November 07, 2006
November 7, 2006 Issue #33
Welcome to the newsletter where playing more and stressing less is taken seriously. It's written with the intention to support you in living a life with more passion and play and less worry and work.IN THIS ISSUE...
Short and Sweet
Website Updates
Practicing a Pitch
Melody 3 AM
Zaadz
A Very Happy Foot
Ways to Play Today:
Practice Push-ups
Share Your Stand
Something to Ponder:
Whose reflection do you you see in the mirror?
"Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it."~Rumi
My Playground
The article, the message, the thing to make you go hmmm...
~Short and Sweet~
Surprise, surprise! It may not be the third Monday of the month, but yesterday was the debut of 'the girl who looked into the mirror' which is the film I made with Nic Askew and made mention of in my last newsletter. I wanted to get this short and sweet newsletter out yesterday to make the announcement, but decided to just sit back and consider who might be watching the film at any given moment.
And then it started happening. I began receiving emails from people all over the world who had seen the film and I was blown away by their beautiful words of understanding and acknowledgement. I am in awe of the connections that are being made as a result of this inspirational creation that Nic and I crafted together. I am truly touched knowing that the story I shared (which happens to be one of my biggest, most challenging life lessons) is resonating with people and perhaps is making a difference in their lives.
A reflection of home while honeymooning in Greece.
It doesn't matter how you make a difference only that you do. Why? Because not only is it a tremendous thing to have an impact on another's life, but it gives more meaning to yours. Trust me on this one. One of the emails I received yesterday did ask me a question along the lines of, "How can we make a difference in other's lives and in our own?" Well, in addition to suggesting you to take a look at the film, (I know there are some Lighten Up subscribers who already have. Thank you!) here's what I'd like to offer you:
The greatest difference we can make is by consistently showing up authentically for ourselves and for others. In a nutshell, look into the mirror and get real. Get over game-playing, telling half-truths and not listening to who is the real you.
List Five Ways You Make a Difference
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So...now that my story of not being true to myself for so many years (and to the men I was involved with prior to my husband) is currently playing on the world's stage, what's a girl who's looked into the mirror to do next? I'm going to keep being real and keep encouraging others to do the same. Consider taking a good long look into your mirror today and ask yourself where your home is and then when you have the answer, go share it with others. You just might find that it's short and sweet and is exactly what the world needs to hear.
Personal Recommendations for books, music, websites and all resources fun!
Melody 3 AM by Royksopp
While waiting to board my flight home from London, I made some music store owner very happy. This was one of the four cds I added to my ever-expanding collection of tunes and I've been playing it pretty consistently the past two weeks. It's not the group’s latest production, but it's definitely not out-dated. Their songs have been my mellow mood-writing music as well my inspiration to do the "get-up and shake your bootie" kind of dance. You might call it ambient, chill or electronic, but I just call it groovy. Happy head-bobbing is bound to occur whenever it's played.
Zaadz
I'm recommending this website even though I haven't yet joined and created a profile. (Note to self: Put on today's "to do" list.) This is what I know so far from exploring their site and reading magazine ads: Thousands of like-minded people; An online community of people who want to live full, creative lives and change the world; A place where connection, support and sharing of ideas is the norm rather than a negative. What do you get besides web-based brilliance? Magic. Pure magic. Check it out and connect with people who are walking some of the same paths you are AND are blazing trails of their own.
What's Up at Playful Spirit?
Last week I did a major rewrite on my website to reflect some of the changes I've recently made in my business. It was tough to let go of some things and totally freeing to hit the delete key with others. I'll soon be adding more information about an exciting new service I'm officially launching in January. You can get a brief description here on my website, but stay tuned for the delightful dish on Play Dates. Ahh...the evolution of one's business and being-ness. It really is but a simple process if only we'd just learn to listen sooner as opposed to later.
Tomorrow I'm meeting with the new owners of my local newspaper,
The Cannon Beach Gazette
to pitch a few ideas for writing a bi-weekly column. We'll see how my ideas are received, but I figure it'll be good practice for when the time comes to pitch my book to an agent and publisher. Will certainly keep you updated if I land a regular gig.
I'm beginning a three month tele-class program on Thursday with one of my marketing mentors, Suzanne Falter-Barnes and my good friend, Pam Slim. These two amazing women are going to help kick my butt into gear in regards to writing my book and building my brand. I have some crazy-big ideas for creating a line of inspirational products and I'm hoping to receive feedback on whether I'm crazy for considering doing something like this or if I'm crazy for not having offered these way cool products sooner. I'll keep you posted here and on my blog, The Ultimate Yes.
Giggles & Guffaws
An amusing story, joke, anecdote or picture to tickle your funnybone
Even a foot can appreciate a killer sunset in Santorini.
Ways to Play Today
Why not...practice push-ups on a daily basis?
There's no doubt about it. Strong arms are sexy. I personally would like to have Madonna-like biceps, but I'll admit I don't lift nearly enough weights often enough to be as lean and mean as the Material Girl. Having upper body strength may be ideal when it comes to impressing some guys and gals, but I'm thinking of practicing push-ups for more practical reasons. Things like being able to carry your own groceries into old age and lifting small children and pets for big bear hugs. Push-ups may make you huff and puff, but if you keep at them they'll not only add definition to your limbs, they'll definitely add a smile to your lips. Committing to any form of exercise is tough stuff, but this one is as simple as getting down on the floor and...give me ten! And don't you dare think of using those knees of yours as props.
Why not...write down and share what you stand for?
Making a list of the things you are both passionate and committed to in your life can be quite an eye-opening experience. You may have a passion for chocolate and you may even be committed to eating it on a regular basis, but I'm talking about taking a good look at the things and the people in your life that really mean the world to you. You can probably take chocolate off your list now. Taking a stand for something or someone means that you not only believe in that idea, cause or person, but that you're willing to give of yourself with no hesitation or reservations. Whether you give your time, your money, your energy or all three, you happily invest in that which you so love. Share what you stand for with someone today.
Something to Ponder
Questions designed to stimulate your thinking AND encourage you to take action towards what you want.
Who do you see when you take a look into the mirror?
How do you know if it's the real reflection of you?
Care to share what these questions stir up in you?
Send me an e-mail.
I welcome your thoughts and will respond to all e-mails received.
If you want to find out more about the work I do as a facilitator, writer and inspirational speaker check out Playful Spirit. Make sure you come back and visit every so often as you never know what kind of resources and fun stuff I'll be playing around with and adding to the website.
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. For the next two weeks, think about how real you are being with yourself and with others and consider what home means to you. Be well, be happy and play more.
See you on November 20th!
Lisa
~Playful Spirit's mission is to inspire the world to laugh longer, live passionately and love more. Let's Play!
lisa@playful-spirit.com www.playful-spirit.com