The Thrill of Control

When was the last time you have been spontaneous?  

The act of doing something without regard, just an inner inclination without any thought or premeditation. If you need to think about it, the answer is way too long!

My close friends and family have come to know that I totally trust my inner inclination or should I say intuition or "gut feeling". So when out on a morning walk last weekend, my inclination was to get up in a tree to see what I could see. Why? For no good reason, which was reason enough for me.

I so enjoy "Changing" things up, adding adventure to an otherwise routine walk or other activity.

The tree was so majestic and strong that I just wanted to be a part of it, to climb up there and feel the strength and see the beauty what the "leg up" would provide.

Results of "changing" things up?  Felt Awesome, Strong, In Control and Alive! 

This Self-Imposed Change to my routine turned out to be pretty cool in so many ways! That's what is so great about self-imposed change, it is our idea! Once again, our idea, our control, right?  We certainly love our control or the illusion we are in control.

Our daily routines can become very boring and automatic over time. The daily routine tends to be bland, drains the energy, a sense of boredom and at times lack of motivation to do anything else.

Trust me, I'm guilty of it at times as well. So what "Self-Imposed" Change can be done?

1.Take a few moments and think about your day or weekly routine and activities.

2. Write down the one routine you have done the longest the same way over and over again

3. Under the routine put the expected outcome from this routine activity

4.. Under that routine list the action items that are involved within the routine

New Page:

1. Write down the same routine

2. Under the routine write the expected outcome. ( Is there a different outcome desired?)

3. Count the number of current action items listed 

4. On this new page under the expected outcome place the numbers. ( if 7, list 1.2.3.4 etc)

5. Now identify new actions that get you to the same expected outcome

6. Review and Take Action!!

Sometimes the self imposed change can be as simple as changing a driving route, selecting a different lunch location (never know what you may see) or perhaps doing phone calls instead of emails. The lesson in changing things up is to create a new sense of excitement and engagement. It could be a slight change but within that slight change a huge reward may be received.

Here's to incorporating tiny "self-imposed" changes on a regular basis... Get ready, you'll be hooked!

To learn more about self-imposed changes, see Chapter 5 page 39 in Double Stixs™: The Nourishment and Gift of Change.

Bright, Flowing, Tall and Strong

The excitement and anticipation of a brand new month has got me giddy and feeling as light as air and as playful as a child! It's like a switch turned on and oh la la there is a change of energy, intention and love of life!

The saying "In a blink of an eye" is so true, the most amazing situations, things or opportunities happened quickly and believe it or not we were not in control.

This is also the completion of the first half of 2015 and the beginning of the month of July.

A sense of accomplishment, completion feeling like I am standing on the top of the tallest mountain looking down and around of all that has been the past six months.

What monumental event or situation has occurred to make me feel like this? Actually not one, only the knowing that each moment of each day there is always the possibility of something amazing! Enjoying each moment, being in the moment, and a grand appreciation of now!

The same feeling that I had when in Sedona, Arizona with my dear friend hiking. The picture above is the river flowing effortlessly with the view of Cathedral Rock in the background.

For me, July is special as it is the month that I began my life, so of course I would be excited right?
There is also a sense that July will be a month of powerful energy and sparks of  new beginnings with fresh starts! Full Moon is July 2nd  and July 31st is the second Full Moon (Blue Moon). Perhaps another reason for my excitement and anticipation of what has yet to appear.

A perfect month to highlight all the good stuff in our lives, be open to any transitions that may be occurring in your life while illuminating areas that need expanded, renewed or released. A great time to decide exactly what should move forward in our next six months!

Such a great time for each of us to just assess all things so that the next six months are the 

"Best Six Months Ever"!! 

Some things to think about during this amazing upcoming month of July!

• What does forward look like to you? 
• What do you want to bring into the forward part of your life?
•  What is working for you and what no longer serves you?
• What one thing can I adjust or eliminate to bring balance into my life?
• What one thing can I do for "me" to show love and appreciation for who I am?
• What are all the things in life, right now, to be grateful for?

