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Newsletter Archive: April 2008
April 2008
Welcome to the Dare to Blossom newsletter.
To sign up for your own copy direct by email every month click here. If you do not wish to receive future editions, please email me to unsubscribe. Everyone who is on the mailing list will be entered into a draw twice a year (at the end of June and the end of December) with a chance to win a prize of six free life coaching sessions.
- Reflections: we are who we’re waiting for - People Coaching People website - Amazing video clip on one woman’s experience of a stroke - Dare to Blossom Workshops: 2008 dates coming up - My book now available as an ‘e-book’ download
Reflections: “We are the ones we have been waiting for…..”
At a recent workshop I participated in we were given a sheet of paper with some writing attributed to the Elders of the Hopi Nation. I have done some research and found there is some debate as to whether this is a true attribution, however, the words have a message of their own that you can choose to apply to your own situation as you wish. (The full text is here if you would like to read it.)
A significant line for me is: “And do not look outside yourself for the leader." This speaks to me of personal responsibility and initiative. So often when I am dissatisfied with something I find myself saying “They should do something about that…..” But who are ‘they’? Why can’t I do something about ‘it’ myself? There are inspirational stories from all over the world about so-called ‘ordinary’ people who have done amazing things. (My view is that every person alive is extraordinary and amazing already.)
Two examples that are close to my heart:
The ShelterBox concept was thought up and developed by Rotarian and ex-Royal Navy search-and-rescue diver Tom Henderson. It was launched in 2000, with the first boxes (each containing shelter tents, cooking equipment and other items for ten people) going out in January 2001. Since then half a million people have been supported around the world, with the boxes being packed at the base in Cornwall and shipped to areas where disaster relief is needed.
The idea of Lincoln Envirotown first came up in April 2005 from Sue Jarvis and Prof. Ian Spellerberg. (I have to own up here, Sue is my sister and I am very proud of her!) The aim of the organisation is “working together as a community to protect our environment and natural resources so that our children and grand-children can enjoy them as we did”. Sue is a dedicated and inspirational science teacher in a local school and her work with her students in environmental science and protecting native species developed into the project involving the whole community. Sue was recognised for her work by being awarded the first Sir Peter Blake Environmental Educator's Award for Environmental Leadership and then a Queen’s Service Medal in the New Year Honours 2007. One of Sue’s inspirations is “the power of one”: any one person can make big changes: just as a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step, so big changes in the world can start with a single thought. This is in tune with “And do not look outside yourself for the leader."
The final sentence of the Hopi Elders piece is “We are the ones we have been waiting for….” I believe that we can all do something to make positive changes, whatever we do is worthwhile. Small things like stopping to say hello, help someone in need, smile at a stranger – these can all add to the sum of happiness in the world and spread a ripple of positive energy. And who knows, something you start in a small way today may grow ‘like Topsy’ into something big as with the examples above. (By the way, I am sure that both of those examples will always be grateful for more volunteers to provide helping hands if you are in the appropriate part of the world.)
What can you do today to spread some happiness and help others? Donate some money? Give some time? Smile at a stranger? (or a friend or family member!) Send a ‘thank you’ or ‘thinking of you’ card or email?
People Coaching People
I have just joined this organisation, started by an inspirational New Zealand Life coach, Anne Young, with the aim of providing a “catalyst which will inform in the value of professional coaching”. The ‘strap line’ on the website is “Through connection we grow!” and Anne and I experienced one of those magical connections that happens when you meet someone at just the right time, even though it was by email and phone across 12,000 miles between our two countries. I am the first UK life coach to join and I hope the network will grow as we can work with people anywhere with cheap phone calls and Skype combined with email. There are all sorts of resources on the website and you can sign up to receive Anne’s inspirational newsletter. A real community feeling is developing already, and I am looking forward to strengthening my links with New Zealand even more, and running some Dare to Blossom workshops there next time I visit.
Amazing video clip on one woman’s experience of a stroke
Neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor had an opportunity few brain scientists would wish for: One morning, she realized she was having a massive stroke. As it happened -- as she felt her brain functions slip away one by one, speech, movement, understanding -- she studied and remembered every moment. This is a powerful story about how our brains define us and connect us to the world and to one another. There is a direct link to the clip here, be warned, the sound starts up rather abruptly, it made me jump!
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 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!
Two short ‘taster’ workshops in Cornwall: Saturday 19 April, 9.30 for 10.00 am start, ends at 12.30 pm. At the Roses Holistic Centre, Treverbyn, (near the Eden Project). and Saturday 26 April at The Centre, Newlyn, near Penzance. £20 per person. Full day workshop: York: Sunday 18 May at Millers Yard. £65 per person, £50 Early Bird special price if booked before 30 April. Café available to purchase refreshments and lunch. A £10 deposit will secure your place for this event.
I have been asked to organise a workshop in East Devon and will be announcing a date as soon as I have found a suitable venue in that area. At the moment I am considering somewhere just outside Exeter, on the Exmouth road, very accessible and with plenty of parking.
“Dare to Blossom: Coaching and Creativity” book now available
You can buy a signed copy direct from me, or buy on Lulu.com. It is now listed on Amazon (though I have yet to work out how to enable it to show the cover picture!) or can 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).
You can also purchase a copy for £5.00 as an e-book download from Lulu.com, click here to go direct. This a good option if you are outside the UK and are concerned about postage costs. (Personally I love ‘real’ books!)
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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