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Newsletter Archive: March 2008
March 2008
Welcome to the Dare to Blossom newsletter.
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- Reflections: Missed connections and reconnections - Dare to Blossom Workshops: review of recent events and 2008 dates coming up - Your views wanted on short ‘taster’ workshops - Other events and workshops - A reminder of how to buy a copy of my latest book - Kiva: a fantastic way of helping people
Reflections: missed connections and reconnections
Recently I had the experience of being at an event at the same time as a dear friend and not seeing her at all. I had expected to see a number of people I know so I was looking around and said hello to one or two acquaintances. Over coffee before the proceedings started, I got into conversation with two women and made through this two new ‘connections’, both very interesting in their different ways.
Later in the day I had a chance to look through the delegate list and saw my friend’s name there. So of course I looked around for her but could not see where she was sitting. (We were in a big conference room seated in groups around tables). I also looked out for her during the afternoon break, still no sign of her. So I concluded that either she had booked to attend but had been unable to make it, or that there was someone else there with the same name.
A day or so later she emailed, it was lovely to hear from her and she ordered a copy of my book too. It was during that conversation by email that we realised that we had both actually been present at the event. I felt very sad we had missed each other, and then began to reflect on this. Why did it happen? Was it important for us to make the new connections we did during the day rather than being tempted to chat to each other? Was it to encourage us to reconnect more actively in future, to make definite arrangements to meet? To encourage us to reconnect with other people in our lives we might be passing by without realising?
A day or so later I spent the day at a women’s workshop as some time out for myself after running two of my own. I picked up (a different) friend and as we travelled there together she mentioned a book ‘The Reconnection’ by Dr. Eric Pearl. I have had this book on my shelf for a while and have not yet read it. I feel now is the time to do that. I will write about it in my next newsletter.
In the meantime, some questions for you to reflect on:
Who have you missed connecting with recently? Do you feel you want to reconnect with them? (If so do it! Pick up the phone, write an email, or pen an old-fashioned note and put it in the post.) Is there a part of yourself you have lost contact with? This might be enjoying a simple pleasure such as art or music, walking on the beach or in the woods. Do you want to reconnect with that activity or part of you? (If you do – take action!)
Feedback from the February 2008 Dare to Blossom workshops “New Year, New You: creating lasting change in your life.” Thank you so much to everyone who came along to the two events in February and made them such special days for all of us. Here is some of the feedback that you were kind enough to allow me to share with readers: “The day was filled with positive tools to overcome any situation. I left feeling a sense of clarity in certain areas of my life.” Gloria, February 2008 “I liked the support and openness of the day. Today’s workshop was great, Mary put things across well and although we felt she was the leader of the group, there was an informality that reassured rather than intimidated. A positive experience. Really liked the thinking and creativity, a nice mix of theory and practical, relaxation and involvement.” Tina, February 2008. “The workshop was a creative and inspiring environment to explore possibilities for change. I’m glad that I met other people like me and I’m grateful that Mary’s quiet and encouraging approach has helped me to unstuck my own sticking points.” Catherine, conservationist, February 2008
Forthcoming Dare to Blossom workshops: “Coaching and Creativity” Developing the themes of the earlier workshops, and tying in with my book published in January 2008, these one day events will be held at various venues. The day will be a chance to explore the reasons why we sometimes stop ourselves following our dreams and creating the lives we want for ourselves. We will use coaching and creativity exercises, group discussions, guided visualisation, - and have lots of fun!
Cornwall: Saturday 19 April at the Roses Holistic Centre, Treverbyn, (near the Eden Project). £75 per person, including refreshments and a light lunch. £60 Early Bird special price if booked before 3 March.
York: Sunday 18 May at Millers Yard. £65 per person, £50 Early Bird special price if booked before 31 March. Café available to purchase refreshments and lunch.
A £10 deposit will secure your place for either of these events.
Cambridge: venue and date to be confirmed, probably in October 2008. If you know of any good venues in Cambridge I would be delighted to hear from you.
Fiona Crump has sent out this wonderful testimonial on Network Cornwall:
“I recently attended on of Mary's workshops and can heartily recommend it. I went along knowing that sometimes I get too busy and too bogged down in tasks to remember to be creative and I wanted to re-awaken that part of me which is sometimes pushed into dormancy. Like Mary - and like many of you out there, I also work with other people to help them achieve their potential - in my case as a coach / counsellor / facilitator - but I found it wonderfully refreshing to experience a different approach and to switch the focus onto me for a day. Mary's style is calm and relaxed and she is very responsive to the needs of the group. I left the day feeling relaxed and energised and with space in my head to think and plan and top be more creative. If you are feeling a bit jaded as winter draws to an end maybe this is just the thing for you. Go on, be selfish, invest in yourself for a change.” Thank you Fiona, it is wonderful to know that the work I do makes a difference to people. Fiona and her husband run evolution Personal and Corporate Development Ltd., working with people and organisations all over the UK.
Your views please: would you like a short ‘taster’ workshop? I have an idea for a new format short workshop of just two hours so people who cannot commit a whole day can try out some of the activities and ideas. Ideally they would be run in collaboration with another organisation that could help to promote them too. What do you think? Please email me with your comments, I would really appreciate your help in gauging views on this, thank you. I have already had considerable interest from people in Cornwall so I will definitely be arranging some here, other areas will be possible too as long as I can coordinate them to make the travel affordable for me.
Other events and workshops Here is a small selection of the many workshops run by my friends and colleagues locally, some of these I will be attending myself. Debbie Clayton is running a week of workshops starting on 8 March, at her home in Cornwall, with others planned in Scotland, Wales, Brighton and USA. Her website gives all the details of workshops throughout the year: For more information email or phone 01726 883213. Increase Your Peace: “A New You” Workshop: Three events around the country coming up, based on “Conversations With God”. I am attending the Cornwall event on 12 April at the Eden Project so will let you know what my experience is in my next newsletter.
“Dare to Blossom: Coaching and Creativity” book now available
You can buy a signed copy direct from me, or buy on Lulu.com. It will soon be listed on Amazon or to be ordered through any other bookseller. The price direct from me is £8.95 plus £2.00 postage and packing. (It will vary from the booksellers according to their policies)
Kiva: a fantastic way of helping people I joined this organisation last year, and it is a great way of helping people, here is some of the description from the website:“We let you loan to the working poor. Kiva lets you connect with and loan money to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world. By choosing a loan on Kiva, you can "sponsor a business" and help the world's working poor make great strides towards economic independence. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates from the entrepreneur you've sponsored. As loans are repaid, you get your loan money back.”I have just received one loan of $25 (US) back as the person I invested in finished repaying their loan to purchase a new fishing net and help renovate their home. I have now reinvested it in another family enterprise selling children’s clothes in a market.Thank you for reading, do email me with any questions, comments or suggestions, or feedback on particular items. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone you think may be interested. I hope to be meeting up with many of you during 2008. All best wishes Mary
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