Ageless Passions by Karen Putz

Author: Karen Putz

  • Is Your Weight Holding You Back from a Passionate Life?

    Is Your Weight Holding You Back from a Passionate Life?

    Ugh, I’m so fat. 

    That was the thought going through my head after getting off the water during Women’s Barefoot Week. I had packed on the pounds from too much writing and too little exercise and I was really feeling the results.

    Not to mention seeing the results.

    Photo by Betsy Gilman

    I cringed at the pictures that showed up online. On the water, I was struggling each day–not only with the extra pounds but also with the mental beatings I was giving myself every time I squeezed into the wetsuit. I was holding back and not really having fun on the water.

    I blamed my weight.

    Things finally came to a head one day when all of us gals were walking back to the house after an intense day on the water.

    “You have to stop being so negative,” one of the gals said. “You’re too hard on yourself. You’re beautiful.”

    As a “fat” girl who has dealt with up and down weight gain and loss over the years, I was struggling deeply once again. I had shed the weight several years ago after getting back into the sport of barefoot water skiing–and now it was all piling back on. There was a whole myriad of emotions going on–and there was no escaping any of the feelings that were swirling around inside.

    To top things off, Community Voices on Facebook released a video that we filmed a year ago–and at first, I didn’t want to share that video with anyone. I was ashamed of the pounds I had put on.

    I was really lucky that my friend had the courage to call me out about my negative views about my body. I had to do something different about the messages that were going around in my head. It was affecting my ability to have fun and to enjoy the sport that I’m usually so passionate about.

    So the next time I went on the water, I decided to say something positive to myself–to appreciate the body that was performing amazing things despite the extra pounds.  The mental conversations took on a happier tone. I enjoyed my session on the water so much more, because I was able to focus on the things I could passionately do–and forget about the weight.

    Photo by Lynn Novakofski

    So if this is you–if you’re struggling with weight issues and it’s holding you back in life–join me in making a pact in moving forward–toward the things you’re passionate about–without letting weight hold you back.

     

     

    Want a dose of passion in your life? Grab Karen’s latest book: Unwrapping Your Passion

    Or take a class: Unwrapping Your Passion Course

  • 50 States for My 50’s: Minnesota

    50 States for My 50’s: Minnesota

    “I’m heading to Minneapolis for work and I’m looking for a pull.”

    My friend, Paul Oman, a competitive barefoot water skier, responded quickly to my Facebook request. I was on a quest to barefoot water ski in all 50 states for my 50th decade. Minnesota would be my twelfth state on my 50 States for my 50’s tour.

    Paul and I met at my first barefoot tournament up in Wisconsin several years ago.  I was immediately impressed by his performance on the water.  Paul learned to barefoot water ski when he was 40. He shared some of his memories with me:

    As a youth, I was fascinated by barefoot skiers at ski shows and dreamed about doing that some day.  When I finally got a boat fast enough to pull me footing, I tried a few ski step offs and took hard falls that made me put that dream on hold. 
    Later in life, at the age of 40, I learned about new tools (the barefoot boom) that make learning much easier and found a local ski school that let me try it.  I made a tumble around start on my first try  and was hooked.   Ending that first run wasn’t as pretty.  The instructor told me to let go and I immediately caught a toe and took a hard fall.  The instructor asked “That hurt didn’t it?” When I replied “darn right it did” he said “now I’m going to show you how to stop.” 
    I got a boom for my boat and used it often but the boat didn’t go fast enough for me to do very much. I looked into getting a better barefoot boat and heard about local tournaments.  I went to my first tournament just to check out the boat and did my trick run (a single wave) in front of a big crowd.  Everyone had gathered to watch Jon Kretchman, who followed me in the running order.  We were both in classes of our own – me as a raw novice and he as a top pro. 
    I continued going to tournaments to watch all the skiing and get tips and enjoy hanging around with all the great skiers.  I’ve always been impressed with how helpful other skiers are – even with their competitors.

     

    At 64 years of age, Paul tackles the sport like a 20-year-old. He continually learns new things and pushes himself to reach new levels of skill. He is one of the few seniors who jump competitively in tournaments.

