Ageless Passions by Karen Putz

Category: Uncategorized

  • Creating Your Passion Path

    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.

  • Canyon Ranch: A Retreat for the Soul

    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.

  • You Don’t Have to FIND Your Passion, Unwrap It Instead

    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.

  • 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.

  • 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?

    A yellow sunset over the ocean with the words, The Journey of a Lifetime Begins with this Moment.

    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.

  • Finding Passion in Your Past

    Finding Passion in Your Past

    Just this morning, I came across a interview about passion that I did years ago on Career Tips and Trends: 

    The way I looked at it back then, at that time I was juggling and I was spinning plates as a mom. I think a lot of people can identify with that. You want one plate and you spin it and the other one starts to wobble and you move on to the next plate and spin that one too.


    Sometimes, in the whole process, you lose yourself. You lose your purpose. You lose the “why am I here and what am I doing”. It becomes very overwhelming at that point to try to juggle it all. That’s why I think it’s so important to be doing something that you really are passionate about doing. It makes that juggling and plate spinning that much more easier.
    What happened two years ago, on my 44th birthday I was extremely down, quite overweight, very unhappy, out of shape. I was at a point in my life where I was sort of questioning everything that I was doing. One of the things I did at that point was I was thinking back on my life and what was the happiest time of my life. What was the point in my life before I started to fall out of joy and I was doing something that I really wanted to do?


    Waterskiing was the thing that came to mind. My husband found a link to the station and on the Today Show was a 66 year old woman who was barefoot waterskiing. That video was not captioned, but I didn’t need the captions. All I could see was a 66 year old woman waterskiing on her bare feet on the screen. I started to cry because if a 66 year old woman could do this, then what was my excuse? There was nothing holding me back from pursuing that passion again.

    In my work as a Passion Mentor, one of the exercises I take people through is a “Look Back at Your Past.” 

    It’s really simple, but the activity often brings out some rawness in people. For one thing, when you’re looking back into your past, you will find stories of your life that bring joy as well as hurt or regret. 

    The key is to focus on the joy. 

    And your job today, is to bring joy, passion, and fun back into your life. At any age. Y

    Yes, I really do mean at ANY age.  You may not be able to experience that passion as you did in your younger days, but you can bring it back in a different way.

    For example, if you were the star quarterback in high school but you can’t play football today–you can still dream up ways to enjoy football in a whole new way: 

    • Go on a Passion Quest to see a game in every football stadium.
    • Coach a local junior football team
    • Create an e-book about fun football facts
    • Gather your high school football team together for a reunion
    • Play Fantasy Football

    Passion is a way to LIVE

    Passion is an attitude. It’s a way of living life that taps into your God-given gifts and the beautiful energy you have inside of you. 

    At any given moment in time, you can tap into your gifts and pivot in a new direction. 

    If you want some help in unwrapping your passion, I have a book, Unwrapping Your Passion, Creating the Life You Truly Want AND a new course, Unwrap Your Passion. Both of those products will give you the tools and the direction to create a whole new, passionate life. 

    Begin now. 

    Karen Putz is known as The Passion Mentor. She specializes in helping people unwrap their passion at any age so they can live with joy. She is the author of multiple books and currently on a quest to barefoot water ski in all 50 states. She is a Social Ambassador for Southwest Airlines. Follow her at #southweststorytellers. 

  • Have We Lost Our Common Sense When It Comes to Customer Service?

    Have We Lost Our Common Sense When It Comes to Customer Service?

    I took my mother-in-law food shopping today at one of her favorite stores.  We were chatting as we walked up to the checkout lane. As I unloaded my cart, the cashier, a young man pointed at my mother-in-law and said, “You’ll have to move to another checkout line.”

    Apparently we walked up to the “fifteen items or less” line. I had less than fifteen.

    My mother-in-law had twenty-three items.

    “She’s legally blind,” I explained. “Neither of us saw the sign. I’m here to help her.”

    He shook his head. “There’s people waiting behind you. She will have to move to another checkout line.”

    I stood there with an incredulous look on my face.

    “My items are already on the belt, and you want her to get in another long line, she only has a few items over the limit–I’m here to help her.”

    He insisted she had to move.

    So my mother-in-law moved her cart over to the next lane, which was now twice as long.

