I like Mondays.  It’s a fresh, opportunity to start another week where I can start anew and create what I want.  Call me an eternal optimist but I always look forward to the endless possibilities Monday promises.  This morning Ernie and I will attend our regular Monday networking group, called Enlightened Entrepreneurs. 

It’s a growing group of small business owners who come together each week to help and support each other.  We do business with each other – but EE is also about learning and connecting in a uplifted way that provides a great way to start our week.

This weekend was filled with activities that made me feel like a part of the community I live in rather than my online community.  Different from sitting in my office chair and facebooking for the weekend.

 On Saturday I went to the Warrior Dash as you see from my post yesterday.  Afterward, I took my friend Val to lunch at the Lake Las Vegas Westin (yes, the mud was gone by then).

Yesterday I had a meeting with a client at Barnes & Noble.  She has been with me for well over a year now and the amazing strides her business has made during that time is nothing short of remarkable.  She’s always upbeat and positive and looks forward to our meetings. 

One of the things I told her is that she needs to be a follow-up warrior with her business.  She can be a force of nature when she wants to be – but other times she lets things fall through the cracks.  We all do that at times as small business owners and closing those gaps by following up and can make a huge difference.

I attended my husband Ernie Martin’s Spiritual Circles of the Vegas Valley discussion held at “The Spirit Within U” owned by the lovely Karen Campbell.  For years Ernie’s passion has been to lead a group in spiritual conversations.  No rights or wrongs here – it’s all about what your experience is and what matters to you. 

We had a wonderful conversation for about 90 minutes exploring the question, “Is prayer/meditation effective for you?”  (The picture on the right is from a wedding we attended a couple months ago in San Francisco.)

In the evening I attended a candlelight vigil for a young woman, Anne-Monique Lippitt (pictured left with her mom) who was in a near-fatal car accident a little over a week ago and has been in a medically-induced coma since at University Medical Center.  Annie, age 20, is a college student working two part-time jobs.  She has a ready smile for every one and is all about bringing people together.  She graduated from Spring Valley High School in 2010 where she was president of the student body all four years.  If you’d like to support her and her family click here now.

As I was driving home from the candlelight vigil with my friend, Stacey Hall, I felt like I really was a part of my community this weekend.  I contributed in the best ways I know how to support others and connect in meaningful ways.