do what you love Page 75 of 94

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone: Claire Maguire shares her story

Posted on 2011-10-03 at 8:00 am.

Today’s shared story comes from Claire Maguire.

To do what you love means each day is a joy. An adventure. A discovery. Being able to see the world with fresh eyes. To be thankful that the moment is a gift to be cherished. It’s when work loses meaning. You’re in flow. Work, life is harmonious, it’s easy, effortless. You become lost in that which you do.

It sounds so romantic. And is it even achievable? For a duality of life in doing what you love means leaping with faith and that can evoke fear…yet to quote Neale Donald Walsche “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone”.

For me the leap is saying yes to pursuing the pleasure I gain when I teach women about the sensuality in food, in particular raw food; to give women the ability to re-connect into their purpose; to release old pain and to say yes to innermost desires. To be able to put yourself first and lose the guilt. And I have the absolute honour of doing that through running retreats.

The realization that this is what I wanted to do, could do, even dare to dream of, hit me over 4 years ago. When I discovered that raw food can literally change your life it sparked within me the passion to share this information. I became a coach and in doing so, my life and the path I had followed made sense – what a relief! I visualised the sound of women laughing as I showed them how to make sense of their lives, dreams and desires. I knew that I loved creating experiences and events and so the seedling of an idea to run retreats was planted.

It’s been a slow process of seeing that dream become a reality. I started a coaching practice initially which finessed my craft. I run on-line coaching programmes and I have participated in courses and worked with mentors myself.

I fortunately had a supportive family who saw the value in my dream and together we renovated an old farmhouse in North Yorkshire (UK) into a luxury boutique retreat centre.

It’s been a monumental journey; I left a marriage, moved with my children, was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. I had to make a ‘comeback’ with my coaching practice. I had to re-inspire myself and my passion for food, I learnt more and more deeply about the importance of self-care on all levels – mind, body, spirit and the impact our emotions play in our well-being.

It’s been an eventful 4 years. But with the loyalty of my clients, the faith of my family and the support of my friends, the opening of The Retreat at Split Farthing Hall was a treasured event. I was living, breathing, doing what I love.

With hindsight I realise that everything takes much longer than anticipated and a plan of working 6 months ahead instead of reacting in the moment would have been beneficial. I could have held more belief and networked like crazy. Yet I do believe everything happens when you’re ready. And it’s only now that I’m ready to take the next big leap and see The Retreat at Split Farthing Hall become an in-demand; much loved boutique retreat; featured in the glossy magazines and Sunday supplements; to build a community of passionate women and to touch the lives of the women that come here to experience the magic.

[Images courtesy of Claire Maguire]

Find out more about retreats at Split Farthing Hall here. To find out more about well-being and food coach Claire visit her website here.

On a mission to take back our plates, one delicious bite at a time: Sue Ann Gleason shares her story

Posted on 2011-09-26 at 11:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s shared story comes from nutritionist Sue Ann Gleason.

I am a food lover, food writer, and food-based healer. (aka: culinary nutritionist) I started my business because I wanted to create a delicious approach to radiant health. But the road has been a little bumpy. You see, before I set off to study every form of mind-body-health and nutritional science I could get my Type-A hands on, I was simply a happy, “healthy” food lover. Or so I thought.

And then, I lost my health and found it again through a deep, introspective look at the food I was eating, or not eating when I was on one of my extreme diet or exercise regimes. And when I found the courage to dig a little deeper, I discovered it wasn’t only about the food. My beautifully complex life needed more than just the application of glorious greens and fresh vegetable juices. Non-stop, copiously compulsive Type A overachiever. That was me. I used to shave one leg in the morning and one at night to save time. My calendar was color-coded. Even “spontaneous” moments had a color—blue. I was proud of my resourcefulness. I was an accomplished multi-tasker and it even earned me the distinction Teacher of the Year.

Taking on a health crisis was, for me, just another project. I attacked it with tenacity. I started studying things like cellular rejuvenation through raw food nutrition. I climbed into bed with The Autoimmune Epidemic instead of my favorite memoir. My body became a human laboratory. And I healed.

But old habits die-hard. Even in healing mode, I found a way to live life in the extremes. It started with my raw food journey. Instead of reveling in the vibrant colors and textures of homegrown tomatoes, ravishing red peppers, crunchy cucumbers and glorious greens, a meal became a contest. Anything less than 100 percent raw somehow became less nourishing than its cooked counterpart.

