Not everybody that crosses your path in life is deserving of your energy. I needed to hear that.

Love #10. We are individuals sharing a planet. Each one of us has our own definition of success. This definition will change during your lifetime. Tweak here, tweak there, major overhaul. Try to be kind to yourself. Take note of what's important to you. With each major event, my perspective in life dramatically changed. It's how you respond to these events that will alter your path. You decide what's best for you with the resources you currently have. You can't change the past. You can change how you let the past affects you.

Discovering your content this year has been such a joy. Every one of these lessons learned resonated with me in a different way, so thank you for both making us laugh and sharing your wisdom. Oh and Toodaloo is like my default signoff for all situations now 😅

#1 conflicting emotions can coexist. (being excited/terrified) #2 the first offer can always be negotiated. so might as well ask, whether it’s in professional or personal life. #3 if you don’t like something, change it. stop talking about it and being wishy washy. if you want to change something, just do it. be your own hero! #4 you need to take care of yourself in every season of life - whether you’re doing well or not, you need to take care of yourself the same and show up for yourself and make time and space for yourself. don’t let that me time slip. #5 stretch more!!!!! #6 your energy and your presence are valuable, notice who sucks your energy vs. who helps you reenergize. not everyone is deserving of your energy and time, don’t just give it away to everyone. treat your time more valuable than money and take note of how you’re spending it and who you are spending it with. “who do i want to spend my energy/time with?” #7 get it in writing. send an email! get the details down. don’t play the memory game. #8 there’s a big difference between existing and living. feeling like going through motions/routines like the same day is on repeat, then feeling some alive some days - notice how many days you spend existing vs. living. #9 distance creates intention. distance makes you become more intentional with setting aside time to connect with those who aren’t in close proximity to you. #10 you define your own version of success. not everyone will understand or agree with it, but what success means to you doesn’t have to be the same definition others hold for it too. the outside world loves to judge, and it’s an important thing to know that their measure of success could be different. thank you for this video Laura!!! i loved it! happy new year!

An extremely helpful video. Thank you and Happy Holidays to you, yours, and Donna Sue and everyone on Project Poodles! And I love the lamp. 10 hit hard. So true.

Apparently my great-grandmother used to say, “if you don’t ask, you don’t get”. She also used to say of people who were being unreasonable, “let them go scratch their mad spot”. I don’t quite get it but it’s hilarious. Thank you for sharing your 2023 thoughts. They’re all very wise.

Finding Awe. Being able to be "blown away," and staying curious about the world. Hiking has taught me that getting out of my comfort zone and having a spirit of adventure pays dividends. It's lead to some incredible moments this year that just left me speechless. I've been places, seen things and shared time with nature that STILL gives me goosebumps. Nature just filled my soul consistently in 2023.

Having discovered your shorts and channel this year, have learned a few things to help me deal better with both remote work and being in an office environment. Looking forward to your videos and shorts in the coming year(s I hope). Hope your father will be showing up again, his presence was a lot of fun!

I love how you're so assertive! It blows my mind how so many of this younger generation think that you're being passive-aggressive when you're really being assertive, which is how we're supposed to communicate. Great tips, btw. Toodle-loo!

Thank you, work bestie! Your shorts have helped me say “NO” professionally or to ask about re-prioritising things in my work queue whenever I am faced with a new task that is urgent too but can not be done on time with other things I am already working on. I have always struggled with saying No and suffered in silence, accommodating all the things I was asked to do by burning myself out and never getting credit for it too as I did it as if it was no trouble 🙆🏻‍♀️ And on the limited occasions when I tried saying No, it sounded like I was cribbing or complaining as I didn’t know how to put it professionally so I ended up doing that extra work at my personal time still looking like someone who didn’t cooperate at first! I just can’t thank you enough for lightening my workload and more importantly feeling amazing that I could speak up for myself 🥰🥰🥰 I have a good feeling about 2024 too! Happy Holidays and wish you an amazing New Year 🎊🎊🎊

Such useful wisdom…very good! Life is self aware energy! This underlying principle runs through so much of what you relate! Keep growing you’re doing great! Keep sharing it’s really encouraging.

Best wishes for 2024, Laura. Thank you for sharing your hopes for the coming year, I hope to stop procrastinating, and actually achieve my goals, as well as stop being too hard on myself.

Thank you, I find myself wanting to share this with work team. I'm a Hospice nurse and while I don't have all of these figured out. I'm loving the attempt.....HAPPY NEW YEAR !!

👍Dr. John Delony says "both and" The reality is one thing AND the way you feel is Also true Conflicting emotions are as ancient as "parting is such sweet sorrow"

toodaloo! your work shorts give me life, and mojo- thanks for the big sis advice,

"Be your own hero." That is such great advice.

Happy and Healthy New Year to all work besties out there!

I love your thoughts on being mindful of who and what you give energy and time to. Thanks for the reminder

Great information. What I learned in 2023 that moving away from Dallas, Texas out to the country was the best thing we ever did. My company was aware of me moving and working from home. But now the company it talking about bringing everyone back to the office. I knew this would happen when making this moved and I am okay not going back. I planned for it. New year, I will continue working on my little farm home and taking care of myself. Thank you for sharing.

Ty for this video and for sharing what you've learned!! ❤❤❤ I've saved it to listen to thru this and next few months and whenever I need a reminder.

