SoulWorks Coaching Musings

Listen to the Whispers of Your Soul

2010-04-29T16:55:00.000-07:00

Do you know what your soul's whisper sounds like?

Each of us has access to that still, small voice. It speaks to us in our bodies, minds, hearts, emotions. It speaks to us through nature, animals, other people. It shows itself in synchronicities, connections, aha moments.

The soul is the substance of who we are and is constantly revealing more and more of our essence to us (or what blocks us from the experience of our essence. Our task,really our opportunity, is to listen, for the whispers, the urgings, intuitions; to pay attention to what draws us closer to aliveness to the fire in the belly.

Meditation is one way to practice listening. Yoga, Tai Chi, walking meditation, body work are others. None of these will aid us in our journey if we don't practice them, if we are not dedicated to the act of listening, deeply, to what is here, now. The soul only manifests in the now. For the soul there is no past or future. It's all here, now!

I am thrilled tobe offering a workshop on June 5,6 with my friend and colleague, Nicki Pakkala, a Body Talk practioner and agent of healing. Participants will get to explore the voices of their souls through listening to the body, through personal inquiry, meditation and with horses. The horses are here, now. They show us aspects of ourselves that we don't know are here in ways that are often subtle, yet powerful. Won't you join us for this great event? Details can be found at:
http://diamondhorsecoaching.com/services.

In the meantime....shhhhhhhh........
Your soul is whispering......can you hear it?

Horse and Soul Notes

2009-10-24T23:09:00.000-07:00

Joy and timelessness....two aspects of my barn time. Joy- being with the horses...being with the kids...welcoming the kid in me - long ago buried and shackled to save my soul.

Timelessness - the joy of 3 hours dissolved in mucking, grooming, being with horse and human, riding the power of the moment. Soul at one with all that surrounds her. Being in the grace of being.

May we all know such moments. Life in its richest manifest. self in its at-one-ment with Self. Joy. Deep sigh....contentment.

The Doggie Dimension

2009-07-31T05:45:00.000-07:00

It's amazing how our world and the Divine Power that animates and is it conspires to give us just what is needed.

Last March 15th was Jasper's (my pup) 2nd death anniversary. I awoke that day with the thought- I'd love to see a Brittany today. Well, you geussed it - on my way to an opera (yes, I do have a cultured bone in this body) I was about to cross a busy street when I spied, across the street, a Brittany.

I raced across the street, stopped the dog and her owner and began to tell the story of Jasper. Mollie's owner and I had a lovely conversation about life, romance, relationships gone south and the joys of our dogs. It was a lovely encounter and warmed all of our hearts. (Although Mollie seemed more interested in continuing her walk!)

Well, this week (July 29th) was Jasper's birthday. He would have been 16. I was thinking of him and the joy he brought to my life. No thoughts of seeing a Brittany. After all, how greedy can I get?

Well, this time I was blessed with 2 Brittany experiences - one on the 28th in downtown Boston directly across the street from where I was finishing a last minute phone call before going inside for my evening event. The other on a morning walk on the 29th in my neighborhood.

Both meetings were delightful encounters with these lovely dogs and their grateful owners. Both women told stories of their Brits and I shared my love of Jasper. What a gift our pets give to us! How vibrant is the doggie dimension in life and death.

If these little experiences can come at times when I am feeling a little sad and misty or when I'm content and just being, why need I doubt that all my needs are being taken care of ?

I cannot know what the Divine will reveal in the unfolding of life this day. The mystery is revealed one moment at a time...one dog at a time...one breath at a time.

Have a great day!

Shifting Sands

2009-07-09T04:48:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-01-01T12:19:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-14T08:47:00.001-08:00

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

2008-11-21T08:38:00.000-08:00

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

2008-10-21T02:33:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-21T02:15:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-08T15:21:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-06-21T14:37:00.000-07:00

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

Forbidden City

2007-06-20T17:33:00.000-07:00

Well, yesterday (Wednesday) we went to the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace of the Empress Cixi. These sites are all central to the imperial regimes of China dating back hundreds, if not thousands of years. Our guide, Tony, told us to follow his blue flag as there are 50,000 tourists who pass through the Forbidden City each day. This number increases during the summer holiday months. The Forbidden City was the location for the filming of the Last Emperor – the only film that has been made on site. It is a fascinating place with over 9000 rooms for the Emperor, his family and their thousands of servants.