There I was—immersed in my new career with more degrees, studies, certifications, awards, and endorsements than I knew what to do with—surrounded by healthy, like-minded nutrition gurus and healers, when I came to the striking realization . . . I WASN’T HAVING ANY FUN.

I found myself longing for the companionship of food-loving friends who appreciated beautiful, wholesome meals, and . . . CHOCOLATE. One blustery weekend, I attended an Integrated Health Symposium in New York City. You know, the kind of conference that fills both your brain and your CEO bucket. The presenters were brilliant. The information was cutting-edge. But the exhibit hall was filled with powders, potions, pills, bars, and supplements. I was trying to find my way out of the tangle, bumping into voracious vendors hawking their wares, when a bright-eyed gentleman blocked my path,

“Our products come from whole food botanicals, optimally cultivated, fair trade and sustainable, rich in human compatible/absorbable vitamins, minerals, EFA oils and antioxidants, especially vitamins C and E. Do you use super food powders with your clients?” he asked. “No, I use food,” I replied. Though, admittedly, I was impressed with the number of words that spilled out of his mouth in just one sentence. That was a pivotal moment. I knew it was time to reclaim my relationship with real food, all food, fun food, and start hanging out with people who actually ate it.

So, I tried a little experiment. What happens when you take away all the fear-based notions around food and health and you just focus on the blissful benefits of consuming colorful, vibrant meals? What happens when you slow down and enjoy what you’re eating? What happens when you shift the pace of your life and make a commitment to engage in at least one delicious activity each day that makes you laugh? What happens when you start eating chocolate for breakfast?

I can tell you, ‘my’ life changed. I didn’t throw away my credentials or the gazillion books I had collected on biochemical imbalances or nutritional theories. But I did create a shift in my life and in my practice. I discovered that I have a unique gift. I can transform even the most contracted eater on the planet. I know how to laugh. I know how to use my creative powers to get to the heart of their nutritional stories because I’ve explored the shadows and contradictions in my own story. And I am passionate about my work as a culinary nutritionist, because embedded in this work, is a heartfelt mission: that we take back our plates, one luscious bite at a time.

[Image courtesy of Sue Ann Gleason.]

Sue Ann, founder of Conscious Bites Nutrition, is a Washington DC-based culinary nutritionist, dynamic eating psychology coach, speaker, and writer. Find out more about Sue Ann on her website or her blog.

Featured in new magazine from Stampington!

Posted on 2011-09-14 at 8:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Have you heard about ‘Mingle’, the new magazine from Stampington? It is all about creative gatherings and is sure to be full of delicious images and inspiring words. I am excited that the Do What You Love retreat is going to be featured in the inaugural issue, out on October 1!

NB: For those of you like me who don’t like in the US, you can order Stampington magazines through their website here.

Everyone’s journey starts with a small step: three inspiring women share their stories

Posted on 2011-09-12 at 8:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s shared stories come from Jill Metz, Laura Gates and Johwey Redington.

Jill Metz

In 2007 I was happy. But not the kind of happy that fills you up. I was satisfied but still hungry. I think that was the first step for me in doing what I love, realizing I wasn’t filled up and feeling like I did deserved to be filled up. I was married to the love of my life with two healthy children, a boy and girl and I was Blessed. But after 8 years of marriage I began to feel resentful and dissatisfied. I had been filling up with my family for so long , trying to be perfect and expecting them to be my whole world. Needless to say, that was trouble waiting to happen!

Then came the question…what was missing in my life? It was at that time i began to dig deeper and look at my life and to discover the bigger picture of who I was. What I honestly discovered was that I didn’t even know myself. I didn’t know what I believed, didn’t know what I was good at, didn’t know what my passions were. I had a very challenging childhood and it was more about survival than being a kid. Therefore I lived my young adult years, ages 16-25, trying to be the kid I didn’t get to be. Usually this is the time when people start to look at themselves and ask the type of questions that lead to this discovery of self. I was a late bloomer!

