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The wildly successful author of the Harry Potter book series delivers her 2008 commencement address "The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination."

Click here to watch the video or read the transcript. Funny, poignant, inspiring! Well worth your time!

Life is busy. Life is full. Life is complicated. I get sidetracked. Or I get stingy. Or I just plain forget.

But I have a roof over my head and food on my table and I can afford gas for my car. I am very, very, very grateful for the wonderful life that I have and for the opportunities that I've been given.

Sometimes I need a little nudge, a reminder, that a little money goes a long way.

One of my favorite inspirational websites www.tut.com is starting a great program called "Gifts from the Universe" and this month they are highlighting the Global giving Relief Funds for China and Myanmar. Click here to donate. I just did.

It's easy. It's fast. And it matters.

The saying "Think Globally, Act Locally" is a good one but I also think that "Think Globally, Act Globally" is equally important in these trying times.

Ah! Sweet retreat! I've just returned from 10 days out West and I'm feeling the expansiveness in my body, in my spirit, in my mind! I co-facilitated a one day retreat in NM and then attended a 6 day retreat in CO. I suspect I'll be writing in the coming weeks about some of my a-has and inspirations on my sojourn out west. But for now I want to encourage you, wherever you are, to take yourself on retreat ASAP!

My joyful co-facilitator, playpal, soul sister and dear friend Licia Berry and I recorded our second radio show 5 Elements for a Kick Butt Getaway! on The Celebration Station on Blog Talk Radio.  We did this after facilitating our retreat at Ghost Ranch and then experiencing the magic of the Echo Ampitheatre in Northern New Mexico (photo above). If you have 30 min to listen, click here and enjoy!

Or if you just want the quick skinny so you can start planning right away, here are the 5 key elements for retreat we highlight in our show:

1. Determine your purpose – why are you going? What do you need? To rest? To be in nature? To be alone? To connect with others? What are you craving?
2. Choose a great location – it can be your backyard, a local park, the beach or half way across the country. Make sure it’s a place that feels really good to you and will nourish you for a few hours or a few days.
3. Make it a multisensory experience – have yummy food, beautiful scenery, great music – or listen to the birds. Be aware of all your senses when experiencing retreat.
4. Create sacred space – create a little altar – something to mark the occasion. It can be with a candle or a rock or a pile of leaves – it doesn’t need to be fancy – but something to mark that this is sacred time and space for you to retreat
5. Pick a retreat process – retreats are more meaningful if you have a process to focus your energy – it can be journaling, hiking, collaging, focused conversation, walking a labyrinth. Something to focus your attention so your mind’s not wandering all over the place.

What is your favorite place to take yourself on retreat? Or where would you like to go on retreat? I invite you to comment below...

I co-facilitated a women's retreat last week with my dear friend and colleague Licia Berry at Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, NM and guess who lives 15 minutes down the road? That's right - Judy!!!

After two years of relationship - and coaching can be a very personal, intimate, deep connection - we finally got to meet in person! It was wonderful!

I love the phone and I love e-mail and I've made authentic connections with people all over the world this way. But somehow a hug in person is just the best.

Judy introduced me to her husband, Wayne and her horses Jack, Madonna and Guapito. I soaked in all the details about her home, land and business. I'd heard about these for years and even seen photos but it's just not the same as being in person.

You can learn more about her business at Healing Through Horses. Thank you, Judy, for attending our retreat and for welcoming me to New Mexico with open arms! It was a joy to spend time with you!

Eileen is my friend who I call "the fun time girl" because she's the life of the party! We found just about everything worth giggling about during her wedding weekend! (Here she is getting ready being tended to by Jennifer, her maid of honor, and Mista, a fellow bridesmaid.)

I've determined that there are 4 key ingredients to make any gathering - a wedding, birthday party, holiday gathering or simply dinner with neighbors - a smashing success!

1. Family and Friends - it may be stating the obvious but the best celebrations in life involve the people we love the most. Weddings in particular are a wonderfully special time where all aspects of your life (from childhood to now!) can collide for a brief few hours. Eileen and Lars had people from all over the country (and 3 from overseas!) fly in for the weekend. It requires energy and effort on everyone's part but the end result is often priceless!

