February 29, 2008 Extras

I wonder if I’ll write this date again for this journal.

I met this morning with Scott Rosen, owner of Transformations to talk with him about coaching.  He has formed a remarkable Holistic center and is trying to develop the coaching component.  What was interesting to me was noticing my own thinking about how to do it – not something I’ve thought about, but something I enjoyed thinking about.

I’ve long thought that creativity comes from commitment, that pressure (this wasn’t) is a spur to creativity…Some people see it as a hindrance, but that’s because they’re concerned about the pressure, not empowered.  This will create a new avenue to the future for me.  Because context is decisive and this will include many more people in my stand for spiritual fulfillment, social justice and environmental sustainability.

February 28, 2008 Awesome coaching

Last night was our session of Awesome coaching.  And we each spoke of our individual situation with our goals.  The rerason I think of this as Coaching 2.0 is that each person on the goal has an opportunity to become ‘the coach’ for whoever is speaking.  This works wonderfully.

Last night developed a common thread among each of us, something we knew but really needs to be highlighted.  That is:  The context we have for a goal is decisive in how we see and create our efforts to move forward.  If you don’t know that, I’ll say it in two different ways – 1-what is your overall vision that led to the goal?…2 – Why is your goal?

For example, one participant has a physical fitness goal and she hates doing sit-ups.  But she saw that she was seeing this as a chore and that she could create a context where she would love the effort, the discomfort, etc — like ‘I’m creating a sexy body.’  Another person shifted the context for decluttering. 

I saw that I’ve been looking at selling my books as a profit center.  The truth is that people who buy them will love them.  They provide value and enjoyment.  That creates a whole different context for selling the books and this shift in context will reflect in how I do this.

It’s important that I keep the context for my life, my overall commitments, what I stand for always present.  So I tell you I stand for spiritual fulfillment, social justice and environmental sustainability for all of us.  Everything I do is in service of that vision.

That’s why I commend my coaching to you – the free 6 session seminar started Monday and the Awesome coaching can be joined at any time; It is scheduled for Wednesdays.

February 27, 2008 Strangenesses

Just want to talk about some strange things that happen (not really twighlight zone stuff)

First – report on my asthma healing process) — I am clearly getting healthier.  My voice has regained timber.  My nose is clearing up:  I;m breathing through both nostrils.  And I’ve had more asthma atttacks these last few weeks than I’ve had in years.  I’ve begun to understand – layers of medicinal protection are being stripped away and I’m feeling the benefits and suffering the consequences.  The latter will last until the reversal, the building of healthy tissues occurs.  Meanwhile, I’m losing weight, tooo,

Second -I had a conference call last night.  Three of us were on, but only 2 of us spoke.  The third guy kept hearing that he was the only one on the call.  Don’t know why or how to handle it.

Thjird – I can’t remember; guess it wasn’t so strange.

February 26,2008 Moving Ahead

There’a a certain way of moving ahead…We all do it differently – like a jet, like a freight, like a crab.  I’m studying different ways to move myself ahead.  I’m not only looking at my primary areas, as a coach and as an author.  I’m also learning how to think in terms of joint ventures and at different forms of promotion, like being on the (possibly internet) radio.

I’m also looking for people who would be happy to sell my books for a good piece of the action.  Everything I do is consistent with my stand for an environmentally sustainable, socially just and spiritually fulfilling world.

February 25, 2008 — Oscar

Strange phenomenon, seeing the IFC rewards one night and the Oscars the next.   I loved John Stuart, particularly when he gave the singer/composer & award winner a chance to speak when she was cut off.  And he managed to restrain his politics.

The Oscars have little to do locally with the winners; who gives a shit – We haven’t seen most or all of the movies and we’ll forget by next week.Yes,Iwant to see No Country & Daniel Day Lewis (when they make it to cable)..But I felt that way before old Osc.  And I am entranced by Ellen Page; I even watched her on Barbara Walters.  I’ll see her on cable, too.

