You Never Know Who is Going To Come…

The July 1st weekend was busy at Golden Pathways Retreat and B&B.  And as usual I enjoyed meeting the wonderful people. I am just busy doing my “thing”.  Getting to know people and  making a lovely presentation of breakfast are two things that I enjoy.

You can imagine my surprise when one of the guests told me that she was a tourism and travel writer.

Here is the link to her photo journal of our place and the City of Peterborough.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelandtransitions/sets/72157624423744042

The photos are amazing – just start the slide show and enjoy! And it is very interesting to see how and what a visitor notices when they come to our area.  It makes you want to stop and enjoy the details and the view much more.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelandtransitions/sets/72157624423744042

Whether you are local or from afar – this slide show will lift your spirits.

Serenity

Sometimes after a coaching session I offer a deck of inspirational cards for the client to pick one.

Often it is almost creepy how accurate and poignant the message is in relation to the topic that we discussed.

This card has come up a few times in the last while so I thought I would share it with you in hopes of it giving you a message as well.

I took this photo on our property and thought it was appropriate to include.  http://www.goldenpathwaysbb.com

Enjoy!

Serenity

Serenity bestows inner peace, tranquility and calmness of mind.

When you feel serene, you are your own person, for nothing and no one can bother, upset or influence you.

You are like a calm, clear lake – beautiful and peaceful to be with.

Your quiet radiance brings hope and support to those who come from within your aura.

You attract respect and love from others, for all are calmed by you.

As you become deeply serene and still you connect to the higher powers of the Universe for divine guidance and your path in the life becomes smooth and flowing.

Quietly ask you angel to hold you in serenity.

Affirmation

I am serene and still.

Invitation

There are a couple of seats left in the workshop this weekend – http://www.gameurbuilt4.com or watch Michael Stratford on You Tube http://bit.ly/aBSPy5 We would love to have you.

99 Years of Marriage

On June 7th, David and I were married 35 years.

Last Monday we invited our maid of honour (my sister Adrianna and Peter) and our best man (Murray and Sandy) for a romantic getaway at the Sir William Mackenzie Inn in Kirkfield. It is a lovely place steeped in history.

Adrianna and Peter are married 30 years in July and Murray and Sandra are married 34 years in October – hence the 99 years of marriage among the 6 of us!

Our kids (28-30-32)  made us a basket of memories with songs, news, technology, prices of 1975  that we opened at the inn.  The most touching was a list of 35 Things That Stand Out During Our Part of Your Last 35 Years.

They listed their memories. Here are few items from the list:

• Supper in the field with dad
• Family meetings
• Orange couch and floor (definitely the early 80’s )
• Putting wood in the basement
• Barn Reno’s (parties at the Whittington’s)
• Tongue twisters – Animals of North America
• Height measurements in the doorway
• Sam, Gerty and Jan – our first cows
• If you are going to HOOT with the Owls at night you can SING with the birds in the morning
• Our first Car – the moving couch, then the Unbird, chanting “Daddy’s keys, Daddy’s car”
• Identifying tree and leaf types
• Building the cabin in the woods
• 4-H Calves: Dacor, Cinnamon, Ambria, Amber, Canadian
• Annual first day of school picture with our tree (we planted a blue spruce when each child was born)
• Sunday picnics at the river
• Playing games as a family

They ended with “Thank you for teaching us the importance of family. We will remember all of these times and lessons as we begin to start our own.”

David and I are blessed – with our children, each other and now our grandchildren.

Thanks kids for reminding us all that it is the little things that are part of everyday life that  make a difference.  The list was not full of gifts and expensive holidays – it was more about everyday  living and being who we are. A good reminder for all of us.

They Painted the Town Pink

WOW – What a weekend for Peterborough!  2030 International Dragon Boat Paddlers brought a levity and a beautiful expression of support to each other and the City.

In this photo mother, daughter, mother and father in law, cousins and friends all came from the Chatham area to support Sue McEwan of Kelowna BC of the “Bustin Loose” paddling team. Sue is the 5th person from the left in the photo and her team came in 9th of 72 teams. Sue’s lovely mother and in-laws spent the last three days with us at the B&B.

Everywhere you go, people are raving about the Dragon Boat competitors and the competitors are raving about the people of Peterborough.

There were moments of intense fun and humour and poignant emotion especially when the doves were released and the pink carnations were dropped in the water as remembrance those who have passed.

