Sans Souci

Record low temperatures require the right outerwear.  I’ve acquired an ever-so-stylish green coat from a re-sale shop. It is essentially a walking sleeping bag.  The investment was $35 but the warmth is priceless.  What I’ve gained in reasonably priced parka, I’ve lost in style.  But here is the thing, I don’t give one care. 

I had been told that with age, what others think doesn’t matter.  This coat represents my evolution into that frame of mind.  When thinking about this concept, the fun French term Sans Souci (carefree) comes to mind. 

So now I ‘haiku’

Green coat is ugly

Sans souci is my new style

Warm is the new black

Celebrating Self

Today I ran a workshop on Self Esteem that I had a great time creating.  I had even more fun facilitating it.  I was in my element from start to finish (minus the moments of self-doubt and avoidance and perfectionism – and back around).

So, taking from a lesson from the class,  I am celebrating my strengths using I AM statements to wrap up this experience:

I AM resourceful

I AM creative

I AM a planner

I AM able to ask for help

I AM surrounded by amazing friends

I AM good at research

I AM willing to do it “my way”

I AM motivated by making things the most fun I can

I AM able to set great intentions

I AM generous

I AM excellent at connecting.

Here is the feedback from the coordinator:

Thank again so much for coming and doing this session!!! Your gift for reaching people is an AWESOME sight to watch. God has given you a great ability to connect with people and this group of women lives has been enhanced as a result of having you cross their path.

I say a simple THANK YOU to that! (which is another lesson from today – accept compliments simply and graciously).  I would also like to acknowledge that this feedback speaks directly to my CORE VALUE – Authentic and Meaningful Connection

Final note – The words placed after the I AM statement are of utmost importance.  They are ‘facts’ to the brain…so make it GOOD!  Please, if you have read this post…do this for yourself.  It will do loads of good for YOU and those who you influence.  You’re doing the world a favor.

Speaking of favors, on my way to the event, someone bumped my fender.  I got out of the car, and released the woman from any obligation.  I then asked her to pay-it-forward.  She blessed me.  Today is officially a good day!

 

To Love What I Do

Do what you love, Love what you do.

That is one of the many suggestions I have in my Self Esteem workshop I am creating for a nonprofit.  I love that I am reminded of the concept on the 2nd day of the year.  I am so happy to put this idea front and center for 2014.

I really want to believe that I can create an ideal, multifaceted career that fits my values, desires and strengths.  I am believing that it is possible…in fact, I might even be so bold as to say the career is already in process and I all need to do is see it, ask for it, believe in it and receive it gracefully.

At this moment, the clarity I have are in the words and requisite feelings that I am activating for my career and ultimately my life.  The list is long…  I’ll stick with 14 to commemorate the year 2014.

Creativity, curiosity, variety, collaboration, innovation, strategy, learning, relevant, facilitation, possibility, current, integral, meaningful, expansive.

As always…this or better!

Love thy Neighbor

I love my new neighborhood and my new neighbors.  In the past few months and as recently as this week, we have been welcomed so generously into the lives of the people who make up our neighborhood.  I could not feel luckier.

Even before the possibility of moving here to the DC-area came into being, I had written about what I desired for a place to live.  I wrote, and wrote and wrote…and I phrased it in the present tense as if my desires were already fulfilled (also know as “Pray Rain Journaling”).

I feel totally at home, I feel inspired by my environs, I am proud of the ability to walk and use public transportation and most of all, I am amazingly pleased to find that I enjoy the people in our neighborhood.

I have become a true believer of writing “as if” the desired outcome has already happened.  My new journal writing will include how I intend to expand my network and my opportunities to make a difference for my family, my community and for other endeavors that I don’t know exist yet!

I love to think that ‘the best is yet to come’ –  I am willing to have it be that way (and more).  Because I cannot think of all the possibilities available to me, I always end my writing with the statement – THIS OR BETTER!

Elevate the Ordinary

Recently I’ve seen the phrase ‘Elevate the Ordinary’ and something in me said “yes”.

If I were to have a defining statement, I could see that being mine.  It reflects how I show up, write, photograph and how I connect with others.

Finding the phrase made picking my word for the year easy and interesting: ELEVATE!

The definition:  raise to a more important or impressive level gives me a tickle of excitement in my tummy.  Now my job is to be mindful and present enough to notice how ELEVATE shows up in my life.  Fun times are certainly ahead!

If you were to have one word as an intention for the year, what would it be?

Change is a’comin’

Life is about to get really interesting for me. I am looking forward to the changes while also grieving the loss of what I have grown to know and love.

I have been sitting on the potential of these changes for a while and the intensity of thoughts and sensations of anticipation are fascinating.

