Putting Non-action into Action

April 7, 2014April 7, 2014 Leigh Ann ErricoLeave a comment

Vegification [veh-juh-fah-key-shuhn]
noun
1. The act of vegging out and doing absolutely nothing while on vacation, because you deserve it.
[usage: “Don’t send me any emails or texts next week; I will be on spring break with my kids, and I have promised them a proper vegification!]

I heard the word “vegification” recently, and I plan to use it! And not just use it in a sentence, but live it, do it, act on it. For me, the concept is uncomfortable and foreign. If I hadn’t read an article about the importance of putting non-action into action, I probably would have had a better chance of successfully winning a gold medal in Olympic Figure Skating (and I don’t even know how to ice skate) than “surrendering” time to be “productive”.

Also called “chillaxing” by my son, I am now on a mission to find a weekend to take my kids on a vegification. When we’ve gone on trips in the past, I’ve brought a suitcase so jam-packed with all of my leadership coaching and Wear the Cape files that there is literally no room for clothing. Bad, I know…but acceptance is the first step to recovery, right?

Recent weeks have taught me the infinite importance of paying attention to clues from your kids that communicate their needs. Left to my own devices, I would probably keep on running like a haggard working mama machine without ever stopping to take a breath—but lately I’ve seen that my brood needs more of me. They’re making snuggle requests when I’m frantically typing on the computer (and not taking no for an answer by wedging themselves in my lap) and declaring that they want 1:1 time without their other siblings. Today, my oldest daughter even asked me if I would put all of my work away for one entire day and just escape to another city with her. “OK,” I thought. “Let’s make this happen…and for more than just one day.” A vegification TOGETHER will do wonders for us all.

I know you can probably relate; it seems that most families these days try to fit 10 pounds of activities and obligations into a five-pound bag. But YOU also deserve to veg out and do absolutely nothing during a break from the rat race. Give yourself permission to plan for a time of true vegification with your tribe, too…after all, it’s for the sake of the most important people in your world.

Grace Under Fire

February 5, 2014 Leigh Ann ErricoLeave a comment

Our goal was to win, to win a Super Bowl, but also to win in the right way, to be role models to our community, to represent Indianapolis, the state of Indiana and the National Football League. – Tony Dungy

Sunday night was religion for so many households in our country. One of the biggest nights of the year, Super Bowl Sunday.

In our house, for whatever reason, we were rooting for the Broncos and Peyton Manning. He is one of the all-time greats and even earned himself the coveted NFL Most Valuable Player for 2013. My little guy, who is 5, idolizes both Manning brothers and proudly wore his Peyton Manning Broncos Jersey all day and night on Sunday as he rooted for his idol.

I asked my little football fan if, even after the Broncos’ crushing loss, he would still plan to wear a Broncos jersey to school the next day as a sign of solidarity with his quarterback and idol of choice. To my surprise, he did not waiver; he nodded his head YES and said, “Absolutely mom!” Gotta love the loyalty (must be because he is a Taurus!) that came through in support of a strong role model and NFL great, Peyton Manning.

These big public figures are role models to our children – good or bad. For the sake of our society and our civility, we adults and especially those on the public stage need to decide what messages we are sending every day to our kids and remember that young people are looking up to us.

Manning seemed to maintain his grace last night, even after such a devastating loss, with reporters and fans who were clamoring for his autograph. He was poised and showed class despite his obvious and justified disappointment.

I’m not sure how many more years, if any, Peyton Manning will play the game of football in the NFL, but I am certain he has made a positive impact and impression on our children. That, to me, is certainly a heroic win. Would you agree?

Choose Kind,

Leigh Ann

Mean People Need Jesus

December 11, 2013 Leigh Ann ErricoLeave a comment

“Plain and simple: Mean people need Jesus. They will be in my prayers tonight… 1 Peter 2:1-25” – TWEET BY CARRIE UNDERWOOD

What you’ve just read is the tweet that Carrie Underwood wrote in response to all those who crucified her acting in last week’s live Sound of Music production on NBC.

While I am in no way a holy roller, I give Ms. Underwood credit for her classy reply to all the unkind people out there taking shots at her. (Side note: I doubt many of these critics could ever dream of looking as gorgeous or singing as beautifully as Ms. Underwood, and they probably couldn’t hold a candle to her in the acting department either – you go, girl.)

The whole thing got me thinking: Why does our culture love to hurl insults? To try to tear down people when they’re on top? Why should someone who has a lot of blessings have to prepare to be the target of some form of abuse or cruelty? Or is this just part of the deal folks strike in exchange for fame, success and/or prosperity?

We were taught, back in the day, that, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” But Twitter and other social media sites have created forums where folks get online and, in a rather crude fashion, unleash on any topic that they wish.

To anyone tempted: Rather than trash-talking online, step away from your computer and spend time thinking of ways to improve yourself. And to satisfy the itch to share ideas via the web, how about using your keyboard to touch (rather than stab) people’s hearts with positive, inspiring, supportive messages?

Wear the Cape, people. You are the building blocks of our future.