6cccc212

Age is Ageless

vivian@viviancobbspeaking.com (Vivian Cobb) — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 20:57:07 GMT

Age is Ageless
By Vivian Cobb

ISSUE 995 - December 2024

What's the difference, you ask?

The difference is nuanced. A resolution and an intention are both focused on striving to change something about ourselves or our lifestyle choices.

However, a resolution tends to have a negative tone, emphasizing activities we are doing wrong, for example, overeating, eating or drinking items we shouldn't, or stopping unfavorable behaviors.

In previous years, I would resolve all the usual things: I'm going to lose weight, I'm not going to eat sugar, I'm going to take better care of my body, I'm going take better care of my mind, I'm going to take better care of my relationships, I'm going to do all these things that, when real life kicks in, are sometimes impossible to maintain.

If I didn't follow through on my resolutions, I accumulated massive guilt, which didn't help a thing. Did you know that by the end of the first week, 23% of people have quit their resolution, and by the end of January, 43% have given up? Only 9% of folks continue for the whole year.

Conversely, an intention tends to be more positive, emphasizing inspired change. It's more of a framework from which we wish to operate or a global goal that spans every aspect of our lives.

When I set my intention for the year, I include a word I can focus on to guide my approach. This word is my beacon, and I write it everywhere to keep it at the top of my mind. One year, I even wore a bracelet with my word on it.

My 2022 word was "Purpose". I devoted the year to discovering and living out my purpose. I went to classes, workshops, retreats, and masterminds, searching, honing, and finding my purpose. And it worked. My purpose is to influence and help people through connection and communication. Boom!

2023 was "Implement". My intent for the year was to implement all of my accumulated knowledge from previous years. I set what I learned about my purpose in motion and created my speaking business platform, arriving at my topic, which is that I help couples turn daunting money talks into meaningful conversations that strengthen their financial harmony. Boom!

2024 was "Accomplish". My intent was not only to implement but also to accomplish my goals. My goals were not only centered around speaking but also traveling. And I made it happen. I traveled extensively this past year, with trips all over the United States and internationally to Mexico, Bali, and Australia. It was amazing.

As you can see, this "Intent" frame of mind is broader than a specific resolution and much more attainable. Being guided by a mindset instead of a particular task has made all the difference in my life. It has allowed me to move forward, feeling purposeful and accomplished.

If you are wondering, this year's word is "Stillness." Don't get me wrong; stillness does not mean not doing anything—au contraire.

My mode of operation often involves overdoing, overthinking, and, therefore, feeling overwhelmed. Being in a mindset of stillness is about being open and receptive in the moment--taking the time needed to reflect and proceed with intention. Oh, there it is!

What is your word for 2025? What is your intention? If you still want to make resolutions, that's great. But if you want to try on something new that has a higher percentage of success, try setting an intention for 2025. I highly recommend it.

Resolutions Versus Intentions

vivian@viviancobbspeaking.com (Vivian Cobb) — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 17:45:43 GMT

Resolutions Versus Intentions

ISSUE 996 - January 2025

What's the difference, you ask?

The difference is nuanced. A resolution and an intention are both focused on striving to change something about ourselves or our lifestyle choices.

However, a resolution tends to have a negative tone, emphasizing activities we are doing wrong, for example, overeating, eating or drinking items we shouldn't, or stopping unfavorable behaviors.

Conversely, an intention tends to be more positive, emphasizing inspired change. It's more of a framework from which we wish to operate or a global goal that spans every aspect of our lives.

If you are wondering, this year's word is "Stillness." Don't get me wrong; stillness does not mean not doing anything—au contraire.

Daily Offerings

vivian@viviancobbspeaking.com (Vivian Cobb) — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 17:20:52 GMT

Daily Offerings

By Vivian Cobb

ISSUE 994 - November 2024

One of the joys of traveling to faraway lands is the wisdom and different perspectives we gain from other cultures.

I recently spent three weeks in Bali. Daily offerings of gratitude are ingrained in the Balinese people's culture.

The offerings incorporate the three life principles by which they live: harmony with God, harmony with humanity, and harmony with nature. Envision a small shallow dish or basket, often made of grass blades weaved together, filled with flowers, leaves, coins or bills, fruit, crackers, and anything they feel is valuable and worthy to be offered.

The containers are placed on their car dashboards, on the sidewalk in front of their businesses, in front of their homes, or wherever they deem appropriate. Even at my hotel, I found a fresh offering on the front porch of my villa (on my behalf, I suppose).

This simple daily practice keeps gratefulness top-of-mind for the people of Bali, making them some of the warmest, most welcoming, and genuinely joyful people I've encountered in my travels.

Gratitude is the act of recognizing and appreciating the positive aspects of life. Sounds simple enough, but as we hustle and bustle through our days and get caught up in all the negativity swirling around us, it can be challenging to stop and be grateful for what is positive in our lives and world.

In the United States, open any social media platform; there it is, a meme reminding us to be grateful for life and everything in it. I appreciate these reminders but am disappointed I need one.

Having gratitude in the forefront of our minds is more than just a nice and trendy thing to do. There are many benefits to our mental, emotional, and physical health if we adopt a gratefulness mindset.

When we focus on what we're thankful for, it reduces the negative emotions that can be contributors to depression and anxiety.

People who practice gratefulness have lower stress levels and experience more positive emotions, such as joy and optimism.

People who practice gratefulness also have greater life satisfaction. It fosters contentment and fulfillment. Instead of focusing on material possessions and striving for success or recognition, it helps us recognize abundance.

Abundance can be anything from that huge raise and promotion you've been waiting for to a subtle satisfaction, like how your clean sheets feel when you slip into bed at night.

The beautiful thing about practicing gratefulness is you can be grateful for anything and everything, anytime.

Being grateful helps us be better and nicer people. It creates a baseline of happiness and contentment that is almost impossible to displace, no matter what craziness surrounds you.

I saw it in action in Bali. For example, the traffic there is insane: scooters darting in and out, cars, pedestrians, dogs, chickens darting in and out, cars parked taking up the already limited and burdened road. It's complete chaos. Yet, there is no road rage, only an underlying mood of tolerance and community, and they drive with a smile.

It's a beautiful idea to make a daily offering of gratitude. Some do it with prayer, others with meditation or journaling. I'm curious if the physical act of placing worthy items in a little container reinforces the mindset. I'm going to try it.

No matter what form being grateful takes for you, I encourage you to lean hard into it right now. Because in our country, which is burdened with strife, stress, and divisiveness, we can learn something from our fellow humans in Bali.

Crystal Clear

vivian@viviancobbspeaking.com (Vivian Cobb) — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 14:48:23 GMT

Crystal Clear

By Vivian Cobb

ISSUE 993 - October 2024

For the last four years, I have focused on working with mentors and coaches to learn and grow as a writer and speaker.

As I close these latest affiliations, the question posed is the same as in previous collaborations: what's my next step?

It's nice they don't want to launch me into an unknown abyss. They want to ensure I have a plan as I continue my forward momentum.

