Love My Life

My Tag line for my Coaching Business is Love Your Life.  Here is my Flyer that is currently being printed.

So I ask myself this question Do you Love Your Life?  Yes!  YES!!!  It feels great to be able to say an ENTHUSIASTIC YES I Love My Life!

I love the Coaching question - "Ask yourself from the heart, if I could be, do or have anything I would definitely..."  I love this question.  And even as I answer Yes I Love My Life - I still have dreams and a Vision and a Mission and set myself Goals.  Life for me is a Journey - I am not fixed on just getting to one destination, I Love My Life along the way, each and every day.

Today I have a day off work and I have set myself a new Challenge.  It is 30 April and for the next 30 days I am going to:

- Walk every day

- Meditate every day

- Not eat chocolate.

Being healthy is one of my top Goals - eating well and exercising.  I enjoy eating chocolate - yet I often feel sick after I eat chocolate.  Before moving in with my Man, I rarely ate chocolate (unless I was emotional) - yet with my Man having a sweet tooth and after all the easter eggs we received, I have been eating chocolate.  Time to take a break.  Plus I like giving my willpower a Challenge.

Walking every day is easy - the Challenge for me is to not start Running again - I need to take a break for now.  My back is still sore and I am just Grateful that I can go for a walk.  I am also concerned that I need to not put pressure on my body - as I can't wait to have my own baby - in Coaching we talk about what you "ache for" - and having my own baby always comes first to my mind.

I had set myself a Running Goal - and I was doing well - I had built up to over 43 minutes - yet now I find myself needing to change direction.  I am not giving up on my original Goal - yet when I ask myself the Coaching question about my Running "And why is that important to you?" the answer is revealed after asking the question a few times, that the most important reason I like Running is that I want to be healthy.  And so for now I need to adjust my Goal to Walking.  I like reading this paragraph in 'You Can Have An Amazing Life In Just 60 Days!' by Dr. John F. Demartini:

"Follow the Law of Completion, break down your Goals into smaller action steps, put them into reasonable time frames, and then reward yourself when you complete them.  Train yourself to do whatever you say or intend, and watch what happens!  Of course, you must figure in one other factor:  You may decide tomorrow that you have something more important to do and discard your previous plan.  That's okay.  Don't berate yourself over that.  You haven't failed to complete your Goal; you've simply clarified or upgraded it.  Some of the things you don't complete are simply refinements towards higher priority pursuits..."

I do love Walking.  I love to be out in nature, I love being outdoors.  In the past I have also enjoyed time at a gym - yet my preference in terms of Exercise is to be outside.  I just love the surprises and delights and gifts from the Universe.  Some of my favourite parts of my walk today were seeing 2 pelicans flying, walking through the park, I just love Trees, seeing one beautiful kookaburra (where I could stand within a metre and just admire the beauty) and then walking a few metres and seeing another kookaburra (I love kookaburras) and also coming close to two galahs (just love the colouring of the galah).

I love Birds.  I love Animals.  This is why Vegetarian is my preference.

I Love My Life in that I now I have the space to enjoy and explore.  I have a good day, time reflecting on my Business - just one week until I start my Business.  I journal, I write some lists and I enjoy a Meditation.  I love making the time for Meditation - it is my time - a time to connect with my Inner being, Higher Self, God, my Angels.  It is a time when I find deep peace and receive insights and Visions that spark ideas.

I also enjoy some housework, washing and vacuuming, I enjoy looking after our Home.  I love when my Man comes home from work and I am organised.  I love that I have a Home with my Man. 

And tonight I cook - I love cooking new Vegetarian dishes - it is Joyful for me and a way I enjoy to Spread The Yellow in our Home.  I make Vegetarian san chow bow for an entree and then I make roasted potatos and zucchini as a side dish with a main of roasted capsicum with a rice and tofu and vegetable filling.  I love cooking for my Man and myself - I love home-made, healthy Vegetarian cooking.

And now it is time to relax on the lounge with my Man and watch one of our favourite TV shows - just a time to relax together...

 

Help Children In Poverty

I am Very Passionate about wanting to Help Children In Poverty, Children Living In Poverty.

I heard the Call last year - feeling Inspired to visit and support Children and Communities living in impoverished countries.

This Call seemed out of the ordinary, certainly without explanation, perhaps without logic - especially since there are other Causes that are very close to my heart - and also because I have never travelled before, and rather than being excited or motivated to go on a traditional holiday - here I am wanting to pay money to volunteer to be with the children.  It makes a lot of sense in that I love children - I just LOVE CHILDREN - yet, at my age I "should" just be focusing on having my own children, which is also a wonderful dream for me.  I can't wait to have my own baby - that will be my greatest dream come true.  And I still want to Make A Difference in the world.  It would not be easy for me to just live my life, without Consciousness or ACTION.

The Call is becoming stronger and stronger - especially after studying Vision and Purpose at College.   Normally I would race and make plans and work out a checklist to make this happen - using my head and getting action plans in place.  Yet now I am learning a new way of being in the world - allowing myself to just go with the flow and see where the Journey leads.  I am showing up and I am asking for God and the Universe to guide me.  This Project desires my Yin and Yang to work together as the creative force for the Greater Good.

I have been designing my Flyer for my Coaching business and I have included the statement - "Active in supporting children and communities in impoverished communities".  For every Coaching Session I will donate $5 towards charity.  It is a start.  I also have plans for my Spread The Yellow business - products and services - where money will also be donated to Help The Children Living In Poverty.

