Our Chalet Hike ... Ummmm ... Sort Of! (aka Tiny Choices)

I'd love to hike at "our chalet" in Switzerland (one of the Girl Scout World Centres) ... but since I can't just pop over there and take off into the mountains, I figured I'd take my chalet mug on a hike to the high regions of the second story wing of the Girl Scout Service Center in Tulsa and get some coffee. 

This counts as part of the Live Healthy, Lead Healthy fit challenge, right?  I'm in training, by the way, for the 20 week challenge that I will begin on Saturday with our huge kickoff* in Chandler Park.  And by "in training" I mean "actively procrastinating."

A while back, I decided this was the perfect opportunity to restore honor to my languishing blog and, more importantly, hopefully inspire some of the other adults in our GSEOK (Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma) family to give the fit challenge a chance. 

Suddenly, I hear a large choir of famous voices singing in my head, "give health a chance," while they ... [oh - I shouldn't talk about voices in my head? Excuse me!] I digress!

In all seriousness, maybe you're like me. Maybe the whole subject of being "fit" is already challenge! There are several reasons why it is for me, but here are my main three:

• I'm out of shape.
• I don't enjoy exercise.
• Time is a huge issue.

My secondary reasons?

• I'm out of shape ... and can't stand how I look in shorts or athletic wear of any kind, especially when it involves sweating. I can only with great self-talk and bravery wear yoga pants (which ARE worth it for the comfort factor, at least) outside of my dwelling.
• I don't enjoy exercise ... at least for the sake of exercise. It's slightly like torture. However, if there is an element of expression involved or any kind of creative appreciation? It's a whole different story. I love dance - especially modern dance - but for now it is held hostage by the previous point. But hiking with a camera? I'll happily sweat all day! Kayaking at sunset? I'll out-paddle everyone else. Therein is another challenge. None of those things are doable in the hours I have available....
• Time is a huge issue ... the issue of all issues for everything in my life. When do I think I will have any time to do things I'm already supposed to be doing? Or is there such a thing as vaccum pilates or dusting yoga? How about laundry aerobics? Maybe then I'd get all of it to happen.

And that's just exercise! We didn't even begin with food.  Overwhelmed yet? I am. Maybe that's where I find my key.

I'm already overwhelmed. How do I take a fit challenge? Maybe it will be a little like my "chalet hike" today.  Want to hear the success story?  Of course you do!  It's because I made tiny choices:

• I purposely chose to go to the farthest location for coffee (plus - there's SPECIAL coffee there).
• I took the stairs instead of the elevator ... twice. (Did I mention there's special coffee? Mmmm.)
• I had a little fun on the way, which is documented in photos above for your entertainment:
• Where's Waldo/Ingrid moments (there are three)
• Noticing little things along the way like "stick people in peril"
• Scouting out healthy options around me to inspire me to look for more

Each of these are tiny choices that were doable in the moment. I didn't have to wear yoga pants! If that weren't exciting enough, I was able to conquer the other two challenges as well. I found ways to make it enjoyable and do it in my available time, adding only a couple of minutes to something I was doing already.

What tiny choices can you make? I'm thinking stairs and taking the long way are working for me. 

Next?  I may conquer something huge .. like ... drinking water!

*Have you signed up to join us in the park ... for free?  Do it here: LIVE HEALTHY, LEAD HEALTHY KICKOFF
*How about the fit challenge? It's only $10 and includes a workbook, t-shirt, pedometer, and cool incentives along the way!  Sign up for that here: FIT CHALLENGE

Get Your Hands Dirty!

Our volunteers ROCK! As one of our queens of tie dye can attest, this isn't for the faint of heart - at least not when it comes to keeping clean.  Our volunteers are willing to get in there, get their hands dirty, and do what it takes to dig down deep into a leadership adventure for girls. 

I wish I had more time to stop and reflect on these amazing people ... our volunteers.  But alas, I am putting the finishing touches on an event for them this Saturday, so my words will have to show up on stage and not in a blog!

