Originally posted 11/17/2015

My life was turned upside down…

since I last posted a blog.  I was totally focused on my husband who was fighting a very tough illness* and sadly passed away in February of this year.  I made the decision to be with him and give him my all.  And although it was hard at times – missing out on ‘things’, events, work –  I am so happy that I decided to put him first and not the other ‘stuff’.  He was truly the love of my life and our 30+ years together gave me a joy that is hard to describe. He was so full of life and loved it all.

What I learned…
I know I am truly blessed to have so many years of unconditional love together.  Something many people do not have.   There is such a deep void now and I am starting to fill it back up – a moment at a time.  Sure I am angry, and grieving, and my heart stops when I hear a favorite song, or see a special restaurant we loved, or see couples walking together hand in hand. My tears still flow. And I am lonely.

There are powerful lessons, though, that I have been learning:
I learned that I am really made of the tough stuff and that we all have unlimited reserves within us which are there when we need them.

This journey has taught me to be grateful, to slow down, to put things in perspective and ‘not sweat the small stuff’. To trust in God that this is what I am meant to be going through. My daughter is now my rock.  To reach out for support – so many angels are around us if we let them in. And to be grateful for each moment.

Thank you from my heart to all of you who have, and continue to support and love me and to bring a smile back to my life.  I love you all!

* Please be an organ donor now! There are more than  116,000 people in the US right now waiting for a transplant.  20 people die every day.
You can help. https://www.organdonor.gov/index.html

Originally posted 8/4/2015

I was organizing my desk and an old envelope fell out of some papers I had put aside.  On it, I found this quote – written hastily,  most likely at an airport waiting for a plane to places unknown.  It was of particular interest to me today – a beautiful summer day filled with sun and beach – and I am trying to decide how I will approach the day. I know I need to focus on my work but my restless-self want to run out to the ocean. Or look for the incredible butteries on the flowers outside and clouds floating in the bright blue sky.

I found my answer in these words written on that paper scrap:
“Celebrate what you want to do more of.” 

Tom Peters.  So I decided to spend the day celebrating that I am able to write today and to get the word out about my business of helping women transition back into the workplace and that I am happy about the wonderful women whom I have connected with over this past year.  Maybe I will even be content to stay in my office!  I found that focusing on the important things helps to center me and stay focused on what I need to do. I want to do more of these things – it makes me feel good, that I have accomplished something and that it brings joy to others as well.  I want more of that!

If you find yourself restless, distracted, longing to do something (or anything other than what you are doing),  and you really want to celebrate more of what you want, I have found that this helps:

1.  Have a very focused list of what you must get done right now and today.  Set time limits, get it done and check it off.  That is a really good feeling to cross it off the list.

2.  Have a ‘TO BE” list. How do you want to feel right now? For the rest of the day?  Then choose and decide that is how you want to live your life today. Celebrate how you want to be today.  This is even more important than your To Do list.

3.  Celebrate what you are doing – choose those things and people that make you happy. Do a great job on that report you need to finish. write that blog. Help someone out who is struggling. Turn on some music that makes you feel good, dance a little (or a lot), have some food that tastes so delicious  (sweet summer cherries or cold ice cream),  stick your toes in the water.  Give someone a hug.  Be grateful. Whatever it is that you want more of!

What do You want more of? How are you celebrating today?

Re-Examine        Re-Launch         Re-Enter

Are you a woman in transition who finds herself wanting, or needing, to return to the workplace after taking a break?   You may be in a life-transition – divorce, suddenly single, empty-nester, retiring, or even have lost your job.  You need support – now. 

Finding a job in 2015 is not the same as it used to be five or ten years ago.  Everything is changing and you need to have the latest information, strategies and action plan at your fingertips so you can re-launch yourself and re-enter the workplace.  I can help you do that!

Come join me for a complimentary personal ‘exploration session’ where we can review options and ideas to help you in your transition.   

Please go to: http://www.icwop.com/introduction.html   Everyone needs a little help sometimes. It is your turn now. Connect with me at : marybeth@icwop.com

Originally posted 4/17/2015

I’ve been parallel parking all of my driving-life but this morning I was meeting a coaching client and had to find a spot on a busy street. There were two places and both looked plenty big enough to fit in.  I tried the first one – I lined up and then hit the curb. I tried it again –after four attempts I gave up and moved up the block to the other larger spot. Piece of cake!  I lined up again, swung in, hit the curb again and again, and again. Did the curb get bigger? Was there something in the road?   I am thinking I am normally good at this but not today.  I noticed that there was an older man on a bicycle waiting for me to pull in, sitting on his bike somewhat amused.  I just looked at him and started laughing at myself. Then he started laughing – with a big, wide toothy grin and smiling eyes – the kind of moment when you just stop and share the how funny life can be.

