by Kathy Cobb

For most of us, November is the month when we begin preparing for the cold winter months ahead. In November, work life and outdoor activities typically begin to slow down and we find ourselves spending quality indoor time with family playing games, preparing for the holidays, starting winter projects, catching up with friends and making plans for the upcoming year. November also allows us the opportunity to sit back, wrap up in a fluffy blanket, warm our bodies in front of a fire and enjoy those good old comfort foods!

In late November, we also take time out to celebrate and reflect upon the blessings that God has bestowed upon us as a nation. On Thanksgiving Day, we gather with family and friends for a Thanksgiving feast. It is our way of not only remembering God’s promises, but also thanking God for His provision throughout the year. Here is a little history about our nation and our national desire to give thanks to God! Giving thanks formally began in 1621. The Pilgrims and the First Nations people gathered together to celebrate the harvest of that year. In 1777, the thirteen colonies celebrated a day of Thanksgiving. The first National Thanksgiving day was declared by George Washington, who proclaimed Thursday, November 26, 1789, a day of public thanksgiving and prayer. However, it was not until 1863 that President Lincoln declared Thanksgiving as an official national holiday of thanksgiving and praise. In 1941, Congress declared that the official day would always fall on the fourth Thursday of November. Thus, from the founding of our nation, we as the American people have looked with grateful thanks to the Almighty for providing us our daily bread. I deeply appreciate that our national roots are founded in a tradition of thanksgiving!

In keeping with our history, why not start a new tradition with your family and friends? As you gather together and say your blessings this Thanksgiving, go around the table and have each person share one reason they are thankful. My family has been doing this for years and it is wonderful to hear how each of us has been blessed.

I will leave you with this prayer from Ralph Waldo Emerson:

For health and food

For love and friends;

For everything

Thy goodness sends

We thank thee.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Kathy Cobb / www.kathycobb.info is the founder of Gabbin’ With The Girls – Connecting Today’s 21^st Century Women^TM, a global organization that empowers women to live a Victorious life.  Kathy is passionate about inspiring women to ”Awaken The Sleeping Beauty Within” through writing, teaching, public speaking and mentoring.

by Kathy Cobb

Recently, I read an article about the breakdown of how much quality time was actually spent with our love ones. The article went on to say that, even with all the latest gadgets to make our lives easier, people were actually spending less time sharing precious moments together. Relationships across the board were suffering because individuals were spending more time with gadgets that rarely required conversation or a dynamic group interaction.

Companies sell video games that encourage group activities and, yet, many of us would rather spend 4 plus hours a day glued to the TV that we consider a group activity. My question is, what happened to the days when family, friends and neighbors gathered outdoors to play games and interact socially? Nowadays it seems society does not encourage “nature” activities like hiking, camping or picnicking anymore. Camping has been replaced with hotels, picnicking with fast-food restaurants, and national parks with amusement parks.

Remember as a child when you played outside until dusk? When fireflies would appear and the yard would explode with little star lights? Or how about those moments when you ran around bare foot through mud puddles or jumped in the pile of leaves that the family had just raked?  Dads threw footballs, children roller skated and grandparents shared stories of the good old times.  We muddled through life together, and through those times our relationships grew and we learned the how-to’s of life.

With all of the so-called time-saving gadgets available to us, life is more complicated now.  Is it still possible to even have moments like those we remember anymore?  I believe the answer is yes!  The fall season is the perfect time to experience new beginnings.  So grab your walking shoes, your family and friends, and head outdoors. Keep in mind your outdoor adventure does not have to be a major event.  It can simply be walking through your neighborhood, going to a local park, playing in the leaves, throwing a football, or roasting marshmallows and hot dogs over a fire.  It is during those moments that people open up, relationships are built and strengthen, and wonderful memories are fashioned in the minds of our loved ones.

Yes, life is busy, but remember the blessing gained from an outdoor adventure can and will create memories with family and friends that will last a life time!