2. Ambiance - finding the right location and setting the mood for your gathering makes all the difference in the world. Eileen knew that she wanted to get married at the beach. Even though the weather didn't cooperate for the bridal party to take photos on the sand, just being near the ocean with the salty air and the breeze put everyone in the spirit!

3. Planning with Intention - Eileen comes from a large Irish Catholic family from New Jersey - Lars comes from a small Baptist family from Georgia. Definitely two different worlds! So they combined elements of the two to make for a rich experience for all. For example, during their ceremony, two of the readings were from their favorite performers - Alan Jackson and Jon Bon Jovi!

4. Sacred Elements - there were many holy and divinely inspired moments during the weekend. Exchanging vows is usually a very sacred ritual and their Celtic hand tying ceremony was touching and beautiful. Another sacred moment came when Eileen's three nieces did a dance routine they'd learned in school. Perhaps it wasn't a "traditional" sacred moment but anything that inspires delight, bring joys or move people to tears is considered sacred in my book.

My favorite part of the whole weekend was when Dexie's Midnight Runners (remember them?!) blasted "Come On Eileen!" and the place went wild! Eileen's brothers hoisted her up on their shoulders, everyone rushed to the dance floor to boogie and there was my friend for 17 years ~ Bean~ beaming in the middle of the crowd of friends and family as she kicked up her heels with her new husband.

It doesn't get much more sacred and precious than that!

My dear friend Licia Berry and I have finally done it! After months of talking about it (mostly Licia bugging me saying 'c'mon, Elizabeth - it's fun!' - she has 2 successful radio shows already on the air), we have launched The Celebration Station on Blog Talk Radio.

Our first episode is called "Much Ado About Mamas" and we spend 30 minutes talking about the mother figures in our lives - both the external real live women in our lives and the internal mothering we give to ourselves.

We chose this as our first topic because of the upcoming Mother's Day holiday and our Loving Your Inner Feminine retreat in New Mexico on Saturday, May 10th.

Whether you can join us in New Mexico or simply want to take time reflecting on the mothers in your life and the mothering you give to yourself, I encourage you to click here to listen, learn and be inspired to celebrate all that you've learned from the mothers in your life and be reminded that even once you're grown, you can still mother yourself!

This is the e-mail message I received from TUT today.

"Kindness always wins, Elizabeth.

Always, always, always.

-- The Universe"

I really needed to hear that. In the past two weeks, I've noticed myself getting angry and agitated a lot - mostly at other people. I'm not easily upset so I've been looking for the gift in these situations. What am I to learn from these experiences?

"Do I know the whole story?" 

Eric and I received poor customer service a few weeks ago when renting a condo down at the beach. I got really angry that the employee was rude to us, that they messed up our reservation, etc. But after taking time to reflect as I walked the beach (always a great place to contemplate life!) I realized that I didn't know the whole story.

Maybe that employee had a horrible morning and was late to work. Maybe someone important to her had hurt her or was sick or had died. Maybe she felt trapped in a job she didn't enjoy. Maybe, maybe, maybe.

By considering all the possible options, I was able to realize that her treatment of us wasn't because we had done something wrong but was a symptom of something happening in her life. Something I wasn't aware of. Something that had nothing to do with me/us.

Making this discovery allowed me to have more compassion for her. I had initially filled out the guest comment survey and wanted her manager to know of my dissatisfaction. But I decided not to mail it afterall. That would only service my ego and give it the illusion of being powerful and "right". Instead, my authentic self, my spirit self just wants to send that employee my good thoughts and compassion and hope that she was just having a bad day.

Acting with kindness and releasing that anger and negativity feels very freeing. I am once again reminded that stepping back, asking "Do I know the whole story?" and not making assumptions or judgements is a very loving, authentic and powerful place from which to live your life.

Where have you had a similar experience in your life?

Yoga has been such a gift in my life since I moved to Florida last summer. I had done yoga on and off over the years but with no real "practice" to speak of. Now I attend classes twice a week at Namaste in Tallahassee - Mondays with Kathy and Geralyn and Thursdays with Charlene - and feel dynamite as a result!