You are very wise. I’ll be 52 this year and am still discovering some of these lessons. ❤

Stretching yes do it don't moan about it! Very useful self care tip, particularly the over 30s. Thanks for the reminder 😊

This was awesome and beautiful and just what I needed to hear this morning. Thank you so much! 🌈✨❤️

Everything is negotiable is definitely true, especially in contracts. I always ask for more than I want (hourly rate, payment terms, etc.). I can then negotiate by giving up some things for getting other things. I think the winner in the negotiation battle usually is the party with the most leverage. If they need you to start right away, or you are one of a few providers available for the service they need, you have the leverage. If you need the work badly, don't let them know, it gives them the leverage. Everything needs to be in writing. Read the contract before signing it. And lastly, don't ever under-value your worth. After the contract is signed and you do the work, if for some reason payment doesn't arrive (usually due to the accounting dept), notify the employer that you will not be putting in any more hours on the project until you get paid. Be prepared to walk and mean it. Never give away your work for free. Charge for all billable hours. Once you give an employer free work they will expect it. Also don't lower your rate if you do not have to. Again, employers will begin to expect lower and lower rates for the same work.

Take it from someone who already had advanced degenerative disease of the neck and back BEFORE taking my first remote job - yes you DO need to stretch and move your body, as much as possible. I have really great mobility despite having stenosis and AS (my ortho was SHOCKED when I walked into our 1st appointment - she thought I would have a cane at minimum). I refuse pain meds because addiction runs in my family, and I will at some point require surgery, as I am actually completely missing 2 discs at the bottom of my back and those vertebra have fused 'bamboo spine', but I want to avoid that as long as possible. So my only option is constant stretching and movement. I personaly think all remote workers should be doing yoga and pilates at a minimum. You can do it right there next to your desk. Happy New YEar all!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Work Bestie. Many of the things you learned in 2023 certainly resonate with me. Especially the one about the distinct difference between existing and living your life. Toodaloo

I needed to hear "stretch more" - thank you for that reminder this morning!

Thank you for these videos. You have no idea how valuable they have been and to what extent they set a high standard when it comes to drawing boundaries, respecting and valuing yourself in the workplace. I work in corporate and it´s so easy to get sucked in and deprioritise my own needs. Your videos help me steer clear or that, and I hope this can become the new normal not just for me, but for everyone working these days.

Very sweet and helpful advice. Nice lamp!

Good 10 things! Sometimes the first offer is the only offer and the details will state it, such as in some government jobs. Change is so hard, start writing and planning. I will be starting my planning in March. At age 46, stretching in the AM and PM is a must. Facts and f life, aging is a privilege.

Looking forward to seeing the Toodaloo Cup in 2024.

Thank you, these are valuable messages that I needed to hear. May your New Year bring lots of deep belly laughs, adventures that make lasting memories, and more videos with your dad.

Have very much enjoyed your videos and shorts and have great admiration for your quickness on your feet. That is a gift we all wish we had but very few actually have. You offer some great lessons. I think some of my lessons have been different from yours but maybe just a different version? I see God in all things better this year and realize that everyone has come into my life for a reason. Sometimes I have no idea why, but it becomes apparent over time. I know God has ordered all things. I am being reinforced in the belief that every person or experience comes to me either to help me grow in some virtue or because they need my help or I need theirs. I have learned some people only want to fight or have their own way and distance from them is best. I have learned that we really haven't changed since the times of Noah and "men's hearts must change" if we wish to live in peace and love. I have learned not to be scandalized by what we are capable of and how authority can be abused. I have learned that if we actually just look around us we are surrounded by beauty on all sides, so it is my job to keep out the noise and live in the moment. I have also learned that others want to impose their idea of success on us and they aren't acting from love in almost every case. I have learned to say thank you to God so many times a day for so many reasons some people might think are foolish. I can never say it enough. God bless your journey and your new year!!!

Oh, the write everything down....I still occassionally tell myself to make a mental note to stop making mental notes!

I love your mug with UNT printed on it. I have no idea what's so offensive about it but I learned I'm not allowed to use the one I got in the office.

Number 10 really resonated with ma, thank you! Great insight and appreciate you sharing!

You are glistening.....Happy festive season

I love all of your short video clips that I've seen so far... I don't understand why people insist on personalizing "the universe" (I think of it as the Place where we all live...and places don't make decisions for anyone....) or why people would want to drink coffee at night ( unless you're driving long haul cross country and you have several hours to make up...) in fact, I really don't Get coffee culture at all... However, like I said I Love those Short videos you make. They're no only hilarious, but insightful. You're a very Smart, Intelligent and Creative person. I'm glad you're on this planet at the same as me. Happy New Year, Loe Whaley. May God bless you and yours. Peace.

I have learnt a lot from your videos however I need to learn how to manage employees professionally

Great learnings for 2023, thank you for sharing!

These are great. Thanks for sharing!

So so helpful, thank you for sharing!

Hoping you and your family have a wonderful new year and much happiness

Thanks for the videos, one problem I am salry, the only boundaries that I put in place is I work on Saturdays then I get a day off during the week. P.S. you look great in the shirt black wig on your shorts. I like them there nice and to the point. Todaloo

Ahhh number 8 hits home real hard..

Thank you, # 10, is great!!

Thanks. Happy New Year 🎉

All the mugs on your website are sold out. Will there be more avail soon?

You are glowing!

Be your own hero...❤

love this

Ugh I love you

Anyone ever tell you that you look like Lauren Daigle? Just something I noticed. Love your videos.

I write or type EVERYTHING I need to do or remember

Excellent video 📹 👏

don't drink from that 😄

💯.

What are your thoughts on nepotism?

❤🎉💯🫶

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