But in the meantime, some of what we shared with Girl Scouts of the USA on #HatsOffForVolunteers via Twitter today might provide some additional entertainment. 

www.twitter.com/newsGSEOK
www.twitter.com/imagirlscout

Every Day is Leaders' Day

Learning ... guiding ... growing ... discovering ... all these things we celebrate.  And today, while it is officially Leaders Day, my thoughts are towards the wonderful adults who take the time to make these things happen in the lives of Girl Scouts.

One day to recognize and say THANK YOU is simply not enough.  Leaders and volunteers are daily making a difference.  Have you thanked a Girl Scout volunteer recently?

NOTE:  Girl Scout Leader Day recognizes and honors the many adult volunteers to the girl scouting program. Girl Scout Leader Day began on April 22, 1982, when a flag honoring Girl Scout leaders was flown over the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. This day honors the thousands of volunteers who help to make the Girl Scout program a success.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

From inside a juvenile detention facility, the scene is not what one might expect. In fact, I find myself wanting to find something eloquent to say about the visit I had today with Girl Scouts. But I think the message is loud and clear. It is far more than words on the wall. It's real. People care ... they care about kids in tough situations ... and they're dedicating their lives to helping them turn things around.

I LOVE YOU!

Leadership makes all the difference in the lives of youth ... having good leaders to look up to is something I truly love when I see it in action.  I know I don't blog nearly enough.  But on a day* when there is much love expressed in the world, it's a great time to say how much I am inspired by and love every Girl Scout leader who has made a difference in a girl's life.

While I consider it a great privilege to work for an amazing organization, it's truly the volunteers - those who are working directly with each young girl as their leaders - who are the "rockstars" of Girl Scouting.  Not every girl has someone she can say "I LOVE YOU" to, and it makes my heart sad to think a young girl doesn't have someone who believes in her.  BUT ... I get to see things like this and it warms my heart.

We love our Girl Scout leaders!  And I am inspired by them every day.

*I just discovered this draft didn't post ... so those receiving the updates by email, this misses the Valentine's Day mark! But every day can be Valentine's Day in Girl Scouting, don't you think?

Some Serious Reporting

This serious group of girls had a seriously great opportunity ... and even though it has taken me a while to get up a post about it, it's still one of my favorite moments. 

Tulsa Shock graciously worked with us on a BIG event where girls had the opportunity to experience different roles through the night.  I brought in a good friend of mine who is a real reporter and journalist to lead and inspire the girls.  Not only did he do that, but he was able to get them an interview with the coach after the game!

This is what makes my heart so soft ... people who volunteer simply by sharing their skills and abilities, making a new opportunity open up for girls.  I don't know if they realized how lucky they were, but they took full advantage of the moment!  I was so impressed.  They asked not only great questions, but GUTSY questions!  One, in fact, made the other reporters in the room gasp and scribble in their notebooks, too.  But even better than that, they made the coach's day and she encouraged them as well.

One young lady submitted her story to the Girl Scout Council, so we put it up online and you can read all about it (including her gutsy question) by clicking here.

My Daughter's Feet

I have to laugh sometimes ... my daughter has her own sense of style. Ballet and socks? Not to mention neon leopard purposely "matched" with a solid?

Her little anklet made me think of summer camp. Replace the pointe shoes with tennis shoes and she could be at camp. Then again, replace the pointe shoes with flats and she could be at school. Put them in boots and she's on horseback. The interests of girls can be wide and sweeping, but they are always bringing their personality into their world as it expands. And that makes the world beautiful and interesting.

Naturally, that's another part of Girl Scouting I love. It gives girls opportunities to experience and explore. And ultimately, by building courage, confidence and character, it brings out the unique leader in all ... even leaders in mis-matched leopard socks!

Growing Up A Girl (Scout)

Remembering moments with my daughter makes me think about how fast time is flying through our fingers. This photo seems like yesterday ... but it was taken over a year ago.

