Recently I agreed to be a practice client for a friend of mine who is training to be a life coach. I didn't know her that well, but she seemed like a nice person, and she needed enough practice clients to do her course, so I said sure I'll help. To re-iterate: I was doing HER a favour.
First meeting went quite well, we became more acquainted, I found her easy to talk to, she set the direction of the meeting, and before I knew it, I was blurting out my insecurities, my doubts, my perceived weaknesses like she was my friend for years. This was not going as I anticipated.
Then at subsequent meetings, she gave me homework. HOMEWORK!!! Work that made me dig deeper into my feelings than I had ever done so in the past. Work that made me really evaluate why I behaved in certain ways that was not in my best interest. That's right UNCOMFORTABLE WORK.
At each meeting we dug a little deeper, and holy epiphany, I had some amazing insights.
One of the things that I consider a weakness, is that I hate going to business networking events. I'm shy and always feel uncomfortable. When I'm approached and asked what is it that I do, I freeze, my mind goes blank and I mutter something about selling stuff. So, my ruthless life coach in training's assignment to me was to come up with something that I could say that would clearly state exactly what it is that I do that I would be comfortable in saying.
You would think this assignment would be a piece of cake, wouldn't you. WRONG. Every time I tried to formulate a clear and smart answer to "What do you do?" I froze up and my mind went blank. I tried and tried, as the deadline loomed ever closer. Everything I came up with sounded stilted, awkward, just...not me.
At the eleventh hour I sat down and after much searching came up with something that at least described my business pretty good, though I wasn't completely happy with the wording. My coach, however was pleased with my effort (which made me feel pretty good) and we proceeded to discuss what it was I was really trying to say.
and BAM, everything cleared in my mind. The answer was so simple! And so true!
Could I have come to the present conclusion without a life coach (even one in training). Maybe. Maybe not. You see, without someone dedicated to helping you get to the blocks in your life, it is very easy to ignore the blocks (especially the ones that are the most troubling) because at the time it is easier to do so than to experience the discomfort of facing these blocks.
I was doing her a favour....naw... SHE is doing ME a favour.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
Does repeatedly hitting your husband with his computer keyboard qualify as assault causing bodily harm with the intent to injure or maim, or can it be classed simply as mental self-defence? Or a form of anger management - or tough love? That's what happens when the love-of-your-life asks you for the third time how to "poke" someone on facebook.
I have to keep reminding myself, that hubby is new to facebook, and I have much to teach him. After explaining to him the ridiculously simple steps, he proceeded to ask me again...and...again. I rest my case. After all, when I asked my daughter, Laura, who happened to be messaging me on my Facebook, how to poke she only had to tell me once. Anyhoo, Derek is now happily "poking" everyone.
I consider Facebook's social networking application to be a great way to keep in touch with my children who happen to live out of town, or in the case of my youngest, across town. I don't get to see them as much since they have grown up and moved away to begin their own lives. Facebook keeps me in daily touch with what's happening in their lives. I get to see the friendly banter between them, relishing their warped but screamingly funny sense of humour. I communicated with my son when he was in China, and marvelled at the ease of conversing across such a distance.
Nothing beats actually hangin' out with family and friends, but when that's not possible, facebook fills a need. I have seen my youngest chuckling while she is writing something (probably insulting but very funny) to her brother or sister. I have seen jokes go on an on regarding a seemingly innocuous topic as each sister tries to out-do the other.
Ahhhhh, hubby has just poked me...AGAIN...time to poke him back and I don't mean with facebook.
I have to keep reminding myself, that hubby is new to facebook, and I have much to teach him. After explaining to him the ridiculously simple steps, he proceeded to ask me again...and...again. I rest my case. After all, when I asked my daughter, Laura, who happened to be messaging me on my Facebook, how to poke she only had to tell me once. Anyhoo, Derek is now happily "poking" everyone.
I consider Facebook's social networking application to be a great way to keep in touch with my children who happen to live out of town, or in the case of my youngest, across town. I don't get to see them as much since they have grown up and moved away to begin their own lives. Facebook keeps me in daily touch with what's happening in their lives. I get to see the friendly banter between them, relishing their warped but screamingly funny sense of humour. I communicated with my son when he was in China, and marvelled at the ease of conversing across such a distance.
Nothing beats actually hangin' out with family and friends, but when that's not possible, facebook fills a need. I have seen my youngest chuckling while she is writing something (probably insulting but very funny) to her brother or sister. I have seen jokes go on an on regarding a seemingly innocuous topic as each sister tries to out-do the other.
Ahhhhh, hubby has just poked me...AGAIN...time to poke him back and I don't mean with facebook.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
I'm back
It has been a while hasn't it. I'd like to say that I haven't written because I have been insanely busy, but we all know that would be stretching the truth. Well maybe only a little.