As I am well versed in knowing that I can change my thoughts and hence my feelings, I’ve worked with a myriad of modalities to address my anxiety and stress.  Here are a few; Intentional Resting, Ho’oponopono, self coaching, breathing techniques, affirmations, meditating, exercise etc.  I find that some days I am better at releasing the pressure, and others…wine is all I have as my tool.

One additional technique that works for me is writing.  So, I intend to write regularly and I am looking forward to it.  I used writing the last time I was in a Dissolving-type scenario (the initial stage of change in Martha Beck’s 4-stage Change Cycle).  I wrote daily for 3 years when I was having a bit of an identity crisis which led me to coaching and an amazing new perspective on just about everything (my old blog is www.happinessandmoonshine.blogspot.com) . Writing worked for me then, so why not now?

My mantra for today is BREATHE AND RELEASE!

 

Leap

Almost a full month has gone.

How strange that I pick the one extra day of this month to re-engage here.

Leap Day = lots of frog references online today!

In the animal totem world, frog = transformation; it symbolizes coming into your personal power.

I’m thinking that the theme for March will be re-acquainting with my personal power.  Given that March is my birthday month, activating my personal power seems pretty groovy.  Wanna’ join me?

Personal Power activate!  In the form of a FROG! Boing!

A Question is Everything

I am a curious cat; I love to ask questions. 

I am a life coach;  I know how to ask questions. 

I am a searcher of meaning in my life; I get great joy in posing the big open-ended questions. 

I know the power of questions…..

However, just recently I can say that…I FINALLY GET IT!

I get that the POWER of the question is actually in the space between the ASK and the ANSWER.  What if, we approached everything from a questioning mind verses an answer finding mind?  What if all it takes is for us to ask questions and either wait in that moment for the answer to arrive OR to just let the question filter into the atmosphere to be answered in the right time and in the right place with the right people and the right information for YOU?

I have to say that I often take a consultative approach with my life and other people with whom I connect.  I look at the variables that are on the table and form a  big picture of what the possibilities might be – almost like a puzzle.  I feel I have an intuitive ability to see the possibilities…but what if….what if…all it really takes is the questions?  I wonder what that would look like?  Part of me gets an anxious feeling that my ‘puzzle-solving’ skills will be jeopardized….but what if my puzzle-solving is actually more of a default to “control” and “feel safe”?  What if all it takes is to ALLOW the answers to come? 

So many questions AND so much time…..I love every minute of it. 

The best question I’ve heard recently from www.sophiemihalko.com is…..

How can it get EVEN BETTER than this?

Coeur de rire

Translation:  Laughing Heart

My Facebook post from 9/11/11 read – “…the world needs more laughing hearts”.  When I wrote that I had a sense of knowing that this has something to do with ME and my purpose in life.  I’m curious to explore where this has already manifested for me and where it will take me.  For the time being, I have tucked the idea and the rich palpable feeling in a metaphorical bubble near my heart.  I have the intention that MY laughing heart will attract the people and experiences to help me inspire others to live from a ‘laughing heart’ perspective. 

In retrospect, I realize that I have recently been photographing hearts in many everyday things like trees, clouds, rocks, and spontaneous lotion hearts squeezed in a hand.  As I was looking for the French translation (coeur de rire), I found this beautiful poem. 

The Laughing Heart by Charles Bukowski

your life is your life
don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission.
be on the watch.
there are ways out.
there is a light somewhere.
it may not be much light but
it beats the darkness.
be on the watch.
the gods will offer you chances.
know them.
take them.
you can’t beat death but
you can beat death in life, sometimes.
and the more often you learn to do it,
the more light there will be.
your life is your life.
know it while you have it.
you are marvelous
the gods wait to delight
in you.

— by Charles Bukowski

Feeling REAL

I am hitting my stride with my work.

I enjoy what I do.

I’ve decided that how I do my work is great for me.

I invest in myself.

I take myself seriously.

I am  courageous.

I collaborate with people.

I put myself out there.

I allow myself to be seen.

I learn from my missteps.

I am willing to feel vulnerable.

I love what I do.

I write.

I photograph.

I coach.

I support.

I read.

I learn.

I teach.

I connect.

I give.

I receive.

I love.

I accept love.

I care.

OOOOOO….that felt so good…like a bakrub for my soul.  Now you go. 

Set the timer for 2 minutes and write what is real for you.  Even if you working toward something…write it in the present tense, it kind of tickles a little but still feels good.  Then, if you’re feeling bold, share it with others a) they may add some more to YOUR list and b) they may make their own. 

At the end of the day, its what YOU think about YOU that matters, so strive for the really good stuff!