The Lioness Emerges

What a challenge and invitation this evening was for both myself and my 11 yr old daughter. The primal instinct of wanting to protect my young arose, the lioness emerged, the fire was claimed.

Tonight I was at my mother house for supper. My eldest daughter was playing outside with her friends playing around as 11 and 12 yr old do. My daughter's friend came running to my mothers house out of breath from running over, told me the "crazy" guy across the street was in Jessica's face yelling at her and making her cry. I asked where she was, he said on her way over here (to my mom's) with her 2 girlfriends who were also crying.

The 3 girls arrived and by the state of them I asked them all to come in so I could find out what was going on. The 4 of them told their story of being seen with the "wrong" group of kids and because Jessica was known by this "man" she received his wrath.

Now I can understand being upset and frustrated with vandalism, our own vehicle got broken into 3 weeks ago. Even if our daughter did it (which eyewitnesses say she did not) he has no right to get up in an 11 year old girls face, while she was by herself, and intimidate and threaten her. She had even told the "man" who they felt was responsible. She tried to walk away and saw her girlfriend and called them over to her where this "man" proceeded to yell at all 3 girls.

So I have 3 girls crying in my mothers living room and a boy who is feeling very protective and angry. These kids have not gotten into any trouble before, I for one can vouch for my daughter who often is teased by her peers because of our rules on curfew, phone calls, and not being allowed to go outside after dark, she has also recently won recognition from her school as student of the month for being a "role model" for her peers.

This girl is one who gets worried about her friends / extended family members doing something they shouldn't be an telling me about it (i.e. my mother smoking cigarettes last summer).

So I called Mike and told him about this. I told him the possibility of the police coming (which we were all happy to speak to about the incident, including Jessica). Mike was furious that this "man" got in his daughters face, and I asked that he not say anything until I got home to discuss it.

No such luck. Mike pulled into our driveway and in the mirror saw the 2 "men" coming over to confront him. So Mike took his time and took a few long deep breaths to stabilize himself. Opened the door and the "men" started right away. Mike said "I will talk first" the kept jabbering. He again repeated "I will talk first and if not I am going in my house". They stopped and Mike said "I don't care what happened right now, unless you caught my daughter in the act itself you have NO RIGHT what so ever to confront an 11 year old girl with out her parent there. You can certainly call the police, or wait until me or my wife got home but you are to NEVER approach my daughter again." God I wish I was there.

After we were done eating (at mom's) we came home and engaged in a conversation with Jessica as a family. Eventually the police pulled up at the neighbours house. Mike was outside having a cigarette and the police politely (seeing someone standing around) asked how it was going. Mike said fine until I found out this man confronted my 11 yr old child when she was by herself.

The police engaged with the neighbors then one came over to speak with us. Mike expressed his concerns about the confrontation with Jess, I expressed my concerns over having 3 girls crying in my mothers house. Then we both shut up and allowed Jessica to speak.

Beautiful brave Jessica. Speaking so eloquently from her truth. Bravely standing there engaging in such honest dialogue with this "officer" who kept trying to make her change her story. I sat there, biting my tongue as he kept saying, "that's great Jessica, now I really want you to tell me the truth" over and over again. Saying I'm going to be asking other people you know, are you sure you don't want to add anything. And I felt like screaming at him. How are you guys (the "good" guys) building any sort of rapport when you won't take an 11 year old's statement (5 times over) as fact for her truth. No wonder we become cynical so easily.

My tears are flowing now as I think the thing that is resonating the most is how we doubt our children's truth... yet it is often the most clear out of all the "truths" out there.

Collective Breath

As an individual I have come to discover the importance of breath.

A calming breath. A life sustaining breath. An expanding breath. An inviting breath.

In a breath one can claim back their selves, in a breath information can easily flow, in a breath one can claim back the power they gave away, in a breath your god force can find it's way home.

In a group collective breath takes on a life of it's own.

During my coffee event yesterday the energy in the room was think. The women who showed up were fully present. The conversations in the room were deep and meaningful. Each conversation was somehow relevant. It is a holographic universe, it was relevant to those who felt compelled to show up.

We were all connected in the room. There was one point, one beautiful point that the room moved as each woman breathed as one.

Powerful does not seem to be an expressive enough word to describe the power of that breath... it was extreme, it was amazing... the beauty of collective breath.