If you are seeking:

- Clarity of mind

- Connection to Source

- A strong and fit body (relieve tension, improve flexibility, strengthen your core)

- Community of like minded people

then I highly recommend yoga - no matter where you live or what you do or who you are. It's important to find a style that works for you and a teacher that you can trust. I like the non-competitive style of classes at Namaste... my teachers emphasize over and over again "do what's right for you!"

Yesterday Kathy and Geralyn taught us the three A's and as I've been contemplating them for 24 hours, I realize that the three A's can be applied in all areas of your life - not just in yoga class!

1. Awareness - Notice how you're feeling. Notice your body. Notice your environment. Simply pay attention and listen for messages.

2. Acceptance - Don't judge yourself! Stop worrying about "do I look funny?" or "he's doing it better than I am" or "I'm not good enough". Start acknowledging that you're perfect exactly as you are and with what you're doing.

3. Adjustment - Move toward what feels good. Making subtle changes can give you great rewards. And sometimes, stopping what you're doing and trying something completely different is  the answer. Experiment and see what fits for you.

Neale Donald Walsch's Home with God ~ In a Life That Never Ends literally sprouted legs and packed itself in my suitcase a few weeks ago for a weekend trip. Eric & I have been dealing with grief and loss the past few months with the death of a friend, the serious illness of a close family member and the transition from leaving our beloved Asheville to our new home in beautiful Tallahassee. It's all left me searching for answers to questions I didn't realize I had.

One of my best friends has been bugging me to read this book for two years now. I am finally ready to receive it. One of the primary messages I have received from this book is that if we can learn to accept death and not fear it, then we can fully embrace life.

I have done a lot of underlining and dog-earing this book but the "100 Word Formula for All of Life" is worthy of sharing here.

Hope is the doorway to belief, belief is the doorway to knowing, knowing is the doorway to creation, and creation is the doorway to experience.

Experience is the doorway to expression, expression is the doorway to becoming, becoming is the activity of all life and the only function of God.

What you hope, you will eventually believe, what you believe, you will eventually know, what you know, you will eventually create, what you create, you will eventually experience, what you experience, you will eventually express, what you express, you will eventually become.

This is the formula for all of life. It is as simple as that.

Thoughts? Comments? Was this as powerful for you as it was for me when I first read it? You can read more about Neale Donald Walsch and his work here.

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!

~ An old Irish Blessing

My first instinct today was to run out and buy bushels of flowers! The uber-sunshine and crystal blue skies of a Florida winter are intoxicating! I love wandering in a nursery and choosing my favorite new spring flowers. It's so refreshing and joyful and makes me feel ALIVE.

But then I had a sobering thought...

Flowers sure would be pretty right now but what about all those weeds? Wouldn't I be smart to take care of those first and then plant new happy flowers?

Weeds

- take up space

- look unattractive

- steal vital nutrients and water from other healthy plants

- can strangle or overwhelm other plants

Weeding is a good metaphor for life, I think. Getting rid of what is old, dead, bothersome or in the way is healthy ...for your plants and your life!

After you weed, you feel great, right?

- Your yard and garden look clean and inviting.

- There's space for your current plants to flourish and new plants to be introduced.

- You feel a sense of accomplishment for ridding yourself of unnecessary excess.

What do YOU need to weed out of your life?  Is it paper clutter, old clothes, unhealthy relationships, less-than-optimal foods, negative self-talk, limiting beliefs that hold you back from living your best life? Sometimes it's something mundane and simple. Sometimes it's something bigger and more profound. Whatever it is, it is likely holding you back in some way and addressing it NOW will help you feel cleaner, clearer, lighter and stronger!

If you're not sure what it is, I'd suggest getting out in your garden and get your hands in the dirt. As you let your body do the work and remove physical real-life weeds, your mind will wander and suddenly it will be really clear really fast just what other figurative weeds (thoughts, things or both!) need to be removed from your life.

After the garden, I'm heading to my closet...!

I've talked with several clients in the past few weeks about this notion of self care and I'm amazed at how many of us resist this idea. We are programmed to take care of others, put others' needs and concerns before our own, give, give, give until it hurts and then give some more.

What's the end result usually? We end up wearing cranky pants! We become tired, overworked, overwhelmed, under appreciated, resentful, unhealthy, cranky, crabby and noone wants to hang out with us and then we don't even want to hang out with ourselves anymore because we are miserable.

