Ageless Passions by Karen Putz

Author: Karen Putz

Do Resolutions Really Work?

It’s that time of the year when you sit down and create your New Year resolutions.

Statistically, by February 1st, the far majority of people give up, forget, or just settle back into the same-old, same-old routine.

It’s human nature to default to familiar patterns.

Rather than resolutions, I set intentions of HOW I want to live. This includes short term and long term goals. How you live your moments, is how you live your life. Create AWE moments of joy, fun, and adventure throughout your day, your month, your years. An AWE moment can be something as simple as a walk in someplace new, a sunset, a jump off a cliff in Cabo, or a new skill.

My friend, Chris Brogan, has a process in which he selects three words to live by for the year. The three words he choses has meaning only to him. Chris chose “Showrunner, Monk, and Options” as his words for 2021. What do those words mean to him? Learn more here: Chris Brogan’s Three Words for 2021.

Last year was a doozy of a year for many of us. Several of you have wrote to me saying you feel trapped and that you’ve put life on hold until the day the coronavirus subsides.

Here’s the thing–there’s ALWAYS going to be something in your way. There’s always going to be risk in life. There’s always going to be one barrier, obstacle, or challenge ahead of you.

So ask yourself this:

HOW do you want to live?

My three words for 2021 are: Serenity, Water, and Love.

Serenity: I intend to create serenity throughout each day via the practice of gratitude, reflection, and meditation.

Water: I love water in every form. I intend to barefoot water ski on the Finger Lakes this upcoming summer and continue my quest to barefoot water ski in all 50 states (thanks to Unitron for joining me on the journey!)

Love: The world needs more love. I truly believe if we operate from a place of love, we can diminish the negativity that’s around us. I intend to send more cards to people, to do more acts of service, and to radiate the energy of love.

Think about three words that are meaningful to you and that reflect the way you intend to live in 2021. Write them down where you can see them every day. Identify actions that support those words so that you can transform your life. At the end of each day, reflect with gratitude on how you lived.

Here’s to an amazing year ahead!

Want to increase your income streams in the new year? Learn how you can create A Better Way.

January 3, 2021
Ignite Your Life with Passion

Leanne Blaney is a master coach. She helps people create more fun, passion, and meaning while living a balanced life. Leanne’s training runs deep; she’s a certified Jack Canfield Success Principles trainer, DISC consultant, Coaching Guild Associate Member, and Coaching Institute Meta Dynamics /Advanced Practitioner.

So, when my friend Mary Wu suggested that we connect, I was thrilled. I love connecting with people who live with passion and it was easy to see that Leanne lived a “Bucket List” life. In fact, she’s a certified Bucket List coach!

Leanne and I jumped on her podcast and talked about passion in depth.

You can catch the episode via audio below or the transcript here:

Ignite Your Life with Passion

Here’s a bit from the podcast:

[09:05] Leanne: That is awesome, I love it. I love how you have found that way of doing something using someone as a role model too because it is something that I’m very aware of through my Bucket Listing workshops so people are just living groundhog day aren’t they just over and over and they’ve lost their passion for life, so I am loving your story thank you so
much for sharing.
[09:28] Karen: It is so true, isn’t it? we get to midlife and we think you know oh my gosh this is it and it is so not true and when you find a role model it just opens up the world to you. But I also tell people, if you can’t find a role model you might have to be the role model that leads the way.
[09:52] Leanne: Exactly and it’s great to have role models out there doing things and people of all abilities doing things that they love because we don’t want to just say oh something happened to me and then hide ourselves away it is so important to keep living because we only have this short lifetime so we need to have something that we are passionate about,
don’t we?

August 15, 2020
Creating Your Passion Path

“How do I find my passion?”

That’s the number one question that people come to me seeking the answer for.

My answer is simple:

You create it. You create your own passion path.

Passion is an energy that is a gift in your life. The thing is, most people never take the bow off. They never unwrap the gift.

Or sometimes they do, but then they put the gift on a back shelf in a closet–and forget about it.

So after working with many people on the process of unwrapping the gift of passion–I created a way to tap into the energy of passion on a daily basis:

The Passion Path.