I have not had a solid plan as I've parted ways with previous programs. I've unmoored my little Vivie boat from the safety of the dock, secretly knowing I'm unprepared as I cast myself out into the unchartered waters. I observe the shrinking shoreline while bravely waving goodbye with a hesitant smile, "Yes, I know what I'm doing, I'm fine." Not.

I toss around in the rough seas, feeling insecure and inadequate. Under the guise of needing to learn more, better, and newer information, I quickly find another dock. I jump to shore, abandoning the unknown adventure of the sea. In reality, I'm delaying implementing what I've already learned.

However, this time, for the first time in my life, my Vivie boat is sufficiently equipped, and my smile is genuinely confident. The seas are not rough and uncertain at this time. The opposite is true. My boat sits upon a crystal clear and calm ocean. I can see everything around me. I can see to the bottom sand of the ocean floor; I can see up to the heavens through a perfectly clear, blue sky and the best part is that I can see ahead of me as far as my desires can take me.

I see my tumultuous and varied past and embrace the lessons that have shaped me into my present self. I see my future as much as is humanly possible. As we all know, life's surprises frequently uproot our plans. Thankfully, that's part of the adventure.

My vision of what I want to do (speak all over the world), where I want to go (everywhere), and how I want to live (like a gypsy) defines this next chapter of my life and is unobstructed—a first for me. Woohoo!

I'm not saying I have all the answers because that's neither true nor necessary. The surprise is I've learned to embrace the adventure of uncertainty ahead. I haven't always thought this way. My unyielding obsession with getting it right before moving forward has been the constant quest for more mentors, coaches, programs, and groups.

My favorite part of this clarity is not about looking around me and seeing everything outwardly but realizing the clarity from within.

First and foremost, I've discovered in my Vivie boat excursion around the world that I'm not done yet. I have more to give to this world, but not under the systems, thoughts, or beliefs of others. Don't get me wrong; they have been unbelievably helpful. Those experiences have, like all the experiences of my life, shaped me.

The beauty is I'm finally ready to forge my course, not hindered by what I think others will think of me or what others want for or from me. This clarity is amazing, freeing, and a life-changing gift I have given myself.

If you need more clarity in what your heart desires, I strongly suggest you embark on a quest to find your crystal clear. Trust me, you won't regret it.

The Conversationalist

vivian@viviancobbspeaking.com (Vivian Cobb) — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 18:29:34 GMT

The Conversationalist

By Vivian Cobb

ISSUE 992 - September 2024

On our first date, my I-didn't-know-it-yet future husband and I talked for five solid hours. We talked about everything and anything. The second date was just like the first: endless conversation.

Immediately after our second date, he left town for almost three weeks. During this time away from each other, we talked every day, night, or both. In short, we couldn't get enough of sharing our stories and getting to know each other.

Like most partnerships, when we married, our conversations shifted from gaining knowledge about each other to becoming more practical and integral to running a household, maintaining a social life with friends and, because it was a second marriage for both of us, navigating a blended family. We could still talk about everything—almost.

The one conversation we did not have to the degree needed was about our finances. It's a common problem between partners, even business partners.

There are many reasons why it's difficult to have a conversation about money. Let's face it: like all other subjects with attached values, like politics, religion, sex, raising children, and which direction to hang the toilet paper, money conversations can rank high on the contentious scale.

Depending on our conditioning, societal or otherwise, most of the time, we enter relationships with differing values around money. These values were determined partly by our upbringing and witnessing our parents navigate their conditioning around money.

For example, was money a topic easily discussed in your family? Was it a guaranteed fireworks show? Was it discussed at all? Was one parent a spendthrift and the other one frugal? Did you come from a scarcity or abundance mindset? What generational message did you receive around money?

I grew up during a time when women were starting to be able to take control of their finances. I was fourteen when the Equal Credit Opportunity Act allowed a woman to have her own bank account without a man co-signing. It's only been 50 years since that was an option. So, my mindset around money is very different from that of a young woman who has never known such restrictions.

Factors like these combine to determine how we view our finances and determine our emotional relationship with money.

These factors also explain why having a conversation about money with our partner can be difficult and complex. Most couples don't want to enter that conversation out of fear of getting into some sort of fight. I know that's how it was for me and my husband. So, like many couples, we didn't go there.

Here's the danger of not having those conversations. When things went south, as when my husband died unexpectedly, I was blindsided by not knowing the condition of our finances or the condition of our assets (I didn't know our house was in foreclosure). The consequences of letting my conditioning and insecurities stop me from insisting on getting the knowledge I needed were devastating.

He also let his fears and insecurities about money prevent him from being forthright with me and telling me about the situation. We both contributed to the impending financial disaster that would befall me after his death. We are both to blame for something fixable if we had returned to how we started: talking about it.

Because of my experience, I raise awareness of the importance of having those conversations. I am passionate about helping couples talk openly and honestly about their finances before it's too late.

Limiting Beliefs

vivian@viviancobbspeaking.com (Vivian Cobb) — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 19:45:36 GMT

Limiting Beliefs

By Vivian Cobb

ISSUE 991 - August 2024

I have a confession to make. My limiting beliefs have constrained my potential for much of my life.

Have you ever heard the story about the elephant and the rope? A rope is tethered to a young elephant's leg to keep her from running away. The rope is strong enough when she is young to hold her. She still believes the rope will hold her as she grows, even though the elephant is mighty and could easily pull away. Her limiting belief keeps her from trying her strength.

Do you have any limiting beliefs that hold you back and keep you from trying? We all have them. It's just a matter of how much we give in to them.

Here are some examples of limiting beliefs:

I can't do (math, art, sports, or anything else you believe you can't do).
I'll never be (skinny, pretty, wealthy, successful, or anything else you believe you'll never be).
I'm not smart enough. I'm not creative enough. I'm not brave enough.
I'm too old, I'm too young, I'm too much.

You get the idea.

Although I have several, my most prominent limiting belief is that whatever I create must be perfect. I'm afraid to make a mistake.

I deal with my limiting beliefs by identifying and acknowledging them, questioning their validity, gathering evidence that they are not true, reframing my thinking around my limiting beliefs, and finding strategies to get over my bad self.

I'll show you what I mean. Let's take my issue with perfectionism.

First, I acknowledge the belief that whatever I create has to be perfect before I show it to anyone. This belief stems from my fear of making mistakes, which might result in embarrassment or shame. It is a deep-rooted belief that started in my childhood. Although I acknowledge all this, does it make it go away? No.

So, I now have to question the validity of my belief. I ask myself if it is true that what I create has to be perfect. In case you are wondering, my answer is no. Again, does it stop me from believing it? No.

I dig deeper. I acknowledge how stifling this belief is to my creativity and productivity. Throughout my life, it has stopped me before I even started. How sad is that?

It's time to reframe my thinking around this belief. For example, I heard someone say that done is better than perfect. That rang true for me. Getting tasks done is much more important than having them be perfect, especially when your business depends on it. I remind myself that there is no "perfect" and that doing my best is the highest achievement I need to reach. I'm tired of stopping myself because of my fear, and I remind myself that my idea of perfect will not be someone else's vision of perfect. It's the idea, the message, or the outcome that matters. Whew, I talk to myself a lot.