That is not a fun way to live and if you recognize elements of this in your own life, I encourage you to stop now and take a hard look. You can make some changes right now that will benefit you for the short-term and the long-term! 

Claiming Elizabeth's Year of Extreme Self Care reminds me that I deserve to treat myself with love and attention.  What are the benefits? 

- I am balanced, happy and whole

- I feel solid and confident about my life and who I am

- I am able to be fully present for the people in my life (family, friends, clients, colleagues) who need me

- I'm more fun to be around because I am enjoying life

- I'm more productive in every area of my life

- I'm a more insightful coach, a more loving wife, a patient and caring friend, an enthusiastic networker who enjoys meeting new people

What if you claimed this year as YOUR year of Extreme Self Care? How could that change your life?

I know for sure that in the final analysis of our lives - when the to-do lists are no more, when the frenzy is finished, when our e-mail boxes are empty - the only thing that will have any lasting value is whether we've loved others and whether they've loved us. -- Oprah Winfrey

I know a lot of people consider Valentine's Day a "Hallmark holiday" --- one that has been overcommercialized and forced and stuffed down our throats. They say it's only a holiday because the media and retailers say it's so.

But I say, what's so bad about a holiday that celebrates love? What's so bad about expressing how you really feel to the people that you care about? OK OK so maybe we don't need all that chocolate and we certainly don't need to rack up credit card debt to impress people with material s-t-u-f-f but seriously folks... taking time out to

- write words of endearment to your sweetheart in a card or letter

- actually go out on a date (a candelight picnic in your living room can actually be more romantic than a big night out on the town!)

- spend time with friends and family laughing and celebrating love and life

- treat yourself to a bubble bath or anything else that makes you feel good about yourself

...well, I think these things are wonderful!

Valentine's Day reminds us to be more mindful and conscious of expressing our love. If more people said "I love you" every day to their partners, their parents, their children, their friends I think the world would be a better place.

One of my happy memories of childhood is getting ready for bed and going to each parent, hugging and kissing them and saying "I love you" and hearing it in return. Now in my marriage, we go through a similar ritual every night. There is peace and comfort in hearing that you are loved and in expressing it to another. Some people say that "the L word" is overused, but I never tire of hearing it - or saying it.

I love you dear readers, dear friends, dear family! Happy Valentine's Day!

Christmas, like so many holidays, is a good reason for friends and loved ones to come together and celebrate something that matters to them. I believe the essence of this wonderful holiday is all about love, family, togetherness, generosity and appreciation.

We had a great time laughing, playing games, telling stories and simply enjoying being together.

We teased Kathy (my birthmom!) that her house looked goofy decorated with Santa Claus and snowmen in February but she didn't care. She was just delighted to have the whole family together, to have Brad safely home from Iraq and to share the spirit of love and giving with everyone. 

Christmas in February? Yeah, a little goofy. Sure, a bit out of place. But OH so much fun!

How about you? Do you have a problem relaxing?

The crazy thing is, I thought I was doing a good job of being relaxed. I've been eating healthy and going for walks and spending time with my husband and friends.

But I think it's more than that. It's bigger than that. I think I need to be looking at the bigger picture of my life.

I think this is probably going to be my theme for 2008. Or at least a sub-theme!

I just started teaching the January Jumpstart Program this week and in the first module, I'm asking participants to tease out their goals for the year which will utimately lead them to their "theme for the year".

As I was pondering the homework I gave the class the other day, I realized that I need to remind people to look at not only what do I want to accomplish this year? ("the norm" for goal setting) but also

What do I want to EXPERIENCE this year?

How do I want to FEEL?

How do I want my life to be DIFFERENT and more ____________________(joyful, playful, loving, creative, dazzling, peaceful, etc) than it currently is?

I think if we focus more on the desire of BE-ing and less on the DO-ing that it eliminates stress and expectation and we have more freedom and passion to pursue our goals and dreams!  

I think I'll go relax now...

Eric and I in our new home, Tallahassee, FL

December 2007

Check out Damaris Pierce's website to see my inspired artwork (yep, that's mine right there on the home page as soon as you open it!) or visit www.iamthankful.com to learn more about Damaris' project to encourage people everywhere to express their gratitude. It's some really cool stuff that she's up to and I, for one, am honored to participate.

