Blog Posts

Gardening Transformation

6/4/2019

It's been a year since I bought my wonderful, old Victorian home with the vision of turning it into a retreat center. As you can imagine, the project list is a mile long ... but it is happening! Ripple on Silver Lake is coming alive! I move into each day with the intention that I will have the support I need, the money I need and the motivation I need to continue moving towards my vision. And the Universe just keeps surprising me.

Last week, as I chipped away at my list of things to do for the upcoming Open House that is happening on June 22-23, I went out to look at the garden beds on the front and side of the house. The lawn had invaded both beds and the perennials had been overtaken. It was a mess. I am not a gardener ... nor did I even know how to begin tackling this project. I put it out to the cosmos that help would show up and I asked around for advice on how to approach the project.

In the meantime, I've begun teaching classes in the barn that I've turned into a lovely training room. A couple of weeks ago I taught a class on Manifesting Magic with the Law of Attraction. At the end of the class, a woman came up to me and told me that she would like to help me rehab my gardens. She loved the property and felt drawn to make the offer to help me.

And then I didn't hear from her.

Two weeks later I went to a yard sale on Friday that was a fundraiser for a local nonprofit. I found an edger for $3. I didn't even really know how to use an edger, but felt drawn to buy it. One of my gardening friends who gave me advice on my garden project told me that I should start with an edger to set the line for the bed. So $3.00 later I was ready to start tackling the bed. I was running out of time to get the beds in shape in time for the Open House and decided to start rehabbing the beds the next day.

The next morning, just as I was getting dressed to head outside the woman from class texted me and told me she had some time available to help me and wondered if she could come over and to work on the beds. I told her I was just about to head out. She showed up. Four hours later, both beds were back to plantable soil, the grass was gone and the perennials could breathe again.

She was amazing. And clearly she loved her work. And I totally enjoyed our conversation as we cut out the grass and restored the beds. She refused compensation but accepted my invitation to grab a bite in exchange for her time. She agreed and our conversation continued.

I asked her why she reached out to me and offered to help. She told me she felt drawn by something beyond her that she didn't quite understand. She told me that since she took my Manifesting Magic class she was trying to act on that sense and pay attention to the things that often went unnoticed. We continued to chat over our meal. She was clearly in transition, cleary open, cleary ready.

My mind wandered to when I was in that state. That was the summer of 2010 when I connected to the Success Principles, got introduced to the Law of Attraction and attended Breakthrough to Success. That was the year I got clarity. That was the year my life transformed and I got on the path to living with passion and purpose.

I drifted back to the conversation as she was talking about needing to find clarity in some of the unknown. And then it hit me. Breakthrough to Success! I now work for Jack Canfield and I have access to BTS tickets for the weeks of service. I had an unused ticket. In the moment I felt inspired to offer it to her. And I did.

At first she told me that she didn't know how she would pay for the airfare and the lodging. But she stopped mid-sentence and acknowledged the goosebumps she had on her arms. "You taught me to pay attention to the goosebumps," she said.
"Where is BTS held?", she asked. "Scottsdale, AZ," I replied. "My daughter lives in Phoenix. I have a plane ticket to go see her in the fall. Perhaps I can change the dates!" she exclaimed.

By the time we got our check, she had a plan. She will be at BTS. And she insists on helping me maintain my gardens in exchange for the BTS experience. Win-win all around.

I love how the Universe works when I get out of it's way. I love how things simply flow in perfect timing with a wonderful display of magic that we could never orchestrate on our own.

Don't forget ... pay attention when the goosebump happen. They mean that magic is flowing ...

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Simple Joy

5/9/2019

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I just returned from California where I was leading Jack Canfield's Success Principles Train the Trainer assisting team. As he was signing books for participants, we chatted about what was new and good. He asked me about my new retreat center, Ripple on Silver Lake. Apparently his wife Inga saw something I posted on Facebook about manifesting the property and brought it to Jack's attention. I fondly call the property "The House that Jack Built" because I manifested it using the principles he taught me. He asked me to write the story of how I manifested the property for a book he's working on.

Last night a conversation with a friend about shifting perspective reminded me of how inherent the manifesting process has become for me and how much I have learned about creating my best life over the past nine years. Lately I've been feeling inspired to share the process with others and clearly the Universe is supporting this!

This morning, as I reflect on my week in the training room with Jack and settle in to write the story of how I manifested this property, Facebook memories pops up with a notification from a year ago reminding me of the very foundation of manifesting magic. I think it's time to start sharing! For my first blog post, I'd like to talk about a simple three letter word that plays a huge role in the process of manifesting amazing things.

Joy.

Consider completing this assignment to increase joy in your life today:

1) Brainstorm a list of 25 things that bring you joy.

2) Pick one of those things and do it right now! Yes! Right now.

