It's been an interesting two days.  Taking new classes and meeting new people always inspires me.  It always fascinates me to talk to someone new and learn about their life and how they got to be where they are now.  Yesterday I met Donnie Osmond's cousin and today I met four women who had spent a lifetime doing incredibly meaningful and interesting work.  They are all still actively involved in making the world a better place for generations to come.  

In class yesterday the facilitator asked "Where were you when integration took place?  Since this was a room full of people who were either in high school or college at the time it was very interesting to hear where they were and what was taking place around them.  The facilitator believes that what was happening around you at that time influences how you feel about politics now.  Thus, the reason for today's title - Looking back - Moving Forward

One of the questions I often ask clients who are stuck is, "What worked in the past?"  Whether it is a problem moving forward with a project, starting a diet or looking for a new job thinking about the strategies that you used in the past that worked (and did not work) can often be very helpful.  I know for me vocalizing what is happening has always made a difference.  The other person doesn't have to say a word. Listening is enough.  If they give me a solution, I'll listen but most of the time I know I have the answer within.  I just need to vocalize situation and then listen for the answer. 

Is there something you would like to do but just can't seem to get started?  Ask yourself, "What worked in the past when I was stuck?"  Give yourself some quiet time to find the answer.  It doesn't always appear immediately.  But when it does, listen to your inner voice and take the steps necessary to begin to move forward.  The first step is always the hardest but it is so worth the risk.  

On Friday I'll post about the importance of taking very small steps and how without realizing it they can make a really big difference  in your life.

Out of curiousity - where were you when integration was taking place?  Did it make a difference in your life or the lives of others you know?

It's been a long time.  Almost a year since my last blog post.  A few weeks ago I received an email from someone who said, "I happened upon your blog.  I noticed you have not posted in a long time but are you still coaching?"  I am so glad that she took the time to reach out.  Not only could I say yes I was still coaching but I also realized just how long it had been since my last blog post.  And thinking about blogging made me realize that I miss it.  I not only miss writing but I miss the people I met because of my blog.

I started my blog as a way to express myself when my husband was fighting Pulmonary Hypertension.  Through it I met many wonderful people in all parts of the world.  Through some of those people I learned about coaching and became a Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coach.  I never had to leave home to meet with clients (although I did) and I learned so many things from the many people I worked with.  Along with working with individual clients, I've held online workshops and year long in person workshops too.  It's wonderful to be there when a client has an Aha moment and begins to move forward on a project or a new direction in their life.  

I named my blog Special Moments In Time because when you are fighting a rare disease, like the one Greg had, it's easy to lose sight of the wonderful things that are happening all around you.  So we would end each day sharing something special that we had experienced.  It was usually something very simple but as we moved through his nine year journey we realized more and more that it was the simple things that made the difference.

I've toyed with changing the name of my blog but decided to keep it the same.  Life is very different now but there are still special moments each day.  I just have to remember to look for them.  I'm still coaching and meeting new people and I still love creativity and learning and talking for hours with people who share a common interest.  But I've added some new things to the life I am creating now.  I've become really interested in politics and what is happening in our world.  I have very strong opinions but I truly want to understand the opinions of others.  I don't think the world can get better unless we work together and we can't do that unless we talk.  I never knew how much I could enjoy a Sunday afternoon movie or that cooking could actually be fun.  Life as a widow is not easy.  But almost all of the strategies I have learn to help clients create their life or project have been a really big help to me as well.  

I'm not sure where this new blog with the same name will take me.  I've been encouraged to write about being a widow and to share what works for me.  I may do that.  I know that I will continue to share coaching tips and to talk about creativity.  I may even throw in a political post or two.  I'm hoping that as before this blog will encourage me to take pictures and paint more. I'm hoping it will encourage you to share your creativity too.  

​I'll be back on Wednesday to share a little about the class I am taking today.   It's about the Constitution.  Who knew last year at this time this would be something I would be interested in?  That's what is exciting about this journey called life.  You never know where it will take you.  See you on Wednesday!
Ginny

PS  I would love to know what you have been doing!  

Hi Everyone!  It's great to be back.  I've been away from the computer for almost a month.  I have been using my IPad to stay in touch but I have not been writing as I usually do and I have to admit that I've missed it.  I miss the time I spend thinking about what I am going to write and then writing.  I miss actually writing the post and then receiving a comment or two.  I miss sharing my thoughts and learning about what you think.  I miss the friendships that I've made and the conversations we've shared because of our mutual love of blogging.

For the past month I have been thinking quite a bit about what I'd like to add to my life. I really miss the great conversations that my husband and I used to have.  We definitely didn't agree all of the time and that's what made the conversations so much fun.  We listened, we shared our point of views, we argued our points and sometimes we agreed and sometimes we agreed to disagree.  But we always grew from each discussion.
 
