The gift of "other-knowledge"
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Greetings!
There is a saying in French that my mother was fond of: "Plus ça change, plus ça la même chose." The more things change, the more they stay the same.
It came to mind, with a twist, when I interviewed this month's Quest Maker Sarah Hotchkiss. The more different I may be from the quest maker in terms of interests or talents, the more similarities I sometimes find in our questing. It might be in insights gleaned or challenges encountered.
Unlike Sarah, I am not musically inclined, nor have I experienced an empty nest that fueled her dream. Yet I identified with her recognition that she was the exact right person to take on her dream. I feel like that, too, with Your Next Quest, given my insatiable curiosity, my love of writing and my passion for connecting people and ideas, I can't imagine anyone else doing it! Can you?
That kindred spirit feeling also bubbled up in a laugh out loud moment that catapulted me back in time. In her interview, Sarah recounted an observation made by her husband. It led her to tell me that he knows her almost better than she knows herself. In a flash, I had a vivid image of my mother saying, with great emphasis, that she knew me better than I knew myself. Until this week, I had never heard anyone else use that turn of phrase. In this, my mom's birthday month, I strongly felt her presence at that moment.
I've coined a new term for that kind of observation: "other-knowledge." Other-knowledge can give us a new perspective on ourselves, deepening our sense of who we are and bringing us keen insight into our strengths. What a gift to have a mirror held up to us as it was for Sarah so that it reflects the strengths others see!
PS. Sarah's favorite flowers are daffodils: "When I was waiting for my daughter to be born the daffodils were in full bloom and when I see them I remember the precious feeling of waiting for my first child to arrive. Whenever I set down new roots, daffodils are the first flowers I plant. The flower blooms on a single strong stalk. It's a simple beauty that I really like." (Photo: © ell brown)
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Meet Quest Maker Sarah Hotchkiss
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 A classically trained violist Sarah put her music aside to raise her children. In her mid-30s, she picked it up again, playing in groups as well as moonlighting as a viola and violin teacher. Along the way, she discovered a passion for the fiddle (violin with an attitude!). Flooded with requests for lessons, she began teaching full time.
Sarah knew she wanted to create a place where beginning and intermediate level folk musicians could gain the practical experience to play in a band and that she was uniquely suited to make it happen. So at 43, she registered a trade name and sent out an email to her friends and students. Six weeks and 20 fiddlers later, the Vermont Fiddle Orchestra held its first rehearsal. Sarah's dream of a community where musicians come together to jam, have fun and share their love of traditional string music in all its styles, from French Canadian to Welsh, from Cajun to New England and beyond has come true.
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August Journal Sparker
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With its questions and exercises, a Journal Sparker aims to spark reflection or inspire you to take the next step on your journey to where you want to be.
 There are times I know you better than you know yourself. -Lucille S. Meagher
In this month's Journal Sparker, you'll find some ideas about what I think of as "other-knowedge" and finding time for yourself.
We've created a cover sheet if you'd like to begin a Journal Sparker binder.
Download the Journal Sparker Cover
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| Do you know a Quest Maker, a woman who has realized her dream?
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Do you know a woman in her 40s or beyond who declared "now it's my
time," and realized her dream? Perhaps she's a friend, a family member, an
acquaintance. Perhaps it's you! If she or you would like to considered for an upcoming Quest Maker column in the Chronicles, please send me an email with a brief description and the best way to reach her.
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| Need an idea spark to ignite your own quest?
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Have you decided that now it's your time to claim your own realm and undertake your own voyage of discovery? Except you're not exactly sure how (or even where) to start?You may need an Idea Sparker to help you figure it out. That's where I can help. Learn more about me at Your Next Quest. Take the next step with a free 15-minute consultation with me. We'll talk about where you are now and where you want to be and how I can help you get there. Start your journey now by sending me an email or by calling me at 781.583.7185.Together, we can start you on the journey to where you want to be!
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