As well as donating money, in my heart I am also Inspired to visit the children and communities and volunteer my time.  This Call is strong for me.  My Yin is intuitively being guided, and then an 'Aha' moment came a few days ago and my Yang goes into action.  I had an idea, an insight, a remembering where university students go to impoverished communities - Yin heard her intuition - Yin got her Yang to Google "students volunteer travel" - and I am EXCITED - I find some great Projects where I can volunteer for 2 weeks.  Community work with children in Sangklaburi, Thailand, organised through STA Travel, catches my eye - I look into the eyes of these children in the photo and feel drawn to be in Thailand.

These are the words about the Project on the STA website "Enjoy working with children and want to help improve their lives?  Do you want to help children in a stunning part of Thailand who are not getting the care and attention they so deserve? This project helps the staff at care homes that are drastically underfunded and where the staff are overstretched and therefore greatly need any help that you can give them. You will be able to make a massive difference to these children’s lives by giving them support, playing games with them and teaching them English. All of which will give not only the children but the community as a whole a promising future to come." YES  YES  YES  YES!!

I look up the Calendar of Terms for College - we finish College on 30 August and go back to College on 20 September - there is availability from 4 September for 2 weeks.  I feel Very Inspired.

Rather than race to book this tour I decide to just sit with this idea (at least for a couple of weeks) - yet I am Excited.

And then today while sitting at home, watching the Channel 9 morning show which is unusual for me, normally I watch Channel 7 - I see an advertisement for 'Plan' - helping children and communities.  I haven't heard of Plan - yet I have been frequently visiting websites of World Vision, Oxfam, Tear Australia, Save The Children to see all the work that is being done and how I can get involved or if I would look at donating to their Projects.  And then today I learn about 'Plan' - glad my Yin was paying attention.  I am very Excited to learn about Plan, and my Yang is active in exploring their website - "About Plan - Plan is one of the oldest and largest children's development organisations in the world. We work with communities in 49 developing countries and raise funds to support our work in 21 countries like Australia. By actively involving children, and working at a grassroots level with no religious or political agenda, we unite and inspire people around the globe to transform the world for children."

When I read their website - there are some key paragraphs that really stand out for me:

- "Child centred community development is the term we use to describe how we aim to do our development work. It's a rights based approach to development where we support communities to develop the structures and skills they need to provide a safe and healthy environment in which children are able to realise their full potential.  It is our belief, based on many years of experience, that this can be achieved only if children’s best interests are at the heart of everything we do and if children themselves actively participate in the process."  As a Coach, I love the words they use - Community, Development, Support, Children are able to realise their Full Potential - and I love that children are actively involved - they are being given the tools for their own Empowerment, realising and releasing their own power within.

- "Children are the hardest hit by poverty.  Childhood is the most crucial development period in an individual’s life. It is when an individual’s main physical, mental, emotional and social development and growth takes place. Damage at this stage cannot be overcome later in life, and poor children are likely to pass poverty onto their children, perpetuating the cycle. Poverty reduction must begin with children."

- "Poverty alleviation generally tries to increase income at a household level. Children, though, exist within households and usually have the least power and influence on how income is spent. This is particularly true for girls. Poor households often have to cut back on expenses for children and frequently are forced to rely on sending the children to work. Battling with extreme poverty every day often leaves adults too busy and exhausted to properly nurture children. To combat child poverty we need to consider the impact poverty is having on children in poor families."

What I also Love about Plan is that you can not only Sponsor children and communities but you can also organise to visit the communities, organised through Plan - this is wonderful - to see the difference your sponsorship is making in their world.  I also love that they encourage fundraising activities - which I will embrace through my Spread The Yellow business to increase awareness and donate funds to Make A Difference.

I feel so Grateful that I am open to the gifts from the Universe - increasing my Awareness and my Yin intuitively being guided to opportunities where I CAN Help The Children Living In Poverty.  I know that my Family will say that I "should" just be focusing on getting married and having my own children - and this is also important to me - and I cannot ignore this Call - "I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do." (Helen Keller)

 

 

Eating Animals

I have been reading the book 'Eating Animals' by Jonathan Safran Foer for the last few weeks.  It is definitely a book that has opened my eyes and opened my heart. 

I read a few pages each day - there are so many stories, so many facts and figures - so much heartbreak.

I saw this book promoted on 'Ellen' and I loved hearing the author talk about his Mission to create Conversations after reading his book.  This book definitely has the ability to create Conversations.  It has the capacity to change lives - change the world - one by one.  I am Inspired to make changes in my life.

I could retype sections or paragraphs from the book - there is so much in this book - yet there are some parts in the book that really stand out for me.  The author talks about his dog, how much he loves his dog and offers the space for us to consider why it would never be okay (in most countries) for us to eat our dogs, yet that we find it easy to eat meat from cows, chickens, pigs.  Another similar story that stands out for me is the story of Knut, the first polar bear born to Berlin Zoo in 30 years, and how much Knut was loved by the City with people crowding into the zoo to watch Knut - yet just a few metres away from Knut's enclosure was a stand selling "Wurst de Knut", made from the flesh of factory-farmed pigs, "which are at least as intelligent and deserving of our regard as Knut.  This is the species barrier."

