You Just Never Know...........

I changed my voice mail message a month ago. It was about time - I've been on my own for a year and a half now. I'm not sure I'm entirely satisfied with it yet. I like even the smaller details in my life to be as beautiful or perfect as they can. I mean if you have to buy stamps, why not buy the most beautiful, the most colorful or the ones with the best message? If you pay attention, you can create small moments of happiness everywhere and, God knows, we can all use more happiness in our daily lives.

So I'm not sure my message is a total reflection of me but I did add this one thing that, as it turns out, has created something BIG. It starts out as the usual message, ".....please leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can." But then I added this one line at the end:

In the meantime, what's one small thing you can celebrate about today?

I did that because I wanted to cause people to pause, to interrupt that automatic-ness, that unconsciousness that we tend to move into at some point during the day. And I wanted them to take a moment to focus on something that might be going right. I believe we are powerful creators and we are creating all the time, whether we are aware of it or not. Whatever we are focused on is what we are giving energy to and, therefore, attracting more of. I wanted my callers to focus on something good, even for a moment, so they could create more of that or, at the very least, shift their focus off of whatever was not going right, so they wouldn't get more of that.

I love the unexpected! What I didn't anticipate was that they would share with me what they were celebrating! I'd say at least 80% of my callers (more strangers than family and friends, interestingly enough) have been reporting their celebrations since I changed my message. Just imagine that for a moment. Every time you get a message, someone is sharing with you something good that happened for them that day. It totally lifts my spirits and feels like a huge gift! Here's an example, from someone I just met recently:

Hi Lisa, it's about 9:30 on Monday night and yes, I celebrated today the superb sunlight streaming through the windows here for about 4 hours in the afternoon over my beautiful plants and the shiny wooden floors in the studio as I danced and ..... to be surrounded by this exquisite autumn feeling.

How beautiful is that?!? How can I not share this deliciousness that I have inadvertently brought into my life? So, I have an invitation for you, any or all 4 parts:

1) (of course) Stop right now and think of one small thing you can celebrate   
    about today.
2) Feel free to add that little question to your message and see how it feels
    to get all that good news every day.
3) Use my blog to post your celebrations. I'd love to hear them and share
    them with others. I'm new at blogging so until I figure out some great
    system (open to suggestions), just use the Post a Comment button.
4) Subscribe to the feed and get the celebrations delivered to you. (good
    option for those of you who feel you can't change your message).
    Guaranteed some will make you laugh and all will make you feel good!

Today, I'm celebrating the launch of this blog and the beginning of what I hope will be a CELEBRATION VIRUS!

In joy,

Lisa
  

Comments

[bgrant]

Great idea, Lisa! I love it!

[Randy Repass]

Hey Lisa, I'm at your mom's place setting up her new MacBook. Looking out her beautiful vista as I work and hearing the sounds of crickets, birds (even a tractor in the distance), is worth celebrating. Its not every stop I make that I can enjoy my surroundings as I do my work. Oh, yeah... and I'm also celebrating getting to ride my motorcycle in this awesome weather we've been having.

Good for you for getting this going... now the challenge... KEEP it going! :)

[Lea Belair]

The celebration virus is definitely worth catching! Thanks for sneezing. May you forever be contagious.

[Liz Dallas]

Celebrating my gratitude of being part of such an explosive, creative, dynamic circle of colleagues! I just love the fact that we talk about it one day, and the next day, voie la! You did it!

You SO rock and are such a blessing.

[Katherine Veilleux]

Lisa,
This looks great! Today I'm celebrating having wonderful friends like you! Katherine

[Anne Buell]

Hi Lisa,

Good for you! Easy to move around in. I'm totally grateful for Randy Repass. This new computer is "awesome." So far so good. Love you. Mom

[meg]

woman! you are amazing!
i am so glad to have another blogging friend. i'm sitting here thinking of a reason to call your house now! oh, what am i grateful for? what am i not grateful at this point in my life?
good work! if i can figure out the technology, i'll subscribe to the feeder for sure!
much love~ megs

[Leslie Whitaker]

I'm celebrating the fact that you've kept me on your email list. Your mail always brightens my day and lifts my heart! (I'll be changing my message) Thanks Lisa!

[MARTY]

Lisa! I am among the Luddites who think blogging is a terrible custom -- so egocentric! But as usual I'm smiling about your message. I won't change my phone greeting, but (as always) I am grateful for all life provides. And I'll be reading your blog in spite of myself.
love, marty

[Daniel B]

Hey. I think that's a fine start to a blog there... You might just be onto something. Well, me, I'm writing to register a complaint. You see it seems that the more msgs I leave on your machine (you being the busy girl that you are), the more of the 3 minutes or so I spend recounting the ever-mounting list of celebrateables in my life these days. This leaves little time for the reason I called in the first place, which I've often forgotten by then anyway. Really annoying...

[Taffy]

Dear Lisa, How much you have grown and expanded since I last saw you! I will put the question on my voice mail and let you know what I get. Much love, Taffy

[Kyle Nuse]

Lisa,
I have no doubt that the path you are creating for yourself is an absolute reflection of your loving, beautiful and radiant heart.
Thank you for being such a inspiration and guiding light.
I am so grateful to have you in my life and I celebrate that everyday.
Blessings,
Kyle

[Dwayna]

Awesome!!! Your energy is contagious--and the thought of a celebration on the days that seem to never end instantly brings a smile to my face.