Breast Cancer Awareness month

Filed Under Gratitude | 2 Comments

 Did you know you can help sponsor free mammograms (at no cost to you, except the time it takes to click on the following link and then click on the pink "click here" button).  It's quick, easy, and a great benefit to women who can't afford this important health screening.  You can do it every day, too!

http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2breast cancer site logo

According the the Breast Cancer Site, breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women and the second leading cause of cancer death (lung cancer is the first). The incidence of breast cancer is three times more common than the incidences of all gynecological cancers combined, and it has been increasing steadily over the past forty years -  from an incidence of 1:20 in 1960 to 1:7 women today.

Many more new cases of breast cancer will be found in the next year, but with early detection, the prognosis is pretty positive:

"When breast cancer is found early, the five-year survival rate is 96%."
—National Breast Cancer Foundation

If you will, please take a few moments to help someone get a mammogram! 

Where’s my focus?

Filed Under Freedom Challenge, Gratitude, Joyous Living, Sparkle | 2 Comments

I've been fortunate enough to get to spend the last week with my son, Tre, and his family…wife Shelly, 4 year old Serenity, and 2 year old Connor.  Being around the little ones, especially, has been such a treat, reminding me of the joy and enthusiasm I want to continue to maintain.  They are bundles of energy - and such a kick to watch and be with.  At times, though, their energy exhausts me and I start to feel OLD.  But I do know enough about tools for living a joyous life to know that focusing on what doesn't feel great isn't going to do me a whole bunch of good.  Much better to focus on the joy of hanging out with perfect models of unabashed joie d' vivre!  Besides, I really do feel fabulous and am sharing that in a Remember  Your Sparkle teleclass at the end of October http://www.joyouslifeworks.com/courses_teleclasses.htm.

In some way, Divine Inspiration, added to my sense of the rightness of "staying young" in a teleconference I was privileged to be a part of with Jeanna Gabellini and Eva Gregory (www.abundanceabounds.com ) about focusing on what you want and in a post by my dear friend, Adam Kayce (monkatwork.com ) about Joy.  Sure, feeling old is going to happen when you're 50-plus hanging out with a two-year-old, but why dwell on THAT, when I can be inspired by this little gift from God and focus on how big my heart feels when I'm with him?

Are there areas of your life you know you want to be changing the focus on?  What's your "focus dial" dialed to?  Something you want or something you don't?   

Remember when…

Filed Under Gratitude, Joyous Living, Sparkle, Stretching the comfort zone, Success | 2 Comments

Over the last several months, I’ve been enchanted by the idea and experience of “sparkle.”  It sends me back joyous childto being about four or five, when I just loved being myself.  I hadn’t had teachers reprimand me for always wanting to do show and tell.  I hadn’t yet gotten my first (humiliating) birthday spanking in front of my classroom.  Whether or not I did actually sparkle at that age, I don’t know, but what I do know is that when I remember (a full-body remembering) being that age, the feeling that comes over me is a sense of sparkling from within.  And when I feel like I’m sparkling, I am happy, joyous.  I have a sense of being all I need to be.  Like having God’s Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.  And with THAT approval, I’m good to go!

Personally, I love the idea of sparkle and sparkling.  Still being in touch with that young, enthusiastic, joyous part of me is one of my greatest blessings.  I think that anyone who gets in touch with their sparkle is going to be better off forlittle girl sparkling having done so.  Frankly, I can’t quite understand why not everyone relates to “sparkling” or wanting to sparkle, but they don’t.   And I’ve found myself thinking I should  “dim” my sparkle (you know, change the wording, eliminate the word sparkle), to accommodate those who aren’t raving sparkle fans, but my sparkle joy keeps insisting on being experienced.  So, if my deepest self refuses to dim my love of sparkle to appease those who can’t relate to sparkling, I guess I’ll follow that. And for those who do relate to the idea of sparkling…I say let’s set the world ablaze with our sparkle!   

Inquiry

Do you relate to inner sparkle?  In what way or ways? Do you not relate to sparkle?  Why is that?