 

It is surprising to me, when I read about "Bycatch" - the amount of species that are regularly killed in pursuit of "seafood" - "What if there were labeling on our food letting us know how many animals were killed to bring our desired animal to our plate?... Imagine being served a plate of sushi.  But this plate also holds all of the animals that were killed for your serving of sushi.  The plate might have to be five feet across."

This statement stands out for me - "Factory farming's success depends on consumers' nostalgic images of food production - the fisherman reeling in fish, the pig farmer knowing each of his pigs as individuals, the turkey rancher watching beaks break through eggs - because these images correspond to something we respect and trust."  It is interesting - I believe it is all about Awareness and Consciousness - if the regular consumer was aware of the facts and images behind Eating Animals - I am sure that people would make different choices.  It is similar to the plight of Orang-utans - I am sure if people had a Consciousness that using regular soap means chopping down tress that threaten Orang-utans, than I am sure that people would look for alternatives.

Consciousness is a big thing for me - I am wanting to be Conscious of my choices in terms of the Environment and Eating Animals.  Recently we went to Yum Cha with friends - it was crazy (in my opinion) - we all sat around a round table and we just kept getting dishes and dishes and dishes and dishes and dishes served to us - I just kept hearing friends saying "yes" "yes" "yes" "yes" "yes" - and what appeared to be eating unconsciously between tangents of stories.  I love getting together with friends - and yet I was very happy that last week we met at a cafe, where I happily enjoyed a Vegetarian pizza with my Man and most of all enjoyed more space for great Conversations with friends - more opportunity to Connect, time of Spread The Yellow.

I am only halfway through the book - and I am distressed when I read descriptions of the suffering of cows, pigs and chickens.  The author has not included any photos - yet these are easy to find on the Internet.  Here is a site on what is happening in Australia - images and words are definitely upsetting - there is a lot of information on this site - http://www.all-creatures.org/articles/ar-mindless.html

I have previously been a Vegan - this was about 8 years ago.  At the same time I was very into my Running, and so I was very much into my carbs - eating a lot of pasta - rather than learning about healthy Vegan living.  I am now finding it more difficult to eat animal flesh - I don't eat chicken or red meat.  And I have been hesitant to take on the label of Vegetarian - even though this is definitely my preference - Eating Animals no longer works for me.

Last time I adopted a Vegan lifestyle, it was difficult - mentally, emotionally, socially.  I remember not wanting to use the same chopping board or knives as my ex-husband (yes, I was obsessive) - and I remember going out to dinner and asking the waiter 20 questions, such as, asking about the stock used in the risotto.  Looking back this was a stressful time - especially, since my relationship was not working.

I feel different now.  I do not want to get so stressed or restrictive - although I do want to make Conscious choices.  I also no longer want to get up on the soapbox and try and convince others to change or adopt a certain lifestyle.  I can only make choices for myself and be true to myself.  Most important for me is respecting the choices of others, where we meet in a peaceful space. 

In my heart, Eating Animals does not feel right for me.  Yet this is a journey - at this point I am still eating fish (Consciously) - although the facts in this book are definitely upsetting - and I am always conscious of blessing the fish before I eat them - although - it is still very hard for me.

And I live with my Man who enjoys eating meat.  I learnt a lot from living with my ex-husband and I want to always Learn from my experiences.  And so I accept our differences.  Tonight I eat a Vegetarian patty and salad, and although my Man would normally cook his own meat, he is working later, he has been working so hard, with so little sleep, and so I bless his meat and cook it for him.  In my Mission to Love and Serve through my Coaching and as I Spread The Yellow, it is important to me that I always make time and space for my Loved ones.  I am Grateful to be at home and we enjoy dinner together.

I don't like preparing and cooking Animals, I don't like Eating Animals - yet, I love my Man - and I am glad to prepare a meal for him - since he has been happily enjoying all my Vegetarian dishes. 

I will continue to read this book and continue to embrace a preference for a Vegetarian lifestyle, without the label (for now), and I will see where this Journey flows...

Feeling Blue

I have been Feeling Blue - Yellow is always close to me and within easy reach - yet today I have been okay to sit with Feeling Blue - to just Surrender to it.  It would have been easy for me to get busy and run towards the Light - yet I have been okay with being Blue - at least for today.   Yesterday I woke up and had to find some Inspiration - I am noticing a pattern - so today I just allow myself, to make it okay, to honour my Feeling Blue.

I woke up in pain with my back and I had a headache - I definitely didn't feel well enough to go to work - and this is not good - work is important to me - I don't like letting my Boss down when I know he has scheduled me on a Project - and my need for the security of my pay is also high.  Yet today I choose Self-Care and decided to just rest and indulge myself in Blue.  I even gave a friendly directive to my Man that he doesn't have to cheer me up - that it is okay if I'm feeling Blue today.  My Man still took one of the pink roses from my vase of VERY beautiful roses (that he bought for me yesterday) and handed it to me and gave me a kiss. 

I look through 'The Blue Day Book' by Bradley Trevor Greive (that sits on my bookshelf) - great images they make me smile.

In my Feeling Blue today - there is a blankness, a feeling of no emotion, no energy, no excitement, no Yellow.  And so I honour this feeling of Blue - after breakfast I go back to bed for Meditation - I fall asleep, no alarm set, I just trust what my body needs right now.  There is so much that I could have done today - I read a few pages of a book and watched a bit of TV.  My Yang likes to be productive and get things done - yet my Yin is happy for quiet and rest as I am not feeling motivated or inspired or energised. 

