"Love yourself first and everything else falls into line."  Lucille Ball

When I was young my mother who looked and often acted just like Lucille Ball told me something very similar to the quote above.  I thought it sounded so selfish back then but now I know how right she was.  We have to love ourselves and take care of ourselves before we can take care of others.  The world is moving so fast and demands so much of us each day that it becomes hard to remember that self-care is the foundation that makes everything else possible. But remember we must. When was the last time you did something just for you?  Was it today?  Did you slow down and take a deep breath?  Did you sit outside and look at the sky or walk around the block going in a different direction?  Did you eat right or sleep in?  Did you read a book that inspired you or made you think or just took you to another time or place.  Did you laugh with your children or share a story with your husband?  Did you paint or dance or sing ?  It would be wonderful if we all had large blocks of time just for us and sometimes we do.  But if that is not possible just taking a few minutes here and there throughout the day still can make a difference.  Recognizing what makes us feel better and then planning how to incorporate that into our week can make a difference.  

Living a creative life means designing your day so that it includes the things that are most important to you.  Living a creative life means being aware of what makes you happy.  It means thinking out of the box so you can do the things you want to do.  In order to live the life you want to live, you have to take care of yourself.  What can you do this week that you have been wanting to do but just haven't made time for?  Make that a priority.  Write it down.  Set a day and time that you will do it.  Then do it and enjoy the experience.  

This week I am going to paint.  I am going to spend at least 15 minutes a day experimenting and playing with color.  I am just going to pick up a watercolor pencil and see what happens.  How about you?  What will you do to honor yourself?  

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

If you have read my blog before, you probably know that my husband has Pulmonary Hypertension which is high blood pressure in the lungs.  It is a rare lung disease which for now is incurable.  He was diagnosed eight years ago which puts him in the category of a long time survivor.  Every other year the Pulmonary Hypertension Association holds a conference which is attended by patients, family members, doctors, researchers, nurses, etc.  Last week we attended for the first time.  It was a wonderful experience and I am so glad that we were able to go. I learned many things over the course of four days but one thing that I thought I would share today was the importance of creativity in the lives of the people fighting this disease and for that matter all of us.  I sat in on one session led by four women who have battled their illness for a period of time.  Each had developed a creative outlet which helped them to move forward and take control of their life.  One began to volunteer in her church and developed a website something she had never done before.  Another became immersed in yoga and began to teach others using the adaptations that many of us need to use.  Another was a singer/song writer who was initially told she would never perform again.  She decided that she would fight this diagnosis and beginning with a vision board came up with the steps that would take her back to singing the songs she wrote on stage.  Her performance was beautiful and so was she. 

We all show our creativity in different ways.  When the panel stopped sharing last week one audience member said "I just want to congratulate you all on your strength and to acknowledge what you have accomplished.  Do you all realize how much your creativity has helped you to move forward and how much you have inspired the rest of us today?"  There were tears in the room as well as lots of clapping and smiles. 

I really believe that our creativity is something that we should never take for granted.  It will be there for us in good times as well as bad.  It needs to be nurtured and given the time and respect it deserves.  Acknowledging that part of who we are is so important.  Sharing what we love to do with others is equally important.  I hope that every day you will take time to allow your creativity to grow and develop.  Even just a few minutes makes a difference.  Remember:

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

Positive support is something we all need in our lives.  If we are lucky, we are surrounded by people who see the importance of what we are doing and what we need in order to live a creative life.  Sometimes it is easier to find that support than others.  But I have found that if I am open I can find support everywhere I go.  It might be the smile from the women in the checkout line that always asks me how I am doing.  It might be from a friend who tells me that she read my blog post and was moved by it or from a family member who remembers the books I love to read.  Support goes both ways.  It is so easy to become involved in what we are doing that we forget to give support to others.  I watch my husband's bridge group and marvel at the support he has received over the years.  When he is not feeling well the game will wait until he is ready to go on. On the other hand if someone needs him, he is there.

I think that gratitude goes hand-in-hand with support.  Letting people know how important they are to you and what their support means is important.  As we get ready to go to the Pulmonary Hypertension Conference to learn more about this hidden disease, I have been reading the posts on line and see how much support the women are already giving each other.  They may not have met yet but they understand how important it is to be there for each other.

Is there someone who supports you unconditionally?  Do they know how much that support means to you?  Let them know what a difference their support makes in your life.  I promise letting them know will make a difference for you both.