Life is indeed good and there is always more...

Invitations All Around Us

Staying Connected. Engaging. Creating. Inviting. Manifesting. Breath. Space. Movement. Flow.

All words that came up for me at some point during today's Coffee, Conversations & Catalysts.

Today's coffee was for me the most intense one yet... and why was it? It was interesting for me to notice as the day approached I realized Celine and Cathy had not yet responded to my invitation.

When I inquired about this, Celine mentioned she may have a prior commitment. I e-mailed Cathy and she said she had a broken arm and was clear that she needed to pay attention to her self.

Oh my, that sent some butterflies to my stomach. My intial feeling was one of fear, then that waved moved completely up. And I became very excited. See although I created and hosted Coffee, Conversations & Catalysts, I very much sat back and allowed Cathy & Celine to take the lead and run the show.

And now the invitation for me to facilitate today's event was exciting and comfortable at the same time. My body knew I was ready to be me and facilitate a fantastic event... (not that I'm bias or anything).

As today came closer I got all of my "details" taken care of. I even printed off my workshop poster to have available although I wasn't sure why.

I arrived today and had the chance to set up before it started. I had just finished the last details when the first people arrived.

Beautiful Leona with her guitar in tow. She was going to decloak to us by way of her spoken word, songs, poetry... invitations.

The time flew by as it often does, yet I feel it was complete, nothing left undone.

Carole brought a quote with her which she read to us. It sent waves of emotion through me.

The conversations that were happening in the room around me all held resonance for me... after all it is a holographic universe right?

And it was done.

On our way out to our cars there is a little shop, a wellness centre. I put down my stuff and went in. It was a small store with essential oils, cards, pendants, reading rooms, etc. As I stood outside the store after I noticed a table that had all kinds of posters, brochures, business cards, etc. I went inside and asked the owner if I could leave my workshop information for her to put out. She agreed. Holographic Universe after all. I brought these posters for a reason. This was it.

So today, the invitations I received were for me to acknowledge and cast away my fears (doubt, incompetence) and trust in myself. Be loyal to myself first and foremost, to wake up each day and acknowledge the god force I know I am. Creating, engaging & staying with it (TRUST).

I'm manifesting big things this year, I am intelligent enough to know what I can and what I can't handle.

Life is good and there is so, SO much more...

3rd Coffee, Conversations and Catalysts

This is a reminder for this Sunday's Coffee, Conversations and Catalysts

When: Sunday, January 21st, 2007 at 2 p.m.
Where: Alderney Gate Library in Dartmouth
2nd Floor Helen Creighton Room
Cost: $3.50 fee to cover costs (any profit will be donated)

I believe there is a possibility of a poetry reading at this Sunday's event, along with great conversations.

From the Mouth of Babes

My 11 year old daughter is almost completed a book report for her grade 6 class. The book she is reporting is called I Hadn't Meant to Tell You This by Jacqueline Woodson.

This book is about racism, abuse and loss. I think these are really great novel for my daughter to be learning about... but something bothers me about her having to report on it. See her book report criteria states she must present a written and oral report of her book. The subjects this book tackles are not easy to talk about in front of peers by an 11 yr old.

My Daughters report deals mostly with the racism aspect of it and how the two girls quickly over come the perceived barrier of the colour of their skin. However the "N" word is used in this book and shows up at the beginning of my daughters report. I understand it is to give context to the meaningful transition to this incredible friendship that is formed between the two main characters, but my hackles are up.

If my daughter is to present this orally to her class, will this cause waves?

Will the students in her class start using that word more than they may already because she was allowed to in her presentation?

Will the students who come from a diverse background be offended or hurt by the use of the word?

Will the students be shocked by the use of the word in class and mention it to their parents out of context?

Most of all will my daughter receive a backlash because of all of these above possibilities?

My primal instinct has kicked in here tonight... wanting to protect my cubs (so to speak). I've written the teacher to express my concerns. My daughter has written a brilliant report and put a lot of hard work into it, but there is still that question... is there maybe some other way to do this? I hope the teacher and my daughter can brainstorm a solution, I am behind her in ultimately what ever she decides.

Maybe there is just some other way to put the first half of her report, one that will still put across the ugliness that is racism... who knows.

