Community

The other day I was with at my Parents' home and we were reminiscing about the days when I was a Runner.  I loved Running.  I was a part of a Running Club and I loved my Community.  I loved being part of this Community.  For a long time Running was a major part of my life - my week days and weekends were dedicated to training and competing.  And I loved it.  I do miss my Running and hope to get back to Running after we have a Family.  And I also love that now I have discovered new Parts of my Self.

I was showing My Man my photos from my Running and I also found a piece of writing from 26 January 2001 - 10 years ago.  Here is what I wrote:

"MISSION STATEMENT FOR THE NEXT 100 YEARS

My wish is that all people will become actively involved in, and enjoy the benefits of, true Community.

Community is where a group of two or more people, regardless of differences, are able to accept and transcend these differences, enabling them to work effectively towards common Goals.  In a true Community, members support and encourage one another.  It is a place where there is freedom to be oneself, where ideas, opinions, sorrows, joys and Dreams are shared.

I am so fortunate to be part of the Western District Joggers & Harriers Club, which is more than just a Running Club... we are a Community... a Community that makes a difference to people's lives week in and week out.  The Running Club Community which originated in mid 1967 with only a few members now has over 200 Members.  Our Running Club meets every Saturday morning at Lake Gillawarna, Georges Hall at 7:30am.  We are a Family Blub which promotes Health and Fitness, with our Members enjoying the benefits and good feelings associated with being a part of a true Community.

My wish is that every individual becomes involved and joins a Community - such as a sporting group, a social club, a volunteer organisation, a church group, or a hobby group - any place where you can meet up with other people who may have the same interest (even if the interest is based on a desire to meet new people and enjoy new friendships).  I believe that the benefits for the individual and society of building communities are immeasurable.

My wish is that everyone can be proactive in building Communities within all their day to day relationships - within their Marriages, Families, work environments, social groups, sporting groups, suburbs, cities and countries.

As individuals we can build Communities by:

- Doing what is right;

- Being open and honest in all our interactions;

- Encouraging, celebrating and accepting our Uniqueness and different opinions, thoughts and ideas;

- Listening and being genuinely interested in others;

- Learning from one another's experiences;

- Always doing the best you can, in all you do;

- Being personally committed to continuous improvement;

- Treating others, as you would like to be treated.

God gave us the best Gift of all - the Gift of free will - the ability to choose.  Each day we make Choices.  We can choose how we want to spend our time, who we want to be, our Attitude and how we act and react.

My wish is that today, on Australia Day, 26 January 2001, all individuals make a choice to take personal responsibility and make a Commitment, to being the best they can be, and to build Communities within all their relationships.

It only takes small changes as individuals - but together we can make a big difference in building a better world.

I hope my wish comes true."

I loved reading what I wrote 10 years ago - feeling Inspired and seeing that my Values and Philosophy are still very similar.  And for the last 6 months I have consciously been aware of my feeling of a lack of Community in my life, or rather, the desire for me to regain a sense of Community in my life.  I am Grateful that I have a strong sense of Belonging with my Family and now with My Man, and yet there is a Part of me longing to again be a Member of a broader Community.  The Journey of being a Member came out when I was working with my Coach last year.  And I also know in my Heart, that some of my happiest times was when I was part of my Running Community - it is a time that brought me such great joy. 

And I am Excited that I have found a Community that I am growing to love.  I feel so at home when I go to Church on a Sunday - Kingsway Community http://www.kingsway.org.au/Welcome. There is so much Spirit within this gathering of friends.  I am made to feel so welcome and at the same time given Space so that I am not overwhelmed or rushed to give more than I can.  I have been going on and off for about 2 years and it was only recently that I started going there again more frequently after being away for about 5-6 months.  When I went back to Church I was overwhelmed with this feeling of being at home, overwhelmed with being somewhere so special, so emotional that I was moved to tears - happy tears. 

I love being in Connection each week with new people and I really love the messages each week from the Pastors.  What I love is that the Pastor is able to make the bible readings very relevant for today.  I also love that what the Pastors talk about is very much in line with my work in Coaching.  I love the Kingsway Community Churchs' Mission and Vision - Refuge for Healing, River for Refreshment, Resource for Unity.  Just the other week one of the Pastors was talking about all people being in touch with their Uniqueness  in the divine plan - I loved listening and felt so Inspired after being at Church - especially since this is an area I am so Passionate about in working with my Clients - helping Clients connect to their own sense of Uniqueness and Greatness.  I also loved when one of the Pastors talked about Community as "sharing the joy of Hope".