It is always good to assess if all things you desired at the beginning of the year are still relevant now. Do you need to focus and create new intentions?o

Feeling a little apprehensive or perhaps fearful of embracing a transition or assessing what is working in life and contemplating things changing?

Change is going to happen, whether it is self imposed or external change. Why not be the master of your change?

Wishing everyone the best month of July ever! May you be the "Master of Change" in your life!

Double Stixs™: The Nourishment and Gift of Change

My greatest appreciation for all of you whom have followed me over the years and have allowed me to be a small part of your amazing life! Happy July Celebration!









It is with great appreciation for all of life's lessons, experiences and people in my life......

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Celebration Runs!

The ringing in the New Year is celebrated by millions of people all over the world!

So how do you ring in the New Year?  Do you have a specific tradition, such as watching the ball drop from New York City or perhaps attending a gala full of beautifully dressed people and plenty of champagne.

Back in August I decided to attempt to achieve one of the items on my bucket list- A Half Marathon!
For some this is something that is an easy feat, for me running has never been in my wheel house. The idea of running always evoked a sense of frustration and at times fear. Why? For decades, I compared myself to other runners who were sleek, fast and motivated by beating their last time. The thought of standing among, what I perceived to be, physically trained athletes just scared the living crap out of me! The 5 K's and 10K previously run were fine as that distance seemed manageable.

What changed? I changed, I changed my perceptions, did some research and last year, with nervous anticipation, added a Half Marathon to my bucket list. Let the training begin and it did in September!

I found and registered for a New Year's Eve Half Marathon and a New Year's Day 5K. My thought process was end the year overcoming fear and accomplishing something I had in my vision. Then begin 2015 invigorated and encouraged to run after any and all of my dreams this year!

As in any plan, life tends to get in the way, my road to accomplishment was no exception. There were many obstacles, transitions and a few times training stopped due to physical injuries over the four month period.
Could I have stopped and chalked it up to "I tried" it just didn't work or  "wasn't meant to be"?  You betcha! Boy am I glad that I shifted my mindset and made the change!

I completed the Half Marathon in 24 degrees at start time and 34 degrees at the finish line. The 5K on New Year's day started at 33 degrees and ten minutes into the race, rained poured down, the temperatures dropped and the path began to turn to ice in spots. Seriously it took me days to feel totally warm.

Emotion on both days at the finish line was overwhelming! A sense of accomplishment that no one can take away from me! I own it and I am so grateful to my body for allowing me to realize a dream.

So what changes are you thinking about  making or trying in your life?
What is stopping you from putting action into motion to accomplish?

Remember, even the smallest of changes or adjustments can make a difference.
It doesn't have to be perfect or pretty!
I know my actions/motions were not sleek or perfect form but I got it done!
Running to or embracing Change sets into motion energy and activity that begins to open opportunities, experiences and brings about accomplishments.

Confidence within each of us allows for us to experience all that life has to offer each and everyone of us!

Time for me now to remind you that each of you are amazing, worthy and have the ability to achieve all that you want to for and in your life!   Time to start now!

Chapter 6 in Double Stixs™  : The Nourishment and Gift of Change includes an exercise to support your desire to energize the confidence just is and has always been within you!

Packages of Love

Beautiful colors, shimmering lights, festive activities with the sounds and smells of the holiday season!
There is the hustle and bustle of creating our space to reflect our traditions and our inner most memories and feelings of the season. Add in creation of our own traditions blended and intertwined with our past memories and experiences.

While each of us creates our own holiday space it is impossible not to think of our memories as children. Oh the laughter, fun and memories of holidays gone by along with the recent memories each of us has created as adults or perhaps with our own families.

The marketing aspect of the holidays seems to lengthen the time of year which shines a light on this season.
A light that for some is painful and not appreciated as their spirit is still and quiet. There can be many reasons for the lack of enthusiasm for celebrating the Holiday Season. Life's changes are typically a common theme.

