Remembrance of Things Past

So it's that time of year again when we look back and remember those who gave so much to enable us to be where we are today. As I watched the Memorial Service yesterday, I had a vivid flashback to my days as a child when Dad used to make us watch the same service. On a black and white TV, I recollect grainy images of old men and women walking solemnly past the Cenotaph, and Dad telling me that I had to be very grateful because they had been through so much to give us freedom... and I didn't really know what he meant by freedom, just knew it must be important.

Dad was in the Navy at the end of WW2 and spoke, with great warmth, of the comradeship and spirit that was so much a part of that time. My brother was in the RAF and posted to Ireland and he also refers to the sense of working together and the knowledge that life was precious - to all involved.

And another memory came back, of a man called Alan, who ran the sweetshop in Southport near my Grandma's. His face was dreadfully scarred from burns he had suffered in a fighter plane crash in WW2. We kids were scared of him because he looked so different - and yet he was such a kind man and it must have been very difficult for him to be always having people shy away when they saw his injuries.

And somehow just remembering all this was sort of sad and yet reassuring. The past has a lot to share with us. In these days of fast food, instant gratification and the quick fix - it is worth remembering that some things are worth fighting for, take longer to achieve, but are so worth it all in the long run.

What is worth fighting for in your life?

George Bush and arguments!

Do you have any idea of what most of the financial guys are talking about at the moment? If you do, please let me know. What I did understand was that at in the US last night these really important people in whose hands out future is supposed to be - had a big barney! Not sure how I am supposed to feel about the fact that these guys can't agree on what they are supposed to do to hep us out of this fiscal mess - but it was weirdly reassuring that even they have to resort to playground antics when under pressure.

All I know is that I am determined not to be swept away with too much rhetoric and financial doom and gloom. I am currently reading 'Nella Last's War' written by a Barrow housewife during the second world war. It puts so much into perspective.

We are not being bombed here in Cumbria and the local farmer's market still sells lots of great food to eat - and my son goes to school without fear of attack. So life seems pretty good to me and I hope it is OK with you too.

What do you need to remind yourself of to keep a sense of perspective? Hope you find something uplifting!!

Jelly Beans & perspective

This week I have been arranging things in our new office at Clawthorpe Hall in Cumbria. It is great fun, a bit like playing house, as a client said today. This has included two chairs belonging to my grandmother, a Jelly Bean dispenser, a peace lily (good Feng Shui), lots of compasses which are the Chartwell symbol and some lovely plants outside the window to hide the rather ugly looking fencing and brighten up our outlook.

I don't want to work in the usual office environment which seems rather uncreative and uninspiring. I believe that your workplace can reflect your personality and the ideal that you aspire to in your working life. It is important that my clients feel comfortable when they are having their coaching and that our team is in an inspiring and uplifting place during our working week.

So, the question to you is - what can you do to brighten up your working environment and make it more relaxing/uplifting/comfortable/welcoming or whatever ambiance you want to create?

Falling down ...

Time seems to be speeding up just now and there are not enough hours in the day to get all done that is clamouring for attention. But goodthings are happening and I must keep reminding myself that it is what I asked for some time ago. Work is keeping me fully occupied and home life is busy too. And one of the reasons this has happened is that I fell down - twice, literally, and the metaphorical impact is with me now. As are the bruises!

Just over a week ago I was running downstairs, late for an appointment when I tripped and fell down six stairs. I lay in a heap not wanting to get up, and feeling overwhelmed. I had to give myself a good talking to about not rushing so much and why was I rushing anyway? And an image came into my head of when I worked in Hong Kong, in the busy corporate maelstrom that substitutes for life over there. And I realised that I had to slow down, that I was losing touch with what was important to me.

I had to take a long, hard look at reality and face a few home truths that I didn't want to see. I decided I needed to step back a bit and get that overview that I had lost being caught up in the detail. So I put in place some strategies and emergency measures and other such sensible things to enable us to continue and thought all was OK

Then a few days ago I fell over again (and no wine involved in either case!) and I realised I had simply replaced one set of 'shoulds' for another.... and now I really am taking time out and stepping back - so that I don't fall over.

... and so the question today is - what do you need to step back from, to stop you from falling over?

What a circus!

Well, it's been a real merry-go-round of a time since I last wrote. I have moved into a new office, got a new website, had a great time with old friends from Greece and, maybe most importantly, my son has been to his new secondary school for the first time to see his new classmates and meet his new teacher. All big stuff and I am feeling rather discombobulated by it all!