Photos:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/myblueeyeguy/188576489/

            http://www.flickr.com/photos/beija-flor/5125391/  

Regaining balance after a leap

Filed Under Embracing uncertainty, Gratitude, Joyous Living, Setbacks as opportunities, Stretching the comfort zone | Leave a Comment

 For all my enthusiasm about putting new learnings into practice, one thing I hadn't taken into consideration is that, for me, I really need to periodically take time to integrate the new learnings, expansions, etc.  I've been so excited about "moving forward" and taking new actions…some of which were pretty bold expansions of my comfort zone…that I hadn't taken much time to adjust.  It hit me this weekend, after venturing to beautiful Lake Tahoe to take part in a retreat, that I've been experiencing so many shifts that all of a sudden (or so it seems) I was feeling very unsteady.  Who am I now?  Where am I standing?  Identifying where I am and where I'm going is one of my "coaching strategies" - and I wasn't doing it!  

One of the "blessings" of this is realizing, experiencing the fact that my emotions can be great guideposts.  After all the enthusiasm, suddenly I was feeling cranky, uncertain, sick to my stomach.  Rather than going to my usual, "what's wrong?" I was able to ask myself, "what are these feelings telling me?"  And I kept seeing the many bold actions I'd taken in the last month that dramatically expanded my comfort zone (going on a retreat where I knew almost no one and presenting my Speaking Circle work there were probably the "last straws").  It's a great reminder for me to put into practice more of my recent learnings - to pause and breathe(!), adjust as necessary, and then continue.  In the past, the "what's wrong?" would have stopped me, now it doesn't have to!  YAY!  I can feel my way along this path.  Sometimes, I will be able to leap and bound, and sometimes I'll inch along.  And I can embrace both ways as just right for the moment!

A great post about expanding one's comfort zone in smaller increments was on Edward Mills site:

http://www.evolvingtimes.com/2007/09/51-ways-to-expand-your-comfort-zone.htm 

I'd love to hear about other comfort zone expanders!

Learning the way

Filed Under Gratitude, Joyous Living, Sparkle | 5 Comments

I love being enthusiastic!  Most days since I've returned from Wizard Camp have been pretty exciting.  At least partially because I'm consciously putting to use a number of the great things I learned/had reinforced - which, frankly, I'm not always very successful at doing.  But having completed Wizard, I notice I am wanting to do things differently.  I've recognized a number of things that haven't brought me the results I want and can try new ways of doing things.  Being excited, choosing to focus on the things that support my enthusiasm are new ways of behaving for me - and they are working…so why not?  One of the things I've been doing is reviewing my notes…refreshing my memory, "installing" the upgraded software.  And my favorite practice is FEELING the way I want to be in the world.  Sounds a little weird, but the gist is that I was really impressed by a woman trainer I met.  Something about her stirred something in me and I finally realized that she and I have similar "vibrations" and that I was resonating with her and in doing that, I was more in touch with my enthusiasm and love of life.  So that's been among my favorite practices the last two weeks.  More on that soon!

INQUIRY: What's in Your Glass?

 Checking out Adam Kayce's Monk at Work, I saw a popular post that struck me as being fun and interesting.  He's borrowed from another blogger (both attributions follow), and I've decided to include it, too.  I'd love to hear what you've got to say about "What's in Your Glass?"

   “What’s In Your Glass?” , a creativity-enhancer based on Terry’s namesake blog, “Ramblings From a Glass Half Full”.  In this, Terry asks four questions:

1.    How full is your glass?

2.    What kind of glass is it?

3.    â€¨What’s in the glass?

4.    Reasons for #1, #2, and #3…

My answers:

1.  My glass is brimming over

2.  My glass is a beautiful crystal glass

3.  The glass is filled with joy, possibility, effervescence, and enthusiasm

4.  Life is really good right now, I feel so blessed, I’m learning so much and being able to put learnings into practice.  Beautiful crystal represents elegance, beauty, clarity, and celebration.  Joy, possibility, effervesence, enthusiasm are filling my life right now…so much so, I just want to be running around “sparkling” people so they are roused to their own sparkle/glow/shine within them.

So, what's in YOUR glass?  I'd love to hear!!! 

