October 31, 2007 Halloween

I’m unmoved about “celebrating” halloween.  It’s changed since I used to trick or treat– somehow marketed into a major event – I know it is that way for some of my family – They’re Wiccans.  But I turned on CNN this morning and saw a huge segment on the rexy/racy outfits being sold to tweeners – And I see I’ve become an old fogey – resistant to the excessive and meaningless decorations, huge plastic witches and jack-o-lanterns.

This is the first day of the week that I’m not booked up, actually able to ‘be on my own’ – plan my day.  All I have to do is return a book to the library – I love libraries; I appreciate their evolution into a far more complex institution – Imagine borrowing DVDs, CDs – even (in some places) art.  And I’ve aged to appreciate large print.

So today I call potential clients and recreate my website- Professional Coaching for Professional People.

October 30, 2007 Listening to Myself

Last night was Session 4 of my free teleseminar (based on Jack Canfields The Success Principles) [The next one starts November 13th - you can register on my web site]

This particular one included a section on identifying what would stop you from reaching your goal and what solutions there could be.  And, of course, I used one of my goals as an example.  What was stopping me was that I didn’t know how to get past the gate keepers of who I wanted to communicate with (a Very common stop).

And I realized that I knew someone who could bridge the gap – someone who could get in touch with that person.  Well, duhh!  I heard myself.  What was I waiting for?  And got back in touch with a very dear friend today who has set me on my course.

That’s one of the values of coaching.  I allow people to listen to themselves.  Surprising how much we know.

October 28. 2007 – A Small Morning

After a week of vacation, the first Monday is very small– the time is packed in, every crook and nanny filled with old reminders and new tasks.  Sounds like complaining – Not.  Just reporting.

I had a weekend of asthma attacks.  As I’ve said, I treat this non-medically.  But I’ve continued to do what precipitates these bouts for too long.  Knowing how to deal with them is not smart when I continue to behave in ways that bring them on — sort of like yo yo dieting.

For me it’s actually very simple – I’ve always considered milk in my coffee to be “not drinking milk.”  This is an absurd self-deception. Milk and coffee mix terribly in the body.  The combination forms a sludge – really. And screws up the whold digestive system.  Now one of the things I do know is that my asthma (maybe all – but I don’t know) is precipitated by my reacxtions to food intake.  So duhh! Time  to have no milk, also limit my brerad intake severely.

It’s hard to let you know when nothing happens, so consider no more of these asthma fiascos as evidence.  If you’ve never thought along these lines, well – it’s a small Morning.

October 27, 2007 Back Packing

Well, we’ve returned.  But I want to share our going.  First Sunny called and asked Nancy to please please please  do some shopping for her at Sam’s and WalMart.  Then, when she returned, Aliya asked whether Nancy would please please – I know you’re leaving but… take her shopping (to the same places!!)  This left the packing up to me – And there was a huge pile of stuff on the bed.  And Nancy had left me a huge printed list of everything to pack

So I packed.  But also watched the Giant’s football game and ignored the printed list.  Anyhow I remembered my socks and handkerchiefs, the bathroom stuff, vitamins, etc. and the pile of clothes on the bed… not noticing that this didn’t include any pants or my nightshirts or any kitchen condiments.  So once again I was a character in my own sitcom.  The virtue was a lighter suitcase and a need to shop.

Nice to be back.

October 20th Leaving Tomorrow

Tomorrow is our 40th wedding anniversary.  I muse about the peculiarity of time, the simultaneity of forever and that long??  I don’t think of  myself in emotional terms.  I smile a lot, but I don’t think, “I’m happy.” Truth is, I’ve never been happier – It’s a legacy I wish for my children. 

I know we’ve created this and continue to create it, certainly it’s not luck or circumstances.  If circumstances affected emotions, we’d be in very different straits.  I haven’t thought of this before, but we must both be the delightful beneficiaries of the Law of Attraction.  There’s no way either of us take it for granted.

Octiber 19, 2007 Creating a Weekend

Sunday is our 40th wedding anniversary.  We’re going to a timeshare on Lake Harmony for next week.  The end of the week is also our oldest daughter, Sunny’s birthday & she’ll join us there, with her husband and three boys – a packed week.  We like it there – pools, bowling, movie theater – Mostly I like their gym & great jacuzzi (they also have jacuzzi baths in the room + sauna) — Nice place to vej out.  Plenty for the boys to do.

I have a lap top, but not a wireless hook up so after Saturday this will take a week off.  I’ll get to do writing; study Jay’s material.  I’m heading to the library for large print books — Also to get check cashing cards at non-ShopWrong stores I know it’s better to forgive & I do, but my decision has been made — to decide:  to cut off the alternative.

October 18, 2007 ShopWrong

Normally I shop at Whole Foods - My intention is to be entirely local and organic within a year.  But sometimes I have to shop at standard supermarkets -  I have the same feeling as when I go to a drug store — so weird walking through aisle after aisle of anti-drugs – candy, cigarettes,…

Anyhow, I took my daughter (and her 3 boys) to ShopRite.  She needs to budget down and can’t afford to upgrade her buying.  I had no cash or credit cards and intended to write a check.  They wouldn’t cash it.  Why not?  My wife had cashed checks at a different place twice this week.  And it’s against their policy to do it more often.  I’ve seen the new Visa ads, obnoxious but cute – And I really didn’t think there was a prjudice against check writers.

I either had to go home to get my cash or credit card or – and this is what I did – have my wife go 1/2 hour out of her way to “rescue” my daughter’s food.

This is called non-service.  The unwillingness of their young store manager to violate the store’s (rock-hard – a quote) policy for a 40+ year customer and for a young family of 5 obviously incenses me.  I will never shop there again.  The problem with these enormous food chains is they won’t care or even notice.  I wish there were local food stores again.

October 17, 2007 Way Wrong the Going

I am satudying marketing from the master, Jay Abraham.  And I fell into a trap – because one of the things most often spoken about is the wealth that will arise from successful marketing.  But that’s only the punch line; it’s never the story.

Wealth shows up in the wake of the boat – the boat moves in the direction of love; the values I have – my spiritual values,  love of life – of people – of our planet – of God.

That’s always the focus of my creativity.

October 16, 2007 – Rock Your World

I mean Rockies our world – We should study and try to figure this out.  Who is this team?  Really unknown in the East – and likely unseen, because we don’t stay up that late.  But they now have the major league record for fielding; they likely have the MVP, coming from nowhere to beat the Met’s (who?) Wright and the Phil’s (who?) Rollins.

Their winning streak is beyond belief – They came from nowhere, creating improbable wins – some would say impossible.  Aside from Todd Helton, we know none of their names – never heard of any of their pitchers..  I don’t think they ever heard of the word ‘ego.’

They epitomize ‘team’ and require study.  I’m on their side for the World Series.

What does this have to do with Creating Today?  If I could know their secret,… (I wonder if anyone bet on them – even in September)

October 15, 2007 Safe-ty

We have 100 pound safe for certain valuables.  And we found out the other day that we couldn’t get it open.  We have the combination, followed directions – even called the supplier.  And we will have to take this (my aching back) to a professional safe cracker – and spend time & money to get it open. 

It seems that I’m spending too much of my life handling distractions and interruptions – so at least I’m using them to write – and maybe gather scenes for stories – I like the idea of having to hire a safe cracker – seems to be characteristic of our culture — We hire criminals to protect us, spies for our security, foxes for our hen houses, idiots for our intelligence, ….

I hope that doesn’t disqualify me as a coach.

My website is www.michaellipp.com