Andrea K. Spoor's Blog

With All My Deepest Diva Love

It's February and that means it's love month! Love doesn't have to be romantic. Read more to find out about different types of love.

Living on Purpose

Learn how to take control, find your purpose, and use it to drive you in the year ahead.

Living Your Legacy

How do you live your legacy? What does living a legacy mean to you?

A Diva’s Survival Guide to the Holidays!

Trying to handle the stress of the holidays can be tough. Try these few simple tricks to destress, save some money, and focus on your own se

Back to school!

The new school year has started! For some kids this is exciting. They are ready to get into the new school year groove, take on new and more challenging classes, and reconnect with friends they lost touch with over the summer. For others, it means anxiety about new and more challenging classes, keeping up, and fitting in. Regardless of which category your teen falls into, there are tools, tips, and tricks to help them thrive through the year. Help them think through and create their vision for the school year. Talk about what it will take for them to achieve their ideal year and how you can support them in reaching their goals. Sign them up for at least one extra-curricular activity. Keeping them involved in things that they are interested in also keeps them connected to other kids with similar interests. They find a place to belong and foster wonderful friendships. Help them to beat overwhelm by keeping them balanced between school, friends, activities, etc.. Celebrate all successes with them - big and small. Encourage them to be intentional every day. For example, before they begin their day ask them "What is your big win going to be today"? Then, plant the seeds for their success by reminding them of a gift that they possess within that will help them achieve that win. Limit the amount of time they spend on their phones, tablets, and computers. Encourage true connection outside of the screen. Help them to find at least three things at the end of the day for which they are grateful. Keep the lines of communication open. Let them know they can always talk to you about anything, without fear or judgement. Create a comfortable study environment at home. Be the voice of confidence for your child in the way you speak to them and about them to others. Language is so very powerful! Your child will become what you believe and vocalize them to be.

Challenging the unfortunate

Recently I came across a list of funny “National Days”. Today is supposed to be National Repeat Day and suggested that every thing we do, we repeat over and over again.  My first reaction was “YES! I think I’ll eat some ice cream for breakfast, and then eat some ice cream again for lunch! Oh, and I think I will also take a nap on the patio in the sunshine after I work for a while, and then take another nap in the afternoon!”  Then I got to thinking about it. Some days I wouldn’t want to repeat and I am grateful for a fresh start every morning! Last week I had a completely difficult day that started right when I got out of bed.  I stubbed my toe on the leg of my bed. Then I went to brush my teeth and my toothpaste fell off of my toothbrush and ended up all over my counter.  Then tried to make myself a cup of coffee, but I forgot to put the cup under the Keurig and coffee went everywhere. After I made my 2nd cup, I went downstairs to the basement to look for something I had stored away and found 2 inches of water covering the floor– my basement had flooded from the storms the night before. I went out to the garage to find supplies to clean up the water. I discovered a bird that had gotten in and couldn’t find its way out. It had wedged itself in the corner of a rafter.  I don’t think I need to go on about the rest of my day – you get the picture. I will just say that I was grateful when bedtime came around and I could drift off dreaming of a better day tomorrow. I like to journal. Every evening I close my day by journaling about the events of the day that I am grateful for. After a day like this, I was certain journaling with a positive attitude would be difficult. Much to my surprise, I was able to see the positive things that came from my day. It went like this… “Today was rough from the minute I got out of bed. Fortunately, I had a deep and restful sleep the night before which gave me the energy to respond to the challenges. Unfortunately, I stubbed my toe. Fortunately, I didn’t cut it, there was no blood, and I didn’t break it – the pain went away fairly quickly. Unfortunately, I went to brush my teeth and the toothpaste went all over the counter. Fortunately, toothpaste doesn’t splatter and is easy to clean up.  Unfortunately, my basement flooded from the storms. Fortunately, all of my stuff was up on shelves and nothing was ruined.  It also gave me the opportunity to do some cleaning that needed to be done, and my sister came over to help.  Unfortunately, when I went looking for supplies to clean the basement I found a bird caught in the rafters in my garage. Fortunately, the bird found it’s way out after a while and didn’t appear to be injured. And…it didn’t make a mess. Unfortunately, I had an important errand to run and was strapped for time. Fortunately, a perfect stranger told me the funniest joke and made me laugh so hard that for a brief moment I forgot about the challenges of the day.” When I reflected on the positive outcomes from my challenges, the support I received from my sister, the productivity these challenges brought to me, and the cheer brought to me by a perfect stranger, my entire attitude changed.  Would I want to repeat that day – probably not, but I am grateful for the reminder of the positive things that came from it and the gentle surprises it had in store for me. The next time you have a difficult day, I challenge you to consider the fortunate in the unfortunate.