    “I started taking lessons from pros to ensure I wouldn’t develop bad habits,” Paul said.  “Ron Scarpa, the four-time World Barefoot Champion, talked me into trying jumping.  I thought it was silly, because I didn’t expect to ever jump in a tournament, but I trusted his judgement.  Ron had incredible patience and taught me to jump in very gradual stages–and that ultimately led to setting a national record. My first tournament jump was in 2002.  It was unremarkable except that, until just recently when I set the national Men 6 jump record in 2015, it was the longest jump of my career–maybe it was beginner’s luck?”

    The weather was absolutely wonderful when Paul and I stepped outside on a Friday morning and headed down to the dock. There was a light wind, just enough to create a ripple on the water, and it was getting a little rough in the middle of the lake.

    “I’ve got a spot where we can always find calm water,” Paul reassured me.

    I had not barefooted much over the summer so I was truly out of shape, but I enjoyed the runs. It was just the two of us in the boat, so we took turns driving and barefooting.

    Paul decided to go backwards behind the boat. I was a little nervous at first, as I had only driven that kind of pull once before, but Paul was a pro and got up with ease.

    Before I left, I gave Paul a copy of Unwrapping Your Passion and he looked at the book with hesitation.

    “I don’t really read books,” he said.

    “That’s okay, just skim through it and you can give it to someone else,” I said.

    A few days later, I was delighted to learn that Paul enjoyed the book!

     

    A special thank you to Phonak for making it possible to barefoot water ski around the country!

  • A New Course on Passion at Udemy

    A New Course on Passion at Udemy

    The difference between an ordinary life and an extraordinary one is:

    PASSION.

    Passion is an energy like no other. Once you unwrap passion and implement new habits–life takes on a whole new dimension.  I study and live this on a daily basis. Through the ups and downs, passion is fuel.

    In the last several years, I’ve talked to over 200 people about passion and learned from the experts. I wrote a book about everything I learned about passion: Unwrapping Your Passion. I’ve given the Passion Test to hundreds of people and I never fail to be amazed at the results–people ARE making a difference in their lives by choosing to live passionately. We have a kinder, happier world when people are engaged in practices that bring joy.

    And now YOU have the opportunity to take a course that will give you the tools to unwrap your passion at ANY age.

    And I really mean ANY age. Passion is a state of mind–it’s an energy you can tap into. Learn how you can tap into yours:

    Udemy Course: Unwrapping Your Passion at ANY Age

    When you follow Karen Putz’s formula for Unwrapping Your Passions,

    the gift you’ll find inside right next to your passions will be deep, true, and lasting happiness. 

    Marci Shimoff, NY Times Bestselling Author of Happy for No Reason

  • How Can a Deaf Person Do Podcast Interviews?

    How Can a Deaf Person Do Podcast Interviews?

    I just wrapped up an enjoyable podcast chat with Thom Walters over at Zen Commuter. I actually enjoy doing podcasts. For one thing, I can do them in my pajamas and I’m always talking about my favorite topic: PASSION.

    But wait a minute…

    How does a deaf gal do podcasts if she can’t hear over the phone?

    I use a system called ZVRS–it’s a videophone service that provides a sign language interpreter for every phone call. The interpreter listens in on the podcast interview and signs everything that the podcaster says. (And I mean everything–if a podcaster burps, the interpreter signs that burp!) I speak directly back to the podcaster using a headset. Whenever I do interviews for the books I’m writing, I use this system as well. You can view it here: How a Deaf Gal Uses the Phone.

     

    Here’s what Chris Brogan, Owner Media, has to say about using the system for an interview:

    “I wondered exactly how she’d interview me. You have to know that this was the MOST seamless experience I’ve ever had with translations/interpretation tools.”

    (By the way, Chris has an awesome newsletter that goes out every Sunday chock full of helpful stuff for running a business and life: chrisbrogan.com/nl)

    The first time I did a podcast, I loved it. There’s something so fun about just having a conversation and sharing what you know with others. I still get nervous now and then and my voice cracks occasionally, but I find that the more I do, the better I become at answering questions and sharing stories.

    For many, many years, the phone was my enemy. It was the barrier between me and the rest of the world. My father had to handle all my phone calls during my teen years ( my mom was deaf). As you can imagine, it’s really no fun having your dad relay messages from friends and boyfriends!

