Hello O’Dayers! Greetings from the O’Day offices here in New York City, and boy-howdy has it been busy! 2009 has taken off like a rock rolling down a very steep hill, and there’s no trying to stop it. At first I was overwhelmed by all the new and challenging demands. I was even a little bit frightened that I wouldn’t be in control of my schedule and environment! But then I realized that I was playing the “Control Game!”
Folks, let’s face it. We can improve ourselves, set goals and work toward them, but sometimes our circumstances change. Appliances break down, people show up to stay with you for weeks on end, friends burst into flames. But it doesn’t mean you can’t continue to improve yourself, it just means you have to do so in a completely different environment in which you thought you’d be working.
Trouble starts when you think the events around you are an excuse to stop your self-improvement.
Cookies are not the answer! Skipping a vigorous workout routine is not the answer! Crawling under you bed and crying in the dust-bunnies is not the answer!
Embrace the change! Ride the snowy crest of the avalanche of upheaval –- otherwise you’re going to suffocate in the wet snow of resistance.
So for all of you tumbling head first into 2009 I say, “Ride it out, and ride into the New You!”
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Friday, January 2, 2009
Happy Two Thousand and Fine!
Here we are, O’Dayers! Rolling into another year! And boy, it looks like it will be a real adventure. Two thousand and eight went out with a whirlwind of scandal. Between money trouble on Wall Street, the economy crashing like a lead balloon in a hurricane and the biggest Ponzi scheme in history, we didn’t know which way to turn. Seems the minute we checked our backs for knives someone was pitching horseshoes at our faces.
I remember looking down at my investment statements for one second, saw my money was gone, and looked up to see bankers and CEOs lining up for a government handout. Is Washington a soup kitchen, now?! When did that happen?!
“Oh, boo hoo, boo hoo, nobody will buy the crappy cars I make! Wahhh – Wahhh.”
Let’s get a grip right now, people.
Yes, times are going to be tough. That means we have to keep our chins up and keep plugging, not roll over and whine and kick the air like spoiled fat children.
We made this bed together. So let’s TAKE ACTION right now. It’s time to roll out of our dirty bed, do the laundry and when the bed is made again let’s make it a point not to sleep with people who tell us we can spend three times what we earn. Let’s not hop into the sack with liars just because they act folksy. Let’s remember people’s names and take numbers. It's called responsibility, and it's time to invest in it.
Let's invest in MAKING our dreams come true. No more wishing on stars. Wishing on stars is for lazy animated crickets! Besides, stars are millions of light years away! Why put your dreams off for millions of light years?! Let’s put on our MAKE and TAKE some action!
You can do it, I can help you.
Happy New Year!
www.sandraoday.com
PowerofSandra@aol.com
I remember looking down at my investment statements for one second, saw my money was gone, and looked up to see bankers and CEOs lining up for a government handout. Is Washington a soup kitchen, now?! When did that happen?!
“Oh, boo hoo, boo hoo, nobody will buy the crappy cars I make! Wahhh – Wahhh.”
Let’s get a grip right now, people.
Yes, times are going to be tough. That means we have to keep our chins up and keep plugging, not roll over and whine and kick the air like spoiled fat children.
We made this bed together. So let’s TAKE ACTION right now. It’s time to roll out of our dirty bed, do the laundry and when the bed is made again let’s make it a point not to sleep with people who tell us we can spend three times what we earn. Let’s not hop into the sack with liars just because they act folksy. Let’s remember people’s names and take numbers. It's called responsibility, and it's time to invest in it.
Let's invest in MAKING our dreams come true. No more wishing on stars. Wishing on stars is for lazy animated crickets! Besides, stars are millions of light years away! Why put your dreams off for millions of light years?! Let’s put on our MAKE and TAKE some action!
You can do it, I can help you.
Happy New Year!
www.sandraoday.com
PowerofSandra@aol.com
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Happy HolO'Days!
Happy Holidays O’Dayers!
From all the e-mails I’ve been getting from you I can tell it’s been an interesting season for all of us! There are so many parties and functions to attend, and each one is special in its own way.
I recently attended a Christmas party/reunion for those of us who were either incarcerated in or worked at the Lady Bird Johnson Correctional Facility for Criminal Women.
Let’s face it, if you’ve been in prison and you show up at a reunion you’re there for one of two reasons. You either want to share with folks how great you’re doing and celebrate the spirit of the season or you want to steal stuff from the coatroom.
