I'm not sure about you, but, I am thrilled to say goodbye to 2012! It was a tough year. How was it for you? No, never mind--just leave it behind!
2012 was:
taxing, financially difficult, full of change, unforgiving, reluctant, discouraging, frantic, disturbing, unhealthy, uncomfortable, disruptive...etc. And, that's just the beginning of the reasons.
Yet, I/we survived it. And, the world didn't end!
I don't know about you, but, in 2013, I am going to take my POWER back! How about you?
My wish for everyone is that the coming year is healthy and prosperous.. So, Happy New Year!
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Warmth and caring
Think about a time or times when you felt cared about. Remember the warmth it produced throughout your entire being. Wow, what a nice feeling, because the thoughts allowed for greater expression, comfort, relaxation, and good humor. In those moments was the desire to love, to share, to give.
Where has the warmth and the caring gone? Where is the kindness, the gentleness? Where is the safety? Are we really at the mercy of bullies, guns, madness, and chaos? What is it that makes someone depraved, lethal? Did they ever receive warmth and caring?
Let us not what until next year. Let us begin right NOW to spread warmth and caring to those we come in contact with. Let us DECIDE it's the only way to be. Let us coach one another to be gentle and to listen for the words that hurt, oppress, criticize, and harm - so that we may discard them for words and expressions of warmth, caring, hope, and peace.
What will become of us if we don't change the momentum?
Where has the warmth and the caring gone? Where is the kindness, the gentleness? Where is the safety? Are we really at the mercy of bullies, guns, madness, and chaos? What is it that makes someone depraved, lethal? Did they ever receive warmth and caring?
Let us not what until next year. Let us begin right NOW to spread warmth and caring to those we come in contact with. Let us DECIDE it's the only way to be. Let us coach one another to be gentle and to listen for the words that hurt, oppress, criticize, and harm - so that we may discard them for words and expressions of warmth, caring, hope, and peace.
What will become of us if we don't change the momentum?
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Loss
"If we don't get lost, we'll never find a new route."
Joan Littlewood
In so many ways our lives are redirected. Events, people, circumstances, illness--all challenging our perspectives, ideas, values, and beliefs. We are stunned and feel lost.
When it's unfair, we cannot help but want an explanation -- a reason, so that we might explain to our psyche what it all means. When we understand there is no explanation, we ask, how can that be? There must be something we can do?
At this juncture, all we have is a blank page. All that's left is to overcome the grief and the loss. With our chins up and deep breaths we continue on by accepting. Perhaps it is good to consider the logic which purports that life is an illusion. Bad events aren't real. Or, maybe to just remember to talk about it and say, 'whatever gets you through the night is alright.' I remember my mother always said to me, "after a good night's rest, you will be okay, because with the rising of the sun comes a new day to begin again."
So, we just do that - we begin again and work to find a new way. As we stand up and use our voice to demand better, hopefully, we will find a peaceful route.
Joan Littlewood
In so many ways our lives are redirected. Events, people, circumstances, illness--all challenging our perspectives, ideas, values, and beliefs. We are stunned and feel lost.
When it's unfair, we cannot help but want an explanation -- a reason, so that we might explain to our psyche what it all means. When we understand there is no explanation, we ask, how can that be? There must be something we can do?
At this juncture, all we have is a blank page. All that's left is to overcome the grief and the loss. With our chins up and deep breaths we continue on by accepting. Perhaps it is good to consider the logic which purports that life is an illusion. Bad events aren't real. Or, maybe to just remember to talk about it and say, 'whatever gets you through the night is alright.' I remember my mother always said to me, "after a good night's rest, you will be okay, because with the rising of the sun comes a new day to begin again."
So, we just do that - we begin again and work to find a new way. As we stand up and use our voice to demand better, hopefully, we will find a peaceful route.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Stories
There are so many stories out there. Stories of hope, perseverance, humility, kindness, etc. Think about all the different emotions felt when listening to the stories of others. Did you ever stop to really think about the plight of another? To pretend as if you stand in their shoes?