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

Ginny is gifted at holding a space of grace for her clients to step into.  She compassionately supports and moves us forward in our quest to embrace all that we can be.  SPK, coaching client

                         "Whenever you are creating beauty around you, you are restoring your own soul."  Alice Walker

For each of us what is beautiful is different. For me it is quiet natural colors that bring with them a sense of peace and calm. As I become more and more aware of what makes me happy, I realize it is simple things, in their place that are easy to find. Less has become more and open spaces are important.  When we create our environment, whether a room or an entire house, I think it is important to know what brings us happiness and to let that be our guide as we transform our surroundings..

  What flowers light up your senses and inspire you to paint?  What music makes you want to sing?  Which books encourage you to write? What colors bring you energy or calm you down?   I believe that when we surround ourselves with the things and most importantly the people that support who we are life seems to move forward with greater ease.   

Take a moment to look around you.  Is there something simple that you want to do to create more beauty around you?  Then begin to think about how you can make that happen.  And when the time is right begin to take small steps, one at a time, to make your dream come true.

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


                 The questions Ginny asks lead me to the answers I am seeking. SKL, Creativity Coaching client

                          I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June.   L.M. Montgomery

It is not every year that I would ponder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June.  Most years it is already hot and humid and uncomfortable in June.  But this year, for our area of the country, it has been different.  It rains a light summer rain every night while I sleep and I wake up to warm mornings where everything looks green and refreshed.  The birds are singing and the grass is green. I've started the ritual of taking my coffee with me to my small backyard and sitting quietly thinking about nothing really.  I just let myself begin the day in the soft sounds that surround me.  Maybe that is why I seem so at peace with what I have planned to do next which is to allow things to unfold slowly.  I have just finished a seventeen week coaching training and usually I am already starting something new. But this summer I am giving myself the gift of time. I am going to start each day with a quiet cup of coffee and see what unfolds.  It feels right to not have a plan.  I have lots of ideas but I think I will wait and see which one speaks to me the loudest.  What about you?  How do you want to spend your summer?  Does a quiet morning with a cup of coffee or tea sound just right?  Or is it the sound of picnics and people talking and laughing that is calling your name?  We all have different ways of spending the day. Sometimes the day begins with a quiet moment that builds into a loud roar. The important thing is that we spend it in a way that makes us feel alive and happy.  I hope that your summer will be filled with special moments that you will remember forever. 

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

Coaching with Ginny helps me to focus on what is most important to me each day.  Getting things done no longer seems impossible.  Before I never had the time to paint. Now, a paintbrush is always in my hand.  PTK

                                   "Be gentle first with yourself if you wish to be gentle with others."  Lama Yeohe

I used this quote not too long ago but it was apparent that a gentle reminder was in order.  Last week was filled with emotional events.  It was a roller coaster ride and one that we handled well.  From celebrations to frightening news to positive outcomes we experienced it all.  So this week is a time to relax, rest, and be gentle.  

No matter what we are experiencing small questions are a simple but effective way to handle a situation.  "How do I want to be?" is a question that I rely on often.  No matter what is happening I want to be calm, positive, and present.  Knowing how I want to be makes it easier to know what I want to do. So ask yourself today, "How do I want to be?"  You don't have to have the answer right away.  But as the answer does become apparent, take a minute to really listen and to feel just how you want to be. Then let the transformation begin.

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


Ginny's ability to listen with great care and attention is reflected in her gentle tone, deep respect and intuitive guidance.  TBK coaching client




                                                         "I am still learning."  Michelangelo
How can we not continue to learn?  Every time we meet someone new, look at the something in nature, or read a book we are learning.  We can learn in formal settings or by ourselves.  We learn from others as we share what we know. Continuing to learn is key to who I am. I don't think I can ever get old or ever get bored if I keep learning and as we all know there is always so much to learn.  

Discovering my passions and pursuing my dreams have become a big part of my everyday life.  This includes meeting new people, learning about their lives and their dreams.  Remembering to embrace each day and experience the unexpected has become an exciting way to live my life. When I retired I wasn't sure what would come next.  But for me it was what I had always done all of my life.  I've stayed involved in learning whether I am sharing what I know with others or learning something new myself. I'm exploring my creativity and supporting others as they learn about their creative life.  It's a wonderful way to spend each day.  

What are you learning?  What interests you each day?  I hope that you will take time to not only notice what interests you but share your knowledge with others.  Because as I always say, "When you share your dreams and your talent with the world, magic happens!"


"Ginny understood where I was coming from.  She made me realize one of the greatest resources creative people have is each other."  SH