a welcome celebration . . .

Always kiss your children goodnight -even if they’re already asleep. ~H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Would you believe a newborn baby that is six feet, five inches? I happen to love giraffes. Recently, we took a trip to the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo. Of course, a trip to the zoo is not complete without seeing these wonderful tall blonds.(While not actually a picture of the newborn here, I love the thought that mother giraffes love and kiss their babies too. It touches my heart!)
Back to the zoo — I have the kind of energy that draws people and animals to me. That day one of the giraffes walked right up in front of me as to have a little chat. Eyeball-to-eyeball we silently conversed. I asked her if she was expecting (she looked quite round.) How fun to see in yesterday’s paper that there was a new arrival at the zoo! I am so delighted.

There is so much in life to celebrate. All we have to do is keep our eyes and our hearts open. Blessings and have a great day!

Weaving the Dream

“We all have our own life to pursue, our own kind of dream to be weaving . . . and we all have the power to make wishes come true, as long as we keep believing. -Louisa May Alcott

How do you weave your dreams with your real life? How fully do you believe in yourself and in your own dreams? For me, life is about living my dreams as fully as possible. And yes, it is a challenge some days. Usually, I find that integrating my dreams into life is possible because I hold the belief that we each have the power and the strength within us to make it (whatever that “it” is) happen. Sometimes it takes a lot of work and sometimes it is almost instantaneous.

I am a weaver and a dreamer. I love to play with textiles weaving them into rugs or wall hangings, building on the dream, the inspiration, I have in my mind. This piece celebrates a sunset at Solana Beach, a moment in time when I was living my dream.

Is this so different than bringing another dream, a business, a relationship or maybe a whole new way of being, to my/our current reality? I don’t think so. When we connect the quantum field and life force energy, we can accomplish anything; especially when we allow it to happen one step at a time.

Blessings and have a great day! C.

Details and Success . . .

It’s the little details that are vital. Little things

make big things happen. ~ John Wooden

I am noticing bigger things are unfolding in my life, such as opportunities for creative, inspiring work with other coaches, new clients from different areas of the world, creative workshop opportunities and greater financial success. Out of curiosity, I began to look at what I am doing differently now. Interestingly, it is the attention I am giving to the small things — working on the details in life.

For some time, I have been drawn to the details in my life — sending that note, calling a friend or prospective client, making my bank deposits more quickly, even sorting and filing my paperwork or scrubbing my sinks (ugh?). I have heard that when you pay attention to the small things the large things take care of themselves. I am excited and delighted to tell you that it is sure working for me.

It is rather amazing to me that investing the time and effort in the details promotes such wonderful results.

I love it! What about you?

C.

Journaling- Creativing Healing

Just in case you think that Art Journaling is about creating beautiful pictures, I wanted to assure you that it is more about the process of expressing yourself — however that comes about. It is not about being pretty; it is about just opening up and letting what is inside come out. It may take the form of a scribble, a line, shapes, colors, textures . . . and the results can be healing.

In the May/June issue of Cloth Paper Scissors, Linda Edkins Wyatt talks about art journaling and how it helped her work with her panic attacks. She reports that she had fewer and fewer panic attacks and that they lessened in severity. I can well understand how this works. Some creativity every day, even a few minutes, can lessen my stress and calm me.

I would love to hear your stories.

Blessings! C.

PS. I love this magazine. It makes me smile and provides off-the-wall inspiration galore !

Cowardly or Courageous?

The courage it takes to speak up is nothing compared

to the good it can do. [Author Unknown]

I keep talking about ‘taking new steps for new results’. The truth is: new steps call for courage, strength and a great deal of heart.

As I was choosing the domain name for my website, I researched the use of heart. Heart carries with it firmness of will, resolution and fortitude as well as courage, love and being at the center. From this place, it feels like the perfect word to use in my coaching practice.

Personally and professionally we want, and need, heart to attain our desires and our dreams. We need that courage and strength to reach our potential and step into the reality of our magnificence.

In the Wizard of Oz, the Tin Man was looking for a heart and the [cowardly] lion was looking for courage. As a long-time coach who is just now in the process of certification, I feel like the lion — fiercely courageous while also being caught in old habits of fear. For me, it is truly time to step out, live my courage and move into even greater personal and professional success. The time is NOW.

Care to take this journey with me? It is bound to be exciting. The fierce ‘eye of the tiger/lion’ urges me on to bigger and better things. What about you?

C.

