This weekend I had the blessing of having two of my favorite soul nourishing communities come together. The full moon meditation group that I love so much was able to travel to Columcille (one of my favorite sacred spaces I write so much about) to do a walking meditation and experience the Samhuin celebration.

This was only the second time I have done a walking meditation with this group. And, while I have walked labyrinths before, I have never done so with a group and in this way. It was truly a journey within and a powerful connection with the group.

For those not familiar, a labyrinth looks like a maze but is in fact a beautiful singular path that winds until it reaches a center and then returns the same route. It is not difficult to navigate and is often used for personal meditation. As you walk the labyrinth you journey consciously toward the center (inside yourself) and back again.

I often find walking meditation even more difficult than sitting meditation because of my desire to move. I am a movement oriented, fast paced walking person with a keen sense of my surroundings so I am wildly curious and easily distracted. Recently I have been struggling with a lot of things coming up for me emotionally and physically as I navigate this huge life and career transition. I chose to bring all these struggles and judgment to the walking meditation with the intention to just let it all be there. To create a space wide enough within me to just allow it to be there without judgment and surrender.

Its funny what can unfold in the space of a meditation and what is possible when like minded people converge with their energies focused in a common space. Read the rest of this entry »

I first saw Suzanne Westenhoefer many moons ago in Philadelphia. Kim & I laughed until we almost wet our pants. Even to this day one of us only needs to spit out a punch line from one of Suzanne’s skits to make ourselves laugh (after all crazy behavior like this is part of the secret to longevity in relationships, right?).

Last year when we went on our Olivia cruise we had the chance to get an even bigger taste of Suzanne onstage not only with her own show but the little mini-bursts of hysteria when she was emcee-ing. The woman is hysterical and tells it like it is — no one is safe, not even the unsuspecting audience. If you haven’t seen her do her magic - put seeing a live show or watching one of the DVD’s on your short list of to-do’s.

I’m tickled pink and filled with gratitude that Suzanne took time out of her crazy schedule to take part in this interview… so without further ado…

1) What was the inspiration that led to your career in comedy?

I don’t think I had inspiration. More I had pushing from some friends, my partner at the time and some people where I bar tended. It honestly would never have occurred to me to do stand up. Once the idea was in my head, however…I couldn’t let it go.

2) What words of wisdom would you give to women today who are embarking on a career in comedy or entertainment?

The best words of wisdom are really just go and do it and work. Because you will work for so long for no money, or it will actually cost you money to get to the club….you will work late nights with drunks, the beginning of a comedy career is hard. I think that it’s to weed out the weak. If you don’t really feel the need from a deep space inside you to get up and do it…..the struggle in the beginning will push you out.
Read the rest of this entry »

FREE TELECLASS…

Do you feel like you’re riding along on half-flat and misaligned wheels?

Feel like your days are a never-ending stream of bumps and potholes?

If your car were feeling like this when you drove it, wouldn’t you take it in for a checkup?

Yet, for some reason we all hesitate to stop and take a look under the hood and behind the wheels when it has something to do with us or our lives. We think ignorance is bliss. I know I certainly resist slowing down to take a peek.

You, too?

We know deep down that the occasional checkup, especially when the car feels “off” not only results in a smoother ride but also saves us time, money, and keeps us healthier in the long run. It may cost a few dollars and moments of our time, but you feel it’s worth it when you’re driving down the highway at 70mph and have peace of mind.
Read the rest of this entry »

Last week I had the good fortune of watching a documentary called “Paperclips”. This movie tells the powerful story of what can happen when just a few people have an idea. The movie tells the story of a middle school in Whitwell, TN, a small very homogenous town of white Christian people. From the desire of a principal and few teachers who wanted their children to know more than their insular community grew a project so profound that it stretched around the globe, through history and back.

In the film it shows a small classroom as the teachers attempt to explain the Holocaust to the students. In a town and school in which diversity consisted of only one black family and less than two thousand people total, the kids had a hard time grasping the concepts of the Holocaust - the magnitude, the hate of someone “not like you”, a desire for a “superior race”. At one point a kid raises his hand and asks “what is six million?”.

What happens when prejudice runs unchecked? That is the message the teachers set out to illustrate. Simply watching the movie trailer again moves me to tears - the story is THAT powerful.

The school undertook the project to bring the magnitude to life. Initially they set out to collect 6 million paperclips to represent the Jews killed in concentration camps. What followed was an unbelievable story in the power of an idea, the universal feeling of love, and the ability for the committed action of a few to affect the globe.

What ultimately happens is mindboggling. Read the rest of this entry »

Today is National Coming Out Day. Where do you stand in your own process?

National Coming Out day was started in 1988 one year after the historic March on Washington for Gay and Lesbian Rights. Traditionally this day is earmarked to raise awareness in the community about the lives of gays, lesbians, and transgenders. In many ways it is an opportunity for gays and lesbians to take the next step in their own personal coming out process. That might look like coming out to someone who doesn’t know or even coming out in a whole new area of your life for example - to your kids or in your professional life.

Coming out is a very personal process. There is no one right or wrong answer to the question “Should I Come Out?”. One thing is certain, though, people who personally know someone who is gay or lesbian are more likely to be supportive of LGBT rights. It is harder to discriminate and hate when you put a name and face of someone you know or love in front of that act. In this year of the 20th anniversary of the March on Washington, the Human Rights Campaign Fund has declared the theme of this year’s Coming Out Day as “Talk About It”. So, how do you talk about it in your life?

As a Comfortable in Your Own Skin Coach(tm) I know how important it is to be real and authentic in how you live your life. If you are out of alignment between what you say (nothing or vague comments of avoidance), what you believe (speaking your truth/we are equal) and who you are (gay, lesbian, or transgender) it is a recipe for frustration, exhaustion, and a partially lived life. That being said, it doesn’t always make sense to come out and you first need to be confident in who you are and comfy in your own skin before you march into potentially difficult situations.

I truly believe that everyone can and should be able to live their lives as authentically as possible. I also know there can be a lot of stress and angst when it comes to coming out, especially in your professional life. That is why I want to offer you this 10 part eCourse on “Coming Out with Confidence”. In it I offer key concepts, steps, and tools that will help you come out with confidence wherever and with whomever you choose to. The course also offers key decision making points that will help you assess if and when it makes sense for you to come out at all. Sign up for this course using the form below and the first lesson will be sent to you within minutes of you confirming your subscription.

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{Be on the Lookout: Because I don’t want to spam anyone, when you sign up you will get a confirmation e-mail from me at The Paula G. Company and will need to click on the confirmation link to get your first issue of the course.}

No one should have to go through the thought process of coming out all alone and no one should have to stay stuck in the closet if she/he doesn’t want to. Through the eCourse I will coach you through the process and point you to other important resources you can use for your own personal coming out process. Why not take one next step in your coming out journey right now. If not now, when?