Shifting Sands

Have you ever stood knee deep in the ocean in a strong tidal current?
As the water rushes around your feet, pulling back into the ocean, you can feel the sand shifting beneath your toes. Sometimes you might squirm your feet deeply into the soft sand, gaining more traction. Other times you may just let go and let the sand pull away.

Our world is undergoing a major pull right now.
The foundation we thought was so sturdy, strong, forgiving, is not. We are standing on shifting ground.

What is your reaction to this time?
Are you squirming your way into a comfort zone, hoping the tide will not sweep you away? Or are you standing and not fighting the tide, going with the flow and rebalancing in the moment? Or do you just want to get out of this ocean and find another place to play?

We are all reacting at some level to where we are.

The good news is that we are all in this together. "Yippee!" you might say. The opportunities for going with the flow, rebalancing in the moment and letting go of the sands that are crumbling are presented to each of us every day.

To let go of the sands requires a deep inner rooting and being grounded in something way bigger than our minds, egos, daily habits. While these aspects of ourselves are essential to the journey- we wouldn't be here without them - as essential is the connection to Source, Inner wisdom, God, True Nature. However You experience this power.

It is here that we find our connection to one another and to that which, while constantly changing, is unshakeable.

I invite you to join me in this journey.

What is a New Year, Anyways?

A New Year...What does this really mean? 
If you believe that all we have is a moment- this moment, then does a year really exist? Does a day really exist?  A week?  Time itself?

We mark out time as a way to be in relationship to the flow of life, to create a reference point that we can anchor ourselves in, validating that yes, indeed, we live through and across the experience of life. Defining time helps create an ordered society, a common language and global human experience.  Nature has no need for calendars, she simply IS - unfolding moment to moment, nothing needed to giver her a sense of identity or reference point.  Nature is life living it's self moment to moment.

Yet as humans we have the need for self definition - who would I be if I wasn't who I think I am?  The New Year presents the opportunity to reflect, resolve and regroup.  We start off with lots of enthusiasm and intention.  Yet usually find oursleves not going to the gym because its cold out or having that extra dish of ice cream because we'll start again tomorrow.  What if tomorrow never came?  Some day it won't - for all of us.
If every day was New Year's Day how would your life be different? 

The Heart of the Matter

The body is a unique place to live; a fact I've been taking for granted.
Last Sunday I found myself having a third experience of chest pains since the Friday prior. The previous 2 bouts I was able to relax and breathe through, using deep breathing and centering techniques. This, however, was more intense and persistent.

I called my husband, an EMT, (we've been apart for a year, a heart breaking experience in itself) who immediately said, "I'll be there in 10 minutes, you're going to the ER."
Reluctantly, I agreed knowing that heart attacks are a leading cause of death in women. Plus, I had just had surgery 2 weeks prior and had been recuperating from esophageal complications resulting from the anaesthesia.

Long story short, my experience at Mt. Auburn Hospital was great. From the ER staff to the transport guys who took me to and from tests, the chaplaincy volunteers who visited me, the food service folks - to my nurse, Beth - and my PCP whom I actually saw each morning I was there - all of these folks treated me with compassion, kindness and great care.

The funniest experience was the stress tests. The Stress Lab was moving and was in the middle of 2 buildings, equipment working or not, lots of folks needing their services -in-patient, out, and the ER. These stressed out stress lab nurses and techs maintained a great sense of humor and made a stress test not too stressful! (Did you know that women often have false + results on stress tests? Hence, I needed a 2nd test to prove that the EKG changes seen were "normal". No stress there!)

By the way, my heart is "perfect."

So, the Heart of the Matter continues to beat and keep the matter of my body well oxygenated. More importantly, my heart has opened to a deeply compassionate appreciation for the work our health care providers provide. At all levels. In a very challenging environment.

Heart ache is transformed to gratitude for life and other sojourners on the path...
That's the Heart of Living, yes?

Blessings to you,
Monique

Being in Recuperation

It's not often that I'm down physically so recuperating from surgery this week has given me time to rest, do lots of nondoing and reflect on life.

What I noticed more than ever is the habitual way my mind wants to go to the negative and the empowerment that comes from saying no to that. NO!

Any one relate?

I started thinking there ought to be worms for the soul. I give my worms (See my new blog As the Worms Turn) my organic garbage and they turn it into rich fertilizing soil. Wouldn't it be cool to have a place we could put those garbagey thoughts and have soulworms turn them into rich fertilizer for life?

(Good thing I didn't take the percosets!)

Soulfully yours,
Monique

Business Models and SoulWork

If you are a business owner, coach, or somone who wants to be part of something bigger than yourself, and you are feeling uncertain about how you will sustain yourself during these economic times, here are a couple of helpful hints.

First, what is your business model? This is not your business plan, it is the model that you use (consciously or not) to capture the value you put forth into the world. Most of us are not conscious of what that model is. The place to begin to get clear about it is to identify what your value is and how you are putting it into the world. Once you get clear about that, you can begin to make conscious decisions about how to spend your time and energy more effectively to create that value. Then comes how to capture it- a whole other conversation.

The other piece to pay attention to, is your SoulWork. What is it that your soul- the essence of who you are - is seeking to express in the world? How conscious of you are that? Do you even value it?

Getting clear about your soul's "work" which I see as the expression of your deepest purpose, is something that most of us don't take the time or focus to investigate deeply.

If this intrigues you, check out www.coaching4value.com for more info about two teleclasses that will assist you in both processes. It's time to live. Today!

Blessingss,
Monique

Early morning thoughts

So, insomnia has struck.
How can one best use the wee hours of the morning? I read recently that rather than spend thes times in restless tossing and turning, to turn on the light so as not to be in the dark, alone. How often do we feel in the dark, alone even when the lights are on?