The Passion Path is a daily journal with three parts: A question to ponder, actions to take, and a practice of daily gratitude.

There is power in writing your thoughts and creating a daily habit that brings in a positive energy into your life. When you create this new path, you set passion in motion.

Does it work?

Yes.

Edie created a Passion Path by taking up dance lessons again. Jennifer took up ballroom dancing and entered her first ballroom competition.

Stephanie created a Passion Path with her husband by riding their tandem bike every month–even in the snow. They’ve been enjoying this Passion Path for three years now.

My husband and I took a big step to create a whole new path: we sold our place in Illinois and we’re moving to New York. This decision came about when we realized we were becoming quite stagnant in our own paths. We needed a new adventure!

So when people ask me that famous question, what they’re really asking is, “How can I have a different life than what I’m experiencing now?”

The answers are found within. And my new book helps you do just that: explore what’s going on deep down so that you can arrive at the answers you need.

When you know yourself on a deeper level, you change the way you live. You focus on joy, fun, and adventure in your life–rather than the negative stuff that is not moving you forward.

Create your own Passion Path–the path that’s unique just for you.

Available exclusively on Amazon: Your Passion Path.

Karen Putz is known as “The Passion Mentor.” She’s the author of multiple books, including “Unwrapping Your Passion, Creating the Life You Truly Want. “

Are you ready to unwrap YOUR passion? Check out The Passion School.

February 7, 2020
John O’Leary: Living On Fire
I met John O’Leary when I stopped by to visit comedian Kathy Buckley in Los Angeles.

Just like Kathy, John had a wonderfully vibrant energy. It took a few minutes for me to realize that he was missing a couple of fingers on his hands.

At the age of nine, John went into the garage to look for a can of gasoline. He wanted to try a trick that he saw some teens do: pour a strip of gas on the ground and light it on fire.

Being a young kid, he didn’t quite understand the process. When John lit the match, he created a fireball instead.

Burned on 100% of his body, John wasn’t expected to live.

But he did.

And today, he travels the world sharing his wisdom and helping people to live “on fire.”

After meeting John, I ordered his book, “On Fire, The Seven Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life.” Every page is gripping–John weaves life lessons throughout his own story. Even my kids have read his book (and they haven’t read all of MY books!)

I had the wonderful opportunity to chat with John and in our interview he shares how we can create our own “Ignition Statement” to ignite our own passion and purpose:

In the interview, John shares:
- Why he still becomes nervous before taking the stage to talk to people and how he harnesses that energy in the right direction.
- Why he would go through being burned all over again.
- How his mother taught him resiliency when he came home from the hospital.
- What passion means and how to harness it.
As John says, ” You can’t always choose the path you walk in life, but you can always choose the manner in which you walk.”

Learn more about John O’Leary and receive a spark of inspiration here: John O’Leary Inspires.

Karen Putz is known as “The Passion Mentor.” She helps people unwrap their passion at ANY age and turn an ordinary life into an extraordinary one. Karen is the author of multiple books, including, Unwrapping Your Passion, Creating the Life You Truly Want.
October 17, 2019
How the TODAY Show Changed My Life

Way back in 2009, my husband sent me a link to a TODAY Show segment that changed my life.

“Barefoot Water Skier is Landing on Her Feet at 66,” was the headline.

My heart skipped a beat.

You see, way back as a teen, I loved the sport of barefoot water skiing. One day, I turned to cross the wake and took a hard fall. When I climbed in the boat, I was deaf.

Fast forward to age 44. I had long ago abandoned the sport. I was overweight, out of shape, and figured I was “too old” to barefoot again.

The TODAY Show segment changed everything.

You can view the original TODAY Show segment here:

In 2010, I flew to Florida and I met with Judy Myers and the two-time World Barefoot Champion Keith St. Onge to take a barefoot water skiing lesson and get back into the sport. The minute I put my feet on the water–the old passion came flooding back.