    It took me six years and over 200 interviews to write Unwrapping Your Passion, Creating the Life You Truly Want. Many of the interviews were done over the phone. I typed my notes word for word while watching the interpreter sign on screen.

    So, I often give thanks to the amazing technology we have today that breaks down the barriers for communicating with one another.

    Here’s some of the podcasts I’ve participated in:

    You Leading You with Sean Ackerman — Conquering Adversity Barefoot

    Natural Born Coaches with Marc Mcwhinney — A Passion for Life

    Marketing for Public Speakers with Jason Owens — How to Break Free From Being Paralyzed by Perfection

    She Wrote a Book with Lena Anani  — Living With Passion

    Newstalk 1010 with Jeff Sammut — Author of Unwrapping Your Passion (audio only)  transcript pending

    The Shut Up Show — Putting Your Feet Back in the Water

    Be Inspired with Jen McDonough — Overcoming Adversity

    Reinvention Radio with Steve Olsher

    B-Now Radio: Unwrap Your Passion at Any Age

    Cynthia Mazzafero interviews Karen Putz

  • Would You Sell Your Home To Live on a Boat?

    Stephanie Palmer came home from work one day and told her husband Jim, “We need an adventure.”

    Stephanie, who worked in early childhood education for 25 years, was getting ready to retire and partner with Jim in his coaching business, Dream Business Coaching.  With the business, they could work anywhere in the world as long as they had access to cell service and a solid internet connection.

    After 28 years living in the same home, they were toying with idea of selling the house and doing something different–yet, they weren’t quite sure what “different” was going to be.  They both enjoyed watching shows on HGTV that showed beautiful places to live and they considered moving to the Caribbean.

    Then one day, Stephanie had an idea.

    “Why don’t we live on a boat?”

    Stephanie and Jim always enjoyed their outings at sea on their 30-foot Sea Ray. Every time they went out on the water, stress melted away and they came off the boat renewed and re-energized. The more they thought about it, the more the idea of living on the water appealed to them.

    When Stephanie and Jim presented the idea to their four children, they received positive feedback and support. Stephanie recalls how it all unfolded:

     

    For the past few years Jim had felt ‘finished’ with the house we were living in.  It was the house where we’d lived for the past 28 years and raised our children.  I was torn.  We had kept it up and done some remodeling and an addition that I was enjoying.  I also liked to think of it as a place where the family came together for holidays, where our grandchildren could play in the beautiful yard where their parents had played years before.   Finally, I didn’t have any idea where I wanted to move to next.

    I had worked in early childhood education for over 25 years and I was feeling ready to move on. Truth be told, I was burnt out and didn’t enjoy the work anymore.  I didn’t know what I wanted to do, as far as work but one day it just hit me – I needed a big adventure!  Not sure what that was, what it looked like, but I had a feeling.  Together Jim and I batted around a bunch of ideas.  I knew how much Jim loved boating and I had a desire to travel, so I threw out the idea of living aboard a boat.  Jim LOVED it!!!  

    I was a bit uncomfortable with telling other people about this home we chose.  I have been a person that feels the need to do what is acceptable and expected.   Our children were the first people we informed of this idea.  They were so excited about it!  It is truly their excitement and encouragement that has kept me moving forward.  

    We spent about a year preparing for the change.  I gave notice at work.  I began to pack up the contents of our home deciding what to throw out, donate or put in storage.  We prepared the house for sale.  Jim searched boats for sale.  Over the year, Jim and I were amazed at how smoothly everything went.  We felt God’s hand at work, guiding us.  

    As I write this we have been living aboard the boat for 3 months.  I can’t believe how much I love it!  Life is simple, comfortable and easy.  We feel like we are on vacation all the time.  For now we have an 18 month plan, this summer in New England, the winter in Florida and then the next summer back on the Chesapeake, our home port.  We are considering spending more time living on the boat and traveling either the Great Loop or to the Bahamas.  But what we are both content with is making decisions as needed, we don’t have everything planned out to the nth degree, we are just going with the flow.

    Stephanie and Jim’s new home is a 50-foot Carver yacht. In the beginning, they had to learn everything they could about navigating a large craft themselves. They were nervous, excited, and a bit scared at taking on such a big adventure, but Jim knew that from his own coaching practice, the most growth occurs when you step out of your comfort zone.