Kathy Cobb / www.kathycobb.info is the founder of Gabbin’ With The Girls – Connecting Today’s 21^st Century Women^TM, a global organization that empowers women to live a Victorious life.  Kathy is passionate about inspiring women to ”Awaken The Sleeping Beauty Within” through writing, teaching, public speaking and mentoring.

By Kathy Cobb

Last weekend my darling daughter Brittany came home for a visit. Since one of our favorite mother–daughter outings is shopping, we gathered all the necessities for a successful day and headed to the mall.  Half way there we realized we had left our cell phones at home. You should have heard our conversation. Should we turn around or keep going?  Our final decision – We were going to be brave and go “unplugged” for the afternoon.  After a few minutes we recovered from our “loss” and carried on with our day.  It was during lunch that we laughed about being cut off from the outside world.  And yet, it was exactly what our souls needed – a time of laughter and fun with no interruptions!

When was the last time you took a break from being plugged in?  Enjoyed a day without cell phone interruption? Grabbed the car keys and went on a spontaneous day trip and allowed yourself the opportunity to have fun?!

Tapping into our playful side allows us to live a more balanced life.  We work to provide food and shelter for our bodies so it seems only natural to schedule play time where we laugh and allow peace and joy to enter into our lives…technology free!

As the founder of GWG-Gabbin’ With The Girls I have to remind myself that all work and no play make a very dull girl and that I can go Unplugged!  With this in mind, I am making a conscious effort to shut down my phone and embrace life on a daily basis.

I have a 30 day challenge for you: Set a certain time of the day and Go UNLPUGGED and reconnect with the world around you and play!!

by Kathy Cobb

It seems wherever you go today, the buzz words Driven and Focus are being used to describe us as a society.  People are being deliberate about making decisions that hopefully will allow them to personally rise above their current situations and gain financial stability.  I can certainly understand the reasons behind being driven and focused.  All we have to do is to look at what is going on in the world, watch the news, and talk with family and friends to see why we are driven.  We all need the basics to survive; we need money to provide a roof over our head, food for our families, education, and the list goes on and on!  Times are tough and yet we need to achieve balance in our lives!

Balance In Our Lives Fosters Healthy Relationships

There is something else that I see and hear that is going on during this critical time – the lack of Balance! With a deep need to provide, many people are being consumed in achieving their goals at all cost.  First off, let me say, there is nothing wrong with goal setting or achieving your dream.  In fact, our bodies and minds love being in motion.  God designed us to be goal setters and dream weavers.  What I am referring to is becoming so focused on the goal that you forget why you are doing it.  In many cases, the primary reason you are doing it is for your family, but so many times as we press forward, we forget to FOCUS on our loved ones and our life giving relationships.

Strained Relationships

A great way to gauge if you are off balance is to take notice of your stress level, your family/children’s actions, and the way people respond to you when in your presence.  How is your time management?  Do you have real quality time to spend with your love ones?  Times of refreshing to release your physical and mental stresses?  Spiritual moments with God to rejuvenate your soul?  It is during times of rest and reflection when you should review your life style.  Write down the areas where you feel overwhelmed.  Ask yourself several questions like, “What are the true motives behind my desire?  What are the perks?  Do my goals and perks line up with what matters to my family and relationships?  Is it affecting my health, my relationships, am I really accomplishing the goal I want to achieve?”  When you take the time to identify what is truly your design, a healthy desire kicks in, you are still driven, but your focus remains on what really matters – family, friends, and those who are called to walk with you on this journey called life!

Kathy Cobb / www.kathycobb.info is the founder of Gabbin’ With The Girls – Connecting Today’s 21^st Century Women^TM, an organization that connects women through the gifts of friendship and faith.  Kathy is passionate about empowering women to awaken the sleeping beauty within through teaching, public speaking and mentoring.

by Kathy Cobb

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode, but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows.   ~ Audrey Hepburn

There is nothing more beautiful and breathtaking than a woman who reflects her true radiance. She seems to bring warmth, joy and peace to those around her. Even when life brings her lemons, she still manages to smile and keep on going!  We all know women like that and, for some reason, we are either envious or think she has got to be “faking it.”  Or could it be that we are jealous because we secretly long to be radiant like that too?  You, dear one, were also created to be radiant and destined to reflect greatness just like the woman above.

