Recent newsletters

I seem to have been a bit remiss with posting these. Recent newsletter topics have been:

December: Decision making made easier

November: The magic of enthusiasm

October: Building strong relationships

You may need to scroll down a bit!

Magic

Two kinds of Magic today... following on from my previous post, I again enjoyed an evening of live music last weekend: 'Magic...a kind of Queen'. This band are very good. They (sadly) don't look like Queen, but the quality of the music was wonderful.

Another magic: enthusiasm - the subject of this month's newsletter. See http://www.ambitioncoach.com/62652/90928.html to read it in full. I was really taken by a quote I read:

"We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all we need to be really happy, is something to be enthusiastic about." Charles Kingsley

Runrig concert

I had no idea that Runrig have been around for about 30 years! I fell in love with their music about 15 years ago when living in Scotland, so was excited to see them live at Northampton last night. Their performance was professional, polished, truly wonderful! A bit like a Scottish Dire Straits! There really is nothing like good live music to make you feel on top of the world, especially when you sing along!

Neale Donald Walsch workshop

Last week I went to a workshop in London - from 9am until 10pm, Neale Donald Walsch (author of Conversations with God books) sat in an armchair on a stage and talked to his audience. It was utterly compelling stuff... he speaks with such clarity and it feels so true. Everything that he said resonated for me. He has many messages. I particularly like the idea that we are too attached to things being right or wrong - better to see tham as working or not working. This is less of a judgement and is less likely to lead to the upset that we see in the world, e.g. between different religions. He speaks with great clarity about love, about happiness, about caring for others... and about 'the secret of The Secret'. It was a marvellous way to spend a day and I wish I could attend his 5-day retreat as well. See http://www.lovelightpromotions.com/ for more details and http://www.nealedonaldwalsch.com/ for his website.

Several times that day, a wonderful singer called Muriel entertained us with magical, pure songs. See http://www.myspace.com/murielsings for a sample and listen to Be at Peace!

Smileys are 25 years old!

This is a feel-good story to read - about the man who may have invented the smiley: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2007-09-18-smiley-emoticon-anniversary_N.htm?csp=34.

I wonder how many people each day include :-) in their text? I would certainly miss it often if it did not exist!

Send someone a :-) today!

Writing - how it can help

This month's newsletter is all about different writing techniques, and how they can help in life: to gain more clarity, to make better decisions, to experience more happiness etc. See http://www.ambitioncoach.com/62652/90928.html for more details.

Big deep breathe again

After the tribulations a month ago with internet access, parcel deliveries, Sky etc, this week other trials continue. I gave up on Sky and cancelled the agreement. This week I have lost hours to router issues. Today I received a replacement (under warranty) router and after 2.5 hours of lost time, a further replacement is on its way to me.

How to stayt calm? Tricky - step outside and take a big deep breathe and listen for the birds singing. And yes - they are still there and they are still singing. So all is well. Onwards...

Losing time without losing the plot!

This is the topic of my latest newsletter - see http://www.ambitioncoach.com/62652/90928.html. I am back in Reston, near Washington DC again, and recent time-wasting frustrations prompted this month's thoughts about how to stay positive when the world seems out to get you. :-)

Live Earth - the work continues

I seldom receive an email from Al Gore! This one needs circulating widely:

---
Thank you! Because of your hard work, millions of personal commitments have been made via the Web and SMS in 178 countries and 35 territories around the world...
A decade from now, when people look back on Live Earth, what they will remember isn't what happened during the show -- instead my hope is they remember what happened after. More than 2 billion of us joined together on 7.7.07 and with one voice demanded an end to the climate crisis. We now have the responsibility to carry this movement forward and force our leaders to take action.

We need to take the first step today and make sure every single person possible joins us. That's why, right now, I need you to email five of your friends. Ask them to sign the Live Earth Pledge by visiting:

http://www.liveearthpledge.org/

All of the actions we take from here on out to solve the climate crisis will be based on a simple premise: our home, Earth, is in danger. We don't risk destroying the planet, but instead risk making it inhospitable for human beings.

We have put so much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere that we have changed the heat balance between Earth and the Sun. And if we don't stop soon, the average temperature will increase to levels that will end the favorable climate balance on which our civilization depends.

The world must come together and direct our governments to take on a global challenge. Our leadership is a precondition for success.

We need to demonstrate that we have reached the tipping point where political will demands our representatives take action to solve the climate crisis. That's why it's so vital that millions of people sign the Live Earth Pledge.

The climate crisis offers us the chance to experience what few generations in history have had the privilege of experiencing: a mission; a compelling moral purpose; a shared cause; and the thrill of being forced by circumstances to put aside the pettiness and conflict of politics and to embrace a genuine moral and spiritual challenge.

Please email five of your friends right now. Ask them to join us in this cause and sign the Live Earth Pledge today by visiting:

http://www.liveearthpledge.org/

Our work begins now.

