Memorial Day Montage

My husband, Roger, and I were in Washington, DC this Memorial Day Weekend.  We had never seen the World War II Memorial, so off we headed early on Saturday morning.  We had no "official" plans but as soon as we arrived, we quickly observed numerous state pillars surrounding the beautiful pools and fountains of the newest memorial in the national park.  Roger's father had valiantly served in WWII, so we decided to look for the Ohio pillar--our home state--and take a picture of it.  Slowly we circled the entire rim of the monument, between the Pacific and Atlantic entrances, reading the inspirational quotes of generals and Presidents who served our country during that time.  The loss of almost 500,000 men and women during that war was staggering.

When we arrived at the OHIO pillar, a group of WWII veterans from the Dayton area were positioned in front of their state memorial while family and friends took their pictures and honored them.  Compelled by overwhelming gratitude, Roger and I moved toward the men and began to shake their hands.  I include their picture in this post because they represent ALL of the parents and grandparents--men and women--who selflessly served our country, preserving our freedom and liberty.  With each hand I shook, tears welled in my eyes.  The last man took my hand and kissed it, which made me laugh!  I felt loved and so did they.

Please send or give your love and appreciation this Memorial Day to those who served our country and to their relatives who loved them and perhaps even lost them as they gave their lives for us.

Be encouraged,

Becky

PS More photos of the WWII Memorial, Lincoln and Korean War Memorial are posted on my FB page: BeckyTirabassi.

OHIO can save you time!

Tracy Middleton of Women’s Health Magazine recently revealed that OHIO, right turns, and 5/25 are catchy titles for time-saving tips that anyone can make.  The beauty of these "little changes" is the result: less time spent on the road, at work, on the phone, or in the office!  

Have I caught your interest yet?  

Three of her suggestions give both a push and proof that anyone can start saving time today.  

Idea #1: OHIO -- Especially helpful for those of us who have oodles of email and voice mails to sort through, the rule is: “OHIO: Only Handle It Once.”  Organization expert Peter Walsh of Enough Already!  suggests, "Decide immediately what to do with each message the first time you look at it or listen to it, so you won't waste time going back to it later."  He adds, “Do any 2-minute task right away.”  (I, too, encourage my coach-ees to time their tasks because it usually proves that chores/tasks rarely take as long as one imagines!)

Idea#2: Right Turns -- UPS, the delivery service, decided to remove time-wasting left turns from their drivers’ commutes by rerouting them to use more right turns.  Guess what happened?  Drivers spent 10% LESS time on the road idling in front of busy street, left-hand turn signals.  

Idea#3: Take 5 Every 25 -- When working on an intense project, taking a 5-minute break every 25 minutes will boost your productivity.  How can you implement this right away? Time Management expert, Francesco Cirillo teaches and trains international groups to improve their productivity using a kitchen timer!  

If you’re looking for a few little changes to make in your daily routine that will give you big results-- more family time, less stress, a longer coffee break, and more productivity at work--why not give OHIO, right turns and 5/25 a try this week?  Feel free to report back your results or post a few of your own little "time-saving" changes!

Be encouraged, 

Becky

Change Our Culture One Body, One Conversation at a Time

In the past week, body-enhancing procedures for young girls is making big news, such as injecting botox into 8-year old beauty pageant contestants and toning torsos with tennies for tweens.  

As a speaker and mentor to teens and twenty-somethings, I believe, as a nation, we have successfully demanded that our young generation of girls and women attain a certain look that is impossible to achieve without some form of starvation, obsessive physical activity, or engaging in plastic surgery or cosmetic procedure in order to enhance or reduce ones size or weight.  And even more alarming is the amount of bullying that is prevalent in our schools toward those who are not considered popular or “lovely.” 

This week’s new stories may sound outrageous, but they don’t seem to be going away.  Teachers and parents will be the first to tell you that they are quickly becoming trends.  

So rather than ignore or shy away from the reality of these and other “hot topics”--such as hyper-texting, getting “high” on legal substances and drugs, or sexual abuse and binge drinking on college campuses--why not make one little change in the way you view these topics and become educated and interested in them?  

Why not initiate a conversation with the students in your life to find out what they really think about these and other stories?  You’ll either be surprised at their resolve to push-back against culture or saddened by the lure of culture to diminish a young person’s uniqueness, individuality, or self-image.  The big result?  You might change someone’s mind about how they look at themselves by affirming and complimenting them.  You might even save a life.  I mean this sincerely...you never know when your comment or concern for a neighbor, relative, co-worker, or service helper can redirect their path on any given day or night.

