No loneliness of the long distance runner for me. Every Wednesday morning I've scheduled a training run with running buddy Victoria. (I'm also collecting other running enthusiasts to mentor, inspire and, if necessary, bully me oh-so-kindly into seeing through my commitment. Self direction is all very well but why make it harder for yourself when there are a gazillion people out there ready to gee you up when the morning frost threatens to keep you under the duvet?)
Today we gossiped about the new showhouses in the village. Scandalous price and a dining room that will only fit a table for 4, despite the five bedrooms that imply more than the standard 2.2 offspring. I told Victoria about my current foray into Chinese remedies - the acupuncture's a doddle but the herbal tea has you retching. Is it normal to feel worse before you feel better? Probably.
Continue reading "A good run to be alive" »
What wants to change?
As a coach I firmly believe in setting a positive intent when it comes to goals. Sometimes you have to recognise that things are a "need" or a "must" for change. And then put yourself in the way of giving yourself every support to carry it through. Because, as Mae West so rightly said, I can resist everything but temptation. There's a special delight, though, when you find that you actually "want" to make a change that you have been struggling with and then things suddenly get very easy indeed. This just happened with me and the demon drink...
Continue reading "101 great questions to ask yourself - no 5" »
On Saturday night I succeeded in gathering together my nearest and dearest for a very private celebration of the launch of my book back in November. It has been held over until January because well, I feel that January needs a bit of sparkle and pzazz. Plus it's my birthday month so I owe it to the god Janus to pay homage. So here we are, mostly family, and some friends who managed to squeeze into the shot. Yes, there is a bit of red eye and not everyone was quite ready for the camara click but I think it captures the mood of the evening pretty well. It was a very special day for me; a chance to say thank you to the people who have inspired me most over the years. People travelled from as far afield as Brighton and Zurich to get there (the latter may well have been the quicker journey) and my fellow coaches did me proud by facilitating games and activities in the afternoon. Carol, my opera diva, sang sweetly for me as did my adorable better-than-boy-band nephew David, causing all the women in range to fall instantly in love with him.
Continue reading "Book launch celebration" »
What project, task or goal needs to spend some time in the waiting room?
Life is pretty hectic for me at the moment and as usual I have taken on way too much for the time I actually have available. There are so many pretty, shiny things out there to enjoy that I want it all now. I'm just a girl who can't say no, and were it not for the fact that I have been happily married for two decades (child bride, you see) this endearing trait might well have got me into trouble on more than just the time management front over the years.
Letting go isn't something that comes naturally and nor does giving in. But I do know that energy spread too thinly turns into hot air, so this morning I did a brave thing. I consigned something to the Waiting Room.
Continue reading "101 great questions to ask yourself - No 4" »
The publication of Life Coaching for Dummies has sent me into a giddy spin, that's for sure. I held the book in my hands for the first time on Tuesday 7th November at 3.25pm precisely and although I haven't experienced this for myself, I'm guessing it really is something like holding your first-born for the first time, but maybe without all the preceeding physical pain.
The last week or so has been full of firsts - first copy held, first copy signed, first copy sold, first chance to promote the book to a group of fellow coaches who gratified me with roof raising applause when I told my story of how I got published. And yesterday, first sighting of book on a shelf at a real bookstore! I had to bully the poor bookseller though, but she told me afterwards she didn't mind.
Continue reading "Starfish gets giddy in Borders" »