This is me tonight... wanting to protect and defend... and making up all kinds of reactions in my head... my concerns may all be for nothing, yet my body is telling me I can't let my concerns go unheard.

Signals/Avatars, Mortality/Immortality

I’m having lots of thoughts this morning about signal # 1 and avatars. These thoughts are coming out in my e-mails to others, and were initially brought up by Louise’s blog entry Addiction and Surrender.

An e-mail conversation with a friend brought up the notions of mortality and immortality into my awareness.

I believe that the god force that we are, our signal # 1, our Spirit, our Energy, our Soul, whatever you might call it, is immortal.

You can see this in different areas of our culture that speak of the afterlife, reincarnation, angels, spirits, and ghosts. It is a common belief in most cultures that when a person dies, their spirit goes else where. Something leaves the body, to do what varies from culture to culture, religion to religion, country to country.

What is interesting to me is that so many of us are taught that this thing (spirit, energy, soul, signal) is separate from us… that is something bestowed upon us by some higher power. That “it” is not us.

This general consensus allows for the victim mentality to come in. This consensus allows for blame to come in. This consensus allows for feelings of helplessness, feelings of loss of control and being at the mercy of “something else”.

What we need to recognize is that our signal, energy, spirit or soul IS us. I am not my body, I am not a victim to circumstances, I am not a victim of my DNA.

I am not a victim of anything, being a victim implies it is someone else who is in control; that is not who I choose to be in my world anymore.

I for years I allowed my culturally conditioned self to believe that I was existing, waiting for the divine plan to be revealed to me so I could have some feeling of worth and meaning to my life. I allowed myself to believe that whatever happens to me, happened for a reason, who am I to question it.

This no longer serves me. I have taken full responsibility and ownership for my life. I know that this body (is like an avatar) is mortal, but who I AM (signal, spirit, energy, soul) is immortal.

I am this force, which does not rely on others to tell me how to live my life. I am this force, which will shape my future. I have the power of choice and I choose in every instant.

I choose therefore I am in control of my SELF. By being aware of my authentic self and living my life as I feel I need to, I can create, I can be present, I can engage in life; a life I find meaningful to me.

This is what this morning brought to me… and there is always more.

Whispers are still Prevalent

I sat down tonight at my computer to start to write an article about single mothers who are on welfare base on my experience of being one.

I have written 1000 words already and I haven't even got to the point of my being a single mother. Obviously my Whispers from Within weren't done whispering. I should have known this.

I have been neglecting the book I am writing about "The Myth of the Intact Family" (my story) and foolishly thought I could dive into writing an article about a topic that hold so much meaning to me.

The 1000 words I have written tonight have everything to do with my book and I need to finish writing these words before I can move into my article.

The whispers are still prevalent and I am not surprised.

The words that are writing themselves on the screen are exactly what need to be written.

These words will allow for me to gain more clarity on my experience. I know by moving through this will allow for my article to be a more powerful invitation for others consider the potential that is out there.

And there is always more...

Dead Horses

I began my day today very agitated, I felt rushed, I felt angry, I felt frustrated, and I was blaming someone else for all of these feelings. On the ferry I began to journal, to write about this and I come to realize I am dragging around a dead horse.

When it comes to being a daughter I still hold certain perceptions of what the “mother/daughter” relationship should be. I hold my mother responsible for some aspects of my life that I would never do to someone else. So when I take away the title of “mom” for just a moment, the anger, frustration and agitation I carried in my body fell away.

I would never dream of relying on say “Jane Doe” to make sure my life runs smoothly. To ensure I get to work on time. So how dare I lay this hang up on my “mom”?

So this whole “mother/daughter” dynamic is a two way street. Who Knew? (Leona maybe)

Sometimes the Mother end of the continuum needs to let go and sometimes the Daughter end of the continuum needs to let go… or perhaps we can just co-exist as human Beings.

Yes, I like number 3 the best. Why not be rid of this dead horse “Parent” once and for all. After all I am 31 years old; I no longer need to be “Mothered”. Just as I am sure my xx year old Mother would be happy to be rid of some of the weight of the dead horse “Child” (who wants a 31 yr old child anyway).

Creativity in Flow

I've been having a fantastic time lately creating with crayons and pastels. I've had so much fun doing this with my kids and encouraging "out of the box" types of art.