Embracing my passion again has lead me to a whole new life. I left a sales job that wasn’t right for me. Today, I do the things I love to do–write, speak, coach, travel, and work for a non-profit that provides support to families with deaf and hard of hearing kids. And I’m currently on a quest to barefoot water ski in all 50 states with the help of my sponsor, Unitron.

There’s a reason why passion is important–that energy elevates YOU to a new level. When you live YOUR passion, you draw people into your life who share the same interests, values, and energetic vibrations. The world doesn’t need you going through each day feeling mediocre–the world needs your talents, your unique abilities, and your PASSION.

The TODAY Show that changed my life brought me full circle with my own segment on the TODAY Show:

How about you? Are you struggling to figure out how to enjoy life at a whole new level? You can learn how to Unwrap YOUR Passion.

Karen Putz is known as The Passion Mentor. She is the author of multiple books, including “Unwrapping Your Passion, Creating the Life You Truly Want.”

August 20, 2019
Canyon Ranch: A Retreat for the Soul

I had Canyon Ranch on my vision board for the longest time. Every morning, while getting dressed, I’d look at the items on my vision board and dream of the day I’d get to go to Canyon Ranch.

But for the longest time, I took no action.

You see, a vision board is only effective if you take action on what’s on your board. You can look at your board every single day for years, and not have a vision materialize. Vision plus action–that’s the formula.

So finally, one day last year, I realized I either had to start saving up for Canyon Ranch or find a way to be a part of their program. I sat down, pulled up the website, and saw that they had a speaker program.

I applied and offered to speak about passion. No surprise there to those who have been following my passion journey for the last several years–to say “passion” is my passion is putting it mildly.

On January 21 and 22nd, I presented two sessions, one on “Unwrapping Your Passion” and the other on “Passion at Any Age.”

It was so fun!

I brought my friend Sharon with me–she is a professional sign language interpreter and a close friend. We go way back–all the way to college years. Not only did we have a soul sister travel experience, we also nurtured our own souls in the process. Canyon Ranch is quite the magical place–not only because of the beauty in the surroundings, but also because of the healthy food and learning opportunities they offer.

Canyon Ranch turned out to be above and beyond anything we expected. When we arrived, we made a beeline for the outdoor pool and did some walking laps while enjoying the sun. In the hot tub, we met Lois from New York. She and her husband own a home inside Canyon Ranch. They have been coming to Canyon Ranch for years and consider self-care a vital part of life.

Sharon and I also biked to the Sabino Canyon and hiked for two hours. Then we went for some pampering–I opted for a water massage and Sharon went for a facial. I also tried something new: Aerial Silks.

The whole experience at Canyon Ranch was simply amazing. It was a chance to recharge and refresh our energy. I absolutely loved the speaking experience there. The food was beyond amazing–especially considering they do not serve salt at the table (you’ll find a grinder with some secret ingredients that spice up your food.) There are so many classes to choose from that you’ll never run out of things to do.

If you are looking for a holistic, inclusive opportunity to revitalize your life–Canyon Ranch is your place.

Karen Putz is known as the Passion Mentor. She helps people unwrap their passion at any age. She is the author of multiple books, including “Unwrapping Your Passion.” To learn more about passion, head over to The Passion School.

May 11, 2019
You Don’t Have to FIND Your Passion, Unwrap It Instead

“How do I find my passion?”

I get this question often.

As a Passion Mentor, it’s my business to help people tap into the energy of passion so they can create a life they truly love.

But…passion gets a bum rap sometimes. I have a few friends who love to roll their eyes when the topic comes up.

But here’s the thing…passion is a gift within us. Peel back the layers of “you” and you’ll discover that you have everything you need within you to live YOUR passion.

Because you see, passion is your joy. After interviewing over 200 people about the topic of passion, it truly comes down to this simple concept.

Your joy.

Passion is personal. What one person deems passion, another has no connection to it. That’s why the “search” for passion begins within.

If you’ve been trudging through life in a routine that is sucking the joy out of your soul, that’s a signal to shift your energy. We are not meant to live through each day waiting for some mythical “Someday” to happen.

We are meant to be living life with joy.

And passion.

Unwrap yours.