At our gathering many of my “prison sisters” were a breath of fresh air, women who are now holding jobs, improving their lives, and contributing to society in a positive way. Evie-Marie even had her teeth fixed! (You go, girl!)
The folks who weren’t doing so hot were the former facility officers and prison guards.
Back when we were prisoners, our captors seemed to have their lives together. After all, they were working, they owned homes with above ground pools and they had barbecues on weekends. They seemed to be living life to its fullest because they were not living behind bars. Now I realize that just isn’t true.
Turns out the guards were busy thinking that everyone else’s life was better. They were waiting for life to come to them. And today they are in the exact same place -- waiting for life to come to them. Watching those guards drain cheap beer after cheap beer and listening to them complain about their extremely comfortable, ordinary lives I wanted to give them a one-way ticket to Zimbabwe.
People, we turn on the faucet and have fresh water. We flick a switch and lights turn on. While we all have our own sorrows, we’re really doing pretty well. Complaining about wanting new carpet or gaining five pounds just doesn’t make sense in the long run.
So as we hurtle into the New Year let’s take a moment to see how good we’ve got it. With discipline, hard work and a can-do attitude we will take ourselves further. But let's start that hard journey by being grateful for what we have right now.
E-mail me at PowerofSandra@aol.com
PS -- A special shout out to the folks who completed the Four Day Bailout at O'Day Camp. It was a heck of a long, cold weekend! Kudos to all of you!
From all the e-mails I’ve been getting from you I can tell it’s been an interesting season for all of us! There are so many parties and functions to attend, and each one is special in its own way.
I recently attended a Christmas party/reunion for those of us who were either incarcerated in or worked at the Lady Bird Johnson Correctional Facility for Criminal Women.
Let’s face it, if you’ve been in prison and you show up at a reunion you’re there for one of two reasons. You either want to share with folks how great you’re doing and celebrate the spirit of the season or you want to steal stuff from the coatroom.
At our gathering many of my “prison sisters” were a breath of fresh air, women who are now holding jobs, improving their lives, and contributing to society in a positive way. Evie-Marie even had her teeth fixed! (You go, girl!)
The folks who weren’t doing so hot were the former facility officers and prison guards.
Back when we were prisoners, our captors seemed to have their lives together. After all, they were working, they owned homes with above ground pools and they had barbecues on weekends. They seemed to be living life to its fullest because they were not living behind bars. Now I realize that just isn’t true.
Turns out the guards were busy thinking that everyone else’s life was better. They were waiting for life to come to them. And today they are in the exact same place -- waiting for life to come to them. Watching those guards drain cheap beer after cheap beer and listening to them complain about their extremely comfortable, ordinary lives I wanted to give them a one-way ticket to Zimbabwe.
People, we turn on the faucet and have fresh water. We flick a switch and lights turn on. While we all have our own sorrows, we’re really doing pretty well. Complaining about wanting new carpet or gaining five pounds just doesn’t make sense in the long run.
So as we hurtle into the New Year let’s take a moment to see how good we’ve got it. With discipline, hard work and a can-do attitude we will take ourselves further. But let's start that hard journey by being grateful for what we have right now.
E-mail me at PowerofSandra@aol.com
PS -- A special shout out to the folks who completed the Four Day Bailout at O'Day Camp. It was a heck of a long, cold weekend! Kudos to all of you!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Fix Yourself Four-Day Bailout!
Dear Sandra,
I work at Citibank. For now anyway. I’m pretty sure I’m going to be laid off any minute now. They are literally stacking empty boxes in the hallways for people to pack up all their stuff! What am I going to do? I’m so mad at all the fat cats who are responsible for this. What am I gonna do next?!
-- Vexed in the Citi
Excellent question, Vexed. What are you going to do? Seems everybody is jumping into the “New Great Depression Game.” Even the actors want to go on strike! Why let poverty be the domain of the Wall Street wealthy?
What does one do when stock values plummet, unemployment zooms and recession looms?
You change your life, that’s what you do.
It’s time to take a good, long look at ourselves and ask, “How did we get here at the bottom of this well?” Sure we can point fingers and blame -- but who elected those officials? Who threw their money at financial advisers and didn’t keep track of what was going on? Who bought big fat trucks and cars and houses that they couldn’t afford? That would be us.