Be encouraged,

Becky

PS. Little Changes Big Results Blog, begun in August 2009, will continue to be the home of my weekly “challenge,” posting each Monday morning.  Additionally, my new radio show, Little Changes Big Results® Radio will stream daily, live at KPRZ.com or be archived Monday - Friday by 5 pm PST at its own, new home.  I invite you to “follow” that blog and receive the daily link and post to hear or download apps the show for your cell phone!  Just click here to follow or listen.  Most of all, I invite you and your friends to tune in or call in during the "live" show, 1:30-2 pm PST at 866.577.2473.  

Memories of a Mother

Last year on Mother’s Day, I reluctantly posted my blog, Red Flags of Abuse on College Campuses. Today is the one-year anniversary of the death of a young UVA Women’s Lacrosse player who was found murdered in her dorm room by her ex-boyfriend.

One year later, on this Mother’s Day I awoke to the current story of how Yeardley Love’s parents, family, coaches and teammates have started a foundation in her honor, to encourage young women athletes to go after their dreams. One Love Foundation's purpose is to promote strength of character and service in young athletes.

As a wife, mom, radio host, author and speaker, I believe that honoring the memory of one young girl, whose life ended in tragedy but whose legacy will be remembered through this foundation, is part of every mother’s responsibility. Being a concerned mentor—not just to our own terrific kids—but to every child whose path crosses ours—is my challenge to every man or woman who reads this blog. How? When you see signs of trouble, ask a question. When you hear friends of your children talking about someone or something they fear, get involved. Don’t think others’ children are not your problem. Today’s young generation needs and wants mentors, coaches, and spiritual parents. Let's be there for them.  It's just a little change we can make in our attitudes and actions that will have a big result!

Be encouraged to make a difference right where you live...

Becky

A Loyal, Royal Wedding--I couldn't resist...

As a woman, wife, and mom, I just can’t resist writing about the royal wedding of this past week. Though I was out of town for most of the week on business, I awoke on Friday morning at home and my first thought (being on the west coast) was, “I want to see her dress!”

Weddings are a consistent theme in the life of the Tirabassi’s! Roger, my husband, is a pre-marital pastor at one of the largest churches in our area—with a huge population of under-30’s, all of whom are in that stage of life where they would love to find their soul mate! In fact, he leads “Seriously Dating or Engaged” classes for 100’s of couples every quarter in southern California, using the materials he has developed in over two decades of counseling and marrying couples!

This royal wedding was a stellar specimen of all the time, energy, and family interaction it takes to lead up to the ceremony of holy matrimony, not to mention the plethora of details and decisions that will consume the hours, days and months before the actual wedding day.

That is why Roger (and our church) requires a couple to receive Seriously Dating or Engaged Pre-marital training or counseling before they walk down the aisle! (Click here to listen to our interview on Dr. Laura’s Show regarding Roger's classes and workbook.)

Those of us who have been married AT LEAST ONE WEEK will be the first to tell you that marriage has a unique way of changing things! What you thought was funny or cute about your spouse before marriage, often becomes a little irritating or frustrating after marriage! That’s why taking a personality profile, learning communication skills and drills, preparing a couple’s budget and discussing family of origin can be SO helpful to newlyweds! It gives couples sound, proven tools for navigating their first big argument or disappointment.

This royal wedding reminded the world that a wedding is sacred. It is a commitment made in front of God and others. It is and has been called “holy matrimony” for many centuries.

Here is my “little changes, big results” challenge to you after enjoying this week’s royal wedding:

Today, if you’re married, why not renew your wedding vows in front of God and others? "I, ___, take thee, ___, to be my wedded husband/wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my faith/myself to you."

Today, if you’re seriously dating or engaged, I encourage you to attend a pre-marital course or ask a mentor couple to take you through a workbook such as Seriously Dating or Engaged. Remember, statistics show that between 15-20% of engaged couples don’t get married—and that’s okay! It’s better to do the (sometimes) difficult “couples” work before marriage than to find out after marriage how unresolved differences can be destructive.

Announcement: beginning May 2nd, between 1:30 and 2 pm PST DAILY, you can ask Roger or me a question--LIVE--on air in San Diego or online at KPRZ.com -- listen in and call-in at 866.577.2473 or Tweet us and Facebook us BeckyTirabassi. We'll take your calls and questions on all things to do with relationships: marriage, dating, parenting, etc.

Be encouraged,

Becky