January 19, 2005 Issue #13

IN THIS ISSUE...

1) Welcome!
2) My Playground
3) Check it Out
4) Giggles & Guffaws
5) Ways to Play Today!
6) Random Musings
7) Something to ponder
8) Shameless Promotional Plug

A playful welcome to my new subscribers!
This *free* monthly newsletter is written with the intention to help you live life with more fun and joy and less stress and worry. With informative articles, humorous insights and great resources, "Lighten Up!" is guaranteed to provide you a motivational kick in the butt while giving you a giggle or two along the way.

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. ~Marcel Proust

My, oh my. Can you believe it's been almost three weeks since we celebrated a new year? In whatever way you welcomed in 2005, I hope it was a joyous and jubilant occasion for you. Whether you were out and about the town or stayed in and perhaps had a more mellow evening, I hope you had an amazing time with whomever you chose to spend time with. I also hope your holiday wasn't so over the top that you paid dearly for it the next day with a hangover. Lastly, I hope whatever resolutions, goals or intentions (call them what you wish) you set for yourself, you're well on your way to achieving them. If you're wondering how you're going to go about getting what you want, perhaps you should consider hiring a coach. (Subtle self-promotion there)

Honestly, if you're questioning already whether or not you'll be able to stick to your resolutions and make the changes you want to make in your life, you should give me a call or send me an email. I'll not only re-motivate you (swift kicks in the butt ARE possible even through the phone and computer!), I'll be able to show you how you can take the steps towards having whatever your heart desires. Perhaps you're wondering how I can make such a big promise. Perhaps you're wondering what secret I have up my sleeve. It's no secret that you have to take action in order to have your dreams come true. However, taking action isn't always the easiest thing to do. There are risks involved. There are unpleasant moments. There are self-doubts. Trying on another perspective can be a challenging thing to do, but often that's exactly what's needed in order to give us a new one we can call our own. Read on to discover some ways in which you can see with new eyes.

My Playground
The article, the message, the thing to make you go hmmm...

~Taking on a New Perspective~
I mentioned in last month's newsletter I would be traveling to New Zealand and Australia over the holidays. Spending ten incredible summertime days in the South Pacific with my sweetie was absolutely outrageously fun. Exploring a new country with someone who was born and grew up there certainly makes for having a great tour guide. While James was very informative, he also gave me plenty of opportunity to experience this new world on my own. For example, upon our arrival, I got my first stamp in my passport, which is a pretty big deal for a gal who's dreamt of world travel since she was a teenager. So while I emerged from customs with a big smirk on my face, little did I know I'd be in for a quick surprise soon after leaving the airport.

A good friend of James picked us up and after Simon helped get our bags in the back of his vehicle, I made my way over to what we Americans know as the passenger side, the right side of his car. Simon follows close behind, stands beside me and then asks if I'd like to drive. Not quite grasping what he's just said, I emerge out of my travel-induced fog, peer into the car's window and notice there's a steering wheel. I didn't know New Zealand was similar to Britain in that their cars are right-sided drive. As I turned a shade or two red while the Kiwi boys had themselves a good chuckle, I made my way around to the left side of the vehicle and giggled as I took my seat. The laughing was short-lived as I experienced sudden terror when Simon pulled out of the parking lot and proceeded to drive on the WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD! As I tried to keep my eyes open and stifle my urge to grab the steering wheel, I wondered how many other surprises awaited my discovery.

Traveling to another country is definitely a great way to experience a new perspective, but you don't have to journey halfway across the world in order to get one that shifts your thinking. Consider for a moment where you were when you heard about the tsunami. Think about what your perspective was of the world and then consider how it might have changed once you saw pictures and heard stories of that day's natural disaster. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes an event of this magnitude to shake us out of our self-induced stuckness. Obviously you have the power within you to take on a different viewpoint any time you want to. I've mentioned it in previous newsletters, but I'll say it again. The truth is...we can try on a new perspective in any area our lives at any time. The key in doing so though is first being open to considering something else other than what we know and then secondly choosing to take it on as our own.

