Today it is normal practice for people to experience many different types of jobs and careers. A job for life is something long gone.

Women especially, experience many career transitions, whether it is changing companies, industries, leaving work to raise their children (which is a job in itself), going back to work following having children, working part time or starting their own business.

However, due to the change we are currently seeing in our global economy we are being challenged even more to think outside the box and to look at alternative career options. I therefore offer my clients a very specific and structured process for getting them from a place of confusion to a state of clarity regarding career change.

As a licensed Firework Career Coach I am able to do this by using the Firework Career Coaching method to help women get clarity on the direction their career should be taking, as well as the practical steps they need to take to get there.

The Firework Career Coaching programme was developed and tested over three years by two ICF accredited coaches, following which it became an approved method supported by the International Coach Federation of which I am an affiliated member.

To find out more about how this programme works and how it can help you please contact me.

Today women are being challenged to multi-task even more as the intensity of life is ever increasing.

We all want to do more and to feel like we are achieving in all aspects of our lives.

• Are you a career woman who feels guilty that you are not spending more time with your family?
• Are you a stay-at-home mum who feels guilty that you are not contributing financially?
• Are you tired of feeling tired?
• Do you always feel like you are on the back foot and time is your endless enemy?
• Do you feel you have lost your sense of self in all the daily demands?
• Do you feel like you are no longer desirable?
• Do you feel it is time to make some changes, have a greater level of fulfilment and create some balance in your life?
• Are you tired of being single and in need of confidence building to get back out there?

What we will cover:

• Clarify your current situation
• Get perspective on available choices
• Identify what is truly important to you now
• Reveal self-limiting beliefs that are holding you back

You will leave the session with a clear focus on what you are going to do next.

I work with all my clients on a face-to-face basis but am happy to combine this with telephone coaching should it be easier for a client. 

I have two coaching venues, one is in the tranquility of my home in the Kent countryside, and the other is in Shad Thames in the historical and vibrant Butlers Wharf/Tower Bridge area.

For coaching to have maximum effect I suggest starting off with two sessions per month for a minimum of 3 months.

Fees

Below are the options for the various coaching packages. All require an initial 2-hour Discovery Session to establish what your overall coaching objectives are, as well as for me to get a clearer picture as to what makes you tick. 

The cost for this initial discovery session is £150

Option 1: Coaching Intensive 

I suggest this package for anyone who is new to coaching and wants to make some major changes quickly.

The Intensive Package Includes: -

• Two 120 minute sessions per month
• Free unlimited email support between sessions
• One free 15 minute phone call in addition to the two sessions

Cost:  £380 per month

Option 2: Get back in the driving seat

I suggest this package for anyone who has had prior experience with coaching or if they are new to it and not wanting to have such an intensive experience.

• Two 90 minute sessions per month
• Free unlimited email support between sessions
• One free 15 minute phone call in addition to the two sessions

Cost:  £285 per month

Option 3: Keep me on track

I suggest this package for anyone who has had prior experience of life coaching.

• Two 60 minute sessions per month or one 90 minute session per month
• Free unlimited email support between sessions

Cost: £190/month or £143/month respectively

Option 4: Get Me Going

This is a great option for busy women who don’t have time to commit to coaching on a regular basis but want to take charge of their lives and feel like they are in control again.

• 3 hours 1:1 coaching
• You will be given a simple but very powerful Life Coaching tool that will help you obtain more balance and a greater level of fulfillment in your life.
• You will experience the power of visualisation and be amazed at what you will discover.
• You will leave feeling like you are back in the driving seat, with a clear set of actions and in control of your life again.

Cost: £295 for the morning.

This includes your choice of tea/coffee or cappuccino and light refreshments. If you decide you would like to have further coaching sessions then I offer the first session/one hour free of charge.

I am flexible with my packages so if there isn’t one that quite suits you then I am happy to discuss and find something that fits you better.

Life Coaching in its most simple form is all about embracing change, challenging self-limiting beliefs and achieving goals to live a more fulfilling and balanced life.

It challenges us to step back and re-focus our energy on what needs to be done right now to be a more effective individual. It is more often than not that our greatest teacher is adversity, so rather than get depressed about a situation, look at what you have learned and how you can turn the learning into an opportunity for growth.