What really struck me at one point while wandering through a huge pavilion where Chairman Mao announced the party rule, was how transformed this place was by the presence of thousands of people from around the world. Got me thinking (of course!) about how I have had my own forbidden city- the place within myself that I have guarded so carefully and have not allowed myself or anyone else to access. This is the part I’ve held as vulnerable, needing to be protected, walled off from the world to feel safe, secure, untouchable. This has been a normal, natural need and part of my being human and having an ego and personality. Yet the walling off of this place to myself has resulted in limiting my access to my inner divinity, my "imperial" sacred roots, if you will.

Standing in the midst of thousands of tourists from all over the globe, listening to tour guides presenting in many languages I realized how the opening up of the Forbidden City has allowed so many people to know a depth of Chinese culture that previously was unavailable to the world. The impact of this experience is enlivening and enriching. So, too with the opening up of my inner city to the allness of who I am, the allness of who you are, the totality each of us is in our aloneness and interconnection. Not to say I want 50,000 people traipsing through my psyche every day, not so. But when I truly am open to the parts of myself that I have protected, rejected, I can stand in the middle of these throngs of people in a huge, beautiful place and feel at one with all. This is a gift.

As I wrote this on Thursday morning, my brother, Phil, called to tell me that our 83 year old mother, Francoise, had fallen and is in the hospital. I am here in Beijing. The only thing I can do other than call her is pray and be with her in a loving place in my heart. I ask you to please do the same.

Blessings,
Monique

"Inspiring you to the depths of your greatness."

Chinese Haiku

2007-06-20T08:25:00.000-07:00

Greetings all!

Beijing unfolds here
Smiling faces, bicycles
My heart captures all

A little haiku for my Chinese experience.

I remember as a kid being called not very nice names in reference to the
slant of my eyes. These references were not about being Japanese, rather
about being perceived as Chinese. I ended up developing a subtle and at
times not so subtle discomfort with being associated with any Asian-ness,
regardless of the ethnicity. It was a challenge to be in the world and not
fully claim the physical form in which I live. That pain coupled with a
sensitive metabolism caused me to use food as a comfort and balm for the
pain in my heart. I was a chubby girl, teen and adult most of my life. I
ran from my self into addictions – food, and other substances that I hoped
would dull the pain in my heart, mask my deep vulnerability and create a
façade, impenetrable front that would protect you from hurting me. Instead
I rejected my self at a very deep level.

My trip to China has revealed how much I have changed these last many years
of my spiritual journey home. Letting go of the most destructive external
addictions 25 years ago- alcohol, smoking, drugs, and more recently, sugar
and processed grains, compulsion around time and forcing solutions I now am
relinquishing the self rejection that has been the driving force of all
subsequent self destructive tendencies. I see this because I am in a
totally new environment where I have been able to be with who I am – my true
nature and my human nature. I have discovered at my depths a spontaneity,
joy and love of life that is renewing, enlivening and fun!

A bunch of us went to the Silk Market last night. This is 6 or so floors of
endless rows of clothing, jewelry, artifacts, silk fabrics, teas, other
stuff I never got to see. We had an hour (a good thing as I pulled out the
plastic which I said I wouldn’t do) and I got to experience what being a
rock star (thank you, jr for the metaphor) must be like. At one point I was
in a stall with 6 young beautiful eager Chinese women who were admiring my
jewelry, toenail polish, rings, clothing, travel pocket book that locks
(Thanks, Mom) and touching all as they admired it with huge smiles on their
faces, curiosity about my looking Chinese and not being so and assuming I
was rich. For them I am as they probably earn the equivalent of $120 a
year. What was wonderful about this was I never felt threatened or
defensive. I stood my ground and bartered with them (as expected) from a
place of love, cajoling and fun. It was great. A wonderful experience. The
contacts I made were more precious than the couple of things I bought.