When there is a life change, newlyweds to parents, college bound children, loss of a parent or loved one as a few examples. Our new chapter may not be comfortable may even be a little frightening or cause us sadness. The separation or sense of loss is great and may find ourselves trying to recapture or recreate to lessen the sadness or pain. Everything seems to be as tight as a ball of yarn, feeling safe with the encompassing perceived shield. But is it really? Is there really a need to be wound so tight?

Though life changes are a  natural evolution it still is hard and we need to be reminded to be gentle with ourselves. Allow the emotions to rise and take action where it makes sense and is appropriate.

My mom loved Christmas, she had so many of those bright sparkling sweaters, decorated everything around her along with singing every holiday song written. She wrapped each gift with love from the time all of her children were toddlers all the way through adulthood. Each year mom would watch "It's a Wonderful Life". My mom lived her life each day as being wonderful, but during the season she was more glowing than any other time of the year. For many years I was blessed to have family in my home celebrating and creating new adult memories of family and Christmas. When my mom was killed in 2003 the magic seemed to dim. For a few years the holidays were just "going through the motions", enjoying family but there was an inner sadness.
I felt, or thought, that I needed to create just the same experience my mom and dad had created for me, for all of us. Oh what an inner struggle and disappointment when things just didn't work out the same!

Tired of disappointment and wanting to celebrate rather than recreate, I ignited my inner self and took control of this change. "Our Self is the foundation and core to all the surrounding elements that are integral to our lives- including the holidays".

Celebrating life and yes, the holidays, the focus is on the people around me, where I am and those I love. Celebrating and Creating new traditions, new experiences, cooking different foods. Oh most definitely celebrating the memories and all those who helped create such memories that are strong and withstand time.
Is everything perfect or as I planned? Absolutely not, but it is perfect in how it is allowed to unfold! Just the perfect memory with sometimes a lot of laughter, rolling eyes and a whole lot of fun!

Time to me now to remind you to love yourself, release all fears, loosen up the twine that is tightly wrapped.
and begin to live in the "day", appreciating what is within and around you and to begin to create loving and precious memories each living day!

"An Action executed Today, Creates Memories for a Life-time"  Cindy lake

During the remainder of the preparation for the upcoming holiday, may each day expand the joy of appreciating self, those around us and sharing the expression of love and gentle spirit.


excerpts taken from Double Stixs ™ : The Nourishment and Gift of Change  pages 25-31
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Expansion

My sister and I got together in January for some sister time, it was amazing and so much fun!

One of the fun things, for her, that we did together was shopping! My sister loves to shop; I on the other hand, shop only when I absolutely have to get something. I have never been able to wrap my head around shopping, probably because I was always too busy working and too exhausted after a long day.

The first few days of being excited to be together was wonderful, catching up on our lives and sharing our adventures over the past nine months. Then as sisters typically do transitioned easily and became brutally honest with each other! All done with love, fun, laughter and tons of teasing! So my baggy butt jeans became the focus of teasing to the point I finally accepted her offer to take me shopping! Oh Joy!

My sister always looks fabulous, everything is stylish and fits properly; she definitely received that gift from our mom! Me? Let’s just say sometimes I need extra help!

Talk about being excited, the “perfect” pair of jeans that fit, looked amazing and approved by my sister was found in the second store shopped! OK, so it wasn’t that bad, I actually enjoyed the experience with her and grateful I was buying my regular size instead of larger expanding size jeans of past couple of years! Sometimes it’s the little things in life, right?

I wear these jeans once a week, wash them, dry them fold them since January. Then this weekend I had put the jeans in the hamper and the way I took them off and how the waist portion of the jean fell showed a message that surprised me. The message was sewn into the left side near the button hole and had always been there, I just wasn’t paying close enough attention or aware enough to notice, I just was going through the motions. Pick the jean up, put on my body, take off, wash, dry, fold and put away.