How does the Life Coaching Process work? Importance of Confidentiality Me as your Coach

There are several ways to determine if Life Coaching is right for you. The purpose of the statements below are to give you a better understanding of what coaching does and does not do:

Coaching IS RIGHT for you if:

• You are feeling your life is stuck in some way, be it in your career, your relationship or just a general lack of fulfillment and you want to do something about it
• You are ready to make some changes in your life and want someone by your side while you make them
• You have BIG ideas and need help breaking them down into manageable pieces. This is a common one as we all have sky-high dreams and unless we find a way to get in touch with them, they remain intangible and only a dream
• You feel lost in your life's direction and want to get in touch with your internal compass
• You feel your life is unbalanced and you need to get perspective
• You are willing to take on and face personal challenges and stretch yourself to achieve more from life
• You are tired of that little inner voice saying "you can't do it"

Coaching is NOT RIGHT for you at this time if:

• You want to look deep into the past and spend time researching your life history – then you are better suited to psychotherapy
• You are looking for a "quick fix" to your current problems. Nothing in life comes without putting in the effort of hard work and lasting change doesn't happen overnight
• You aren't looking to challenge yourself at this time
• You want someone to give you advice or the 'right' answer(s)

I work with all my clients on a face-to-face basis but am happy to combine this with telephone coaching should it be easier for a client. 

I have two coaching venues, one is in the tranquility of my home in the Kent countryside, and the other is in Shad Thames in the historical and vibrant Butlers Wharf/Tower Bridge area.

For coaching to have maximum effect I suggest starting off with two sessions per month for a minimum of 3 months.

Fees

Below are the options for the various coaching packages. All require an initial 2-hour Discovery Session to establish what your overall coaching objectives are, as well as for me to get a clearer picture as to what makes you tick. 

The cost for this initial discovery session is £150

Option 1: Coaching Intensive 

I suggest this package for anyone who is new to coaching and wants to make some major changes quickly.

The Intensive Package Includes: -

• Two 120 minute sessions per month
• Free unlimited email support between sessions
• One free 15 minute phone call in addition to the two sessions

Cost:  £380 per month

Option 2: Get back in the driving seat

I suggest this package for anyone who has had prior experience with coaching or if they are new to it and not wanting to have such an intensive experience.

• Two 90 minute sessions per month
• Free unlimited email support between sessions
• One free 15 minute phone call in addition to the two sessions

Cost:  £285 per month

Option 3: Keep me on track

I suggest this package for anyone who has had prior experience of life coaching.

• Two 60 minute sessions per month or one 90 minute session per month
• Free unlimited email support between sessions

Cost: £190/month or £143/month respectively

Option 4: Get Me Going

This is a great option for busy women who don’t have time to commit to coaching on a regular basis but want to take charge of their lives and feel like they are in control again.

• 3 hours 1:1 coaching
• You will be given a simple but very powerful Life Coaching tool that will help you obtain more balance and a greater level of fulfillment in your life.
• You will experience the power of visualisation and be amazed at what you will discover.
• You will leave feeling like you are back in the driving seat, with a clear set of actions and in control of your life again.

Cost: £295 for the morning.

This includes your choice of tea/coffee or cappuccino and light refreshments. If you decide you would like to have further coaching sessions then I offer the first session/one hour free of charge.

I am flexible with my packages so if there isn’t one that quite suits you then I am happy to discuss and find something that fits you better.

The Firework Career Programme requires between 10 and 12 sessions to complete, depending on how fast a client likes to work and how much time they have available. The cost is £240 per month for two 90 minute sessions and this includes free unlimited email support between sessions.

I am a Certified Professional Life Coach from the industry-leading Coaches Training Institute. A licensed Firework Career Coach and an ICF Associate Certified Coach.

I have a particular interest in working with busy women to realise their self worth and to put them back in the driving seat, whether relating to their career and/or their personal lives.

As a professional Life Coach I work with women to clarify what it is they are wanting from their lives and most importantly help them get there.

Below are some examples of how I have helped my clients:

• Worked with successful corporate women to leave the comfort of their jobs in pursuit of their own businesses
• Helped entrepreneurs establish structure and discipline in their businesses
• Worked with many women facing the challenge of creating balance in their lives following having a baby and/or returning to work
• Helped women to embrace the physical and emotional changes that motherhood brings.
• Coached women to realise the benefit and learning that each stage brings
• Coached women to understand their values and how to align these with their daily lives, thereby creating a greater level of fulfilment
• Helped women who have relocated to establish a new life for themselves
• Helped women increase their level of confidence and self-worth

I have an Industrial Psychology and Industrial Sociology Degree from the University of Cape Town, a corporate background in Investment Banking and international coaching experience. After I met my husband I had the opportunity to change careers. I knew the time was right to do what I had always wanted to do - work with women to improve their lives.  

