Life-coaching Part 2...long post.

So, my coaching session was pretty good, great actually.

Hanna really focused in on what it is that we expect to FEEL in our new home. She wanted to identify three main emotions that we feel a new home will bring us.

I identified a desire for freedom; in that we would like a home that is OURS, that we can do with what we want. Paint, renovate, have a dog, plant trees, bushes, a garden...whatever. For some reason I find light also very freeing...I would like a home with a lot of light.

I also identified peace as one of the emotions. We live in the inner-city. It is loud. It is busy. Our home is very small and we do not have a lot of personal space. I think having a place to go to do our individual things when neccesary would bring a large measure of peace. I would also enjoy being a little closer to nature. The lone Tamarack tree in our yard is GLORIOUS, but I would like hundreds... nature has always been a part of how I relax and let go of stress and I think it is good for kids to grow up with trees and wildlife... I did and it has contributed to who I am.

Love is the third emotion I identified. Because we resident manage, our schedule is unpredictable. Add into that MY job and Alan and I rarely get to spend time together. When we do, we are exhausted and usually folding laundry. Moving from here into our own home will open up 2-3 nights a week for us to be together as a family. I crave more time together as a family. I also deeply desire the space to have extended family and friends in our home. I grew up in a close-knit extended family and miss spending holidays and special occasions together. We try in our home, but 12 people in our tiny living room is challenging.

Hanna also suggested performing a ceremony...sending all of our desires out into the universe...asking for what we want and then living the life we desire, emotions and all, knowing that the house will be there.

We had planned to do something like this to celebrate Summer Solstice on Sunday (Father's Day)... strip the boys down and let them dance naked in the moonlight and BELIEVE that it is coming...now we have a little more direction and and focus...we are going to do it!

My question for you is this: What do YOU desire? What three emotions can you see yourself feeling when you acheive this thing? What are you doing now to achieve it?

More to come...perhaps with pictures!

Coaching

So, my friend Hanna is a life-coach.

She isn't one of those bossy, opinionated people... I mean, she does have opinions, but she lets people figure out their own way and encourages them.

I made an appointment for a coaching session with her on Wednesday afternoon. The new home thing is constantly on my mind and Hanna is a true believer in manifesting what you want and need in this life. She practices it in her life and I am grateful to glean some of her wisdom and experience.

Hanna also does NLP, or Neurolinguistic Programming. Anyone have experience with this? From what I understand, it is a kind of hypnosis that helps you let go of pre-conceived ideas about yourself, life, just about anything... eventually replacing them with new ideas.

In the meantime, I have a new mantra..."I have my dream home"... Say a little prayer for us that we will be able to move in next month.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people

won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give

other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,

our presence automatically liberates others.”

-Marianne Williamson

The garden

I am so excited! After all that snow and cold and rain I worried that my sweetpeas were never going to come up, but this morning I spied GREEN poking out of the dirt. We won't be here to enjoy them while they are in bloom this year, but I will drive by and peek.

My ranaculus are sprouting, finally. This is my first year for this plant and I am excited to see all the colours! Here is what it will look like when it blooms:

It is supposed to make a beautiful cut flower and I LOVE to have fresh flowers inside. I am hoping they smell better than my beautiful (but malodourous) Shasta Daisies.

Once I cut and arranged a lovely vase of them for a sick friend. I brought them inside to tie a ribbon around the vase and thought that, perhaps, Alan had forgotten to take out the garbage. I was wrong. Shasta daisies are lovely and grow like a dream, but they smell horrific.

I left them out on the step and had many compliments from visitors

I would like to experiment with some native plants in our new place. I am cosidering Alberta Wild Roses, Wild Sage, crocus' from the Ranch and wild strawberries.

Anyone have experience working with native plants? Any favourites?

Health, Wealth and Wisdom.

About a month ago I decided to take a chance and purchase the Nutrisystem Weightloss program I'd recently seen advertised at Costco. I was so excited to receive it in the mail and decided to give it an entire month before deciding whether to re-order or not.

After three days, the thought of eating any more of the mushy, tasteless food made me dream of Taco Bell. I took it back for a full refund from Costco.

On May 23rd I started my program. I eat a sensible breakfast... this morning was an apple, sliced, yogurt, a hard boiled egg and tea. I eat a fruit and protein snack about 11, whatever I really FEEL like for lunch with veggies and sometimes an added protein (like cottage cheese, cheese, an egg or yogurt), another protein and fruit (or veggie) snack, then dinner, with dessert and a snack before bed. I am aiming for 1700-1800 calories a day.

So far, in 16 days, I am down 7 lbs.

It is more food than I am used to, and some days I only hit the 1500 calorie mark before I am done.

I realise now that I have been dieting since I was 8 years old, always thinking that food was my enemy and starving myself until I ate, desperately.

I wonder how many overweight women there are out there who were raised with the same, unhealthy attitude about food? Do they realise what happens when you feed your body what it needs? Your body lets go because you feel satisfied, healthy, happy.

Hugs to anyone out there who, like me, has allowed this to control their life. Repeat after me - "Food is my friend and I deserve to eat regular, healthy, delicious meals.".

Be kind to yourself.

Embracing the light

Not a lot to say about this... I think we all need a reminder of the goodness of our lives sometimes...here is my favourite.

DESIRATA

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.

New Home

So, it has come time to move.

Alan and I were blessed with this job nearly 2 1/2 years ago. We are so grateful for it and for all the opportunities we've seen from it. It made life easier for us and came at a time when I needed to be home with the kids because of Parker's health challenges, but our needs have changed int he last year.

We need more space. We need a safer community. We need neighbourhood kids that the boys can safely play with. We need less traffic, pollution and litter. We need more nature around us. We need to feel safe in our home. We need more time together as a family. We need a home built with healthy materials. We need a community that will open up different opportunities for us.

We want comfort. We want quiet. We want music. We want a dog (or two:)). We want more than one bathroom. We want a home that friends and family can come to relax. We want to move this summer.

I am sending it out there, to the universe, all the things we need and want... I know it will happen for us.

Incidently. We would like to find homes for the things we have but don't need, to make room for what we do need. If you know of someone in need of a couch (fairly new, in good condition), shelves, side tables, dining table, a dresser or two and a number of other things... please let me know.