Come on in... sit down, and have a cup of dare!

Come on in... sit down, and have a cup of dare!
The Dare Chair... scroll down the page to find out what this chair is all about!

Quote of the Week

"Happiness is like a kiss. You must share it to enjoy it." ~Bernard Meltzer

Get Your Groove On! Choose any song you wish, and start dancing in the kitchen!


Monday, August 17, 2009

It's Official


Well, fellow Dare Chair Friends, it's official! I signed up for the Whistle Stop Half Marathon today! There's no backing out now!


I have this nagging feeling that the Dare Chair has been empty, and lonely lately. C'mon... DO IT! Have a seat... Get uncomfortable... and... DARE to do something you never thought you would do! You will be invigorated, inspired, and excited. Really... You will!


What's that? You can't? What's holding you back? Do you think people will laugh at you? Do what I do: Be the first one laughing, and they'll be laughing WITH you, not AT you! I can guarantee you that my Phy. Ed. teachers would be laughing their behinds off if they heard I signed up for a half marathon! I have NEVER been a runner. In fact, I decided that I don't have a runner's body at all. I'm a strong, stocky Swede, with very short legs. I figure I must have to run these little legs twice as much as many others! ;) So, my point is, don't get hung up on images of what you can and can't do that are in your mind. Others will be INSPIRED by your courage!


Go ahead, have a seat in the Dare Chair, and do the unimaginable... Join that race, climb that mountain, swim, roller skate, ski, dance, sing; just do whatever it is that you have always wanted to do. I dare ya!

Sunday, August 16, 2009

For Rachel...


There is something
sweet
and wonderful
about the sound
of a friend's voice.
Especially
when that friend is
far away.

Her voice
was musical...
it's sound
reassuring
and comforting,
like an old blanket
on a cool, autumn night.
The soft sound of contentment in her voice
brought peace to my heart.
I am happy for her,
for she is in a place
many long to be.
That special place in life,
when one knows
beyond a shadow of a doubt,
that it is
exactly
where God has gently placed them.

Shine on, dear one, shine on,
knowing you are loved,
and encouraged.
Encouraged to brave the storms,
to bask in the sunlight,
and to tread the cool waters of life.

You, my friend,
are an inspiration
to everyone you touch,
to everyone you meet.
For when they meet you,
it is more than the wonderful person you are,
the awesome creation God made,
that they see...
For when they meet you,
they see Jesus,
and are immediately comforted,
content,
and happy
in your presence,
even though
they may not know why.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

adventure


ad⋅ven⋅ture [ad-ven-cher] 
noun, verb, -tured, -tur⋅ing.
–noun
1.
an exciting or very unusual experience.
2.
participation in exciting undertakings or enterprises: the spirit of adventure.
3.
a bold, usually risky undertaking; hazardous action of uncertain outcome.


I feel an adventure coming on...


Hmm... I wonder what God has in store for me.

The Dare Chair

Come on in, and pull up a chair! I'm here to inspire you, encourage you, or just plaine Double Dog Dare you to get out and do something you never thought you could do! Periodically, I'll add a quote, comment, or story which will hopefully give you just enough of a nudge to follow your dreams... to take that class, go rock climbing, run a marathon, start that exercise routine, eat healthy, write a book, or whatever your heart desires. You are the author of your life... live it!

Monday: Sit down, have a cup of dare, and write down your goals. Post them all over the house, if it helps! No matter how crazy the goals seem, don't talk yourself out of them! You are strong, you are invincible, you are WOMAN!

Tuesday:
Find a friend to hold you accountable. Accountability is huge! If you have a network of support, your chances of failing are less. Make sure you choose someone that is not afraid of pushing you! Usually moms, grandmas and husbands are not the best choices; they're either afraid of hurting your feelings, think you are fine just the way you are, or do not want to end up in the dog's house! So, choose that friend that is honest, no matter what the cost... trust me, you'll need her!

Wednesday:
Okay, so now you have someone to hold you accountable; great start. Now, be a blabber-mouth. Tell as many people as you can what your goal is. Knowing that so many people are waiting for you to succeed will be a huge motivator. I know when I skiied the Birkie, there were many times along the trail that I truly wanted to quit. I knew I had a cheering section on Main Street waiting for me to cross that finish line. That was enough to motivate me to keep going, one stride at a time.

Thursday:
If you fully realize nothing else, take a big dose of reality on this one... this is going to be hard, uncomfortable, and many times not enjoyable (depending on what the goal is). So, now that you know that, get over it! Achieving your goal will be worth the sweat and tears. Really... it will. Push yourself beyond your former limits. Get rid of self doubt! Even if it is the hardest thing you've ever done, do it with all you've got! Swallow your insecurities, hide your inhibitions, and show yourself just how strong you really are. YOU CAN DO THIS!

Friday:
Try not to look too far into the future. Break your goal into steps, and focus on one at a time. Now, if your goal is to join a class, by all means bite the bullet and do it now; no need to take baby steps on that one! But, if your goal is for example, a marathon, don't quit after the first week because you can't run ten miles! Give yourself time to reach the larger goals. In the meantime, give it ALL YOU'VE GOT, and be pleased with the little steps towards your goal.

Saturday:
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, GIVE UP!!! (Take it from Winston Churchill... he knew what he was talking about!)


Sunday:
Take one day to rest, or have a special treat. You've worked hard all week, but make sure you don't reward yourself too much... i.e. a whole bag of Hershey's Kisses!!!

SHARE YOUR SUCCESSES WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. SHOW THEM YOUR PROGRESS, WHETHER IT IS ART WORK YOU'VE DONE, CLASS WORK, A NEW DANCE YOU'VE LEARNED, OR THE NEW PAIR OF PANTS YOU NOW FIT INTO. CELEBRATE!!

Check out the Blog Archive for writings pertaining to the Dare Chair: April--Uncomfortable, Checking In

INSPIRING QUOTES: If children have the ability to ignore all odds and percentages, then maybe we can all learn from them. When you think about it, what other choice is there but to hope? We have two options, medically and emotionally: give up, or Fight Like Hell. ~Lance Armstrong
If human beings are perceived as potentials rather than problems, as possessing strengths instead of weaknesses, as unlimited rather that dull and unresponsive, then they thrive and grow to their capabilities.
Barbara Bush
Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly.
John F. Kennedy
He who believes is strong; he who doubts is weak. Strong convictions precede great actions.
Louisa May Alcott
There's a need for accepting responsibility - for a person's life and making choices that are not just ones for immediate short-term comfort. You need to make an investment, and the investment is in health and education.
Buzz Aldrin

This Chick's Groovy Music... start dancin'!

  • Aretha Franklin
  • Chicago Motion Picture Soundtrack... This one is great to sing along to... especially when cleaning the house!
  • Chris Botti... great trumpet player, his music is just beautiful!
  • Christmas Music, of course! Bing, Frank, Rosemary... all the classics!
  • Diana Krall
  • Ella Fitzgerald
  • Eric Clapton... I can' t seem to hear enough of his music lately!
  • Eva Cassidy... worth finding!
  • Johnny Cash - great for two-stepping around the kitchen island... if a babe is in your arms, all the better! (A tiny babe, or a Hunky Babe... either one will do!)
  • Loggins & Messina.... ahh... "feel good" music
  • Neil Diamond... I've loved his music my whole life.
  • Norah Jones
  • Phantom of the Opera (motion picture soundtrack)
  • Ray Charles... I can't help but to smile when I hear him sing.
  • Renee Olstead
  • The Notebook Motion Picture Soundtrack