Why Change is a conscious process

“The reason I chose Hilbre as my Life Coach was because I was bowled over by her positive energy. The impact she made on me was that change doesn’t have to be scary. She challenged me but in a really positive way which gave me the self belief I needed to realise I was capable of making the changes I never thought I would be able to make.” – Becky age 34

Debbie was in a partnership with two other women when she came for her first session. During the second session it became apparent that she was grappling with the decision as to whether she should stay in the partnership or pursue her own venture. I challenged her to listen to her heart and follow her instinct as to what she felt was right for her. She resigned from the partnership after our third session and I can happily say she is now reaping all the benefits of her efforts by having her own business. This is an example of how sometimes we need that little ‘nudge’ or challenge from an outsider to get us moving in the direction we really want to go in.

Below is what Debbie has to say about her experience of Life Coaching:

“Hilbre has an ability to ask questions that really get to the core of issues and repeated mistakes. She also has insights from an objective perspective that opened my eyes to things I was blind to. I have taken a journey into the real me, and have found the courage to change the things about me that were disabling me in business and relationships. I have started a new business again and the response has been phenomenal from clients and friends. It is an affirmation of doing the right thing and it would have taken me much longer to make a decisive decision had I not had Hilbre's little 'nudge'”.

Sandra

Sandra came to see me as she was struggling to make a decision as to whether she should go back into the corporate world of Finance or do something else, but she was unsure as to what that might be. Many of the reasons she was looking to return to the corporate world were linked to self-confidence and insecurity. Coaching addresses our fears and challenges our sabotaging beliefs so that we end up doing the right thing for the

Below is what Sandra has to say about her experience of Life Coaching:

“I decided to try life coaching as I was feeling bored and apathetic and unhappy, and I did not know what to do with my career. After researching a number of life coaches, I came across Hilbre’s website and I immediately felt a connection with what she had to say. 

Right at our first meeting, I felt that she understood how I was feeling and that she wanted to help me. Throughout the sessions, Hilbre was caring, enthusiastic and supportive. She helped me work through my options and challenged me to reframe my thinking in a more positive way. I firmly believe that I could not have found a better coach for me.”

Heidi came to see me as a frustrated lawyer working for one of the top law firms in Johannesburg. She knew her heart really belonged in a creative industry and law certainly wasn’t satisfying that need in her. It only took 4 sessions for her to have the courage to follow her heart and pursue her dreams. She took a huge risk and obviously has had to incur a financial cost but she is well on her way to becoming that designer she always knew in her heart she was meant to be.

Below is what Heidi says about Life Coaching:

“It made me realize that the only limitation to realizing my dreams and my potential is my own thinking! You can have whatever you want if you want it badly enough!”

Francein is a mother of two and has her own image consultancy, which she fits around her children, and husband who are her primary focus. She is extremely talented at what she does, both being a mother and in her career. She has a way of getting people to see and believe in their beauty and to learn to wear it with pride. I went to her for a wardrobe overhaul as well as a few shopping experiences and I can honestly say it was a turning point in my life. Now I have confidence, both when shopping and when trying new outfits, which I never had before.

You might be wondering why someone like Francein would go to a Life Coach. She is a great example of the fact you don’t need ‘to have a problem’ to go to a Life Coach. Francein considers herself to be extremely lucky in her life but she wanted to discover more about her inner self. Life Coaching helped her to move closer to the level of religion she was looking for as well as to deal with concerns relating to her business. Her overall goal was to get clear on her life purpose in relation to God and how she should be balancing religion, motherhood, marriage and her own requirements for giving her the sense of self she needs to maintain her individuality. It has been the most wonderful journey seeing Francein grow to the level she is at now. She still wants to grow so much further but now has the tools to continue on her own.

Below is what Francein says about her coaching experience:

“Life was normal when I met Hilbre. Life is awesome now!!!! Coaching guided me to recognise how short our life on earth is. I take every day on now as if it is my last day. Coaching helped to sort out my food-issues, my career-path, my relationship with hubbie and as I am writing this, my dream of renovating my house. I am continually growing in my relationship with my saviour, Jesus. The coaching tools have opened my eyes to seeing more than I have ever dreamed off. Hilbre is a fantastic person and has got the most amazing listening skills. She was really interested in what I had to say and never gave me the answers, but guided me towards finding those anwers for myself. What an experience!!! Thank You, Thank You.”