So I had to go back to the beginning and I asked myself, “What did I like to do when I was a little girl?” This was not an easy place to revisit but I have to say with that blast to the past came a great deal or healing, forgiveness, and learning to love myself more. I was the little girl who was always creating something, usually out of nothing. I was the kid who would rather hang out in the craft store than the toy store. I was the little girl who would set up a tattoo stand outside her apartment building in hopes someone would actually pay me to draw a mermaid on their arm with a magic marker. Just like my mother, God had given me the gift of CREATIVITY! So I went back to that and picked up the old crusty paint brush that had been neglected for so many years and I went to work. I quickly discovered mixed media and things started to make sense, I was seeing the bigger picture.

Unlike some of the inspiring stories you hear here, I did not quit my job and within a year make a good living. I was just too fragile for that and didn’t have the courage or confidence to dive in. I did begin a small on-line business making mixed media picture frames and got accepted into some local art shows. This was good for my self esteem and I started to believe in myself. That was four years ago….

Today I am doing what I love! I have an amazing family who I truly love and appreciate more every day. I have the privilege of being here to prepare their food, wipe their noses, drive them to their cross country and basketball games, send them off on the bus and I’m here when they get home. Mostly I have the privilege to pray with them and for them. The other part of the picture is I’m a mixed media artist! I have a website, a blog, I teach mixed media art workshops, and still continue to do select juried art shows. I have been invited to display my work in art galleries and have had inquires about offering a wholesale line. I have recently been exploring the world of licensing and attended Surtex last March in NY City. I am praying about those opportunities and each new opportunity that comes my way. Last month I finally got the courage to submit my work to my favorite international magazine and I’m hopeful that they will publish my artwork.

I don’t think you can really do what you love for life until you know who you are. I was a mouse on a wheel. To everyone else I looked happy, I thought I was happy. But then I got hungry and I listened to that. I didn’t settle! Instead I began a journey. A journey of FAITH, COURAGE, HEALING, and TRUST. Everyone’s journey looks different, but they all start with a step, and then another step, and then another. I remind myself life is not a race…it is a journey. I can’t worry with how good I’m not, how slow I am, how much time I wasted. I can only take that step today in order to do what I love for life.

[All images courtesy of Jill Metz]

Find out more about Jill on her website here.

Laura Gates

As a kid I envied people who knew what they wanted to be when they grew up. I didn’t have a clue. I lamented this fact with my dad in the kitchen one afternoon 30 years ago, wondering what my college major should be.

“What if I stuck a hot poker in your foot right now and you had to tell me what you wanted to be?” asked my dad. “Um. A writer?” I said meekly. Needless to say, I chose psychology and quickly transferred into business. (Parents, don’t try this at home!)

One thing led to another and I ended up working in banking on Wall Street in the wild 80s. Although I excelled and climbed the corporate ladder, I felt creatively vacant and desperately tried to find work in other areas, to no avail.

It was ultimately falling head over heels in love with a handsome young South American that catalyzed the change. In a potentially career limiting move, I quit my job and followed him to South America, where we promptly got married and traveled for a year. After returning to New York I was hired back by the bank, still clueless as to my life calling. My sister urged me to move to California, and a friend offered me a job at a PR firm. In little over a year I was serendipitously given the chance to take over another woman’s business who was pregnant and moving. From one client at $500 a month I quickly grew my company – marketing and promoting women-owned businesses – making six figures within the year.

The early 90’s were exciting times and I was hugely successful, but in the midst of the dot.com boom my husband left me. I was devastated. I managed to keep the business going, but would curl into a fetal position at night and cry myself to sleep. Within a year he married his assistant, a several-years younger version of me. In addition to feeling horribly rejected I had become a cliché – and I was barely over 30!

It was thanks to my husband leaving that led me to my current career as a leadership trainer and coach. One day at lunch a client wanted to know how I was doing. I burst into tears crying telling her the whole story. She recommended I do a workshop that changed her life with Learning as Leadership, and that was the turning point for me. Learning about how my behaviors contributed to what wasn’t working in my life gave me the power to change. And 16 years later, I am working as an executive coach and trainer for the company that leads those very same trainings. Working with people to help them find their passion and overcome the obstacles that get in their way is my passion.

It sounds crazy, but today I’m grateful my husband walked out on me. It was a big kick in the ass and propelled me to truly find my life purpose. It also led to my spiritual quest which has me co-leading journeys around the globe to work with indigenous healers, and pursuing a Master’s in Intuition Medicine.

