Totally Toni - national speaker at dynamic educational events,training programs and tradeshows,providing tools,forms,information and publications that support the multifamily industry;creator of New Home Essence apartment aromatherapy

I Feel the LOVE!
By National Speaker and Author Toni Blake

In my seminars I often use the phrase - " I feel the love"! As I spend the day telling stories and sharing moments with my audience I can often "feel" the emotions rise and fall in the room. As we buckle our seat belts and embark on an education journey, I love to watch the faces of people who start the day lifeless and tired and end the day - animated and full of emotion. When I say - " I feel the love" I mean mostly that I "feel"! Remember the song "Feelings" - the American DJ's played the ballad over and over until it lost all meaning. People got sick of " Feelings - nothing more than feelings. - trying to forget my ------- feelings of love" . Basically, people were just trying to forget the song. You probably now have it playing in your head - the melody playing along once again to the lyrics. Sorry!

I have been amazed at how people "love" my little saying and how well it works to express so many important thoughts. I believe today people guard their feelings - they build walls - they have "no trespassing signs" on their heart and they don't let people in. If you look into people's eyes you can often see emotionless zombies - it is the Night & Day of the Living Dead! There are people who won't make eye contact - some sit next to me on a plane and never speak - they exist in small spaces like an elevator - awkward - standing inches away from other people without ever "feeling" their presents. The " guard your heart" attitude of this day and time may keep you from getting hurt occasionally- but it also might keep you from "feeling" much more often. I believe people like my seminars because I try and get them to "feel" again. Feel the love - feel the people - feel the environment - WAKE UP and feel the roses! We need to get back in touch with our feelings. Our ability to connect - empathize - to be or not to be . . .contentious of other people. It is this connection that can bring us both the pain and the "love" , however it is this connection that makes us ALIVE! If you are not careful - you and your staff can begin to remember people by their unit number and not their name. "There goes 213" or "Hide - it's 104"!! You know the resident. There are some that - the minute you see them and they see you - you know that the next 30 minutes of your life is over!!! Holding back our emotions can cost us in the "quality of life" & "quality of service" we provide for our residents. It is when we let our "love light" shines that we are our most successful. When we focus our energy and emotions on the job we do for people and the words we say to people they can "feel the love". You need to let your "love light shine"! Oh no - here goes another song - you know it so sing along - "Let - the sunshine - Let - the sunshine - Let - the sun… shine in"!

I love the ole saying - " Lord, let me live until I die". There are so many people in our life's that we need to be connected with, let our "love light shine" on. The people we work with - the people we live with - even the strangers who wind up inches from us. They even say to protect yourself from someone who would cause you harm - you should stay contentious of your surroundings and the people in it. How connected are you? Do you have conversations with one foot out the door and mentally leave before you physically do? Do you ever go somewhere and find yourself deep in thought and miss an exit or wind up in the wrong place. Yesterday, I went to my hotel room and the key didn't work - frustrated I called the front desk from the house phone to learn I was attempting to get into the room assigned to me at the last my hotel. She politely gave me room number and I was grateful not to have to see her expression as she realized my mistake. Life is busy today - there is so much to do and not enough time to do it in. I believe that if it is worth doing it is worth doing right and how we treat people needs to be a priority. Do you "feel the love"? Do other people "feel the love" from you? Is there someone in your life that you need to tell them how much you appreciate them? Is there someone that you spend time inches away from and don't connect with? Let's not let our high tech world keep us from "feeling the love". I once heard a joke from my Partner and friend Anne Sadovsky. Husband says to his wife " I told you the day I married you I loved you and if changes I'll let you know". Take a moment right now - find your things to do list and make sure that today you recommit yourself to make sure the people in your life "feel the love". Say " I love you" out loud and tell people how you feel. The next time you see me - make sure you tell me - " Toni, I feel the love!"

Toni Blake is a nationally recognized expert in customer service, sales and marketing. She travels to over 60 cities annually speaking to over 30,000 management professionals each year. Toni is known for her innovative concepts and is an industry trendsetter. She has been involved with Multifamily Housing since 1979 and currently resides in Greeley, Colorado. For more information contact her office toll free 866-889-6600 or 1-970-378-6784. www.HappyFaceLady.com