Leaving 2008

I am still not quite myself, and so rather than 'force' myself to do things, I am laying low and doing other behind-the-scenes tasks that have been on my To Do list for ages.  It feels good to honor where I am at, and yet still be moving in a forward direction.  Much as I might not like it, life is often messy and unpredictable, and it is in those moments that I am tested - perhaps more than any other.  I also know, that there is great strength and lessons to be learnt in this place, so as I exit 2008 I feel humbled and vulnerable.  I know that this too shall pass, I just need to stay on this wave until it reaches the safety of the shore.

I hope that as you leave 2008 and enter 2009 that you are doing so in a way that respects where you are currently at in life.  There is value here.

Fondly,

Catherine

Back from an unintentional break

Hi

I am finally back.  

I don't know exactly what happened, but somewhere along the way, blogging went south and didn't return.  Some days I haven't thought about it at all, and have been surprised when days later I realize that I have forgotten it had become a regular part of my life, and didn't notice it when it was missing.  Other days I have thought 'I have to get back to it' and still other days, I just haven't had the energy or creative juices to write.  So, I've been gone for over a month.  

During that time there have been high points and definitely some low points.  I feel like I have been all over the emotional map - and in a completely unpredictable way.  I have just sat and read a whole bunch of my favorite blogs, as I have noticed that I haven't been making time to do that either.  I have a personal philosophy in this busy world 'put something good in every day' - what I mean by that is, read, do, participate, give or receive something that is good for my soul each day.  When I am tired, as I have been recently, this is especially true.  Ironically, this is not what I have done.  Instead, I have read the news (90%+ of which is depressing or awful), read trashy, gossipy columns on the internet or been too busy running around to take the time to give myself the gift of 'something good' and so I have suffered.  My well feels dry and I am not totally sure how to replenish it.  One thing is for sure, having read the blogs and been inspired by others' journeys, I feel some lightness and hope again.

Today, I feel compelled to write.  I am not sure what it is that I want to say, but I know that there is something inside of me wanting to come out.  It might be uncovered during this blog, or perhaps I will go and pick up one of my journals and write until I discover what is bothering me.  The funny thing is, I don't like writing 'negative' stuff in my beautiful journals - how ridiculous is that??  I know I am struggling right now, and once I distinguish what it is, I know I will release some of the stranglehold it has on me.  I also know, that when I am tired I have a propensity to suffer a lot longer than is helpful..some weird form of self torture, that is neither useful nor inspiring.

So, while I had grand plans to catch up on work, follow-up with networking contacts, plow through some of the items on my To Do list, I have done none of that.  My heart needs taking care of and right now that is the most important thing for me.  All the rest will come in time.

If your heart is needing some love and attention right now, take the time, I know from experience, it will be worth it.

Friday's Quote

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.

If you did what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something,

for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times

during those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,

because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,

because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes,

they will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tried and weary,

because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.

A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who

are also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.

Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,

and they can become your blessings.

~ Author Unknown

As we approach Thanksgiving here in the US, what else can you be thankful for?

eWomen Glow Event

I have just come back from the eWomen Glow Project in Campbell, CA and I feel inspired.

The speakers were funny, poignant and candid about their lives, their pasts, their failures, their hardships and their successes.

These are the things I took from the three speakers, Sandra Yancey, Barbara Rubin, and Marilyn Tam:

1.  Evaluate who in my life is serving my dream(s) and who is taking me away

2.  Create space in my life so that something new can show up.  If I am always so booked or busy, there is no room for the Universe to deliver something new

3.  Show up expecting success

4.  My fortune and future will be created by and with those I am yet to meet

5.  Lighting someone else's candle does not diminish my own light

6.  The Universe never gives us something early...nor for that matter does it give us something late, it is always right on time

7.  'Fine' is one of the most destructive words in the English language, because most often when we answer we are 'fine' we are anything but fine

8.  JUMP!

9.  Embrace money

Sandra spoke of the importance of having good girlfriends in her life that she can lean on, and I left today's event feeling all filled up - the same way I feel when I have spent time with my best girlfriends.  I didn't know more than 3-4 people at the event, but there was something about the energy in the room that has left me inspired.

Here's to the power and importance of having great girlfriends in our lives!

