Photo by Lynn Kelley at WANA Commons
This time of year is amazing, magic, fun…and HARD.
Seriously, if you’re over the age of thirty, the holidays are a glittery bunch of fun rolled together with a pile of crapola in the form of “things to do.”
Don’t get me wrong – I really love this time of year. The baking begins, holiday decorations come out, the shopping deals happen and you get to see family members you don’t always see…
But we do all that in addition to our normal stuff.
For the people fighting end-of-year deadlines (me), the hardy souls who did NaNoWriMo (*waves*) and especially for those recovering from some form of winter cooties, the holidays can feel like an uphill drive on an empty tank of gas.
My favorite motivational vid of the week is this little gal…Jessica. If she can’t make you smile today, I don’t know what can. We should all wake up that excited about each day.
So the next time you’re feeling overwhelmed by all that you have to do, take a page out of Jessica’s book, look yourself dead in the eye and belt out a pep talk.
Here’s mine:
I like my bed…I like my pillow!
I like my blog! I like my friends!
I like my undies! (just kidding)
I like my house! I like my garden!
I like my family! I like my life!And I’m finally getting my hair cut on Friday, after being in hair hell for 2 months cuz of shingles!!! WOOT!
*pumps fists in the air*
I actually got fired up for a minute, despite the aching muscles from Crossfit, the shingles headache and the endless list of tasks that must be done before the end of the year.
Not a bad lesson from a toddler, eh?
What keeps you motivated, especially over the holidays? If you were to give yourself a pep talk today, what would it sound like? Enquiring minds always want to know these things here at More Cowbell!
Jenny
Are you following the Holiday Yum Blog Hop? Kathy Owen is on deck TODAY with her butter-spritz cookies. Holy cowbell…
Jenny Hansen's Blog 
OMG, I AM that toddler! As long as I have coffee, I’m that happy every morning (no coffee? Have you even see the Excorcist?) Thanks for the Monday Motivation, Jenny!
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Yes, you are DEFINITELY that toddler. Especially in the morning. It’s kind of scary before coffee, but I love it. 🙂
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LOVE THIS! Jessica is AWESOME and so are YOU, Jenny, for sharing her with us! HUGS woman!
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LOL…thanks, Christine. I just adored her too. If you wait until the video is over, you’ll see (in the YouTube lists) 13 year-old Jessica today talking about 3-4 year-old Jessica way back when. It’s fascinating.
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My mother always woke me with the Bible verse, “Arise, shine, for the Light has come.” Isaiah 60:1. After all those years, it sort of stuck. It’s the first coherent thought I have each day.
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That’s beautiful, Jane! What a wonderful memory to have of your mother.
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I hope this doesn’t sound materialistic, but this time of year, I’m motivated by the fact that I’m going to get a couple presents I couldn’t justify buying for myself. I don’t often treat myself, and so I look forward to a little spoiling 🙂
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You go, Marcy. Spoken like a gal who lives on a tight budget. I’ve been there (many times) and this is one of those years. Here’s hoping our hubbies give us something sweet.
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We’ve both married good guys. I think they’ll come through for us 🙂
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The vid is great. Saw it the other day. I think kids keep things simple. Maybe if we adults did, we’d be more motivated. Unfortunately, as adults we see the world through different eyes. I think having our own kids or enjoying our neices and nephews though is a definite reminder of what’s truly important and that can keep us centered. 🙂
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Certainly, my Baby Girl keeps me busy and centered. And this video slays me. She’s SO fired up. 🙂
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That is awesome! I had to miss a Christmas event this weekend because me and my son were ill, but rolling with the days, I’ve got to remember things ahead now like carol singing tomorrow and helping with the teacher luncheon and making something for it. I’ve just done some special blog posts so I’m baking next. I’ve never had a busier year, but it is fun! Have a great week!
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Oh, it SUCKS to be sick over Christmas. We’re battling cooties with Baby Girl right now and I’m just hoping we don’t keep them over Christmas.
I can’t wait to see your special posts!
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Oh gosh they’re not that special, it’s someone’s birthday which is pretty cool on 12th of 12 and she loves treasure hunts so another lovely writer is doing one for her and we all put a certain word in our posts. It’s up tomorrow. Do you like Michael Buble?
Hope the little one gets better, we’re all good now 🙂
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I’d seen this before but forgotten. Wow, we all need more JESSICA in our lives!
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I know!! I totally want her to come wake me up every morning. LOL…
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I love this video! It would be awesome to wake up feeling like that every morning. I like her hair, too! Unbelievable how long you’ve had to suffer with shingles. My mom had pain for over two months, too. Hair hell – yes, it had to be with shingles on your head. Hope you get a mani and pedi, too, while you’re there getting your hair cut. I have a hair appointment for Dec. 21st. First day of Christmas break. It will be about 5 months since my last haircut. So cheers to getting a haircut to make us feel like a million bucks! Well, maybe half a million. 🙂
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Her hair ROCKS! I want it so bad. But I’m pretty excited to finally get mine cut and highlighted. Nothing could touch my head for these last two months…I could barely do it. There was just no way anyone was going to be able to do all the scalp work required for a haircut. So I’m beyond excited. I’m like 6 weeks overdue, at the very least.
I’ll send a photo of mine if you send me one of yours, OK??
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So cute!!!! I needed it this morning, too!!! I am motivated by my son’s graduation from his Master’s program this weekend, the twins incoming and my beautiful daughters! Life is GREAT!