The word “radiant” means joy, hope, brightness and emitting warmth and cheerfulness. When God created you, He designed you to be all the above.   Have you ever really thought about how your inner beauty reflects your radiance?  And that your radiance is a true reflection of God’s love and character within you!

For many of us, we know our true essence is trapped within our soul. Our heart’s desire is to know this inner self, and our hope is one day she will have the courage to emerge!  Her timeless beauty is designed to bring forth life and change the world.  She is like a debutante getting ready for her moment to be presented to the world.  You are that beauty and God is ready to present you to the world as one of His royal beauties.  As one of his beauties, He has created you to shine, to bring joy, to brighten lives with your one-of-a-kind personality. To be who you are called by God to be, follow your passions and enjoy life.

Are you ready to be fully “awakened” to your true essence? If so, begin the process by asking God to help you take the steps needed to look deep within. Once the process begins, you will discover that your outlook on life will become brighter. Negative thoughts will be replaced with empowering words. You’re mental, physical and spiritual health will be free to soar when the negative elements are removed. Loving yourself and others will be easier, and healthy friendships will be part of your life.  Courage will emerge as a friend.  Your heart will be peaceful and you will be free to be all God intended you to be!

The debutante within you is yearning to embrace your true essence, so take the next step, and ask the Lord to release you into your destiny! Let the AWAKENING begin!

1 Peter 3:3-4
“Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty that depends on fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.” (NLT)

Psalm 45:11

“The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.”

Kathy Cobb / www.kathycobb.info is the founder of Gabbin’ With The Girls – Connecting Today’s 21^st Century Women^TM, an organization that connects women through the gifts of friendship and faith.  Kathy is passionate about empowering women to awaken the sleeping beauty within through teaching, public speaking and mentoring.  Check out my video on Beauty at http://youtu.be/K5gZ9AVpXOQ

by Kathy Cobb

A healthy self image is imperative in building powerful, positive and prosperous relationships. How we see ourselves and what we want out of life should hopefully draw us to the people that we have been called to walk along side in friendship.  It is through life giving relationships that we are truly able to soar and enjoy life.  And in times of need, friendships serve to comfort us and provide help when we feel helpless in life!

My question to you is, do you have a specific standard or set of qualities that you hold dear when seeking to develop friendships?  If so, do they line up to find the kind of friend you would want to offer your heart to?  Would a friend be able to trust you with her feelings?  Are you able to celebrate your friend’s personal victories or do you find yourself in competition in your friendships?

It is important to ask ourselves questions about our inner feelings and what truly makes us happy in a friendship.  Just remember, the qualities you want others to extend to you should be the same qualities you should offer in your relationships.  Qualities like patience, kindness, the ability to give space when needed, and encouraging others when they are in need are just a few attributes that contribute to a healthy friendship.  If you want to be honored by friends, than learn to honor them.  If you want respect, then be respectful.  Friendships cultivated in mutual respect will blossom.  Great friendships make you feel at home and you are able to be yourself, free to share and not having to worry about be judged.

When you have a healthy self image, you are surrounded by friends with amazing personalities that reflect who you are, your interests and your passions.  A healthy friendship helps to broaden your horizons and bring out the best in you!  Knowing who you are and what is important to you will enable you to have friendships that bring forth laughter and fun.  So, if you find you are struggling to develop rewarding friendship, then take some time to re-evaluate what is important to your heart and your life.  Adjust your attitude and then step out and develop the friendships you have been longing for.  You will never regret taking the time to find out what truly matters to your heart!

Kathy Cobb / www.kathycobb.info is the founder of Gabbin’ With The Girls – Connecting Today’s 21^st Century Women^TM, an organization that connects women through the gifts of friendship and faith.  Kathy is passionate about empowering women to awaken the sleeping beauty within through teaching, public speaking and mentoring.