back: Sarah B, Cat, Jill, Dawn Marie, Sue; middle: Christine, Lupe, Lisa, Pamela, Sarah J; front: Cindy

Inspiring thoughts, ideas and information provided by women business owners.

The purpose of Keystone Women's Circle is to unite, support and promote women business owners. A keystone is the stone in an arch that binds all others in place. In a circle of stones, every stone is a keystone. We believe that together we can create a foundation, not of brick and mortar, but of relationships and mutual support, enabling all of us to prosper.


Tuesday, July 26, 2011

It's official.  I am the mother of a teenager. I know it is hard to believe that my oh-so-young-looking-self has a thirteen year old, but my son had a birthday on Sunday throwing me into the club of Moms of teens. I have mixed emotions about this.  On one hand, its only a number, but on the other it is a harsh slap of reality that as each year goes by, he is that much closer to becoming an adult.  So I will do my best to cherish each moment in the next several years, and help guide him along a path that will insure a wonderful future as he creates his adult life.  The terms "cut the apron strings" and "cut the umbilical cord" come to mind, but for me it is going to take baby steps so today I am only willing to sever the strings ever so slightly!

Wish me luck and patience!

Lisa Fahey
www.speikercompany.com

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Self Comfort

Relaxation can be a tricky thing. Many of us (myself included) have this false belief that relaxing is a waste of time and that there is always something better to do.

Everyone needs moments where they don't have to think or do and can just simply be.  For a lot of overweight people, food is the only luxury they give themselves.  It's the only way they know how to take care of themselves.  It's how they find comfort among all the stress and chaos of everyday life.  In between running the kids to activities, jobs, housework, etc...  That donut, candy bar, chips, or ice cream  Is sometimes the only break they get.  It's the only way they know to give themselves some much needed comfort.

What do you enjoy doing that can give you comfort?  For me I like to read romance novels.  It's a guilty pleasure and it's something I find time to do every day, even if it's just a chapter.  It's how I can escape for a little while and not worry or think about what needs to get done.  It's a healthy distractor. I highly encourage everyone to find something, no matter how small to do for themselves everyday (for at least 15 minutes).  A healthy distractor.  Cause we all need breaks.  And eating unhealthy foods to take care of emotional needs in the long run is just going to hurt you.  Here are some ideas:
  • read
  • Watch a TV program
  • Garden
  • Play a computer game
  • Go for a walk
  • Draw
  • Take a class (for fun) and than practice
  • Learn an instrument
Whatever it is, it should be enjoyable to you and something you look forward to doing. Have fun finding new ways to comfort yourself.

Happiness...
Sarah Bran de Leon
www.calmwatershypnosis.com

Friday, July 15, 2011

Rain

Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, its about learning to dance in the rain.
Author unknown

I woke up to a river running through our yard this morning!





Well here we are just hours before the highly anticipated town celebration begins.  BBQ Days is in its 53rd year and I have not been around for NEARLY all of them but for the 20 or so years I have attended, I never remember the first day looking like today.  Hopefully Mother Nature is giving us a good soak and will open up blue skies for us soon that will last through Monday morning.  But if not, put on your wet suit and make the best of it! I for one would enjoy dancing in the rain - any of my keystone sisters want to join me????

No matter what life throws at you, catch it and make it fun!


Lisa Fahey
www.speikercompany.com

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Women Empowerment, What Opportunities Are You Missing Out On?


In the book "Secrets of the Millionaire Mind"   by T. Harv Eker  there is a neat story which goes like this:
There was a man who is walking along a cliff and all of a sudden loses his balance, slips and falls off.  Fortunately, he has the presence of mind to grab on to the ledge, and he's hanging there for dear life.  He hangs and hangs and finally yells out, "Is there anybody up there who can help me?"  There's no answer.  He keeps calling and calling, "Is there any body up there who can help me?"  Finally this big bellowing voice calls back,  "This is God.  I can help you.  Just let go and trust."  Next thing you hear:  "Is there anybody else up there who can help me?"

Lesson of the story according to T. Harv Eker is that if you want to move to a higher level of life, you have to be willing to let go of some of your old ways of thinking.  I would take it a step farther and add that if you believe that there is only one way to accomplish something,  you miss out on other options or routes.  If you believe the only way to survive is to climb up or have someone pull you up from the top you miss other opportunities such as an exhilarating dive into the water below.


Happy Diving
Sarah Bran de Leon
www.calmwatershypnosis.com

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Laughter Really Is The Best Medicine


I was sent this from a former client.  Being that I'm a hypnotist, I enjoy a good hypnotist joke.  I have to say that I was feeling a little left out, cause it seemed that lawyers were getting all the jokes!  If anyone else knows any good jokes, please send them my way.  Laughter really is the best medicine.

It was entertainment night at the Old Folks Home.
Claude the hypnotist exclaimed: 'I'm here to put you into a trance; I intend to hypnotize each and every member of the audience.'  
The excitement was almost electric as Claude withdrew a beautiful antique pocket watch from his coat. 'I want each
 of you to keep your eye on this antique watch. It's a very special watch.. It's been in my family for six generations.' He began to swing the watch gently back and forth while quietly chanting:
'Watch the watch, watch the watch, and watch the watch...'
The crowd became mesmerized as the watch swayed back and forth, light gleaming off its polished surface. Hundreds of pairs of eyes followed the swaying watch, until, suddenly, it slipped from the hypnotist's finger 
And fell to the floor, shattering into a hundred pieces.
'SHIT!' said the Hypnotist.
It took 3 days to clean up the Old Folks Home!

Happiness...
Sarah Bran de Leon

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Work or Play and the To do list


The other night while I was putting my daughter to bed, I noticed a paper on the floor, a list.  As I read it I had to smile.  It was a to do list, of things she wanted to do that day.  It read:
  1. Play with buddy
  2. play a game
  3. play with buddy more
  4. play in my room
  5. draw
  6. have a picnic outside
  7. play outside
  8. scribble
  9. have fun
  10. have more fun
Somewhere along the line, I have forgotten to have fun.  When was the last time I took a whole day to just have fun?  I can’t even remember.  My list goes something like this:
  1. Make breakfast
  2. do dishes
  3. blog
  4. make lunch
  5. do dishes
  6. mow the lawn
  7. take kids to karate
  8. make supper
  9. do dishes
  10. go to bed
And that’s on my day off!  I am going to take a lesson from my daughter and try and have more fun.  What I was thinking was to take a day a week or maybe even half a day to play and have fun.  I don’t think it’s realistic to expect everyday to be fun, but life can’t be all work either.  There has to be a healthy balance in there somewhere.  As I find my balance, good luck to you as you find yours.
Health and happiness…
Sarah Bran de Leon

WWW.CALMWATERSHYPNOSIS.COM

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Another Beautiful Day

I hope you all had a great 4th of July weekend!  I was lucky enough to enjoy some wonderful family time in Cross Lake.  Yesterday was another beautiful day and I was so surprised to see this cloud when I stepped out of an evening meeting.










The rain came down hard, but only for a short while and then the sky was full of sunshine and for a while, a rainbow made a grand appearance.  Unfortunately I was not able to take a picture of the rainbow.  Today  we are blessed with yet another amazing day, and I hope you all get to enjoy it!
Farmers Market today 3-6 pm!

Lisa Fahey
www.speikercompany.com