Thank you,
Al Gore
---

Actually, I prefer the more complex pledge found at: http://www.avaaz.org/en/global_climate_movement/b.php?cl=13459495, which is actually the pledge that Al Gore spoke during the concerts on Saturday. It is rather wider in its reach and the wording is at http://www.liveearth.org/thank_you_pop.htm.

Watch your language

I have just posted my newsletter at http://www.ambitioncoach.com/62652/90928.html, where I discuss how your use of language can determine your likely success. I discuss Gordon Brown's statement: "I will try my utmost", since my training as a life coach has taught me to challenge people who use the word 'try'. How much stronger to start your day with "today I will strive to..." than "today I will try to...". (But I acknowledge that adding 'my utmost' certainly strengthens this statement. :-))

Annual pilgrimage to Lochnagar

I have to just comment on my ongoing love for my favourite mountain - Lochnagar near Ballater in Scotland. This year's visit was marred by poor weather. On the last day of our holiday, having waited for good conditions, we had no choice but to set off with the top under cloud. It rained and was cold and windy... the cloud kept dispersing from the top and re-gathering, so we decided to skip the last half-hour of the climb and head down the fabulous path to Loch Muick. Despite these conditions, we had a wonderful walk and I realised that for me, this climb has become something of a personal annual pilgrimage. Long may this continue. If you want to see photos of this amazing place, just email me.

I also realised that the phrase 'it is the journey, not the destination' had renewed meaning for me. Much as I love that moment of reaching the summit and gazing at the views, the climb is a key part of the pleasure. Not reaching the final goal did not matter much at all. So the learning here: set off even if you are not sure whether your goal is achievable, and enjoy the path you travel.

Cultivating dedication

I have just posted my latest newsletter at http://www.ambitioncoach.com/62652/90928.html, all about how to cultivate dedication in order to achieve something that matters to you. It also covers whether the pursuit of perfection is a hindrance in this.

New website for the bereaved

I so wish this site had been around 18 months ago, but better late than never. When my mother was dying, I could find very little to help me. Now Lucie Storrs has remedied this with her launch last month of http://www.thelightbeyond.com - a website that is a dedicated to helping people through bereavement. It is currently a bit US-focused, but will eventually have UK links as well. And much of the content is relevant wherever you live. I hope you don't need this recommendation for yourself, but if you know someone who does, please tell them about it.

Discussing The Secret and the Law of Attraction

I finally wrote about The Secret and the Law of Attraction in my May newsletter. I say finally because it is a topic that so many are discussing at the moment. But - it is a fascinating and worthy subject to study and I felt it time I added my little bit of support. See http://www.ambitioncoach.com/62652/90928.html to read more.

When fear threatens action

Following on from the building of the garden shed, our next task was to burn two very large bonfires. For weeks we watched the weather, to get the wind in the right direction (no desire to upset the neighbours!). When the day dawned with no wind and perfect conditions, fear struck when I contemplated the enormity of the task.

Our bonfires measured 10ft and 15ft diameter and towered above me. We started a small 3rd bonfire between them and started to feed this from the other piles. After working non-stop for 3 hours, the fuel ran out, at 22:30. We babysat it for a further 2 hours, then went to bed, satisfied that it was now safe to do so.

Next day I reflected on what a great experience it had been - hard work but so satisfying. The fire had been exhilerating to watch - such power... the heap of grey ash was still red hot in the centre, such that when we uncovered a blackened log, it burst back into flames!

As with the shed, my husband was the driving force behind taking action. I have learnt some key lessons in our garden, to practice what I preach! Fears seldom prove grounded... the reality is usually much easier than expected. I am now cultivating my 'orange' characteristics (see entry re True Colors).

When planning threatens action

My April newsletter describes an insightful recent experience - building a large garden shed. I was so concerned about how difficult the job might be, that if left alone, I would have not bothered to even try. Thankfully, my husband felt differently... See http://www.ambitioncoach.com/62652/90928.html for more on this.

Isabel Losada - my hero

Many thanks to my friend Chris Rudge, who lent me her copy of a wonderful book called 'A Beginner's Guide to Changing the World: For Tibet With Love', by Isabel Losada. This was a new discovery for me and I have now ordered my own copy of this inspirational book. The title was compelling enough and the book exceeded my expectations. Isabel went on an amazing journey as she attempted (and still does) to change a bit of the world. See her websites at http://www.isabellosada.com/ and http://www.actfortibet.org.

Music can make you feel very young or very old!

Yesterday I read about Cyndi Lauper launching her True Colors Tour (see http://www.hrc.org/truecolors//). I know so many of her songs, and this made me feel good... I also found the words to her classic hit True Colors and was reminded of how excellent they are:

I see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
True colors are beautiful,
Like a rainbow

But then today I read that Kris Kristofferson is 70 years old! This hardly seems possible - I used to love his music and also seeing him in A Star Is Born. Wow!

Diversity in US politics

What a pleasure to read the following introduction to an article:

"WASHINGTON — History in the making: The first woman may well be elected president in 2008. Unless the first black, the first Mormon, the first Hispanic, the first Italian-American, the first thrice-married man or the first person over 70 is elected instead.
After 218 years and 42 presidents — all of them white and male — the field of White House hopefuls this time includes credible candidates whose race, gender, ethnicity, religion or personal history probably would have ruled them out in the past..."