Keep it simple. Very simple. For me, this morning it is simply reaching out to pet my cat. She purrs in response. While I write this Leah settles in alongside me for a nap, still purring. And my heart beats happy.

I punctuate the joy I'm feeling by looking up and taking a moment to simply look out the window. Spring is springing in New Hampshire and just seeing the color of the buds about to burst amplifies the joy I feel from my cat purring.

Two minutes of joy. Actually two minutes and two seconds, for as I look out at the buds, a bird flies from the tree and out of sight. And Leah settles in beside me, still purring.

Now is the perfect time to take another minute to close my eyes and visualize what I'd like to manifest ...

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Love Trumps Fear

4/20/2019

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After several weeks of disturbing social media threads full of fear and hate and judgment, along with some powerful feelings about what's been happening in our government and several conversations with clients, colleagues and friends about how to cope with the stress many of us are feeling from the constant barrage of negativity and fear, I had to stop, unplug, get quiet and spend some time reflecting on my own feelings and find a way to find some balance and make peace with all that's going on.

Here's what I'm noticing:

I am holding out for the bright spot in all that is going on in our country. I see and feel glimmers of hope in the midst of the fear and angst. I am witnessing a surge of empowerment beyond anything I can recall in my lifetime.

People are engaging in conversations that, up until now, have been avoided, discouraged and even suppressed for fear of judgment. Those conversations are resulting in connections that were never before explored and forming support systems that have never been in place. The old adage, “Silence is golden,” is being blown apart and people are standing up and speaking out about the issues that are important to them. Profound growth and expanded awareness is happening.

People are seeking balance, peace, understanding and consensus, which is leading to people setting boundaries. Clear, strong, healthy boundaries. On social media. In classrooms. In personal relationships.

People are seeking counsel, standing up and taking bold actions on behalf of their beliefs and in support of basic human rights and, in my opinion, the most important premise of the constitution ... that all men are created equal.

The struggle is real. The challenge to maintain balance and peace of mind through all of this is something many of us are struggling with. For me, it’s necessary to strive for that balance so I stay emotionally healthy myself and am able to continue to support others in my work. If I succumb to fear and overwhelm, I am ineffective. If I allow myself to become surrounded by the fear that others project, I shrink and become disempowered. And if I don't practice intentional self-care, I am not able to show up and serve how, when and where I am called to do so.

I've been reflecting back to my pharmacy practice days, in search for a prescription or a cure for those of us struggling to stay strong and healthy through what seems like has become a long, difficult and endless journey.

The truth is, there is no pill. No tincture. No quick fix. Nothing outside of us. The truth is that we already have what we need. It is within each of us. We just have to access it, activate it and live it. And if we can't get there ourselves, we have to reach out to each other for help. Our future depends on how we choose to move forward.

Here is my prescription:

Focus on gratitude and the miracles we can find in the moments.
Eat well and stay hydrated.
Get your rest.
Turn off the noise and get quiet.
Meditate.
Hang out with animals and spend time in nature. (they vibrate on a level that calms, soothes and heals)
Choose your sources wisely.
Limit your screen time.
Pay attention to when you allow the media in. Avoid early morning and right before you go to bed. We need our subconscious brain time to rejuvenate.
Take care of each other.
Find joy in the simple things.
Ask for help when you get overwhelmed.
Speak your mind when you feel inspired to do so.
Avoid engaging when such engagement will only drain you.
When you do engage, be thoughtful, respectful and intentional.
Focus on those connections that inspire you. Not the ones that expire you.
Be kind.
Give and get some hugs.
Let the tears flow as necessary.
Visualize a unified world like a matrix surrounded by light and healing energy.
And remember that it is possible and most important to send love into the world, even if you don't agree with what’s happening.

What if this period of darkness and divide is actually a gift to humanity? What if it's something to actually feel grateful for? What if this is exactly what we need to move us forward to a better place in unity? What if this is meant for us to reach out and have difficult conversations so as to better understand each other and set clear and healthy boundaries?

Science has proven that united we are a powerful force and that love and gratitude vibrates way higher than fear. What if this is the beginning of a whole new era? One where complacency has no place and empowered individuals stand up for themselves. What if we stand together in unity fully embracing the fact that love and compassion trump hate and fear ... and that, in truth, we are all one? Connected on a deep level by love.

Yesterday as I was doing errands, I turned the corner at the end of the store aisle and came face to face with a beautiful little girl with an angelic face and crystal clear blue eyes. We locked gazes for a moment. She had my mother's eyes. She smiled at me and reached her two arms towards me to give me a hug. I was stunned. And in that moment, that little girl brought me back to what it's really all about. To the last words my Mom said to me before she slipped away from this life. To the only thing that's really important. Only love.