The message: Open Your Heart

Standing there amazed and pleasantly surprised was reminded of how often routine allows us to miss some amazing messages or perhaps meeting new people or exploring new adventures!

This week my desire for each of you is to Open Your Heart to “you” and to all the possibilities!

Expand and be open to Believe Again, Dream Again and Achieve all the possibilities that you deserve! 

Remember, you are amazing, strong and deserve to create a life you chose and take action to get it!

Explore and the task is: This week chose one thing to do for you that shows you Love!

"Those who are willing to be vulnerable move among mysteries."  — Theodore Roethke

Sparkle

Funny how little things as a plug into a socket can bring up symbolism's of life. The other day I went to turn the lights on the bamboo tree in my office. Bending down, like I have so many other times, I flipped the switch.  Expecting the lights to immediately turn on imagine my surprise when the tree stayed dark.

My next move was to go to the light switch on the wall thinking I may have accidentally hit the switch leaving the office. Pressed the switch and still no glowing lights coming from within the branches of the tree. Once again, bent down and turned the switch on no light. Glancing over to the socket I did see, out of the corner of my eye, a plug in the socket. So I proceeded to go back to the switch on the wall, leaving the switch on the plant in the same position and pushed the wall switch. Nothing!

Bending down to assess the situation I noticed that though there was a plug in the wall socket. I also looked over to the multiple extension cord device, no plug. Fully satisfied that I had found the solution, I remembered I had pulled out the connection of the extension cord when leaving for several days last week.

I plugged the cord into the extension and immediately the light shined through the branches illuminating a soft glow into the room.

The light sparkled and illuminated the room creating a soft alluring atmosphere.

Then I got to thinking about how this situation could be a reflection of events in life.

The symbolism of being plugged into a situation, day to day life, business or perhaps an event going on in life around us. Plugged in but not connected, meaning being aware of all around us yet not really plugged into the core of the situation, not actively participating.

Here are some questions that I asked myself, perhaps these may resonate within for further exploration:

1.      Is there an area of my life that is not fully connected?  Where? (list)

2.      What activities in these areas of my life are not connecting? (list the activities under the areas)

3.      Are these areas/activities still relevant?  ( Yes/No)

4.      If yes, what is the next step to connect and be totally plugged in?

5.      If no, then you know what the next step needs to be and the timing.

Time for me now to wish you a fully connected week of illumination and sparkle!

“ Plug in, Connect and feel the warmth of illumination ignite an inner sparkle that transform” cl

image: s243.photobucket.com

Groundhog Day

Happy Ground Hog day!

Punxsutawney Phil came out today and ascended down to the ceremonial location of Gobbler’s Knob to give his yearly prediction! This occurs each year in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

Each year this ceremony reminds me of the movie “Groundhog Day”. This is a comedy written by Harold Ramis and Danny Rubin; starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. If you haven’t seen it, put it on the rental list; if you have but it’s been awhile might want to watch again.
I remember watching this movie and after thinking this silently finally said out loud- “you keep doing the same thing over and over again – do something different”!  PLEASE!!

Groundhog Day also comes at an interesting point in time, beginning of a new month right after January. We identified new resolutions, new dreams, new goals and the dream of new beginnings for a brighter future.
Groundhog Day for me is a reality check. Am I still doing the same thing over and over again or have I made different choices which have fostered positive energy and change!

Thought it would be fun to list a couple of questions for pondering while taking time for you. These are some of the questions that I often ask myself when doing a reality check of “Doublestixs”… What is “DoubleStixs”?  January 11^th post will explain this, but essentially it is harmony and balance which allows freedom to move forward in all things.

·         Find yourself doing the same thing over and over again without a sense of happiness or accomplishment?   Yes or No Question

·         If so, what one small thing could be changed to create a different response or outcome?

·         Tired of the same ole, same ole? OK, so what needs to happen to change it? Make a list!

·         Fearful of the result of making a change? Write the worst case outcome- is it really a fear?