Perfectionism is an ongoing battle, and I wish I could tell you I have overcome it. I have not. However, I have changed my mindset to the point where I don't stop before I start; I get things done to the best of my abilities, and I will release my work into the world even if I don't think it's perfect. Ha! (I won't lie; it hurts a little bit).

The Genius In Us

vivian@viviancobbspeaking.com (Vivian Cobb) — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 17:10:49 GMT

The Genius In Us

By Vivian Cobb

ISSUE 990 - July 2024

I've been in Minneapolis, Minnesota for a couple of weeks. It's been quite the change of scenery and climate from Colorado's mountains and dry heat.

It hasn't been as hot temperature-wise, but wow, that humidity is something else. And lots of rain! I lived in Dallas, so I know humidity, and I don't miss it at all. After 31 years in Colorado, I'm acclimated and love the low humidity.

The other thing that I love in Colorado is my hair because when I go to a humid climate, with these natural curls of mine, I get humidity hair. Even full of products, my hair breaks through in humidity. It says, "No, you are not going to hold me down; I am going to frizz; I don't care what you do."

When I lived in Dallas, in high school, my nickname was Electric Viv because the kids thought it looked like I put my finger in a light socket. Zap! This visual is brought to you by the cartoon industry.

Moving on to the highlight of being in Minneapolis. There are many great things to do here, but one of my favorite things was going to Paisley Park, the house and studios of the late rock star Prince.

I hate to admit this, but I am a late Prince bloomer. I started appreciating him and his music just a few years ago. He wasn't on my radar when I was younger. I was familiar with his mega hits but knew very little about him and his genius.

Visiting where he lived and created his music was fascinating. Learning what a genius the man was musically and how much creativity he had—oh my gosh, it was stunning to see. Did you know he had so many songs in him that he not only wrote for other artists but spearheaded the creation of other bands so he would have outlets for his music because he couldn't perform all those songs himself?

Imagine having that much inside of you: genius, passion, and creativity. We all have that in us to some degree, but those of us who find it early in our lives, what a blessing. You know, those little kids who know they want to be a doctor in second grade and then become one. Or people who love math, like my son, Chris, loves math. You should hear him talk about math. I have no idea what he's talking about, but I'm riveted because he's so passionate about it. And guess what? He teaches math and loves it.

Or the people who hear music in their heads and can write songs from a very early age, like Mozart, Prince, and Taylor Swift. (Yes, I went there).

Even though getting the download early in life is a gift, finding your genius and passion anytime is always possible. If you have that little thing in you that makes your heart and soul sing, that's what you need to be pursuing. Whether young or old, following a dream or enjoying a passion gives meaning and joy to our lives.

Look at me, for example. I've found my gift for speaking. I love it so much; it lights me up when I share my stories. It also helps others, which is the icing on the cake.

Going to Paisley Park was truly inspirational for me. It reminded me of my passion and motivated me to keep going. I encourage you to find your genius and keep going, too.

Lifeblood

vivian@viviancobbspeaking.com (Vivian Cobb) — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 17:14:03 GMT

Lifeblood

By Vivian Cobb

ISSUE 989 - June 2024

The crimson liquid snakes its way through the translucent tube as I watch, fascinated by my blood's deep and rich color.

This thought pops into my head: Once again, I'm giving my essence, hoping it will save someone's life or make their wellness journey easier. I am a giver, after all, so why not give my blood?

I first gave blood at a blood drive my high school had back in the 1970s. We received a lecture on the importance of giving blood and how meaningful it was to the medical community. We also learned that type O negative was the blood type most needed because it's universal and is given to all blood types. Unfortunately, O can only give to O.

This information made perfect sense, and the process seemed relatively easy. My having type O negative blood, and my desire to contribute to my community, even at the tender age of 17, helped me make up my mind. I was sold.

In my first year of college, another blood drive came up at the University of Texas. I didn't think twice about donating again and went to get in line. However, my giving spirit was thwarted. I was rejected due to my weight. For my height, the minimum requirement was 110 pounds. They weighed us on sight, and I failed. I was only 105 pounds. I was heartbroken.

I was not eligible to give blood for years. My metabolism and activities stayed ahead of my calorie consumption. (That is definitely no longer an issue, darn it!).

During the years of having young children, I got phone calls to donate, but I always declined. I was already giving enough of my energy and myself away to my little ones and feeling depleted all the time; psychologically, the thought of giving away my blood was a hard no.

It wasn't until 2020, after I contracted COVID-19 so early in the game and recovered, that the blood center approached me. They asked if I would be willing to donate my platelets so I could pass on my immunity to the virus to healthcare workers to help keep them safe.

It was long before the vaccine was available, and even though they didn't know if it would be successful, they were trying anything at the time.

Without hesitation, I volunteered and reentered the blood donation pool. As soon as I was cleared of any virus repercussions, mainly getting off oxygen, I went to the Vitalant Blood Donation Center to do my part. I had never donated my platelets before. It wasn't much different than giving blood; it just took longer as there was the process of returning my blood to me.

A few weeks later, I received a letter informing me that my platelets had been donated to healthcare workers in El Paso, Texas. They expressed their appreciation and the importance of my donation, which made it real.

Without a global health crisis in place, someone needs blood or platelets every two seconds in the U.S. The average red blood cell transfusion is three units. If you're in a car accident, you could need up to 100 units of blood. Blood and platelets cannot be manufactured; they must come from donors.

Only 7% of the population is O negative. This blood type is always in great demand and is often in short supply.

How do you give of yourself? If donating blood is one way you have considered, I strongly encourage you to do it.

Smells Like Home

vivian@viviancobbspeaking.com (Vivian Cobb) — Thu, 09 May 2024 20:12:10 GMT

Smells Like Home

By Vivian Cobb

ISSUE 988 - May 2024

I was in Dallas recently. I hit it perfectly: low humidity (for Dallas) and beautiful temperatures. It was that time of year when you're fooled into thinking, how bad could it be?

I was a resident for 20 years; I am not fooled! I can't forget the Texas heat, even though it's been thirty-two years since I left for Colorado.

I grew up overseas, and I've never had a hometown. For me, home was where my parents lived, and Dallas was the last place they lived until they died. Even though they are long gone, it still feels a little like home when I return.

I stay with a best friend in Lakewood, one of the older parts of Dallas, with Tudor-style homes built in the early 1900s with lush and immaculate lawns.

It was Saturday, and I took advantage of the cool Spring morning and went for a walk. Many lawn maintenance crews were mowing their respective clients' lawns, achieving the same goal as me: getting a jump on the heat that would creep into the latter part of the day.

The distinct smell of freshly cut St. Augustine grass filled the air as I walked by the mowers. Instantaneously, I was a teenager, helping my daddy mow our expansive lawn in North Dallas, where we lived.

Right out of college, I had my own lawn-mowing business. For the rest of the walk, I thought about many forgotten memories of living in the South, where St. Augustine grass is king.

