Well, we made it. Here we are at the beginning of 2013! I don’t know about you but for me 2012 was a wild ride with lots of breathtaking moments, highs and lows and intense and rapid changes. I felt, at times, as if I was in a river raft that was out of control and my only job to surrender myself to the journey trusting I’d end up exactly where I need to be. Not easy for a control freak like myself. I tend to like to have everything organized, neat and tidy and able to anticipate the future. A paradigm that is quickly being shifted for me as I move into this new and exciting year. Clearly a time to let go of the old and embrace the present moment and rapidly unfolding future. Who knows what this year will hold for the world. We are already witnessing unprecedented changes. Idol No More (http://idlenomore.ca/) is symbolic of what this new chapter in history is going to be all about. Changes that have been coming for a long time are going to start to come to fruition. People are coming together, finding their voice, standing for themselves. With this comes the chaos that often precedes great change and creativity. I find this energy brings with it a sense of relief and I feel a deep gratitude as I bear witness to such profound shifts. Hopefully I can have a small hand in helping those changes unfold in a positive way for my family, friends, community and clients. I invite you to do the same. Consider yourself part of this transition. You too have a place, your voice is important, you are important and the world needs you and what you have to offer. So find whatever way feels right for you to contribute to change in some small or even big way this year.
I wanted to also congratulate my trusted and invaluable assistant Tasha Low and her partner Telf Maynard on the arrival of their new baby boy Justin who made his entrance into the world in December at home in Southlands. They are settling in nicely and enjoying the warmth and slowed pace of having a new baby in the house!
Last year I committed to sending out a Weekly Tip and will continue to share my teachings this year. Having said that, I will be sending out the tips a little less frequently on monthly basis. What you will be able to count on though are more in depth and detailed pieces from me on topics ranging from conflict resolution to parenting. Please send me ideas for what you would like to hear more on and I’d be happy to incorporate your ideas into my content.
This year I will be developing new areas of interest so please keep an eye out for information on my new workshops…
- Restorative Parenting – A Relationship Based Approach for Caregivers, and…
- Sitting In the Fire – Training For Managers and Leaders
Please note that in light of budget cuts I have reduced my rates and am now working with a sliding scale. So, for those of you who would like to engage my services but have not done so due to funding restraints please don’t hesitate to contact me to discuss a budget that will work for you.
As I continue to evolve my lateral violence training in our communities I realize that it is a continuous work in progress and my understanding deepens. The complexity of the work expands and the more that is revealed to me the less I realize I know. The irony is that with mastery comes more questions than answers, at least for me anyway. The topics of lateral violence, community change, conflict and communication, and how to work and live better together consistently test me, growing me in sometimes painful yet incredible ways. I have my clients to thank also as they have and continue to be my best teachers. The teachings are invaluable and I remember to look to my ancestors for guidance and strength. I’m reminded that it’s not my job to have all the answers but to simply develop awareness, be a guide, and sometimes act as a mirror for folks. Not always a popular role to play but one I seem drawn to fulfill in many areas of my life.
This year I also decided to sponsor two little boys through world vision. Niemo is 8 years old from the Philippines and Leokoyo is 4 from Tanzania. This is something I’ve been thinking about doing for a long time and am happy to say I finally made it happen. If you want to learn more about sponsoring a child you can visit http://WorldVision.ca.
I hope you continue to enjoy my communications to you and that you gain something useful. Please don’t hesitate to contact me to chat, give feedback or ask a question. That’s what I’m here for. I love to hear from folks and it breaks up the solitude I experience sometimes being self-employed.
For those of you who are seeking a fun, light and practical way to set an intention for the New Year I recommend a vision board. This is an activity that my husband and I do each New Year’s Eve together and have been doing for years. We simply find a variety of magazines, purchase some poster board from staples along with a couple glue sticks and some scissors and spend a few hours envisioning our hopes and dreams for the year…uncensored of course. It’s important to dream big and lean into possibilities. We then place it somewhere we can see it everyday! It’s amazing to look back at the end of the year and to see how much on our boards has actually manifested into reality. It’s quite a magical process. I’ve included a picture of my vision board for you to see. I highly encourage you to give it a try.
Many blessings for a fulfilling and hopeful 2013!