I am so Feeling Blue that I even Google 'blue images' -

My Yin is enjoying this time - and then I am Inspired to look up bluebird - my Yin emotional part of me remembers having a bracelet with bluebirds -

My Yin is Inspired to get out the pencil case and paper and I do some Art Therapy for myself - I use every Blue crayon, pencil and texta that I have - as well as a black and then a yellow crayon.  I cannot draw - I am not an Artist - yet Art Therapy is fun - I actually love it - I can just colour and do what I want - there is no Judge here - I just draw from an emotional, spiritual level.

Whenever I am Feeling Blue, it is sometimes so reassuring - it reminds me that I am human and grounds me.  Feeling Blue also helps me in always having empathy for others - I do not believe that we can explain or Judge the emotions of another - or even Judge or disown our own Feelings.  Whenever I am Feeling Blue, I am very conscious of not falling down the black hole - I have been deep in the black hole before - a long time ago - another lifetime away - yet I remember - and this is what has brought me to Coaching - wanting to catch people before they fall down the black hole.  As I sit in Feeling Blue, I am very conscious of so much Yellow so close to me.


I find a drawing from my Man that he had previously drawn for me - this does make my heart sing.

I decide to go and rest - Meditation calls me...

WOW!!!  Something shifts in me after the Meditation - I feel much lighter - I feel surrounded by Light. 

In the Meditation I was able to witness, sense some beautiful images.  I had a sense that at first I was like a blue foetus, alone, all alone, a sense that I am separate to the world. 

And then I had this sense and visual of me standing up and rays of Light were coming through me and around me and the Yellow rays came within and I was Yellow and blue and then the Yellow and blue became green and then pink whirled around and through me, around me - it was incredible - I was connected to everything - the Universe, Light and Energy surrounded me, flowed to me, flowed through me, THE UNIVERSE IS THERE FOR ME.  After my Meditation, I look up images, these come close (yet so far) to the images of my experience (and I hold the image in my mind's eye). 

                       

                       

         

I then had a sense of looking over at the blue foetus and loving the blue foetus, this part of me, the part that is alone - and the blue foetus part of me, opens up and holds out its hands, my hands, my hands holding a heart. 

I then had an image of my Coaching logo, realising that I am not alone, that it is not only about me giving out my energy - yet that I am surrounded and loved by the Universe and that I will be guided and held in a space of Light to bring my dream to life.

This experience was AMAZING. I have heard others talk about such sensations and visuals - and how wonderful to experience this sense of Joy and Connection and Energy.

After my Meditation I feel ALIVE.  I look at the Artwork for my Flyer with fresh eyes.  I have been so in Yang mode, trying to get this 'done', getting quotes from different flyers, ACTION, ACTION - that I had abandoned some of my Yin.  I print out my Business Card and my Flyer and my Yin feels emotionally connected - my Yin intuitively knows that I can approve the Flyer Artwork.  I am excited as despite all the different quotes and that (unfortunately) printing on recycled paper is more expensive, this is not a difficult decision for me - I am committed to making business decisions that minimise the harm on Mother Earth - I email the Artwork to the printer and I can't wait to get my Flyers.  I can't wait to Spread The Yellow through my Coaching.

I feel that the Universe has given me the opportunity today to rest and relax.  I am Grateful that I didn't ignore or race away from my Feeling Blue - I actually enjoyed the quiet time, hanging on the couch time.  After my Meditation, I am also feeling less pain in my back.  The Meditation was so powerful.  I love to witness my emotions shifting naturally - without the need to force myself back to Yellow.

I have my energy back.  I am excited when I get a knock on the door - knowing it is my Box of Fruit and Vegetables that I ordered from a local Organic company.  It is a mystery box - a surprise!! And I am delighted - love that there is plenty of fresh fruit and love that there is broccoli, my favourite.

I make a Vegetarian pasta dish - happy!!!  And now I watch "Australia's Got Talent" - GREAT SHOW!  I just love to see people Passionate about what they are doing, committed to their Passion, giving it a go - and I loved the words of one of the contestants, a beautiful opera singer - love these words - "IT'S MY TIME NOW"... 

Inspired To Be Joyful

Goodmorning!!!  The sun is shining!  I am layered up - with my Yellow pj pants, a nightie I just Love, my ugg boots and a white, fluffy dressing gown that I really Love.  Normally I write my Blog at the end of the day, writing about what Inspired me for the day. Yet today, I am going to write about my efforts to get Inspired.

Last night I go to bed in pain - I have hurt my back.  Yesterday at the grocery store, while buying all the ingredients for my Anzac biscuits, I had a feeling that the basket was getting too heavy - it was overloaded.  By the time I got home and was about to cook my Anzac biscuits, the muscles in my back were in a spasm.  I didn't give any Blog airtime to this yesterday, as I wanted to put energy into the positive.  Once I finished my last night's Blog, I had to get my Man to help me get in and out of the bath and into bed - and I lay with a heat wheat pillow.  This morning I wake up, still in pain.