The new office is a big cause for celebration cos it is in the place I had hoped to go to a year ago but life intervened and now it is really happening, Have you ever had that feeling that life has suddenly moved into another zone - one that you had some choice over but that you had not really any idea where it might take you? That's how it is now ... Great to somewhere new and special and I feel sure it is the beginning of something good and fun but am not quite sure what yet!

The website is still very much a work in progress and really not quite ready for a viewing public - but it is 'live', full of errors and proving the benefit of fallibility as a core value as I need to work lots on it and I can't quite work out how to edit it yet and my designer is on holiday and ...aaaaargh!!! But my need for control and perfection is being challenged and I must just go with the flow til it all comes right.

My son is very happy with his great school and at 11years of age it all before him. And that makes me happier than anything.

At some point I am going to start a new Blog cos I now focus on Leadership so this may be one of the last posts I do on this Lifecoach musings theme, but it won't change too much. Til then - a question for you. What in your life do you really want to do? When are you going to do it? What's stopping you? Don't let that stop you! JDI! Just Do It!

Podcasting advice?

I am in the process of getting a new website designed and facing all the usual angst of what to put on it, how to say it and what I want it to do. A lovely guy called Gavin is doing all the difficult techy stuff and we have big ideas for the future ... but it is the present that is taxing me just now!

We want to include a regular podcast but are not sure how to go about it and whether it is a good idea. I found this great blog www.pbs.org/mediashift/2007/12/post_3.html which seems to sum up the problems facing Podcasters (image from this blog), but if anyone can share their experience of podcasting especially anyone in training or coaching I would really appreciate it. Please email me via the link on the right.

In the meantime, we will persevere and hope that one day in the not too distant future I will be announcing the new website in this very Blog...

Spring bulbs

It's a rather grey, wet and gloomy Saturday morning and the frosty, sunny days of the past couple of weeks are away, leaving a really nice memory of walking in the country wrapped up in scarf, woolly pully and gloves, scraping frost off the windscreen first thing in the morning and the skimpy silhouettes of bare branches outlined against pastel skies.

Suddenly the garden is starting to show real signs of spring growth. Last year I planted loads of bulbs and here they are, peering through the ground, snowdrops and crocuses already showing their delicate little heads, tiny daffs braving the frost and the climbing hydrangea budding wondrously. I am a bit concerned about the glorious camellia bush, which has hundreds of fabulous pink buds ready to come out. The frost may have damaged them, which would be a real shame, as they give a lovely show each March and really cheer up the garden - and me!

February is almost over and we are no doubt in for some more bad weather before March is out - The March wind doth blow and we shall have snow. However, there will also be some lovely days. Make the most of them and always remember that nothing lasts forever- good or bad... And on that profound and philosophical note, I shall end till the next time!

Endings & Beginnings

This image was chosen by A. when I gave him the name of this week's blog. He is into skateboarding and this has some connection with that. There is a tenuous link here as he broke his wrist skateboarding when we were down in Poole last October and we were considering moving there. And last week we decided to not to move there.... for various reasons but all the right ones - I hope!

So that is the end of a dream that has kept me going for some time, and which allowed me to dream big and consider things that I have not thought of at before. But I am a great believer in following your heart and also making the best of things and my heart is telling me that we should stay here - and pursue the dream here in the North West.

So now I am looking at the new opportunities available and the new beginnings that can be made in a place that, until recently, I had seriously considered leaving. And do you know, now that I am looking at things from a different angle, there are more positives than I had seen before, and I am even starting to get excited about life here.

So, my question today is - what ending might you need to face before you can really see the wonder of the new beginnings?

And Happy Valentine's Day if I don't get chance to write again before the 14th February. Did you notice the lovely pink heart in the image above? Lots of love - Zoe

New Year Review

Happy New Year - I really hope it is good one for you and that it brings contentment and fulfilment.

This photo is of the dolphins that A and I swam with almost a year ago and represents the realisation of a long-held dream to visit New Zealand and travel around that lovely country. Swimming with dolphins is something I have wanted to do for years and it was truly memorable. Sometimes it is important to revisit goals and dreams we set in the past and recognise that we can achieve them. It is so easy to just forge ahead and not look back to see just what we have achieved.

So I guess my message this time is to take some time out, look at what you have achieved and celebrate that - before charging ahead to set new dreams and goals. And if you have not achieved something you have set out yet, maybe just think about what you have learnt from simply believing that you could possibly achieve something.

Let go of your fears and embrace your dreams - and if you don't get there, at least you tried.