·         If not fear but rather apathy ask why? Identify each component place one small action item next to the component that is perceived as holding back the opportunity to usher in “DoubleStixs”

So if each day seems to be the same thing over and over and not happy with the results “make a choice to change one thing”. OR perhaps change is occurring to you and around you and dealing with this as always isn’t working, make a shift in perspective to see if from a different point of view.

“Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.” –Jim Rohn

Time For Me Now Inspiration - Cleanse

Cleansing may have many definitions specific to each individual: 

Personal hygiene, internal cleanse or expelling impurities.  Cleanse can be physical, mental or even spiritual. Cleansing also could mean clearing space.

For this purpose, Cleanse means to assess personal and social responsibilities, assess the people in your life, activities, observing your space and my most importantly your thoughts.

Circumstances may not be able to be changed so easily; we can certainly control our response!

Overextended?

I know I am at times; there is something so difficult in saying a two letter word:

“NO”…

After awhile, our responsibilities pile up, our frustration grows, what was once fun

and exciting becomes a chore, unfulfilling while adding stress into our lives.

So what do we do? How do we shift direction? Is it Possible?

YES!!!! 

Anything is possible- if you believe it can and you take action!

Begin by assessing what brings you joy, happiness, fulfillment.  Do more!

Are there activities that can be delegated?  Experiencing Commitment overload?  

Perhaps shift the perspective on the commitments and people in your life:

Who may I meet, what is possible to learn, what opportunities may appear; be excited !

If  no longer excited, perhaps it is time to consider a change!

Change is good and brings new experiences, people and opportunities.

Release, Breath and begin to fill your life with all that is good for you.

Visualize a waterfall cascading down to a lower pool, close your eyes and imagine being at the base of the fall, water rushing over you, removing all that is a burden or that is no longer working for you.  Breathe and find that scared space within you to allow your thoughts to release all that is not serving a purpose any longer.  Breathe and take in the air and feel the mist hitting your face reminding you that you are alive!

… When the cleansing is over, open your eyes! What a beautiful rainbow! A rainbow of hope, magnificent beauty and all the possibilities for you…..

Ah, the Majesty of releasing and cleansing what no longer belongs…..

Remember to be good to yourself, you don’t have to do it all yourself, Enjoy your life!

Do more and bring more of all the good you enjoy into your life!    You are so deserving!

Time For Me Now Inspiration - Simple and FUN!

Keep It Simple and FUN!!

I still laugh when I think back to an earlier time in my career.

My career was a blessing, but I was most definitely not taking Time for ME.

Looking back, I am ok with that part of my life; My journey brought me to:  Time for Me Now!

Each of us, including myself needed to experience what I call the hamster rotation.

What is a hamster rotation?  I describe it as continual motion exerting energy in an effort to reach goal(s) set by someone other than ourselves in an effort to gain all that we think we want to achieve or attain.

Sound or feel familiar?

Simple and Fun was my motto and management style. Yes, professionalism and “attaining” the goals was first and foremost but given the time spent at work and away from family and loved ones, my belief was and still is let’s make it Simple and Fun…. AND get the job done!

Yes, my approach raised a lot of eyebrows but as long as the team was achieving results ~ “All was well”

I have had the pleasure and honor of leading many teams over my career meeting incredible individuals.

Simple and FUN brought some amazing results for the team and for the company….

What in the world does this have to do with a website on Dreams and Coaching, you may ask!

Simple one word answer: Everything.

My coaching and support on Time for me Now is a little different than most coaching sites but not different from my approach to Life.    

Simple and FUN!

Everyone begins a journey or seeking change- One Step at a time- so why not One Word at a time?

Inspiration is important, so each week I will be focusing on “one word” that can be practiced or reflected upon during the week.

The intent is to support your desire to shift perspective or just plain start to enjoy breathing again!

My desire is for you to “Dream, Believe Again and Achieve” ™ all that YOU desire…….