Nurses....The HEART of Health care!
Thank YOU...Thank YOU to all the nurses who tirelessly work long hours to make us better and brighten our most difficult days. I look back over the past years and am reminded that almost weekly I have been blessed by the smile of a nurse, a compassionate hand of a nurse, or empathetic eyes of a nurse that said; "if I could take your pain away, I would." Since I was young, I had always thought I would be a nurse, but realized that needles, blood and vomit made me so queasy that I almost passed out. I tried to get beyond it, but never seemed to have much luck. I realized later that God had blessed me with other gifts as an inspirational and humorous keynote speaker and have tried to use my gifts to make all of you nurses laugh from your toes to your soul and to inspire and encourage you to keep making a difference. Some of my best days over the past year have been in your presence at nursing events across the country where I have heard your stories from the heart that will stay with me forever. This week I reflect back on the thousands of nurses who have touched my life and thank you for the amazing work you do for others. You are the HEART of Health care! R

In the sea of darkness…I Heard
1:40am
It is spring and the windows are open a crack for the mere comfort of sleeping with a cool breeze. And as the cool breeze floats in, I am tucked in under a mound of old quilts and doze off to faint wind and smells of fresh rain. Within the hour, I wake up and through eyes that could not adjust to the darkness in the night sky, my ears become my sight. I hear them calling to one another. Softly at first as if a love song voiced throughout a choir from altos to sopranos. Within minutes, the hooting becomes fiercely louder. It is familiar and instantly recognizable. The sounds are an ushering in of spring as if cymbals were clanging. I do not see them in the dark night sky, but I hear them. The loons on the lake have returned to their summer retreat where they are seldom seen by day, but through the darkness of night, their wails in rhythmic fashion calm me and a smile purses my lips. I listen, curl up, pull the quilts snuggly around my face, shut my eyes and drift off to the sounds of the night sky.

The Firsts of the Lasts

This past weekend began the First of the Lasts. It was the winter musical production of Lumberjacks and Wedding Bells where my son took center stage. As he danced with his theatrical bride across the stage and they sang together, I could feel a bubble in my belly moving its way up inside my throat. In attempt to squelch it, I let out a gasp and squinted my eyes tightly as if the water from my eyes would miraculously push the bubble back down. All in all, I think the technique worked for the most part, but somehow the bubble nicked this mom's heart on the way down. As the final curtain closed that evening, I felt somewhat like I do when playing Pictionary. At the beginning, sand seems to move slowly sifting through the hour glass timer and as it reaches the end of the minute, the upper glass tube appears to shove sand rapidly through the narrowing into the bottom portion of the glass. The game becomes somehow more intense. Performances, musical ensembles, solo contests, piano recitals, year book deadlines and endless friends coming and going. A frazzling and precious time. Just for today I will lay the hour glass horizontally and enjoy the balance.

Retreat for ONE!

August 20, 2009

As I write this blog, I am gazing out the window of my childhood cabin in Northwest Minnesota. It is here that I make my annual pilgrimage on a retreat for one. Equipped with laptop, a clothes basket full of work supplies, files, half written articles and notes on speaking material for the upcoming year, in addition to one grocery bag of food and a duffle bag full of comfortable clothing, I leave my family and head out.

When I arrive, I create a road map of where this journey will commence at the end of my five days. I become laser-like focused and dig deep into the piles immersing myself brainstorming, writing and editing. Nothing is off limits when I am brainstorming. Editing and tweaking are done in the review process. Additionally, I continue to advance writing for multiple book projects. I have a reward system built in and as tasks are completed, I treat myself to a kayak adventure or take a walk in the woods. Rejuvenated, I return to my work where the cycle repeats itself. Five days later, I leave with an updated business plan, new material for speaking engagements, multiple ideas for clients and an outline of radio shows for the upcoming months.