Peterborough overcame adversity – an example – they served a 2030 people in a gala event without the use of a convention centre (we don’t have one) They transformed two ice pads into an amazing experience.  People could not belief that they were ice rinks! The committee coordinated chefs in kitchens (eg the Canoe Museum) all over the city to have food arrive hot at the same time.  And I hear that they more than exceeded expectations.

The paddlers have overcome adversity – they  have all survived breast cancer.  Their humour, connection and their joy was infectious.

One of the core dynamics is over-reacting to circumstances and the absence is our ability to maintain a strong sense of who we are under extreme circumstances.  And that includes the experience of pleasure or pain.

Thanks to the hosts and guests that modeled this for us this weekend.

Clear Your Fear

Are you afraid of your brilliance?

I have to be honest.  I am.

Or I was…

One of the benefits of being a coach mentor in the coach school that I was trained in is … (this means I coach three new coaches every session)

Is that I can partake in the advanced coach training sessions and I get to keep working on my stuff.

It is interesting how the last class we as a group stumbled on this and how many people had this fear,

It seemed that it was very common to have that fear in the pit of our gut and at the same time – a calling to do more, be more, take a risk.

I have talked to several people who have great ideas bubbling inside of them – even inspite of themselves.

Fear is soooo paralyzing and soooo easy to clear when you use the Pure Awareness techniques.

When the fear is gone, then your intuition, your clarity and your wisdom can kick in.

If you need a little help…

Consider attending this Plrkshop! (where it will be fun and safe to clear your fear!)

Watch this video http://gameurbuilt4.com

Or give me a call 705-745-4006

Clear the fear,

Cora

“I Win Things”

I win things.  Do you?

Over the years I have won many things – it started with a trip to Mexico 30 years ago.

My husband bought the ticket and put my name on it.  I didn’t even know that he bought it.

Since I didn’t know about it – I had no resistance to it.

I have won trade show booths valued at $750, 50-50 draws, gift certificates and lots more.

I have my mind set to win things.  I don’t count on it.  I am just curious to see where and what will show up!

Today I won a door prize at the Women in Business Awards luncheon.

It was a lovely silver bracelet.  A friend came over and that’s a Pandora Bracelet -

I had to be educated on this phenomena and appreciated that it is a concept like the old charm bracelets from my early years.

It disturbs me when I hear people say “I never win anything”

- because I know that Law of Attraction will kick in and give the prize to someone else

If you are going to believe something – you may as well make it go in your favour.

At this same luncheon, I talked to Diane who was in my Dream Board class a

couple of years ago and she was telling me how she came across it recently and couldn’t believe all the things that manifested!

Today, I also talked to Kim who was telling me how she got upgraded to First Class on her flight home,

saw the most beautiful sunset while flying and randomly heard KD Lang’s song “Haleluiah”

with tears streaming down her face with appreciation of the beautiful moment.

She too “wins things” and has this underlying belief.

I have decided to upgrade my “I win things” to “I win big things”

I can feel the resistance in my body when I say that – but I do know that eventually that will be gone

and I will be telling you about the “big things I am winning”.

Although if I think about it – like Kim I have won lots of big things already!

I’ll just be curious about when the next “big thing” will show up -

and I know it works best when I forget about it and just appreciate the wonder of my world.

With appreciation,

Cora

Are You Playing the Game That UR Built 4?

I would love to have you come play with us…

What You Focus On Expands

Recently I listened to an Abraham CD that suggested a very provocative exercise.  They suggested that you think of two people – one you like and one that you don’t.

Then for the person you like – find several aspects that you don’t like and then for the person you don’t like – find several aspects that you do like.

Abraham suggests that as you continue to do this it won’t be long before you will change how you feel about each person.

You will start to dislike the person you liked. And you will start to like the person you disliked.

Tonight, I listened to Alex Mandossian’s business webinar and he suggested that we focus on Strengthening Strengths. He gave a powerful example which we can translate to all aspects of our career or business.

He said that when he goes to a teacher interview for his children, he asks “What are my child’s strengths?” and talks about these things for 20 minutes. The other things are talked about later.

He said that over the years he has noticed that the teachers then start focusing on the child’s strengths and the child feels so much better about themselves and doing better in school.

