"My Butterfly Friend"

My love for butterflies has had an impact on my family, friends and networks. The idea of the birth of a butterfly is the same way I view my life (past, present, future) and how important it is to accept and appreciate the process for achievement and the fragility of life.

What I have learned from my personal and professional experiences is that, in this maze called life, continue to be yourself and shine your light for the world to see. People will remember all that you have done and it will never be in vain.

Here is what a dear friend and colleague left me with last week as I was in the process of starting a new chapter in my life.

On The Wings of A Butterfly 
by Christine McClimans

Your friendship is special
Like the flowers that bloom,
Or when a butterfly emerges
From within its cocoon...

You remind me of that butterfly,
Loving and free,
Bright and colorful,
For the world to see...

We will share sunshine and rainbows;
Sometimes, the rain and the snow;
We'll stand together through it,
While the cold winds blow...

When the time is right,
We won't stop to ask "Why?"
Our friendship will take flight
On the wings of a butterfly ...

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Friends Helping Friends

Three months ago, a colleague/friend and I were having a conversation, and out of the blue she asked me if I would be her mentor.

At first, I was a little taken back, but soon realized that this person trusted me, and believed that I had the ability to help her get where she wanted to be.

"Are you sure?” I asked.

“Yes,” she replied.

“You know that I will be taking this very seriously, so get ready,” I said.

Here’s the thing – we’ve known each other a few years and I always told her that she had choices, and I questioned what was holding her back from reaching out for her goals. In her, I saw potential.

But it took for her to ask, and for me to respond, to make what I call the ‘coaching alliance. At that moment where suddenly things are clearer and a person is ready to take the next step into the unknown, and have faith as their guide.

That day, my friend chose to move forward with her life, and I couldn’t have been happier to be there through her journey.

On that very day I gave my friend a few challenge questions to think about over the weekend.

Let’s talk strategy, I told her. Together, we both agreed upon a plan, including:

1. An agreement to work together for three months, with a meeting every Wednesday during our lunch time.

2. A Q&A about her life experiences, specifically, her concerns, fears, accomplishments, strengths and weaknesses.
3. Created short-term, mid-term and long term goals.
4. Provide her with books, articles and online resources.

5. Introduce her to the art of networking.

6. Focus on interview skills and self-presentation.

The result: As time went on, and we followed our strategy, I began to see subtle changes in her.

More confidence. A positive outlook. An emerging belief that she could achieve anything she put her mind to.

With increased confidence, my friend found herself mentoring relatives, changing her approach in conversation, thinking and acting differently.

The growth wasn’t just one-sided; I too grew in my abilities as a better person, coach and mentor.

This is her testimonial:

Celia,

I want to take the time to say thank you for coaching/mentoring me. You've taught me to set goals and to take steps to achieve them, to believe in myself, go after my dreams, take initiative for the things that matter most to me, and how to be fearless. You pushed me past my boundaries. You have truly shown me the meaning of professional development. You have a ‘take no prisoners’ attitude, and you gave me the kick in the pants that I needed to wake up and take my life and career seriously. Thank you again.

~Desiree

  

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CPC's 12 Personal and Professional Tips

As a young and rising professional I have experienced many things throughout my career journey. Some events I wish I knew back when I was getting started, however, with trial and error I came to appreciate the lessons learned. Certainly, it doesn't end here, but due to those experiences, today I am more confident, have become a better person, much more prepared and equipped to deal with the unexpected.

It is my privilege to share with you, "my pearls of wisdom".

I hope these tips are or would be beneficial, as you set out on your journey and continue to present your “best self”. This list is not exhaustive, so please feel free to share your own tips t0 enlighten others.

1. Be yourself

There is only one you. You’re unique and have a lot to offer. Find the time to get to know who you truly are; pursue your dreams; enjoy your passions; appreciate your values, strengths and areas of improvement.

2. Stay spiritually grounded, physically fit and eat healthy

Your ability to consistently focus on these areas will make a huge difference in your capacity to function at more effective and efficient levels and soar beyond your imagination in the long haul.

3. Be happy in all aspects of your life

Don’t let your job or people define you. Have fun, enjoy the journey, trust the process. Know that you are making a difference everyday in your internal and external environments and growing and learning from your experiences.

4. Seek out a career buddy, mentor, coach or sponsor

Find those people who are positive, courageous and willing to challenge and encourage you as you create and build on your dreams and goals.

5. Take initiative

Learn to work in the white spaces. Meaning, to seize those opportunities that others usually rejects. Get involve and actively participate in taskforces, committees, projects and assignments that will stretch your responsibilities and enhance your professional skill set.

6. Continuing education.

Ongoing learning, reading and training makes you stand out. The more knowledgeable you are, the more conversations you create, the more you share and add value to those around your personal and professional circles.