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From Ice and Snow to Unexpected Inspiration

4/16/2019

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It's was a gloomy, black, white and gray sort of day in Silver Lake, NH. There is still snow on the ground. I spent the afternoon inside the training barn assembling bistro tables for the sunset deck for when the snow melts.

FedEx delivered six huge corrugated cardboard boxes, each containing the pieces and parts, screws and tools needed to assemble the sets ... and a whole lot of packing material. And I am ready to be outside so I thought, why not assemble these today and get ready for spring!

My brain tends to lean towards productivity. Before I start a project, it asks, "what is the goal and what is the most organized way to get to the goal?" There is something about being organized that clears my head for the other more interesting and inspiring thoughts that want to float through.

One by one, I unpacked the boxes separating out the packing materials into recycling containers. I laid out all the table tops upside down on the floor in a circle with space for me eventually sit in the middle to make assembling each set more efficiently. On top of each table top I lined up the foundation and placed a set of screws on the underside of each table. I stacked up the chairs against the wall (no assembly necessary) and one by one, cut them out of their packing material, discarding and recycling as necessary. I piled up the empty boxes, recycling containers and trash bags in the corner of the barn to free up space and make it easier to load up for removal later.

I got down on the floor and began to assemble the tables. As I finished each table, I turned up upright. I couldn't resist getting up and adding two chairs to the first table to see what it looked like. And then another and another ...

And then it happened. Suddenly I found myself immersed in scenes of wine and cheese receptions with candles over sunset. I imagined a group of students enjoying a break from our workshop outside on the deck overlooking Mount Chocorua and Forrest Brook. I imagined morning coffee on the deck as participants prepared for their day of transformational work. And even a small wedding reception!

I looked out and noticed that sunset was happening over the deck outside the barn. As I looked out at the sunset, I noticed that the deck still had a good amount of snow and ice that needs to melt before the tables can go out. Big sigh. Even the sunset was a bit stark; mostly black and white with only the slightest touch of pink to remind me that more warm and colorful days are coming..

Six tables and twelve chairs completed. I felt a nudge to set one of the tables up with one of those sweet April Cornell tablecloths I got on closeout last year when I had first starting visualizing summer events on the deck. Adorable. I was inspired to set up the rest of the tables around the barn. I had never thought about setting them up in the barn, but I quickly began to visualize receptions for local artists and book signings for authors. I looked around the room and noticed that six wasn't enough. I need eight. I took my computer and sat at one of the tables (the one with the sweet tablecloth) and went online and ordered two more sets. They were on closeout for a great price!

I looked around and imagined an internet cafe as right now I am sitting at a bistro table sipping tea while answering some emails and making this post! Or perhaps a make your own sundae bar event as a way to wrap up a workshop. The ideas simply flowed.

It's so fun to live life and approach work in a way that frees up the conscious brain and allows the heart to engage. In my experience, that place and that energetic vibration is where joy lives and where imagination and creativity flow, which allows inspiration to emerge. And that is where the magic of manifestation lives.

Now to get back to preparing slides for my upcoming Manifesting Magic workshopand perhaps putting together a price list for people who want to rent the property for their own events! And then I need to move the bistro sets out of the barn and to the shed in time for yoga class until I can break them out to get ready for our Ripple on Silver Lake Open House.

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How Do You Measure a Year

4/14/2019

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A year ago today I found out that my mortgage for my dream property was approved. Facebook memories reminded me. It was also the day that my Dad's spirit came back after he had been hanging out on death's door for awhile. It was the day after my brother Kevin lost his battle to cancer and six months to the day that my Mom died. Dad had emergency open heart surgery that ended up in cardiac arrest and began a long and difficult six month journey back to health. Way too much! As I look back there are hardly words to describe everything that was happening and how I got through it. Well, maybe one word ...

Here's the post Facebook Memories showed me this morning:

April 14, 2018 at 8:08 PM, Bradenton FL

Dad's spirit is back! He is awake, alert, medically stable and responding well to everything he is being asked to do so he can finally move on to the next step in the rehab process. It is so good to look into his eyes and know it's really him looking back at me as he squeezes my hand to let me know he's really there. He can't talk yet with his trach, but soon ... really soon.

It's been a long and difficult year for me and my family. Watching my Mom slip away was difficult. Losing my brother Kevin, way too young, was way too much. Sitting at my Dad's bedside in Florida not knowing if he would pull through at the same time the rest of my family was saying goodbye to my brother was just crazy. At the same time, it's been a year full of insights, awareness, growth and transformation ... within each of us and all around us.

As I look back over my experience and reflect on how I survived it all, I realize that I have a powerful set of foundational tools and an amazing network of people supporting me. I am inspired now, more than ever, to share those tools with others as I fully embrace the role they play in my life today. I've had an amazing opportunity to get some pretty high level coaching with Jack Canfield, his team and a wonderful group of people who helped me sort out and map out the next steps in my journey. Jack was standing with me in the moment I gave consent for my Dad's doctor to perform surgery that gave us the last chance for my Dad to come back from his medically induced coma and hooked up to a ventilator.