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OMG, that’s fantastic stuff going on in your life, Pauline! Congrats on the new Master’s degree holder in your family. Enjoy your time with all of them. 🙂
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*standing on top of sink in squad bathroom* (declined just wearing shorts)
“I like my squad, I like my desk.
I like my assignments, I like meetings….
I like congress, budget cuts and cold coffee!” (laughter ensues from the toilet stall)
What I do like is having a nice cup of More Cowbell in the morning. Good stuff Jenny, thanks for sharing.
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You had me dying with laughter over this one at work. Especially since I know those budget cuts are NOT fun and that you’re probably too buff to stand on the countertop in the men’s room. But the picture in my mind is PRICELESS. 🙂
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No, the budget cuts are KILLING me!! grrrrrrrrrrrr (but I digress)
Thanks. 😀
I’m only six foot, but I weigh 228 pounds (fairly lean, lest you think me incapable of duty), so the countertop in the men’s room isn’t the best place for me to be perching.
😉
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I love the unfiltered pure joy of children. During the little girl’s motivational cheer, I kind of felt like the talk before the “big game.” Wow! Bottle up that positive energy and mail it to me!
It is hard to stay motivated when illness, stress and exhaustion hit at once during the holidays. I think what continues to inspire me is the pure gratitude and love that surrounds me. I always tell my girls that when I hug them, my worries disappear like magic. So, we hug a lot.
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Awww, Kristal…you got me all sniffled up over this: “I always tell my girls that when I hug them, my worries disappear like magic. So, we hug a lot.”
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I like your blog, I like my blog.
I like dancing on the bathroom counter,
Except when I bonk my head on the ceiling,
Fall down and suffer from a bruised…something.
I need to work on rhythm. IYKWIM.
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I do know what you mean… I wish you great rhythm for Christmas (IYKWIM)!! And I like your blog too. 🙂
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Aww, how adorable! And good for you, Jenny, getting out of your haircut embargo! Hope you continue to feel better. This weekend was definitely frazzle-time, and it’s hard to not feel overwhelmed. Sigh. I’m a work in process.
Thanks for the blog shout-out, too! 😀
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Kathy, those butter-spritz cookies have me seriously drooling… I had to shout them out. We ALL need to make them. 🙂
And SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE over Friday’s haircut!
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That girl is too chipper. Move over, Richard Simmons; Jessica is here!
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She’s a little wild, isn’t she? I don’t think you’re far off with the Richard Simmons idea. 🙂
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Jessica is waay too amped up. She’s looking for a career as a holiday planner/ You know those people who believe that all tasks pertaining to the holidays can be overcome with joy, cheer and an ounce or two of a bracing beverage.
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ROFL…what CAN’T be handled with an ounce or two of bracing beverage? Thanks for the laugh today, Tom!
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I always wondered what my daughters were doing in the bathroom, but would never ask. Awesome video and post. This is a cappuccino with whipped cream on a cold day – Thanks, Jen 🙂
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You’re welcome, Gene! But I can’t believe you never heard your girls while they sang on the sink… 🙂
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fun video, as long as I don’t have to watch first thing in the morning. Aack…but she’s got a great idea going, doesn’t she?
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Louise, I’ll admit that this kind of pep talk before coffee might make me crazy. But that Jessica just ROCKS! 🙂
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For some reason I couldn’t get the video to play on my computer, but based on the comments above, it must have been crazy!
I need a pep talk that’s for sure. I just want Christmas to be over so I can get back to normal life! How’s that for bah humbug?
(“I will enjoy Christmas, I will enjoy Christmas, I will enjoy Christmas!”)
And hang in there, the crossfit gets easier. (when you stop doing it. LOL!)
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
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That is a bit “Bah Humbug,” but I’ll let it slide because this is the week when we all get exhausted. It’s two weeks before Christmas and we’re all ready to just launch into our beds. 🙂
And on the crossfit front? Dying. Completely dying. But I’m starting to see some new muscles, so maaaaybe it’s worth it.
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I like my coffee.
I like to listen to music.
I like to talk.
I like to drink coffee.
I like working out.
I like singing.
I like coffee.
I like coffee.
I like coffee.
I LIKE COFFEE!
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See how you’re my friend, Dawn? I like my coffee too! (A LOT.) 🙂
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Happy haircut! T
BTW, that video should not be watched just before going to bed…
Jenny, just wanted to say how FABUWOW your Holiday Yum series is. I’ve been sharing those recipes with everyone. Thanks!
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Aren’t those ladies so talented?? I’ve got to go print up all the recipes myself. I haven’t seen a one of them that didnt’ make me want to run into my kitchen and bake. 🙂
Thanks, Patricia!
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OMG LOVE IT! That video just totally got me fired up and singing along. LOL! What a great reminder of the power of an attitude of gratitude! And no better time than the holiday season to remember all the wonderful and fabulous things we like and love!!!
I like my husband, my house, my dog, my entire family, my blog, my blog family, my friends, my shoes, my new bra and undies (all colorful and matching), my electric blanket on my bed, my Playbook, my Christmas tree, my outdoor Christmas LIGHTS, my health, my job, my EVERYTHING!! I like it all…
WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
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Oh, Nat! I love your pep talk. Did you make sure you looked in the mirror while you said it?
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Great share! Jessica rules!
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