Recently we realized that we had completley fulfilled all of the wedding vows we’d written and spoken 20 years ago. Now it was time to write new marriage vows and so we did.

We wrote them separately keeping them private until last night when we went out to dinner.

After dinner, dessert, and deeply connected conversation we then held hands and took turns reading our vows to each other.

And today much impacted by those vows - all good - because we took them very seriously.

If you are single, is it time for you to write vows to yourself about what kind of person you are looking for and what you are willing to do to meet that person?

If you are in a committed relationship, is it time for you to write new vows to advance your life together much as we did?

The other night we had the pleasure of seeing “LOVE” - the Beatles inspired Cirque de Soleil production here in Las Vegas. Our friends Gary and Joan were in town from New York and invited us to be their guests.

It was a wonderful extravaganza, yet the most touching moment was the final tribute to the Beatles themselves with their song “All You Need Is Love” playing in the background.

I (Judith) left the theater with tears still streaming down my face and Jim was pretty choked up too! Why? Because LOVE is such a powerful force. Yet we’ve all been tarnished and tainted in ways that make love not just natural and normal - but too often threatening and elusive.

And then we settle for the facade of love, the pretense - and rob ourselves and others of the real thing.

So on this eve of Mother’s Day, please don’t just go through the motions as you plan how you’ll honor you and your mother. Make this a time to check deep inside to see what kind of real love you experience in the world - or not - that you experience as a result of your mother. What kind of REAL LOVE do you have for yourself as a result of your mother? Then, after considering these questions - live your Mother’s Day celebration staying true to yourself - to that LOVE for you that’s all important as you go forward in your life.

>>> Want support?

Check out http://www.judithandjim.com/changeyourlife

Especially “Mothering the Girl Within,” “Fathering the Boy Within” and “Womanhood, Power and Identity”

You want more success in your life, right?

And yOu’ve no doubt read or heard the success masters cheering you on
to “live your passion,” “follow your dream,” and allow the power of desire to bring you the success you want.

So have we. Plenty of times.

And plenty of times all we could see in our own life was what we called “creeping incrementalism.” You know, that quarter of an inch improvement - beensy beensy bit by bit.

So it is with great excitement that we share with you
the huge success leaps that continue in our life ever
since the success of our first “Bridging Heart and
Marketing” conference Feb 22-24, 2008.

What has made the difference? What’s the Universe
responding to?

Read the rest of this entry »

Our apologies for being behind in our blog posts here.

Ever since the super success of “Bridging Heart and Marketing I” in February we’ve been challenged by that success! Yes - challenged by success. And on many levels - which we will use this blog to devote our attention to from now on.

On the surface, we’ve been challenged by a huge increase in business phone calls, deadlines, and conflicting priorities. On deeper levels - well, we’ll go into that in future posts.

For now - we want to share this piece by Seth Godin on Facing Resistance

“There’s a myth that all you need to do is outline your vision and prove it’s right - then, quite suddenly, people will line up and support you.

“In fact, the opposite is true. Remarkable visions and genuine insight are always met with resistance. And when you start to make progress, your efforts are met with even more resistance. Products, services, career paths … whatever it is, the forces for mediocrity will align to stop you, forgiving no errors and never backing down until it’s over.

“If it were any other way, it would be easy. And if it were any other way, everyone would do it and your work would ultimately be devalued. The yin and yang are clear: Without people pushing against your quest to do something worth talking about, it’s unlikely it would be worth the journey. Persist.”

(Source: Seth Godin’s blog)

For over 25 years our friends Paul and Sarah Edwards had worked as experts in “Working From Home.” In fact they wrote 16 books on how to choose a secure, meaningful career and to create an enjoyable, comfortable lifestyle. But like most people they were noticing that it’s becoming harder to do. So they wanted to find out what people were doing to adjust to the challenges of today’s economy and still preserve their dreams, or maybe even pursue a lifestyle they much prefer.

So, choosing to step out beyond the narrow confines of their own previous career, three years ago they began interviewing people.

And they were surprised and inspired by the imaginative and innovative options they discovered. In their new book “Middle-Class Lifeboat: Careers and Life Choices for Navigating a Changing Economy,” they share what they learned.

If this speaks to your need to step out beyond your current lifestyle or you know someone who would appreciate the recommendation - here’s more information.

www.middleclasslifeboat.com

Sometimes the smallest of events can make your day worthwhile. Here’s a real-life relatiionship story we just received from our friend Signe Dayhoff that we want to share with you.

Signe writes -

I had to take my mother to Petsmart yesterday. She wanted to get some bird and squirrel food and canned cat food. I retrieved the former for her but she didn’t want any help picking out the latter.

Consequently, I wandered over to where Watermelon Ranch, an animal rescue group, has cats and dogs for adoption within the store.

Anne, an official Watermelon Ranch adopter, and another women were trying to get a dog, that had recently had its hind legs amputated after being hit by a car, to use a doggie cart.

The pooch looked uncomfortable, anxious, and concerned. He wasn’t even trying to move in the contraption. They had been laboring for awhile coaxing the sad-eyed dog with treats … with no success.

