Category: Common Journey Blog

 I had planned a driving trip to Southern California for many months, beginning with two visits in Palm Desert and Palm Springs. The time to travel had arrived.  Just a week before departure, my friend, Dennis, called to say the forcasted temperature is 115 Degrees. Oh no!

Then two days before leaving, my friend, Johnny, called to say that a raging forest fire was approaching his home in Pioneertown, just above Joshua Tree National Park.

I thought I could handle the weather but smoke and ash were another story. But just like my website suggests challenges are good.

So I proceeded to load (overload, actually) the car and head south at 9:06 AM Saturday morning past. I could only chuckle when the first song playing on the radio was “I must be crazy.”

Three days later the heat is not unbearable and later today I will experience the fire conditions as we drive to visit Johnny’s home.

I am so glad I didn’t waste time worrying about all of the what if’s that could have happened. I trusted that all would be well.

I wanted to visit Italy for many years. The day has finally arrived, I fly out tomorrow.

This is the perfect way to follow my own advice. This 15 posts on my coaching website is about committing to solving an ongoing problem or fulfilling a passion.

I am fulfilling a passion. My last European adventure was back in 1989 – so long ago.

In will be posting throughout this trip – my focus is on art, architecture, food and wine. What else – I am in Italy after all. I hope to include many photos along the way.

Stay tuned on this blog and follow along with my weekly Thursday posts.

Dorothy

I longed for a summer home.  I had lived in San Francisco for about 15 years, enduring “the coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco”, as Mark Twain quoted. I grew up on the east coast so summers meant hot, sticky weather, spent outside, swimming, sunning, living.

Finally, I had the opportunity to purchase this stunning home in the Russian River Valley.  From the outside it looks like a small abode but inside a 2200″ sg.ft. beauty existed – vaulted living room ceiling, original redwood paneling, 3 bedrooms,  two baths and a remodeled modern kitchen.

I experienced many great times and hosted dozens of events but life is not all sunshine, roses and hydrangeas.  More of this tale later…

Where does the time go?  I lasted posted in January 2012.  YIKES.

But I am back to  “Our Common Journey.”

As a reminder – Who are we?

Our – boomers over age 60 planning and living their dreams for the next 20 to 40 years, no guarantees.

Common – we all experience success and face obstacles. It is what we do in these situations that make the most difference. Let’s learn together.

Journey – life is a journey.  Many times lived on a treadmill, going about our daily routines, rarely venturing off into the unknown. Watching as time goes by, our dreams  and vision collecting dust in the buried subconscious of the mind. I have made some progress in propelling me life forward over the last year but I have set a new course now  to really step out of my comfort zone and make my dreams come true.

I set these three goals for 2013:

– to DATE

– to lose 3 inches on my waist

– to build a TEAM

This is my journey, come along, give me support, encouragement, and strength to live, to do and to accomplish my goals.

In return I will be honored to inspire, empower, and educate you to live your dreams as well.

It has been too long since my last blog post. Sounds a bit like a confession statement.

But I will confess, this act of writing is challenging.

After having worked for years with facts and figures, I am transitioning to use the other side of my brain
– more creative,
– more language arts,
– more spontaneity.

I am finding this process takes commitment, dedication, consistency, focus and frankly hard work.

Why is it hard? Because I am changing a big part of my life. I am asking myself to follow a new path, to try a new thing by writing.  So of course, I am in unfamiliar territory.

We know what happens then.

The roadblock appear, the obstacle magnify, the fears and doubts surface and procrastination comes out with a vengeance.

But I will not be deterred.  I have found that I am inspired by writing and finding my own unique  expressive style.

New is my 2012 word.  I am getting off of my own treadmill in life and committing to NEW.

You can, too.  In fact, I am inviting you to join my team of folks to become educated, inspired and empowered to get off your own treadmill of life and get back into your life, your journey.

Look for my email flyer or phone call this week as I encourage you to commit to your own dreams and visions – at the beginning of this new year of 2012.

I thought meditation must be easy, boring even.

