Flower Boat

 

Flower Boat

This is a photograph of a lonely boat who has been forgotten in time. It is surrounded by nature as the flowers pop up all around. I think it is interesting and beautiful how nature always comes back. It was taken at Little Deer in Manitoba, Canada.

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Choose to Win

 

Book: “Choose to Win: Transform Your Life, One Simple Choice at a Time” Tom Ziglar, Harper Collins, 2019

Book Review by Mary Mikawoz

Book available: March 5, 2019

Tom Ziglar is the son of Zig Ziglar, an influential speaker over 40 years time. Tom has essentially followed in his father’s footsteps. He has written a book called “Choose to Win.” In it, he recounts the Wheel of Life which Zig Ziglar has used but not exclusively to him. I heard of the psychological concept about 20 to 30 years ago and many people have used it to balance life’s priorities and seven areas of life from the mental, the spiritual, the physical, the family, the financial, the personal and the career. The seven spokes are evaluated based on how well you are doing in each area. If you are well balanced in all areas, your spokes and tire pressure will be the same and all inflated to a good height level.

He reviews the areas in quite a bit of detail with individual chapters. He, however, repeats the same thing at the end of each chapter and so it is repetitive. He essentially says to replace a bad habit with a good habit. The premise of the book is basically this which to me is not a novel concept and is only common sense. I do not know how this is a new and exciting concept. Of course, you change a bad habit with a good habit and of course, you do it in incremental baby steps. Tom says you should do something for 66 days, but I have heard of 28 days, one month and so forth as other optimal times to make a habit habitual. James Clear agrees with Tom Ziglar but according to the Phillipa Lally’s study, it can take anywhere from 18 days to 254 days to form a habit depending upon a number of factors.

The other predominant concept in the book is to leave a legacy behind because you are already are either intentionally or not. This reminds me of another book I reviewed which deals in entirely with leaving a legacy by Terrie Davoll Hudson called “Leave a Legacy that Counts: Create One at Any Age.” It is quite a bit shorter but the messages between these two authors are similar.

Finally, the steps necessary to fulfilling a goal are as follows:

“Step 1 – Identify your goals

Step 2 – My benefits to reaching this goal

Step 3 – Major obstacles and mountains to climb to reach this goal

Step 4 – Skills and knowledge required to to reach this goal

Step 5 – Individuals, groups, companies and organizations to work with to reach this goal

Step 6 – Plan of action to reach this goal

Step 7 – Completion Date”

Overall, this book has some good information in it. I found it heart-warming to hear of the last few days of Zig Ziglar’s life from the family perspective. As well, Tom Ziglar asks some very good questions throughout the book to help the reader along and has some good tips added in.

His trust and belief in God and Jesus Christ is paramount and not so different than the spiritual books I normally review.

I give the book a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Tags: Business, Self-improvement, Self-development.Individual, Goals, mental, spiritual, physical, family, financial, personal, career, legacy, Tom Ziglar, Zig Ziglar, Attitude, Effort, Skill, Transformation, Religious, God, Jesus Christ, Bible, Mary Mikawoz, Mikawoz, Book Review

Believe in Yourself

Book: “Believe in Yourself and Do What You Want to Do,” Kate James, Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2019

Book Review by Mary Mikawoz

Book available: September 24, 2019

Quite literally, “It is far better to be the best version of yourself than a second-rate version of someone else.” It is better to figure out your values and interests and follow through on what makes you a special “You.”

It is most important to pay attention to your dreams and listen to your intuition. With having said that, simply give yourself a deadline and just choose an activity to pursue. In choosing that activity, do not choose that which you think will impress others that you went to school with or your family members, do it for yourself.

Other good points include mind mapping which is a free flow of ideas based on free thinking without limitations. I, personally, have used this strategy for many years and love its results. Also, start out small with baby steps and try not to climb Mount Everest at the first attempt at mountain climbing.

In all, Kate James, comes up with 50 ideas or strategies on how to do what you want to do. They are good snippets of information and inspiration.

This is a good book to read from cover to cover or by simply picking a page at random and reading that section.

It is a good inspirational book with good practical advice.

I give the book 4 out of 5 stars.

Tags:Kate James, version, personality, self-help, self-development, self-improvement, time, baby steps, Mount Everest, imagination, focus, tasks, reasons, Dreams, Mary Mikawoz, Mikawoz, Book Review

Leaving a Legacy

Book: “Leave a Legacy that Counts: Create One at Any Age,” Terrie Davoll Hudson, BookLogix, 2019.