7. Add value

In your day to day activities, learn, analyze and apply as much as you can in order to contribute and create value inside and outside of your organization.

8. Network, network, network

Find the time to meet and learn about people. Quality connections are key to building lasting relationships, gathering/sharing information, increasing visibility and boosting your confidence.

9. Build a solid brand and reputation

You are the head sales person in your life. Selling and marketing yourself to everyone is done on a daily basis. We all have support systems, but no one can give you the success you need unless, you commit to working hard and leaving your mark.

10.  Help others

Get involve in your community. Volunteer, use your talent and time to support a person(s), an organization(s) and/or a cause(s). Remember that someone did it for you. Pay it forward!

11. Stay positive

There are times, you will be overwhelmed by the world in and around you. Find that outlet, your "woosah" to keep you grounded as you're faced with situations. Believe that things will get better.

12. Simply LIVE!!! 

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If you could...

If you could do one thing, what would it be and why?

This past May, I had the opportunity to attend my alma mater, Pace University's Undergraduate Ceremony. As an alumnus and a supporter of the university, I had the opportunity to re-live this memorable occasion from a different and refreshing perspective. To realize that I was a part of such a similar graduating ceremony 10 years ago was a reminder of just how quickly time flies and how many things one forgets about their own experiences.

The energy of this May graduation was simply explosive -- the cap, the gown, tassels, gathering of family and friends, all part of memories that one cherishes for life.
I soaked in every speaker, every speech, from this event but the one that stuck with me, was when Chuck Schumer, Senior US Senator from New York, shared a very thoughtful poem ("If" by  Rudyard Kipling) with the graduates. Just like them, it made me ponder my past, my future, my destiny, but most of all the value of life and the work that needs to be done.

Follow your bliss!

Rudyard Kipling
If

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

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Perspective

With all that's going on around the world, it's hard to ignore and sometimes difficult to comprehend. During these times it's important to take a step back, reflect on our lives and reclaim our sense of purpose and direction.

Life and time are precious, therefore it's essential to love, comfort and forgive each other. With peace in your heart, stand still in faith and believe always.

Carpe Diem!

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,

and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

 Desiderata by Max Ehrmann

Desiderata Source

Mother's Day is every day!

I am blessed with two amazing mothers (biological & auntie) and grateful they are in my life and have always been there for me no matter what. Different but still the same, no disappointment no pain.

I’m sure, just like me, you can appreciate and have experienced from your parent/guardian unconditional love, kindness, forgiveness, compassion, understanding and authenticity.

There is a bond that cannot be broken, a treasure that no one else can find, and a life that is cherished. They are my angels here on earth. Over the years, I have observed their many qualities which continues to stand the test of time. I have learned to take them with me in and around the world (prayer, wisdom, strength, hard work, empathy, perseverance, compassion, and helping others).

So mom's, this is for you:

M- Miss you daily
O- Open arms
T- Thank you for life
H- Happy you're here
E- Ever grateful

R- Respect you always

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Career Aspirations

There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Does it wrestle with your heart when you know someone who has so much potential but just can't seem to catch a break? What about yourself? Are the stars aligning in your favor? If not, what are you doing about it?

It's not easy when you've made great effort, but things are taking their time. At times, doubts can also creep in. You begin to question yourself, the process, the barriers, and the decision-makers involved. It is true that sometimes hiring organizations can overlook passionate and ambitious individuals simply because they lack in a specific area. Sometimes such organizations should make an effort to give people a chance to prove themselves, that's what taking risks is all about. That's how we grow and transform as companies. But it is a lot easier to work on ourselves and make changes in ourselves, than to change companies and organizations.

So if you are someone in need of that chance, don't let the doubts hold you back. Get back into the game, make some changes, acquire new skills or experiences, and wait for the results.

• Know that you are a work in progress. 
• Be diligent, be prepared, get the support and guidance you need.
• Live with patience knowing that it will get better. 
• Stay positive and keep moving forward.
   

What are your suggestions to someone who is having a tough time overcoming a challenge(s)? 

INSPIRATION: Food for the Soul

As human beings, we feed off of inspiration. Those positive and profound words, phrases or people that gives us strength and helps us to stay focused. It’s my pleasure to share a few of the many quotes, I have carried with me over the years, and continue to live and learn from.

 “Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong."- Ella Fitzgerald

"How far you go in life depends on you being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these."- George Washington Carver

"Resolve to be thyself and know that he who finds himself loses his misery."- Matthew Arnold 

"There are many things in life that will catch your eyes, but only a few that will catch your heart...follow those."- Michael Nolan

"Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into a flame by another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light."- Albert Schweitzer

Faith

"Not truth, but faith, it is that keeps the world alive."- Edna St. Vincent Millay

Struggle

"Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life and repeat to yourself the most comforting words of all:      This, too, shall pass."- Ann Landers

Achievements

"None of us suddenly becomes something overnight. The preparations have been in the making for a lifetime."- Gail Godwin

World Peace

"What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family."- Mother Teresa

"Almost anything you do will be insignificant but it is very important that you do it."