For example, my daughter had a friend over to sleep on Saturday night. The two of them were sitting at the table after 10 p.m. doing some pencil games (I assume they are like M.A.S.H. and games like that).

My two year old was complaining of a tummy ache and I had just sat with her for a while until it dissipated. When I came out of the bedroom I wanted to make something. So I took out the pastels and let my hand do whatever felt right.

Well Jessica & her friend decided to draw too. So I encouraged them to draw each other while they were blindfolded. You should see the picture Jessica did; it was truly Picasso-esk. They stayed up for another hour creating mixing colours with their fingers, smudging, and laughing.

We have recently started a wall in our dining area devoted to displaying our creations.

Whether I'm creating with the kids or feel moved to do something on my own when they are all tucked in bed, I am amazed with how it all looks in the morning.

I see metaphors for how my day went or for things that I have been thinking about.

I see how much perceptions and filters come into play when none of us really see the same thing as the other.

I see how we all do this with everything in life. I might perceive an incident or event one way and guaranteed the 5 other people all perceive it differently from the rest.

This is where respecting and listening to others and recognizing their authentic self/voice is so important. If we don't share the same perspective or view on an issue, it's not wrong, it's just different. If we were all to remember this as we go on through our day to day business, there would certainly be less grief/stress in our lives.

Funny how my original intention to write about creativity stemmed into the work environment... and why shouldn't it? It's all the same... Life.

And there is always more.

Discovering Authentic Self & Consciously Parenting - Exploring our Potential

This new 3 day workshop is being offered to parents or parents-to-be to consider a different way of living and nurturing their children’s brilliance and individual expression.

Through these three ½ day sessions Lori will be inviting participants to discover a new perspective on parenting. Inviting them to find their authentic self and to consider how they can co-create meaningful family relationships with their children. It is an invitation for participants to recognize their programmed behaviours (unconscious parenting) and to become more actively aware in the parenting behaviours (conscious parenting).

Time & Date: 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Saturday, April 14th, April 21st & April 28th

Location: South Woodside Community Centre, Osbourne Street Entrance

Price: $30.00 for complete workshop, workshop manual, 1 CD from the Living WELness Series

Please Register by April 5th, 2007, a non-refundable $10 deposit is requested upon registration.

Your workshop guide is Lori Walton, certified WEL-Systems® Master Facilitator and Quantum TLC™ Facilitator.

To find out more please contact Lori Walton at (902) 461-9169 or e-mail mailto:loriwalton@eastlink.ca

Trust

On Friday a wonderful opportunity presented itself as an invitation to further my evolution and contribute to my intentions of working with women to help them awaken to the possibilities of their potential, future and hope.

I was elated on Friday, I shared with a few close friends/coworkers who were so very happy and supportive of this opportunity for me; who saw the big picture and the implications of just what I have to offer the world (who else).

And then I go to my mothers who I tell my wonderful news to... who just says "oh? that's nice".

I express to her my joy, my excitement, and how much of a huge deal this is to me and she comes back with a "well you have so much on the go right now".

Hmm, took me down a few notches. I resolved not to let her words take away from my success... yet they found a home with in my body.

Is shared with my spouse the opportunity that presented itself to me, he expressed his pride and shared in my joy then asked "is it going to cost us?"

I said no, yet then the comment combined with my mothers comment and cast doubt.

So yesterday I am at a party for my 2 yr old nephew and I'm talking with a friend of my sisters who is asking what I have been up to. I began telling her some of the things I have been doing over the past year and she said my sister told her about alot of them. I told her about my upcoming program "Discovering Authentic Self and Consciously Parenting" and told her about this new opportunity I will be taking on. She was very happy for me.

This is when I noticed the doubt that I allowed into my body.

So I began to struggle within myself.

I know what I know. I know that the person who offered the opportunity is someone who is truly supportive of me. I know that I have so much to offer and I have found my passion and joy again, and I can speak from that to people who need to hear it. I know I am resourceful. I know I am brilliant. I know I am ultimately the one who will make or break any endeavor I take on. All things I know we all are.

