Do It Myself Blog – Glenda Watson Hyatt

(Photo credit: Martin van Rensburg)

Today, the Ferrari is parked and the Learjet is warming up on the tarmac. I’m off to Queensland, Australia! (Is the universal Law of Attraction picking up these hints?)

I have the pleasure of chatting with Jacqui Dalling, mom to adorable Moo who has spastic cerebral palsy. She shares her experiences in her blog Terrible Palsy, which is described as:

A condition in which onlookers and people in the community tell parents how terrible life must be raising a physically challenged child. This condition manifests itself through pity and audible sighing of those around you. Terrible Palsy can be deceiving because you can be asymptomatic for weeks, months, or even years, and then just when you and your family are feeling really good about your child, it can present itself in the form of a condescending pat on the head or a blessing from an anonymous busybody. Best known treatment is to carry a list of snappy comebacks in your pocket or a large bag of peanut M & Ms.

Ah, yes, that pity strikes from out of nowhere, at any time! How do you prepare your child for that? I share a few thoughts with Jacqui. Join us for our chat. I’d love to hear your thoughts on dealing with pity.

Good news: my autobiography I’ll Do It Myself is finally available as an ebook! No taxes, no shipping required! Autographed paperback copies are also still available, as well as large-print editions – while supplies last!

Please join me Friday as I fly to Washington, DC! For now, please cast your daily vote so I may win the opportunity to be paid to blog for a year (be sure to click on “Vote for Glenda Watson Hyatt”). Only 110 votes needed to take fourth place. Together, we can achieve that today. Thanks kindly!

Apache Trail, Arizona

From Saskatchewan, I drove all night to get to Mike DeWitt, Technology and Change Management Consultant, outside of Scottsdale, Arizona. And, wouldn’t you know it? I got a flat tire on a terrifying yet breath-taking stretch of the Apache Trail. Read the details…

What more do I need to say!

Please join me Thursday as, according to my tour itinerary, I am off to Australia! Meanwhile, please cast your daily vote so I may win the opportunity to be paid to blog for a year (be sure to click on “Vote for Glenda Watson Hyatt”). Thanks kindly!

Main Street, Esterhazy, Saskatchewan

From the Pacific Ocean to the prairies, my “Summer Sojourn” virtual book tour finds me in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, home of the largest potash mine in the world. (Potash is rich in potassium, one of the 14 elements necessary to plant life, and is used in fertilizer. Learn something every day!)

Today I am chatting with Karla Meacham from Empowering Christian Women. She asked a few thought-provoking questions; surely my responses will garner further thoughts and comments. What is a “normal” life, anyway? Does anyone have one? Join us for our interview.

Thanks Karla for hosting today’s appearance of my two-week virtual book tour. It was refreshing to be asked the tough questions.

Check back Wednesday to see where this virtual tour takes me next. It’ll be a surprise for you and me both! Meanwhile, please cast your daily vote so I may win the opportunity to be paid to blog for a year (be sure to click on “Vote for Glenda Watson Hyatt”). Thanks kindly!

Red Ferrari 360 Spyder

Today I excitedly kick off my “Summer Sojourn” virtual book tour, promoting my autobiography I’ll Do It Myself…and I am doing it in style! I’m cruising down the Pacific west coast to southern California in a red Ferrari convertible: top down, sunshine on my face, and wind in my hair. Ain’t life grand!

I am off to chat with Jody DeVere, President of AskPatty.com, who shares her passion for cars by providing automotive advice to women – a much needed service. Unfortunately, she also has experienced the devastating impact cars can have when her son was paralyzed in a tragic car accident two years ago. It was on this level of making the most of the skills and talents that we do have that Jody and I connected. Join us for the interview.

I am looking forward to checking out the Wheelies Club on Second Life when I have a few free moments in my first life!

A big thanks to Jody for hosting the first appearance of my two-week virtual book tour! Some dates are still available if you’re interested in hosting an appearance on this tour. Check back tomorrow to see where this virtual tour takes me next. Meanwhile, please cast your daily vote so I may win the opportunity to be paid to blog for a year (be sure to click on “Vote for Glenda Watson Hyatt”). Thanks kindly!

(Photo credit: Ralaenin)

It has been one of those weeks!

Since releasing my autobiography I’ll Do It Myself last December, I’ve also wanted to offer an electronic version, an ebook, to reach more readers. Sounds simple enough. Many people are selling ebooks; some are making a sizeable income by selling them

The first step was to learn how to create accessible PDFs (portable document format – a common file format of ebooks). I finally had time to learn this while I was preparing a web accessibility training session for a local municipal government in June. Step one done, finally!

The next step was to figure out how to make it downloadable via PayPal. I had done some research, but didn’t have a clear, step-by-step process in mind. It appears many people are selling ebooks, but aren’t revealing the necessary steps; at least, not for free that I had found yet.

My goal was to have the ebook available for sale this week, in time for kicking off my Summer Sojourn virtual book tour on Monday. It is now Thursday night, the ebook is not yet available online and I am running low on chocolate!

Frustration : a deep chronic sense or state of insecurity and dissatisfaction arising from unresolved problems or unfulfilled needs

Deep dissatisfaction arising from unresolved problems – that pretty much covers it! But, the real question is: how will I cope with this frustration?

With a low frustration tolerance, some people give up when facing discomfort and struggle. Their frustration leads to lethargy, a lack of discipline, helplessness and hopelessness, and they focus on short-term discomfort rather than on long-term goals and rewards. Whereas, other individuals with patience and tolerance will persevere through their frustration and solve their problems. How do they deal with their frustration?

Techniques for dealing with frustration:

1. Repeat affirmations, like “Even though I dislike frustration, I can survive it.” (More frustration-tolerant affirmations
2. Break task into smaller goals and then reward yourself.Chocolate works for me!
3. Take breaks to recover energy and to gain a new insight or perspective. Surprising how many brilliant ideas strike while I’m in the shower!
4. Ask for help!
5. Release your emotions through exercise, deep breathing, talking with friend or, my personal favourite, watching a sappy movie. For some unexplainable reason, this video of the adult lion reuniting with her human caretakers did it for me this week. (Does anyone know if this is Elsa, on which the movie Born Free was based?)

Tomorrow I will take another look at the pieces and figure out how they go together. The ebook may not be available when I had hoped, but it will be available soon!

All that is necessary to break the spell of inertia and frustration is to — act as if it were impossible to fail.
~Dorothea Brande

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