 "You must be the change you wish to see in the world."- Mahatma Gandhi

"The best and the most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be touched by the heart."- Helen Keller

"In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life. It goes on!"- Robert Frost

"Learn to let go and be free."- Buddha

"Create the kind of self you will be happy to live with all your life."- Foster C. McClellan

"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience." - Pierre Teilhard de Charadin

"All comes at the proper time to him who knows how to wait."- St. Vincent de Paul

"Energy is the essence of life. Every day you decide how you're going to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal, and by maintaining focus."- Oprah Winfrey

"It is better to be HATED for what you are, than to be LOVED for what you're not."- Andre Gide

“Giving up doesn’t mean you’re weak; sometimes it means that you are strong enough to let you.”- Author Unknown

"Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond your grasp, but, if you sit down quietly, it will alight upon you." -Nathaniel Hawthorne

"Don't worry about things you have no control over."- My Basketball coach

"Keep aiming higher and don't limit yourself to anything or compare yourself to anyone."- A Friend

God is love and I am loved. To be LOVED is the most powerful, favorable and overwhelming feeling in the world- Celia P. Collymore

I would like to hear from you.

What are some of your favorite quotes? What words of wisdom motivates you?

Poem by Kevin Young

To make a better world…make a better YOU

Take time to laugh, it’s the music of The Soul

Take the time to work, it’s the price of Success

Take the time to think, it’s the source of Power

Take the time to give, it’s too short a day to be Selfish

Take time to play, it’s the secret of Perpetual Youth

Take the time to pray, it’s the greatest Power on Earth

Take time to read, it’s the foundation of Wisdom

Inspirational Stones picture source

Who are your “She-roes”, past and present?

March is Women's History Month!

As we celebrate this national event, let's remember and recognize the diverse group of women who have paved for us, a much brighter and promising future.

1. Who inspires you?

2. Presently, who are the women in your life that you appreciate?

Remember to take the time to reflect on those amazing women (family, friends, colleagues, activists, celebrities, legends etc.) who have come before us, and those who continue to work effortlessly, sacrificing their time and energy to make a difference in our lives.

Let's be forever grateful for all they have done.   And remind those close to you, how thankful you are for them making a positive impact on your life.

Cheers,

CPC

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

Looking back Moving Forward picture resource

 

 

 

Who Leaves Footprints on Your Heart?

You never know who is reading and watching, but will always know who is listening.

Last year, two of my dearest friends told me that they had noticed some changes in me. I asked them what they were referring to.  One said that he noticed a new sense of drive and purpose, something he found quite inspiring. Once I had created and made my blog public, I sent an email to my friends and relatives sharing my purpose in life and also giving them the opportunity to share their thoughts, ideas and suggestions. Him having read my blog was impressed with my efforts and wanted to share his admiration for who I was becoming and what I am doing to accomplish my dreams.

Another friend had this to say:

"I don't know what has happened to you this year but I see something that you didn't have last year. You have a gift I don't know what to call it...but your words. Words give life. Instead of concentrating on what you don't have, you have chosen to concentrate on helping people get what they don't have, keep going for your reward... only God knows.” 

These words meant more me to me than anything, because they were sincere and from friends who had observed me closely. Friends observe, they listen, they reflect and respond. One even said a special prayer for me when she wrote:

“Blessings, showers of blessings for 2011. God, if it’s only a tiny glimpse of your life, show Celia the way. May she never lose sight, because you will provide her with guidance. In her time of despair may she find comfort in you. What we see as obstacles, you turn them into miracles. Amen!” 

Sometimes we don’t even see changes that are happening within us, but others do. In many cases, good friends are a mirror of ourselves. They notice the slightest spark or smile, the subtle changes, and even the big changes. When we do something good or positive, they absorb that positivity. If you are a friend and you see someone making a positive change, it doesn’t hurt to let them know you have noticed it. That’s what friends are for.

All I can say to my friends who made these comments to me is thank you for noticing. The changes I see within myself, are a product of my experiences, and a lot of it has to do with my faith and belief in a higher power - in God. He is making me stronger, better and wiser. And it’s a constant journey.

So who are the champions in your life, who do you appreciate?

My prayer for you...find your joy.

Some seek it. Others wait for it to come. I say CREATE IT. Maintain focus and stay balanced in all aspects of your life. Life isn’t easy. But it can be more productive if you work a little harder, plan a little smarter, keep positive people in your life, trust others, and most importantly - believe that you can make a difference in your life and in the lives of others.

Much love!

CPC

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."- Anais Nin

"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up."
- Bible: Ecclesiastes

Heart Footprint picture source