I loved being at Church on Sunday.  I was actually Excited to be going, as I know I always enjoy the feeling of being in this Community.  This week at Church the Pastors talked about this year being a year of "letting go".  He talked about the verse in the bible from Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)  "since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" and used the metaphor of an Olympic Runner who is trying to run with a whole crate of lead and how he will be slower versus someone who is free.  He gave examples of "Everything that hinders:
    * Unfulfilled and unrealistic expectations
    * Disappointments/hurts/offences
    * Fear and insecurities, self-esteem issues
    * Apathy/laziness
    * Busyness
    * Accumulation/material obsession/worldly goals
    * Self reliance
    * Isolation/individualism
    * Programs
    * Belief systems
    * Health/fitness issues – physical/emotional/spiritual
    * Facades/masks
    * Unhealthy relationships
    * Demarcation
    * Control/pride
    * My agenda
    * Judgemental criticism
    * Disobedience
    * Comfort
    * Bitterness/unforgiveness
    * “Rights”/title/position."
I loved how the Pastor talked about Mindsets, Beliefs and Attitudes that slow us down and trip us up, and the importance of Perseverence.  I just love that the language that is used at the Church is in line with my life and my Beliefs and my Coaching.  I just love these words in one of the Pastor's Blog "The exciting thing in all of this is the goal … which is greater FREEDOM. Imagine for a minute what it would be like to be totally free … free from ‘every weight’ that slows you down, hinders your relationships, distracts your purpose, hampers your development, obstructs your growth and holds you back from being the extraordinary person God wants you to be for Him and His kingdom … NOW. The more we can get rid of these burdens, weights and loads from our life, the better and more effective we will be …  and the more fun we will have together."

I feel very Inspired to become more involved in this Community.  Whenever I go to Church I feel Inspired to Volunteer and now I feel Inspired to offer up my Gift of Coaching.  I am not sure in what form I will be involved - I would be happy to offer some Workshops and Coaching and I am Excited that I spoke with one of the Team Leaders last Sunday and will meet her for a cuppa and see if I can be of Service.  I was also very interested to hear about the Youth Programme the Church is running and may be able to offer Coaching to one of the teenagers.  I was amazed to hear that of the Youth going to a Youth Group on a Friday night, only 20% are from Families who go to the Church, 80% of the Youth are coming on their own, perhaps connecting to a sense of Spirituality for the first time.

I am Excited to have found a Community that I love.

I am also very interested in joining in the Community of Coaches that is being led by the Vision of one of my friends from College.  We are meeting in a few weeks and I am looking forward to hearing more about the Vision and Mission of this Community.  My wish is that I can combine my interest in being involved in the Community of Coaches with my desire to be more involved in my local Community.

What I love about my Church Community is that they are Local and offer so many great Programs for the Local Community, and they are also very Conscious and Connected to the Global Community.  And I love the music, I love the music - it is a chance to rejoice and be Grateful.  Here are some of the songs from last Sunday that I loved singing
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MKAzYJcWSY
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UJtuyY8v1g (very Inspired by the words of this song)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79055I6o-NQ

When I was a Member of my Running Club, I loved seeing friends week in and week out, being caring and supporting each other, being of Service in the Community as Club Captain, and also being of Service for the greater good (as we raised money for different charities).  My wish for my Self is that I become a true Member of a Community again, and I feel I am taking steps in the right direction.

Within My Power

Today I have so many concerns and worries.  I am worried about my Mum's health.  I am worried about my Dad.  I am worried about my Brother.  I am worried and I am upset.

My day starts off well.  I wake up earlier than normal (even after pressing the snooze button a few times), seeing my Values on the wall and I choose Health and Nature as my Priorities.  I just love being Outdoors.  I love Walking and taking the time to enjoy the beautiful world around me.  I eat healthy all day - huge salad sandwich for lunch - and healthy pasta dish for dinner.  I love being healthy.  

And while I am doing everything I can do to look after myself today, Self-Care, there are clouds above me and shadows around me, a quiet sadness.  I have been Conscious about getting in touch with my Yin and using the Strength and Confidence in my communication.   And so I decide to bring my Yang into power in my personal life - communicating to my Family what matters to me, what matters to our Family. This afternoon I make my Family a Priority.  I leave work early to do everything I can to help with some difficult situations.  

I realise today that I can only work Within My Power - I can only do what I can do.  And so I speak to my Mum and Dad and my Brother and Sister-In-Law and I do everything I can, Within My Power, to help improve this situation. 

I have been talking a lot, even in my Coaching - about working within one's Sphere of Control.  Tonight I refer to 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People' by Stephen Covey, one of my favourite books - he talks about the Circle of Influence and the Circle of Concern.  I like what he writes -

"Proactive people focus their efforts in the Circle of Influence.  They work on the things they can do something about.  The nature of their energy is positive, enlarging and magnifying, causing their Circle of Influence to increase.  Reactive people, on the other hand, focus their efforts in the Circle of Concern.  They focus on the weakness of other people, the problems in the environment, and circumstances over which they have no control.  Their focus results in blaming and accusing attitudes, reactive language, and increased feelings of victimisation.  The negative energy generated by that focus, combined with neglect in areas they could do something about, causes their Circle of Influence to shrink."

I love that Coaching helps people develop an Internal Focus for Change - "Developing an Internal Focus means enabling the Client to make a transition from seeing the source and solution of a problem in others, or the situation, to within themselves.  Rather than externalising their problem the Client begins to recognise their own Choices about the way they think, feel and act or react.  These choices effect the Client's experience of, and relationship to, the issue or problem."

