Today at the register

Posted on February 3, 2018 by

register1

This is what happened today at the register…

I work at a natural grocery store as a cashier. The story I’ll share with you happened just as the store opened today. The computer was running slow and I had a customer having a hard time getting her credit card to go through. She kindly decided to put her items aside and get cash from the ATM in the store to pay letting the customer behind her go ahead. There were 2 other customers in line at this point. I then helped the customer that the customer having credit card issues let go in front of them. By the time I had finished helping that customer the customer with the credit card issues had cash and was ready to pay, but had walked to the end of the line. I had a decision to make and made it quickly to wave them up to the front because they were originally first in line. Why should they have to wait in line again?! This decision did not make the customer who would have been next happy at all and they made sure I knew that. I nicely said I was one person doing the best I could. The customer with the credit card issues came to my defense repeating, she’s doing the best she can. The frustrated customer then advised me to stop the chit chat and hurry up! I proceeded to check out the customer with the credit card issues, paying with cash now, and then rang up the frustrated customer telling them I was sorry for the inconvenience and to have a nice day. I really do hope they had a nice day. After the frustrated customer walked away I started helping the next customers in line who both agreed I handled the situation well and they were surprised how calm I seemed.

The purpose in sharing what happened today at the register is to remind everyone, including myself when I might be rushed because I didn’t leave time for waiting in a line, that being frustrated or calm is a choice and makes a difference in your day and others.

I continue to be amazed the power a simple smile and hello can have on people at the register. And I’ll believe that action of customer service, along with my brief chit chat, has the power to make a positive impact on the customers in front of me along with all the other people that customer interacts with during their day.

I encourage you to experiment with a simple smile and hello with the people you come in contact with today and see the positive impact you can make! 🙂

My name is Laura Li. Through my business Self Care Conversations by Laura Li Lifestyle I’m focused on self care while creating my best lifestyle. Opt in and receive weekly emails on my About page.

Until next time, Laura Li Lifestyle

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More Presence & Less Presents

Posted on December 13, 2017 by

createyourlifestyle

What would your holiday season look like and feel like with more presence and less presents?

Over the years my family has moved away from presents (buying and exchanging gifts) to presence (enjoying the time we have together). What that looks like to us is more quality time together with less distractions. And what it feels like is more relaxing and peaceful.

This is a lifestyle choice coming from someone who owned a clothing and accessory boutique for almost 20 years. And who was very thankful for the many customers who bought gifts from me. All too often though I’d see the stress and feel the pressure they were experiencing from buying off a list of family, friends, and co-works. Buying gifts more from a place of obligation than from the heart.

This is a lifestyle choice coming from someone who participated in buying gifts for many holiday seasons for family, friends, and co-workers.

This is a lifestyle choice coming from someone who has received countless nice and very thoughtful gifts from others over the years. Some I still enjoy and use often. Many I didn’t need and they’re now on a shelf in a closet. Maybe I’ll have the opportunity to re-gift them to the right person at the right time in the future if I ever decide to say yes to a holiday gift exchange again.

This is a lifestyle choice that can be misunderstood as not caring by being uninterested in attending and participating in gift exchanges with family, friends, and co-workers.

This is a lifestyle choice that brings with it more time, energy, peace, presence, and money. Money to spend on the necessary for myself, my family, and others in need. This holiday season I’m looking forward to quality time with family and friends, good food, and getting outside in nature for a long hike. 🙂

What choices will you make to create your best lifestyle?

My name is Laura Li. Through my business and personal brand Laura Li Lifestyle I’m focused on self care while creating my best lifestyle. Thank you for joining me here.

Opt in and receive weekly emails on my About page.

If you live in the Denver area and would like to join a Self Care Conversation check out what’s next on my Self Care Conversations page.

Until next time, Laura Li Lifestyle

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What are you doing to create your best lifestyle?

