necessarily how you met but feel free to share that if you would like to)
• How long have you been married? Is this your first marriage?
• Where do you feel marriages often go wrong?
• Have you ever considered quitting? What sustained you? (Not asking you to reveal all of your personal details and not trying to get you to revisit any painful memories. Think of what others would need to hear to help them)
• In your opinion, is there ever a valid reason for separation? For divorce?
• Give advice in the areas of faith, money, children/family, friends, and sex.
• What is your real and raw advice for couples who have lost their way in marriage, or who are consideration calling it quits?
• Husbands - Please provide words of advice specifically for other husbands.
• Husbands - Please provide words of advice specifically for wives, from a husband's perspective.
• Wives - Please provide words of advice specifically for other wives.
• Wives - Please provide advice specifically for husbands so they can hear from a wife's perspective.

Lastly, feel free to submit pictures with your submission. Also, feel free to provide information on your business or ministry and it will be included in the book.

If possible, please provide your submission within the next 14 days.

Thank you and I hope this is a great experience for you and your spouse. If you want to provide your social media or email addresses to be included for readers to reach out to you, then feel free to do that as well.

Love you guys,
Micha

World Suicide Prevention Day

I shared this on Facebook a few moments ago and wanted to share it here as well:

"I just read on Twitter that it is World Suicide Prevention Day...that being said I want you to know that if you need a reminder, here it is......You are loved, You are worthy, You are more than a conqueror, You are Needed, You have so much greatness in you that the enemy wants to keep you from realizing. Show the enemy he doesn't win you....not today, and not ever! If you are struggling, reach out. You are NOT alone. We are in this together! I love you...and more importantly God the Father loves you to a level we can never fully comprehend."

Guys, we are in a spirit war. Depression is real. But, the good news is that Love is also real and it conquers all! That is how we battle. We must show love now more than we ever have!

Please say a kind word to as many people as possible, every chance you get. You make a difference whether you realize it or not.

Be blessed!

Rant Wednesday: What if your clients saw/heard the way you treat your family or others......

Happy Hump Day, Everyone!

I will try and keep this one short and sweet. There are times when I deal with someone who, frankly, shocks me with the way they speak to their family or friends.

Or, I am shocked by the way they treat customer service professionals when they are calling or visiting a business, for assistance.

Of course, everyone can have a bad day and we all understand that there are often other things going on in a person's life that can drive their behavior.

But, you know the type of person I am referring to. The person that is rude and mean on a regular basis.

However, when that same person needs or wants something their personality can completely change. Recently, I found myself wondering again, about rude and mean people who run businesses or are in some type of sales position.

And my question to them would be: If your clients/prospective clients saw or heard the way you treat your family or the way you treat those in service positions, would it attract them to you or repel them from you?

Monday Fitness: Switch it up this year and get in shape BEFORE the holidays

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend.

This weekend got me to thinking about how we normally set a goal to get in shape AFTER the holidays. Why not switch it up this year and start getting in shape BEFORE the holidays?

It would serve three awesome purposes:

1) Most of the time we set the same fitness goals every single year, which means we are not sticking to those plans and resolutions. Switching it up could be the key.

2) Working on these goals now and seeing the progress will give you pause when it comes to the food decisions during the holidays.

3) If you do pick up a couple of extra pounds during the holidays, you would have already been down weight and the extra few pounds won't devastate your long-term plan.

Thoughts on this? What are you plans to get into shape BEFORE the holidays.

Who is down for switching it up this year?

#switchitup

They Grow Up So Fast

Photo by Judy Villa

This is my beautiful, firstborn child, Makayla Nicole. She just took her senior pictures with amazing photographer, Judy Villa. I had not planned on being in any of the pictures so I was super excited when Judy recommended we take this picture together.

It is so amazing how time flies. It seems like a quick flash in time between the time I was holding Makayla (in the picture we are holding) until now when she is 17 years old and ready to take on the world.

Makayla is a very strong, beautiful, smart, capable, and wise young lady. I am so ridiculously proud of the young woman she has become.

I was feeling a bit emotional when I saw this picture so wanted to share it with everyone and encourage you to embrace every moment because our children sure do grow up fast :)

#sheisnotababyanymore #blessedtobehermom #judyvillaisanamazingphotographer