Now remarried, on the cusp of my 49th birthday, I am once again putting tender green shoots into the ground, exploring new territory. The high school girl who timidly said she wanted to be a writer back in the kitchen that day is finally emerging. I have found my voice through my blog, telling my stories, expressing my authentic self.

As we approach unprecedented times of change on our planet, I am listening carefully once again to the signs the universe is sending me and I wonder. What’s next? But unlike younger versions of myself, I know and trust that everything is unfolding just as it should. And there is nothing I need do but surrender to the Signs.

[All images courtesy of Laura Gates.]

Find out more about Laura on her website.

Johwey Redington

My journey started when I became an architect. My parents wanted me to be an accountant and take over the family business, but I had always been artistically-inclined and knew I wanted a creative career. I was only allowed to pursue a licensed profession, and architecture had the right mix of art and science so it seemed a good choice at the time. As an architect, I loved seeing dreams transformed into well-designed usable spaces which, in turn, promised to provide their users with memorable experiences. That was the satisfaction I got from my job – creating spaces for people to enjoy. (It wasn’t always pleasurable though. Most of the time, I was wrestling with contractors and building inspectors! Still I loved what I did.)

Being married and having children changed my priorities. At this stage in my life, I found myself juggling between the competing demands of my professional career and motherhood. I was living two lives – architect during the day and wife and mother at night. (At times, the architect would even encroach on family time!) I started to feel no fulfillment in my work anymore and desired to give my full presence to my two daughters – at least in their formative years. So after several years of professional practice, I became a full-time mom.

The transition from architect to stay-at home-mom wasn’t easy. I grew up in a society that doesn’t place much value on parenting as a valid and distinguished occupation. And for someone as career-driven as I am, I somehow felt displaced. People went from “Oh wow, you’re an architect!” to “You stay home all day?!? What do you do?” Somehow they don’t give much credit to the challenging, demanding, and stressful job of being a mother. I didn’t know how to label myself. (What do I put as my occupation? Leaving it blank makes me feel like a bum.) I was loving taking full charge of my children’s upbringing (I was even homeschooling them) – I knew what I was doing was vital and important, and that I was the only one who can do it – but I couldn’t reconcile who I was to the world.

Throughout all these, I continued to create. Art is inherent in me – I’ve always known it is essential to my soul. It’s what made me fall in love with architecture in the first place. It’s what makes me come alive – the ability to express and interpret my experiences visually and creatively. As a full-time mom, I was able to explore more freely and play more creatively. I rediscovered the joys of mixed media and book arts, developed my skills as a photographer, and got introduced to the world of fabric arts. The best thing is that art integrates well to our family lifestyle – it doesn’t compete with my role as a mother and wife, in fact, it complements it.

In this path of putting my children first, I eventually learned to deepen my awareness for each present moment. In so doing, I gained a greater sense of freedom and self-understanding. I’ve come to terms with what’s really important to me and developed a confidence in my abilities that I lacked before. This gave me the courage to share my journey and open my art to the world. And now, in this current stage of my life, I’ve decided to build my career as an artist as I continue to be a mindful parent (and person in general). Sometimes I get scared, sometimes my confidence wanes. It’s a whole new industry, a whole new community. But my inspiration never falters and I keep on moving forward.

So what does it mean to do what you love? For me, it means living every minute of each day as fully as possible, even if I have to live my life in stages. At present, I’m enjoying my moment-to-moment relationship with my family and I’m creating to my heart’s content. I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

In retrospect, I wouldn’t change anything in my past (not so easy to say when experiences are fresh) because I believe that everything that happened in my life brought me to where I am today – and where I am right now will bring me to something even greater in the future. I know this because I believe and I keep on trying. And wherever my art will take me, I know with confidence that I’ve already carried out my life’s masterpieces – my two lovely daughters!

[All images courtesy of Johwey Redington]

Find out more about Johwey on her website.

Flying the nest… we’re moving to Japan!

Posted on 2011-09-09 at 10:43 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

I am a wanderer at heart, but I am also Taurean through and through – which means I like to surround myself with beautiful things, and create a secure home. This internal contradiction often pulls me in different directions, and right now has manifested itself as a very exciting decision… we are moving to Japan from next March for 8-9 months!