The same thing happened when I was working. Each week I would meet with the teachers and we would talk about what was happening next.  We would listen to each other, share ideas and work on problems.  Again, we didn't always agree but we worked together for the benefit of the kids.

Lately, I feel that there is a lack of deep conversations not only in my life but the world.  And as so often happens I find more and more things to read that seem to echo my thoughts.  Politics is often a subject people cannot seem to talk about easily and yet we need to understand each other and why or how we reach our ideas or convictions.  I recently read an article talking about how when we disagree with someone it is often more important to really listen than to talk.  When we listen we can find out what the person has experienced to bring them to their feelings. Hopefully, they will then take the time to listen to us as well.  Then the conversation can begin.  

So I think I may change the direction of my blog a little.  I hope that we can begin to have conversations not only about art and creativity but about what is going on in the world as well.  I would love to know what you are thinking and I promise to listen and to tell you what I think too.  So to begin this conversation I'd like to ask, "If you meet someone who sees or experiences the world differently than you do, what type of conversations do you have or would you like to have?"

                     I hope everyone has a great week filled with lots of interesting conversations!

                                                                                                                       Ginny

 

                    "It is not wrong to go back to that which you have forgotten."  West African Proverb

When I first started painting I would only use watercolors.  Then it was watercolor pencils and for the past several years it has been pastels.  I loved the way the pastels felt on my fingers as I moved them across the paper.  But suddenly my watercolors have been calling me again.  The funny thing is I feel as though I am beginning all over again. Things don't come as naturally as they once did.  But I am sure with practice and patience it will feel familiar before long. 

Practice and patience.  Those are two important words.  It is hard to get better at anything in life without practice and for most of us patience.  So as I begin to work with my watercolors once again I will remember those two words -  practice and patience.  I used them for years with my yoga and I did get better.  I relied on them when I wanted to become a better and better teacher and now creative living coach.  And now I'll repeat them again each time I begin to paint.  Practice and patience.  It will be interesting to see just how far those two simple words will take me.  I think that will be my new mantra - Practice and Patience!  It feels just right.

           Do you have a mantra or affirmation that you say to help you stay focused?  I would love to hear it.

          When you share your dreams and your talent with the world, magic happens.  Let the magic begin!

                               The person you will spend the most time with in your life is yourself.  
                                 So you better try to make yourself as interesting as possible.  Pinterest
   
The above quote showed up in my inbox as a quote I might like from Pinterest this morning.  It was the perfect nudge I needed to get me moving again.  Traveling through this journey of grief and widowhood is not easy.  I don't write about it often but it is part of me every moment of every day.  But that is a blog post for another day.  

As I began to ponder the quote above I realized that it is time to reassess where I am.  The awareness piece of living a creative life is very important.  We are always changing. Sometimes it is a big change that we have no control over while other times it is a change that we have made ourselves but have not yet fully embraced.  So I asked myself a question which hopefully will lead to an interesting answer.  "What would make my day/life/me more interesting?"  I've begun to think about this. I'm giving myself time to answer my question.  I may journal about it and see what appears.  I may make a collage or paint a picture to help me discover more about where I want to go and what I want to do.  A class might help. Talking to others may give me fresh ideas. And even if I don't get my answer right away doing all of these things can't help but make my life more interesting. So what about you?

            We all spend a lot of time with ourselves.  What do you do to make yourself as interesting as possible?

               When you share your dreams and your talent with the world, magic happens.  Let the magic begin!
                                                                                                              Ginny


As a creativity coach I help people use the Kaizen-Muse principles of creativity to overcome procrastination, perfectionism and overwhelm.  Whether you are creating the life you always wanted to live, starting a new business, writing a book, or beginning a new adventure the principles that I share  will help you not only get started but continue to move forward.  If you are interested in talking, please let me know at ginny.lennox@comcast.net  Remember the first 30 minute session is always free so that we can get to know each other.  

                                  A harvest of peace is produced from a seed of contentment.  Proverb

One of my favorite places to be is the ocean.  Last week as I sat with my feet in the water alternating between reading a good book and talking to friends. I realized I felt really content.  That's not a feeling that comes easily and I began to wonder why.  I remember many years ago being told that you don't want to get too content because that's when opportunities pass you by.  I am sure it was just about the time when as a society we began to want more or bigger and the words "I am so busy" became the thing to say.  

This week I have begun to look for the times throughout the day when I feel really content.  I know sitting in my backyard in the early morning is one time of day when contentment pays a visit. I know there are more and I want to be sure not only to notice them but to give them the attention they are due. 

I hope that you will take a few minutes this weekend to think about what makes you content.  And then I hope you will not only appreciate those things but find a way to bring more of that peaceful and happy feeling into your life.