I asked if they minded if I tried. They shrugged, said go ahead, but didn’t think he was likely to cooperate after just having been placed in the harness.

I talked intimately to the pooch, started scritching his head, then slowly showed excitement in my voice. Then I moved back a few feet, got down on my knees, slapped the floor, and used my best doggie encouragement voice. “Come on!” I said more excitedly.

The dog’s eyes shone. He started wagging his tail. Then he cautiously made two steps toward me. I hugged him and praised him. Walking 10 feet away, I repeated my playful beckoning routine.

The dog’s tail whipped the air. He raced toward me, like a newbie Indy driver, giving me a great big doggie smile as he scooted along.

I felt aglow, almost unbelieving, like a newly-announced MegaMillions lottery winner.

Later, just as Mother and I were about to leave the store, Anne put whipped cream and a cherry on top of the sundae. She signaled me from across the store front. Smiling, she nodded her head to the side, “And you were going to leave without saying ‘good-bye?’”

I looked down. Racing toward me was the pooch. He moved with the ease and confidence of one born with his new “legs.”

I felt a huge smile catch in my throat. “Come on, baby!” I called out, kneeling.

Like a kid experiencing pride in his first two-wheeler achievement, he rolled thirty feet across the tiled floor, past other customers, straight into my arms. The next minute we were a tangle of wiggly hugs, neck scritches, and doggie kisses – a moment you can’t manufacture but can joyously revel in.

*** To learn more about real love and real loving go to:

http://www.judithandjim.com/whatislove

We wish you a very Happy and Romantic Valentine’s Day! And the secret for making sure it’s “happy” and “romantic” - that’s simple but not always easy.

Because it’s in the little things - the special look, the tiny touch, the extra help at the end of a busy day. It’s in the “stuff” that’s easy to take for granted - especially when the sales ads for Valentine’s Day make it seem like nothing less then diamonds and champagne will do.

So today notice the little things. Cherish each other for all the ways you bless each other’s lives every day. And enjoy the very real romance you create together!

The season of high romance is here! Yet, Valentine’s Day may be the most dangerous day of the year for love and romance.

Since people receive no formal training or preparation for how to date effectively or how to create passionate long-lasting marriages, all too often the full burden of our desire for love and romance falls on Valentine’s Day — with Cupid, The Florist and The Candy Maker trying to fill the bill. Then, when fantasies of perfect romance, perfect gifts, perfect love-making collide with reality — love loses out to broken dreams and broken hearts.

Can you take the danger out of Valentine’s Day? YES!!! Because it’s the way you treat their differences that either makes or breaks love!

Read the rest of this entry »

Okay - you know we don’t usually write about movies. But we went to see “Bucket List” Friday night and it was so good, so compelling that we encourage you to go see it (if you haven’t already.)

Why?

Because, above all else, it’s about love. Real love.

No, it’s not about romantic love. Instead it’s about the very real love that develops between two heart-encrusted men who are “of an age.” It’s about their journey out of loneliness into heart-connection. And, most of all, it’s about the journey we all must make to come fully alive - by breaking out beyond the fear of being loved.

Read the rest of this entry »

Snce you probably received no formal training in how to date effectively or create a successful, long-lasting marriage, here are the five keys to creating a new intimacy, an emotional intimacy that takes you beyond sex-roles and techniques and tolerance, and moves you deep into the heart of a relationship that respects and values both of you.

1. Your partner is not you.
In every relationship there always are two distinctly different people. In the old intimacy, both people tried to get one another to match their fantasies. In the new intimacy, both people respect and work with the differences.

2. You and your partner co-create your relationship right from the beginning. You both are active participants. Neither one of you is powerless. In the old intimacy powerlessness was expressed through dominance or submission, leading to power struggles. In the new intimacy, both people know they have real impact and work
together to create necessary changes.

3. Curiosity about your partner is essential,
Curiosity is the sweetest aphrodisiac there is. We all want someone to recognize, understand and desire us for who we really are. In the old intimacy, relationships were largely shaped by acting out sex-role-performances. In the new intimacy, a sincere interest in the other person, how s/he is feeling, what s/he wants and needs, creates a deep, ongoing and fulfilling connection.

4. Conflict is unavoidable when two uniquely different people join there lives together. Fair fighting and creative conflict resolution honor your changing needs and keep the relationship healthy and growing. In the old intimacy, conflict is a dangerous win-lose situation. In the new intimacy, conflict is just a warning that something needs to change and a mutually beneficial resolution is the goal.

5. You must be able to receive the love that is given to you. Being loved is only meaningful when you can receive it. When you do, the love that comes to you will be sweet and warm and completely acceptable. In the old intimacy, people hid behind role playing, suffering chronic fear that “if you really got to know me” you’d — leave, laugh, reject me. In the new intimacy, both people know that love is expressed in many different ways and that learning to receive more and more love is a blessing to their growing intimacy.
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If you’re ready for more real romance every day, be sure to check out our Keeping Romance Alive 2-CD (and a wonderful bonus) package.

http://www.judithandjim.com/rp/main.html