Today as I picked her up from the airport after her annual summer visitation in Ohio, she wasn't in cowboy boots. She was in Converse with black leggings and a tuft of a tulle skirt sporting a band tee and feathers in her hair (all the rage now).

It was likely her last trip as an unaccompanied minor. It means that she's be jet setting on her own now. It also means that I'm not ready to watch her grow up much more!

But it will happen. Ready or not, I'm a mother of a young girl growing into a young woman. Thankfully, I'll have a string of opportunities this year to be part of the adventure (some near, some from afar) as she takes those steps - not only as a girl, but as a Girl Scout.

In a world full of questions and environments that are so different than my own when I grew up, I am thankful for the steady path of Girl Scouting: courage, confidence, character, and making the world a better place. It's a legacy and a future wrapped into the adventures she and her Girl Scout friends are creating today - and she doesn't even realize it!

And, admittedly, I feel weak as I face the future. But the sense of community I'm growing in as a mother of a Girl Scout is something that strengthens me. We can grow together here. And that thought makes me smile.

Character Is A Choice

What I think is unique about character is that it doesn't have to be an inborn trait. It can be taught, learned, embraced and expanded. There is no underlying fundamental talent that is needed for character to take root in a person's life. You don't have to have a "green thumb" to make it bloom and grow. Ultimately, it is a choice.

(For anyone really interested in my long train of thought ... feel free to keep reading. These are just thoughts that have traveled through my mind. No professional or personal platforms are intended. I was simply energized by the thoughts a book had sparked and wanted to capture it while it was fresh.)

Late last night, I started reading Delivering Happiness by the CEO of Zappos, Tony Hsieh. I wasn't expecting to do anything more than just enjoy another perspective. But at page 159, I had to stop and capture a few thoughts as it relates to "corporate culture" of Girl Scouts.

The first solid thought came from a discussion of core values and if they are truly meaningful. Can people name them or the company mission? Can people live them? I truly believe the Girl Scout mission is a catalyst because it's what I envision for my daughter ...

"Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place."

How about in the workplace? I had always had a blind embrace of it as an employee with more of an arm's length view - it was what we were doing for the girls. But today I started thinking. How does our mission affect the professional work environment? While all three "C's" seem like prerequisites with a view to making the world (and our work environment) a better place, character seemed to be the number one element that I see affecting our own "corporate culture."

We may be actively making the world a better place ...
We may be courageous and confident in what we are doing ...
But are we embracing character? Are we transparent? Do we own our own mistakes? Do we talk behind the backs of others? Do we disagree and sabotage? Do we bottle up frustrations? Do we circumvent due process? Do we really respect one another? Better yet, do we truly respect authority? Or are we satisfied with tolerating and venting when we come to roadblocks? Do we collaborate to solve issues? Do we put ourselves aside for the progress of our collective abilities to serve girls and volunteers? Do we have an open forum both personally and professionally? And do we still honor others with what is said behind closed doors?

Then I read an excerpt on page 158:

"Integrity was a value that had been suggested by some employees, but I made a conscious choice to leave it out. I felt that integrity would come from us actually committing to and living up to our core values in everything we did, not just referring to them when it was convenient."

I've had that thought in the Girl Scout world before when it comes to leadership and self-esteem (it comes organically through opportunities to exercise the mission) ... but I had not thought about it in terms of our mission specifically. My mind immediately went to the Girl Scout Promise and Law. Character is much like integrity ... it is a value that comes from us actually committing to and living up to the Promise and Law, our "core values" if you will.

The Girl Scout Promise

On my honor, I will try:

To serve God and my country,

To help people at all times,

And to live by the Girl Scout Law.

The Girl Scout Law

I will do my best to be

honest and fair,

friendly and helpful,

considerate and caring,

courageous and strong, and

responsible for what I say and do,

and to

respect myself and others,

respect authority,

use resources wisely,

make the world a better place, and

be a sister to every Girl Scout.

Let's be honest (and fair) ... we are certainly human. There are days where exhaustion can take over and it's hard to be friendly or helpful. Situations arise and depending on the reactions, one more negative outburst can drain the last reserves. Considerate and caring responses can become feigned, a burden, or simply non-existent.