            When you share your dreams and your talent with the world, magic happens.  Let the magic begin!
                                                                                                                        Ginny

This year I am taking time each month to reflect upon the month or season that just passed.  My word of the year actually turned into the phrase Living Joyfully with Courage and Confidence.  It is easy to forget my phrase but I think its too important of a concept for me to not think about. So this week I asked myself these questions:  "Did I live joyfully?"  Did I act with courage and confidence?  And I added one more.  "Did I choose happiness?"

I have come to realize that it is important to choose happiness.  And I realize if I choose happiness it will mean that I am living joyfully.  I have lived long enough to know that we can't be happy every minute of everyday.  But when given a choice - and life is filled with choices - it is important to choose happiness.  Happiness comes in all shapes and sizes.  It comes when we least expect it or when we are planning and waiting for it patiently and it comes because we choose it.

It's easy to become frustrated or angry in the fast paced world we live in.  We are often surrounded by negative people and negative images.  But we can choose to ignore those images and replace them with things that make us happy.  We can choose our friends carefully and surround ourselves with people who care about the things that we care about.  

I think it is important to recognize the people and things that bring happiness into our lives. One of the things that makes me happy each day is my home.  It has served our family well providing warmth and a place to make memories.  It's windows allow me to see outside and appreciate the beautiful sky that is above me and the green that is all around me even when I am indoors.  It protects me from the cold and the rain and is a place to be quiet and still. It is something that I am grateful for each and every day.

What brings you happiness?  What makes you smile or feel giddy or calm or peaceful?  I hope that you will join me each day in celebrating whatever or whoever it is that makes you happy. It is easy to overlook those things or without realizing it choose something else.  I'm consciously choosing happiness.  I hope that you will join me.

               When you share your dreams and your talent with the world, magic happens.  Let the magic begin!
                                                                                                                                           Ginny

Friday I spent most of the day with my three grandsons.  They decided to practice hitting golf balls.  Time after time the two older boys hit the ball far across the yard into the woods into the trees behind their house.  The four year old patiently waited his turn and then watched the ball roll just a little farther each time.  He never said anything, just got back in line, and waited for his next turn.  After about an hour, he stepped up to the ball and this time when he swung , the club connected with the ball and it went really far.  He dropped the club ran up to me and with the biggest hug said, "Nana can you believe I just did that and I am only four?"  The truth is I could believe that he could.  He has an enormous amount of energy and an enormous amount of patience when he really wants to do something.  I am constantly learning from all of the boys.  But on Friday it was the four year old who reminded me to never give up and to really truly celebrate the moment when it happens.

​                                  What moment would you like to celebrate this week? 

               When you share your dreams and your talent with the world, magic happens.  Let the magic begin!

                                                            Create the life you want to live
                                                             ginny.lennox@comcast.net

Last week I wrote about the very busy week I had.  The week turned out to be ok but as I was experiencing it, I found it to be very stressful.  This week was just the opposite. For the most part the calendar was empty and my first thought was Oh no. What am I going to do?  And then I decided not to do anything.  Not to fill the days but to see where each day led me.  I decided to sleep in and to start the day with writing for just a few minutes.  I went to the lake and read in the car because it was too cold to sit out side.  I worked on my flower boxes and painted and read.  I practiced yoga and talked to friends.  I read a beautiful magazine called Bella Grace and enjoyed each and every picture and article.  I really enjoyed the quiet and the solitude. It was a week when I did less but enjoyed it more.  I hope that there will be many more weeks just like this one.  Weeks when I do less and enjoy it more.

           When you share your dreams and your talent with the world, magic happens.  Let the magic begin!
                                                                                                                                   Ginny

                                                                 Create the life you want to live.
                                                                  ginny.lennox@comcast.net

                                               

I've been thinking a lot about what inspires me.  Of course it is people that are excited about what they are doing and sharing it with others. It's women who as they grow older also grow bolder.  They do what they want, say what needs to be said and continue to grow and take on new challenges. I'm inspired by the fearlessness of the young. And I am inspired by both Bernie Sanders and Hilary Clinton.  They are of my generation and they are out there fighting to change the system. Whether you agree with them or not they haven't given up and both believe they can make a difference.  

I'm also inspired by nature.  It's colors, it's intensity.  I have flowers that come back year after year no matter what happens.  It can be the coldest winter or the hottest summer yet at the same time every year they begin to peek through the soil and are there for all to enjoy.  It is such a reminder that even though there are adversities in life they can be over come.  

Inspiration comes in all shapes and sizes.  It comes when you are looking for it or it surprises you by being there just when you need it most. It is free for the taking and can make the biggest difference in how we see our world and spend our days. I'd love to know what inspires you to live a life filled with joy and wonder each day.

                   When you share your dreams and your talent with the world, magic happens.  Let the magic begin.
                                                                                                                                               Ginny