I must have put on some show because my husband happened to be driving down the street in the opposite direction, was stopped at a red light, and saw what was happening.  He later told me that traffic was backed up behind me, people were laughing and he started laughing too. You never know how our little moments and challenges can make someone else happy, even if just for a minute.

What could have been an exercise in frustration or embarrassment, instead turned into such a  happy and perfect moment?

So I asked myself why I so easily slipped into joy, instead of impatience or frustration?
Lately, I have been making more of a conscious effort to do these three things:

1. Take in things as they come – be accepting, not angry or impatient

2. Be aware of what IS going on and find the goodness in it

3. Stop being so hard on myself (and others).

I think this was a moment when conscious awareness turned into unconscious response. I know that if we practice being more joyful, and less uptight and intense, good feelings just start to happen naturally.  Our bond with each other in is our words and behaviors. They are totally contagious so let’s make them be the very best one we have. Laugh each day – a very good way to “pass it forward”.

Is it time for a new career or job? Do you feel that you are bored or exhausted at the end of the day and need something different? You may be in a life-transition – divorce, empty-nester, retiring, or even lost your job. Is it time to start a new chapter?  If not now, what are you waiting for?

Now is the best time to write and live the story of the life YOU want. Let me help you on your journey to figure out what inspires you, what your unique skills and talents are, what is next.  I can support you in finding answers and inspiration in personal career coaching, programs and workshops developed just for you.

Come join me for a complimentary personal ‘retreat’ where we can explore options and ideas to help you on this journey.  Please go to: http://www.icwop.com/introduction.html   Everyone needs a little help sometimes. It is your turn now.

Originally posted 3/5/2015

March is Women’s History Month. Here at The International Center for Women, we are dedicated to serving women all over the world, and I will be highlighting women and their incredible capacity and resilience this month. I know their stories will inspire you to rediscover your best self and make your own history.

This week I will start with honoring Janet Echelman, artist and sculptor, who changed the ordinary into the extraordinary but considered herself an “unlikely person” to create what she did. But she went ahead anyway. And created such amazing, moving art that delights and amazes people on almost every continent because she did not let the ‘un-likely’ part get in the way of what she was gifted to do.  Because of the, she was able to share her Best Self with the world.

How many of us consider ourselves to be unlikely, un-available, un-trained, un-talented? We need to delete the ‘un’ part of these words which we tell ourselves and others. Many times they are excuses for being scared or unwilling to do something new. We tell ourselves that it is ok to stay in our comfort zone. But many times it is not. And over time it becomes not only boring but terribly sad to see all of our potential ‘un-used’.

You may have read some of my blogs before where I talk about the potential and capacity within us.  I am SO amazed at how much raw ability, talent, willingness and energy we have inside of us, especially as women. March is a perfect time to acknowledge our capacity and use the desires and talents we have within. Promise yourself and make a plan that you will commit to re-discovering (or discovering for the first time) all that you have within you.

In her first TED talk*, Janet says “I didn’t know where to begin but I said Yes!”  Give your self-permission to say “Yes!” to doing something you really want to do – to that little voice within that encourages you to learn more, to take a risk, to choose a decision to be happier.

This is the perfect time to say “Yes!’ and to take action in creating the amazing history of your own life.

****************************************************************************************************
It is your turn to write the story of the life you want. Is it time for a new career or job? Do you feel that you are bored or exhausted at the end of the day and need something different? You may be in a life-transition – divorce, empty-nester, retiring, or even lost your job. Is it time to start a new chapter?  If not now, what are you waiting for?

Now is the best time so let me help you on your journey to figure out what inspires you, what your unique skills and talents are, what is next.  I can support you in finding answers and inspiration in personal career coaching, programs and workshops developed just for you.

Come join me for a complimentary personal ‘retreat’ where we can explore options and ideas to help you on this journey.  Please go to: http://www.icwop.com/introduction.html   Everyone needs a little help sometimes. 

*You can watch Janet Echleman’s amazing talk at http://www.ted.com/talks/janet_echelman?language=en