Connections 2007
     Sent 1/31/2007

Sharing Creative Energy Newsletter
By Darla Arni

January 2007
Sharing Creative Energy Newsletter is a free monthly, or whenever Darla
can get it out, publication for clients, friends and subscribers who want to
be more creative, energetic and productive in their life and work.
Past copies are archived on our web site: www.darlaarni.com.
© 2007 Darla Arni
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In This Issue:
Connections 2007
Quote of the Month
Mensa Moment
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(Just in time and under the wire, this was sent before midnight, here is your January newsletter! From this day on you must try to remember to write 2007 on your checks! Have a great day, Darla)

Connections 2007
I’ve given this a lot of thought and I hereby declare 2007 the year of Connections!

Why you ask? I think it began with addressing Christmas cards. Some of you might have all the addresses of everyone you’ve ever known carefully and perfectly recorded in one address book or maybe even on your computer. Not me. Some are in the small address book that lives in the ‘miscellaneous but mostly phone book and pencil drawer’ by the stove, some are in an address book from an old planner that I just keep moving with me from year to year even though I don’t use that planner system anymore, and some, I must admit, are written on small scraps of paper or post-it notes and stuck anywhere! While searching for the addresses of people I was actually going to send cards to I kept coming across names and phone numbers of people that used to be important in my life that I had lost touch with for no particular reason. It wasn’t intentional, just the natural result of moving, changing jobs, getting married, having children, moving again, and losing touch.

Even after the cards were long gone and 2007 was underway, I kept thinking about these lost connections. What was important in their lives now? How had their life turned out? Do they ever wonder about me like I’m wondering about them? So I made a decision and set a goal. My goal for Connections 2007 is to once a week; take the time to write a short letter or personal note to someone. If I manage to do more than one a week, great, but at least at the end of the year I will have made a positive impact on at least 52 people.

As I began making my list so many ideas and possibilities of connections came to mind. I’ve shared some of mine here for you.

-Emails are OK but a handwritten, send it through the mail note is better. The process of picking the paper or card, using your favorite pen, and addressing the envelope yourself conveys more thought and care for me. I even like picking out stamps that communicate my interests or that I think are designed well.

-Go beyond reconnecting with old friends and send a note to the neighbor who is going through a down time, tell someone what a great job they did as a soloist at your church last Sunday, or that you read a book and it made you think about them.

-No matter who you choose to write, be sincere or don’t write at all.

-And don’t write with the expectation of receiving. This is not professional networking and it’s not about you.

-Feeling creative? Personalize your correspondence by using different colored inks, special papers or seal it with a sticker. I know I’m adult, but I still like to get colorful mail!

-Play loose with your list. Just because you have someone scheduled for week 5 it doesn’t mean you can’t move them to week 10 if a more immediate need arises.

-If you have trouble of thinking of people to write you haven’t been paying attention, they are everywhere! For example: adult volunteers who help with children’s activities, the check out boy that is always pleasant and remembers your name, a co-worker who’s reached an important personal or professional goal, a cousin you were best friends with when you were young but now lives across the country. People who need noticing are everywhere, just look.

-Consider yourself lucky if you make it onto someone else’s list!

If this little adventure sounds like something you’d like to try for 52 weeks, good for you! If not, think of your own way to connect and share it with me and I’ll share it with my readers. I’m always looking for new ways to improve our human condition and make our lives more livable. You’ve got a whole year of connecting to do so get out there and get started.

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QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“It’s never too late to renew an old friendship.” –Bruce Bickel & Stan Jantz
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MENSA MOMENT
Among my siblings I am the thinnest. I am in Paris, but I am not in France. Who am I?

Email your answer to Darla. Correct answers received within the first week will be entered in our prize drawing.

Last Month’s Answer:
Q of spades, 6 of diamonds, Ace of hearts. Congratulations to Marshall Wilmot! Please email me with an address of where to send your prize.

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Darla Arni is a Professional Speaker, Consultant and Author of Sharing Creative Energy at Home, Life Compass for Women, and the Sharing Creative Energy Newsletter.

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