I know that doubt has served me in the past. I grew up "knowing" that I'm nothing special. I grew up "knowing" that when an opportunity comes there is always a price to pay. I grew up "knowing" that it's too good to be true. I grew up "knowing" that I should never be too big for my britches. I grew up "knowing" that I shouldn't start anything I wouldn't be able to finish (and knowing that I never started anything for fear of them being right).

And I allowed the culturally conditioned me (the person I was for 30 yrs) to begin to run it's program of doubt. I worked very hard this past year to not let that rule who I am. And now that I am awake and aware, I didn't allow that filter to continue to take a hold of me and I asked for clarification on this opportunity.

And all it was a filter, perception. My opportunity is a fantastic one that holds so much for so many others. I am proud of what I have done and proud and excited of what I will be doing.

I am aware now that I need to work on the whole trust issue. Trust in myself. Trust in believing my self. Trust that I will not be too big for my britches. Trust that I AM somebody special (we all are). Trust that I finish everything I start that holds meaning for me.

And consider that the price that there is always to pay, isn't always monetary. The price I am going to pay for this is my label of "Doubt".

Trust... not trust in others... as trust in others isn't important as trust in my self is all I will need.

And I know tomorrow will bring an opportunity for me to grow again and become more that I am today. Life is good... and there is always more.

Running into an old Friend...

Today at work was pretty uneventful work wise. This afternoon on my way to a meeting I saw an old friend who has been off on extended sick leave.

When I first started at my department back in 1991 I met this warm, vibrant, caring, spectacular individual who would do anything she could to help others. She was active with collecting assistance for the local women's shelters, she was active in collecting food for the hungry, I remember when we were out on strike, I was a single mother at the time, she gifted me with her strike pay so I wouldn't be put out as much.

This woman is kind, loving, compassionate and humble. She inspired me to want to do more and be more although I still didn't fully grasp to what extent I could.

If it was someones birthday this wonderful woman would make sure there was a birthday cake (which she bought with her own money) and arrange for all the co-workers to come and sing to the birthday person.

If it was a holiday she would come in early and leave a little gift on your desk, whether it was a chocolate egg or a chocolate heart. If she knew you had young children she would always buy them something special for Christmas.

Soon after I started getting to know her, I come to find out she is sick, and as the days go on she became more and more sick.

4 years ago this woman, was so riddled with sickness that she weighed just under 100 lbs, she couldn't eat, she was sallow, she was weak, and tired. I remember going to the hospital to visit her with my eldest daughter and leaving there wondering if I would see her again.

3 years ago for Christmas she gave my daughter an angel for our tree. Jessica hangs it every year and thinks of her as her angel Olive.

And today, I see her beautiful face again, I hear her joyous laughter through the office, she looks so good, she looks healthy, she is radiant.

Although I was running off to a meeting I got to hug her, tell her I loved her, and express to her my joy in seeing her again.

This woman, beautiful, strong, majestic really... vibrant, living life... once again.

My heart is filled with love, my eyes are filled with tears and my being is filled with happiness in just this brief encounter running into an old friend.

Being Grounded (in the good way)

Today I had my first real experience "being" coach. In my past coaching experiences I thought I was "being coach" and today I realized I was not.

Before my coaching session today I took some time to write in my journal. I noticed that I didn't bring my ITS book with me (with all the models). I always brought that with me to my coaching sessions and not bringing it to my session today made me become curious.

I wrote about that... wondering why I didn't bring it with me, musing that perhaps this time I "know" I am resourceful enough and don't necessarily need it any more. I was excited to see just how my coaching session was going to unfold.

And as I mentioned today was the first day I was "Being Coach" (refer to Gwen McCauley's Article "On Being Coach")

At the beginning of our session we both did the White Feather to become grounded in our bodies and in doing so my experience was so much more.

I know that my being fully present and grounded just added to both our experience during the coaching session, and my client (co-worker, friend) was really happy with the things we touched on, discovered and moved through.

Being grounded certainly makes all the difference. Creating the space for yourself to be aware of what is moving through you, and pay attention to what comes up. It was my experience today that the things that were coming up for me where the things that my coaching client needed to hear.

What a fantastic feeling! And so simple... stay grounded.

Who knows what tomorrow will bring... life is good... and there is always more!

Creating Space

On the ferry ride home today I was writing in my journal about my day at work. I was reflecting on how I spent the day tying up loose ends. I cleared my backlog, got caught up on all of my work, filed and organized my e-mails and orgainized my papers.