I have been teaching this concept for years – I have called it “What You Focus On Expands” - you can click on the following link and see my version of a shift in focus that can change your interpersonal relationships in your family and at work!

What You Focus On Expands Video

Love to hear what you think!

With warmest wishes,

Cora

PS: I only recommend that you only use the part of Abraham’s exercise that finds positive aspects of people

Only 15 days to the launch of the Productivity Upgrade Teleseminar

“F” Stands for…

“F” is an interesting letter.  It is interesting how the poor letter has unintentionally become a symbol of so many things. Not all of them are positive.

While there are several possible articles on the letter “F” – let’s look at “Failure”.  For many of us, an “F” was not a good thing to receive in school, in work or in life.  We all have many examples where people in authority have pointed out our flaws and mistakes.  Just reading about this is probably bringing up some feelings and memories.

My biggest freedom in my life was when I shifted from “F” stands for Failure to “F” standing for Feedback.

Now when someone gives me “Feedback” even if it is rife with judgment or criticism I started looking for the nugget of truth, accept my responsibility for the nugget and automatically become more intentional of what I want. I ignore their delivery or their part in it.  I am not always successful right away but eventually when I shift to this approach, magical things happen.

But to be honest, I don’t get much of that old style criticism anymore.  What I do get is loving, sincere information that helps me get better.

Last week, I put out a video with a very powerful message but a poor delivery.  Part of me knew that and part of me just wanted to play with what would come up if I did something less than perfect.  There is so much that I haven’t done because I wanted it to be perfect. I tried to cover up myself with music and flying in letters.  And it didn’t work.

7  beautiful people sent me e-mails with lists of  suggestions for how I could do it better. And I sooooo appreciate that.  It is interesting to observe my internal response.  There was part of me that wanted to beat myself up for putting something out that was mediocre. Some old stuff was still there.  And there was part of me that was truly OK with it.  And there is a part of me that can’t wait to try some new ideas.

On the day that I did the first video, I created a second one.  It was my second go so I was definitely more animated and present.  I am still working on my recording and technical jitters and playing with different ways of presenting. I did however create it without the distracting music and fonts. (Thanks friends )

Should I have posted the mediocre video – maybe not or maybe… it was the perfect thing to do.  Sometimes our “screw-ups” are perfect.  I have seen so many times in my life and clients when that less than perfect situation became perfect.  My coaching teachers Wendy Down, Michael Stratford, and Tom Stone taught me something very important. They told me that it was not up to me to judge whether something was right or wrong, good or bad, perfect or imperfect.

Sometimes it is the imperfections that teach us the most.

This video is going to be released in tomorrow’s blog – but you can watch it today if you are inspired! (see below)

Remember to register for the productivity upgrade teleseminar series where we will learn much more about all of this.

http://www.unravelthemysterynow.com

Wishing you a wondrous life,

Cora

Broken Pottery

Imagine 20 guests waiting for dinner. I am feeling very good because everything is organized and I have just made the most perfect gravy. It was thick and tasty and I put it in my favourite pottery bowl. I then drop it on the ceramic floor. There is gravy and broken pottery all over the place. Gravy is dripping down the cupboards. What a mess!

Immediately, I could feel emotion that reminded me of a time when I was about 11 years old. My sister and I were playing and we accidentally broke my mother’s favorite lamp. My mother was soooo upset. It was like we had destroyed a part of her. She had brought it over from Holland. There was a lot of tears and drama and we felt like the most horrible children on earth. Then we started to blame each other. The worst was when my father was informed about our evil ways.

I felt guilt, blame, and fear. I didn’t feel good about me.

Luckily that memory is fleeting. My present response is quite different. While standing in the midst of gravy and broken pottery I appreciate that I haven’t burned myself. My husband says “opportunity to buy new pottery”. I chuckle and clean it up. It is wonderful to not be attached to favorite pottery, perfect gravy or expectations. How times have changed.

I am so glad to be doing core dynamics work! It makes life so much more enjoyable and much easier on me and the people around me. Especially when we make mistakes!

Richard Bach has a beautiful quote “What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly”

The choice is between hanging on to the past and pining for what’s lost or embracing the road ahead. And the decision is purely one’s own and has to come from within!

Now I wonder what adventure will help me find that new pottery bowl…

Wishing you a wonderful new year and many caterpillar transformations!

Cora Whittington

705-745-4006

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