by Carol deLaski | Feb 27, 2013 | Health, Laura Hall
How did you play as a child? How do you play as an adult? Those were the questions posed to me earlier today in my spiritual study group. We are studying a book called, A Hidden Wholeness, The Journey Toward and Undivided Life” by Parker Palmer. We are into the third chapter, and so far, I’m really enjoying the book.
These questions got me thinking about fun and play and what role they had in my life when I was a child, as well as what role they have in my life as an adult. My childhood was full of fun and play. I always lived in a neighborhood that was teeming with other kids. Some of my memories include playing jacks with my next door neighbor, Vicky, getting a group together to play kick the can, jumping rope to singsong tunes, or just laying in the grass and playing the cloud game where we would find animal shapes among the clouds.
As an adult, I continue to make a point of bringing fun and play into my life. I’ve found a really fun gym where I work out regularly with a bunch of playful women and a few men, I take time to have creative fun with scrapbooking, at least once a quarter my daughter and I host a game night with family friends (right now our favorite game is Telestrations), twice a year I take a weekend away with my close friends, and I lead as well as participate in workshops that inspire and uplift me. All of these things constitute fun and play for me.
Fun and play are important because they are part of living a well rounded life. There is more and more research coming out about the benefits of play, which include, but aren’t limited to stress reduction, increased problem solving abilities, increased longevity, connection to others, and increased energy. With benefits like these I’m sure you are probably asking yourself why you aren’t playing more in your life.
How do you have fun and play?
If you are looking for something fun to do next Friday evening, consider joining me and some of your other Wholistic Woman friends at Frederick’s International Women’s Day Celebration. Details can be found at https://wholisticwomenliving.com/ai1ec_event/international-womens-day/?instance_id=230
Today’s author: Laura Hall is an iPEC certified life coach who believes every woman deserves a coach. She offers both one on one as well as group coaching services. She can be reached at [email protected] or check out her website at www.hallcoaching.com
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by Carol deLaski | Sep 6, 2012 | Business, Children, Family, Finances, Fitness, Health, Laura Hall, Nutrition, Success
I am so excited to be giving you a little preview of one of the upcoming workshops being presented by Lisa DiSciullo and myself at the upcoming Wholistic Woman Retreat! We’ve titled it, “Spark a Wholehearted Life” and it’s being based around the work of Brene Brown. I first learned about Brene Brown after watching one of her TED talks http://home/wholisu6/dev.wholisticwomanretreats.com.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.html and if you haven’t seen this, I highly recommend it. Her work has given me permission to be perfectly imperfect and as a “recovering perfectionist” this is just the permission I’ve been waiting for.
Wholehearted living is about recognizing your worthiness, that you already are enough, and then living from that place in harmony with your perceived imperfections. It’s about turning inward and acknowledging what is true for you and embracing that. It’s about letting go of allowing other people to dictate who or what you are supposed to be, and choosing your authentic truth, and then being courageous enough to stand up and say this is the real me. I’m done pretending to be something I’m not. I’m done trying to live up to unrealistic expectation. I’m done living by someone else’s rules for me. Here I am world, vulnerabilities and all! It’s not easy, but as someone who has been practicing this, I promise you, it has been well worth it!
Of course, this is life, and life is sometimes messy, so of course there are things that can get in the way of living a wholehearted life. Some days are better than others, but knowing what the potential road blocks are, allows us options, or detours, around these potential pitfalls. And on the positive side, there are also daily habits you can create that will assist you in wholehearted living. We will be looking at both of these aspects.
If this piqued your curiosity, if this leaves you wondering how effectively you are living a wholehearted life, if this has your imagination soaring about what would be possible if you started living life on your own terms, then please join us!
So, what are you doing September 28th and 29th? If you’d like to join us at the retreat, sign up TODAY as space is limited. You can do this at wholisticwomanretreats.com
Here’s to changing the world, one wholehearted life at a time!
Laura
Today’s author: Laura Hall is an iPEC certified life coach who believes every woman deserves a coach. She offers both one on one as well as group coaching services. She can be reached at [email protected] or check out her website at http://home/wholisu6/dev.wholisticwomanretreats.com.hallcoaching.com/.
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by Carol deLaski | Aug 19, 2012 | Business, Children, Family, Finances, Fitness, Health, Linda Norris, Nutrition, Success
What a way to get out of my own head!!
Wwwhhheeee!!! Flying down a zip line, through the trees, on a 90-degree summer evening and feeling the wind—I could even feel it through my tennis shoes as my feet dangled down in the breeze. Now if that doesn’t clear the cobwebs out of your head from a day of sitting in the office, nothing will.
I loved the chance to do this Zip and Sip (of course we had to celebrate with wine and picnic dinners afterward) with other wholistic women on Tuesday, July 17th. I like hanging out with these ladies–not only the life coaches, who are the glue that holds the Wholistic Community together, but the women they draw to them.