Image: Cover of ‘Kodansha Bilingual Encyclopedia of Japan’

Last Summer we bought our lovely house, and have been so happy here, but in the past few months my man and I have started to get itchy feet. I have long had a deep love of Japan, having lived in Kyoto for a year as a 19-year old student, and then in the snowy north, and in Tokyo for four more years in my twenties. My man spent several years of his childhood in Hong Kong, but has never been to Japan, so we decided that now is as good a time as any!

To me Japan is a magical place, a breathtakingly beautiful place, and a place where anything seems possible. It has also been home to some of my craziest, funniest adventures, and most deeply thought-provoking experiences. I have found myself dreaming of Kyoto quite often recently, and have long harboured a secret wish to spend several months just wandering – taking photos, writing, exploring, catching up with old friends, doing a class or two in indigo dyeing, papermaking or pottery perhaps… And my man wants to learn the language which has captivated me. So he is taking a sabbatical, and will study in the mornings, then spend the rest of the time exploring. And as for me – I have no plan whatsoever!

I have a feeling this is going to be a very precious time, and I want to soak in every inch of it. And I cannot wait to share it all with you!

PS. For this reason I have decided not to run a Do What You Love retreat in England next year. The next one will be in 2013 – I hope you can wait that long! (And maybe, just maybe, I’ll organise one in Japan, if anyone would be interested??)

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Did you hear the news? The Art and Business of Surface Pattern featuring Rachael Taylor launched yesterday! You will LOVE it – take a look over here!

Announcing… The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design featuring Rachael Taylor!

Posted on 2011-09-08 at 8:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

I am so excited to unveil this exciting project which I have been working on for the past few months… It is a huge honour and privilege to announce a collaboration with incredibly talented designer Rachael Taylor…

Announcing... The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design featuring Rachael Taylor! Hi res 550px Header WEB Ver1 e1314972237207

‘The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design featuring Rachael Taylor’ is the definitive guide to becoming a surface pattern designer – and you are going to LOVE it!

If you have ever dreamt of seeing your designs on stationery, fabric, homewares or other products, sharing your art through pattern, and monetising your designs this groundbreaking new e-course is for you!

Split into three modules (see below) it will take you step-by-step from sketch to pattern to product, sharing technical how-to-guides and industry secrets along the way.

Are you ready to dive into a world of colour and pattern?

Come and join us!

’50s Inspired Quirky Print’ by Rachael Taylor

About the course

Thriving surface pattern designer Rachael Taylor will guide you along this exciting path from developing your signature style to putting a collection together, and from protecting your work to monetising your designs.

With a rich combination of design inspiration, practical advice, demonstrations, creative exercises, resources and interviews with leading industry practitioners, this is the go-to guide for anyone wanting to develop their design skills.

Rachael’s work has been featured in numerous leading pattern books, on TV and in many glossy magazines, and she has worked with the likes of Target, teNeues, Graham & Brown, WHSmith and TigerPrint (for M&S). Find out more about Rachael here.

If you want to break into and succeed in surface pattern design, register now!

Roadtrip #9: Strange times in the Catskills

Posted on 2011-09-06 at 3:07 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

I don’t really know what to say about the Catskills. Up in the mountains the views are amazing, and I can imagine it is a fantastic place to ski in winter. But we had a bizarre experience there and surprised ourselves by not staying very long.

It was the height of the tourist season and the weekend of the crazy Warrior Dash (where people do fun things like fire jumping, pond swimming and mud crawling – so the place was full of people caked in crusty mud!) and nearly every room in the town of Windham was taken. The only room we could find at short notice was in a B&B which we joked looked like something out of a horror film from the photos on its website. When we got there, it was just as weird as we had joked it might be! It was isolated, gloomy and imposing, hidden at the edge of dark woods. We had the worst night’s sleep ever and got up aching all over at about 5am to be greeted by a wild storm. You know how a bad situation can actually send you into a fit of laughter? That’s what we were like as we wondered whether we were only saved from the scary B&B’s resident mad axeman because he also couldn’t move after such a bad night’s sleep…

We had come to Windham to go mountain biking and do some fun stuff on the river, but it was nearly impossible in all the wind and rain so we did something we weren’t expecting to – we left! But not until we had picked up breakfast from a fab cafe, with exposed concrete behind the counter and cool art on the exposed brick walls…

And as we were leaving things got even more strange when we saw this truck driving down the road carrying a house – you would never see that in England!