5 Ways to See How To Unlock the Key

1) Introduce yourself to a stranger-Go out of your way to meet someone new every day. Maybe it's a simple hello to the grocery clerk or maybe you have a deep conversation with a fellow coffee drinker in your favorite café, but make the effort to expand your community. You're bound to hear thoughts and ideas you've never considered and you never know if that stranger will become a good friend.

2) Notice the not-so-ordinary-While traveling on a train in Melbourne, I noticed a lovely older woman dressed in a very snazzy suit with a stunning hat to match. To me, it didn't seem like typical train attire for a weekday. No matter. What I noticed was something I normally don't see and in that moment, I experienced something that is so not me. I suddenly had the desire to buy a fancy hat. Noticing what is not known to you opens up new possibilities.

3) Ask for another's opinion-This may seem easy enough to do, but in truth, listening without thinking about what you're going to say can be quite challenging. Be open to hearing what another person has to offer you without offering up words of your own.

4) Read a lot of books- Forget watching t.v. and consuming mass media. It may take more time to consider what an author's message is rather than listening to a newscast or reading a headline, but this will also give you more time to consider your own viewpoints and try on another's.

5) Take nothing for granted-It's easy to forget how blessed our lives truly are. When you take the time to think about EVERYTHING that is a part of your life, you'll soon realize that all the piddly little stuff you've been fretting over disappears. Take a gratitude inventory often.

Even though I gathered a few of these ideas while I was hanging out in the land of Kiwis and Aussies, I recommend the more affordable option of trying these on in your own backyard so-to-speak. I got on a plane, flew for fourteen hours and ended up in a foreign country where new perspectives were plentiful. Truly though, the furthest we ever have to travel is outside our own comfort zones. For many of us, that is a considerable journey in itself. Journey on!

Check it Out
Personal Recommendations for books, music, websites and all resources fun!

Sahm Gallery If you're familiar with M.C. Escher, you know a little about different perspectives. Escher was brilliant at creating imaginative drawings that were magical and wonderful to look at on paper, but in real life the buildings and objects couldn’t exist structurally. Werner Sahm's paintings are kinda like that. His imaginative landscapes look like the places we could easily create in our dreams, but like Escher, they couldn't possibly exist in this world due to things like gravity and...well, perspective. Browse throughout the gallery and take a journey to another world, a world in which your view is delightfully skewed.

Paste Magazine
I discovered this gem of a magazine during a recent bookstore run. While perusing all the ones I swear I'll never subscribe to, I came across Paste in the special interest section. It's a wonderful guide to new music with great interviews of artists and in-depth reviews of their albums. You'll recognize big-name musicians, but you'll also be introduced to up and coming bands from independent labels. The best part of the magazine is that every issue comes with a free compilation c.d. of the some of the artists' songs. In their latest issue, they've also included a d.v.d with short films, movie previews and music videos. I love discovering new music, but I’ll also admit I'm a sucker for free stuff. The c.d. and dvd are definitely worth the few extra dollars you'll pay for this magazine, but I will issue a word of caution: After listening to the compilation c.d.s, it's a guarantee you'll suddenly find yourself spending more time in music stores and your c.d. collection will begin taking on a life of its own.

Giggles & Guffaws
An amusing story, joke, anecdote or picture to tickle your funnybone

GRASS...it does a body of wool good.

Ways to Play Today!

