A few months back I was reading the local community paper and happened to scanned the obituaries. What caught my eye was a photo of a vibrant older woman and the short obit beneath her name. Let’s call her Doris for the purpose of this post.

It said:

“A memorial service for Doris is set for_____ at ___. Wine, cheese, and fireworks to follow. If anyone would like to speak, sing, or cakewalk, please call the number below.

If you can’t join us, make a toast and know she sure had a good time.”

I remember reading this and thinking … now THAT is the way to be remembered and the way to celebrate a life well lived. It was full of lightness, humor, and love. Surely someone who lived life with great intention and few regrets. And, someone who built a great community of loved ones around her.

I thought…when my days are over can the same be said about me? Not sure, but I certainly know I love the spirit of the celebration and memorial mentioned in this obit. How about you? Are you having a good time? Is the way you’ve chosen to live in your life worthy of fireworks?

Oh the hustle and bustle is upon us. Even if you adopted all those stress-busting techniques I told you about in last month’s teleclass, I’m sure you can still feel the holiday buzz rise. Heck, the darn turkey was barely cooled and the Santas and string lights were popping up all over lawns. Companies and retailers all have the “perfect gift for you” as the many commercials will tell you….but….only YOU have the power to give the Greatest Gift ever.

Not only is it the greatest gift you can give yourself and all those you love, but the coolest part is that it

• doesn’t need batteries
• doesn’t come with a monthly fee
• doesn’t cost a lot of money
• lasts for a lifetime
• gets better with age and attention
• no shipping & handling, and no “out of stock” disappointments

Wow! You say? Gimme some of that!

Well, if you’re wondering about the greatest gift EVER and want to know what it is and how you can get yourself some….join me for a FREE teleclass:

When? Monday, December 10th

What Time? Noon EST (9a PST, 10a MST, 11a CST)

Sign Me Up: The class has already taken place. If you’d like to receive a copy of the recording, just contact me and request it. I’ll be happy to send it along

If you can’t make it live…don’t fret! I would never share something SO GREAT with people and leave others out. That would be just plain mean and worse than Lucy pulling the football out just as Charlie Brown goes to kick it. The call will be recorded…so if you register, you’ll get it delivered right to your inbox.

Don’t miss out on the greatest gift secret… it is the most meaningful and un-capitalistic thing you might encounter all month.

UPDATE: The class has already taken place. If you’d like to receive a copy of the recording, just contact me and request it. I’ll be happy to send it along

See you there!
_Paula

Thanksgiving is upon us and the buzz turns to turkey, travel, and giving thanks. Being thankful for what you have is a wonderful thing and making a gratitude list is also a great way to keep blessings at the forefront of your mind. Yet adopting a state of actually being grateful is so much more. Last night I was reminded of the distinction between being thankful and embodying gratitude while at my yoga class.

It’s not uncommon for me to have epiphanies in yoga. The nature of the practice is conducive to that but my yoga instructor is just the crème de la crème so we always get the gift of going just a little deeper (and I don’t mean in a pose although we do that too!). We explored - what is gratitude about? It is more than the exercise they often put kids through where they list “I am thankful for my dog”, “I am thankful for my house”, “I am thankful for my teacher”, etc. It is about feeling an inner shift toward a way of actually being in a state of gratitude. You actually just feel it happen as it washes over you. Now THAT is attractive because what we focus on expands and we get more of it. The more we are grateful the more we get to be grateful about.

In “The Right Questions” Debbie Ford gives us a powerful question that can start to tip the scales toward naturally adopting this state of gratitude. It starts with conscious awareness: “Am I Looking for What’s Right? Or, Am I Looking for What’s Wrong?” Read the rest of this entry »

As you know it is not often that I flat out recommend something. When I do it is because I totally believe in the product/service and the people behind it. That is why I want to tell you about this great book from a fellow Integrative Coach colleague of mine Carolyn Ellis. This woman is amazing in general and now she’s got a “must-have” book for single parents. Here’s the official word and details…

It’s an award-winning, best-selling book called “The 7 Pitfalls of Single Parenting: What to Avoid to Help Your Children Thrive after Divorce” written by my friend and coaching colleague, Carolyn B. Ellis. The co-founder of Divorce Magazine calls it “A resource that no single parent should be without!” If you’re in that situation yourself, or know someone who is, you should check it out. Right now, there is a special offer available for anyone purchasing the book to receive over $5,300 in bonus gifts, all for an investment of $16.95. Plus, a portion of all book sales will go towards building a school house in rural Uganda. Many people find it makes a great holiday gift for those who could use it or as client appreciation gifts, as well as for their own use. The special bonus offer is available for a limited time. To learn more, just visit http://thriveafterdivorce.com/booklaunch.html

That being said — you might say - “but how does that apply to me if I just split up from my same-sex partner?” Alas, the book is about parenting and good parenting just IS regardless of whether there is a Mom & Dad, two Mom’s, two Dad’s, a single Mom, or a single Dad. It is about creating a rich relationship with your children and helping them to thrive.

I think this is sooo important and since I have ZERO experience in parenting with the exception of my 2 cats (and somehow I think that is WAY different) that I am going to do an interview with Carolyn to provide you even more information and resources. Stay tuned for that.

A few weekends ago I led a bike ride for the local club. When I signed up for it I had visions of cool, crisp autumn air and leaves turning Technicolor. What I got was an unseasonable hot October Saturday complete with morning fog you couldn’t even cut with a chef’s grade knife. I mean the kind of fog that makes you wonder what is 15 feet in front of you. Being the intrepid cyclists we are (my partner could write a book on what she considers a major brain defect in most cyclists), we set out on our Cannondales, Treks, and hand built carbon fiber machines into the morning.

I am one for being safe and cautious but not paralyzed with concern, yet I had to wonder since I almost got creamed by a car on the drive to the start location. As we pedaled along unable to see squat with our glasses fogging to the point of being opaque I had to wonder about my sanity this morning. However, since 3 other folks showed up for the ride, I figure it wasn’t just me going batty. As we carried on I got to thinking of how perfect a life lesson could be gleaned from this ride in the thick fog. It was a whole new exciting experience on the bike. Here’s what came to me. Read the rest of this entry »