Today is cultural tour day. My Ren Training was wonderful- more on that
later – truly a life giving experience. I come away from it knowing that
the health of the planet and its people is in loving hands of coaches from
around the world. What a gift to be a part of this life giving profession.

A couple of thank you’s before I sign off- to Jimmy for holding
down the fort at home and giving me the gift of total permission to come
here…to Phil for posting these blogs (the firewall won’t allow me to access
my blog) and to my Mom for having the courage to marry a Japanese man in the
50’s and give birth to me, Dave and Phil at a time when interracial
marriages were not common. Our family broke ground for the intercultural
generation that has emerged…touché! I sense my Dad’s ever-presence within
me.

Sweet blessings to you all,
Monique

"Inspiring you to the depths of your greatness."

Good Night's Sleep

2007-06-19T08:21:00.001-07:00

Hi Folks-
Well, finally I’m feeling like a somewhat back to normal non sleep deprived being.

What I’ve noticed about this trip that’s different from my previous jet lag experiences is a wonderful effortless being with what is. I haven’t fought the 1-2am awakenings; I’ve gone with the flow which has made my mental life much easier.

So, I sit here on Tues am waiting for the gym to open so I can get some time on the treadmill or bicycle. I refuse to exert my lungs outside. I had dinner last night with a couple of women from the US, a gentleman from Australia and a woman from Germany. We sat in the patio/beer garden where my eyes immediately began to water. The air was thick, smoky and hung heavily to the ground. I decided then that a brisk walk out of doors was not a good idea.

I take for granted the clean air and water at home. I’m filtering the tap water – the hotel recommends against drinking it, and finding my normal 2 gallons consumption a day to be a luxury here. Perrier and tea are more expensive than beer (Budweiser is popular here, too) and being a non drinker, I am amused. I’ve managed to have great vegetarian meals – the tofu and fresh veggies in the hotel have been wonderful. By far my most fun meal was the hot pot. None of us knew what we were doing and we had a lovely young waitress helping us dish out the food. She wouldn’t let us take things out of the soup until they were fully cooked. It was a lot of laughs. 6 of us were very well fed for about $7 apiece.

Last night we had a lecture on Chinese culture – 4000 years in 45 minutes by a Zen master. I have come to appreciate the depth and richness of the Chinese culture and the unity that has been an underpinning of their way of life till recently. What I’m really getting viscerally is how we truly are one wholeness, a unity as a species, as Life itself. English has been the language that makes this understanding at least possible at an intellectual level. But more so, it’s the deep desire of my fellow coaches and trainers attending this conference to be the change we want to see in the world, to create a peaceful healthy life for all, to heal the earth that touches me very deeply. We all so deeply love life, we are life and love itself – I see how we get in the way of our true nature’s expression and simultaneously are that very expression in every moment.

Time for the treadmill. I send love to you all and wish you a wonderful day.
Monique

China Impressions

2007-06-18T11:44:00.001-07:00

Hi folks!

Well, the jet lag has been manageable- I’m getting used to waking up at 2-3am and occupying myself for a couple of hours then going back to sleep. I figure by the time I’m totally adjusted I’ll be flying back!

Saturday I went on a tour at 7:30am and climbed the Great Wall, visited the Ming Tombs and several government sponsored crafts factories where very talented folks carve jade, paint cloisonné (fascinating process), weave rugs. We also went to a government sponsored Chinese Tea House where we got to sample several wonderful teas and had lunch at a government sponsored international restaurant where the food was quite tasty. The government is very focused on keeping tourists happy and engaged in spending money. They do a good job! I did have a chance to do a little bartering and know more opportunities will come when I go to the local markets later this week.