Leigh is someone who was just waiting to fly and when she started Life Coaching she had great visions for herself and her business. However, a confidence issue relating to her self-image was holding her back. After coaching around the possibilities for a ‘new her’ she took the leap and went for a make over and has found a whole new side to herself which I can excitedly say she is wearing with much pride. This newly found confidence is showing up in all other areas of her life, including work and personal relationships.

Below is what Leigh has to say about her experience of Life Coaching:

“I started coaching with Hilbre in July 2008. I have my own business at home and found that the juggling of being a business owner, mother of a seven year old, wife and keeping the household in tact was taking major strain on my health and wellbeing.

Through coaching I have learnt to slowly let go of the guilt I constantly feel by not being perfect. I took a leap and did an image makeover, which made me feel more confident meeting with clients, which inadvertently has won me more business. I have also found an inner strength, which has allowed me to be truthful to myself, and helped me to stand my ground. My perception has changed from seeing this as a damaging thing to where it has actually allowed me to mend relationships.”

Vanessa started Life Coaching to get some structure and discipline into her day. She essentially works for herself, consulting to a large design company, which at times felt overwhelming due to the constant pressure of demanding deliverables. She wanted to get focused on the key areas in her life that would give her the maximum return for the minimum output and to turn her current thinking from ‘working harder’ to ‘working smarter’.

As a result of Life Coaching she has implemented some key time management and prioritization strategies into her day. By changing her perception she has found more balance and a greater level of fulfillment in her job. We are still working together to achieve higher levels of fulfillment in other areas of her life besides work."

Below is what Vanessa says about Life Coaching:

“I have found the experience of Life Coaching with Hilbre to have been a thoroughly rewarding and constructive process. Our work together has enabled me to re-group and focus on my work with a more positive outlook, and consequently more productive results. She has helped clarify my thinking, develop new skills and begin to steer a course towards a more enjoyable working life and beyond. I would recommend both her and Life Coaching to anyone who would like to embrace change.

It has been, and continues to be, an exciting journey accompanied by a skilled and inspirational coach.”

Carron started coaching when she was newly pregnant as she was having difficulty adjusting to what lay ahead in terms of both the physical and emotional changes a mother-to-be goes through. She was struggling with the notion of losing her independence, which is something many women who have successful careers struggle with when they enter motherhood. They tend to be sleep-deprived and feel like an on-demand-feeding-machine has replaced their sense of self. While having a baby is a miracle, it is nonetheless a very daunting undertaking where one can often feel alone, despite having many people to talk to.

A Life Coach offers unbiased support and aid in this process of major physiological and emotional change. It is often as simple as looking at different perspectives for this new status of 'mother' and ensuring that despite the changes that lie ahead, it is still possible to remain an individual with a strong sense of self. I so enjoyed working with C and seeing the changing shape of her pregnancy and how she has embraced the idea of being a mother while remaining true to her own needs.

Below is what Carron says about Life Coaching:

"My pregnancy has been a tremendously fulfilling journey. My joy and excitement on finding out I was pregnant was accompanied by feeling terrified at the prospect of losing my sense of self, my relationship changing, losing my financial freedom and my figure. All sorts of elements changed over which I felt I had not much control...Coaching helped me to deal with all these aspects positively by changing my perspective, learning to let go and enjoying the incredible miracle of a baby being created. Coaching was also very beneficial in that it not only focused on my pregnancy, but also on my sense of identity. It addressed elements such as regaining my creativity, maintaining a healthy balance and being in touch with my spirituality. Together with the practicalities of timelines, putting systems in place to ensure things run as smoothly as possible in my business while I am on maternity leave, and planning for when my baby arrives.

I know that the biggest challenges still lie ahead when my baby is actually born, but I am feeling positive and excited, and although it will be hard I truly believe that personal growth comes through facing the many challenges of life. Hilbre is an exceptional listener and her enthusiasm and positivity are contagious. She is compassionate, empathetic and knows just when to challenge you and when to let you just be. I would highly recommend Hilbre as a Life Coach!"

When Nicky started coaching she described herself as a ‘big clock’. She is an extraordinarily kind and energized person with a huge amount of passion for life. Her only frustration was that there was too much to do and too little time, which is common theme for people wanting Life Coaching.

Nicky is a very successful artist and mother of 4 who wanted to expand what she was doing into other exciting avenues, which required prioritization and planning. Together we looked at the areas she wanted to explore and came up with action plans and realistic deliverables. I can proudly say that Nicky has achieved a huge amount of what she set her mind to and while we all continue to grow and have development areas, it is so rewarding to see clients achieve their big-ticket items.