After referring to Stephen Covey's book and my College notes, I realise that I cannot lose sleep tonight, I cannot keep talking over and over to my Man about how worried I am - I can speak from my heart and offer my help to my Family - and most importantly I can offer love to my Family.  And rather than worrying about what might happen, I can just focus on the Now - focusing my energy, thoughts and emotions  within my Circle of Influence - working Within My Power.

As a Life Coach, it is important that I Coach myself, and live by the principles that Make A Difference.  Not only is this important - this is my life - I have a Vision to Spread The Yellow - and even though there are times I don't feel Yellow - I still have Choices of how I act, react and think.  I am Inspired by the image of my Goddess - I am glad that in being a Visual person I can so easily bring this image to my mind's eye.

Now is the time to be the Goddess.

I Can't Wait

My Artwork of Values is now in my Bedroom, it is great to see these Words first thing in the morning.

I look at the word Health and I know that this is very important to me.  And I am not feeling very Healthy right now - probably because I ate chocolate last night, which always makes me feel sick (and yes, I eat it anyway - yes, I am so not perfect).  I also know that I have nothing in the cupboard for breakfast - we have eaten all the fruit and I have not replaced my cereal.  If I was to put on a Scale how I feel in relation to my Ideal Health between 1 and 10 with 10 being the Ideal - I would probably be at a 2 or 3.

I have a sleep in - I feel like I am getting enough  in terms of hours of sleep and yet I still wake up tired - I feel like my night of dreams, where I always remember the adventure or drama, leave me exhausted.  I put on some Meditation music - this is a perfect way to start my day.

In my Mediation, I feel myself going deeper and deeper into a relaxed state.  The image of me lying on a picnic rug with a Baby and my Man nearby comes to my mind's eye - this is our Baby - it is a beautiful image.  In the Meditation I have a sense that I must prepare now, I must make Health a Priority - prepare my body for having our Baby.  When I come out of the meditative state, I feel at peace.  Having a baby is my greatest heart's desire - and this is a great motivation to look after myself.  I Google 'Preparing to have a baby' and I see that it is important to prepare my body 3-12 months in advance - folate seems a Priority - and the importance of not being underweight or overweight, and not eating certain foods such as raw fish.  I am very interested to learn more.  I even go to the library and look up books to find out what I should and shouldn't be eating.  I have had some Health concerns over the last 10 years - and I have a strong sense that I will be a Mum - and I know I have to do everything I can to make this dream come true.

I have a lovely day with my Family.  I enjoy time with my Mum and Dad - we enjoy a walk around Cronulla, along the beach and enjoy lunch at Cronulla RSL - I just love spending time with my Parents.

While walking with my Parents, I am continually, constantly, so consciously looking at Babies and Children.  I always love seeing Children with their Parents - I just Love Children.  I Can't Wait to have my own Baby - I Can't Wait.  In Coaching, there is a question about - What do you ache for?  For me the answer is obvious - I Can't Wait until I have a Baby - this will be my Greatest Wish, my Greatest Gift.

After lunch we walk to the park where I am very Excited to see my Gorgeous Nieces.  Little Brooke (who is turning 2 years old in September) is with my Dad and she runs over - I love seeing my Dad with my Nieces, his Granddaughters.  My Mum just loves spending time with Brooke - probably because the day Brooke was born was the day that Mum found out she had a brain tumor - miraculously, thank God, Mum is enjoying wonderful times with Brooke - who makes us smile.

I then love seeing my Nieces Ashley (7 in August) and Olivia (4 in July) run towards me.  My Nieces bring me so much Joy.  I love my Nieces - I can't imagine loving more - and yet I Can't Wait until I become a Mum.  And I Can't Wait to look at my Baby, our Baby - I love the feeling of having a Baby with my Man.

I love the day with my Family and I love that my Brother and Sister-In-Law and my Nieces call over to our Home and we have fun playing computer games and dancing - my Nieces are so beautiful.

 
I Love them.  I Can't Wait to introduce them to their Cousin when we have our Baby.

I am 39 years old in 4 months from next Tuesday - and so I decide that I have to make some changes.  I have to move my 2-3 on my Health Scale to a 10.  I am doing my Research and feeling into my Intuition as to what feels right.  I decide that I will put a hold on my Running until after I have a Baby as I know my Running has in the past affected my cycle - and so I will continue to enjoy my Walking.  I am also DEFINITELY planning to start Yoga - I have been talking about Yoga for over a year - my Commitment is to have been to at least 1 Yoga Class in the next 2 weeks.

I am also planning to be more serious about my diet - I have started buying Organic Fruit and Vegetables - and my preference is Vegetarian and even though I love Animals, I am now wanting a Baby and so I need to continue to educate myself on the best Choices for myself.

I Can't Wait to have a Baby.  I Can't Wait!!!  I am so Grateful that I have a Wonderful Man to share my life and I look forward to the day when we hold our Baby in our arms.