I am disappointed as I am just back to enjoying my Running again - and I have been feeling great.  I feel like my pelvis is out of alignment - this is not a good feeling.  It is interesting, as everytime, around this year, for the last 2 years and now this year, just before the 'Relay For Life' (which is next weekend and raises money for cancer), I get injured - firstly a sprained ankle, then last year I hurt my back and now here I am again in pain.  'They say' that if you don't realise the lesson from the Universe the first time, then the lesson will keep repeating itself - yet, I have made changes in this area of running - moving away from competitive and physical and mental pressure, to just wanting to run for the Love and Joy of running.

I definitely want to be involved in the 'Relay For Life' next weekend - I had even decided to walk, since my Mum, Dad, Aunty and my Man are all walking together - it means a lot to me, just to have my Mum with me, since we almost lost my Mum to cancer - thank you God for the Miracles - this is not said lightly - THANK YOU GOD FOR THE MIRACLES. My Mum's middle name is JOY - and my Mum is the most Positive, Happy, Energetic, Joyful person I know - my Mum is an Inspiration to me. I Love My Mum. My Mum is my greatest Inspiration.  My Mum keeps going despite pain... my Mum once said (which is a philosophy for her life in the last few years) "You can kick and scream and say 'Why Me?', yet this won't change anything... so Just DO IT" - this remembering, definitely Inspires me today.

Books also Inspire me.  This morning for Inspiration I went to my bookshelf, feeling into my Intuition, to where I would be guided, what books needed to speak to me.

I choose one of my favourite books (among many favourites) - I love the work of Dr. John F. Demartini in 'You Can Have An Amazing Life In Just 60 days' - I remember reading a section in his book about life being positive and negative - ups and downs - and I am looking for these words to give me some insight today.  I flick through the pages and find some great words and phrases that Inspire me for the day:

- "Words of Power." - These are meant as meaningful and inspiring statements that you can say to yourself, inwardly and outwardly, and hold as true from the centre of your being." (p.13) - hmm... "Words of Power" - like this - a positive affirmation - I close my eyes - the words that I sense need to be said (over and over) are "I feel strong, I move with ease... I feel strong, I move with ease... I feel strong, I move with ease..." - yes, these will Inspire me today

- "To paraphrase Henry David Thoreau, most people live quiet lives of desperation, not invigorating lives of inspiration - not doing what they love nor loving what they do." (p.21) - reading these words brings a stillness and sadness to me - how true - and in these moments I feel so Honoured to be a Transformational Life Coach - and I will be Inspired to be well, "I feel strong, I move with ease...", so that I may serve others and support them on their journey

- I love these sentences "The Law of Perseverance involves the willingness to take actions on your dreams every single day, without stopping.  Even if they're baby steps, each day just take another one towards your goal.  The Law of Perseverance means letting neither pain nor pleasure interfere with the pursuit of your purpose.  You'll be challenged in life, ridiculed, distracted, and told that you can't succeed, but pay no attention.  Focus on the vision you're holding in your heart.  Cling to your dream - don't lose it!.. Never give up on yourself!" (p.78) - LOVE THESE WORDS - Yes, despite my pain I am feeling today, I am going to take actions towards my dreams, I am not going to worry that this pain is permanent, this too will pass - and I am going to have a Yellow, happy, sunny day

- "The greatest discovery of the human experience is that no matter what happens, it will always even out, for all events come in pairs of opposites.  You don't - and can't - cause or prevent this: it simply is: praise and reprimand, peace and war, positive and negative, support and challenge, attraction and repulsion.  Nature always provides experiences that reveal your heart and soul's mission and purpose.  Since the Law of Equilibrium is one of the greatest spiritual principles, make sure that you see it as part of your life.  Rather than limiting yourself to a selectively exclusive attention to either the terrible or terrific, keep an eye open for both sides of every event, for all things are neutral until you judge them not to be - they're simply messages of love." (p.140)- Another WOW - Inspiring me to be in ACCEPTANCE - "messages of love" - perhaps I just need some more self-care by the way of sleep and rest this week.

I am drawn to another book on my bookshelf, 'The Thoughts of Nanushka' by Nan Witcomb, a dear friend gave it to be for my 20th birthday.  There are so many poems about love, so many beautiful words - I turn some pages and love these poems:

- "Beyond the ugliness

in this world,

is the incredible beauty

of love and friendship -

that is where I live -"

- "I know your faults

and your weakness - 

I know your fears

and some of your dreams -

you are as brave as a lion

and as vulnerable

as a child - 

I think I love you - " 

Another favourite book is 'Eat Mangoes Naked' by SARK, I LOVE SARK's work.  On one whole page, spaced out - SARK writes:

- "You Are Seen

You Are Known

You Are Loved"

...and then writes "I wrote this because so many people feel invisible, unknown and unlovable".

I am Inspired in my Mission to SPREAD THE YELLOW.

Still dressed in my pjs, I Google joyful artwork and find a great Blog http://joyfularttherapy.blogspot.com/ - I think of my friend Kara and know she is going to love this Blog (Kara also has a beautiful Blog http://piece-sunshine.blogspot.com/) - and I am Inspired by all these beautiful images -

AND THE NEXT IMAGE IS SO BEAUTIFUL

AND SO RIGHT FOR ME TODAY- IT IS CALLED

"SELF-LOVE IS THE BASE OF GLOBAL LOVE"

I am INSPIRED.  I am Inspired To Be Joyful!!!  The Sunshine is calling me...

Out in the world I go to Spread The Yellow... (and give my friends some Anzac biscuits)... 

