yellow rose
In this issue...
  • Blooming in the Recession
  • How to turn crisis into opportunity...
  • Sunset Last Night in Sonoma County

    • Claim Your Life Now
    What Does it Take to Bloom?
    		 April 2009
    Dear Marshall,

    The California poppies are amazing this year. Photos taken by Keith. (just west of Yosemite National Park)

    It Felt Love

    How did the rose ever open its heart and give to this world all its beauty?

    It felt the encouragement of light against its being.

    Otherwise, we all remain too frightened.

    - Hafiz


    ferns Blooming in the Recession

    Are you feeling the light shining on you these days so that you can bloom as the rose does? If not, get out in nature. It's sure to do it for you. Even if it's just during your lunch break. Go somewhere where you can see nature, smell it, touch it and hear it. For me, it takes several outings each week into the wilderness to maintain my peace and serenity. I'm just a few steps away from a national park.

    The beauty we are experiencing in California this Spring is evident in these photos.

    california poppies spring 2009 How to turn crisis into opportunity...

    Agilent Technologies laid off a large percentage of their staff in Santa Rosa last week. I know a couple people who survived the layoff and a couple who didn't.

    Being laid off is challenging. The attitude we hold about it can make or break our future possibilities. It can be an opportunity to redefine ourselves.

    It can be an opportunity to ask the following questions:
    What is important now?
    What do we value?
    How can we build community?
    What will sustain me now?
    If we can't visit the mall over the weekend, how might we spend our time?
    How can we conserve energy?

    As a coach, these are the inquiries I pose to my clients to get them thinking outside the box.

    I've been laid off several times. I remember that I always felt shame about the lay off. Like it meant something about me. It never did. It was for economic reasons.

    There is opportunity in a crisis. Sooner rather than later, look for the opportunity in each crisis you face in your life. For sure, your suffering will be lessened.

    sunsetatriverside.jpg Sunset Last Night in Sonoma County

    Last night I went for an evening hike with friends. I can't tell you how healing it is to be out in nature. The sun was setting, the birds were getting ready to roost. We saw a red tail hawk, woodpeckers, and many other birds I couldn't name. Being out in nature reminds me that I am part of it. That I'm not separate and independent. As the creatures in nature are cared for, so will we be. That's important to remember when the fear is taking you over.

    I led a writing workshop a few weeks ago. There were about 16 people present. I felt such a profound presence of the sacred when everyone was writing. The silence was palpable. I asked people to write about the story that scares them.

    If any of you are interested in an ongoing writer's workshop, let me know. We could do it over the phone. That way it would be anonymous. That would provide the safety some people need. It would be easy to do because I already have a conference call line. Drop me an email if you are interested.

    My web designer and I are working on a new video to put on my website. Watch for it. I'm replacing a talk I did in 1992.

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