Karen Putz is known as “The Passion Mentor.” She is the author of several books, including “Unwrapping Your Passion, Creating the Life You Truly Want.” Enroll in The Passion School to learn how to unwrap YOUR passion.

March 12, 2019
Feeling Stuck: Ask Yourself This Question

When you’re feeling stuck in life, ask yourself this question…

But wait, before I dive into the question, let me tell you a story.

Way back when my kids were very young, I faced a choice that I had to make for them. As a parent, I was responsible for their upbringing, and due to all three of them being deaf/hard of hearing, I was responsible (along with the hubby) for making decisions that would affect their life path.

I didn’t know what to do.

So it seemed easier to do…nothing.

“Doing nothing is a choice,” a wise mentor told me.

And the problem with doing nothing is that there is little energy associated with it.

The hubby and I made a decision. It was a decision that energized us. Once we chose the direction of that decision–we owned it. There was energy behind that decision.

And the words of my mentor often stuck with me.

Doing nothing is a choice.

As the years went on, my path shifted into the work of
“passion.” I started studying this energy and I surrounded myself with people who were living at a high level of passion in their life.

And I discovered something else…

Many of them asked themselves a certain question when they were feeling stuck or faced with a decision in their life:

“Will this bring me energy?”

The question came in other ways:

“Is this the right path for me?”

“Am I aligned with this?”

“Do I believe in this?”

When you are aligned with the right path, energy builds up. A wise business coach once told me to hire people to do the stuff that takes away my energy so that I can focus on what BRINGS good energy into my life.

So when you are facing a decision point in your life or you’re feeling stuck, ask yourself, “Does this bring me energy?”

The stuff that saps your soul, find other solutions for that. Let go of the stuff that doesn’t bringing you uplifting energy. The stuff that is weighing you down, release it.

Those words that I’ve typed above–they are words for myself as well. I’m learning along with you.

Karen Putz is known as “The Passion Mentor.” She is the author of several books, including “Unwrapping Your Passion, Creating the Life You Truly Want.” You can learn more about living YOUR passion at The Passion School.

January 17, 2019
Discover Your Passion in the New Year

A new year looms ahead. This is the time of year when you sit down and write your new goals. New aspirations. New dreams. The opportunity to “Discover your passion.”

Or maybe it’s just another day, just another week, just another month…and just another year?

The hubby and I are as different as night and day when it comes to the new year. I’ve got a new journal going, I have my 100 Life List typed out, and I have dreams popping up each morning.

The hubby is content to head off to work, dive into his GIS projects, and come home to a great dinner. He’s a simple guy. A good game of football, a couple rounds on the golf course, and he’s happy.

Me, I’m complex. My dreams twist and turn. I run on a happy level some days, and down in the dumps on other days.

But we’ve managed to meet in the middle on many things in life. It isn’t always easy combining our different outlooks and how we experience life.

One thing I know for sure, we all have PASSION within us. Passion is such a personal thing. What’s right for one you, may not be right for someone else. That’s why it’s so important to gain clarity about what you want, and how you want to live. Passion is a gift within you. It’s up to you to unwrap your gift.

You can make the new year an amazing one.

Travel? Adventures? Write a book? Learn a new skill? Skydive? Underwater basket weaving?

What gets your heart moving and your head spinning?

If you’re not sure, I have a course that takes you step by step through the process of unwrapping your passion. I’ve used this process over the last eight years to gain clarity and to experience some amazing things. Check it out here: The Passion School–Unwrap Your Passion.

You can also join me at the Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Arizona in January for two nights of Unwrapping Your Passion. The Canyon Ranch is an amazing place–you will immerse yourself in a variety of experiences to rejuvenate your passion. You’ll be able to completely unwind–and leave your worries behind. Book your retreat experience here:

Discover Your Passion with Karen Putz

The new year ahead is a wonderful opportunity to take action on the things you’ve been wanting to do for years. Discover your passion. Unwrap your passion. Live YOUR passion.

Wishing you many blessings!

