We all know that this time of year is busy.  Beyond busy.  It is quite unfortunate given this is my favorite time of year.  It seems to pass by in a blink of an eye, even when I try celebrating in November and throughout  January [yes, I do--haters don't hate:)] . . .  and then it occurred to me--the only way I can savor this season is to "pause."  Pause to savor the twinkling Christmas lights.  Pause to taste the warm and comforting eggnog.  Pause to hear the sweet children sing Christmas carols.  Pause to remember the birth of my Lord and  Savior.  Pause.  How can you pause today?

Another life lesson. Learned over and over again. Feelings get hurt, and I can't help but feel like a Junior Higher all over again. Isn't that the way adulthood is sometimes? We find ourselves in situations where we are misunderstood, it's a "he-said-she-said," or worse, someone makes disparaging remarks about you. What can we do? Well, I came across these wise words from Rachel Hollis recently and it was a great reminder and exactly what I needed to hear to move forward. It's none of my business. It-is-none-of-my-business. Ahhh. Big sigh of relief. So, while I acknowledge the hurt involved, what I do to move forward is park my mind in a spot that brings wholeness and positivity. Yes, this is easier said that done, but this discipline (to focus on truth) has enabled me to overcome many challenges. And so, as I move through my day (s), this is my mantra, "Someone else's opinion of me is none of my business."
​

This is my favorite time of year (well, I guess second to Christmas)!  The crisp morning air, the color of the leaves, and the celebration of everything pumpkin--it's the perfect environment to start fresh.  We often think of New Year's as the prime time to start fresh.  However, I find that Fall is a beautiful season to revive that which feels broken.  The changing of this season provides a remarkable metaphor for the opportunity for growth and restoration.  As the leaves ripen and fall of the branch, a dormant environment is created for new growth.

Right now, many of us may feel a bit worn down from the year.  We may be discouraged by forgotten resolutions and tired from the demands of the year.  Let's take the timely lesson from nature, and use this time to explore our hearts and minds and nurture ourselves.  This time of reflection, where we feel like the branch with no leaves, can provide a crop of renewed energy, clarity and purpose.  Let's take make the most of these cozy nights, cuddled up with a blanket, to self-nurture--and so create a harvest of growth.

Recently, I decided to go back to teaching. As a part of my coaching practice, as many of you know, I conduct life-mapping workshops. These workshops gave me the itch to teach again. So, I returned to teaching, after a 15 year hiatus where I raised my beautiful children. I posted a picture of my first day of work at the University and I have to admit that the “gremlins” were talking. Before I hit "share" on that personal post, the little gremlins basically asked, “What if it doesn’t go well, and you just posted it to Facebook?” To make a long story short, I faced my doubt and challenged those gremlins by responding, “It’s still courage.” Brene Brown, in her book Gifts of Imperfection, states, “ . . . I’ve learned that playing down the exciting stuff doesn’t take the pain away when it doesn’t happen. It does, however minimize the joy when it does happen. It also creates a lot of isolation.” I am excited to go back to teaching, and I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I was a little nervous. However, as I try to do with most challenges, I work on making sure my mind is parked in truth—I am showing up. I am practicing courage. I am using my gifts. By the grace of God, returning to teaching was a positive experience that not only fanned the flame to teach again, but added fuel to the fire. In Daring Greatly, Brown writes, “Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance.” My hope in writing this post is that we all recognize the importance of vulnerability and courage. When we express our true selves, gremlins and all, we move closer to self-acceptance and authentic connection.
​

I am very excited to announce the newest addition to my website, my "Giving" page.  I truly believe the truth expressed by Richard Rohr--unless we transform our pain, we will surely transmit it.  Both of my children struggled with severe feeding issues, and, in short, life was extremely challenging for approximately 7 years.  Our daily lives were filled with doing everything under the sun to get our children to eat and gain weight.  We visited our pediatrician, gastroenterologist, pulmonologist, and feeding specialist on a regular, sometimes even weekly, basis.  

As my coaching practice continues to grow, I want to be able to give back.  Since the inception of Joseph Catalyst Coaching, giving has been important and contributions have been made to various charities from each and every coaching service.  Although I am pleased with this form of giving, I have long felt the desire to make this giving more intentional and purposeful. Consequently, I researched various organizations and charities related to feeding.  I have chosen the non-profit organization Feeding Matters, as this organization best aligns with my passions and history.

Most of us have a stories of pain, hardship or struggle. What can you do to transform that pain into something meaningful?

As the end of the school year approaches, we are busy--crazy busy, to be honest.  After I had children, i learned that May is the new December: state testing, class parties, music performances, final projects, teacher gifts and more!  Now that I know May is busy, I have learned to better prepare for the busyness.  One of the unconventional ways I've learned to remain centered is the focus on my happy place, and in my case, it's Maui, as we are going there in a few short weeks for a family vacation.  Research shows that thinking about an upcoming positive event can impact our mental health and increase our overall happiness.  So, this picture is my "happy place,"  What's yours?