Loneliness is a contagion these days. Fear brings us into it it even more, withdrawn, isolated, self-protected. The best antidote to that is to reach out and help someone- to get out of oneself and see someone else, truly see another being for who he or she is- compassionately, with unerstanding or humor.
When you see someone on the street today that looks forlorn, smile at him or her, think a compassionate thought, send a love beam. When you reach out to the world, the world will reach out to you. The loneliness will lessen just a bit, and maybe, just maybe, the sun will shine in your heart.
That's my wish for you today...

If you are a woman who is looking for support in this process, see www.soulworkscoaching.com for more info about The Working Woman's Life~Raft, a 5 session coaching group for women who are looking for a supportive community to navigate these waters....

Blessings to you,
Monique

Timely Musings

Hi Folks-
How quickly moments recede when living in the present and how fully I remember - embody - so many moments of my amazing trip.

What a trip- Beijing, the fabulous training, conference and experience, Mom hospitalized (she's home from rehab, and gaining strength), a period of purification in the Oregon woods where I wrote an article on China, hiked and swam daily and regrouped, and a family reunion/funeral in my Dad's hometown of Pocatello, ID.

Timing is everything and this trip showed me once again the pure magic of being in the flow of life. Here's what I mean.

The morning I got news my Mom had fallen I was supposed to be on a tour. However, I had unknowlingly done the same tour the previous Sat. When I discovered this I decided to do something different on Thursday. I was in my room when my brother called me telling me she was in the ER. Because I had cleared my schedule I was available to speak with her, find out her status and make the decision to stay knowing she was stable.

The other situation was around my family visit. Several of us had made arrangements to be in Pocatello this particluar weekend without knowing the others would be there till much later. Meanwhile, my Uncle, who had been failing, began to slip. He and my mom actually fell on the same day within a couple hours of each other. He died 5 days before I arrived. We were all able to celebrate his life together and support my Aunt- the remaining sibling of the original Morimoto Family - during this sad time. We commented on how amazing it was that we were there from Hawaii, Arizona, California and Boston via China. It was a blessing.

Goes to show that staying present, following hunches, showing up for life is really what our journeys are all about. I used to say" The doing will come; just be" without fully realizing the impact of living life from the "being" place. Know I know deeply that being enables the efforting to slip away. I find myself in the right place at the right time very often these days. This is the joy of synchronicity (aka "Godincidences).

By the way, I did receive the first International coaching Award for Community Building and Development. It was and is very cool. Will be including a photo in my newsletter.....subscribe if you haven't: www.soulworkscoaching.com

Peace to you all.
Monique

Greetings from Beijing!

Thank you all for your prayers and love. They sustain my faith in the certainty that all is unfolding exactly as it is and my choice to be present to the unfolding, not fighting it, simply being with all of it.

First, my Mom is stable, clear as a bell and is undergoing lots of workups. Thankfully, she did not break anything in the fall and will likely go to a rehab once they figure out what’s going on and address it. She is in good hands with her doctors, the loving, capable hands of my brothers and essentially told me not to come home. That is a gift from her, one I do not take lightly and one that challenges some very deeply held beliefs I’ve had about my self in relation to her; beliefs that have in some way defined who I am and have limited how I see myself. I’m still very much in process with this and will be for some time, I am sure.

So, I continue on my journey. Yesterday was an adventure in shopping. Those of you who know me know how much I dislike shopping. Not my favorite pastime. Well, I’m having fun with it here. I especially like the bartering aspect. I’ve found bartering with a smile and sense of play has been the best way to create a hospitable relationship with the barterer – all pretty young women who are very good at driving a hard bargain. They are trained to do this as they all have the same approach, use the same language and all have the same calculator now that I think of it. It is fun.

Observations from the street- there are as many varieties of bicycles as one could imagine – 2 and 3 wheeled, enclosed, open, enclosed one passenger boxes (literally big enough for one person to sit in hunched over), with wagons, trailers, motorized, old clunkers, mopeds here and there and very rarely Harleys. No one wears helmets. People are riding singly and often with someone balanced on the back fender, feet to the side, making their way around busses, cars, pedestrians, wearing heels, skirts, business clothes. The driving continues to be an exercise in controlled chaos. Like an ant farm. I had a nerve wracking Taxi ride yesterday – thought the driver was going to knock over a couple of pedestrians. For all the traffic, I’ve not seen an accident nor have I seen any dented fenders. How curious is that!

The sun actually was shining yesterday and I caught a very slight glimpse of blue sky. The wind probably blew some of the smog away.

I saw several babies and toddlers who, rather than wear diapers have their bottoms exposed – picture a onesie with no closures…it is quite cute to see these little ones running along with their bums available to do whatever at any moment. Parents hold them a bit differently than one would a diapered baby….

Today it’s time for the conference. I am going to be part of a panel of interviewees for Chinese TV! Oprah- watch out! I’m curious about how this will turn out and hope I can get a copy of the interview. Also I got an email asking me to come to a rehearsal for the award ceremony. This is being viewed as the Oscars of coaching. So, more curiousity….I’ll let you know how this goes.

Right now is it’s 5:30 am and I’m ready to start my day. I wish you continued joy in your journeys. This is the only shot we get at life – at least this time around. I encourage you to reflect on how you are valuing your life. Are you fulfilled, joyful? Do you know that your life is meaningful as it is? Do you hunger for a deeper expression of yourself through how you live your life? Pay attention (as my Dad would say). Be open to the mystery that is unfolding through you every moment; that is you, that carries you like a river through life.

And share your heart with those in your life. Everyone.

Blessings,
Monique