If you know you’re here to make a positive difference in the world, here’s your opportunity! Please join Laurie Cameron and WAKE UP! Enterprises to help at-risk women break the cycle of “relationship illiteracy” by making healthier relationship and life choices for themselves and their children. The From Fear to Love™ Pilot Coaching Program is the foundation for a national program that is projected to positively impact the lives of 2.4 millions at-risk women and their children in the first five years! To find out more about the program and how YOU can be a part of it, please visit http://www.lauriecameron.com/fromfeartolove.html. Or call Laurie Cameron at 303-740-0352.

You know when I find something good I can’t keep it to myself.

This new book by Heather Strang is one of those things because this book was written FOR you FROM the heart of someone who I consider to be the most talented writer EVER!

Her poems will move you towards every emotion (and those that you didn’t know existed) around the awesome topic of love.

DO NOT miss this collection. Whether you are a poetry fan or not…it doesn’t matter. Heather will grab you at hello.

Here is a taste of what to expect…

A poem from Anatomy of the Heart:

Bend
I breathe into you
My inhale sweet
With the scent of your kisses.
You on one knee
A blade of grass poised gingerly
            for my ring finger.
Love and marriage and all
            our hopes and dreams
In unison
            In one breath.

###

You can buy it here.

Ahhh sweet love. 

Heather Strang is a writer, poet and coach passionate about conscious living. Her writing has appeared in blogs, books and a host of print and online publications, including 20-Something Manifesto, Four and Twenty, Women’s eNews, The Oregonian, Amaze Magazine, NicoleWilliams.com and many others. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her meditating on the beach, creating new recipes and exploring the possibilities of the Universe.  To learn more, visit: www.HeatherStrang.com.

For those of you who are looking for that special, yet affordable, holiday gift that keeps on giving…Look no further.

The amazing Itafari Foundation, founded by Vicky Trobash has you covered.

This is truly my favorite gift to give and it will be yours too.

First a bit about Itafari…

“More than a decade after the Rwandan genocide claimed nearly 1 million innocent men, women and children, the country continues to struggle against crushing poverty, starvation, disease, and an overall lack of justice. People of conscience throughout the world have begun to realize that this wasn’t solely Africa’s problem, and that any human rights violation impacts us all. And from that place of consciousness and compassion, the Itafari Foundation was born.

A 501(c)(3) organization founded in August 2005, the Itafari Foundation’s vision is that every Rwandan will have the opportunity to dream of a better life, and the power to make it a reality. One day, every Rwandan will thrive as valued, life-long members of the world community.”

And YOU can play a role in this by purchasing a nanny goat in the name of a friend or loved one for a mere $25! The goat will be given to cooperatives of Child Headed Households to be cross bred. birth kids, provide fertilizer that can be sold and used to grow grass, and eventually be sold for meat and give children a chance to care for themselves, start their own businesses and become empowered.

Are you KIDDING me? (pun intended)

What a way to give. I see this as a triple way WIN!

Itafari will send you out a beautiful full color certificate bearing the name of the gift recipient that they will just go GAGA for.

A great gift for young children who deserve to learn early on the power of giving back.

Wait no longer. It’s easy and it feels so good.

Click here to GET A GOAT…or ten.

Thank you and happy giving.

I am so passionate about this message that I wanted to deliver it to you personally. Your feedback is welcome…and I dare you to post the ONE thing you are finally going to do to that you have been talking about for way too long.

I assertively approached the tall, gentle man that was there and told him, “I will listen to anything you have to tell me about your services if I can just have a Hershey’s kiss.”

He agreed. Whew.
I snarfed 3 down as fast as I could and then gave him all the time he needed.
His name was Kent Gustavson and he is a gift. No not because he gave me a fix when I needed it most. But because he is, to this day, one of my favorite people.

From the moment we made the “exchange” I realized that the Universe was grinning at me because Kent happened to be exactly what I needed at exactly when I needed it most. He is a very talented ghost writer/manuscript developer and a MASTER of audio production. Did I mention he has a PhD in Classical music and an incredible musician? (click on the picture of him above to sample his latest CD. My personal fave is Valley Girl)
He is also the president and founder of Blooming Twig Books and offers services of the highest quality. And on top of all that, he is kind and generous with his time and wisdom. I have worked with him to produce audio products (coming soon) and his consulting is worth gold. I can not speak highly enough. I so dig this guy and I feel blessed to have crossed his chocolate laden path.

So, the message? Never underestimate the power of a chance encounter. The powers-that-be work in very strange ways…
I knew my passion for the dark creamy stuff would someday pay off. And how very sweet it is!

To learn more about Kent and his awesome services go to www.bloomingtwigbooks.com

Recently my husband and I decided to sell our home. It’s not just any home but one that has wrapped itself around my heart and won’t seem to let go. I love this house. It is everything I could have asked for and more of what I didn’t know I wanted in a home.

Everyone that enters speaks to its great energy and welcoming feel. I’m not just saying that. Really, EVERYONE says it and now that it is for sale and about to exit my life, I’d really like them to stop:)

See, I am totally connected to this structure. I feel like a part of it. And so letting it go feels like letting go of a HUGE part of ME. Aggh. I really hate the way that sounds because at the end of the day it is a thing, right? Well, trying to let go of this THING has really turned my life upside down.

And it got me thinking…

What am I doing arguing with life’s plan for me? The plan is to move on. To another city that calls to us. And we can’t take the house with us. (I tried) So by holding on to the house I am actually stalling the flow of events that is meant to unfold. And I realized, after much work, that by letting go of this lover I call a house, I am actually opening up the door to the next chapter of my life.
This is my truth right now. I have to trust that although this hurts, it is for a greater good. For progress and growth that I am not privy to at the moment.