I’m not a coach, even though I spend a lot of time with them. I’m like the rest of you: worried about your kids, your job, your husband, your health, your Mom’s doctors appointment, your son’s new girlfriend….you name it, and you’re taking it on, just like me. Personally, its my kids, my work, my hot fla……..well….we won’t get too personal but you get the drift.
Yet when I get together with this group of women, its like a book club, a baby shower, a business meeting—–all wrapped into one. It gets me away from my worries and allows me to relax, yet at the same time, if one of my worries is on my heart and I feel an affinity with the woman I happen to be laughing with, its ok to share a worry–not only OK, but release. Because the women drawn to our group are non-judgmental, good listeners, and will always share some perspective they’ve experienced that relates to my problem—-and I feel so much less alone!
As you look at this Zip Line video, you know now why I come to these social events put on by Wholistic Woman Retreats–not just the weekend retreats, which are a double- or triple-dose of what I enjoy, but the socials, workshops and other things we’ve done. Its a space to work things out for myself, but supported by other women who have the same worries. Let me know with your comments if you feel the same way!
Linda Norris, NW Communications lind[email protected] 240-315-8876
Check out our new website: www.nwcommsyourstory.com
FB: www.facebook.com/nwcomms
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by Carol deLaski | Jul 12, 2012 | Business, Carol deLaski, Family, Health
“Why do you retreat?” a young woman asked me recently. My eyes lit with delight at the opportunity to talk about one of my favorite topics. “Retreats are wonderful experiences where we take time away from our day-to-day lives to relax, gain new perspectives, and have fun!” I explained. “They offer us the opportunity to learn new skills or perhaps remember ones we have forgotten and want to start again. Most retreats offer time of solitude as well as time for fellowship with others. They provide chances to reconnect with your Self and with other wise women. It’s a magical combination of individual and collective relationship building.”
To be honest, I have always loved retreats. My interest in them sprouted from family camping trips I experienced as a child. Time spent in the woods, away from the comfort of home with my large family formed lasting bonds and memories. Not only did I enjoy the time with my siblings and parents, I also benefited from being in nature. Camping made it clear what was most important: to stay fed, dry, and physically comfortable. Spending time in the woods presented the opportunity to witness God’s creation up close and personal. It was good for my heart and soul to escape to the woods with my loved ones. I came home dirty and ready for a hot shower but also reconnected to an inner sense of simplicity and priorities.
Those memories led me to help organize family retreats for my church when my children were young. We would travel to the Eastern Shore of Maryland with other families where we would stay in cabins on the water’s edge. Both structured and unstructured time allowed multiple generations to interact in fun, educational, and spiritually nurturing experiences. More lasting memories were made over many years as we continued a tradition of retreating to the Shore.
These experiences made me a firm believer in the benefits of retreating and led to the formation of ‘Wholistic Woman Retreats’ in order to provide nurturing experiences for women. Gone are the days of roughing it, though! Our retreats are physically comfortable while at the same time they encourage participants to step out of their comfort zone in order to experience growth. We don’t develop without some degree of discomfort. Our goal is to balance your comfort with experiences that stretch you to try something new such as reflexology, acupuncture, creating a vision board, or engaging in a discussion about a new skill you’re learning. We meet you where you are and move forward with you in the direction you want to go. We want you to come away from our retreats feeling refreshed, inspired, and supported in your new endeavors.
Who comes to our retreats? They are designed with the busy woman in mind. The truth is we each have a lot going on in our active lives. We accomplish a great deal for our employers, families, and our community. It’s been said if you want to get something done, give it to a busy woman! We are experts at juggling multiple demands and handling them well (for the most part…no one’s perfect, after all).
What we need, though, is time that is for us. Time to stop being busy and to refresh ourselves with laughter, healthy food, gentle movement, positive information and skill building. We provide busy women with time to receive (instead of give); time to recharge your batteries before you return to the demands of your busy life.
Everything that Wholistic Woman Retreats offers is a retreat for your mind, body, heart and spirit. Whether it’s an evening retreat, a tele-retreat, a one-on-one retreat, or a weekend retreat, we want to provide experiences that are enriching, fun, and supportive. I invite you to join us forthis fall’s ‘Ignite Your Spark’ Wholistic Woman Retreat. Reclaim your strength, peace, and direction with us this fall. You’ll return to your life well rested, inspired and re-energized for the activities you’re most passionate about.
Details: for more information go to www.wholisticwomanretreats.com; Early bird registration ends on 7/31 so sign up now to receive a $25 discount*. All early registrants are entered into a Spa Package giveaway; so don’t delay!
