all the good things of life


At the Marin Headlands

When I began telling people about letting go of teaching, everyone I spoke with was supportive. I was surprised by this. I anticipated hearing more, “But what about…money/time/health insurance/making it?” types of fears. Instead, people congratulated me on making the shift, and what I was left with was my own little room of these fears.

They weren’t anyone else’s–they were my own.

Then, as the weeks went by and I began building the websites and they were starting to take shape, I needed to define for myself what my hopes were. My hopes were simple: that initially, the sites would have resonance–and that ultimately, the e-course and retreats would fill.** 

“I get that the e-course starts in three months, so people aren’t going to sign up right away,” I told Andy before the sites launched. “All I want right now is resonance; I want to see that what I’m wanting to do resonates with people in a positive way. To me, that would look like supportive emails or comments. People saying ‘Like’ when I post the link on Facebook. Sharing the video with others. Stuff like that.”

By Thursday of last week, it was clear that I needed a break from the computer. I’d managed to come down with a cold right after a visit from my sister, my arm was hurting, my carpal tunnel was flared up, etc. Starting Friday, I decided to just…let…go...and take a break from the computer for a few days.

So you could have knocked me over with a feather when I got a call from someone who had registered for the course on Saturday afternoon, while Andy and I were out looking at apartments (it would seem at this point that we are likely letting go of house-sitting because the hurdy-gurdy moving around is wearing on us). And then I get home and try to log in on the computer, now excited to see what else is there–but the internet is down! Nonononono! gah!–and then finally later the internet is back up, and…oh my gosh. People are signing up for the e-course. Three months in advance. And joining the mailing list-serve. And sending me emails. And being so unbelievably wonderful and supportive and kind that I just want to send all of you the good things of life…things like gerber daisies. And buttercream cake. And vanilla lattes.

Holy tamale, Batman!

The personal work that I’ve been doing for years now means so much to me, mostly because it has gotten me out of a really, really stuck space. Being a Life Coach means so much to me. The e-course–something I’ve been thinking of doing for years, to the point where I’ve kept all of these little bits of notes in a file-folder that I’ve dragged around to every house I’ve moved into (and if you’re counting, that’s a lot of moving)–it means so much to me.

The fact that any of you see enough resonance to sign up this early in the game means more than I can say. You are helping me to create my own Courageous Year. I can promise you–this is not going to be some half-hearted, pitch it together at the last minute kind of deal. I’m putting my heart and soul into this course and hoping (trusting!) that when all of us collectively step into that space, something pretty amazing will be created–this group of people who are letting go of whatever doesn’t serve us to step into a vision for something new and more powerful.

** April 2010 retreat dates to be announced soon! Sign up for the mailing list over at http://www.yourcourageouslife.com for the announcement when I have our space confirmed.