The Wall was incredible – the stairs at one point so steep it felt like I was climbing a ladder. I was worried about the return trip as going down is often more challenging than climbing but I had no problem at all. My fellow tourists were from San Francisco, Denmark, Mexico and Malaysia. It was very cool to be with all these folks, all of whom spoke at least 2 languages (except me and the guy from SF) and to share so much in common. It was a very full, rich day.
Today started out with a Chinese breakfast. I had congee (like oatmeal only its made out of rice). It was yummy. When I shared a hotpot lunch (very fun) with 5 other coaches from Australia and the US we all passed on the chicken testicles, tripe, fish balls…. (glad I’m mostly vegetarian these days…didn’t know chickens had testicles) I’ve heard street vendors sell skewered scorpions, silk worms, baby birds and other assorted delicacies. Any requests? I’ll mail some to you!

The training has been great and highlights the fact that we truly are one in a wonderfully diverse unity. Folks are from the US, Mexico, Germany, France, the UK, Malaysia, Australia, Norway, Puerto Rico, Indonesia, and Singapore. My spiritual psychology teacher has said that the soul loves diversity and requires it for its fullest expression. I think this is the only way we get to see the richness of the creative power of Life, the Divine, God. This diversity can be expressed subtly in the use of language, gestures, unconscious assumptions and understanding. One of the US participants asked about where the Divine fits into the model we are learning. Based on Eastern philosophy, there is no concept of a Divinity, we are it, we live it. This is very different from the many of the traditional religions and Western idea that there is a source that exists outside of us. Life is spiritual! In Eastern philosophy the distinction between inner and outer is blurred – the connectedness and unity of life is assumed. In the West we are focused on individualism. Lots of food for thought!

Well, jet lag just hit. Time to sign off….more later…

Blessings to you all and thank you for your loving support!
Monique

I Have Arrived

2007-06-15T11:29:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody!
I got to Beijing safe and sound, slightly sea(air)sick as I was sitting in the very rear of a very large 747. It was an aisle seat (good) but I felt every shimmy of the fuselage as the plane made its way to earth and was buffeted by some turbulence. Right now it is 6:15pm on 6/15 (hey! How about that!) I’ve had dinner – or breakfast (have been up 24 hrs I think) – it was very yummy and I am recalling the highlights of the day.

I arrived in D.C. late and had to pull an OJ Simpson- remember him? (no, I didn’t get away with murder) and raced (not at all gracefully) with my knapsack and laptop flapping against me, to the gate and down the ramp to the plane. I slowed then and walked into what felt like a cruise ship. 747’s are HUGE! They play nice relaxing music preflight to keep everyone calm but when I turned the corner I was met with a sea of smiling, chatting, very lively, beautiful, Asian faces. There must have been 30 little kids and babies on board, parents were busy getting them settled, folks were hanging out all over the place talking – it looked and felt like a party! It was great! As I made my way to the very furtherest corner of the plane I wondered- do I look like I fit in? That’s been a question I’ve had most of my life- at least as soon as I realized I looked different from everyone in my neighborhood but my brothers. (The real question is “Who is it that thinks she has to “fit in” and what does that mean, anyhow?)
I immediately made friends with the woman next to me- Kelly was part of a group of teachers on a 3 week historical tour - and settled in for what ended up being a good flight.

Our flight path took us up over Toronto and over northern Canada. I followed the air traffic controllers as they passed us off into Russian airspace. At one point the video screen showed us where we were- about 1000 miles north of the West coast, skirting the Arctic. It was shortly after that we began traveling across the Beaufort Sea. There was nothing but very frozen sea for hours then gorgeous mountains of northern Siberia. Northern China was also mountainous and had beautiful terraced farmlands nestled into the hills. Having brought my own food I avoided the 3 somewhat suspect meals they served, drank lots of water, walked and stretched, slept and people watched! We landed and somehow managed to deplane faster than many much smaller flights I’ve been on. After making way through three checkpoints and getting my luggage I got a cab and made it here through the crazy traffic. Bicycles everywhere, pedestrians stopped in the middle of the street with cars zooming around them, lots of cabs and very few English signs. This is going to be fun!

