I recently participated in a virtual training program called Metaphor Magic, designed and facilitated by Lily Seto. (I first met Lily at my TPLC training in Banff last April and we have connected several times since for “coffee dates” on Zoom; she sits at her desk on Vancouver Island while I am at mine here in west Edmonton!) Today I thought I …
The Decision to Act
I read this quote attributed to Amelia Earhart and smiled to myself – so it was today, as I set out to write the 3-hour International Coaching Federation Coach Knowledge Assessment exam. I have been pursuing my ICF credential since February 2016. This designation as an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) requires me to fulfill three criteria: 60+ hours of coach-specific …
Are You Listening?
Yes; I hear you. But, are you listening? One of my closest confidants caught me in this situation over the last week and called me out on it. I was aware of the words and the conversation: I was in the same room, I was making all the right responses and replies, yet we were not connected. Hmm. “Hello; hello?” …
Make Space for…?
The “One Little Word” (OLW) movement ran rampant through December and early January. I was surprised at the number of blog and journal entries that landed in my in-box that hailed this intention-setting, goal-getting tool as a New Year’s “must do”! Not in my books. Nothing is a “must do” when it comes to resolutions. I’ve learned that the bullying …
Sitting in the Darkness
You do not have to sit outside in the dark. If, however, you want to look at the stars, you will find that the darkness is necessary. But the stars neither require nor demand it. – Annie Dillard As we draw close to the calendar date for the shortest day of the year, there is something about the darkness that …
Defining Success
This week I was challenged by my mentor-coach to explore and define my own version of success. In doing so, I found myself drawn to a variety of inspirational leaders and noticing how they expressed their measure of success. Maya Angelou‘s statement stood out to me as a simple and profound definition of self-worth. It is expansive; centered in BEING and DOING. Until …
Pay Attention to What Has Your Attention
I admit that sometimes writer’s block gets in the way of these blogs. When I am not really paying attention to the process, the kernel of an idea comes along and then my monkey-mind gets busy and I start to hear chattering that closes down the keyboard. Does this ever happen to you? For me, it doesn’t just happen with …
A Younger Self…
What would you say to your younger self? This week I have been working through boxes of memorabilia and family photos. More than once I have stared long and hard at an image, trying to imagine what I was thinking, doing or considering; how often I have laughed out loud, wishing I could have just laid to rest the quandary …
Office or Studio?
How do you label space? For years I have called the personal space I have in at home my “studio”. What others might call a spare bedroom was my special space for creative endeavors. This designated square-footage served as a place for artistic projects, writing and designing public programs, but principally it served my need for playful exploration regardless of the number of times …
The Swing of the Pendulum…
Has there ever been a time when you felt you were “racing the clock”? Has there ever been a time when that incessant ticking beside you was so loud you couldn’t think? Has there ever been a time you have wanted to “kill time” or “make time stand still” so you could catch up or have a reprieve from the …