Sunset

My favorite time of day is sunset.  While I like sunrise, I am not a morning person, so I don't see them as frequently. 

I love how every sunset is unique - depending on where I am in the world, the weather conditions and the time of the year.  I particularly love when the sun's setting colors are reflected on buildings or clouds - as in the photo above (taken June 2005, Wellington, New Zealand) or the photo below (taken January 2008, Queenstown, New Zealand).

Sunsets are the one thing in nature that will really have me physically stop in my tracks and pause to admire them.  I will stop and smell roses while I am walking (or other nature things like that), but sunsets are different.  They make me smile and feel contented, no matter what kind of day I have had.  It's like nature's way of waving good bye for the day before darkness falls and a new day begins.

What is your favorite time of day, or your favorite natural beauty?

They just don't make them like this any longer

I was in an antiques store (known as The Collective) this past weekend, when I overheard a woman say to her husband  "they just don't make them like this any longer"  I hadn't intended to overhear their conversation, and I would never normally comment on something I overhear, but it so echoed my own sentiments that as I moved closer to where they were, I mentioned overhearing her and added how much I concurred with her sentiments.

Thankfully, there are still people around who appreciate fine craftsmanship - including antiques - and more importantly, there are still skilled craftspeople around to do it.  No matter how good a machine is at carving, nothing beats a piece of furniture that has been lovingly created by hand.  Don't get me wrong, mass-produced items have their place - and their price point - but I have a high-attention and appreciation for detail, and that, more often than not, does not come from mass production.  

Perhaps this is why when I go into an old house, I almost get giddy with excitement at the details that just are not used in more modern houses.  I love patina, and something that has history - even if I don't know the history.

A few years ago while we were in the Grand Canyon, my husband walked by the train station and notice the door handles.  He knew how much I would love them and called me over to have a look.  I sighed with utter contentment, and almost welled up with tears, when I saw the 'GC' carved into the knob and unusual shape of the plate - they just don't make them like this any longer...

Flop

Do you ever have a situation, that in your head was going to go well and be a success, but in reality was a flop?

I have, and, I did - this morning.  

I belong to a small networking group, which I really enjoy.  Each month one person does a more in-depth presentation about their business, which allows the rest of us to further understand what they do, what makes them unique, who their ideal clients are and how best to refer them.  It also allows us as a group to ask questions and give feedback on their presentation, their market/niche or their way of communicating what they do.  This morning I had volunteered to present my other company Rigore Rather than do a powerpoint presentation which is not my thing, (no offense to those that love them), I decided to do a quick exercise to show the interactive nature of our business and to give the others an opportunity to look at their businesses and see what is, and is not, working within them.

I was given 10 minutes to do the presentation, and as soon as I started, I knew it wasn't going to work.  I didn't have the time to really give the others the context for the exercise, I just jumped in, and they didn't respond with the gusto or opportunity (that I thought it clearly was!) At the end, there were a ton of questions, not so much about the exercise but about what Rigore actually does and where/how we could help a company.  Essentially it was a flop.

Not a total flop, as perhaps my inner critics would want me to believe, but a 90% flop.

Rather then dwell on this or remain as mortified and embarrassed as I feel (there is a part of me that would like to stick my head in the sand and that thinks 'these people must think I am an idiot!!') I am going to take this as a learning experience.

What did I learn from this?

1.  An exercise cannot be done in 10 minutes (it needs time to be set up, completed and debriefed adequately, or it is a waste of time)

2.  Run through either in reality or with a willing test subject, to weed out questions, problems or road blocks (because no matter how many times I have led an exercise, shortening any exercise does have substantial impacts on it's potential for success)

3.  I enjoy this group, so don't run and hide.  I do have something to offer. This is an opportunity to do better next time and others can learn from my mistake

4.  Some people just don't get what I do and I need to either do a better job of finding ways to explain it, or be willing to let go of those that really don't want to get it.  There are plenty more people out there in the world and those who have worked with us, do get it

5.  To have a ding in my pride hurts, but it isn't the end of the world

6.  Perhaps someone got a nugget of helpful information, that will lead to positive results for them

So, while I would have preferred to be a raging success today, I will humbly admit defeat and look forward to tomorrow with renewed passion and enthusiasm, because if there is one thing I am VERY clear about: I LOVE what I do, and I KNOW I provide value.