Want to know more about my life’s journey? Here’s the rest of the story…
The Fun-Story-Long!
My ideal Saturday: I’d sleep in late, enjoy breakfast with my husband, go sailing and eat lunch on the boat, come home and fall asleep reading on the couch in the sun with my cats. We’d go out for dinner with some friends at a Thai restaurant, then head home and watch a movie.
One of my earliest childhood memories: At around age 4, I was convinced, 100%, that my family (me, my parents and my younger brother) was the basis for the cartoon “The Flintstones.” Bam bam!
Things that make me happy: naps… cats, and generally, any animal… lunch with a friend… being on a beach or near water… walking in the woods… road trips… sailing… dark chocolate with sea salt… listening to music, especially classical, U2, kd lang… working with coaching clients… passionate conversations… enjoying a good meal that I’ve prepared… writing something I’m proud to share.
My strengths: I’m curious and love to research and gather information. People trust me easily and quickly, and I feel honored by that. I have a good sense of humor. I like to find the lighter side of a situation. I am compassionate yet hold the other person as responsible for themselves. My strengths as a coach include creating a safe, trusting relationship; gentle directness; ability to peel back the layers to get to the root; being able to not know; laughter!
My types: Myers-Briggs: INFJ; Enneagram: 2 with a 3 wing; StrengthsFinder: Strategic, Connectedness, Relator, Input, Maximizer; DiSC: high I and S, with a Counselor Pattern; Gregorc Learning Style: Concrete Random. Can you tell I’m a test junkie!?
Five years ago: I was living in Traverse City, Michigan, making the transition from working in marketing at Interlochen Center for the Arts to being a Program Officer with Rotary Charities of Traverse City. My time at Interlochen was ideal: my degrees in music and arts administration prepared me perfectly for the creative and dynamic environment. The opportunity to work for Rotary Charities came along in late 2005. It was an absolute privilege to be contributing to my community as a grantmaker and advocate for the local nonprofit sector.
Five years from now: I will be encouraged by the tremendous growth in my coaching business and the sustainable success of my clients. My regular workshops around the country attract thousands of people every year. Two published books bring my message of self-trust and empowerment to a broader audience. Those I am honored to work with experience greater joy, peace, satisfaction and love in their lives. I am part of a circle of mentors, colleagues and friends who challenge me to stretch in new and exciting directions. What started out as a new career path has evolved into my true calling and life’s passion.
Why I do what I do: There are fewer things that bring me more satisfaction than being witness to someone’s moment of realization, that dawning of awareness that brings them closer to discovering who they REALLY are and trusting that truth (also known as the “aha!” moment). All my life, people have been drawn to confide in me, share their stories and seek counsel. I help people connect the seemingly random dots in their lives to form a complete picture that represents their best and brightest lives.
I’ve been through challenges and triumphs, and I have gained strength from every experience (including the good, the bad and the ugly). Through job searches and soul searches, I’ve looked for meaning inside and outside of myself. I never could have predicted the twists and turns my life has taken, and all have made me stronger and more appreciative of the abundance of blessings in my life. I draw on the wisdom and lessons of all of my experiences in each interaction I have with clients.
My favorite places: home sweet home, Traverse City (MI), on a sailboat, on a sandy beach on a warm day, Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, Seattle, Santa Barbara, Chicago, Milwaukee
My favorite books: Man’s Search for Meaning (Frankl), The Robe (Douglas), U2 by U2, Conversations with God (Walsch), Anything by David Sedaris, Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time (Borg), Anything by Harold Kushner, Wherever You Go, There You Are (Kabat-Zinn), A Short Course in Kindness (Forrest), The Year of Living Biblically (Jacobs), New Zealand Prayer Book, Good to Great (Collins), Primal Leadership (Goleman et al), The Onion compilations, Books of sermons by Barbara Brown Taylor
Favorite NPR shows: Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me!, Fresh Air with Terry Gross, Performance Today, Speaking of Faith, All Things Considered, Whad’ya Know?
Where I learned to be a smarty-pants: Most recently, I am a proud graduate of the highly-respected, ICF-accredited inviteCHANGE/Academy for Coach Training in Edmonds, WA. I received my Certified Professional Coach (CPC) designation in November 2009, after 16 months of coursework and professional coaching. I expect to receive my Associate Certified Coach credential from the International Coach Federation in early 2010.