So what do we do? How do we respect ourselves and our limits while respecting others and authority? Maybe it is summed up in our last three lines ...

1) Use resources wisely. Whether personal resources, company resources, material resources ... it all applies. Do I have enough internal bandwidth to address a challenging situation within the ideals of our Girl Scout Law? If not, maybe I need to evaluate my resources ... gain understanding, get a fresh perspective, identify solutions and what we have or need to address it, and when better prepared, have that open discussion to make something positive happen.

2) Make the world a better place. Am I contributing to my world? My world can be a variety of elements - work culture, family, community, etc. If I am about to tear something down, is it with the aim of making it a better? Identifying the purpose within each action is huge in my mind. And in this case it's the guideline to know if it's a candidate to be part of the mission or not.

3) Lastly ... be a sister to every Girl Scout. What does this really mean? I'm not sure that I'm the best one to even attempt a description. I never had a sister! But I always wished I had one and frequently imagined what life would be like with a sister. I wanted someone to share life with on a daily and continuing basis. So what do sisters do in my daydream? Work together, play together, help each other, be honest even when it hurts, apologize when relationships go awry, and ultimately know that we're in it for the long haul. A sister is forever.

Diversity and Legacies

It does my heart good when I hear about inspiration and encouragement that simply relies on the human experience. Neither age nor race should play a discriminating role in the impact a person's life can have on the future of a girl. And I'm proud to say that I have found Girl Scouting to truly be a place where that is demonstrated.

Take Dawn and Dorothy, for instance. Dawn (left) grew up in McAlester with Dorothy (right) as her troop leader. At a recent event to honor Dorothy, the thanks and the stories that poured from Dawn's heart brought both laughter and tears. Dawn is NOT the outdoor type and as a girl had a hard time spending time away from home. Dorothy always encouraged her and always let her go home when it got to be too much ... time and time and time again.

Because of Dorothy's open encouragement, Dawn continued to take steps as she was ready, and eventually she made it through a night, and a weekend, and she has even successfully camped. But it wasn't just about staying overnight. It was about developing those core leadership skills - courage, confidence and character. The wisdom of patient leadership is what Dawn needed. And as a result, she had more than just a successful experience as a Girl Scout. She is now a professional Girl Scout staff member along with Dorothy! And maybe even more importantly, she is guiding her own daughter on a similar path in Girl Scouting to discover her strengths and master them one step at a time.

Dawn and Dorothy are both women who embody the Girl Scout Mission of making the world a better place ... one step at a time, one girl at a time. These women make me proud to be a Girl Scout, too!

It Only Takes A Spark ...

This morning, six girls were out making the world a better place. I was there, I took photos, and I had my proud moments again. But you know what made me stop and think today? This young girl.

As we took photos, she had an idea for a picture. Then another idea ... and another. I offered her one of my cameras, and she told me that she liked being in front of the camera but not really behind it (quite the opposite of me). My daughter and I showed her a couple of things about the camera and how it worked. Before we knew it, the photographer had been unleashed!

There were no lack of ideas, and I think we attempted nearly every one of them. There was laughter, delighted squeals when something turned out extra special, and the animated gushing only pre-teen girls can do that makes everything feel like an adventure. So, an adventure we had! All it took was a little spark of inspiration and someone to take note and fan the flame.

(Get ready to sing ... I'm taking you back to my junior high church choir and our favorite song.)

It Only Takes A Spark ... To Get A Fire Going ... The words are more than a song in my head. At least they are when I stop to think about it! As a mom, I think I'm guilty of letting sparks die far too often. I admit it. I'm busy. We have a demanding schedule. And there are opportunities that slide by on a daily basis. I think it's that way for so many of us moms out there. It's probably that way in any realm for ANY of us out there.