Then a thought occured to me... I'm creating space for whatever tomorrow is going to bring. It struck me that I am all caught up... I have a clean slate and I'm good to go.

And what I've come to discover is that when you create space; whether it is within your self or at your job; you are inviting new things to come in.

So I'm excited to see just what tomorrow may bring my way. What will I discover, what will I create, how will I engage... just who will I become tomorrow?

The "Have Nots"

I’m lying in bed thinking of my last blog entry I posted earlier tonight and my right hand is hot, dry and itching. I write with this hand… the itching is like a need to move. When I move my right hand I create words on this paper and the heat dissipates… the itching subsides (and maybe it is because I put hand cream on 15 mins ago).

So this need to create to explore some words from my last blog entry has propelled me from my bed and into the dark living room with my journal.

The words “have nots” are speaking loudly in my consciousness. These words are ones that I am all too familiar with from my past.

As a child I was a “have not” where money was rarely spent on the children’s wants, and when it was spent on me I was always left with the feeling of my father doing me a favour by buying me something, and that I put him out, and ultimately that I was not really worth it.

As a young teenager I felt I was a “have not” by not feeling loved and wanted by others (mostly boys).

As a student struggling to graduate high school, I was a “have not” as I scrapped to stay in school and live on student assistance.

The summer or 1994 I was a “have not” when I found myself homeless for a period of 2 months and had to live in a tent.

At the age of 19 I was a “have not” when I found myself having my first child and living on welfare.

I was a “have not” while leaving my boyfriend in Ontario and becoming a single mother in Nova Scotia.

As a single mother I chose to “have not” anything special for myself in order to provide more for my daughter.

As a single mother I chose to “have not” an ideal relationship with my daughter while I went back to college to get a better education and work full time, barely seeing my daughter awake for almost a year.

I chose to no longer “have not” and to create something different.

So as I write “have not” or use the term “have nots” I only refer to “have not the money to put themselves first” it is in no way a reflection of the Strength, Self Sacrifice and Hope that I experienced as a “Have Not”.

And the itching is totally gone now. Off to sleep I go.

A Success...

Was there ever any doubt?

I attended my School Advisory Council meeting tonight and we discussed my workshop Discovering Authentic Self and Consciously Parenting, the council was very excited about my program and very free with their expressions of personal support and excitement.

I am also called back to my original intention for this program and the inspiration for it. The original thoughts that entered my mind, the thoughts I was forgetting about as I began to get caught up in the details.

My inspiration for creating this space was seeing the need for the parents of my community to become involved. Recognizing my community is not a wealthy community and the majority of the community are part of the “have nots” because they cannot afford the extras such as self improvement workshops, classes and programs.

In remembering this original intention I know that I will be providing this, my first workshop for very little cost. I will be volunteering my time to ultimately target the audience that inspired me.

I attended the Community Centre meeting with the Principle after the SAC meeting for a brief moment to propose the support of the Community Centre by way of donating space for my workshop. The community centre agreed to support my workshop and have provided the space at no cost.

Discovering Authentic Self and Consciously Parenting – Exploring our Potential will be held beginning Saturday April 14th for 3 consecutive Saturday Mornings at the South Woodside Community Centre in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. For those parents who are curious for something more, who decide to wake up and engage in their OWN life. The lives they forgot about, discovering their authentic selves (remembering them) and waking up to their potential. In doing so they will be able engage differently with their kids and begin to create different family relationships.

As I’m creating this program I am also very aware that I want to work with women in particular not specifically (mother’s), this is a program I may create in the future.

Success… Set an intention; create the space for creativity to flow, trust in yourSELF and you will achieve your goal.

Discovering Authentic Self & Consciously Parenting - The Seed is planted

In December at the Women's Writing Retreat I was having a great conversation with two of the women after dinner one night. I had mentioned my participation on my School Advisory Council and how it would be good to do something to assist the children's home relationships.

Celine light up... she had created and done work with her school and community with the parents by way of a workshop.

I was intrigued... what kind of workshop, how did it work. We chatted about what she did and I left enthused with the idea of creating something for the women in my community.