Posted on December 6, 2017 by

NG

This happened a few months ago. And what’s interesting about it is that many times over the last few years, as I lived my life being the owner and managing all the day-to-day operations of a clothing and accessory boutique, I regularly shopped at Natural Grocers. A store I loved shopping at with good energy and a great selection of healthy foods and numerous other products. I would think, in a dreamy way, what would it be like to have a job there where I simply worked for a certain amount of time and then went home. Went home with none of the normal owner issues of endless thoughts and worries, sleepless nights, and always having additional work to accomplish.

So… After closing my boutique last year, taking some much needed time off, creating a new lifestyle and business, working at Natural Grocers is now part of me creating my best lifestyle while building my lifestyle business and providing consistent income for day-to-day expenses. I’m also learning more about eating and preparing healthy foods, natural ways of healing, the grocery business, and many new skill sets associated with all. I’ve also created an opportunity to connect with and develop relationships with an entirely new community of people.

Keeping my dreamy way of thinking in mind… What is it like having a job where I work a certain amount of time and then go home? It’s wonderful! It has also been fun meeting new people (employees, store support, and customers). A learning curve of new products, procedures, and policies. The job has also felt physically and mentally energizing as well as exhausting depending on the task I’m performing. One part I’ve most enjoyed is getting praise from management acknowledging a job well done or a new idea offered. Although I acknowledged many accomplishments working for myself over 18 plus years, I’ll admit there was a lot more talk about accomplishing more better and faster. All things considered, my job at Natural Grocers is a wonderful opportunity for learning and growing.

What are you doing to create your best lifestyle?

My name is Laura Li. Through my business and personal brand Laura Li Lifestyle I’m focused on self care while creating my best lifestyle. Thank you for joining me here. 🙂

Opt in and receive weekly emails on my About page.

If you live in the Denver area and would like to join a Self Care Conversation check out what’s next on my Self Care Conversations page.

Until next time, Laura Li Lifestyle

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Saying Goodbye Process

Posted on September 4, 2017 by

goodbyeOver the past year I’ve said many goodbyes. Some have been easy while others have been more challenging. Saying goodbye to a home and community of 23 years, a business of 18 years, and recently saying goodbye to my son who moved out of state. I’ll label all a normal part of life and add they were all chosen and planned. That said, they were naturally accompanied by feelings of sadness and loss as well as freedom and excitement.

When my son recently moved out of state I learned a few things I’d like to share. Maybe they could be helpful in your saying goodbye process. Whether chosen and planned or not. I became clear on what I wanted and asked for it. For me it was having some family time and one-on-one time with him before he left. I also learned the most effective words to communicate what I wanted. When I offered to help, which was simply my way of feeling a part of the process verses saying I thought he needed help, it was met with I don’t need help. I’ve seen and see him as a very capable and independent person who can take care of what needs to be done. Asking for help and support when needed and being appreciative of it too. I’m very proud of all he’s accomplished, the incredible person he is, and the many exciting life adventures ahead of him! I ended up asking, how can I be part of your day (his last day in town). With those words I was successful in spending priceless time with him which was extremely helpful in my saying goodbye process. 

All goodbyes are a change from the way things were to a new way. Many times a better way. Still change can be challenging and initially met with some degree of resistance. It really is amazing to me how life is filled with daily opportunities for a self care conversation. 🙂

My name is Laura Li. Through my business and personal brand Laura Li Lifestyle I’m focused on self care while creating my best lifestyle. Thanks for saying yes and joining me here.

Opt in and receive weekly Lifestyle Inspiration emails on my About page.

If you live in the Denver area and would like to join a monthly Self Care Conversation check out all the details on my Self Care Conversations page.

Until next time, Laura Li Lifestyle

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Where are you on your life path?

Posted on August 28, 2017 by

path827

I found myself on the path of a trail in nature I hadn’t been on for about 6 months. And like before I was reminded how many similarities there are to the path on the trail in nature and the path of life. And how nature automatically provides for me. Connecting me with the universal energy and all that God has created (that makes me so happy!). Bringing my mind to the present moment. And providing movement which takes care of physical fitness, endurance, and strength.