Book Review by Mary Mikawoz

Book available July 26, 2019

Terrie Davoll Hudson has written a short, interesting book about leaving a legacy behind not at some future date when you are facing death but now. It is important to measure what you achieve and the impact you have on your family, community and the world.

The thing is that you leave a legacy behind anyway based on your impact on other people, your environment, your world and the way you live, the way you speak and the actions you take. The question, then is, do you want to leave a legacy behind by default or by design?

“Elements of a legacy that count include reputation, actions repeated over time, and character. A good legacy is fuelled by your aspirations, attitude, truthfulness and authenticity.”

Your character is your essential nature that is formed over time or as Terrie says “your virtual business card” which you carry with you every day of your life.

It is most important to be intentional as you pursue your goals and pursuit of your legacy. “You are the author and illustrator of your life.” Your legacy counts so work on it today.

I recommend this book as an inspirational reading. I also recommend you check out her website – https://terriehudson.com.

I give the book a 4 out of 5 stars.

Tags: Terrie Davoll Hudson, BookLogix, Legacy, Actions, default, design, speak, conduct, time, character, aspirations, attitude, truthfulness, authenticity, self-help, self-improvement, spiritual, Mary Mikawoz, Mikawoz, Book Review

Death and Dying

Book: “What the Dead Are Dying to Teach Us: Lessons Learned From the Afterlife,” by Claire Broad, Watkins Publishing, 2019.

Book Review by Mary Mikawoz

Book available September 10, 2019

Claire Broad tries hard and for that I have to give her some credit. She has written a basic book about mediumship and what the dead are trying to teach us. It is a good beginner introduction but if you are aware of anything about what decease spirits are saying, it is repetitive from other sources. If you watch Long Island Medium, Mama Medium, Mom’s a Medium or have seen John Edward, Colette Baron-Reid, John Holland, James Van Praagh you should be aware of the major points spiritual people are making.

I found myself becoming quite busy and so had to leave the book mainly read but not entirely. It was a mistake because I was not “called” back to the book. I eventually came back to it to finish it off and give it a proper reading. I am sorry to say but much of what has been said in this book has been said by many others beforehand.

Here are the seven main points. “You are spirit or conscious awareness. Death is an illusion because consciousness is not confined. You are never alone. You can rise above fear. Love never dies as your life has purpose. Ask and it will be given. And nobody dies alone.”

To be fair, I went over my notes and I found that I liked Claire’s Call to Action sections.

To conclude, I would have to say that if you are dealing with death or are curious about the afterlife, this is a good introductory book. I give this book 3.5 stars out of 5. If you interested in life between lives, I would recommend the hypnotic work of Dr. Michael Newton of the Newton Institute.

Tags:  Claire Broad, Waktins Publishing, death, medium, mediumship, dead, spirit, spiritual, psychic, Long Island Medium, Mama Medium, John Edward, Colette Baron-Reid, John Holland, James Van Praagh, spirit, consciousness, illusion, fear, love, purpose, Dr. Michael Newton, Newton Institute, Mary Mikawoz, Mikawoz, Book Review

To The Edge

 

To The Edge

According to Wikipedia, “Grand Canyon National Park, in Arizona, is home to much of the immense Grand Canyon, with its layered bands of red rock revealing millions of years of geological history. Viewpoints include Mather Point, Yavapai Observation Station and architect Mary Colter’s Lookout Studio and her Desert View Watchtower. Lipan Point, with wide views of the canyon and Colorado River, is a popular, especially at sunrise and sunset.”

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Sea Going

It is an overcast day in the Vancouver Harbour where freighters line up and a fishing boat is being followed by many seagulls and sea birds looking for their next feed. According to Wikipedia, “Informally known as “box boats,” they carry the majority of the world’s dry cargo. Most container ships are propelled by diesel engines, and have crews of between 10 and 30 people.”

It is a tranquil picture although there is much going on in it.

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Portfolio

Here is a link for all my work based on categories.

Feel free to view different areas. Thanks!

https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/mary-mikawoz.html

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Dolphin

Dolphin

I love dolphins and whales. This is a underwater picture of a dolphin. According to Wikipedia, “Dolphin is a common name of aquatic mammals within the infraorder Cetacea. The term dolphin usually refers to the extant families Delphinidae, Platanistidae, Iniidae, and Pontoporiidae, and the extinct Lipotidae. There are 40 extant species named as dolphins.”

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Sitting Pretty

Sitting Pretty

This is a beautiful elk relaxing in the grass and fields. This is elk or wapiti at the Greater Vancouver Zoo in Aldergrove, BC, Canada.

He seems so calm and content.

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