It occurred to me that every place I've lived has its unique smell. Australia is another place I call home. When I first arrive for a visit, I roll down the window to take in the familiar smells of flowers and foliage riding on the breeze, especially the gum trees. It's very distinctive. Again, I'm whisked back to my childhood, reliving many memories of being there.

Did you know that our sense of smell can trigger memories, especially those involving emotion? A great deal of neuroscience is involved in why our emotions and memories are evoked very quickly just by a scent.

In a nutshell, the anatomy of our brain allows scents to take a shortcut to our emotion and memory centers, while all of our other senses have to go the long way. My, oh my, was that an over-simplification. Just let me know if you need any other science explained.

When did you last catch a whiff of a scent that transported you back to another place and time? I walked into a tobacco store a few years ago (I hadn't planned to; it was by accident). I didn't run back out. Why? Because it smelled so familiar.

It had two comfy leather armchairs where you could sit and sample the tobacco. The second the scent of the tobacco and leather hit my nose, I was transported back to my grandparents' living room.

No matter where we lived overseas, we returned to the United States every summer to visit my grandparents in California. After dinner, my grandpa would retire to his leather armchair and smoke his pipe. I would sit at his feet, play with my toys, or listen to him read me a story.

Fighting back tears, I turned to leave the tobacco store, which smelled exactly like another place I remember as home.

A Simpler Life

vivian@viviancobbspeaking.com (Vivian Cobb) — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 15:32:38 GMT

A Simpler Life

By Vivian Cobb, DTM

ISSUE 987 - April 2024

I spent four weeks in Boston with my daughter, Stephanie, and her husband, Matt. They are feverishly working on finishing home renovation projects on their Quincy house so they can sell it and move toward living their dream—a house in Maine with land and the hope of a simpler, slower-paced life.

Steph, covered in sawdust, and I, covered in paint splotches, started a thought-provoking, baby-boomer-to-millenial conversation.

We agreed that the world couldn't possibly go any faster—or we hoped it could not. She commented that she always feels overwhelmed. It struck me that at 36, she feels the same way I do (no, you don't get to know my age).

With the relentless onslaught of constant information bombarding our brains and the pressure of immediacy about everything, it's no wonder we feel like we are in fight-or-flight all the time. It is overwhelming and exhausting—more than we can handle.

It begs the question of where we go from here, how much more information can we absorb, when will we slow down, and is it even possible at this point?

The truth is that this fast-paced world is affecting every age group. But I believe those of us who experienced a slower-paced world miss it and are very sad about how life is now—at least, I know I am.

I went into baby boomer splaining mode about what a contrast the world is to when I was her age and younger.

Getting a letter is a great example. I waited three or four weeks for a letter from my sister, who lived in Australia. When the letter arrived, I'd drop everything, sit quietly, and consume the words like morsels of the best cake ever. Then, I'd take pen and paper, craft a letter, and mail it when I could get to the post office. There was nothing immediate about it, and it was special.

The number one culprit in our fast-paced world is our all-in-one smartphone device. Remember when the phone was at home or hanging on a wall at the gas station? Documenting anything required a still camera, a video camera, and possibly an audio recorder. Talking to someone away from home required pocket change. It was clumsy, slow, and cumbersome. (The operative word there is slow.) Smartphones allow us to do it all in seconds, so it’s easy to overdo it.

You might be saying wait a minute, social media is the culprit. Social media is the hungry beast, and the smartphone feeds it.

The Month of Love

vivian@viviancobbspeaking.com (Vivian Cobb) — Sun, 11 Feb 2024 22:28:50 GMT

The Month of Love

By Vivian Cobb, DTM

ISSUE 986 - February 2024

"I loved you. I loved how you looked at me and spoke to me. I loved watching your lips as they formed the words you spoke. I loved how much it hurt when we weren't together. I adored you. From the moment I saw you across the crowded room the night we met, I loved you."

I found this in an old letter I wrote over 30 years ago.

Walter was my first true love; I was 17 when I fell head over heels in love with him. Our attraction and chemistry were undeniable. He was three years older than me, which was a huge gap at that age, primarily due to the "life" lived between high school and college. I had to get special permission to take him to my senior prom. I wouldn't have gone with anyone else.

Have you ever felt that way about someone?

The only other man I felt that way about was my late husband. I haven't felt that way since. I wonder if I will have another chance to feel that way again.

Welcome February, considered the month of love. It got me thinking about this complex emotion with its own month.

Some people throw the word "love" around like confetti at a New Year's party. Some people won't use the word "love" to save their lives (or relationships).

I was talking to a sales clerk at Patsy's Candies the other day, and we were giggling about Valentine's Day and how, every year, they brace themselves for all the guys who rush in at the last minute to buy their beloved a box of chocolates. (The same thing happens at Christmas, by the way). Guys, plan a little. You've got a bad reputation to overcome.

A box of chocolates and flowers is not the only way to show love. One of the most important things you can do for your beloved is find out their love language. (I highly recommend you read The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts by Gary Chapman).

Here are the Cliffs notes: The 5 love languages, according to Chapman, are acts of service, quality time, words of affirmation, receiving gifts, and physical touch.

For me, you can keep your chocolate and flowers. My top love language is quality time. If you make an effort to enter my world intentionally and caringly, like coming to see me speak (because speaking is so important to me and you've taken the time to be there), I'm putty in your hands. So find out what your loved one wants. You may have been missing the mark all these years.

I had a widowed neighbor when I was in my 30’s back in Dallas. She told me that when she was in the shower, her husband would take her robe and put it in the dryer to warm it. When she got out of the shower, he would be there to wrap her warm robe around her. I thought, "Wow, now that's love".

How do you show your love beyond buying flowers or chocolates on a particular day in a specific month?

Find a way to show your love every day, whether it's to your partner, children, parents, friends, acquaintances, or even strangers. Show love for your fellow man. And always remember to show love for yourself.

Seriously, A New Year?

vivian@viviancobbspeaking.com (Vivian Cobb) — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 20:42:32 GMT

Seriously, A New Year?

By Vivian Cobb, DTM

ISSUE 985 - January 2024

"Phew! We made it through another one", as we sigh and wipe our collective brow.

And here we are, still standing, starting another year full of hope and optimism. Aren't humans delightful that way?

I'm grateful to have made it to the finish line of 2023. I know a lot of folks, some of whom were my family members and other close friends, who didn't.

I don't know about you, but I am reflecting with a new perspective because it's been yet another year in several that have not been exactly stellar, starting with our favorite disruptor, 2020.

Among our many resolutions, the nagging question looms in the back of our minds, "Will the end of 2024 be any different?"

Wouldn't it be incredible to get to the end of the year and look back upon it with a glow in our hearts, knowing that humanity and the world have been up-leveled significantly?

Maybe we're closer to world peace, or perhaps we have a cure for cancer, Alzheimer's, or Parkinson's--something vast and transformative. Or that we have shown each other exceptional kindness and goodwill throughout the year instead of getting into yet another war (with the added bonus of fearing it might be the beginning of World War III). Wouldn't that be something?

Hats off to us humans, though. We are an optimistic lot. We come into January thinking, "It will be better," or for some, more accurately, "It can't get much worse."

But what does it take to make the changes and differences we hope for every year?