During this season of giving, perhaps you can express your gratitude in a postcard and send it in to Damaris' Worldwide Gratitude Project. Pretty cool, eh? :-)

P.S. This would be a great activity to do with children during the holiday season...

It's HOT down here... in the 70s and while it certainly is beautiful weather - blue sky, white puffy clouds, green, lush foliage - it's still HOT! For me, it's kind of like scuba diving which I never could get a hang of. Breathing underwater is just not natural. And having this kind of weather and decorating palm trees in December is just WEIRD! People say I"ll get used to it, but I miss the cooler weather of the mountains.

So, I'm dreaming of SNOW to keep me cool! I'm good at visualization but a photo helps.

This photo was taken of me and my dear friend Licia Berry on a trip to Colorado last year. It was VERY cold and there was LOTS of snow. YAY! Well, Licia and her family are escaping their cold environs for a week and are coming to Florida over the holidays. I'm so excited I get to see her and her sweet family! Many of my blog readers know Licia because she used to live in Asheville too! Check out her family's amazing adventures of traveling the country by visiting their family website.

Not only do we get to visit together, we are going to PLAY together in a formal way! On New Year's Day, we are hosting a workshop for women called "Create a Great 2008!" in Tallahassee from 3-6 p.m. We'll be doing guided imagery, collaging and setting clear intentions for the year ahead. Juicy, fun stuff!

Forget football, come join us on New Year's Day! You can register here.

And if you don't live in the Big Bend area, consider organizing a gathering yourself on New Year's Day! It's a fun way to kick off the new year with intention and joy! Need help? E-mail me for ideas!

In our "Get Off the Holiday Crazy Bus" teleclass last week, Licia Berry and I had a terrific group of wise women who shared some wonderful strategies for practicing self-care during the hectic holiday season.

1. Honor How You Feel. This time of year is touted to be festive and fun and yet a lot of us experience complex emotions like grief and sadness and depression. Allow those feelings to be part of your experience and seek professional help from a therapist or personal help from a friend or family member to support you if you need it.

2. Spend Time In Nature. As one participant explained it "My whole system relaxes. I get away from the 'doing' and focus on the 'being'. I get to soak in what's real and I feel centered and grateful." So whether it's a hike in the woods or simply sitting on your back porch for a few minutes each day, time outside can do wonders for the spirit.

3. Be Playful. Be intentional about seeking fun and laughter during this time of year. Watch the Comedy Channel, go to a comedy club, see a silly play, spend time with children and/or pets and just laugh. It will boost your spirits for sure!

4.Thursday night bubble baths!

5. Get regular massage.

6. Meditate and stretch. Daily.

7. Listen to good music. Whatever makes you feel VIBRANT.

8. Enjoy good food. Whether you are cooking it or eating it, make eating healthy, yummy, nourishing food part of your holiday season. Bless your food and express gratitude for the fuel that keeps you juiced up and alive!

And just for kicks... the one that had us all rolling with laughter... when all else fails...

9. Eat ice cream out of the carton! :-)

The group was founded by Diana Kennedy, a ministerial assistant at Unity Church, a massage therapist and all around inspired woman! I'm delighted to finally meet this charismatic, high-energy lover of life. If she weren't moving, I'm sure this is someone with whom I would become good friends. But Diana has another calling - she's headed to the midwest to go to ministerial school and seems to be following her true path.

I can tell the Tallahassee community is sad to see her leave and yet she's created at least one experience that is sure to live on after she's gone. The Goddess Luncheon, which meets monthly, is for women who self-proclaim to be goddesses! People were festively dressed, Diana sprinkled us all with fairy dust and waved her magic wand and we all felt loved and supported.

The conversation was 100% positive and uplifting. Women talked about "creating our reality" and "leading with love and light". There was mention of The Secret, Abraham-Hicks, TUT and more! It's so refreshing to meet like-minded folks!

I will definitely be back and am thankful to have met so many inspired and inspiring women! Thank you, Tallahassee, for welcoming me with open arms. I feel like I am finding my tribe!