Karen Putz is known as The Passion Mentor. She is the author of several books, including “Unwrapping Your Passion, Creating the Life You Truly Want.” For fun, she walks on water as a barefoot water skier. She is currently on a quest to barefoot water ski in 50 states for her 50’s.

December 31, 2018
The Putz Family Turtle Recipe

When I was a kid, Pecan Turtles were my favorite candy. My mom would take me shopping at Sears and let me pick out candy from their fabulous candy section. I always went home with Turtles.

When my kids were little, I started making Pecan Turtles for the holidays. It wasn’t exactly a yearly tradition, as some years I dropped the ball on making them.

Now that all three kids are living on their own, they’re coming back to the comforts of home–and Pecan Turtles.

I’ve been getting a lot of requests for the recipe, so here goes! The original was based on a recipe I found in a Taste of Home cookbook many years ago, but I’ve modified it enough to call it a Putz recipe now.

Putzy Pecan Turtles

(Otherwise known as The Ultimate Pecan Turtle Recipe)

Ingredients:

Two sticks of butter (get the good stuff)

1 can (14 ounces) of sweetened condensed milk

1 cup of light corn syrup (we didn’t say this was healthy)

2 1/2 cups of light brown sugar gently packed

Two pinches (approx 1/8 tsp) of sea salt

1 tsp of vanilla (I use Trader Joe’s)

32 ounces of chopped pecans (I use four bags of ALDI Chopped Pecans–delicious and not expensive!)

Two bags of Ghiradelli Chocolate Wafers (if your local store doesn’t have it, you can get it on my Amazon affliate here: Ghiradelli White and Chocolate Wafers) Trust me, this is THE chocolate to use for these babies.

Melt the butter SLOWLY in a copper or copper-bottom pan. (Copper is essential for the best outcomes. I use a 4-quart Revere saucepan that my mom gave me 30 years ago. If you want to get fancy, there’s a nice 3.7 copper saucepan from France: Mauviel M’passion. And yes, this is an affiliate link so if you do order it, not only will you cook up some great stuff but I’ll get some pennies, too.)

Once the butter is almost melted, dump in the brown sugar, corn syrup, and condensed milk.

Stir slowly and constantly over medium heat. If the heat is too high too fast, the mixture will begin to burn and spit out chunks of brown–you don’t want that. Candy making is an art–you’ll have to get good at this before you can master it.

It takes me about thirty minutes to get the mixture up to the “firm boil” stage which is 248 degrees. How do you know when it hits this point? There are two ways. One, you can use a candy thermometer. (I used a Wilton Thermometer for many years, until I lost it in one of our moves.) Or… you can fill a shot glass with ice cold water. Put a drop of the candy mixture into the glass. If it is done, it will harden and not spread out in the water.

I need to remind you.. you MUST continually stir while cooking this candy. You can pause here and there to allow the heat to continue to rise, but keep it moving now and then or it will burn.

Remove the saucepan and add the vanilla. Let the mixture cool for about five to ten minutes, stirring occasionally.

Line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

Spread the pecans in a large stainless steel cooking tray. Using a dinner spoon (not the teaspoon that comes with your silverware set), scoop out approximately a tablespoon of the caramel mix and drop it over the chopped pecans, forming a circle. Repeat until you can’t drop any more circles over the pecans.

Using a spatula, lift off the candy and place it on the parchment paper. Continue to drop circles of caramel until you’ve used all the pecans. If there is any caramel leftover, you can make the rest of it without nuts.

Open one bag of chocolate and place in a two-cup glass measuring cup. You can microwave this for one minute (add additional time in 20 second increments–do not overheat!) or melt over a small pan of boiling water (use a metal bowl if you do it this way.)

Using a teaspoon (that’s the smaller spoon in your silverware set), drop circles of chocolate over the turtles.

Store in a glass dish, using parchment paper between layers of candy.

I don’t know how many it makes–someone is always digging in before I can count them…

Karen Putz is known as “The Passion Mentor.” Occasionally she masquerades as a chef in the Putz household. She is the author of “Unwrapping Your Passion, Creating the Life You Truly Want” and runs Passion Academy–the school with no detention services.

December 19, 2018