Love is the closest thing we have to magic

A couple of weeks ago, I came across a woman who was having a rough day.  She was late for her exam – an important exam that would change her year. She was lost - unable to locate where she was supposed to go and running late as a result.  I offered her a phone so she could let the facilitators of this exam know she might be a few minutes late and guided her with some directions. As she was leaving I wished her luck, gave a word of encouragement, and told her I would say a prayer for her. A couple of weeks later I received the most lovely hand written thank you card. Upon opening the card I saw words that touched my heart so deeply.  Words so powerful that they have been spinning in my heart and mind ever since. Words that I hope will change the hearts and minds of those reading this blog.  Those words read, “Love is the closest thing we have to magic.” Inside the card was a copy of her certification.  She passed her exams!  I felt so proud of her for moving past her stress and frantic feelings to conquer her exams, and so honored that she would share this wonderful news with me.  Even more, I felt so very blessed to have read those words.  Someone so wise, wonderful, and beautiful deserves to be acknowledged– her name is Olympia. Jumping forward a week or so, I witnessed an entirely different situation. A young man was having “one of those days”.  We have all had them where things don’t go right from the minute we open our eyes. In the midst of his chaotic day I heard two girls snickering judgmental remarks about being unorganized and getting what he deserved.  I couldn’t help but wonder why they were celebrating and gloating about bad things happening to this young man. They didn’t know his story. They didn’t know what might have led up to him having this kind of a day.  Why would they choose to exercise negativity and judgment rather than positive power? Do they not really know how magically they may have changed his day by simply offering a wish, a prayer, and a helping hand? They had an opportunity to be a source of magic and joy for him but they chose to be cruel and judgmental – not at all helpful. How unfortunate for him and also for them. After all, what does that kind of attitude say about their character? What do you suppose that has cost them in their jobs, relationships, and overall joy? That same day, I came across Olympia’s card again and re-read it. It occurred to me that she didn’t thank me for lending a phone or giving her directions.  She thanked me for caring. Caring goes so much deeper and means so much more.  It’s true magic! Caring and offering a wish and a helping hand has the power to turn someone’s day around – to make a difference. A phone and some written directions are nothing more than logistics.  It got me to thinking… I wonder what this world would be like if we all cared enough to instead of being defensive, angry, and hateful towards those who stir up catabolic emotions within us, whether it’s our friends, families, teachers, politicians, world leaders, etc.. and instead send a wish, a prayer, or a good intention that they find peace, healing, happiness, and wisdom.  Some might say that it sounds good in theory, but remember that theory is only theory until it is practiced. It’s unfortunate that we are living in a world of anger, judgment, and hate. My hope is that more people like Olympia will fearlessly shine their bright light and remind us that peace is only a kind word and a helping hand away. I still think of Olympia and feel comfort knowing that there is an angel walking among us contagiously setting the example of how magical love really is.  Her words were and continue to be her wand.  Yours can be too!

Happy National Gratitude Day!

Did you know that gratitude has benefits that impact your health, wealth, and your life when practiced regularly?  Yep! Practicing an attitude of gratitude strengthens your mind, body and spirit! Oh, and it also strengthens your relationships, your ability to solve problems, your ability to manage your emotions, your academic performance, your athletic abilities, and how much energy you have for any other task or responsibility in your life.  Even more, gratitude keeps you celebrating the present moment.  What a gift! I’m so grateful! When you can find the positive and the opportunity in problems, and find something to be grateful for in every experience, you will feel more energized, positive and will be able to easily find successful and positive solutions in all areas of your life. Here are some suggestions for a daily gratitude practice – keep a journal! 1. Every morning, before you leave the house, think of the top 3 things that have happened to you so far that day. 2. At the end of the day, write down all of the best things that happened. 3. Acknowledge and recognize someone for something, even if it’s for simply being a loyal and good friend. Here are some questions to ponder as you are considering what you are grateful for today: ·       What are you good at? ·       Who is always there for you when you’ve had a rough day? ·       What do you love most about your family? ·       What do you love most about your best friend(s)? ·       What have you done this week that made you feel good about yourself? ·       What were you able to help someone else with? ·       What is your favorite food? ·       What is your favorite author/book? ·       What do you like most about your personality? ·       What do you like most about your looks? ·       Who and what make your life joyful? ·       What is something that you conquered that was really hard to do? ·       What was the nicest thing someone did for you this week? ·       What is the best compliment people give you? ·       What made you laugh today?

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Divas! New Year’s Day is one of my favorite holidays!  I see it as an opportunity for me to celebrate my successes from the previous year and set new goals for the future year. It’s a time for me to pat myself on the back for accomplishments, jobs well done, mistakes (Yep! I really do congratulate myself for mistakes!), and the courage it took to learn and grow from those experiences. I’m guessing that you are asking yourself “why would she celebrate mistakes?” Well, if I’m not making mistakes, I’m not growing or learning.  If I’m not growing or learning then I am standing still. If I’m standing still it’s probably because I’m afraid. When I give my power to fear it prevents me from acting on my dreams or moving toward anything. Dreams won’t come true if action isn’t taken to make them a reality. It takes courage and will to challenge fear, to learn from mistakes, and step fully into who I am and how I want to create my year. 2018 didn't close on a high note. In fact, it took me by surprise and left me feeling puzzled, hurt, and feeling unworthy and "not enough". After trying to figure out why something happened to me and wallowing in the "what did I do to deserve THAT?" mentality, I realized that I was so focused on this event that made me sad that I was missing out on the opportunities for joy that were available to me. Opportunities to learn new things, make new friends, and create new experiences. The focus on my sadness kept me sad. I knew I needed was to change the conversation I was having with my inner critic to something more intentional and positive. I needed to focus on joy. Actually, I needed to choose joy. My theme for 2019 is INTENTION.  I have chosen and made a promise to myself to forgive and let go. Forgive what happened and forgive myself. I am going to commit to intentional thinking and "being joy" in 2019. This type of thinking means I will commit to honoring my values, dreams, passions, and who I am at the core. It means believing that I CAN and WILL do whatever I set my mind to doing and consciously choosing to be present and experience joy on my way. My question for you…what is your theme for 2019? Why?