    “Stephanie and I, we couldn’t run the boat ourselves, its a lot of teamwork,” Jim said.  “Pulling in and out of the marina is a two person job.  When we left the coast of New Jersey  going into New York and we saw the Statue of Liberty, we got chills. We had spent an hour in choppy water  and we were pushed out of our comfort zone in a way that we had not been pushed out of for several years.”

    I asked Jim to share the challenges they faced. “Challenges? You mean other than today, yesterday, and the day before??” Jim chuckled. “There are definitely times of challenge.  When you try to do something new– live on a boat, start a business, you sometimes become excited  about doing something fun and different, then the other side of your brain says,  ‘what if,  what if,’  what if I can’t park it, or hit someone, or run out of gas or I can’t run my business…

    “A lot of people don’t do big things because they’re unsure of what will happen,” Jim continued. “If you are thinking about doing something big–go for it. Life can be shorter than you want it to be. If you have an adventure in mind–your mind will play the “what if” game, but go for it. People near death regret the things they didn’t do–time ran out on them. Stephanie and I didn’t want to get to the end of our lives with regret, so for better or worse, we are doing it.”

    During one of the first trips on a river, the very thing that Stephanie and Jim worried about, happened. They ran aground in shallow water, right in front of a marina, with people on the dock watching. Jim turned to Stephanie and he laughed. “We hit the ground. Check it off the list. No one got hurt–there ya go!”

    What’s more, Jim explained, there are two types of people, those who run aground, and those…who lie about it.

    Jim and Stephanie work three days a week on their business and use the other four days to explore new places and things. As a business coach, Jim applies one of Zig Ziglar’s famous quotes to his business: You can get everything in life that you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want. Jim is all about helping others create successful dream businesses. “Passion is something that lights you up and gets you up out of bed earlier–you will work a little harder–that’s what passion does. I don’t live for the weekend. Here, every day feels like a vacation.”

     

    And every day on the water, Stephanie and Jim are grateful to see both the sunrise and sunset. Success means being able to live life on your own terms, Jim says.

    “Success doesn’t have to do with how much money you earn. It’s about living life the way you want to live.  You’re not wanting for anything–you’re content. You can make your own choices. That’s an internal level of success that people are striving for. The ultimate thing is to have time freedom–and live life on your own terms.”

     

    For more on Jim and Stephanie:

    Our Floating Home

    Dream Business Academy

    Jim Palmer, Dream Business Coach

     

  • We Didn’t Know We Were Making Memories

    We Didn’t Know We Were Making Memories

    “No!! Peggy died. Noooo!!”

    The text from my friend Sue jolted me awake. I fought to make sense of the words as I wiped sleep from my eyes.

    Peggy. Gone.

    How could that be? We had chatted through Facebook before I left for South Africa. She had been struggling with her youngest daughter and she wanted some advice. We talked and a few days later, she told me that things were better. I had planned to catch up with her when I arrived home from South Africa.

    And now there would never be another chat again.

    I met Peggy through Sue–the two of them met in college. Through the years we stayed in touch, always waiting for that proverbial “Someday” when the kids were grown and we could have more time together.

    The three of us shared a love for John Denver songs. Despite being deaf, we were able to enjoy his music. One year, I made a CD of my favorite John Denver songs for Peggy and I introduced her to songs she hadn’t heard him sing before.

    Last year, we got together to attend a small-town production of John Denver’s music. It was just two days after my mom died. I needed that time away to handle my sorrow. What better way to spend the day than with music and friends.

    After the last song ended, we took a walk in the woods, soaking up the beauty around us. We paused on a bridge, grabbing a snapshot.

    “We didn’t know we were making memories, we were just having fun.”  ~Unknown

    Peggy took us to the river. We talked about motherhood, life challenges, and our “Someday” plans.  As we gazed at the water, an eagle flew by. John Denver loved eagles and immediately, the song “The Eagle and the Hawk” flowed through my mind. I felt my mother’s spirit at that river. I ached for her.

    And now I ache for Peggy.

    It’s so hard to believe she is gone. 

    Here are the words to her favorite John Denver song, The Wings That Fly Us Home:

     

    “I know that love is seeing all the infinite in one.

    In the brotherhood of creatures, through the Father, through the Son.

    The vision of your goodness will sustain me through the cold.

    Take my hand now to remember when you find yourself alone: you are never alone.

