Susan Boyle Encourages Us to Dream BIG

She just suddenly appeared one day, and people were saying that Susan Boyle had an amazing voice, but I had to hear it for myself. Not only is her voice amazing, but her story is as well.

Two lessons here, guys. One, looks can be deceiving, and two, believe in yourself even when no one else does.

Susan Boyle is alright with me. :)


Click here to watch her amazing performance.

Nicole

Monday Morning Mantra - 4/27

Good morning all,

Headed to Alabama for a keynote tomorrow, and I'm very excited. It will be nice to soak in the warmth there!

Here's a great mantra for the week:

"For me, female beauty has little to do with fashion and a lot to do with personal radiance. This comes from imagination, intelligence and freedom of spirit."
-- Sarah Charlesworth

This week, exude your personal radiance!

Click here to have our Monday Morning Mantras emailed directly to you!

Nicole

Freddie Mac CFO Commits Suicide

I saw the headline, and I couldn't believe it. After reading the vague details of the case early yesterday morning, I was struck with sadness. Freddie Mac's CFO, David Kellermann, 41, was found dead in his home. No one is exactly sure why he killed himself, but it wouldn't be a surprise if the recent saga with Freddie Mac was a factor.

I told my husband that I can't imagine what it must be like working at Freddie Mac these days, and Kellermann was right in the thick of things - handling the company's unstable finances. There must have been a tremendous amount of pressure on him, and it's understandable that he would have been affected emotionally.

Kellermann left behind a wife and a 5-year-old child who will never really know her father. Seeing as Kellermann was only 41-years-old and already a major officer at a huge company, he must have been a talented and intelligent individual who had a lot to offer the world.

There are so many things that can bring us down into a deep depression, but no matter what we're going through, nothing is worth taking our life. No problem is bigger than the gift of life. No pressure or pain outweighs the promise that a new day brings.

Good Money Advice

Hi guys,

This month on GS Radio we've been focusing on "Surviving the Economic Times." It's been a great topic during a really crazy period. I've been using some of the tips we've talked about like finding fun things to do for free and focusing on untapped sources of income. It's been great!

We were able to give away two great books from Lynette Khalfani-Cox, a money guru: Zero Debt for College Grads and Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom. (We're still giving away the second book! Want to win it? Sign up for The NicoleInk Newsletter by May 1st, and you'll be entered to win!)

And here are some more great words of wisdom on how much of our income we should be saving, spending, and putting toward bills!

- 10% of your income should be going to savings (any surplus should also be going to your savings)

- 30% of your income should be spent on fun stuff (getting your nails done, shopping, going out to eat, etc.)

- 60% of your income should be going toward your fixed bills (mortgage, rent, car note, etc.)

(Advice courtesy of Lynn Richardson author of Living Check to Monday: The Real Deal About Money, Credit & Financial Security)

Nicole

Monday Afternoon Mantra- 4/20

Hey there!

Have you ever had one of those Mondays that just completely escapes you!??! I can't believe it's already 3:00 pm! I guess the rain outside is deceiving because I had no concept of time. I say all of that to say, please forgive me for posting this so late in the day!

"People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within." -- Elizabeth Kubler Ross

This week, make sure that your light from within shines even in the darkest moments.

Have a great week!

Love,
Nicole

Great Kids in Indianapolis

I've just returned from my trip to Indianapolis to talk to teen parents there about Glori, and it was such a rewarding trip. Instead of preparing a speech and spending most of my time perfecting it, I was able to enjoy the hour and a half flight, and then every moment in Indiana was spent jet-setting between four public schools in two days.

Even though I was exhausted, I brought home two valuable observations:

1) When people tell me they love Glori and it has had an impact on their lives, it inspires ME to keep doing what I'm doing.

One young lady stood up at the end of a Q&A session and held back tears as she told me about how much Glori inspired her. I was so touched - so amazed - that I had to hold back my own tears. You just never know the impact that you have on people and that young woman - and all of the students that I met over the past two days - had a huge impact on me. They have inspired me in such a big way.

2) People working to support pregnant teens have a hard road and a thankless job.

The program facilitators for Future Promises are awesome. They are passionate about what they do, and they care about each student they serve. They want to see teen parents do well, and you see it in their interaction with these young people. I just want to applaud the work of people everywhere who are in this field. I know you don't get the recognition you deserve, and I know you aren't fighting for a "popular" cause, but I understand and appreciate the value of your work, and I thank you.

Feels good to be home though. Isn't it so true that when you're away from home - away from your family - you realize just how wonderful home is? Maybe that's the best part of my job and all of the traveling that I do. Every time I go away, I realize just how good I have it.

Nicole

Monday Morning Mantra - 4/13

Morning!

