Posts from — January 2009

JenChicago, NBC5 Street Team

Volunteers and supporters of President Obama got all dolled up and gathered at McCormick Place on Tuesday evening, January 20th, to celebrate in inauguration of our 44th president.

Chicago’s Presidential Inaugural Ball! from Jen Knoedl on Vimeo.

JenChicago, NBC5 Street Team

GO Green Management and Maven hosted their business networking event on Wednesday January 21st at Martini Park. Metamorphosis is Go Green’s first event of the year, celebrating change and new life in 2009.

There were many sponsor booths like T-mobile, Green Exchange, MeGoGreen, and Prairie Organic Vodka. The event consisted of networking, a hosted reception, raffle and even a dance performance!

Metamorphosis Event from Jen Knoedl on Vimeo.

Reviewing Chapter 7: Heaven on Earth
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

Imagine living your life without fear of expressing your dreams. You know what you want, what you don’t want, and when you want it. You are free to change your life the way you really want to. You are not afraid to ask for what you need, to say yes or no to anything or anyone.

From the big things like marrying someone for the wrong reasons, to the little things like going to a party you don’t want to go to because you fear disapproval if you say “no”.

You can be loving all the time. This is your choice. You may not have a reason to love, but you can love, because to love makes you so happy. Love in action only produces happiness. Love will give you inner peace. It will change your perception of everything.

Happiness is a choice, and so is suffering.

It’s a choice. Period. That’s a burn.

Reviewing Chapter 6 of the Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

We were free when we were children and didn’t care what anyone thought of us.  We just wanted to have fun.

The real you is still a little child who never grew up.  Sometimes that little child comes out when you are having fun or playing, when you feel happy… or expressing yourself in some way.  These are the happiest moments of your life - when the real you comes out, when you don’t care about the past and you don’t worry about the future.  You are childlike.

The first step is always awareness.

We need to be aware that we are not free in order to be free.

We have the power to believe anything.

You can choose to believe in anything, and that includes believeing in yourself.

Replace your sad face with a happy face.  Happy agreements rock.

For every agreement you break that makes you suffer, you will need to replace it with a new agreement that makes you happy.

Forgiveness is the magic pill.

We must forgive those we feel have wronged us, not because they deserve to be forgiven but because we love ourselves so much we don’t want to keep paying for the injustice.

And, as always, you’re gonna need a little “eye of the tiger”

The warrior has awareness.  That’s very important.  We are aware that we are at war, and the war in our minds requires discipline.  Not the discipline of a soldier, but the discipline of a warrior.  Not the discipline from the outside to tell us what to do, but the discipline to be ourselves, no matter what.

Oh snap!  I love it!

What do you think?  How are you a warrior in your life?

From the Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.

Doing your best, you are going to live your life intensely. You are going to be productive, you are going to be good to yourself, because you will be giving yourself to your family, to your community, to everything.

There is no way. If you are impeccable with your word, if you don’t take anything personally, if you don’t make assumptions, if you always do your best, then you are going to have a beautiful life. You are going to control your life one hundred percent.

Tell Me Something Good, guest: Michelle Molina

Don’t Make Assumptions: Fourth Chapter notes of The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

When we make an assumption, we misunderstand, we take it personally and we end up creating a whole big drama for nothing.

We make all sort of assumptions because we don’t have the courage to ask questions.

Also, find your voice to ask for what you want. Everybody has the right to tell you no or yes, but you always have the right to ask. Likewise, everybody has the right to ask you, and you have the right to say yes or no

Who do you call for a good time? How about Martini Park and Tommy Tutone as they gear up for a special live performance! Thursday, many Chicagoans braved the sub-zero temperatures to sing along to one of their favorite 80’s tunes.

Tommy Tutone spoke with me at Martini Park about never going out of style, what it feels like to be such a huge part of pop culture and and what he is up to these days.

Tommy Tutone at Martini Park! Call 867-5309! from Jen Knoedl on Vimeo.

Video by Ben Mahoney Productions.

From The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

Personal importance, or taking things personally, is the maximum expression of selfishness, because we make the assumption that everything is about “me”… All people live in their own dream, in their own mind; they are in a completely different world that the one we live in.

If someone is not treating you with love and respect, it is a gift if they walk away from you. If that person does not walk away from you, you will surely endure many years of suffering with him or her. Walking away may hurt for a while, but your heart will eventually heal. Then you can choose what you really want. You will find you don’t need to trust others as much as you need to trust yourself to make the right choices.

Write and post somewhere you will see it: Be free. Don’t take anything personally.

Upcoming event: Chicago Inauguration Ball at McCormick Place

A sin is anything that you do that goes against yourself. Everything you feel or believe or say that goes against yourself is a sin. Self rejection is the biggest sin that you can commit.

Use white magic beginning with yourself. Tell yourself how wonderful you are. Tell yourself how much you love yourself. Use the word to break all those teeny, tiny agreements that make you suffer.

JenChicago, NBC5 Street Team
Chicago Inaugural Ball at McCormick Place
Chicago’s celebration for President Obama
Tuesday, January 20 @ 7pm $175

“If you can get to DC, GO!” says the website for Chicago’s Inaugural Ball honoring President Obama. That’s right; once again, Obama’s grassroots campaign members are self-organizing and hosting an authentic ball experience right here in the president’s home town. From dinner to comedy, champagne to dancing, this night promises to be a presidential celebration like only our beloved city can do!

If you haven’t noticed, Chicago is SUPER stoked to see the president take office on Tuesday, so brace yourself for a PAR-TAY! The buzz has been building and one can faintly hear the champagne toasts already! What’s more is that I’ll be there shooting a video of the event, and I will definitely need some dance partners! So come on out and cut a rug for the new president! You’ll have a great story for when you get back to work… on Thursday.

Cash bar. Formal attire.

McCormick Place
2301 S Lakeshore Drive
Chicago, IL 60616
South Loop
312-791-7000
http://www.chicagoinauguralball.com/index.html