You just sit quietly, without thought.  This notion couldn’t have been farther from the truth. 44 days into my new practice, I understand frustration of Elizabeth Gilbert beginning her practice in India described in her book “Eat, Pray, Love”.

I began my meditation practice August 29th. I have yet to turn off the constant dialogue in my head while doing it.  I know the theory is to not worry about this dialogue and to stick with the practice but…..

As I wait to experience any of the benefits of meditation, I am discovering new things about myself.

Throughout each  day I notice my mind is also always going – thinking, thinking, thinking.  Thinking about my to do lists, upcoming appointments, work projects, phone calls, past events, the future in countless ways,  messes around me, making money
and on and on and on.

I am still struggling with the act of meditating – quieting my mind and even just sitting for 5 minutes in the uncomfortable lotus position.

I discovered that meditation is a form of mindfulness.  Now I understand meaning of the word – mindful.  It is an interesting word because you think it would mean fill the mind fully. But isn’t it the opposite?

To be aware, to be present, to live in the moment, without judging, or analyzing.

So as I include mindfulness more in my life, I will notice the impact on my meditation practice.

And stay committed to this new habit of meditation.

To me the word, health, incorporates my mind, body, spirit and heart working synergistically to create a vibrant, energetic, healthy being.

When any one part is not working up to speed, is out of balance the whole being suffers.

I am so left brain, always thinking, thinking, thinking. I analyze, puzzle through problems looking for solutions. This skill has served my well throughout my accounting and tax consulting career.  In fact, you might say crucial when working in this field.

But am I too far to the left?  My hobbies include games and card playing – thinking, planning, guessing, reading opponents.  I enjoy completing very hard jigsaw puzzle of 2000 to 2500 parts.  The tedious, endless sorting of pieces – looking for matching shapes, designs and colors.

While it challenges my brain and helps with focus, the predominant benefit it very similar to my work.

I started reading about right brain exercises thinking this would help bring myself into balance. While researching the function of the right brain, I discovered my understanding of the two sides of the brain was inaccurate.  I learned that the right brain, which I always associated with creativity and expression is also responsible for visual processing, big picture think, intuitive processing and processing ideas simultaneously.  So in reality I have been exercising some of this right side part as well.

I finally realized the missing component in my life is taking a break from all my processing and thinking.  Taking the time to just be, to be calm and quite – to meditate.

I have read about meditating for years, even practicing some in the past.  While I could understand the many benefits, until now I hadn’t connected them to me.

Meditation has physiological, psychological and spiritual benefits.

One internet search listed 100 of them such as:

– enhance the immune system
– increase blood flow
– normalize your ideal weight
– decrease muscle tension
– helps control own thoughts
– increase creativity
– easier to remove bad habits
– provides peace of mind, happiness
– helps living in the present moment
– creates a widening, deepening capacity for love

While I just listed 10 of them, the truth is I could see that 70-80 of them would provide important benefits for me.

So I committed to a morning 5 minute meditation practice, a realistic beginner’s goal to at the least get into the habit of experiencing this ritual.

Since, I know creating a new habit takes a minimum of 28, I committed to my 28 day trial and began my meditation practice,
August 29th.

I soon discovered this seemingly simple action is one of the hardest things I have tried to do. Let me tell you my results. First, I did not meditate all of the 28 days.  I missed 8 of them. It is interesting that I missed every Sunday, a day in the past given to prayer, reflection and quiet.  I also missed the 5 days this past week when I attended a life changing “Inspiring Speaker” workshop by Marcia Wieder of Dream University.  I mention it because so much of the workshop content included personal development practices.

Second, during each meditation activity, I just could not sit and relax, could not let my mind be calm and peaceful, could not quiet my constant thinking.

But that was okay, I accepted my experience for what it was and allowed myself to in it for the full 5 minutes.

I can not say that I have felt a any change yet but luckily I have my life ahead of me yet to get there.

As I begin my next 28 days of meditation, I added soothing music to the practice.  I am committed to continue with this work. I look forward to receiving the healthy benefits into my life.

Until next time…