    I was furious.

    This is where common sense went completely down the toilet. This young man was so bent on following policy to the letter (fifteen items or less) that he threw customer service right out the window. It took longer for us to move out of the line than it would have for him to run eight more items through the register.

    Before we left, we called over the manager to explain the situation. He recognized my mother-in-law immediately as he had helped her several times before to locate items on the shelves. Of course, he was appalled at the young man’s disregard for customer service and agreed to provide better training.

    My brother-in-law encountered a similar situation of lack of common sense at a different food store. He went in to purchase a few items and at the counter, he noticed some candy bars filled with Bailey’s Irish Cream. He tossed them on the belt.

    “I need to see your driver’s license,” the cashier said.

    Now, my brother-in-law is no young guy–he’s 62 years old with a head peppered with gray hair.

    “My license is in my car and it’s raining out. You can clearly see that I’m over twenty one.”

    The cashier held firm. He had already rang up the candy bars and he wanted a license. The guy behind offered to buy the candy and show his license.

    “It’s illegal for you to buy alcohol for someone else,” was the response.

    You gotta be kidding me. Another situation in which common sense goes out the window. What’s going on these days? Have we become so ingrained with policies that we forget the bottom line of serving the customer?

    I totally get the idea that we need policies and procedures to follow–but companies like Nordstrom, Southwest Airlines (of which I am a social ambassador), and Zappos allow their employees to use their creativity and common sense when it comes to serving their customers. The bottom line for these companies is customer satisfaction. The two food stores I mentioned above are sorely in need of changing the way they serve their customers, especially in situations where common sense is required to make a shopping experience a pleasant one.

    Let’s bring back common sense.

  • Jackie Woodside: Raise Your Money Vibe

    Jackie Woodside: Raise Your Money Vibe

    I first crossed paths with Jackie Woodside when I discovered her book, Calming the Chaos, A Soulful Guide to Managing Your Energy Rather Than Your Time. 

    This was during a time when I was juggling kids, jobs, travel, and my dad battling cancer. I found calm through meditation, and by eliminating stuff off my daily plate. Yet, even today, the ever-overflowing plate is a sign that I need to pick up the book again.

    Instead, I’ve picked up Jackie’s brand new book, The Money Vibe.

    Her book has appeared in my life at just the right time! Joe and I sold our five-bedroom house and downsized to a townhouse near his work. Abundance is the theme this year–both with a content heart and a growing bank account–so The Money Vibe has showed up right on time.

    If you’ve struggled with money, this book is for you. If you want to attract a positive money vibe into your life no matter where you are on your journey, you’ll appreciate what Jackie shares in her book.

    I had the opportunity to sit down with Jackie and talk about her books and her life–it was a fun, casual, unscripted conversation!

    Enjoy:

    For more information about Jackie’s courses and coaching: Jackie Woodside

     

    Karen Putz is known as The Passion Mentor. She specializes in helping people unwrap their passion at any age. She’s the author of Unwrapping Your Passion, Creating the Life You Truly Want

     

    *Posts in this website contain affiliate links, which means I earn a few pennies if you purchase things from the links.

  • Life’s a Gift, Unwrap the Message

    Life’s a Gift, Unwrap the Message

    The email came out of the blue.

    “I wanted to let you know that we are using quotes and messages from your book in our Winter Play on December 21st to fit the theme ‘Life’s a gift, unwrap the message. I know you live out in Chicago, but wanted to share the invitation with you, just in case you were able to attend. If you can’t attend, maybe you could VP with us in the near future just so that the students can put a face to your amazing work. Lastly, we wanted to thank you for the courage it took for you to write this book (Unwrapping Your Passion) and for sharing it with us. We were inspired!”

    The email came from Heather Hapke, a transition teacher at the Rocky Mountain Deaf School. Heather came to a book signing for Unwrapping Your Passion at the Barnes & Noble in Golden, Colorado back in September.  She shared bits and pieces from the book with her students.

    December 21. It was so close to Christmas. It would be crazy to go…

    But…I’m a big believer in synchronicity. I believe things happen for a reason. It’s a lesson I learned from the many mentors I learned from when I wrote Unwrapping Your Passion.  Opportunities show up in our life and when they are meant to be, they fall into place.