I'll admit something else. This adventure was not something I did by choice. It's humbling, but I truly only made the effort because my department made a mistake in posting the information for this particular opportunity. While I probably could have waved a boss wand and sent the situation elsewhere, I decided to personally get involved and try to make it something special. I had to wrestle myself out of the house to go do it!

Roll that all together, and there are several life lessons to toss around. But you know what? I'm just glad I somehow had the patience to let the moments unfold. It really was only a spark. And out of the 441 photos we brought back with us ... less than 100 were mine! Yep, I'd say that was a fire.

Strong and Confident Hope

These girls ... beautiful. I am profoundly blessed when I get a few moments to have their energy infuse the air I breathe. I see such strength and confidence. I see bravery. I see unity. I hear infectious laughter and notice quietly hopeful moments light their eyes. Little do they know, their spirit and even their spirited antics are secretly fueling my heart.

When children are faced with overcoming great odds as they grow into young adults, my heart is particularly tuned. I'm a mother who daily feels the joy and pain of watching a child bend and turn with life's sometimes rocky road. And while every life has grit and grind of one kind or another, these girls have a common bond.

They are daughters of incarcerated women.

I do not know what that feels like to a young girl. I do not know the depth of the challenge they face. And when I stop to imagine, my heart cries out for them. But I do know this ... they are empowered. And my heart swells because they are empowered by Girl Scouting.

This is Girl Scouts Beyond Bars. Courage. Confidence. Character. The world is definitely a better place.

Temporary Home

And so it begins ... Camp! This is my daughter's home for the next few days (and an excuse to try out my birthday present - a camera that does those moving panorama shots). This brings great memories to me of my childhood camping opportunities.

Camping For The Future

Which way to go? Sometimes that little question packs the biggest punch of them all. And it's also one of the things I love about the Girl Scout experience. The wide array of opportunities that are at a girl's fingertips give her a taste of what those directions hold. She has the freedom to explore her world.

Camp is just one of those ways to explore. From a specialized focus (outdoor activities like sailing to "S.T.E.M." directions like physics) to a wide array of options (my daughter's choice this summer is a camp where the campers decide what they want to do together), girls are exploring directions that will help them build their answers to the big question: Which way to go? It's not such a scary question if you're a Girl Scout!

Life Moments & The Invisible Me

Oh, how I wish I were invisible! It would come in SO handy when capturing the little moments of life that swirl by. But sometimes I am fortunate enough to go unnoticed (or maybe ignored). As a pair of young Girl Scouts made their way past where I was standing, a special moment drifted my way. Without looking up, their beautiful little faces gravitated toward each other as they talked about friendship. I didn't expect to eavesdrop, just take a great photo with my camera. But what I heard surprised me.

I didn't even know how much of an impact it made on me until I realized I couldn't shake it from my mind. They were talking about choosing each other as friends. One girl said she didn't have any other friends ... and that's when my heart was both happy and sad at the same time. They talked in-depth and their conversation disappeared with them. But what remained in my mind caused me to wonder what would cause a fresh young life to avoid friendship. The simple answer? I'd place my bet on pain. And I'm making an educated guess on that one!

My heart kept hurting for the young girl. But on the flip side of whatever has separated her from others, a new opportunity for friendship was blossoming. They were choosing friendship together.

Can I be honest? Some of the Girl Scout sayings that are new to my ears have not held the importance they should. Things involving fun and friendship have at times been placed on the shelf in my own mind as less important than courage, confidence, character and changing the world. But when a moment like this stops me in my tracks, I have a glimpse of just how powerful friendship can be. And indeed, when I look at key moments that brought courage, confidence, and character ... they often involved friends!

Thank goodness for Girl Scouts.

A vision for girls ...

As I started re-reading "The Path" by Laurie Beth Jones this morning, I remembered I was going to redo a Wordle for our GSEOK Leadership Message. Sometimes the page of black and white words takes a little investment to get the inspiration behind the words. But that's where my visual side comes in (and my love for things like Wordle, which makes the visual easy). I put in our message and the most prominent references show up visually. Girls. It's all about the girls.