My academic background includes a Bachelor of Music Performance from the University of Louisville; a Master of Music Performance from Northwestern University; and a Master of Arts Administration from Indiana University.
100 Things
1. … for 38 years
2. … in California, Spain, Delaware, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan and Washington – in that order!
3. … with a wonderful man for the past 12 years
4. … in a place others aspire to move to – a resort town in northwest lower Michigan
5. … with lots of cats but never a dog
6. … on friend’s couches for the summer during college
7. … within walking distance of beautiful bodies of water for the past 13 years
8. … mainly within but sometimes slightly beyond my means
9. … without any major illnesses or injuries
10. … outside the box
I have witnessed
11.… a snowstorm in April
12.… someone in pain in the hospital
13.… people laughing uncontrollably
14.… sad goodbyes
15.… a mother-to-be suddenly realize she was really going to be a mom
16.… a young punk dancing down a line of expired parking meters, hitting the free time button for everyone
17.… my cats washing each other
18.… friends struggling with their marriages
19.… enough arrogance to know how ugly it can be
20.… enough love to have hope for our society
I have heard
21.… people I love and admire make glorious music together
22.… sermons that have moved me to tears
23.… U2 live… twice!
24.… too much of the “Law & Order” theme music
25.… my cat talk to me
26.… my name called among the graduates, four times.
27.… that there are two seasons: winter and construction… and I believe it
28.… that we only go around once… and I’m not sure I believe it
29.… a plane break the sound barrier
30.… the real-life sound of a woman being pursued by her abuser
I have lost
31. … my heart to my husband
32.… my fear of commitment to a job
33.… my fear of letting my personality show through
34.… my fear of churches and the people in them
35.… my patience more than once
36.… control of a car in the rain (three times)
37.… my sense of direction (a zillion times)
38.… the impulse to overanalyze everything
39.… my fear of parties and social events
40.… the need to always be right
I have found
41.… that I have a wide range of interests and talents
42.… it’s more fun being married than single
43.… what I need in a career and work environment
44. … fabulous friends
45. … it’s more fun to give than to receive
46.… it’s hard to lose weight
47. … that painting a room can transform it
48. … not to be afraid of bright colors and wearing pink and red together
49. … that I can sail
50. … a church that I love
I love
51. … my husband
52. … where I live
53. … my job
54. … music, art, modern dance, people of all ages being creative
55. … a good beach read
56. … grilling out steaks
57. … animals, especially cats and lab puppies
58. … sailing on a beautiful summer day
59. … napping on our couch with the windows open, late on a sunny afternoon
60. … Gerber daisies and tulips
I can
61. … survive on my own
62. … make killer guacamole
63. … write
64. … sleep for hours
65. … play the clarinet
66. … conduct
67. … be the center of attention AND a wallflower, all in the same party
68. … still recite the opening from the Canterbury Tales, memorized in 12th grade
69. … ask good questions
70. … imagine a better world
I loath
71. … martyrs in the modern-day, negative sense
72. … racism, sexism and homophobia… basically, intolerance
73. … name-dropping
74. … bad grammar (for goodness sakes, learn the difference between it’s and its!!!)
75. … gratuitous violence in movies and on television
76. … hypocrisy
77. … dishonesty
78. … the label “secular liberals”
79. … arrogance, rudeness and passive-aggressive behavior
80. … port-a-potties in September
I hope
81. … that people can overcome their fear (of another’s religion, lifestyle, beliefs, etc)
82. … that the war ends very soon.
83. … that people will listen more and talk less
84. … that my husband and I grow very old together
85. … that I get to see more of this world
86. … that I learn from my mistakes
87. … to write a book someday
88. … that people know I love them
89. … that every person who wants to can get a good education
90. … to become more daring and loving as I evolve
I am trying
91. … to be the best person I can be
92. … to be kind
93. … to be true to myself
94. … to walk the talk
95. … to be the best coach I can be for my clients
96. … to be a good, dependable friend
97. … to continuously learn more about who I am and what I’m capable of
98. … to live with integrity and intention
99. … to balance time as a human “being” with human “doing”
100. to be part of the solution, not the problem