Read the whole article at http://tinyurl.com/yu4e7w.

The article is not entirely positive, since polls indicate many Americans not comfortable with the choice facing them. However, the overall trend is encouraging.

Of course, so many candidates who break the mould is unfortunate for each of them as individuals - Hillary Clinton must be pretty upset at how things have turned out!

First impressions and whether they should count

I attended an interesting talk last week about the importance of making a good first impression. I agree that first impressions are supremely important in the world we currently live in, but I am not comfortable with this.

I was being gently cajoled into wearing more feminine clothes, healed shoes (despite a bad foot) and to wear make-up - something that feels (a) a waste of precious time and (b) not in alignment with a core value of mine - being authentic.

This event led to a dinner conversation with friends. One friend felt that my confidence in wearing no make-up was wonderful and should not be tampered with. Another felt that I should experiment and find a 'natural' made-up look... the implication, which I accept, is that I suffer in business through looking 'less professional' than other women.

However, a male client commented that he appreciated my lack of make-up - it makes me seem more authentic and confident in myself...

Today, a similar topic is taken up by USA Today - see http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2007/02/post_28.html. This discussed the merits or otherwise of the constant media obsession with what female politicians wear. The media seldom discusses male suits, so why the attention to female clothing?

I agree - there is no value in discussing how we dress, our choice of accessories, our make-up...

Which brings me to first impressions. I know we all make them. We are all making judgements all the time, leading to prejudice. I have discovered, partly through coaching, that first impressions are unreliable. There is not one person who doesn't possess amazing strengths and traits when you allow them time to shine through, if you can only ignore the temptation to jump to a quick judgement about them.

Whose side is God on?

Back in the USA and I read a great editorial in USA Today - see http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2007/02/the_danger_of_a.html. This article talks about the dangers of turning a blind eye to Israel's actions against Palestinians. A typical quote from here: "Israeli policy seems to create more terrorists than it destroys". A fantastic article which talks a lot of common sense.

We are all special

February's newsletter is the first in a 2-parter... on the subject of how special we all are, and the value of not judging ourselves or each other. See http://www.ambitioncoach.com/62652/90928.html.

True Colors facilitation

An exciting 3 days for me last week when I trained as a True Colors facilitator! See http://www.true-colors.com/ for details of this wonderful communication tool. It fits so well with all my beliefs about valuing the diversity of humankind. Hardly a surprise to find that I am a Blue, and then lots of fun getting Ian and friends to find their colours as well.

South American travels

My recent holiday was perfect. A quick summary:-

- one day touring Rio de Janeiro - beautiful
- approx 4 days in Cuzco and Machu Picchu... the Hiram Bingham train was superb and the Sanctuary Lodge hotel was also excellent. Visiting Machu Picchu was a dream come true for me and exceeded expectations. Particularly enjoyed climbing Wayna Picchu and up to the Sun Gate (Intipunko)
- one day touring Buenos Aires - also a fabulous city
- a day or so in Ushuaia, with a visit to the Tierra del Fuego National Park - running out of superlatives
- perhaps the best bit: a 3-night cruise on the Mare Australis from Ushuaia, via the Beagle Channel and landed on zodiacs at Cape Horn - so exciting! Then cruised through Magellan Straits. Stops at glaciers and Magellan island - inhabited by 200,000 small penguins. Off at Punto Arenas in Chile. The crew were wonderful and the trip could not have been better (apart from the man snoring in the next cabin!)
- 3 days in Chile - the Torres del Paine park. Enroute we saw lots of condors.
- El Calafate, in order to visit the Perito Merino glacier: 5km wide and 80m high above water... so blue and beautiful
- Llao Llao hotel at Bariloche - a great place to walk and relax. Beautiful views and scenery but it rained a lot - the worst weather of the trip, which so far had been really good.
- Then, another highlight and another dream come true for me: Iguazu waterfalls, staying at the Sheraton hotel, with wonderful views of the falls. You can get SO close to the falls, on walkways drenched by spray. Xmas morning was spent on a boat trip under the spray... soaked through!
- A final day or so in Rio, then home.

Interesting... this has been a dream of mine for at least 35 years and now I have done it. It feels quite odd.

Newsletters published

December and January newsletters now at http://www.ambitioncoach.com/62652/89229.html.

Back online after 7 weeks!

What an eventful time since I last blogged...

On 30 November, I moved house and lost internet access. This has proved hard to regain, partly due to a 23-night holiday which delayed phone lines, then due to delays getting broadband on the line. Ouch!

When I finally downloaded emails into Outlook, I had approx. 5,800. Of these, 2,800 went straight into a spam folder and most of the rest should have done. A slow job sifting through to find the gems amongst the dross...

Spam is a nightmare now. I hadn't fully appreciated how bad it was until this outage. I was unable to use my webmail account as it was too full of emails and just timed out when I tried to access it. I wonder why so much spam is sent - do people really fall for it?