A couple of weeks later Windham was hit by the edges of Hurricane Irene and the whole place flooded. I hope it recovers in time for the winter season, as I expect it is quite a magical skiing destination at that time of year.

More roadtrip posts here: #1 For the love of travel; #2 Sharks and jellyfish; #3 Boston and Harvard; #4 A fairytale wedding; #5 On top of the world; #6 To Canada, in search of stationery; #7 Japanese paper and pattern inspiration; #8 Niagara Falls

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“Life-changing”, “Revolutionary”, “Awe-inspiring”, “Transformative“ – just a few of the ways former participants have described the Do What You Love e-course.

Do you fancy some of that in your life? Do you want to get closer to identifying your true passion and finding a way to do what you love, for life? Then this is for you!

The Do What You Love e-course is open for registration now and places are limited so book now to secure your place. This is the last time it will run this year.

This is your chance to join a global tribe of like-minded people who will support and encourage you to find your way.

It could be the most influential six weeks of your life… Join now!

Life-changing moments: three inspiring women on doing what they love

Posted on 2011-09-05 at 8:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s shared stories come from Angie Fraley, Tamarisk Saunders-Davies and Marian Buck-Murray.

Angie Fraley

I am absolutely doing what I love…..creating an extraordinary life out of ordinary moments while teaching others to do the same. I do this through creatively blending the vehicles of art and yoga my (two biggest passions) to uplift and inspire others to see the world through a different lens.

I’ve always done art. As a child it was my escape from the world around me. I would get lost and lose track of time and nothing else existed. That was a very safe place for me in a very unpredictable environment so I liked it quite a lot. As I got older, the “artists starve” mentally reared it’s ugly head and off to work I went (dental assistant, gymnastics coach, manicurist, and finally entrepreneur). I opened up a paint your own pottery studio and ran it for eight years before selling it. I LOVED teaching other people how to paint, how to lose track of time, and be whole heartedly absorbed by what they were doing.

Now I just wanted to know if I could love doing everything in my life as much as I loved being creative so that I could always be happy….not just when I’m creative. But could I?

Enter YOGA.

To me, doing what I love, means loving what I do…..no matter what task is at hand. I realized that after I completed a 500 hour year long advanced studies yoga program where I had to put my heart on a table for all to examine – terrifying! This is when I decided to put my art into my yoga practice and my yoga practice into my art.

I stopped teaching others how to “do art” and started painting JUST FOR ME – liberating! I was painting as way to remind myself to get quiet and meditate. Somehow, organically things started to unfold when I was relaxed enough to get out of my own way. Doing art from my heart eventually birthed om2art.com, a place where I can share my journey via a blog featuring art with hope through observations that my yoga practice and life continue to give me.

Yoga and art are a way of life for me. I feel like I’ve been let in on a secret and need to share it with the world. Whether you are doing art or doing the dishes – the principle is the same. Enjoy this moment….be fascinated with this moment….be open to this moment and the wonders that are in it. I assure you, if you are able to do this, you will find joy now…..not if/when your environment is perfect….but happy and content, right now…..what a gift.

Oh and by the way, it’s something I still wrestle with myself (just ask my kids and husband)…..but this is why it’s called a yoga PRACTICE. I practice self study….showing kindness to myself and others. I practice finding the joy in the moment, practice being absorbed by it, and practice in knowing that it’s all unfolding exactly as it’s supposed to.

As far as what I’d love to do next? Well, I would love to enter the licensing world, attend art retreats, and teach workshops across the country. But more than any of that……I would love to soak up and enjoy each and every moment of the entire process.

[Images courtesy of Angie Fraley]

Find out more on her website here.

Tamarisk Saunders-Davies

Tamarisk and her sisters

Catalyst. A person or thing that precipitates an event or change.

My catalyst came in my early twenties. It was a Saturday morning, I was in my London flat with my boyfriend packing for our impending holiday. The phone rang. The woman at the end of the line had an American accent. She was asking for my sister, who I shared the flat with at the time. “She’s not here right now, can I take a message or can I help?” I asked the caller. “Maybe you can…do you know how I can find her sister?” she asked. “You’re speaking to her…I’m Tamarisk”. Long pause.