**easy payment options are available.
Author: Carol Hayes, [email protected] or 301-371-7460
Through her company, Clear Choices Coaching, Carol shares her expertise and skill fostering growth in people of all ages. She is especially energized when her coaching helps people experience “breakthrough” moments where they push through their personal edge and grow more fully into the people they want to be. Carol’s certification as a Life and Energy Leadership coach comes from The Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (IPEC), which is accredited by the International Coaching Federation. She is also a dynamic speaker and workshop leader who facilitates energizing connections with groups of all sizes.
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by Carol deLaski | Jul 7, 2012 | Business, Fitness, Health, Linda Norris, Success
Years ago, I participated for a short while in a group to ease a bout with panic disorder. It was called Co-Dependents Anonymous, and one of their signature themes was the statement above, among the familiar 10-step process.
It was a real challenge for me, because I tend to hold onto my life tightly, certain that if I work hard enough, try hard enough, manage things closely enough, everything will turn out OK.
Yet there are times when I have to push myself to just trust, and close my eyes, and undoubtedly, good things will happen.
- Despite closing my heart and feeling I would never truly fall in love after my first marriage ended in divorce, I decided to let go and trust that good things might be allowed to happen for me, and with a wonderful man I met named Eric. I am now married and in love in a way I never dreamed I could be.
- After I was laid off from a job and a company I loved, I let go and refused to allow myself to fall into the despair that is so easy and normal for people who lose their job through no fault of their own. I consciously decided to let go of the anger, the self-victimization, and was able to progress immediately into positive space—job interviews, first clients, and a business that is slowly but steadily growing.
There’s another kind of letting go that made me mull over these control issues. It’s the physical letting go of fear when you’re faced with a more “in your face” challenge—and we have the perfect example available to all of us wholistic women this month, skimming down a zip line. I had only done one short zipline on a Girl Scout challenge course before the lengthy zipline we did at the 2011 retreat, which allowed us to fly down a hill and brush over a small lake.
Taking that first step off the platform was the scariest part, but I closed my eyes, Let Go, and Let God. And She came through—what a ride it was, and Her hands —in the form of the half-dozen other women waiting to help break my landing—were waiting to congratulate me! (You can see me near the end of my ride in the photo).
If you want to have a very real experience with Letting Go and Letting Your Self Control give over to something greater, consider our summer activity. It will expand your possibilities in ways you will always remember!
(For more info on the event, visit here: https://wholisticwomenliving.com/zip-into-summer-zipline-event/)
Linda Norris, NW Communications
[email protected]
240-315-8876
Check out our new website: www.nwcommsyourstory.com
FB: www.facebook.com/nwcomms
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by Carol deLaski | Jun 26, 2012 | Fitness, Health, Nutrition, Sandie Lynch
Have you or heard a friend say, “I just can’t lose weight!” Most likely a more accurate statement may be “I just can’t keep off the weight I’ve lost.” Almost everyone who tries to lose weight can, but after the diet and/or exercise program they were following ends, the weight creeps back on twice as fast as they lost it. How do some people lose it and keep it off? Here are a few tips if applied consistently helps keep the weight off for good.
- Starting your day with a balanced breakfast. When we sleep our metabolism slows way down. If you tend to go most of the day without eating, you are losing precious hours that your metabolism could be much higher. Those who eat a balanced breakfast within an hour of rising burn more fat in the hours that follow then those who don’t eat or eat just starch alone. A balanced breakfast may include; some whole grain cereal, low fat milk, maybe some walnuts on the cereal and a little protein like an egg or peanut butter toast So eat up and burn more fat!
- Eating extra snacks may help you stick to the plan. Avoiding the hunger gremlin is one of the best ways to prevent sabotaging your efforts. Often individuals are “too good;” not snacking all day. So when they finally eat, being starved, they over do it; overloading the system and creating a fat building situation. The very last thing we want! Eating small frequent meals and snacks helps the body and mind stay in control!
- Cleanse the body naturally without the need to “detox” it. The body is extremely efficient in removing waste and eliminating it. Eating foods that are naturally high in water and fiber assists the body be more effective in the natural cleansing it does every day without the need to go on a diet that eliminates healthy foods to “detox” it. Eating high fat and processed foods slow you down and are slower to move through the digestive system making you feel heavier and slow. Therefore, eat high fiber and water content foods for normal and regular elimination, this will help you feel lighter and more energized to live an active life which will help keep the weight off
Today’s author: Sandie Lynch MS, RD, LDN, PFT, Registered Dietitian, Personal Trainer, and Wellness Life Coach. For more tips to maximize your metabolism and burn more fat for good, attend Wellness Workshops in the area by ATP Consultants, LLC with Sandie Lynch. Don’t miss Sandie’s next workshop sponsored by KRB Customized Training Solution’s BYOB at the Wine Kitchen in Frederick, Maryland June 27that 5:00 pm.
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