The change begins with us. We know that, or we should, anyway. But it goes far beyond our desire to reduce inches off our waistlines or cut down on our caffeine or alcohol intake.

It's a change in attitude and mindset that we desperately need. A desire so strong for things to be different that it leads to real change that makes a real difference for our communities, planet, and future. We need action. Not more hope and wishes, but action.

I encourage you, this January of 2024, to think innovatively about ways to take your hopes and dreams, turn them into action, and make a significant difference in our weary old world. Kindness to your fellow humans is a great place to start if you need a prompt.

Author, Howar Zinn, says it beautifully, "To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness.

What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places—and there are so many—where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction.

And if we do act, in however small a way, we don't have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory."

We can do better.

Silence Is Golden

vivian@viviancobbspeaking.com (Vivian Cobb) — Sun, 03 Dec 2023 23:54:27 GMT

Silence Is Golden

By Vivian Cobb, DTM

ISSUE 984 - November 2023

I went on a silent retreat recently. I kept thinking about that song by The Tremeloes - Silence Is Golden (1967).

“Silence is golden

But my eyes still see.”

When I heard of silent retreats, I was intrigued. A couple of my friends have done them, and I was absolutely fascinated by the idea of being quiet around other people in a group setting (I knew one person out of nine). I wanted to have that experience. I’ve had so much stress lately that I thought it would be an excellent opportunity to find some clarity and peace in my life. And it was.

If you are unfamiliar with silent retreats, they are a structured period of time, ranging from a few days to several weeks, during which participants refrain from speaking. The retreat I attended was 24 hours of silence, so we barely dipped our toes in the “silent retreat” waters. Most of my friends have done 3 to 5 days of silence, and I’ve learned that greater benefits are reached if the retreat is a minimum of 10 days.

Benefits, you ask? Yes, there are many benefits. Stress reduction, enhanced mindfulness, greater self-awareness, and a deep inner experience, just to name a few.

On this retreat, I became aware of how much I talk out loud to myself. I’m quite the chatterbox. Maybe I need to get a pet. People with pets have a built-in excuse when they talk to themselves. They can just add their pet’s name at the beginning or end of the sentence, and no one’s the wiser.

Now, you need to understand that this isn’t just a bunch of people not talking to each other, but it’s also…are you ready…no technology! Yup. No phones, no computers, no TV, nada. You can’t have an environment of profound stillness and introspection if all your technology is yelling at you. I have to admit, I had a little anxiety over no phone for 48 hours. Thankfully, I was up in the mountains with no reception, so I couldn’t be tempted to peek.

Even though we were silent, we were busy. We did a guided hike with points of interest being pointed out and no words spoken. We did a sound bath with drumming. That was super cool (I fell in and out of sleep. It was delightful). We went 400 feet into a cave with flashlights and more drumming. Not a word. We ate dinner together, did silent yoga, and made breakfast while silent.

It was fascinating. How much we communicate with our eyes, smiles, hands, and bodies is incredible. We had journals to write our thoughts, which I found helpful because, being quiet and undistracted, it’s amazing how many thoughts entered my head. If I couldn’t talk to myself out loud, I could write to myself out loud, which was thankfully inherently silent.

The truth is, there is nothing new about silent retreats. They have ancient roots in various spiritual and philosophical traditions. What is newish is the modern variations of silent retreats and their growth in popularity. As our world gets busier, louder, and more relentlessly stressful, no wonder we are seeking an oasis of silence.

Maybe one day, I’ll be brave enough to try a 10-day silent retreat. But for now, I gained a little peace and some clarity. Mission accomplished.

Only Five-Stars Will Do!

vivian@viviancobbspeaking.com (Vivian Cobb) — Sun, 03 Dec 2023 23:51:23 GMT

Only Five Stars Will Do!

By Vivian Cobb, DTM

ISSUE 983 - OCTOBER 2023

As I picked up the phone to call Airbnb's host support line, I felt a mixture of outrage and fear. Why? Because I had just received four stars from the immediate past guest instead of my customary five stars from all previous guests.

My "Little Green Cottage" Airbnb, which I have been running for almost four years, reflects my commitment to outstanding customer service and the value that I bring to all of my entrepreneurial careers, whether it be a professional speaker, a realtor, or a Super Host with Airbnb. In other words, I take this seriously.

I not-so-patiently listened to the ring tone, then the automated messages, eventually leading me to an actual human, to whom I could ask one question and fulfill the single purpose for the phone call: will the four-star rating affect my "Super Host" status?

The woman I spoke with was polite, warm, and empathetic. She mentioned that the guest's feedback had already been posted, and I could do nothing to change it (cringe). She repeatedly assured me that four stars was still an excellent rating and would not hurt my "Super Host" status.

While all this was happening, a memory popped into my head of a show I saw years before, and over the years has periodically haunted me. It was an episode from Black Mirror (a British science fiction anthology series) named "Nosedive." I found it disturbing when I first saw it. It aired in 2016, and viewers voted that the subject of this episode will most likely come true.

The episode's premise revolves around a society where individuals are rated on their interactions with others through their smartphones. These ratings, interestingly enough, are measured by one to five stars and dictate a person's opportunities to advance, be accepted, and do well in the community. The episode delves into our society's obsession with social media and the consequences of a society driven by constant public evaluation.

Sound familiar? It sure did to me, especially in the heat of a conversation centered around me trying to defend the status of my Airbnb rating. Reflecting on the show's concepts, do you agree that ratings, rankings, reviews, and feedback drive almost everything we do?

That's not the worst of it. I felt personally diminished. I felt personally threatened. Then it hit me: I am now square in the middle of that sci-fi scenario. It has come true!

This guest scored my Airbnb's location with four stars. Mind you, she picked the location. It's obvious in the description where it's located, "Halfway between Old Colorado City and Downtown Colorado Springs." She didn't have to stay in this area of town. It was her choice, yet I got four stars.

I can offer the best of everything a guest might want, like a squeaky clean environment, pristine linens, a fully equipped kitchen, and personal touches to ensure my guests feel special. And most of the time, I am rewarded with a perfect score. However, my overreaction (yes, I admit it) to less than perfect is a perfect example of how unhealthy, unreasonable, and dependent we have become on public evaluation in our society.

There are many examples of science fiction becoming a science reality: Video calls (Star Trek), self-driving cars (the Jetsons), voice-activated assistants (2001: A Space Odyssey), and Artificial Intelligence (every Sci-fi movie ever made).

The one I'd like to see come true is the time machine. I'd head right back to where life is less complicated and the five-star rating system stopped after Kindergarten.

The Problem With Stuff!

vivian@viviancobbspeaking.com (Vivian Cobb) — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 00:53:33 GMT

The Problem With Stuff!

By Vivian Cobb, DTM

ISSUE 982 - SEPTEMBER 2023

Last month, I wrote about selling my house and being excited about a life unencumbered. Although this is still true, there have been some complex (and costly) lessons on this journey to downsizing and a significant wake-up call surrounding the problem with stuff!

We are Americans, and we are known for our overindulgence, our materialism, and especially for our consumerism. We are not called the land of plenty for nothing. And what do we do with all our "plenty"? We store it!