It’s time to get out of the “Blame Game.” It’s time to start fixing things, and we need to start with ourselves.
For a limited time I’m offering a no-frills “Fix Yourself Four-Day Bailout!” at O’Day Camp. It’s time to strip your comfort level down to zero and see what you’re really made of. It won’t be fun and it won’t be pretty. But once you experience how lack of heat can turn into abundance of heart -- you’ll know that this lean time of economic recession does not mean a time of emotional depression.
With my guidance you will rise like a Phoenix -- while raking and burning leaves on my 18 acre compound in upstate New York. And that’s just the beginning.
Teamwork-building fire walks will test you beyond any previous “work and finance related” challenge you have ever faced. And my “cross the freezing river” exercise will raise your personal awareness to a level beyond your expectations.
Ever caught a wild duck with your bare hands and eaten it for lunch? You will. My O’Day Transformation Techniques employ grueling assignments that will take you beyond your limited expectations of yourself. I will guide you to transcend any challenge that currently stands between you and the fulfillment of your highest aspirations.
You're stronger than you think. And I’m tougher, more resourceful, and more tuned in to what you need than you are. I’ll be there with support, encouragement, and inspiration. This will be the first step in a journey that will continue for the rest of your life.
Together we’ll make these lean times leaner and meaner. And by leaner and meaner I mean more inspiring. Sign up at www.sandraoday.com.
I work at Citibank. For now anyway. I’m pretty sure I’m going to be laid off any minute now. They are literally stacking empty boxes in the hallways for people to pack up all their stuff! What am I going to do? I’m so mad at all the fat cats who are responsible for this. What am I gonna do next?!
-- Vexed in the Citi
Excellent question, Vexed. What are you going to do? Seems everybody is jumping into the “New Great Depression Game.” Even the actors want to go on strike! Why let poverty be the domain of the Wall Street wealthy?
What does one do when stock values plummet, unemployment zooms and recession looms?
You change your life, that’s what you do.
It’s time to take a good, long look at ourselves and ask, “How did we get here at the bottom of this well?” Sure we can point fingers and blame -- but who elected those officials? Who threw their money at financial advisers and didn’t keep track of what was going on? Who bought big fat trucks and cars and houses that they couldn’t afford? That would be us.
It’s time to get out of the “Blame Game.” It’s time to start fixing things, and we need to start with ourselves.
For a limited time I’m offering a no-frills “Fix Yourself Four-Day Bailout!” at O’Day Camp. It’s time to strip your comfort level down to zero and see what you’re really made of. It won’t be fun and it won’t be pretty. But once you experience how lack of heat can turn into abundance of heart -- you’ll know that this lean time of economic recession does not mean a time of emotional depression.
With my guidance you will rise like a Phoenix -- while raking and burning leaves on my 18 acre compound in upstate New York. And that’s just the beginning.
Teamwork-building fire walks will test you beyond any previous “work and finance related” challenge you have ever faced. And my “cross the freezing river” exercise will raise your personal awareness to a level beyond your expectations.
Ever caught a wild duck with your bare hands and eaten it for lunch? You will. My O’Day Transformation Techniques employ grueling assignments that will take you beyond your limited expectations of yourself. I will guide you to transcend any challenge that currently stands between you and the fulfillment of your highest aspirations.
You're stronger than you think. And I’m tougher, more resourceful, and more tuned in to what you need than you are. I’ll be there with support, encouragement, and inspiration. This will be the first step in a journey that will continue for the rest of your life.
Together we’ll make these lean times leaner and meaner. And by leaner and meaner I mean more inspiring. Sign up at www.sandraoday.com.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Change
Well, at some point tonight we will have a new president. (Hopefully.) Being a felon, and still on parole, I am apparently not allowed to vote. This discovery made me understandably furious when I went to my polling place at 7 AM and was loudly rebuked by the facially scarred woman with the speech impediment who screamed for the benefit of the hundreds of people in line behind me, "You can'th vote. You're a cwiminawl!" (Former criminal, thank you Scar Face.)
But instead of throwing things at her, as I so deeply wished to do, I went out and took three extra anger management classes, a yoga class, ran five miles and told the kid at Starbucks that I had gone to vote (I did go) so I could get my free coffee. Decaf.
