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On a personal note:
My mother-in-law, Catherine Mentzell, died on March
25, and we were fortunate enough to be there with her
as she transitioned over to the next phase of being.
To experience her passing in the way we did has left
me with more questions than answers. Where
did
she go? WHAT IS NEXT for us? IS there
a "next"? What if this is it? REALLY?
I have always been what some might call morbid, as
when I'm faced with an important decision, I take
the
perspective of my deathbed, and ask myself, "what
would my preferred choice be when considered from
here?"
The answer may not always be the "acceptable"
or "nice"
answer, but it's the right one for me. I can
tell you
that
much with certainty. Now, I have even more fodder for
going against what is considered acceptable, as
Catherine never went for other people's approval. She
was happy to shake it up a bit. I really loved that about
her.
In loving memory of Catherine Mentzell,
Stephanie
| Lessons from Loss |
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“When one door closes another door opens;
but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon
the closed door, that we do not see the ones which
open for us.” – Alexander Graham Bell
When our life suddenly changes, who we see
ourselves as being also suddenly is open to
revision.
What of you is left when the roles
you play suddenly fall away from your life?
- If I am no longer employed, then who am I?
- If I no longer am a student, then who am I?
- If I am no longer a parent, or a daughter, or a son,
who am I?
Who INDEED? When our identities get challenged by
shifting roles or
loss, it is a moment ripe with potential awareness.
These are calls to live life on our own terms -
bells of
mindfulness chiming to wake us up and help us own
even more of who we are in this world.
Who is it you want to be? If you look closely, in each
loss, there is an opening of possibility that is just
beneath the surface.
How far depends on the situation, but I urge you to
continue looking - it is there to be found.
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| In Celebration of Mothers |
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What are your favorite mother memories? Perhaps
they are from someone other than the woman you
called mother? The role of mother is sacred
regardless of who is providing the support,
encouragement, and love that only a mother can
provide.
Use your unique way of communicating in order to pay
tribute to your favorite mother - yours or someone
else's!
Fresh Juice readers are encouraged to send in
their favorite memories, definitions, quotes, "mom-
isms" and/or poems in honor of Mother's Day. Submit
what inspires you! The deadline for
submissions is May 1.
Send all submissions to
stephanie@thewholelifecoach.com.
Also, STAY TUNED: Mother's Re-
Juice! on May 12, will be a creekside
family-friendly event to soothe a mother's mind, body
and spirit.
More to
come in May's Fresh Juice!
Please forward this to a mom who you suspect may
be in need of rejuvenation!
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| Spring into "Speed Cleaning" |
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Feel like it's time to unload some of the clutter and
dust from a long winter? Well, open up your windows
and get SPEED CLEANING! Notice how removing
clutter and dirt from your life opens up new space for
possibilities!
- Be Prepared. Have cleansers, rags, bags, and
boxes on hand before you begin.
- Down and Dirty. Wear comfortable clothing and
shoes that you don't mind getting dirty.
- Just Do It. Prepare a 'to do' list of what you want to
tackle in each room. Crossing items off as you
complete them feels especially great!
- Breathe. Open all the windows and let the sweet
spring air flow through!
- Undivided Attention. Your house really deserves
this. Turn OFF the TV, cell phone, phone, and
computer! Turn ON the music and prepare to start
cleaning!
- Keep Moving:Goals Are Good. Finish every room
you start.
- Use It or Lose It. Toss or donate everything you
don't use. Less clutter will allow you to feel relaxed
and less stressed.
- Go Spot Go. Focus on one spot at time, keep
moving in one direction only, do not waste time
running all over the place.
- Be Earth Friendly. Remember that old magazines
and newspapers can all be recycled.
- Sweet, Sweet Sunshine. Remove curtains, linens,
and shower curtains for laundering. Try hanging
these items outside to bring the fresh scent and
sunshine indoors!
The End is Near: Ready for a new look?
- Rearrange furniture to give to give your rooms a
new look and feel. Try moving decorations from room
to room for the same effect.
- Use It or Lose It, AGAIN. Put back only what you
really use.
- Ohhhhs and Ahhhhs! Sit back, relax and enjoy the
fruits of your labor!
You'll be out enjoying the sunshine in no time!
These tips have been brought to you by Jessica Dolan
of Room To Breathe Home & Office Organizing. Feel
free to contact her at jessicadolan@roomtobreathe.us
or 814.360.1063.
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| Ode to the Breath |
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Space to Breathe (and this month called, ODE TO
THE BREATH) is the monthly section of
inquiries
designed to use when journaling, dreaming, or when
you just plain have a minute to yourself. The
intention is to give you a springboard for self-
discovery.
You're breathing right now. "Of course!", you say. But
do you
ever stop to realize what a miracle this is in and of
itself? This breath of yours means you are alive -
you
are here to experience all you can hold. There is
no
limit to that container, only those which you place on
yourself.
Take some time in a quiet place and dwell on your
death. Then imagine your time on earth being limited
to
one
year.
"What are your most important desires as a
person? What clues do these desires give you about
what you were put on this earth to do?"
Inquiries like these are used in coaching on a regular
basis to get to the truth around what motivates and
really matters to an individual.
If you want to get to the heart of your core
, consider individual Whole Life Coaching, and
make time to discover who you are now at a deeper
level, as well as who you are becoming.
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|
Recruiting Rebels |
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"If you don’t use your mind, someone else will."
-Alan Cohen
I am recruiting individuals who
dare to step outside of the normal parameters of what
is considered "appropriate" and "reasonable." I'm
recruiting
into the unarmed services. A program where
you can:
- Lighten your load
- Come out with MORE respect from self and
others;
- Play your bigger game;
- Know who you are;
- Know what gift you bring to the world!
Sound like fun? It is! And it's hard work. But you
can
do hard! I love that about visionaries. They
dare to go
against what others say they cannot do.
So, are you in? This personalized program of
Individual Life Coaching is one that
will require
2 1/2 hours a month on the phone and as much time
above and beyond that as you determine in service to
your own goals.
I offer free complimentary sample sessions in
order
for you to make an informed decision to see if
coaching
is a way of getting you where and what you want.
It's time for fulfilled individuals to make their mark
on the world.
"The greatest fulfillment is for each being to be
realized in its sacred depths by every other being.
This requires each being to give birth to itself."
-Brian Swimme, Mathematical Cosmologist
schedule your sample session...
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