That got me thinking some more…

What else am I resisting letting go of that is stalling my progress and growth? Hmmm, what a good question. People, projects, commitments, beliefs, roles, habits, grudges,  etc. It all started to bubble over when I got to answering that question.

So my wish for you is to ask yourself what you deserve to let go of. Answer it. Then let go. It feels so good.

P.S. Please spread the word about a great home in South Salem, OR that is for sale:) Caution: It will steal your heart. See it here: http://marsexploration.com/3365

I was having a drink with my new friend Kim (her real name:)) when we got to talking about some pretty relevant stuff. (I love relevant conversations.) Kim reminded me that we humans have a real need to feel connected to others; and yet, all too often we find ourselves in situations that connecting is avoidable, uncomfortable, impossible or even discouraged. Not intentionally, but evolutionally. We have evolved into a solitary group of inherently social folks. Sort of an oxymoron, huh?

Think about it. From business events to the office or shopping at the market, it is tough to connect. Or should I say, it’s easier not to. It takes work to muster up the energy and confidence and offer a handshake of introduction to a complete stranger.

I invite you to challenge that reality. Break free of the mold. Stand in your power and connect. Everywhere you go, reach out and make a concerted effort to find the common link between you and the person the universe has placed in front of you.

Each one of those people is there for a reason. It’s up to you to find out what it is. To find the connection.*

What a novel idea.

See, Kim did that- and that is how we got to be friends. And boy am I glad she did.
Thank you Kim…you are the ultimate connector!

*Read The Celestine Prophecy if you want to wrap your mind around this concept. Very cool read.

Professionals. Take a look at your headshot. Was it taken within the last year or two? Does it look like you? Does it favor you? Do you dread having to use it on your site, marketing materials or press releases?

You know who you are.

Don’t be lazy, go get a new professional photograph taken and don’t go just anywhere. Go directly to BMAC Lifestyle Photography. Brian McDonnell is in SE Portland and he is a talented photographer that will make you feel and look like a million bucks. (You are worth at least that much.)

Now I could sit here all day and tell you about his knack for using lighting that will make you shine or his innate ability for capturing your spirit in a natural way or even that you feel like you are on a Vanity Fair photo shoot when he is working his magic. But I think his photos speak for themselves:)

So click here to see his beautiful work and then pick up the phone and schedule an appointment. 503.381.1089 You will not be sorry. Then send me an email so I can say “I told you you’d look and feel like a million bucks!”

P.S. If you don’t think you need a head shot, think again. At any given moment you might get the call from someone asking you for your professional photograph and what you are faced with is a white wall, poor lighting and a digital camera. Don’t do that. Call Brian and be prepared and proud of your professional image.

P.S.S. For you folks who are not in Oregon, the first paragraph still applies to you. Find someone talented to capture your current, professional image NOW!

Here’s what I know…Sometimes we get misdirected. Misguided.

We don’t mean to do it. We are just doing what we were taught. Follow the path that makes the most sense or the old “Do what you love” and as a result we find ourselves in a profession, niche, organization that makes sense on the outside but feels incongruent on the inside.
We know in our hearts that that there is more we can offer the world. We know we can do more with what we have… and we can, if we just stop and listen. 

I stopped. This year I stopped driving and started observing (like a passenger) to what was going on around me. Who and what was showing up in my life. Who I resonated with and who I didn’t. What messages I delivered and how they landed. What the world needed that I could deliver without even trying.
And guess what? It was substantially different than what I thought they needed.I was offering the world (read clients) what I THOUGHT they needed and serving the people that made the most sense in a way that I was taught to serve them. And it turns out that I was a bit off target. Not because it wasn’t any good, but because they saw in me something more. Something more than I saw in myself.

When I stopped to listen. When I stopped to observe what people saw in me and listened to what they “get” from me-just by being me- I was able to re-aim and get closer to my target (read purpose).
Crazy, huh? We can’t ignore the messages, signals, hints, comments and compliments that friends, family, clients, employers, partners send us. The world delivers to us the answer that we are always searching for. We just have to stop driving (even for a moment) and observe, listen, learn and allow.

That is what I know.

A few months ago I decided that I would celebrate my 50th birthday early.

Yep, I’ve decided I don’t want to wait any longer. I don’t want to wait to experience the freedom and power that women over 50 have discovered and exemplify.

I can’t wait a minute longer.

This seems to be a rite of passage and frankly, I am on a quest to bring it on sooner than later. I am constantly searching (and fishing) for ways to learn from these “revolutionary” women. I call them revolutionary because when they hit the FIVE-OH their revolt against those hang-ups that have been dictating their happiness for the last several decades. They step into their power and speak from their truth. Amazing.

WebMD.com did a study in which they asked women over 50 why they love their age.

The responses confirm I am on to something… 

“After turning 50 I felt liberated. I felt like I could say what I wanted to say, do things I wanted to do, and wear things I  wanted to wear.” – WebMD:Suezee 

“We don’t sweat the little things any more — and we’ve learned that darn near everything is a little thing!” WebMD: — Clara 

“You know what you like and what you don’t like. If someone is trying to talk you into wearing pink because it’s trendy, you don’t let them influence you. There’s wonderful self-trust when you hit 50.” — C. Northrup  

“You’ve learned that you can depend on yourself and you are open to new opportunities. You can accept change, tackle life, and move on.” — S. Mitchell  

I love this one best…

“You learn to fuel your life from your inner wisdom, from your soul. Your life only works well if it’s fueled from what’s really true inside, not from what’s current in magazines.” — C. Northrup 

And the list goes on…You can see the full article here: http://women.webmd.com/features/50-great-things-about-women-over-50 

So, here’s what I’m wondering…Can 27, 35 or 42 be the new 50?

Are ya with me ladies?