Are you ready to take the next BIG step toward living your dream?
Want to understand yourself better and find more meaning and direction in your life? We create our WORLD with our WORDS. Our thoughts become things. When we tell ourselves we can, we can and when we tell ourselves we can’t, well you know how that usually goes.
The words we use every day get strung together and become the fabric of the stories of our lives. Want your life’s journey to be a beautiful tapestry worthy of you? Join me, Caren4u in an online writing experience focusing on the wisdom of your own words.
Mary Anne Radmacher’s thought-provoking, inspiring words (Radmacher Focus Phrases™) begin a conversation that leads to exploration and discovery. Even if you don’t feel like an accomplished writer this class is for you. It's about so much more than writing. Write to inspire your inner strength. Write to develop a habit of using your own words to keep you focused and aimed in the direction of your dreams.
Focus Phrase writing is a small investment with huge returns. While it is about writing it is more about what you discover as you explore and write. The insight gained doesn’t end when the class ends, it lasts a lifetime.
This is a guided writing process conducted online. I offer feedback unique and specific to your writing and discovery. Encouragement and support, no extra charge, that’s just how I roll!
A JOURNEY OF WORDS begins on June 7th and concludes June 25th. $129 covers three consecutive weeks of writing Monday – Friday. Ready to enroll? Reply to caren4u@comcast.net and I will get you registered and paid.
Want a shorter class, I offer A JOG OF WORDS. $40 covers a one week preview that introduces you to the Focus Phrase writing process. At the end of the week, you can decide to continue on with me or enjoy having participated in the shorter class experience.
Here’s what some of my participants have to share about the process:
“This turned out to be a wonderful opportunity to prod my inner wisdom and to actually allow myself to creatively explore beyond the obvious. I found this to be freeing and exciting.” Anne M.
“I imagined this course would get me thinking about life choices big and small, and help me focus on my needs, but I didn't know that some choices would become very important and very clear. I've been able to set my priorities and complete some challenges that have enriched my life in marvelous and unexpected ways.” Michelle A.
Live Your Dream - http://carenalbersinspirations.com
Monday, May 10, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Turn a Rut into a Groove
The only difference between a rut and a grave is the dimensions (Ellen Glasgow). You can get out of a rut but you can’t get out of a grave that is for sure. But changing a rut into a groove, now that’s a whole other animal.
Last year my husband and I were trying to decide whether to ship one of our cars to Florida where our son and his family live. On our longer visits rentals were very expensive but we we didn't want to increase our carbon footprint by buying a third car to keep down there (tree-hugger I know).
We weighed the pros and cons. Half the time my car sat in the garage and the other half I knew could plan more efficiently. Plus, I have a bike and legs that I have been meaning to use more.
This idea met with skepticism from our well-meaning friends and family who couldn’t imagine EVER being without a car. But it has worked out wonderfully and has even brought us closer together. In the year that we've been car sharing only a couple of conflicts occurred that were easily remedied.
Changing this rut into a groove brought unexpected benefits. When I want the car during the day, I chauffeur my husband the short three miles to work. My friend is encouraging me to get a cap!
In the car, we are present with each other and connect in a way that we hadn’t been after 30 years of marriage. We now plan our weeks together and engage more in each other’s days. One our short commute, we talk about our work, our days, our dreams and encourage and support each other.
The car thing may not work for everyone, but I encourage you to pick something that you’ve always done a certain way and turn it upside down. Play with changing some aspect of your life and I’ll bet you will find hidden benefits, too.
My new groove has me walking more and has brought us closer together and renewed our connection. It taught me that “LESS can be the new MORE!”
Last year my husband and I were trying to decide whether to ship one of our cars to Florida where our son and his family live. On our longer visits rentals were very expensive but we we didn't want to increase our carbon footprint by buying a third car to keep down there (tree-hugger I know).
We weighed the pros and cons. Half the time my car sat in the garage and the other half I knew could plan more efficiently. Plus, I have a bike and legs that I have been meaning to use more.
This idea met with skepticism from our well-meaning friends and family who couldn’t imagine EVER being without a car. But it has worked out wonderfully and has even brought us closer together. In the year that we've been car sharing only a couple of conflicts occurred that were easily remedied.
Changing this rut into a groove brought unexpected benefits. When I want the car during the day, I chauffeur my husband the short three miles to work. My friend is encouraging me to get a cap!