Below is what Nicky says about Life Coaching:

“I see each morning as a world made new, knowing that it has so much to offer. I treasure the fact that I have been given talents and gifts, to go out each day and make this world a better place. Having been to your Life Coaching sessions really made me see just how important it is to recognize our talents and to use them to the best of our ability."

"Thank you for you inspiration and 'go get it' attitude.”

Due to the confidentiality of coaching some clients prefer to remain anonymous. For the purposes of this reference I refer to this client as 'O' who came to see me shortly after losing her father to cancer. It was understandably a very difficult time for her and being single further added to her feeling of loneliness. Sometimes clients just need to be with the emotion that they are experiencing at a particular point in time. The Co-Active model, which I use, has process coaching as one of its core principles so clients can 'be with' their emotion, allowing them to process it and move on.

Below is what 'O' says about Life Coaching:

“Coaching with Hilbre really helped me through an emotionally difficult time as it made me realise that we all face challenges but the difference is how we respond and handle these challenges. Hilbre has such a positive and vibrant energy about her which really gave me hope that I too could be and feel that way.”

Tess was a Canadian expat who had been living in London for a few years when she contacted me. She was experiencing the lack of a support network, which is common for a lot of foreigners and can lead to a feeling of loneliness.

Shortly after arriving in the UK she gave birth to her first child and so did not work during her time in London. Tess’s main concerns were around her ‘loss of identity’ due to not working as well as struggling with the change in lifestyle that being a mother brings. Some women really embrace being a mother and it is enough for them. For others, there is a real need to be more than ‘just a mum’. This brings with it feelings of guilt and confusion and the coaching really helped Tess to define what she needed, in addition to being a mother.

The coaching relationship provides the support and safety to really be honest about who we are and what we need in order to feel fulfilled and therefore have balance in our life. By identifying your objectives and setting clear and obtainable goals the coaching process takes you closer to your desired life.

Below is what Tess has to say about her coaching experience:

“Hilbre is a good listener and seems to tap into people well – a quality that I think is inherent and is difficult to learn. She helped me realize where my focus needed to be and that I was only ever going to be happy if I was true to myself in terms of my needs, and honoring my values. It was great to have someone to talk to regularly as a foreigner one can definitely feel lonely without the support of immediate family and good friends”.

Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!

Carefully watch your thoughts for they become your words,

Manage and watch your words for they will become your actions,

Consider and judge your actions for they have become your habits,

Acknowledge and watch your habits for they shall become your values,

Understand and embrace your values for they become your destiny...

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day is not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 glasses of wine...

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous ''yes'.

The professor then produced two glasses of wine from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognise that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things; your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions; things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.'

The pebbles are the other things that matter likes your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else; the small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.'

'Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. Do one more run down the ski slope.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first; the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the wine represented. The professor smiled. 'I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of glasses of wine with a friend.'

~ The source of this was via email with no details of the author.

There once was a woman who woke up one morning,
looked in the mirror,
and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.
'Well,' she said, 'I think I'll braid my hair today.'
So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up,
looked in the mirror
and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.
'H-M-M,' she said,
'I think I'll part my hair down the middle today.'
So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up,
looked in the mirror and noticed
that she had only one hair on her head.
'Well,' she said, 'today I'm going
to wear my hair in a pony tail.'
So she did, and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up,
looked in the mirror and noticed
that there wasn't a single hair on her head.
'YAY!' she exclaimed.
'I don't have to fix my hair today!'

Attitude is everything.

Be kinder than necessary,
for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
Live simply,
Love generously,
Care deeply,
Speak kindly.

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...

It's about learning to dance in the rain. 

~ The source of this was via email with no information about the author.

It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living,
I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.

It doesn’t interest me how old you are,
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon,
I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow,
If you have been opened by life’s betrayals or have become shrivelled and closed from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own,
without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy mine or your own,
if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, to be realistic, to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me is true.
I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself.
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty even when it is not pretty every day, and if you can source your own life from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure yours and mine,
and still stand at the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, “Yes.”

It doesn’t interest me to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised
to the bone and do what needs to be done to feed the children.

It doesn’t interest me who you know or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself,
and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments...

~ Taken from the book 'The Invitation' by Oriah Mountain Dreamer.

By Erma Bombeck (1927–1996), who lost her fight to cancer

This is a very moving and thought-provoking piece of writing and you can either read it below or watch it on your screen with music and pictures.

Take time to read this as it really is so very true that life can be short and we need to make the most of every day and be thankful for all we have and not wait for a better time to come before we start living.