    So I reached out to Southwest Airlines and explained the opportunity. Go, they said. We’ll make it happen for you. 

    It was a beautiful morning when we arrived at Midway to board our flight. My oldest son David was flying from Washington D.C. and meeting us out there. At the last minute, the hubby had to stay home–he was recovering from surgery and still not quite steady enough on his feet to attend.

    The Rocky Mountain Deaf School was the brainchild of Cliff Moers, the Director of the Colorado Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. The school began in 1997 with just 11 students. The current school was built in 2014 and today, it is home to nearly 70 students, providing instruction in American Sign Language and English.

    Our first stop was in the high school to meet up with Heather and talk to the students about #Passion. The students eagerly gave us a tour of the building and it was easy to see that they took a lot of pride in their school. Every inch of the space was designed specifically for deaf students, by a deaf architect working with a design firm. For example, the floor in a social area is designed so that students can stomp their feet to get the attention of another student, even from a distance. The classrooms are arranged in a semi-circle so that students can communicate easily. The hallways are wide and open–so that signs can be seen from several areas.

    Rocky Mountain Deaf School is not a residential school–students are bused to and from home each day. All of the staff are fluent in American Sign Language and the majority of staff are deaf.

    The play featured students from preschool to fifth grade. My co-worker from Hands & Voices, Jeannene, introduced me to a young girl who played a Lion. As I watched the student on stage, she confidently advocated to have one of the lights moved as it was blinding her and her classmates during their performance. The ability to advocate for oneself is a coveted skill and this student owned it.

     

    Afterwards, I signed a few books and donated the rest to RMDS to use as a fundraiser. The next day, we took a tour of Flagstaff mountain before heading home to celebrate Christmas.

     

  • Choosing Passion Over Fear

    Choosing Passion Over Fear

    “Are there any alligators in this lake?”

    I was down in Florida, about to take a barefoot water ski lesson from a two-time World Barefoot Champion. The thought of alligators didn’t cross my mind until that moment. I was about to get into a lake that averaged 600 alligators per square mile…

    And I was scared.

    “Alligators don’t come near the boat because the engine scares them away,” my instructor reassured me.

    My passion for the sport of barefoot water skiing was about to outweigh fear. I put my feet on the water, stood up, and felt a joy that had been buried for too many years.

    When you do something you’re passionate about, you are willing to challenge yourself to do more than you ever thought you could do — you step way, way, way out of your comfort zone when you live on the edge.

    I was hooked, but there was just one problem — the more lessons I took, the more the fear escalated. When I floated in the water while waiting for the boat to pick me up, I imagined hungry 13-foot alligators slithering underneath.

    Then the nightmares began.

    At three in the morning, I was jolted awake by the image of an alligator with a wide-open mouth about to snap down on me.

    I contemplated giving up the lessons and skiing in lakes that were alligator free — but that would mean giving up passion over fear.

    “You need to face your fears,” the World Barefoot Champion told me. “You need to see them for the magnificent creatures they are.”

    “Are you crazy! I can’t do that!”

    I shuddered at the very thought.

    All fear stems from the imagined and the unknown. The human mind is very powerful in dreaming up scenarios that feed on fear. Yet, the only way around fear is smack dab through it.

    And here’s the thing: You attract what you fear. How do I know this? Because alligators started showing up in my life left and right.

    A few years later, I started barefooting with Ken Cowles — who is known as The Gator Guy. He’s a state licensed alligator trapping agent. He’s the guy you call when a wayward gator gets stuck in your pool.

    “We need to conquer that fear you harbor,” he told me one day. Then he hauled out a ten-foot gator and made me sit on it.

    I was shaking for a long, long time afterwards.

    The act of getting upfront close to the very thing that I feared most was cathartic. I discovered I had the courage to do the very thing I was extremely frightened of.

    There’s a part of you that comes alive when you do something that you think you cannot do and you get to the other side of it.

    If you’re holding back in life because of fears that you harbor within you, it’s time to get clear on what you WANT in your life, not what you fear.

    Choose passion over fear.

     

    Karen Putz is known as The Passion Mentor. For a daily dose of passion, follow her on Instagram at The Passion Academy.  To unwrap your own passion, grab the book, Unwrapping Your Passion.