In the car, we are present with each other and connect in a way that we hadn’t been after 30 years of marriage. We now plan our weeks together and engage more in each other’s days. One our short commute, we talk about our work, our days, our dreams and encourage and support each other.
The car thing may not work for everyone, but I encourage you to pick something that you’ve always done a certain way and turn it upside down. Play with changing some aspect of your life and I’ll bet you will find hidden benefits, too.
My new groove has me walking more and has brought us closer together and renewed our connection. It taught me that “LESS can be the new MORE!”
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Faith and Hope
The wind blows softly, gently at my back as I ready to pull anchor and hoist my sail, next stop New Orleans. Today, the winding down begins, the remembering of what to take, the necessities and luxuries to make our next stop MOST enjoyable. Risking sacrilege, I’ll call next week a holy week, two birthdays and one wedding anniversary in the span of five days. Glory be!
Soon, we'll be on the road again navigating a charmed life, a good life for which I am appreciative and grateful beyond measure. My roadmap to inner peace had some twists and turns, surprises and incomplete data, but I didn’t let that deter me. Faith pointed the way and I followed. Life doesn’t come with an instruction manual or a guarantee. We have to show up and do our part and keep doing it.
Experiencing a good life is like adjusting the knob on a toaster. No matter how careful we are sometimes it comes out too dark and sometimes too light, but we don’t stop eating toast. We keep tweaking the dial in the hope that THIS will be the time it turns out a perfectly golden brown color swimming in butter. That's what keeps us going.
Soon, we'll be on the road again navigating a charmed life, a good life for which I am appreciative and grateful beyond measure. My roadmap to inner peace had some twists and turns, surprises and incomplete data, but I didn’t let that deter me. Faith pointed the way and I followed. Life doesn’t come with an instruction manual or a guarantee. We have to show up and do our part and keep doing it.
Experiencing a good life is like adjusting the knob on a toaster. No matter how careful we are sometimes it comes out too dark and sometimes too light, but we don’t stop eating toast. We keep tweaking the dial in the hope that THIS will be the time it turns out a perfectly golden brown color swimming in butter. That's what keeps us going.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Perfecting Imperfection
I’m tripping today. I can’t locate my enthusiasm, my mental energy must have taken a personal day, and my spunkiness apparently left early on its own spring break. I’m sick and tired of being accountable. “Calgon take me away.”
Sometimes it needs to “good enough” end of story. No excelling at every turn, no accolades for being the best at anything, those extract a heavy price that I am no longer willing to pay. No pedestals from which to topple from.
I can achieve my highest good, which is the best there is in my world, only when I can HONESTLY say to some things “that’s good enuff!”
Sometimes it needs to “good enough” end of story. No excelling at every turn, no accolades for being the best at anything, those extract a heavy price that I am no longer willing to pay. No pedestals from which to topple from.
I can achieve my highest good, which is the best there is in my world, only when I can HONESTLY say to some things “that’s good enuff!”
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Spring Break Writing Boot Camp - April 12 - 23
Take an inward journey this Spring Break guided by Caren4u.
Drop and give me ten. Ten days devoted to U! Ten days writing together, listening to your heart, writing what it tells you, and discovering your dreams.
It’s a quick-start, jumpstart, online process using Radmacher Focus Phrase™ writing. Our dreams are heart wishes that too often go unheard in the noise of our daily lives. Spring Break Writing Boot Camp is a chance to focus inward and discover the answers waiting inside of you.
The kids get a Spring Break, why shouldn’t you?
Email me your interest at caren4u@comcast.net and we’ll get you registered for Spring Break on my virtual beach.
NO SUNSCREEN REQUIRED! Class fee $70 carenalbersinspirations.com
Drop and give me ten. Ten days devoted to U! Ten days writing together, listening to your heart, writing what it tells you, and discovering your dreams.
It’s a quick-start, jumpstart, online process using Radmacher Focus Phrase™ writing. Our dreams are heart wishes that too often go unheard in the noise of our daily lives. Spring Break Writing Boot Camp is a chance to focus inward and discover the answers waiting inside of you.
The kids get a Spring Break, why shouldn’t you?
Email me your interest at caren4u@comcast.net and we’ll get you registered for Spring Break on my virtual beach.