“I’m looking for someone called Mark Saunders-Davies”.

“He’s my dad…” I trailed off, becoming slightly panicked about just where this conversation was going.

“He’s my dad too” she said, haltingly.

My boyfriend, only hearing one side of this increasingly bizarre conversation, started giving me quizzical looks and perched on the edge of the sofa openly eaves dropping now. Who could blame him! We started gabbling away, finding out all we could about each other and furiously cooking up plans to email pictures and meet up. As soon as possible.

After we put the phone down, it felt like someone had poured pop rocks into my brain. All sorts of thoughts and ideas seemed to be exploding at once. Why hadn’t I known I had an older sister before? Why did my dad keep this a secret? What did this mean for the identity I had for myself as the “oldest of two sisters”?

I made calls to my sister who was on holiday in Rome. I called my dad confused and in tears, overwhelmed with all the questions I wanted answers to. Fast forward to now and my once hidden sister is a huge part of my life and our family. But this experience became one of the key events that got me to quit a job I hated and retrain, first as a psychotherapist and then as a coach. During the shock and awe that this discovery created, I leaned on the support of my own therapist. I learned, finally, how to articulate my needs, feel my feelings and not be scared by them and lean into the vulnerability that I felt while the landscape of our family changed and expanded at rapid speed.

While all this was happening for me, I woke up to how crushingly dull I found my job. Working in public relationships I was bothering journalists daily about stuff they didn’t want to write about and never would. I became almost envious of my therapist. She was instrumental in helping me create clarity from all the chaos and I knew, deep in my bones, that I wanted to do that too.

Wasting no time, I researched and found a post graduate counselling and psychotherapy training, dropped my job down to four days a week and got myself qualified. Psychotherapy trainings require you to do a lot of work for free while you’re working towards accreditation. Undaunted, I sought out as many placements as I could. I took pay cut after pay cut in part time jobs. I gave up my weekends. I fit clients in before and after work working incredibly long days. I gave up any semblance of a social life. None of that mattered because something was unfurling inside me. I was doing work I loved. Making a difference in people’s lives every time I met with my clients.

But my evolution into doing work that lit me up, that felt like it just moved through me didn’t stop there. I became more and more focused on the nature of relationships. Finding out about and getting to know my sister was an invitation from the universe to expand the way I related to myself and everyone in my life.

Upgrading my skills set to include coaching became the missing piece to the puzzle. Getting clients into action is my specialty. It’s when we take action that we create clarity. And that’s beautiful to witness.

With hindsight, I can recognise that despite the confusion, the pain and the questions finding out about my hidden sister threw up, everything always unfolds perfectly. Without that experience I wouldn’t be the strong, powerful women I am today. Without that one phone call I would never have come to know my beautiful, extraordinary sister. Without that experience I wouldn’t have fully know who my dad is.

My big dream for the future is to create a community of incredible women who feel empowered and capable to ask for what they want in their relationships and get it. In my work I see how women play small simply because they haven’t taught the skills they need to negotiate boundaries, work their self-worth and set healthy limits in their relationships.

It’s not possible to play small to make others feel big.

[Image credit: Chloe Brown.]

Find out more about Tamarisk on her website here.

Marian Buck-Murray

My name is Marian Buck-Murray. I am a Transformational Health Guide. I show people how to nourish body and mind to transform their lives. I love what I do.

Over the past three decades I have journeyed though PTSD, autoimmune illness, and two heart surgeries. Believe it or not, after all that, at age 50, I feel fabulous! In fact, I feel better than I’ve ever felt during the whole of my adult life. I know this is because of my illnesses, not in spite of them.

I’ve come to understand that our bodies always tell us exactly what we need to know. What looks like disease and pain is often the body’s best way to bring us back to life. It’s sometimes the hardest falls that propel us into the light.

For me, it was my heart that pulled me back to life. You see, I had never truly healed from my sister’s suicide when I was a teen. Unknowingly, I dissociated from the trauma, and went on with my life. College, a job, and a loving fiancé. Yes, I had plenty of messy ups and downs, but I had no clue what was hidden deep within me.