My personal favorite key words come from the mission: Courage. Confidence. Character. That's what I want for my daughter. That's my desire for all girls to experience in life. With those three elements, their path is already built on some pretty solid ground. What a gift to give a young life! And it's something our volunteers, staff, and supporters do every day.

We're All Different ... Or Are We?

I am inspired by this toolbox. It looks very much like an organization. We are all working side by side to accomplish the same mission. While our sense of purpose gives us a particularly strong common bond, we each have different skills and talents. And we are plugging those abilities in to the same engine that drives the largest leadership organization for girls.

Lately I've been contemplating differences. They give us flavor in our relationships ... and headaches, too. As a professional Girl Scout, I work side by side with some of the most interesting people I have ever met. They give flavor in the workplace ... and headaches, too!


Is that bad to say? Or just honest? I think if we all admit it, our working relationships can be strained and it can sometimes make completing a mission difficult.

Oftentimes, all I need is a word picture to get a bigger picture. When differences seem to get in the way, my goal is to back up and take a look at the bigger picture. We're in the same toolbox. Sure, we are each fit for different roles. But when it comes down to it, we're not as different as we think! Each one of us is here to make a difference, and together we can do it.

Girl Scout Friends

The girls are now Junior Girl Scouts ... and the relationships that have been built over the last 3 years in this troop are deepening as they grow older. Shy gigglers have turned into screaming huggers. And even though most of these girls haven't seen each other over the summer, they come together like they haven't missed a beat.

I'm amazed by the sense of purpose that is beginning to develop. Girl Scouts isn't just something fun to do with others, they are asking about who they are going to help this year. Their brainstorming was fun to watch as they all had more ideas than we could possibly enact to make the world a better place.

Their cheers, their laughter, their smiles, their friendships ... little do they know that these moments are building relationships that may stand the test of time.

This spring, a volunteer shared how meaningful she realized her friendships through Girl Scouting had become. Her husband passed away, and when it came time to celebrate the life he lived with a memorial service, she turned and saw face after Girl Scout face in the crowd. Tears came to her eyes as she told the story. And they came to mine, too.

What an enduring treasure, these Girl Scout friends!

Your Not-So-(stereo)Typical Hiker

I'm tall ... but not currently slender and probably not who you you would expect to meet on a mountain trail or in a canyon. I'm loaded down with cameras and am sporting brand new "gear" (recently discovered the value of trekking poles, multi-terrain shoes, rugged water bottles, and backpacks), and I move SLOWLY. So I imagine that seeing an overly equipped, rotund hiker sliding down a slope while rolling backwards is not a common sight. FORTUNATELY, I don't think anyone saw me! Yes, me. At that moment, I didn't want to admit I am a Girl Scout!

All drama aside (I won't detail the excitement here, but if you are REALLY interested you can visit my personal blog), I have to admit that my first thought as I was lying at the bottom of Red Rock Canyon after performing my magnificent slidey-flip was, "THIS WAS TOTALLY WORTH IT!" I found a series of "hidey-holes" in the rocks, a perfect place with shade to eat some lunch and write in my journal. I bet I could have camped there!

Brave thought for me ... but made me wish I had those kinds of opportunities when I was young. I wish I could turn back time and be part of a Girl Scout troop that had adventures. I wish I had opportunities to travel internationally like girls do now with destinations and the like. But I'll catch up as I can. And maybe one day I'll actually camp in a cave and get more pictures like this ...

Cox Tells All ... about Girl Scout Outreach!

Many thanks to Dawn Lowe and her Outreach Day Camp for helping Cox tell our story (and theirs - about their foundation). They are doing two features, so be sure to tune in for the first one coming up next week.

Cox Community Connection show airs on Cox Channel 7 in OKC and Cox Channel 3 in Tulsa. Here are the dates and times:

7/6 1pm, 4pm & 9pm
7/7 4pm & 5pm
7/8 9am, 1pm & 4pm
7/9 11:30pm
7/10 4pm & 11:30pm
7/11 3:30pm & 5:30pm