Here are the attributions:

http://tshalffull.blogspot.com/2007/06/whats-in-your-glass-starbucker-meme.html and http://monkatwork.com/2007/06/05/two-for-one-the-face-behind-the-glass

Sparkle, gleam, and glow

Filed Under Authenticity, Gratitude, Joyous Living, Sparkle | Leave a Comment

stained glass"People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within." - Elisabeth Kubler-Ross


This light from within is what I am working to kindle for myself.  Sometimes this light is a roaring blaze, sometimes a smoldering ember.  But always, I hope it is burning away the dross, so that the light of the Divine can be seen more and more clearly - and more beautifully - through me.  
Occasionally, it seems there are periods of time where things seem horribly "off course" and it's harder to remember that Divinity within us.  I think this is where our practices of going deep within to find even the tiniest ember are so important.  It may seem much easier to give up, to be overwhelmed by the gunk - and I've done PLENTY of that!  But at this point, I'm wanting to do things differently…to focus on the passion still left in that smoldering ember, to care for it, nurture it, fan it until I am aglow again.  Although it takes practice to remember this: at each moment I have a choice of what to focus on; I have a choice of where to spend my precious time and energy.  Since I have this choice, I'd like to make it one that serves me, encourages me, and, ideally, serves and encourages others!  Why not be juicy, sparkling, and glowing?
What would you choose?  What DO you choose?
 
(image by c.a. delagarza www.flickr.com/photos/cadelagarza/93351564/) 

Flaunting quirks

Filed Under Freedom Challenge, Gratitude, Sparkle, Stretching the comfort zone | 1 Comment

There really is something to be said for getting older!  For most of my 50+ years, I've tried to hide just how quirky I am and have been pretty much miserable.  Quirks, in my terminology, are those behaviors that may seem "out of the mainstream" but are somewhat precious to you, and are really a part of who you are.  Turning 50 has set me free to at least dabble in letting my little oddities out.  And, it's so much more fun!  I hope to be a role model for my clients and friends and family - especially my granddaughter!  If she can experience loving who she is at a much younger age, I would be thrilled beyond measure!

Why not skip?  Why not play the kazoo - even on my voicemail?  Yes, I want to be seen as professional, but my dream is that everyone steps more into who they are and, like it or not, I love playing the kazoo.  (I am transported to being about five years old and loving being me).  So far, the kazooing hasn't seemed to offend anyone's sensibilities.  And God love 'em if it does!  I wanna live with the same joie d' vivre I had at five!  I wanna sparkle!  I wanna see everybody sparkle!!
What kinds of things bring out your sparkle?

Music that moves me

Filed Under Gratitude | 3 Comments

I love how God works!  Last week I received an email with a link to a video , and the music in the background was something I recognized from "Last of the Mohicans," a piece of music that stirs my soul (the video is interesting, too - check it out:  http://www.glumbert.com/media/shift .  How great, then, that over the weekend "Last of the Mohicans" was on television (reminding me that I have the DVD).  Watching the film again (the movie's okay, the cinematography and music awesome), I was completely re-invigorated.   I downloaded the soundtrack and have been listening to it like a fiend!  I can't get enough - okay, that's an exaggeration, but the music really stirs me.  

Back to how God works…my dear friend, Adam Kayce, blogged yesterday about "music that makes you march,"

http://monkatwork.com/2007/06/13/music-that-makes-you-march/  so I had an opportunity to share about this huge musical inspiration!  Anyway, having so many reminders of an easy way to be inspired - by listening to some favorite music - feels like God's gentle nudging!  

Music can be so powerful - and the music from Last of the Mohicans, particularly the piece called Promontory, certainly has helped me to remember my sparkle!  

What pieces move you, help you remember your sparkle?  your passion?  your get-up-and-go?  

Go ahead and sparkle

Filed Under Freedom Challenge, Gratitude, Sparkle | 3 Comments

Why not?  What have we got to lose?  I think this, too, is part of my Freedom Challenge- to go ahead and sparkle, be feisty!  Why not go ahead and sparkle?  

I've a class coming up - Reawakening Your Inner Sparkle.  For some reason, I've not shared it with as many people as I would have thought I would.  Did I think I'd look "weird"?  I wish I'd remembered about "Yeah, I am weird.  Isn't it wonderful?"   So for the next few days, I'm just wanting to remind people of their sparkle.  Now that should be fun!  (Fredi, can you believe I'm using that word?")
Hmm.  Maybe using pent-up anger as a tool this week helped pave the way for opening up - saying yes to the idea of reawakening, reviving, replenishing the part of me that says yes to life - to sparkle.  I love that place that says yes to sparkling aliveness.  Like little kids, filled with joy and authenticity.
Sending out many sparkles!

Starting over

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Starting over.  Let's try this another time.  Didn't work so well last time.  Maybe now I'm ready.  Wouldn't it be cool?  Or maybe with the Law of Attraction I just know I am ready now and move forward.  Cool. 

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