While I can't vote to make Change happen for our country, I did make Change happen for myself, in my personal life. I did not attack the disfigured volunteer and wreck her pathetic face further. Instead, I worked out my aggression in a healthy way. And I ordered a decaf instead of a regular coffee. For Sandra O'Day, that's a pretty good start at real Change.
So, I have to ask you, people -- now that all the hype of "Change, Change, Change" will be quieting down, will you continue to Change? Or will you go back to being uninformed lemmings who let the newscasters and your neighbors tell you what to think? Will you go back to gorging yourself on cheese-stuffed crusts while popping pills to lower your cholesterol? Will you go back to watching junk on TV and complaining that you're gaining weight because you spend too much time on your patootie?
Or will you really do it this time? People, you don't have to wait until the New Year to start over. Do it now. CHANGE.
E-mail me at PowerofSandra@aol.com and tell me what you want to work on. Together we’ll make a plan for you, a rigorous program of transformation. Let's put you on the true path to Powerful Positive Change. You can do it. I'll make you do it.
PowerofSandra@aol.com
But instead of throwing things at her, as I so deeply wished to do, I went out and took three extra anger management classes, a yoga class, ran five miles and told the kid at Starbucks that I had gone to vote (I did go) so I could get my free coffee. Decaf.
While I can't vote to make Change happen for our country, I did make Change happen for myself, in my personal life. I did not attack the disfigured volunteer and wreck her pathetic face further. Instead, I worked out my aggression in a healthy way. And I ordered a decaf instead of a regular coffee. For Sandra O'Day, that's a pretty good start at real Change.
So, I have to ask you, people -- now that all the hype of "Change, Change, Change" will be quieting down, will you continue to Change? Or will you go back to being uninformed lemmings who let the newscasters and your neighbors tell you what to think? Will you go back to gorging yourself on cheese-stuffed crusts while popping pills to lower your cholesterol? Will you go back to watching junk on TV and complaining that you're gaining weight because you spend too much time on your patootie?
Or will you really do it this time? People, you don't have to wait until the New Year to start over. Do it now. CHANGE.
E-mail me at PowerofSandra@aol.com and tell me what you want to work on. Together we’ll make a plan for you, a rigorous program of transformation. Let's put you on the true path to Powerful Positive Change. You can do it. I'll make you do it.
PowerofSandra@aol.com
Monday, October 20, 2008
God Is Going To Get You, O'Day
Oh, how I love the hate mail from the religious fanatics. This is from someone who wouldn't sign her name, but her e-mail address pretty much gives it away. So clever these people! I'm only publishing part of the e-mail, because it was so poorly written it looked as if it had been dictated to a special-needs second grader. Here's part of the thoughtful message from Mary:
You are a heathen and will be dammed to eternal hell. God will strike you down this week -- god will strike you down.
-Christian Soldier
OK, first of all, you forgot to capitalize your fictional friend's name the second time you used it -- and that's a big no-no! You should know better, Mary!
God is not going to get me, because he is imaginary. One of his psychotic followers might get me, but that’s not God.
Also, from what I remember from my time in prison -- surrounded by women who were suddenly very interested in the Bible and God -- God is supposed to be forgiving and kind. So it seems you're picking and choosing God to fit your needs, Mary. I think that's a no-no too, somewhere in the religious spin.
If God is as great and strong as you say, he wouldn’t need you to threaten people like me. So back off and let God do his work. You Psycho God lovers are always screwing things up by harming others in the name of God. Bottom line: Psycho follower is not God. Let God do his work, you do yours. (Like go back to school and learn grammar.) Use that brain God supposedly gave you, instead of leaving the gift in the box.
Onward, Christian Soldier.
You are a heathen and will be dammed to eternal hell. God will strike you down this week -- god will strike you down.
-Christian Soldier
OK, first of all, you forgot to capitalize your fictional friend's name the second time you used it -- and that's a big no-no! You should know better, Mary!
God is not going to get me, because he is imaginary. One of his psychotic followers might get me, but that’s not God.
Also, from what I remember from my time in prison -- surrounded by women who were suddenly very interested in the Bible and God -- God is supposed to be forgiving and kind. So it seems you're picking and choosing God to fit your needs, Mary. I think that's a no-no too, somewhere in the religious spin.