So, here I am, happily fed my usual course of lots of veggies, rice and prawns… green tea… and I am beginning to lose whatever semblance of equilibrium I had earlier. I still feel as if I’m in the plane, shimmying even though I’m sitting here, 6000+ miles from home, content and confident that the next days here will be amazing. And I got my computer to work. The only glitch was when I went onto the blog site it came up in Chinese. Oops. So I’m trying this via email.

More tomorrow!
Sweet dreams, y’all!

Love,
Monique

On My Way to China

2007-06-11T19:27:00.000-07:00

Well, in three days I'll be winging my way to Beijing, China for an International Coaching Conference and Training. I hope you all enjoy my various observations and experiences. I certainly will!

It hit me today that I will be in a huge city and country where I do not know a soul and don't speak the language. That left me feeling incredibly alone yet intrigued by the solitariness of this journey. Although we live our lives in connection and relationship with others, ultimately, we are solitary, alone. Paradoxically we are deeply, fundamentally interconnected, too.

I am curious as to how this trip will clarify my understanding and experience of these states of being, where the point of interconnection exists and what I am going to have for breakfast!

Stay tuned for more and thanks for being there....wherever you are in your solitariness!

Monique

Using Meditation to Reduce Stress

2006-10-04T12:28:00.000-07:00

When I awoke this morning I felt a bit anxious.

No particular reason I could find, it just was.

So, I decided to meditate for a few minutes.

By the end of the 10 minutes, my anxiety was gone.

I've had a stress free day.

Learn more about guided meditation and you can have a stress free day, too.

The Heat is on!

2006-07-28T10:26:00.000-07:00

July 28, 2006

The heat is on here in MA. Our doors won't open. Wanted to do the laundry and cannot open the cellar door. Oh, well.

A great day for bareback riding!
A lifelong dream of mine was to own a horse. This became a reality last year with the arrival of CatFish. We have become wonderful friends in the 18 months he has been in my life. I have learned the language of horse and how to ride and work with him. We are a team. Lately he's been feeling a bit under the weather with lyme disease. So we take it slow.

I don't push when the heat is on. I let the heat be the heat and stay on the course.
Great lesson for other parts of my life.

Stay cool. Enjoy the heat.

Living in Alignment with God

2006-07-27T06:59:00.000-07:00

What is it to be in sync with the rest of the universe rather than with your own idea of how things should look?

I've heard that expectations are premeditated resentments. So often I'll have an idea of how I think things are going to turn out. It's an automatice reflex in my brain.
I've learned to hold my expectations very lightly. This helps me because I don't get as disappointed when things don't work out my way. I get to live in the flow with what is emerging in life and I get to be surprised and delighted!

What fun! Life gets easier because I'm not fighting upstream.

We think God listens to us when we get what we want. That presumes we know better than God what it is we need and what is best for the situation. Perhaps we know this but that is often not the case.

In alignment with God, I am at peace. When I am not, I am at war with what is. The world could use some re-aligning right now. If we each start with our own life, peace will grow and spread touching each other.
Are you ready to let go and trust that all is as it is? Are you ready to take action to create more peace in your life?

www.soulworkscoaching.com

Living in the Light

2006-07-25T08:29:00.000-07:00

Did you know that each of us is a part of a whole that is eternal, infinite and connected? We are all one.
Just as the pain in the world is a reflection of the pain in many people's lives, so is the Love. We hear too often of the sadness, the losses, the frustrations. What we think we create.

Today is a new day. Let's create loving, positive thoughts and feels and put them into the world today. We have everything to lose if we don't.

Let's live in the Light that lives in us all. Smile at a stranger, let someone pass in traffic, slow down, breathe....increase the love, decrease, let go of the fear....

So be it!

Thundering Skies

2006-07-21T15:16:00.000-07:00

AS I sit here on a Friday evening the heavens are opening and the thunder crashing. I'd better sign off before I get hit!

More later!