Right now, I'm on a plane to Indianapolis to meet some wonderful young ladies who have read Glori. I found this Chinese proverb and thought it was a great encouragement for all of us:

"A diamond with a flaw is worth more than a pebble without imperfections."

This week, don't obsess over your flaws. Realize that even diamonds have flaws and - guess what - they're still diamonds! You're a diamond. Don't forget it.

Have a great week, guys!

Nicole

Reflections on Good Friday

It's Good Friday, and I'm thinking of what happened on this day. I'm thinking about death and what it brings into our life - sadness, grief, worry, emptiness.

When my Mama D died - a woman who was like a second-mother to me - I remember feeling this tremendous void. I realized that I couldn't call her anymore. I couldn't pick up the phone and hear her voice. She would never again say those encouraging words when something was going wrong for me. I couldn't feel her arms around me or see her face brighten up when my daughter walked into the room. I realized that she would never see me get married, have another child, or do all of the things I told her I wanted to do with my life.

Death is something I don't think we'll ever understand. It is an ever-present reminder that life is precious, and that we can't take one second of it for granted.

But on this day, I'm also reminded that in just a couple of days, we will celebrate Jesus' rise from death. This is something to look forward to. This is hope. And so even in death, there is hope. There is hope that some good will come of this passing or hope that this person is watching over us or hope that somehow we will carry on that person's legacy. Even in the worst moments - in the intense emotions of losing someone - there is always hope.

I miss Mama D dearly, but I know that she's proud of me. I know she is in a better place, and she isn't suffering anymore. That gives me so much hope for the future. Hope that I can pass on just a small fragment of what she gave me to others.

On this Good Friday, be reminded that there is always hope.

Happy Easter.

xoxo,

Nicole

Monday Morning Mantra - 04/06

Hi guys!

This week's Monday Morning Mantra is from Aldra Robinson, winner of Real Simple Magazine's Life Lessons essay contest. Robinson reflects on her experience as a unit secretary in the intensive care unit of a hospital and witnessing the passing of a 15-year-old girl after a vessel ruptured in her head. The parents of this young woman donated her organs thus saving the lives of four other people. Here's what she learned from the experience:

"I realized that regardless of the heartache, we may choose the moments in which we live. On that day, I learned that love creates a tremendous capacity for grace. And perhaps it is that grace that keeps us moving forward."
-- Aldra Robinson

This week, think about the tragedies in your own life, and how those experiences have taught you lessons in grace.

To read more about Robinson and her essay, please click here.

To have our Monday Morning Mantras emailed directly to you, sign up here.

Have a great week!

Love,

Nicole

Some Advice for Obama on Teen Parents

If you've read Glori, you know that I was a teenage mother. So the obstacles facing today's teen parents are still major concerns of mine. Healthy Teen Network just released a report on federal policy recommendations for the Obama administration to ensure the health and stability of teen parents and their families.

Let's hope The White House listens up!

Nicole

Little Health Tips That are Worth Gold

We just finished up our exploration of Spring: Renewal, Rebirth, & Restoration on "GS Radio" in March, which included topics surrounding our health and taking better care of ourselves. Exploring these topics really made me more aware of what I eat and the need for me to set aside time for relaxation. In preparing for the shows, I came across some tips that we weren't able to squeeze in, but I think they're grrrrrreat!


1. Wash your hands


I just had a conversation with my mom and sister about this very topic a few weeks ago. Don't underestimate the benefit of thoroughly washing your hands. Between working at the National Institutes of Health and marrying my obsessively clean husband, I have come to appreciate how important this is. We now keep anti-bacterial soap at every sink in the house along with a roll of paper towels and Nerissa knows that she should wash her hands as long as it takes to sing herself "Happy Birthday." We went from getting three or four colds each winter to practically none. So wash your hands - warm water, antibacterial soap, and for at least two minutes!

2. Don't be embarrassed to talk to your doctor about ANYTHING

When you have a symptom, ask. Catching things early can be the best prevention for serious issues down the line. If you don't feel comfortable, find another doctor who you can talk to.





3. Embrace laugh lines


I just had a birthday last week, and with every birthday come the jokes about getting older. I read about a recent study that indicated laugh lines are normally found on happier people. Instead of shuttering at yours in the mirror, feel good about them. They mean you laugh and smile a lot!




4. If you're really sick, don't go to work


Don't be a hero here. Not only will you infect other people, you'll delay your own recovery!







5. Turn the TV off when you sleep


Good sleep requires dark. If you're wondering why you never feel rested, this could be why.






I'm sure there's more that I'll stumble upon. As we learned during the show, a very simple way to commit to a healthier lifestyle is to educate yourself! So keep looking for golden nuggets like these!


Nicole