The United States has one of the largest self-storage industries in the world. We have more storage units than any other country due to our consuming culture. But we don't only consume; we keep. I came face-to-face with my own "keeping" during the journey of selling my house.

Reality hit me the morning of the last day before I needed to be out of the house for the buyer's walk-through and closing. I realized I had way too much stuff that I had been storing in every nook and cranny all over my cavernous house. They do say we expand into the space we have, and oh boy, did I ever!

With only six hours left, I raced to UHaul and rented a 15-foot truck. I realized there was too much stuff to move in the allotted time. I never in a million years thought I would underestimate as severely as I underestimated how much stuff I needed to move, how much help I would need to move it, and how much time it would take. A warning to the wise (and not-so-wise); if you are thinking about moving, plan three times more of everything than you think you need.

Despite my efforts to purge, sell, and give away item after item, I still had a long way to go. Every new closet was another mound of forgotten treasures. Another drawer opened was filled with sentimental yet useless stuff. You know the drawer, the “What do I do with this, but I can't get rid of it?" drawer. Some call it the 'guilt' drawer. Whatever you've named it, you know you have one, or two, or three. I thought I was being ruthless, but when it came down to it, it was hard to let stuff go.

No wonder Marie Kondo made a fortune with her book, "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." We are fascinated by the idea of simplifying our lives, but as I came to find out, it's a complex issue and much more challenging to achieve than just reading a book.

In the last hour, my two overworked workers and I sprinted through the house, up and down the stairs, dripping with sweat and throwing my stuff in the truck. No boxes and no order. Just get it in the truck and out of the house.

At the end of this marathon, I was the not-so-proud renter of four storage units. (Now that you've gasped, I'm already down to three because I got a bigger one and consolidated. Oh wait, that's not so good either).

Now that the sale is over, I know what my weeks ahead look like; more purging and emptying the storage units. Stuff begone! If I'm going to do this “life unencumbered” thing, by golly, I'm going to do it right.

When Comparing Games to Life, Move Over Golf!

vivian@viviancobbspeaking.com (Vivian Cobb) — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 00:27:54 GMT

WHEN COMPARING GAMES TO LIFE, MOVE OVER GOLF!

BY VIVIAN COBB, DTM

American professional golfer Bobby Jones once said, "Golf is the closest game to the game we call life."

Maybe.

This mediocre yet very passionate Pickleball player says, "Move over golf; Pickleball is the game even closer to the game we call life."

I've played both games, so I'm qualified to make this sweeping and somewhat questionable statement. I, along with 9 million other Americans, love to play Pickleball! In the last three years, Pickleball has grown by 159%, making it the fastest-growing sport in America. So there!

Here are my Pickleball/Life comparisons. You judge which ball flying in the air is closer to the game of life.

Pickleball : I rely heavily on Pickleball to lift my spirits by infusing large doses of endorphins and dopamine because of the physical movement involved and the social nature and downright fun it is to play.

However, I sometimes leave the court feeling defeated and ready to quit. I have moments of frustration, anger, and just plain being butthurt.

The other day, I was playing a round-robin session where you play every game with a new partner, usually someone you've never played with. In this case, the other player kept jumping in front of me and taking my shots. This maneuver placed him on my side of the court or off balance, leaving us vulnerable for our opponents to hit their shot where we weren't ready to return it. Because he was a ball hog, we lost the game.

I also took it as a not-so-subtle message that he thought I wasn't a good enough player to hold my own. "Dude! Can you give me a chance to play the game, please!?" Grrr.

Life: Often, when we expect things to go a certain way, like having fun doing what we enjoy, it can have a different outcome. Sometimes the people who are supposed to be on our team are actually working against our better good. Standing up for ourselves is crucial when we think we are being wronged. And it's essential not to give in to feelings of defeat. We need to adjust our attitude and try again another day.

Pickleball: The main rule regarding the serve in Pickleball is you must hit the ball somewhere around the height between your knees and waist; beyond that, the sky's the limit. You can bounce it or not before you hit it. You can hit it using an underhand, forehand, or backhand swing. So many options to serve that ball!

My style is to bounce the ball and then hit it underhand. Serving is a repetitive motion I've done thousands of times, but it can go long, short, or wide despite that.

Why? Maybe my body was rotated slightly, changing the intended trajectory. I may have taken my eye off the ball. But somehow, I miss, and my serve doesn't count. Ugh.

Life: No matter how well you line everything up, you can still miss the mark despite your preparation and best efforts. It doesn't mean you've failed; it means you adjust and try again.

I see a recurring theme here! It's safe to say that Golf and Pickleball have something in common besides airborne spheres.

When comparing these games to life, even if you miss your intended shots and are disappointed in where they land, remember, always have fun and keep trying to make them count.

A Life Unencumbered

vivian@viviancobbspeaking.com (Vivian Cobb) — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 00:38:22 GMT

A Life Unencumbered

By Vivian Cobb, DTM

ISSUE 981 - AUGUST 2023

I'm selling my house. I've wanted to for about four years, and I'm finally pulling the trigger. With my sons moved out and COVID in the rear view mirror, it's time to live my dream… a life unencumbered.

I've been rattling around in this old place like a ping-pong ball bouncing off the bumpers. I look around at all this "stuff" and realize I don't need 80% of it! The house is big; the yard is huge. How did I keep up with all of this? It doesn't matter; I don't want to anymore.

Not only am I selling my house, I'm selling almost everything in it. I'm going to be a nomad! It's simultaneously exhilarating and terrifying. I've owned a home since I was 23 years old. Forty years later, my only wish is to be homeless, well, in an Airbnb, glamping kind of way. (I'm not a camper kind of girl).

Moving is one of the top three most significant stressors humans can endure and part of the reason why I dragged my feet a little. But here I am, moving to--nowhere. That's the first question everyone asks, "Where are you going?" I don't know. Where the wind blows me, I guess.

How fun is that?!

As a realtor, I've watched my clients in a panic during their real estate transactions. People who are usually highly logical, rational, and sane will, for some reason, lose their minds when you throw a real estate transaction in the mix.

I am being reminded of this right now. And yes, my sanity is in question. I can't keep track of anything. I get triple my 'steps' every day just by backtracking alone. I find myself crying several times a day. Not because I am sad (although that's one of the choices from the emotional grab bag that is my existence currently) but because I'm so overwhelmed.

Have you ever seen a little kid start crying because they are experiencing sensory overload? That's me, a little toddler, walking around my house crying because I have to sell this and take that to storage. Do I keep this? Do I donate that? Will I miss this? Will I need that? Do I put this in a box? What do I do with the box? You can see why I start to cry.

In my quest for life unencumbered, I must choose carefully what I want to take with me and what must be left behind. This process is challenging, even though change is exactly what I want.

If you're like me and you have a house that you’ve renovated, you've spent money, time, sweat, and in my case, real blood (not metaphorical blood) because I'm a klutz. This extra layer of skin in the game (literally) makes the process even harder!

