Preparation – Page 2 – Melissa Schlies

Love Learn Lead March 5, 2020

One of my favorite feelings in the world is when I open the oven to take out something I’ve baked—and it looks and smells awesome. Whether it’s a batch of cookies, a loaf of bread, or a pie, there is an incredible feeling of joy and pride that surges through me. Which makes me wonder, What do you create that makes you feel this way? As we live in a culture where everything is graded, measured by “likes,” or easily compared to a million other people’s similar attempts, it can be hard to believe our work is good. To celebrate [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2020-03-04T23:59:42+00:00March 5th, 2020|Categories: comparison, Creativity, Lead, Learn, Love, Love Learn Lead, perseverance, Practice, Preparation, Uncategorized|Comments Off

Three Ways to “Practice” Life

When graduating high school or college, how many of us were ever asked, “What do you want to practice?” I am guessing that unless we were expected to pursue law school or medicine, the answer is—none of us. The question was usually, “What are you going to do now?” Doing and practicing have such different connotations. The first gives the impression that we’ve arrived in our occupation. While the second, seems to give permission to explore, improve, and even, mess up. I find it funny that the only adult careers where the word “practice” is used as a noun are [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2020-03-26T16:38:50+00:00January 23rd, 2020|Categories: Adulting, Freedom, Habit Making, Hope, Lead, Learn, Love, Love Learn Lead, Practice, Preparation, Routines, Success|Comments Off

In 2020, Let’s Use A New Word

One day, this past year, I sat in child’s pose on my yoga mat. I was in my living room, streaming a yoga class on my laptop. And like any class you’ve taken more than two or three times, I was only half paying attention. I knew what I needed to do (breathe). And I knew what I needed to do next (downward dog). But then, the instructor said something I had heard her say before. Only this time, the full meaning of her words took root. She said, “Today, pay attention to where you are at in your practice.” [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2020-03-26T16:37:38+00:00January 20th, 2020|Categories: Anxiety, Balance, Change, discipline, Failure, Habit Making, perseverance, Practice, Preparation, Routines|Comments Off

In 2020, Start Small

On Monday, I shared I was terrified the first time I climbed a mountain. Mostly, because I wasn’t ready. But honestly, I made it all the way to the peak that day. It felt amazing. Until, I hurt my knee on the way down. Then Tony half carried me about three miles as I wobbled back to the car. We were dating at the time, and boy did that experience solidify our relationship. But it also taught me I had to get in better shape if I wanted to do it again. Sometimes, the mountains we want to climb in [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2020-03-26T16:35:14+00:00January 9th, 2020|Categories: Calling, Change, Courage, discipline, Habit Making, Lead, Learn, Love, Love Learn Lead, perseverance, Preparation, Routines, Start Here, Success|Comments Off

In 2020, Start Here

The few days right after New Years are always interesting. Like geese migrating with the change of a season, some of us flock to the nearest gym, where every treadmill or elliptical machine is taken. While others of us suffer through what I like to call the Holiday Hangover. It’s that exhausted, “What just happened” feeling we get when the alarm goes off for our first day back at work. Or, getting back into our pajamas as soon as we come home from said job, because we just can’t. And sometimes, if we’re truly unlucky, the Holiday Hangover includes [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2020-03-26T16:32:23+00:00January 2nd, 2020|Categories: Adulting, Change, Habit Making, Health, Lead, Learn, Love, Love Learn Lead, Preparation, Routines, Start Here, Uncategorized|Comments Off

Love Learn Lead December 19, 2019

Last Friday night, Tony and I baked Christmas cookies. Then we decorated them the next day with our best friends and their kids. But in between putting batches of Christmas tree shaped cookies into the oven, we watched Home Alone on TV. Neither of us had seen it in years. Though like any movie one watched over and over as a kid, we could still quote most of the lines—and not just the iconic ones. Some movies just stick with you, especially those watched at Christmas. This is a season rich with nostalgia and meaning. It’s a time when an [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2019-12-19T14:02:28+00:00December 19th, 2019|Categories: Christmas, Lead, Leadership, Learn, Love, Love Learn Lead, Preparation, Uncategorized|Comments Off

Love: Christmas Gifts Ideas With a Story

In my most idillic thoughts, Christmas shopping looks like holding a Holiday inspired latte in one hand and bags of already purchased gifts in the other. It looks like walking down a small town street lined with adorable little shops filled with local or fair-trade goods. And of course, in this beautiful dream, snow fills the air. Oh what Hallmark has done to us all. In reality, for me and Tony, Christmas shopping often looks like a combination of long days shopping for our nieces and nephews, combined with hours scouring online for the right, age-appropriate gifts. And, as we [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2019-12-12T00:32:17+00:00December 12th, 2019|Categories: Christmas, Leadership, Learn, Love, Love Learn Lead, Preparation, Story, Uncategorized|Comments Off

Holding Our Holiday Plans Loosely

One of my favorite holiday memories as a kid was on Thanksgiving. As most childhood memories go, I can’t for the life of me remember what our family’s plans were supposed to be that day. I only remember what happened. But most likely, for dinner, we were supposed to go see our grandparents, who lived over an hour away. Then, We got a big New England snow storm. The kind that created drifts far taller than my youngest sister. She was four or five then, and the snow banks made her cry out from not being able to see my [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2019-12-05T22:01:21+00:00December 9th, 2019|Categories: Balance, Christmas, Freedom, Preparation|Comments Off

My Favorite Thanksgiving Links

As I have shared before, hands down, fall is my favorite season. Give me the chunky sweaters, all the flannel, the apple picking, and the pumpkin flavored (almost) anything—I am here for it. And though many people may think Halloween is the best fall holiday, Thanksgiving is my favorite. Of course, it helps that I am not a costume person, and Thanksgiving involves baking (my happy place). But this Holiday that finds itself wedged in between Halloween and Christmas, offers many of us an extra long weekend, time with family or friends, and really good food. Also, for my family’s [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2019-11-20T20:14:54+00:00November 25th, 2019|Categories: Food, Good Books, podcasts I love, Preparation, Uncategorized|Comments Off

How to Choose Self Care Over Self Comfort

A number of years ago, I sat in a coffee shop with a person I was mentoring. And as I often do, I asked her what it looked like to take care of herself in the busy season she was currently living. Her response was something like: “I think I need to practice self care more. I need to make time to get weekly massages and sit in the hot tub.” Right away, as I tried to wipe a look of surprise from my face, I had two thoughts: One, she may have had self care figured out way more [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2019-11-05T21:24:11+00:00November 7th, 2019|Categories: #mybodyhas, Habit Making, Health, Lead, Learn, Love, Love Learn Lead, Preparation, Self Care, Uncategorized|Comments Off

Love Learn Lead March 5, 2020

Three Ways to “Practice” Life

In 2020, Let’s Use A New Word

In 2020, Start Small

In 2020, Start Here

Love Learn Lead December 19, 2019

Love: Christmas Gifts Ideas With a Story

Holding Our Holiday Plans Loosely

My Favorite Thanksgiving Links

How to Choose Self Care Over Self Comfort

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