Makes me consider the plight of the person in a wheel chair, the fire victim, the homeless man, the homeless woman, the cancer patient, the prisoner, the caretaker, the doctor, the soldier. All of them and all their stories.
I went to a Christmas party today. In the midst of all of those that mingled, I learned bits and pieces of stories. Some were grand, filled with hope and promise, some were rather bleak due to illness, but, all were indicative of a much bigger picture--a stage portraying the cycle of life, for some were old, some young, and some in the middle. The one thing in common, was the desire to tell their story, to communicate their thoughts, to be heard.
Then, I thought about how each of those stories weave together to form this life-this world. I remembered the movie, "How to Make an American Quilt." I watched it today before the Christmas party.
We cannot hear every story, or capture every meaning, but, we can take time to listen to one another's stories, if only to let each other be heard.
Makes me consider the plight of the person in a wheel chair, the fire victim, the homeless man, the homeless woman, the cancer patient, the prisoner, the caretaker, the doctor, the soldier. All of them and all their stories.
I went to a Christmas party today. In the midst of all of those that mingled, I learned bits and pieces of stories. Some were grand, filled with hope and promise, some were rather bleak due to illness, but, all were indicative of a much bigger picture--a stage portraying the cycle of life, for some were old, some young, and some in the middle. The one thing in common, was the desire to tell their story, to communicate their thoughts, to be heard.
Then, I thought about how each of those stories weave together to form this life-this world. I remembered the movie, "How to Make an American Quilt." I watched it today before the Christmas party.
We cannot hear every story, or capture every meaning, but, we can take time to listen to one another's stories, if only to let each other be heard.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Which point of view
A recent conversation made me realize the value of listening to other points of view. You know, to decide if you want to challenge what is said, remain true to what you originally thought, or discard the view completely and decide on something new. It sparked contemplation.
Did you ever notice, though, a point of view that someone has on Tuesday is sometimes completely different on Wednesday? My observation has been that views change with the wind or better yet, with a different thought. For example, I was told that a blog about coaching becomes repetitive. How many ways can you discuss coaching? Well, shouldn't a website about coaching that has a blog at least mention coaching? Maybe yes, maybe no...
Sure, sometime on my blog I write about things seemingly unrelated to coaching. Like, yesterday I saw the movie, "Lincoln." I was in awe of every aspect of the show, from the cinematography to the acting. It was a testament to the ability of man and demonstrated the challenge that our democracy presents. How does it relate to coaching?
Everyday, whether via self-talk, or listening to others, we are being coached. We are making decisions, sometime unconsciously, as to what our view is on matters. Using Lincoln's style could prove very useful in developing a point a view about health, dealing with pain and suffering, and overseeing change. Consciously listening to what is being said, and either embracing it or discarding it is self coaching. At least, for today, this Sunday, that's my point of view.
Did you ever notice, though, a point of view that someone has on Tuesday is sometimes completely different on Wednesday? My observation has been that views change with the wind or better yet, with a different thought. For example, I was told that a blog about coaching becomes repetitive. How many ways can you discuss coaching? Well, shouldn't a website about coaching that has a blog at least mention coaching? Maybe yes, maybe no...
Sure, sometime on my blog I write about things seemingly unrelated to coaching. Like, yesterday I saw the movie, "Lincoln." I was in awe of every aspect of the show, from the cinematography to the acting. It was a testament to the ability of man and demonstrated the challenge that our democracy presents. How does it relate to coaching?
Everyday, whether via self-talk, or listening to others, we are being coached. We are making decisions, sometime unconsciously, as to what our view is on matters. Using Lincoln's style could prove very useful in developing a point a view about health, dealing with pain and suffering, and overseeing change. Consciously listening to what is being said, and either embracing it or discarding it is self coaching. At least, for today, this Sunday, that's my point of view.
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