I think they have much more to do with glitz and glamour than movies.  Except they are meaningful in the industry.  I was intrigued by the actress who played Edith Piaf – curious about her, Piaf and the movie.  Apparently that was a surprise.  I’ll have to read my daughter’s blog – she’s a movie buff…great blog, Portrait of a Lady.

So I stayed up too late and am starting this morning late.  This has nothing to do with me.

February 24, 2008 Play Dates

Nancy has taken Diamond over to play with Shayla, kind of nice, my 2 granddaughters getting together.  We never had play dates when I was a kid; we just went outside and played.  Sometimes we would have to round up a few to get a game, but mostly there were enough.  But that was my neighborhood and that was Brooklyn in the 1940s. 

I guess the whole notion of gathering in the streets – even playing in the streets is very different today.  The shifting of culture fascinates me, particularly our seemless flow from one thing to the next.  Our awareness of the shift is rare, punctuated now by internet quizzes or new versions of Trivial Pursuit.

The Oscars is also a venue for cultural shifts – certainly the ‘in memoriam’ segment is.  I rarely see any of the movies up for awards; I confess to not even waiting for DVDs, but for cable TV to see any, by which time rewards are long gone; the lesser awards completely forgotten. 

I watched the Spirit awards yesterday for independent films.  They’re wonderful.  They try so hard to cut out the glamor, the arrogance, to come off as human beings.  What’s interestin is the simultaneous blending of films with the Oscars – like Juno and the complete disconnect like the films about abortion and films like The Savages.  And I loved their song parodies and the gags with the MC.  I’ve seen him and don’t know who he is, but I truly loved his sketch segments. I should say The whole event was green.

Anyhow, this is my play date with you.  But, as always, my context is Social Justice, Sustainable Environment and Spiritual Fulfillment. 

February 23, 2008 Waking Up

I haven’t been able to wake up, thought the snow is mostly melted and I’ve been to the library.  Still, some Saturdays take more to get going than others.I don’t feel like is a good theme for today.  So I’m just not going to.

Happy Birthday, George

Don’t know if you know that today is Washington’s birthday.  Not Feb 18.  Such a pain to eliminate specificity for the sake of 3 day weekends.

I’m finishing and editing/reediting some books.  Nancy is my editor par excellence, as is everything she does.  I have no problem with issuing drafts as finals – I just rationalize my sloppiness.  But there’s more there than I realized.  Just finished my 2nd novel, actually a novellete.  I like it, but I don’t count.   I also finished a book I call Coaching 2.0 – the purpose is to teach enough about coaching so a reader can 1) get coaching value for him/her self and 2) stumble but be able to coach others

The novel is science fiction – about the consequences we face by not creating a sustainable environment, by allowing animal species to go extinct, etc.  I got tired of preaching after a while.

A friend of mine just bought my book,Less Stress, More Wealth.He says I’m charging too little.  I like that… My commitment is that we’re inspired and empowered to be fulfilled, living in harmony with Earth.  My coaching and books are how I do that.

February 21, 2008 In a Fog

Weather outside is crystal clear.  Inside — fog.  TCM is featuring 31 days of Oscar winning films & it’s hard not to get hooked.  Last night were 2 Billy Wilder classics some Like it Hot  and Stalag 17  This was then followed by The Caine Mutiny and I woke up this morning forcing myself to turn off On the Waterfront… Hard to return to the present and I’m still foggy.

February 20, 2008 Whelmed

I’m committed to mastering Life 2.0, but I’m not overwhelmed at the prospect, just whelmed.  My daughter Sunny keeps telling me that she’s awed by the fact that I keep learning and growing when I’m 71,  I just think that’s the point of living; I don’t expect to ever stop until, of course, I stop.

What’s Life 2.0? I’m more actively causing, participating, playing, contributing.  I am my avatar (who else’s should I be?) The circumstances of our lives seem to push us around.  We seem to be pawns in life’s game or leaves in an autumn wind.  But we’re always cause in our own lives.  I am;  it’s just a matter of saying so even when other explanations are possible.  It’s only a matter of who writes the history books.

On my asthma:  Last night I slept with my mouth closed for the first time in many years.  And when I meditated this morning I was able to brethe through my nose – for the first time!

L