Anzac Day - Reflect and Bake

Up at 4.30am to go to the Anzac Day Ceremony at Cronulla - it wasn't hard to get up so early - initially I woke up at 3.30am and was looking forward to today.  I was so glad to pay tribute to the men and women who have served and serve our Country.  Walking to the Ceremony, I was upset, reflecting on my Nana's three Brothers, my Mum's Uncles, who were Prisoners of War, and when they got back from war they were never the same - I didn't know my Mum's Uncles - yet I am upset thinking about the impact on my Nana and Mum - the stories that my Mum has shared with me.

I loved some of the key words that the guest speakers said in their speeches - Honour, Admiration, Humility, Service, Light in Darkness, Community, Reflection, Hope, Courage.  It was raining, it was dark and we were surrounded by so many people with umbrellas - it was wonderful that there were so many people gathered this morning.  We could not see much - yet we heard the tributes, the words - we said 'Our Father' Prayer and sang the National Athem - I am proud to be Australian.

Once home, I enjoy watching the Anzac Day March on television - it is wonderful to just Respect and Reflect - wonderful men and women and loved ones of men and women who have passed.  And I love seeing the marching bands - I love that the youth and the schools are involved in the day.  This morning I hear my Man's stories, how he was in a marching band with school and played the trumpet - I imagine him being in the crowd - he is a good Man - I am blessed.  

I was planning on typing up some Coaching notes, yet I feel the kitchen calling me - I decide to bake!!!  One of my Goals has been to cook more vegetarian dishes and I have also been keen to bake healthy cookies, muffins and cakes.  Now that I have more time and I have created a home with my Man - I am motivated!!!  And this is one of my Projects where I am witnessing my Yin and Yang working together to create magic and bring my dreams to life.

My Yang energy looks up recipes on the net and my Yin reviews and explores, feels into the recipes to get a sense of what recipe is right - and then my Yin gets a sense of the right recipe, with a couple of minor changes that feel more right.  The main recipe I use is on a cooking Blog, straight away my Yin feels connected - http://www.mydiversekitchen.com/2009/02/anzac-biscuits.html - although I make a few changes - using half wholemeal flour, olive oil instead of butter, not using salt, and only using 1/2 cup brown sugar. 

My Yin loves the story that I find on this Blog - "ANZAC biscuits, originally known as Soldiers' biscuits, were made by the women back home to send nutritious food to their soldiers who were fighting in World War I. Made from the few ingredients available then, these slightly hard biscuits kept and shipped very well. It used to take about 2 months for the biscuits to reach the soldiers in those days!  Anzac biscuits also contain no eggs, unlike most biscuits/ cookies, as a large number of poultry farmers had joined the army and eggs were scarce."  And even though some recipes have eggs - my Yin wants them to be as authentic as possible.

So I blend and I make and bake my ANZAC biscuits - my Yang in action.  My Yin is so happy to enjoy  them with a nice pot of green tea with my Man, on my nice yellow tablecloth - sharing time and conversation - moments of Spread The Yellow.  Anzac biscuits are delicious!

And then I make a batch of love heart Anzac Biscuits - some for my Man, and tomorrow I hope to see some friends and Spread The Yellow by sharing my Cooking creations...

              

Whenever we have a recognised 'holiday' - I like to be conscious of why we have a day off work - or what this day is about - and I like to spend time in Reflection and Acknowledgement - this is important to me.  I like to Respect and Honour Traditions and I also like to Create my own rituals - Anzac Day - Reflect and Bake - a perfect day for me.


Now it's time to run a bath...

The BIG Things

"The little things in life?  The little moments?  They aren't little.  They often turn out to be the most memorable and meaningful things we encounter.  We may not recognise them while they are happening, or have the words to describe how they make us feel... If we sat down to think about the precious little things in life - those that make our lives more vibrant, connected and inspired - we would find genuine, heartfelt moments that shape our lives and make us who we are." 'The Little Things' by Kobi Yamada

Today I am grateful for the little things that are The BIG Things:

- Sleeping in with my Man (so nice to just relax together)

- Lunch with friends - catching up, chatting, laughing, sharing, caring (naturally a time of Spread The Yellow)

- Buying a Yellow coffee table to be used in my work when meeting with Clients - Yellow - Yay!!

- Afternoon tea with my Mum and Dad - so lovely to share time together - I am Grateful, I AM SO GRATEFUL for these moments with my Mum and Dad - love sharing stories, laughing... lovely

- Home now with my Man - HAPPY to be at Home - Happy to have a Home - HAPPY to have a GREAT MAN in my life

- Vegetarian cooking - today I made a nice Vegetarian risotto - love making home-made meals and sharing them with my Man

- Dancing around the lounge room, my Man twirling me - we laugh and kiss.

I Love to make time to reflect and appreciate The BIG Things - for me it is about being present to these moments - I really like this quote -
"We do not remember days, we remember moments" Cesare Pavese


I was talking to a friend today and he asked me what I Blog about - I explained that I just write about my journey and what Inspires me for the day.  What I write about may seem to be small, and today may just seem like an ordinary day - yet to me, these are The BIG Things and I AM SO GRATEFUL.  I like to appreciate the extraordinary in the ordinary.

And the most important Priority in my life is my Man, my Mum and Dad and Family and friends.  People are always the most important priority to me.  I am just so glad that I have found life Balance now - no longer working on weekends - so much more time to enjoy time with those I love. 