The path can be filled with fun exciting adventures. As well as challenging difficulties leading to exhaustion. Including happiness, triumphs, and successes. As well as adversity, disappointments, and obstacles. There have been many times in my life where I’ve only seen more difficulties and the possibility of obstacles.

Sometimes when I’m on the path of life, like this path on a trail in nature, I have a hard time seeing my next steps and it’s unclear the direction I should take. Whether I’m reaching for a particular goal or attempting to simply accomplish a daily task. As you can see in the featured picture of me it’s difficult to see the path that’s right behind me!

Notice above I used the word successes, but not failures. I don’t like the word failure and think it has too many bad connections. I prefer to say that whatever happened simply didn’t work the way I expected or needed it to. So… I constantly evaluate, tweak, and take action on new ideas on the path of life. Similar to taking steps on the path in nature. I’ve reinvented myself, the way I do business, and the action steps I take in numerous situations countless times in my life creating a lifestyle that works for me.

Where are you on your life path? Are you seeing more fun exciting adventures or challenging difficulties leading to exhaustion? I encourage you to get out on the path of a trail in nature to see what nature provides for you on the path of your life.

My name is Laura Li. Through my business and personal brand Laura Li Lifestyle I’m focused on self care and self love while creating my best lifestyle. Thanks for saying yes and joining me here. 🙂

Opt in and receive weekly Lifestyle Inspiration emails on my About page.

Until next time, Laura Li Lifestyle

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Nature Therapy

Posted on August 20, 2017 by

I’ve enjoyed nature therapy this week. So much that I’ve decided to share some of my pictures with you. In fact my blog is mostly pictures this week because that’s what’s speaking to me.

There have been numerous articles written on the therapeutic aspects of nature and how connecting to it can reduce stress, increase positive energy and happiness, and the obvious benefits of movement. Just to name a few… For me all motion truly does create positive emotion. So, into nature I go as much as possible to hike, walk, or simply hang out and enjoy! I encourage you to try nature therapy. 🙂

My name is Laura Li. Through my business and personal brand Laura Li Lifestyle I’m focused on self care and self love while creating my best lifestyle. Thanks for saying yes and joining me here for a self care conversation.

If you live in the Denver area and would like to join a Self Care Conversation check out all the details on my Self Care Conversations page.

Opt in and receive weekly Lifestyle Inspiration emails on my About page.

Until next time, Laura Li Lifestyle

 

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Try Living In The Present Moment

Posted on August 14, 2017 by

present

Yes, I do get a bit (more often than not…) ahead of myself (in the future), but in my defense it’s in an effort to feel grounded and safe in the present. At least that’s what I’ve told myself. OR, has it all been me doing what I can to control. Control situations, things, other people, and myself. Control for fear that situations, things, other people, and myself won’t be the way I wanted, desired, or expected. Wanted and desired expectations that can be quite high and mostly not realistically achievable even by me! I guess what I’m saying here is that I believe the present needs my help being created. This controlling can cause a tremendous amount of exhaustion, stress, and discomfort. And, let me add in, I know the need for control (by me) isn’t even needed. But knowing something and living it can be two very different things. OR, is this also something I tell myself?!…WOW! The stories I tell myself, believe, and live by that cause a tremendous amount of exhaustion, stress, and discomfort. Not only for me, but my family, friends, and bigger community that I interact with on a daily basis.

So… When a very wise person, who’s much younger than me by the way, said to me today that I should try living in the present moment, I listened and heard it at a new and different level. Can anyone relate? Who else can benefit from this advise today?!

My name is Laura Li. Through my business and personal brand Laura Li Lifestyle I’m focused on self care and self love while creating my best lifestyle. Thanks for saying yes and joining me here for what will be an ongoing and important self care conversation. 🙂

If you live in the Denver area and would like to join a Self Care Conversation check out all the details on my Self Care Conversations page.

Opt in and receive weekly Lifestyle Inspiration emails on my About page.

Until next time, Laura Li Lifestyle

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