Guest Bloggers: Bette James Laughrun and Kathie Nelson

Please join me in welcoming the mother-daughter writing team of Bette James Laughrun and Kathie Nelson as the special guest bloggers here at Thoughts in Progress today as they make a stop on their virtual book tour.

The pair co-wrote, I WANT WHAT SHE’S GOT! THE SECRETS OF CREATING AN OUTRAGEOUS LIFE.”

They have stopped by today to discuss “Have you settled for less than your dream?”  According to them, “It is never too late to create an outrageous life.”
  
There is a time when every woman questions her existence. She wonders “Am I really making a difference?  Is this the way my life is always going to be?”   

At the end of the day, we only have one life to live. We are born wired to love, innately geared to thrive with a homing beacon that draws us to be more … to become that person we were created to be. The longing for significance, to contribute, and to have deep relationships is essential to our fulfillment factor. But somehow, along the way we hit some bumps in the road and life happens. The choices we’ve made, and those of others, impact our current state. We settle into routine or mediocrity.   

You have the power to make new choices that will re-chart your course. I flipped the switch at 62. What about you? 

Here are a few questions you can ask and answer for yourself:

1.  My Purpose:  Why am I here? How do I live my life with purpose? What should I be doing less of? More of? What is the current focus of my life? What do I want it to be? What legacy do I want to leave? If you don’t feel you know your purpose, find someone who is doing something you really believe in and partner with them until you feel your purpose beginning to surface. Just begin to make a difference somewhere.

2.  My Gift Mix – What talents or value do I bring to the world? (Besides my famous Jello salad?) What are my strengths? How do I use them in my life? It starts with you. The more you begin to recognize and take ownership of your uniqueness, strengths and the value of your experiences, you can in turn, reach out and offer this kind of encouragement to others.

3.  My Vision- Beyond what I can see today, what’s in store for the rest of my life? Is there something that stirs my heart but I am not sure I can accomplish it? Who is telling me I can’t? Why? You are never too old (or too young) to pursue what’s on your heart. I was recently inspired by the quote “If you can ‘see’ it you can have it” by Kong Hee. I began to imagine myself traveling, having amazing experiences, spending wonderful times with my family, writing my book and more. Put your ‘dream-maker’ side to work to have some fun imagining. Now is your day to start making new choices. 

You have the power to make choices that will move you toward your ideal life. The journey starts with a single step. An outrageous over-the-top life is not just for others, it can be yours too.

Bette and Kathie, thanks for blogging here today. Starting our life out in a new direction does start with that single step. After that, each step gets a little easier.

For more on Bette, Kathie and their book, check out their website.

What are your thoughts on creating an outrageous life? Do you stop and take stock of where you are and where you want to be?

I Want What She’s Got! By Bette James Laughrun and Kathie Nelson

The title of this book caught my attention when I was approached about the authors visiting Thoughts in Progress on their virtual book tour.

One of the authors (Bette James Laughrun) was in her 60s when she wrote this book, along with her daughter, Kathie Nelson, who was in her 30s. The sub-title of I WANT WHAT SHE'S GOT! is THE SECRETS OF CREATING AN OUTRAGEOUS LIFE. As we grow older, we tend to look for ways to improve our life and this sounded interesting.

The book is about self-motivating, along with spiritual guidance. It follows Bette Laughrun’s life as she discovers that there is more to living than what she was experiencing. In her early 60s, Bette said she felt as though she was dying despite the fact that she was perfectly healthy.

At the end of each chapter, there are several questions that ask you (the reader) to think about your thoughts and feelings on what you’ve just read.

There are seven main questions the authors ask you focus on to assess your life. An example of these questions is: Relationships - How can I make the time I spend with friends and family count? Each of the seven questions are then broken down into several more questions to help you evaluate your life. In addition, there is a wheel exercise that helps you rate the different segments of your life to see where you’re at and where you want to be.

I WANT WHAT SHE’S GOT! is the story of one woman’s journey from having what she felt was no purpose to finding a fulfilling life through her faith.

I Want What She‘s Got!, The Secrets of Creating an Outrageous Life, by Bette James Laughrun and Kathie Nelson, PCG Legacy, @2010, ISBN: 978-0-9826665-8-6, Paperback, 130 pages

FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this book as part of the authors’ virtual book tour. The book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

Side Note: Co-authors Bette James Laughrun and Kathie Nelson will be the special guest bloggers here tomorrow to talk about “have you settled for less than your dream?”