Over the Christmas Holiday Celine helped me outline a program I can offer to my community I've called it "Discovering Authentic Self & Consciously Parenting". I am really excited to get this going. I have tentatively booked space and I am going to presenting a proposal tonight at the Community Center Meeting to see if they will donate space in their facility to decrease cost to target the single mothers or those who cannot normally afford such a workshop.

My intention for the workshop is as follows.
- To create the space and provide a different way of living and allowing your children's brilliance to shine through
- To invite participants to recognize their programmed behaviors (unconscious parenting) and to become more actively aware in their parenting behaviors (conscious parenting)

The workshop will be held in April 2007 on 3 consecutive Saturday Mornings.

If you are interested or know someone who is please have them contact me for more information.

Life goes on, there is always more... and I'm so happy to be living my life LARGE!!!

A Day in the Life - A Poem

A Day in the Life
By Lori Walton

Up and Out…
Beginning the day in the cold and the dark
Weary ones struggling to remain awake

Stretch and Yawn…
On the commute to work as the sun paints colors over the
Ocean in the east, reds, pinks, purples and orange

Awake and Engage…
With those at work, friends, coworkers, clients alike
Each one evokes a unique expression of your self

Invite and Allow…
Create the space for creativity to flow
Eventually the clock signals an end to the day

Lift up and Breathe
The mild January air, and release the troubles of the day
Lift up your face to welcome the suns rays

Smile and Enjoy…
A Peaceful solitary journey across the calm waters of the Harbour
Smelling the saltiness from the Ocean upon the warm wind

Open and Receive…
The love and hugs from your children
As you walk through the door after a days work

Provide and Nurture…
Your families needs as you put your work clothes away
Their need for you, conversation and love is ever present

Catch up and Connect…
With your Spouse, family and friends
At the end of a long, long day

Relax and Restore…
Your own self by the light of the moon
On a clear starry night, be still, receive, restore

Hope for Change

The word “HOPE” keeps creeping into my awareness today. I hope for a change of a worldview.

I hope that people soon begin to accept responsibility and take ownership of their lives, in doing so they will find the freedom of choice.

I hope that the people of our society will be able to take this ownership and finally be free of their burdens, their unhappiness, their fears, their feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.

I hope that the destructive dances of blame, abuse, addictions, indifference and violence will finally be over and done with.

I hope that people can come to know that they can choose differently, they can create their own futures by simply owning it. Choose Differently. Live at the CAUSE side of the equation. Live large.

2007 will prove to be an amazing year. There is already a growing global awareness of a different way of living. As each of us becomes awake and aware of our own brilliance and learns to trust ourselves, our voices and our choices the shift will be quick and tremendous.

The word “HOPE” holds so much meaning, it is a nomilization and it means something different for each of us.

New Year, New Way of Living

What a fantastic 11 days off. I wrote (not as much as I thought I would), I created an outline for a workshop I'm creating, I spent some time expanding my thoughts and confirming my belives reading and watching material by Dr. Bruce Lipton, I shared some of that with people I love and care about, most importantly I played with my kids.

What joy that brought me these past 11 days. I built puzzles, I coloured, I played dolls, I cuddled, I sang, I danced, I cooked, I laughed, I cried, I talked, I shared, I bonded even deeper with my beautiful daughters.

My spouse and I had some really great conversations about our future together. Our gameplan if you with, yet at the same time knowing that it will shift, change and evolve as we do.

There was one conversation we had at the beginning of my vacation about a situation he had gotten himself into. As I asked him what he learned from that situation he quite literally told me he would have me double check anything he signs... What?

The old me would say Yes, dear you should make sure you let me know what you are getting into so I can keep you on track.

The new me said "I don't think so. I have no desire to continue that kind of relationship with you, you are responsible for yourself, as I am for myself. I am not your mother, I will not be continuing to run your life for you. I want our relationship to be a partnership where we can just be for eachother, not have to take responsiblity for eachother."

And in that instant, I know our relationship will never be the same again, and I'm excited about it.

Once we know something and have to courage to voice it, it is never the same again. Your body will not allow you to forget it. Funny that changing the direction or path you are on as a couple is so easily changed. Speaking with your absolute truth and conviction resonates... the other party senses your finality of it... and it is different.

The remainder of my vacation Mike & I had fantastic conversations about anything and everything that came up, jobs, programs, our children, and our future.

Life is good. And there is always more...