And then – BAM. On the 10^th anniversary of my sister’s death, as I prepared for my upcoming wedding, I was struck with a bizarre, undiagnosed autoimmune disease. It started with a rash, fever, and excruciating joint pain. And then, finally – recurrent pericarditis – fluid in the sac around my heart – a cry from my trapped, un-shed tears.

My heart had begun to awaken me. She was illustrating my imprisoned pain with poetic metaphor, unlocking the door to healing. The illnesses that followed – Guillain- Barre Syndrome, a closed aortic valve, and a coronary artery blocked by scar tissue – would all eventually show me the map to heal my life.

However, although I had a map, I didn’t know how to use it. After nearly two decades of Illness, I was down, depleted, and desperate. And then, during one of my darkest moments, I read Marianne Williamson’s A Return to Love. So I began to pray – for the first time in my life. Miraculously, within no time, I was guided to the perfect healers and teachers who helped me heal my life.

Ultimately, I healed from PTSD, adrenal fatigue, and low Immunity, through a combination of Rubenfeld Synergy, EFT, Kundalini Yoga, Meditation, Prayer, and Healing Nutrition. It’s as though I was granted a treasure chest of healing gifts. I’ve used them all to create joyful, energized health.

Today, I have answered my heart’s call to share these healing treasures. As a Transformational Health Guide, I help people harness the power of illness and adversity to transform their lives. I show my clients how to use funk-busting foods and techniques to have more energy, better mood, better digestion, stronger immunity, and enhanced spirituality. I am a seasoned traveler on the road back from illness, and I carry candles, lamps, and flashlights to enlighten my way. I’m here to share the light.

PS: I made it to my wedding, and I just celebrated my 23^rd anniversary to my amazingly supportive husband. I have two terrific daughters, and two adorable cats.

[All images courtesy of Marian Buck-Murray.]

Find out more about Marian on her website or connect via Facebook.

Roadtrip #8: Niagara Falls

Posted on 2011-09-03 at 1:38 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

As one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Niagara Falls is indeed stunning, but I was shocked to see how it has been completely ruined by the ugliness of the city built around it to capitalise on the visiting tourists. Concrete everywhere, huge casinos and hotels and very little else. I had heard a whisper that it was like that, but wasn’t really expecting that people could actually build in such an unsympathetic way next to somewhere so naturally beautiful.

On my travels I have had the good fortune to see the Iguacu Falls in Brazil/Argentina, and the Victoria Falls in Zambia (where I took a helicopter ride over it to see how the falls are really just a huge gash in the landscape – breathtaking). In both cases visitor numbers are high but the locals have realised the value of the natural wonder they have been blessed with and have sensitively preserved it. What a pity the same hasn’t been done at Niagara.

Mother Nature triumphed in the end though – as we were leaving (and as most of the other visitors were arriving), a beautiful rainbow appeared and stretched up into the sky right in front of our eyes. Magic.

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“Life-changing”, “Revolutionary”, “Awe-inspiring”, “Transformative“ – just a few of the ways former participants have described the Do What You Love e-course.

Do you fancy some of that in your life? Do you want to get closer to identifying your true passion and finding a way to do what you love, for life? Then this is for you!

The Do What You Love e-course is open for registration now and places are limited so book now to secure your place. This is the last time it will run this year.

This is your chance to join a global tribe of like-minded people who will support and encourage you to find your way.

It could be the most influential six weeks of your life…

Join now!

Roadtrip #7: Japanese paper and pattern inspiration

Posted on 2011-09-02 at 11:02 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Found in this little slice of heaven in Montreal…

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Other roadtrip posts: #1 For the love of travel; #2 Sharks and jellyfish; #3 Boston and Harvard; #4 A fairytale wedding; #5 On top of the world; #6 To Canada, in search of stationery

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“Life-changing”, “Revolutionary”, “Awe-inspiring”, “Transformative“ – just a few of the ways former participants have described the Do What You Love e-course.

Do you fancy some of that in your life? Do you want to get closer to identifying your true passion and finding a way to do what you love, for life? Then this is for you!

The Do What You Love e-course is open for registration now. Places are limited so book now to secure your place. This is the last time it will run this year.

This is your chance to join a global tribe of like-minded people who will support and encourage you to find your way.

It could be the most influential six weeks of your life… Join now!