Being a store owner has its many rewards, this I know. What I didn't know was all the extra work that comes with running a business, even one as teeny as mine. It eats up time like shadow gobbles light.
The fun part, ordering stuff (every closet shopper's delight) takes a fair amount of the day. The other parts eg. the dreaded bookwork (of which I am SO far behind, I might as well stay in my office for a month with only bathroom and food breaks to ever get caught up on), the changing of the display window - always guaranteed to eat up a good half day every week (or now, every 2 weeks), cleaning and vacuuming of said store. It all adds up. Then of course there is my required down time (lots of it).
Throw in the flu, pms, cramps (I'm 52, you would think this would end by now), assorted minor health issues - mostly "I don't feel good" and before you know it another week goes by.
I would like to promise more regular blogs as I am SURE that everyone waits with held breath for my pearls of wit and wisdom, but to make such a promise would set the bar too high, and I'm not that good at commitments. But I will try.
So, lets get on with it. We have received new products at Moonstone Path (http://www.moonstonepath.com/). We have the cutest fairies, amazing Buddhas, new oracle cards. We have also received some rather nice clusters like pink halite, celestite, calcite. I've just ordered some gargoyles, as our other ones sold out, and they will be arriving sometime next week.
The store next door to us Earth Angel http://www.earthangelslondon.com/ has received a ton of gorgeous Christmas decorations, Angels, and many other new things. Earth Angels and our store share a building (Maggie and I share snacks, a match made in heaven).
Our labyrinth is starting to fade, but we will have it up and groomed next spring. A lot of people have told me how they enjoyed walking it. Hubby maintained it all summer and he did a wonderful job (a little praise goes a long way). He doesn't know what tasks I have planned for him next spring, poor fella.
You may have noticed that our store window is looking pretty good. I would like to say this is due to my amazing window display skills--but I would be lying. A wonderful charismatic lady by the name of Julie - a professional decorator - has been taking time from her own busy days to do my window for me pro-bono for the last month or so. She makes me put in a chunk of effort, scrambling to get product ready for the window - she's a slave driver!
If anyone is interested in hiring someone to decorate their living space call Moonstone Path and I will get you her contact information. She's really good.
Here's a cute quote I found: Warning: Humour may be hazardous to your illness. ~ Ellie Katz
Being a store owner has its many rewards, this I know. What I didn't know was all the extra work that comes with running a business, even one as teeny as mine. It eats up time like shadow gobbles light.
The fun part, ordering stuff (every closet shopper's delight) takes a fair amount of the day. The other parts eg. the dreaded bookwork (of which I am SO far behind, I might as well stay in my office for a month with only bathroom and food breaks to ever get caught up on), the changing of the display window - always guaranteed to eat up a good half day every week (or now, every 2 weeks), cleaning and vacuuming of said store. It all adds up. Then of course there is my required down time (lots of it).
Throw in the flu, pms, cramps (I'm 52, you would think this would end by now), assorted minor health issues - mostly "I don't feel good" and before you know it another week goes by.
I would like to promise more regular blogs as I am SURE that everyone waits with held breath for my pearls of wit and wisdom, but to make such a promise would set the bar too high, and I'm not that good at commitments. But I will try.
So, lets get on with it. We have received new products at Moonstone Path (http://www.moonstonepath.com/). We have the cutest fairies, amazing Buddhas, new oracle cards. We have also received some rather nice clusters like pink halite, celestite, calcite. I've just ordered some gargoyles, as our other ones sold out, and they will be arriving sometime next week.
The store next door to us Earth Angel http://www.earthangelslondon.com/ has received a ton of gorgeous Christmas decorations, Angels, and many other new things. Earth Angels and our store share a building (Maggie and I share snacks, a match made in heaven).
Our labyrinth is starting to fade, but we will have it up and groomed next spring. A lot of people have told me how they enjoyed walking it. Hubby maintained it all summer and he did a wonderful job (a little praise goes a long way). He doesn't know what tasks I have planned for him next spring, poor fella.
You may have noticed that our store window is looking pretty good. I would like to say this is due to my amazing window display skills--but I would be lying. A wonderful charismatic lady by the name of Julie - a professional decorator - has been taking time from her own busy days to do my window for me pro-bono for the last month or so. She makes me put in a chunk of effort, scrambling to get product ready for the window - she's a slave driver!
If anyone is interested in hiring someone to decorate their living space call Moonstone Path and I will get you her contact information. She's really good.
Here's a cute quote I found: Warning: Humour may be hazardous to your illness. ~ Ellie Katz
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