Creativity, Fun and Healing

What a fun time and an art journaling success! While growing up, most of us were not taught that creativity and art are ways to express our emotions and our thoughts. The women at my art journaling were engaged in the process of letting go, having fun and learning something new — even about themselves.

I have used art journaling for over ten years for everything from getting rid of headaches, to getting over a painful divorce, to understanding different ideas and dreams. It really does help me to reduce the stress in my live. Barbara Ganim and Susan Fox’s book Visual Journaling: Going Deeper than Words suggests that art can be used to reduce stress, release anger, resolve conflicts, get in touch with feelings and give voice to your soul. I have lived these suggestions and they worked for me and for a number of my clients.

Explore for yourself — answer the question “What do I have to be thankful for?” using crayons, chalk, paints or your own medium of choice. Then, add a few words to your scribbling process. Enjoy!

Cheryl

Fun! Fun! Fun!

How about some fun?!!? I don’t know about you, but I am ready for some fun. I am nearing the end of teaching a couple of summer school classes (I teach communication at a local college.) and I am ready to let go of responsibility and just focus on fun for a couple of weeks before the fall semester begins.

It seems that as adults we are so involved in our responsibilities that we forget that play and having fun are options — and maybe a value to be striving for in life. I find that I feel better physically and emotionally when I focus on playing and having fun on a regular basis. What about you?

At the library (a place I go for fun) recently, I ran across a book by Sue Baldwin the Playful Adult: 500 ways to lighten your spirit and tickle your soul. The book has been a joy-filled reminder to open myself to play and to really have fun. Even as an artist, it is too easy to focus on the end product and not simply the joy in creating.

I love the idea of ‘lightening my spirit and tickling my soul’ whether from blowing bubbles to pass the time when waiting; to taking a bubble bath to relieve stress; to simply allowing myself to keeping a laughter journal of funny things that happen in my life.

Have a great weekend and by all means play and have some fun!

C.

Art Journaling—an upcoming workshop

If you live in the Fort Wayne, Indiana area and are interested in art journaling, I am offering an art journaling workshop through Parkview Hospital’s Women’s Health Resource Center. This workshop is an experiential adventure were you get to play, to learn and to have fun.

The program begins with a review of the components of journaling, then adds art and creativity. Attendees will be given examples of art journaling for various purposes. The program will include a short guided-imagery, hands on experience in artistic expression and the opportunity to share your work with others. Handouts and resources will be provided for later exploration.

The workshop is Tuesday evening, July 31 from 6:30 to 8 at Parkview North, just off of Dupont.

I would love to see you there. C.

Art Journaling—an adventure

Many people journal with words on a daily basis. Adding the component of art through crayons, paints, pastels and/or collage in combination with words provides a special element, a kind of key, that opens the door into a deeper understanding of the self — who you are, what you want to be and where you really want to go in life. This form of journaling can also be just for fun, as a creative outlet for expressing yourself.

I have used art journaling personally for over ten years and professionally for nearly as long. It can be used to deepen understandings, to clarify thoughts and feelings, to get rid of, or lesson, negative emotions, and to open into creativity.

Art journaling is an empowering and healing tool. Personally, art journaling has helped me get through a tough divorce; own my own authenticity and self-worth; and work through emotional turmoil of all kinds.

Professionally, my clients have used it to help them make changes in their lives, clarify life’s lessons and make decisions. One fun thing about art journaling is that you don’t have to be a ‘traditional’ artist to express yourself through your creativity.

All you need is a blank sketch book and felt tip pens, colored pencils or oil pastels and a little bit of time. It can be easy, fun and eye-opening. More later on specific exercises and an upcoming workshop.

Blessings! C.

Welcome to my blog . . .

Life shrinks or expands according to one’s courage. Anais Nin

I invite you into a space where you can explore and play with your own potential and authenticity. My intention is to create a safe place to think, to feel and to ask questions. Because I write from my heart as well as my mind, I invite you to do the same and to be part of an ongoing dialogue.

A good friend asked me some time ago how I would describe myself. Without even thinking, I responded, “I am a woman who loves.” For many years, I have been exploring my own potential, who I am, and who I want to be. In working with that ‘woman who loves’, I have found a person who has the courage to live her heart’s desire, to take steps to breathe life into her dreams and to find success in places she never even realized existed. It has been an exciting and sometimes challenging journey.

I intend to post three days a week; hopefully, my other responsibilities will allow that. I welcome you to my blog — come in, explore, and be prepared to play.

Blessings!

Cheryl