 “Carpe diem: Seize the day…”

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would have gone into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for a day,

I would have burned the pink candle sculptured like a rose before it melted in storage,

I would have talked less and listened more…

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded,

I would have eaten the popcorn in the GOOD living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace,

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about this youth,

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been done,

I would have sat in the grass with my children and not worried about the grass stains,

I would have cried and laughed less while watching TV and more while watching life,

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil or was guaranteed for a lifetime,

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy,  I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle,

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said “later, now go get washed for dinner”,

There would have been more ‘I love you’s”, more “I’m sorry’s”, but mostly given another shot at life,

I would seize every minute... look at it and really see it... live it... and never give it back.

Stop sweating the small stuff.

Don’t worry about who doesn’t like you, who has more or who’s doing what.

Instead, let’s cherish the relationships we have with those who DO love us

Let’s think about what God HAS blessed us with, and what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Life is too short to let it pass you by. We only have one shot at this and then it is gone.

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me’”.

The Dalai Lama, when asked what surprised him most about humanity, said:

“Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”

1. Develop good habits as they are the key to all success. Bad habits are the unlocked door to failure.
2. Greet everyday with love in your heart.
3. Persist until you succeed.
4. You are nature’s greatest miracle – you are totally unique.
5. Live every day as if it is your last – and if it is not then give thanks.
6. Be the master of your emotions (say the following to yourself):
   1. If I feel depressed I will sing
   2. If I feel sad I will laugh
   3. If I feel ill I will double my labour
   4. If I feel fear I will plunge ahead
   5. If I feel inferior I will wear new garments
   6. If I feel uncertain I will raise my voice
   7. If I feel poverty I will think of wealth to come
   8. If I feel incompetent I will remember past success
   9. If I feel insignificant I will remember my goals
7. Remember to laugh at the world – no living creature can laugh except for humankind.
8. Your dreams are worthless, your plans are dust, and your goals are impossible. All are of no value unless they are followed by action. Act now.

George Carlin wrote this after 9/11 and losing his wife to cancer.

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.

We spend more but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less.

We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time.

We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts yet more problems, more medicine but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.

We talk too much, love too seldom and hate too often.

We’ve learned how to make a living but not a life.

We’ve added years to life but not life to years.

We’ve been all the way to the moon and back but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor.

We conquered outer space but not inner space.

We’ve done larger things, but not better things.

We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted our soul.

We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.

We write more, but learn less.

We plan more but accomplish less.

We’ve learned to rush but not to wait.

We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever but communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small characters, steep profits and shallow relationships.

These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses but broken homes.

These are the days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.

It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom.

A time when technology can bring this letter to you and a time when you can choose to either share this insight or not.

Remember spend time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent. Remember to say ‘I love you’ to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it.

A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love

Give time to speak

Give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.

'How old are you?' 'I'm four and a half!' You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key.

You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.

'How old are you?' 'I'm gonna be 16!' You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life! You become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony.YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!

But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?

You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50, and your dreams are gone...

But! wait!! ! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!

So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50, and make it to 60.

You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that, it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!

You get into your 80's, and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards; 'I Was JUST 92.'

Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. 'I'm 100 and a half!'

May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!

How to stay young...

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay them.

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3.Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever, even ham radio. Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.' And the devil's family name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever.Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

And, always remember:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

I recently read 'The Journey' by Brandon Bays and found it a very powerful book for taking responsibility for our past and changing the way we think about it. Too many people operate on a reactive, subconscious level where we play victim instead of doing something about the way we act and feel and freeing ourselves from the hurt of past events. We deny ourselves the happiness we deserve by NOT doing this. Brandon demonstrates such a passion for life and helping others to free themselves from past issues and to find their life purpose.

The section below is taken directly from her book in chapter 22 where she talks about discovering our inner light and that once we have discovered it, we want to cherish it and are reluctant to obscure it. She uses Marianne Williamson's paragraph from 'A Return to Love' which I have copied below.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?"

As Brandon says, "Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. We are meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us: it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

I arrived at the address where someone had requested a taxi. I honked but no one came out. I honked again, nothing. So I walked to the door and knocked. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets..

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, and then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated...'

'Oh, you're such a good boy', she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'

'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly.

'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice'.

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued. 'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

'What route would you like me to take?' I asked. For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing..

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now.'

We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you?' she asked, reaching into her purse.

'Nothing,' I said

'You have to make a living,' she answered.

'There are other passengers,' I responded. Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. 'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life. I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life. We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware - beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID, BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.