This morning I was reading a small book 'Because Of You' by Dan Zadra - I like what he writes - "Some of the best and most important people in our lives may never show up on the 11 o'clock news or see their names up in lights - but the world would definitely miss them if there were gone." 

He asks "What kind of people will make your everyday heroes list?" - I AM SO GRATEFUL that I know the answer to this question...

ACTION

What I love about Coaching is the ACTION, the moving forward, Next Steps, ACTION towards Goals.

The Yang, the doing part of me, loves the feeling of ticking off items off the 'To Do' List.  I have had such a productive day and I feel Fantastic.

First thing this morning, I go for a run - 30 minutes - Loved it - just Love the Joy of running.  It is such a great way for me to start my day.

It is 2 weeks until I start my Coaching Business - and so today is centred around getting things done - ACTION.  As I am about to walk out the door I select an Angel card - I like what I read - "Patience - Archangel Jophiel: 'Your dreams are blooming more rapidly than you realise.  Still, they need nurturing and patience.''' 

This morning I go to a BEC (Business Enterprise Centre) Seminar and Tradeshow.  I meet my friend, Aideen - it is great to enjoy the walk around together.  Similar to myself, Aideen is visual, an ideas person, a visionary - I love that we are friends.  It was a great morning - plenty of brochures and business cards - some great contacts - certainly, some ideas to help with my business.

On the way home, I revisit one of Anthony Robbin's CDs - he talks about Pain and Pleasure as great motivators of human behaviour.  He is such a positive speaker - I love his work.  He talks about "weeds in the garden", and that he is not one to be super positive and just convince oneself that there are no weeds - yet that we have a choice - and we can face the weeds, work out what needs to be done, get rid of the weeds - ACTION - and move on - he said that in life there are going to be weeds.  He made a reference to advertising - and highlights that all advertisements are based on these two human emotions of Pain and Pleasure - trying to entice consumers to act.  He believes that we have a choice - by using these Pleasure and Pain emotions, the "carrot and stick", we can choose to change any behaviour, anything, in any moment.  In the CD, Anthony Robbins sets a challenge of writing down 4 Actions that need to be done and linking them to Pain and Pleasure - the Gains and Pleasure that will come from taking Action and the Pain that we will avoid.

So I write down my 4 ACTIONs and by having awareness of Pain and Pleasure from taking the Action and maintaining a concentrated mental focus of ACTION I just raced through so many 'To Do' items - more than 4 ACTIONs - I just kept going - hours of power - easily getting everything done - including:

1. Organising insurance for my business

2. Organising an ABN

3. Paying the rent for my room hire

4. Returning a book to a friend

5. Contacting a few friends that I haven't spoken to for a while

6. Cleaning out my car (this is a BIG job that I avoid and have not made a priority - to motivate me - I thought of the Pain I would feel if a Client saw my car and noticed the clutter)

7. Ordering a box of organic fruit and vegetables from a local business that will be delivered on Tuesday (imagining all the Pleasure that will come when I get the surprise box and my Yin can be creative)

8. Booking a dentist appointment (imagining the Pain that will happen, both physically and financially, if I don't get my dental work done, that is already overdue)

9. Approving my business card and organising it to be printed

10. Giving feedback on the flyer and obtaining a quote

11. 2 loads of washing. 

I feel Fantastic!!!  

I also enjoy a 7 minute Meditation and would have loved more - but I hear my Man arrive home and love when I can greet him at the door.  I loved the meditation - in my mind's eye I see myself planting Trees, and then there were all these trees with Yellow flowers, and then I had a sense of other people planting Trees of Yellow.  It was such a beautiful Vision.  I have a sense that they are Wattle Trees - and although I searched Google for Images I couldn't find more than one Tree - yet I love the images below - the sense of planting (and love the Yellow handle on the shovel and Yellow bucket) - plus the brilliance of the Yellow of the Wattle Tree.

Great to have ACTION and Vision.

I have started reading a great new book - 'The Seed Handbook - The Feminine Way To Create Business' by Lynne Franks.  I love this book - the first page states "This book is dedicated to all women entrepreneurs everywhere who believe, as I do, that by creating a business based on the feminine principles, they can plant the seeds in their local and global community of love, peace and connection".

I love all the words that are used in the book - Community, Love, Peace, Connection, Empowerment, Nurturing, Compassion, Communicating, Balance, Vision, New Way, New Paradigm.  These words are so in line with my Vision to Spread The Yellow. 

I also love that SEED is an acronym for Sustainable Enterprise and Empowerment Dynamics.  I am definitely committed to doing all that I can in my business to support the environment.  Today I signed off the artwork proof for my business (EXCITING!!!), and while it is more expensive (sadly) to print on recycled card stock, I am happy to make this choice and Commitment.

On another note - I LOVE acronyms - a few years ago - I was known as the Queen of acronyms - in all my training material and flyers I would use an acronym.  NOW for me, SHINE Coaching believes that through the Process of Coaching, Clients may feel Successful  Happy Inspired  New Empowered - and in terms of the Transformational Coaching Process it is about Self-Discovery  Holistic  Intuitive  NewSteps  Experiential.