Renovated or not, our home is where we feel safe and comforted. A sanctuary where we can be ourselves, dancing around the living room in our underwear if we want. It's all of those things and so much more. It's a place of love and family and is our harbor from our challenges.

It's a big deal.

So why am I trading in all this comfort and unabashed underwear dancing for new adventures? Great question. Other than hearing freedom calling, I got nothing.

Strangely, not having answers adds to the thrill! Wish me luck.

THE SWEET SPOT!

vivian@viviancobbspeaking.com (Vivian Cobb) — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 20:53:59 GMT

THE SWEET SPOT!

BY VIVIAN COBB, DTM

ISSUE 979 - JUNE 2023

There is this sweet spot between shock and the onset of grief where humans tap into what is really important in this precarious and precious life.

As a nation and global community, we have experienced catastrophic events that have made us pause collectively and share that sweet spot. We speak of it when we remember 911. We are already referring to it about the pandemic.

As individuals, we all have those events in our lives as well. My latest was my only sibling, my sister, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly.

There is nothing like a shocking event to jolt us back to what is meaningful and precious in life. That may be why they exist. We need reminders so what matters can shine through.

We get so caught up in the superficial and relatively meaningless circumstances of our lives, and we convince ourselves they are much more important than they actually are.

I got the news of my sister's death early in the morning and was on a plane by 5:00 pm. As I was at the airport, I was notified that my connecting flight out of Dallas was delayed by 2 hours, making my layover almost 4 hours.

With that news, I called a dear friend in Dallas and asked if she could get me during my long layover so we could see each other. She agreed without hesitation. I knew she would be a comfort to me.

The friends who drop everything to be there for us, to hold us up during the hardest moments of our life, are priceless.

After our visit, she returned me to the airport. I was so grateful for her company and support. It was late; I was tired. It had already been quite the day. I wanted to reach my destination like all my fellow passengers.

The time came when we were called to line up to board the flight. It was 12:00 am. We stood in line for about 15 minutes and then were informed they weren't ready for us and that we could sit down again. We then discovered our crew couldn't get into the airport because TSA had shut down for the night. No surprise what came next; they canceled the flight. It was now 1:00 am.

I could have been losing my mind by this point. I was just as exhausted and inconvenienced as the others. But the opposite happened. I became calmer as I observed the people around me expressing their frustration and becoming more aggravated. It was surreal like I was standing in the middle of a tornado where it is perfectly still.

People were angry. Their complaints mounted. And rightfully so. But they also became unkind, blaming and acting as if their worlds were shattering. What struck me was I, as an individual, was square in the middle of the sweet spot, thinking this is so insignificant in the grand scheme of things. I wanted to stand up and ask, did your sister die today?

After catastrophe hits, I wish humanity could stay in the sweet spot longer, remembering to stay kind.

Individually, I hope my story reminds you to keep your perspective and remember to differentiate what is truly important from what is merely an inconvenience.

©2023 Vivian Cobb, DTM

Want to read more? Go ahead and checkout Vivian's column on Snippetz Magazine!

RESIDING IN THE HOUSE OF COVID

vivian@viviancobbspeaking.com (Vivian Cobb) — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 20:47:12 GMT

RESIDING IN THE HOUSE OF COVID

BY VIVIAN COBB, DTM

ISSUE 978 - MAY 2023

This week, I recovered from my 3rd bout of Covid in 3 years. It wasn’t much more than a light cold with the sniffles and two days of fatigue. I was, however, ready for worse, and this is why.

In March 2020, after four days of pushing my way through crippling exhaustion, the symptoms all over the news started catching my eye;
extreme fatigue, body aches, high fever, coughing, and nausea.

I had to wonder if I had this new disease called Covid19.

I’m a high-energy girl. I never stop! But I did with Covid. It stopped me dead in my tracks. I laid still as humanly possible for eight days with a fever of 103.

If I moved, the horrible coughing would start. My body shut down. Even watching television was too much for me, which seemed crazy, but now we know how much our brains are affected by the virus.

Laying in my bed, barely moving, hour after hour, I had no choice but to travel within.

For the first time in adulthood, I was still long enough to look at my life. I mean, really look at it. I did a thorough investigation, examining in detail my existence. I asked myself what I wanted the rest of my life to look like.

On the 9th day, I knew I was in trouble. I couldn’t breathe or wake up fully. My sons got me to the hospital. At the door, they were told to leave. I was whisked away. There was no time for goodbyes. It could have been the last time I saw them!

I was put on an isolated floor, and I only saw the eyes of strangers for the next five days. I could hear them suit up in the anti-chamber, adorning their protective gear and courage.

The city had just shut down days before. Remember how little we knew back then and how lethal the first strains of Covid were? I was grateful they were brave enough to come in, even if only for a few minutes, to check on me.

I wasn’t ventilated. I took a positive turn toward recovery. Although I lost my hair and had a year of cognitive challenges, I still consider myself one of the lucky ones.

Being so sick with Covid was an incredibly profound experience and consequently has changed the trajectory of my life. My motivation for how I wanted to live my life going forward changed. My forgotten dreams resurfaced and became my focus instead of being pushed aside by excuses. Relationships changed. My perspective, choices, mindset, and attitude changed. What is meaningful in my life became very clear to me.

Interestingly, this week is the same week I returned from the hospital three years ago. As I lay in my bed, not because I was trying not to move for fear of causing an excruciatingly painful coughing fit, but because I needed a nap, I remembered how different the last three years have been from my previous mode of operation.

The changes I have made due to having Covid have been life-changing. I am now aligned with my purpose. The thoughts and considerations that held me back are gone. I am definitely one of the lucky ones.

©2023 Vivian Cobb, DTM

Want to read more? Go ahead and checkout Vivian's column on Snippetz Magazine!

ZOOM, ZOOM

vivian@viviancobbspeaking.com (Vivian Cobb) — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 20:25:32 GMT

Zoom, Zoom

BY VIVIAN COBB, DTM

ISSUE 977 - APRIL 2023

My Toa stmasters' club meets every Thursday at 7:00 a.m. That statement is now literal, thanks to Zoom.

I don't know about you, but ever since this pandemic has "slacked off," I feel like I've been on Zoom more than I was during the height of the pandemic. We are supposedly going back to in-person, but I'm on Zoom twice as much as I am attending non-electronic face-to-face get-togethers (it’s gotten very complicated, hasn’t it?). Being a relationship, look-in-your-real-eyes kind of girl, I dislike it immensely.

In the good old days, when our club followed District 11's snow policy, we would get a snow day if they got a snow day. Not any more.

The same holds true with any other meeting scheduled for that would-be, should-be, snow day. Everybody jumps on Zoom. It's the immediate solution to NOT taking a day off that has been graciously granted by the weather gods.

This sad truth stood out the other day as I was heading down to my office at 6:45 in the mornning. Zoom is so messing with the 'snow day' universal law, which is older than man’s existence (little known fact).

Instead of enjoying my snuggly warm bed on that beautiful, peaceful snowy day, I got up. I had to put on my makeup and a decent shirt and do my hair. I’ve come to find out that ignoring proper protocols for South of the belly button is risky business. Needing to stand up suddenly and unexpectedly while on Zoom can happen, so always wear suitable pants. This may or may not be knowledge gathered from personal experience.