Why not...tip more than the standard 20%?
Not wanting to fix dinner the other night, I went out to a little pizza place for a quick bite. By day this place serves single slices with speedy service. At night, they become a sit-down, take-your-time restaurant. This is where you spend time actually enjoying your meal rather than scarfing it down. So while I was initially miffed that I wasn't going to get my food as fast as the lunch rush, my perspective changed when my waitress arrived at my table. She not only took my order, but asked how I was. Honestly, I wasn't feeling all that great. With a head cold coming on, my eyes were a watery mess and my nose was dripping steadily like a leaky faucet. I mustered up my best, "I'm fine, thank you" and hoped she'd leave before I sneezed on her. Fortunately, she did at that moment, but she soon returned with my drink order and a pleasant smile. Throughout my meal, she checked in to see how I was doing. It was pretty amazing to watch her flit about the restaurant and treat all of her customers in the same friendly manner in which she treated me. As a customer service person, she was a true professional and so when I left her a 40% tip and some kudos on the comment card, I hope she knew how much I appreciated her. Tip your restaurant servers well even when you get crappy service. If they were in a foul mood at your table, perhaps your generous tip will make them a little nicer towards their next customer. At some point, that next customer will be you.

Why not...have a pajama party with close friends?
I've been considering having a sleepover with a few of my girlfriends. It would be an evening of finger foods, chick-flicks and fun conversations with perhaps a good pillow fight tossed in before retiring for the evening. Slumber parties used to be a hoot as a kid, why wouldn't they still be fun as a grown-up? Perhaps as adults we would be a bit more self-conscious about our bedtime attire. Perhaps we would be more self-conscious of allowing others to see what we really look like sans make-up and hairdos. No worries I say. Serve a little alcohol and the next thing you know you'll be having a pajama and night-gown fashion show. Consider too that there's a built-in safety factor for hosting this kind of party. If any of your guests over-imbibe, no one will be driving home and everyone is already dressed for bed. I encourage you to do a little time-traveling back to your youth and throw your own pajama party. One last thing before you send out those invitations, keep it same sex only to insure comfort for your guests and that there isn't any funny business going on other than getting the goofy giggles at midnight.

Random Musings
Miscellaneous thoughts of mine with hints of truth and wisdom

A change of mind is easier than a change of heart.

Try on being grateful for a lifetime, not just a day.

Smile and make a stranger's day. Smile back if they showed you their grin first.

Something to Ponder
Questions designed to stimulate your thinking AND encourage you to take action towards what you want.

What current perspective of yours might be limiting your willingness to listen?

How could trying on a new perspective support you in having what you want?

Care to share what these questions stir up in you? Need some support around learning how to create and appreciate stillness? Send me an e-mail. I welcome your thoughts and will respond to all e-mails received.

Shameless Promotional Plug

I owe my readers a sincere apology. This issue was supposed to be in your inbox on Monday the 17th. As midnight approached that day, I knew I was not going to meet my deadline. I thought I’d tweak a few things on Tuesday and then send it out immediately and that's when my internet service crashed. Completely at the mercy of the technology gods, another day passed while service was re-installed. It's now Wednesday evening as I prepare to load this up and get it sent out to you. Had I kept my commitment to my Monday deadline, obviously there wouldn’t have been a delay. Yes, technological glitches happen, but I also know I tend to procrastinate when it comes to writing my newsletter sometimes so I think it's time to try on a new perspective and I’d like your help. Will you let me know what part of Lighten Up you enjoy the most? The least? I'd really like to increase my subscriber list ten-fold this year and one of the ways I know I'll be able to do that is by asking my current subscribers why they subscribe. I'd appreciate any feedback you have on my style of writing, the content of the newsletter and anything else you want to chip in. Writing this newsletter brings me great joy, but I want it do something for my readers as well. What does it do for you? Give me your perspective.

If you want to find out more about the work I do as a coach, facilitator and writer check out Playful Spirit Make sure you come back and visit again as more resources and fun stuff will be added to the website every month.

Thanks for reading this issue of Lighten Up! If you enjoyed it, please pass it along to your friends, your family, your co-workers...You get the idea. See you February 21st! Until that time, be well, be happy and play more.

May you take every opportunity to try on new perspectives this year. May they expand your thinking, open your hearts and help bring whatever your heart desires into your life.
Lisa

(A picturesque perspective of New Zealand)