But back to SEED - I LOVE the SEED Manifesto - an affirmation, an agreement, an offering, a recommendation, for me a COMMITMENT -

I, Kathryn Petersen, "affirm that I will

- Constantly plant seeds as well as pick the blooms

- Make the space and time to stay in tune with my higher self

- Never let go of the BIG Vision

- Put my Values, including Integrity, Compassion, and Love at the centre of my enterprise

- Remember the three Rs: Respect for self, Respect for others, Responsibility for all my ACTIONs

- Believe in myself so others will, too

- Keep humour and laughter as vital ingredients of my Business Plan

- Get up early in the morning

- Not neglect my personal relationships, loved ones, and friends in any way

- Manifest abundance in all areas of my life

- Keep my clutter to a minimum

- Recognise my gifts and delegate the rest

- Look at difficult situations from all perspectives

- Welcome in mentors and mentor others in return

- Light candles every day and surround myself with fresh flowers

- Give people more than they expect

- Talk slowly but think quickly

- When I lose, don't lose the lesson

- Know my industry

- Keep improving my technology skills

- Smile when picking up the phone

- Remember my body is my most important tool - stretch, exercise, breathe, go for a walk, dance

- Every day try and read a poem, listen to an inspiring piece of music, look at a wonderful painting or go into nature

- Drink six to eight glasses of pure water every day

- Listen as well as talk

- Learn the rules, and then break some

- Know there is nothing more sexy than confidence

- Remember that no-one, not even myself is perfect, but I'm doing the best I can."

I just love all these words - the philosophy for my life and business.

Tonight in celebration of my day, I light candles and listen to Missy Higgins CDs, I love her music.  I just remembered the words I heard this morning, while going for my run - I had just left my home and turned the corner and I greeted a man (whom I do not know) and said "It's a lovely day" - and he says smiling "Every day's a great day" - "Yes" I agree!!!

 

After a day of ACTION, it is now time to relax...

Clear My Clutter

Today was the big day to Clear My Clutter.

I am motivated to start as soon as I wake up - yet I have a run planned this morning - and I definitely like to exercise.  The Plan is to run for 50 minutes.  I felt the resistance at home, like my body was saying it didn't want to run - yet I pushed through the resistance - I have Goals - I 'must' run.  Yet after 12 minutes of Running, my body just stopped - I could not run anymore - my body was tired - my back was hurting, my left leg sore, I was just tired, not enough sleep.  So I listened to my body, my intuition, my Yin, and I feel free to enjoy a walk.  Of course my Overthinker Shadow is on stage - thinking and thinking and thinking - until I hear the loud noise of the cockatoos, flying fast towards the park - from all directions the cockatoos are flying - I am actually a bit scared - I think I am going to be hit by the cockatoos.  They definitely help me let go of the Overthinker part of me - the noise of the Cockatoos squawking, drowns out the noise in my own mind.  I then relax and enjoy a walk home - talking to the man who owns the house on the corner with the beautiful roses (where I smell the roses) - and running into my cousin and her gorgeous little boy.  It is a good morning.

I am tired, very tired - yet I made a commitment today to Clear My Clutter.  I like being clean, I enjoy housework, yet I always find that I prefer to be Blogging or creating, or reading - and so My Clutter starts to gather.  Today I am going to get organised - this is the plan - I know it will make me feel good that I have "everything sorted". 

I have a few habits that are not serving me -  my habit of continually putting paperwork, brochures, bills, books, paper, paperwork on my desk - Clutter, Clutter everywhere.

So I put on an Anthony Robbins CD - and I am motivated to get this job done.  I sort every piece of Clutter into piles, I sort into a folder, as well as throwing out the rubbish and sorting out some paperwork into the recycled cardboard bag.  I get out the cleaning cloth and spray and wipe and after 45 minutes I am feeling great - not so great that I have all these bills - yet I feel great that the Clutter is Clear.  And only 45 minutes - in my mind I had thought that this would take a long time and I had made all sorts of excuses, the Procrastinator (Shadow) was always around, putting it off until another day - and yet today, so easily, I got this area organised - this Clutter that has been piling up for weeks.

Here is another habit that I do not like - when I come home from work and without thinking, or much effort, I just throw my clothes over the lounge in the spare room - and they gather - and I still have the bags of clothes and my "gear" from when we went away - placed "neatly" on the floor - My Clutter. 

I am not perfect.  And I am not embarassed to show that I am human.  This takes me just 5-10 minutes to clear - sort between my cupboard and the washing.  The challenge for me is to keep it clear - everyday - it is not a huge challenge - it would just be a small Win.

I feel great that I have been successful in my Clear My Clutter Goal. 

I find an article on Google about "Clean Up Your Clutter" - it is interesting - "In many homes, the single biggest feng shui problem is clutter!  Clutter is both a cause and a symptom of stale, stuck energy. It blocks the smooth flow of chi through your space, weighs you down energetically, and keeps you stuck in the past. Clutter makes it very difficult to make changes, take advantage of new opportunities, or welcome new friends and experiences into your life.  A thorough cleaning and de-cluttering of your power spots is a great way to get new energy flowing!"  http://www.fastfengshui.com/9principles-5.htm

I just know that I feel free and happy and feel glad to be better organised - being organised, bringing in my Yang energy is important in helping me move forward in the creation of my business - I am so glad that I am sharpening these skills.

Tonight I go out with my Man and we walk along the beach, kiss, enjoy tapas and wine - we have a great night - it is nice to Connect, Be In Love, Spread The Yellow to each other.  And I love coming home to a Clutter Free Home - YAY!!!