Once upon a time, we accepted the gift of a snow day with great anticipation and appreciation because the benefits are many.

One such benefit, strangely enough, is going outside and enjoying the snow! Once you leisurely un-snuggle yourself from bed, you put on layers and layers of clothes, lay down in the snow, and make angels (it’s an appropriate thank you to display snow angels to weather gods, don’t you think?).

Or maybe a snowball fight is in order so that you can get that cold white stuff up your sleeves and down your neck. Let's not forget making new friends, literally. Making snowpeople and finding them the right accessories is always a favorite. Chatting with your neighbors as you shovel walkways and driveways is an excellent opportunity to learn about the latest neighborhood gossip. All of these community-building activities will only happen if we are NOT all in a meeting on Zoom!

Snow days are a lucky surprise day off to catch up on life or just completely relax. The luxurious feeling of ‘found’ time to do whatever you want (starting a jigsaw puzzle is my choice) is truly a gift. Giving your kiddos your undivided attention, playing in the snow, or curling up in front of the fire with that book, is what snow days are all about. A needed break from your routine is like a mini-vacation in and of itself. I fear snow days may be a thing of the past. I certainly hope not.

Several Thursday mornings this winter had inclement weather due to snow the previous night or wind chills below zero, conditions warranting a snow day. We gathered anyway. Curse you, Zoom!

©2023 Vivian Cobb, DTM

A NEW FACE AT SNIPPETZ

vivian@viviancobbspeaking.com (Vivian Cobb) — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 20:18:45 GMT

A NEW FACE AT SNIPPETZ

BY VIVIAN COBB, DTM

I met Ronald Ross at a Toastmasters District Contest a hundred years ago. Well, maybe it was 2018, but doesn't anything before Covid feel like a hundred years ago? It does to me.

He lived North of Denver (he has since moved to Indiana), and I live in Colorado Springs (70 miles South of Denver), so an in-person Ron sighting was a welcomed yet rare event. Our paths crossed a handful of times because we ran in the same wanna-be-a-speaker circles.

But, truth be known, thanks to the modern social media age in which we currently live, he sees me all the time. He follows me on Facebook, and as a result, he pretty much knows in detail all about my travels, my children, my dreams, my aspirations, my heartbreaks, my victories, and anything else I'm willing to share. As you can see, I share a lot!

When trying to be known, as I am trying to be known, one must consistently and diligently post on social media, or at least that's what the 'get known' gurus say.

Last week, I got an out-of-the-blue call from Ron. He told me he has written a column for Snippetz for the past two decades and wants to retire. He's a direct, no-nonsense kind of guy, and this question came out quickly, bypassing all small talk, "Would you like to take over the column?". He continued explaining that he loves what I post on Facebook and thought I would be the perfect choice to fill his retiring shoes.

Dare I say he's a fan? He might agree with that. I'll have to ask him. One thing is for sure, he thought of me first, called me, and here I am, introducing myself—hi, I'm Vivian Cobb. Welcome to my column, Vivieisms.

My dear friend, Susan, told me just the other day to not hurry past an open window of opportunity. No one can argue that this opportunity is definitely a widow opened and presented to me by Ron Ross.

Not to be boastful (well, maybe a little), but I've had quite the trials and tribulations in my life. That being said, they have always been followed by my having great insights and a great deal of personal growth. In other words, I have accumulated much wisdom in the time I've been on this earth, and because I'm a speaker, I'm not shy about sharing that wisdom, whether it be on stage, in videos, and now in written form for this column.

I will share my scattered thoughts on various subjects and let you inside the mind of a woman who has been there and back, and then there and back again. Because of the many trips through the vast forest of adversity, I have come to call myself an emotions advocate.

As wack-a-doodle as all of this may sound, I promise you it's not. It will make more sense as we go along this column writing and reading journey together. Stay tuned as I share stories that will cause curiosity, be thought-provoking, and primarily entertain you. That is undoubtedly the goal, anyway. I'll do my best.

I want to thank Ron Ross again for handing me the reigns, and a huge thank you to George Wilkins for giving me a chance to be a part of his publication.

©2023 Vivian Cobb, DTM

Want to read more? Go ahead and checkout Vivian's column on Snippetz Magazine!

Memoirs COS Podcast: The Gifts of Covid

emily@123websites.com (Emily Devola) — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 03:59:37 GMT

Memoirs COS Podcast: The Gifts of Covid

Vivian Cobb

I recently learned that the story I shared at Memoirs COS – True Stories, Unfiltered this past summer is available to listen to on their podcast! You can find it on Apple, Spotify, or any of your favorite podcast platforms.

Apple | Spotify | Others

Follow Vivian

The Real Life Buyer Podcast: Managing Loss and Set Back

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 02:32:40 GMT

The Real Life Buyer Podcast: Managing Loss and Set Back

Vivian Cobb

It’s always exciting to get to be a guest on a podcast, and this was no exception. Catch me on The Real Life Buyer Podcast with Dave Barr , where I talk about how to help a work colleague when they experience tragedy in their lives and more.

Apple | Spotify

The Real Life Buyer Website

Follow Vivian

6cccc212

Age is Ageless

Age is Ageless By Vivian Cobb

Resolutions Versus Intentions

Resolutions Versus Intentions

Daily Offerings

Daily Offerings

By Vivian Cobb

Crystal Clear

The Conversationalist

Limiting Beliefs

The Genius In Us

Lifeblood

Smells Like Home

A Simpler Life

A Simpler Life

By Vivian Cobb, DTM

The Month of Love

By Vivian Cobb, DTM ﻿

Seriously, A New Year?

Seriously, A New Year?

By Vivian Cobb, DTM

Silence Is Golden

Silence Is Golden

By Vivian Cobb, DTM

Only Five-Stars Will Do!

Only Five Stars Will Do!

By Vivian Cobb, DTM

The Problem With Stuff!

The Problem With Stuff!

By Vivian Cobb, DTM

When Comparing Games to Life, Move Over Golf!

WHEN COMPARING GAMES TO LIFE, MOVE OVER GOLF!

BY VIVIAN COBB, DTM

A Life Unencumbered

A Life Unencumbered

By Vivian Cobb, DTM

THE SWEET SPOT!

THE SWEET SPOT!

BY VIVIAN COBB, DTM

RESIDING IN THE HOUSE OF COVID

RESIDING IN THE HOUSE OF COVID

BY VIVIAN COBB, DTM

ZOOM, ZOOM

Zoom, Zoom

BY VIVIAN COBB, DTM

A NEW FACE AT SNIPPETZ

A NEW FACE AT SNIPPETZ

BY VIVIAN COBB, DTM

Memoirs COS Podcast: The Gifts of Covid

Memoirs COS Podcast: The Gifts of Covid

Vivian Cobb

The Real Life Buyer Podcast: Managing Loss and Set Back

The Real Life Buyer Podcast: Managing Loss and Set Back

Vivian Cobb

Age is Ageless
By Vivian Cobb

By Vivian Cobb, DTM