So many thoughts and ideas flowing right now.

In this instant, the most exciting news right now is this. For those of you who have heard me talk about my dream of opening a retreat center, I just got word that my mortgage for the property I live in was approved. It is the ideal location at exactly the right time. Through all the challenges, this miracle emerged at exactly the perfect time in ways I never could have imagined. I never would have seen the house deal unfolding in the midst of the crisis and chaos if I had not had the foundation upon which I live my life today.

In the perfection, the duality in all of this is profound. It brings me to the question "what's good and what's bad?" From my perspective, it's all one. Just as we are all one. All opportunities to learn and grow and heal and transform fear to love, and ultimately, when we are ready, to serve.

Today Dad is back on the golf course. When I talked to him this morning. I could hear the excitement in his voice when he told me that he's back on the golf course and that he just got word that he qualified for the River Isles Annual Golf Tournament. And he could hear the excitement in my voice as I told him I was putting together my event schedule and business plan for Ripple on Silver Lake. Both of us expressed our gratitude with each other as we reflected back over the year. The miracles. The challenges. The connections. The magic. The love. As I hung up the phone my thoughts led me to on of my favorite songs about life and love. How do you measure a year in the life ... ?

Seasons of Love from Rent (Original Cast Recording/1996)
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee
In inches, in miles. in laughter, in strife?
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure a year in the life?

How about love?
Measure in love ...

Seasons of Love
~Donny Osmond

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What Would Your Life Be Like If ...

4/4/2019

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Jim Rohn says, “You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself.”

Are you happy with your life? Your work? Your relationships? Your financial situation? Your living environment? Most of us have some things about our life that we’re not happy with. Often we fall into the trap of blaming external causes for why we’re not happy and successful.

I am surrounded by adults who aren’t satisfied with their jobs while blaming the economy for forcing them to stay, or their bosses for their work environment when, in fact, they are choosing to stay and aren’t doing anything to either make their work environment more pleasant or shift their perspective.

Many people I know aren’t happy in their relationships, yet they would rather blame their partners for their unhappiness then take action to change what needs to be changed.

I work with teenagers around pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease (STD) prevention, substance use and academic success. When getting the news of an unintended pregnancy or STD, teens have blamed the condom company for making a cheap product or their partner for not using condoms. One teen even blamed her situation on her parents, stating that they wouldn’t let her go on birth control so that’s why she got pregnant.

I once had a student tell me it was my fault he couldn’t graduate despite the fact that he chose to reject every opportunity I gave him to make up his assignments and missed classes.

Jack Canfield, author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul Series and The Success Principles, refers to blaming and complaining as “having a reference point of something we prefer that we are not willing to risk creating”. He goes on to suggest we consider the following formula:

E + R = O

E stands for all the “Events” in our lives.
R stands for our “Responses” to those events.
O stands for the “ Outcomes” we experience.

Jack teaches that the outcomes we are experiencing in our lives are the result of our responses to the events that are occurring. He further suggests that we don’t have control over the circumstances and events that show up in our lives, nor can we control the behavior of the people in our lives. For example, we can’t control our bosses, our spouses, and the economy.

However, we do have control over responses. The thoughts we think, the choices we make and the actions we take in response to the events. In fact, our “R’s” are really the only thing we can control. And so by changing our responses to the events that happen in our lives we can create better outcomes.

So let’s be honest, taking a full 100% responsibility for everything in our lives can be difficult and feel overwhelming, especially to start. So how about taking 5% more responsibility to start?

Activity
Get pen and paper or power up your laptop and complete each of the following statements:

“If I were to take 5% more responsibility for my life and well-being, I would …”
“If I were to take 5% more responsibility for living my passion, I would … “
“If I were to take 5% more responsibility for the attainment of my goals, I would …”
“If I would take 5% more responsibility for the success of my relationships, I would …”

If you really want to make lasting changes, improve your self-esteem, and increase success in your life, take it one step further than this activity and consider joining my Take Back Control of Your Life 14 Day Challenge. It's a simple, powerful and FREE way to get started on your way to creating the outcomes you want in your life. The 14 Day Challenge takes place in a private Facebook group. I promise it will be worth the little bit of time and effort you put into it and you'll be pleased with the results that you'll see as you begin to remove some of the blocks that have been standing in your way of success, happiness and fulfillment.

Sign up here to get your name added to our email list and you'll be notified of our next 14 Day Challenge.

Gardening Transformation

Simple Joy

Love Trumps Fear

From Ice and Snow to Unexpected Inspiration

How Do You Measure a Year

What Would Your Life Be Like If ...

Manifesting Magic with the Law of Attraction

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