    And the spirit fills the darkness of the heavens.

    It fills the endless yearning of the soul.

    It lives within a star too far to dream of.

    It lives within each part and is the whole.”

    ~The Wings That Fly Us Home, John Denver (Peggy’s favorite song)

    Update:

    As the details surrounding Peggy’s death unfolded, the truth was unbearable: her daughter murdered her. When Peggy arrived home from work, her daughter slipped a towel over her head and shot her with a single bullet to the head. Two days later, her daughter and a friend set the house on fire. Both girls are being tried as adults. 

  • Passionate People: Dan and Joanne Miller

    Do you dread Mondays? Are you dragging yourself out of bed to go to work?


    You’re not alone. Dan Miller from 48days.com shared a startling statistic: 84% of American Workers say they would like to change jobs in the coming year.

    Either we have a lot of upwardly mobile people or there’s just a lot of people unhappy or dissatisfied with their jobs.

    That was me a couple of years ago.

    I was fortunate. I met Dan Miller and his wife, Joanne in 2011. At the time, I was deep into reading two of Dan’s books, No More Dreaded Mondays and 48 Days to the Work You Love.  I had a job I loved, but I was losing my passion for it day by day.  I was deep into Dan’s books while on a train heading to a speaking gig. I came across this paragraph:

    As Frederick Buechner said, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” Ask yourself: What is the world hungering for right now? How can I use my unique skills and talents to satisfy that hunger? Don’t rest until you find that answer.

    I started filling up spiral bound notebooks with ideas, thoughts, desires, and more. By the end of the train ride back home, I wrote my first book, and have continued to use that paragraph above to bring clarity to my daily life.

    dan miller quote

    I took Dan’s Coaching with Excellence Workshop (highly recommended if you want to add coaching to your services or become a coach or his Innovate workshop if you are a creative) and it was there that I met Dan and Joanne for the first time.

    the millers with karen putz

    Dan is known for his 48 Days podcast, community, and coaching services. He specializes in helping people discover and understand their natural skills and abilities and turn those into profit. His newsletter goes out to over 130,000 people and his podcast is among the top five for careers.

    When it comes to living with passion, Dan and Joanne are a beautiful example of what it means to enjoy life and live it fully. They have instilled those lessons in their children and grandchildren.

    Joanne’s passion is art, and she did not unwrap that passion until long after she was done raising her children. Today, she hosts a weekly art class at The Sanctuary near Nashville and she’s the author of several books, including Creating a Haven of Peace When You’re Feeling Down, Finances are Flat, and Tempers are Rising. She inspires other women in midlife to learn new things and dig in deep to discover their own gifts.

    karen and dan miller

    I always recommend Dan’s events–I am still connected with people that I met at my first event there. Each event is limited to no more than 50 people, so it’s a wonderful chance to get to know others and build relationships. Plus, you get to learn from just about the whole Miller family as well! Check out Dan’s resources and events here:

    48 Days

    Find out what Dan Miller has to say about passion in my upcoming book, Unwrapping Your Passion.

     

  • 20 Things I Wish I Knew When I Became a Parent

    I’m nearing the end of my parenting journey with my last kid about to graduate from high school. The husband and I are shifting gears and learning what it means to be parents of adult children.

    Once a parent, always a parent, but we’ve definitely moved into a whole new season of parenthood.

    The other day I was looking through baby albums and wondering how it was possible that the years flew by so quickly. My mother-in-law warned me of this concept when the kids were toddlers. “The time will fly by when the kids get older and before you know it, they’ll be grown and gone.”

    She was right.

    I blinked.

    And poof, the kids became adults.

    The other day, I was thinking back on the mistakes, the fumbles, the inexperience–and all the things I wish I knew when I first became a parent. So I sat down to write all the things I know now–and wish I knew at the beginning of the parenting journey.

    Here goes–20 things I wish I knew when I became a parent:

    You’re wiser than you realize. You are perfectly capable of making decisions that are right for you and your family.

    You’re gonna mess up. It’s okay. Sometimes you have to go down the wrong path to discover what the right path is for your family.

    Let go of perfection. Aim for perfectly imperfect instead.

    Don’t lose your passion–ditch the time-suckers and go play.

    Take time for YOU.