If God is as great and strong as you say, he wouldn’t need you to threaten people like me. So back off and let God do his work. You Psycho God lovers are always screwing things up by harming others in the name of God. Bottom line: Psycho follower is not God. Let God do his work, you do yours. (Like go back to school and learn grammar.) Use that brain God supposedly gave you, instead of leaving the gift in the box.
Onward, Christian Soldier.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Hate Letter From A Palin Lover
Amazingly, the religious fanatics continue to send me e-mail. These people think if you don’t agree with them you are so wrong that you’re going to go to the fictional land of Hell.
I. Am. So. Scared.
An e-mail from Samuel: (Impressive biblical name!)
For you, Sandra.
Samuel's new definition of a Liberal: One who would fear and destroy Sarah Palin.
Wow, Sammy. You are your own dictionary! Very creative. Calm down. She did her winking and aw-shucks-ing on the “debate” and all of you who confuse political leadership with television personality think she did just fine. Obviously you can’t tell the difference between a leader and an episode of The Facts of Life.
The only one who will “destroy” Sarah Palin is Sarah Palin. Her ego is so inflated that she believes she is ready for and deserves the vice presidency. She’s not sure what a vice president does, but she’s pretty sure that Dick Cheney does it the right way -- according to one of her debate “answers.” Doesn’t matter that Cheney frequently steps outside the power permitted him by the constitution, she’s all for it! Lawbreaking? Why not!
Know what, Sammy? I’d like to see her do more interviews, because when people say they’re ready to be a world leader I think they should have to answer actual questions, not just give speeches and avoid debate topics.
I want to see if the candidate is ready, I want to know that the potential world leader knows what she’s talking about.
That’s why the press quizzes and investigates. This quizzing, testing and grilling is not attacking -- it’s part of the process. If you want to lead a major world power you need to be able to discuss foreign and domestic policy without embarrassing yourself.
You feel she’s ready to be the stand-by for a man who won’t release his medical records, who could very well already be dead, or pretty close to it.
I strongly disagree.
I think she needs to study the job description for vice president. I think we need to hear her answer more questions rather than merely pander to the right. I think she needs to figure out how to organize hockey moms at the PTA before she tries to lead countries. I think she shamelessly looks for opportunities to pass her retarded baby around like a joint at a party so she can get a nice photo-op.
She’s a folksy television personality, not a leader. She makes for a better comedy character on a SNL skit than a candidate. The only one who will destroy Palin is Palin -- unless she falls out of a helicopter while hunting wolves and gets eaten by a polar bear.
I. Am. So. Scared.
An e-mail from Samuel: (Impressive biblical name!)
For you, Sandra.
Samuel's new definition of a Liberal: One who would fear and destroy Sarah Palin.
Wow, Sammy. You are your own dictionary! Very creative. Calm down. She did her winking and aw-shucks-ing on the “debate” and all of you who confuse political leadership with television personality think she did just fine. Obviously you can’t tell the difference between a leader and an episode of The Facts of Life.
The only one who will “destroy” Sarah Palin is Sarah Palin. Her ego is so inflated that she believes she is ready for and deserves the vice presidency. She’s not sure what a vice president does, but she’s pretty sure that Dick Cheney does it the right way -- according to one of her debate “answers.” Doesn’t matter that Cheney frequently steps outside the power permitted him by the constitution, she’s all for it! Lawbreaking? Why not!
Know what, Sammy? I’d like to see her do more interviews, because when people say they’re ready to be a world leader I think they should have to answer actual questions, not just give speeches and avoid debate topics.
I want to see if the candidate is ready, I want to know that the potential world leader knows what she’s talking about.
That’s why the press quizzes and investigates. This quizzing, testing and grilling is not attacking -- it’s part of the process. If you want to lead a major world power you need to be able to discuss foreign and domestic policy without embarrassing yourself.
You feel she’s ready to be the stand-by for a man who won’t release his medical records, who could very well already be dead, or pretty close to it.
I strongly disagree.
I think she needs to study the job description for vice president. I think we need to hear her answer more questions rather than merely pander to the right. I think she needs to figure out how to organize hockey moms at the PTA before she tries to lead countries. I think she shamelessly looks for opportunities to pass her retarded baby around like a joint at a party so she can get a nice photo-op.
She’s a folksy television personality, not a leader. She makes for a better comedy character on a SNL skit than a candidate. The only one who will destroy Palin is Palin -- unless she falls out of a helicopter while hunting wolves and gets eaten by a polar bear.
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