Upon returning to my office, I am refreshed and excited about all of the tremendous opportunities and have a clearer vision and plan allowing me to stay focused through the upcoming speaking season. For those of you as individuals or as organizations that have not taken the opportunity to step back and reflect on your business and personal lives, I would highly suggest an annual retreat. It is valuable time to look at historical data, determine where you are today and more importantly, re-tool for the upcoming changes in economy and where you want to be in the next year.

If you have questions about how to set up a retreat for one or if your organization needs assistance with facilitating the process, please email me at renee@reneerongen.com or to read a more detail account of my retreat experience, please read my August newsletter "My Cup Runneth Over".

"Hot" after all these years

August 3, 2009

It is the morning after the weekend of my 30th class reunion. Wow! If I ever had a self esteem problem, which I don’t think I have, it certainly would have been rectified over the weekend. Graduating from a small school in Northwestern Minnesota, I knew everyone in my class and was one of those that floated from group to group and was friends with most. Those friends from my childhood have rooted me, believed in me and so many times been my source of inspiration for writing and speaking. It is no surprise that they have kept me grounded and true to myself.

The endearing phrase of the weekend was “have I told you in the last hour how HOT you are?” Men and women approaching middle age were telling one another how hot one another were. It wasn’t meant as a sexual innuendo, but a term of endearment. I have never been told so many times by so many people how loved I was. It is the kind of love that says, I know all of you; your hopes, dreams, fears and I share in your joy, laughter and triumphs. There was no need for pretending that life was something greater or less than what it is because these friends have traveled my journey and they really know me. In 30 years, I can honestly say, I have never felt so complete and safe in my own skin. It was surreal as if the weekend had been pulled right off a movie screen. It was a “Big Chill” type of weekend.

I have a lighter step this morning and a perpetual smile on my face as I picture us all dancing to “Grease Lightning" and laughing out loud when we would throw someone in the middle and dance around them. My knees are not reflecting the smile on my face, but it really is a small price to pay for so much fun and nostalgia. Pulling the vacuum in tow and dusting this morning, I have no one running up to me and hugging me tightly, but in my heart, I know I’m still HOT!

Birthday Blast Web Launch!

Sound the trumpets, clang the cymbals and blow the horns! Yes, it is my forty something birthday, but more importantly, Renee Rongen & Associates is finally launching the new and hopefully improved website. If you have not had a chance to purchase that extra something special for my big day, You have an out! As a gift to me, peruse through my website and give me your feedback. Now, remember it is my birthday, so the hard criticism will have to wait until tomorrow!

As most of my newsletter subscribers, radio show listeners and audiences across the country know, intricate details are not my favorite. I would rather gnaw off my left leg! My assistant Shannon will testify to the aforementioned declaration. Perhaps working with Shannon and the web designers on this project were meant to remind me how blessed I am to be surrounded with such talented people. They along with the staff at Renee Rongen & Associates do such fabulous work allowing me to do what I am passionate about; keynote speaking and providing tools and resources to others allowing them become architects of their own lives.

Thousands that have been in my audiences across the globe have asked the same question over and over, “can we get a little dose of you each day or at least each week?” The introduction of my blog and ongoing ramblings will provide a great format for staying in closer contact with those that I have been privileged to meet along my journey. If you are a meeting planner or have an event coming up that you feel my powerful and poignant message coupled with some terrific belly laughs would be appropriate for, please contact my office at 218-574-2655 or email me at renee@reneerongen.com.

I will be leaving my office shortly to close out my birthday celebration with my two daughters as we head out on the pontoon for the remainder of the day. We have books in hand, a large pitcher of kool-aid, beef jerky, fresh strawberries and old frayed beach towels wrapped around waists. My website will be launching into cyberspace within moments and as it does, I will be listening to little girl giggles as they sing the Happy Birthday song and serve me kool-aid from the finest plastic red birthday cups that you ever did see. Together we will drift away the afternoon by girl gabbing and watching the loons and trumpeter swans bobbing to the waves of the water.

Renee Rongen is a wife, mom, international inspirational and humorist keynote speaker, author, talk radio personality and spokesperson for the Pay it Forward Foundation. You can order Renee’s books and signature products at www.reneerongen.com.