NO SUNSCREEN REQUIRED! Class fee $70 carenalbersinspirations.com
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Clue Train, Toot Toot
My life is like a crossword puzzle. Some answers fill in quickly others take time to figure out. One across, or over as my mom likes to call it, “what you were born to do?” Easy one, “write.” One down, three letters beginning with “w” “one of you best qualities,” again easy, “wit.”
I sometimes carry a crossword puzzle around for weeks picking it up from time to time, solving it bit by bit, finding even one answer that before eluded me a celebrated victory.
I solve the puzzle of my life in much the same way. Some answers fill easily as other clues are being solved. Others require more time. When only a few obscure clues remain in my crossword puzzle, I reach out to Google. Some call this cheating, I call it research, help in finding my answers.
Google isn't magic, the answers don’t appear just because I type in the clue. What fun would that be? Most times I need to turn a clue upside down, or think of it another way and with a little luck eventually I'll find my answer.
Right now, I’m looking for a plum variety four letters beginning with “GA_ _.” Google, oh Google, where are you? In the crossword of my life, the clue I’m trying to solve is seven letters “having it all.” Could it be “success” “balance” “victory” or something yet to be discovered? I don't think Google can help me with this one.
I sometimes carry a crossword puzzle around for weeks picking it up from time to time, solving it bit by bit, finding even one answer that before eluded me a celebrated victory.
I solve the puzzle of my life in much the same way. Some answers fill easily as other clues are being solved. Others require more time. When only a few obscure clues remain in my crossword puzzle, I reach out to Google. Some call this cheating, I call it research, help in finding my answers.
Google isn't magic, the answers don’t appear just because I type in the clue. What fun would that be? Most times I need to turn a clue upside down, or think of it another way and with a little luck eventually I'll find my answer.
Right now, I’m looking for a plum variety four letters beginning with “GA_ _.” Google, oh Google, where are you? In the crossword of my life, the clue I’m trying to solve is seven letters “having it all.” Could it be “success” “balance” “victory” or something yet to be discovered? I don't think Google can help me with this one.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Cloudy With a Chance of Coughing
I just returned from Urgent Care with a diagnosis of Bronchitis moving into Pneumonia. Two breathing treatments, one cortisone shot, one antibiotic, one prescription cough medication, and an inhaler later, I’m hoping to feel REAL GOOD soon!
Five Signs Caren is REALLY, REALLY Sick!
1. Personal grooming slides – Hair unwashed for six days smashed and matted to the back of my head in a circular pattern most commonly seen in nursing home patients (apologizes to nursing home patients).
2. Nightly crying jags – Things are so dismal after 10 pm. I know I’m not right but I can’t figure out how to make me right. So I cry. It actually makes me feel better.
3. Loss of appetite – Can be seen as a blessing or a curse. But the kicker is that nothing tastes right. That might not have stopped me in the past, but it now gives me pause. I’m simply not hungry, must be the meds.
4. Canceling social engagements – I had to un-invite ten people due to come to my house today for beach house brunch. BUMMER!!!! I not only will miss seeing everyone, I will be eating eggs every day until I return to California.
5. Loss of spunkiness – Not calling people on their crap. It just takes way to much energy.
But there was a glimmer of hope today, after my shot and second breathing treatment Bob was spouting some “wisdom” about decongestants and I said “you don’t know that” to which he replied “Somebody's feeling better.” Touche!
Five Signs Caren is REALLY, REALLY Sick!
1. Personal grooming slides – Hair unwashed for six days smashed and matted to the back of my head in a circular pattern most commonly seen in nursing home patients (apologizes to nursing home patients).
2. Nightly crying jags – Things are so dismal after 10 pm. I know I’m not right but I can’t figure out how to make me right. So I cry. It actually makes me feel better.
3. Loss of appetite – Can be seen as a blessing or a curse. But the kicker is that nothing tastes right. That might not have stopped me in the past, but it now gives me pause. I’m simply not hungry, must be the meds.
4. Canceling social engagements – I had to un-invite ten people due to come to my house today for beach house brunch. BUMMER!!!! I not only will miss seeing everyone, I will be eating eggs every day until I return to California.
5. Loss of spunkiness – Not calling people on their crap. It just takes way to much energy.
But there was a glimmer of hope today, after my shot and second breathing treatment Bob was spouting some “wisdom” about decongestants and I said “you don’t know that” to which he replied “Somebody's feeling better.” Touche!
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