    Parenthood is a season. Like all seasons, it ebbs and flows. Enjoy the season you’re in.
    Parenthood is not a race. Comparison robs your kid of their own journey.

    Don’t follow the crowd–just because everyone is doing something doesn’t mean it’s right for your child.

    When you’re stuck in a rut, do something new. Take action.

    Pick your battles carefully. Will this matter ten minutes, ten months, or ten years from now?

    You’re a lot tougher than you think. You can bounce back from anything.

    Laugh. Laugh some more. Laugh even more.

    Responsibilities and independence are gifts. Give them wisely.

    Let yourself feel. Kids need to know that parents are beautifully human.

    The laundry never ends. As soon as they can load the washer, teach them to do laundry. Ditto the dishwasher.

    Take pictures and videos, but make sure you put the camera down to experience the moments, too.

    During the tough times, look for the gift in the experience. Sometimes you won’t find it until enough time has passed by.

    Learn all you can about what you need to know–lean on people who have wisdom to share.

    Listen within. Meditate. Pray. Ask. The answers will come.

    When in doubt, love. Love your kid.

    Every child is freaking unique. Honor that.

     

    Want a dose of passion? Yes, I do! 

  • The One Question to Guide You

    There’s one simple question that will provide the answers you need to many of life’s questions: 

    “How do you want to live?”

    We only have a short amount of time on the planet, yet we gamble through each day like we’re going to be around forever. 

    Create a whole new way to live by honoring your answers. 

    Do you dread the years ahead of you because you fear growing older? Let this “Old Lady” show you a whole new way to live:

    Outside the Wake

  • Embrace Your Weirdness

    Lori Moreno of Ambassadors VIP posted a question:

    If you could go back and tell your young self something, what would it be?


    I was pondering this question during a 3:45 a.m. ride to the airport.

    My response was simple: Stand out. Embrace your weirdness. Share your gifts.

    Stand Out

    I grew up hard of hearing. Every single day I struggled in school to appear as “normal” as possible. As the only kid with a hearing aid, I measured myself against people with normal hearing and I couldn’t do the things that they could do (group conversations, music, talk in the dark) with ease. 

    As a result, I always felt “less than.”

    It wasn’t until I became deaf that I learned to step comfortably into my authentic self. I was no longer afraid to show my hearing aids (yes, I added a second one.) 

    In fact, they’re now beautiful pieces of art,


    Yeah, I wish my younger self knew that place of authenticity that says, “This is who I am.”

    There’s a line in the movie, What a Girl Wants, that says:

    “Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out?”

    The worse thing you can do is blend in with everyone else. When you do that, you squelch your own passion. You diminish your unique touch in the world.

    The world doesn’t need carbon copies. The world needs you. 

    Embrace Your Weirdness

    We all have habits, quirks, and unusual stuff that we are passionate about. In a world of mass conformity, this might seem…weird. 

    What if, instead of trying to stuff your square (or hexagon) self into a round hole, what if you embraced your weirdness instead? 

    When you conform to other people’s expectations or judgments of you, you’re swinging like an untethered sail in the wind. What’s more, a sailboat moves forward against the wind. So tether your weirdness and move forward. 

    My ultimate favorite shoes are Vibram Five Fingers. I wear them everyday. One morning I showed up at a breakfast meeting with a friend who is a business coach. The shoes clearly made her uncomfortable. 

    “Never wear those in public with me again,” she said. 

    At first, I felt ashamed. I silently berated myself for not appearing more businesslike in public. 

    Fortunately for me, the feeling didn’t last long. Those weird shoes have climbed to a peak in Colorado, perched the edge of a cliff in Nebraska, walked through a waterfall in Oregon, water skied on the Fox River, and endured a triathlon in Naperville. 

    Weird has brought me a wonderful life. 

    Share Your Gifts

    I wish my younger self would have recognized the unique talents, skills, and abilities within me. I would have tapped into them right away instead of putting them off for years. 

    You are as unique as your fingerprint. That means there’s no one in the whole wide world who can be you. 

    So stop hiding your talent. Don’t let fear cloud your growth. If you’ve become dull and stagnant from repetitive routine–shake things up. Dust off your creativity. Approach life with a whole new wonder and a beginner’s mind. Do the stuff that your younger self is screaming for. 

    Become a kid again