The post Lock Down Coaching while Walking Video no4 – What is going on for you in this Waiting Room? appeared first on Liz Walmsley.

Welcome to my second Lock-Down Coaching while Walking blog/vlog.  This week I had a bit of a wobble.  I talk about this and how focus my favourite tree helped to ground me and to regain my equilibrium.

This tree is still standing – I am still standing.

If you have a wobble it’s OK, recognise it for what it is and find something that will ground you – whatever works for you – be it sunshine, music, birdsong, a book or an activity.

Take time to restore your equilibrium and perspective.

And for those that might remember –

Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down!

You can watch my short video about wobbles here:

The post Lock Down Coaching while Walking Video no2 – It’s OK to have a Wobble appeared first on Liz Walmsley.

There is so much talk about the need to constantly strive for success and yet the concept of success is different for every single one of us.  In my experience, and as a coach, I have found that all too often people define their success by comparing themselves to others rather than looking inside and understanding what is really important to them.

Success might manifest itself to you in many different ways:

• Material  (money, possessions,)
• Professional (promotion, respect)
• intellectual (knowledge, qualifications)
• Physical (health, fitness)
• Emotional (love, happiness)
• Environmental (comfort, location)
• Business growth (profits, income)
• Altruism (supporting others, charity)
• ….. and more

Success doesn’t have to be about achieving a massive milestone – only you know what it looks like.

Working through the following questions may help you to think about what success looks like for you and what you will do to go about achieving it.

• What is your aspiration/goal?  What do you want to change?  You own your future – don’t allow yourself to be driven by other people’s dreams.
• What does your success look/feel like?  Take time to draw a mental picture of yourself once you have achieved your success – What does it look like?, what are you doing?, what are you wearing?, where are you living?, who are you with?, what does it feel like? Capture that picture in a way that will resonate with you and keep you inspired. Review it regularly.
• Why do you want to do it?
• Why is it important to you?
• What will be the impact of nothing changing?
• How does it fit with your personal values?
• What will be the impact on you and others?
• What needs to happen for you to get started on that journey?  Don’t try and do it all at once.  Break it into manageable chunks.  Develop a plan and write it down with realistic milestones.
• What support do you need? Who can help? Friends, family, a mentor or a coach?
• What opportunities and options are open to you? Think outside the box!
• What is the worst that could happen? Don’t stall yourself by worrying about failure – Every step both forward and back is part of the learning curve. 
• What is the first step that you need to take? –Take action – Don’t wait for 100% before you start.  It is not the will to win but the courage to begin!
• How will you monitor progress? Look back often, reflect on and celebrate progress,  give yourself a a reality check. If you can’t change the direction of the wind, you might need to adjust your sails!
• How will you know when you have achieved your success?  How will you celebrate? 
• Has it changed?  Repeat……..

I wish you every success – Whatever that looks like to you!

For me, success is when a client has defined their goals, figured out what they need to do to make them happen and then committed to action.  My coaching while walking sessions create the space for constructive and creative thinking as well as bringing the benefits of being away from the paraphernalia of your usual environment and out in the fresh air. If you would like a free initial chat to see if coaching with me can help you towards success, contact me here.

I also facilitate a monthly Walk while you Work on your Business. A great way to meet and get to know other business owners and to share challenges, thoughts and successes.  We all have different experiences, connections and perspectives that might help others and there is always a warm feeling of being supported as well as supporting others during our walks. More information is available here.

Top image courtesy of Vlado at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The post SUCCESS! What does it look like to you? appeared first on Liz Walmsley.

Life is a journey.  As you have travelled, the scenery may well have been pleasant.  You have probably passed many junctions already and haven’t really noticed them as you have been content to keep going along that path.  However, you have now reached that crossroads.  Things look different and choices need to be made.

You want to keep moving in the direction that it is right for you otherwise there is a risk that other people will move you in theirs.  If you know where you are heading and have everything mapped out then it is easy to be decisive and know which path is going to get you to where you want to go.

Sometimes it is not that simple and you’ll have to make important decisions which could have long term consequences.  It is easy to end up stuck at that crossroads, unable to move forward through anxiety, fear, overwhelm or indecision.

So what can you do?  It really helps to have some tools to navigate your journey.

• Make (and take) time to think. Few of us would set out on a car journey without a reason, a planned destination, satnav or map.  So why set out on a life or work journey with no idea of where you are going?  If you do not know where you are going or why, then how will you know when you get there?  Here are some questions to help you work out your reasons and your destination:
  • What do you really want and why?
  • What is most important to you now and in the future?
  • What is going well?
  • What needs to change?
  • What does your success look like to you?
  • What do you need to do to achieve it?

• Consider your options.  Consider each path – this can help you to refine your destination and map your route.
  • What do you need to know?
  • What research do you need to do?
  • What are the opportunities presented?
  • What is the best that could happen?
  • What is the worst that could happen?
  • Where can you compromise?
  • Will it help to achieve your desired destination?
  • What will be the impact on others?
  • What are you afraid of and why?
  • What excites you and why?

• Map out your route
  • Which is the best path for you to take?
  • What is the first step you can take?
  • Stay focused on your destination.
  • Be prepared to re-evaluate and make changes if new barriers emerge or opportunities present themselves.

You don’t have to go it alone. So who can help?  Talk with someone – If you can, have an honest discussion with friends and family.  However, sometimes when we talk with those closest to us, we might hold back our deeper thoughts.  If we do open up, there is a natural tendency for people to offer advice and guidance.  That is great but you need to be wary of simply following their journey; this might blur the vision of what you really want.

• Could working with a coach be the answer?
  • Working with a coach is different.  It is not about what the coach would do in your situation or about offering direction.
  • Talking with someone different may help you to gain a fresh perspective.
  • A coach will provide a completely independent, non-judgmental and safe environment, a process and time for you to think more clearly, figure out your goals and how to achieve them – you are in control.
  • A coach will help you to consider the opportunities that your crossroads present and will help you to explore options and develop your navigation plan.  They will support you and keep you on track on your journey so that you can move forward with confidence that you are heading in the direction that is right for you.
  • Considering working with a coach is the first step of your journey.
  • Deciding to work with a coach is a major step in your journey.

I offer coaching while walking sessions in South Hampshire and West Sussex and, if you are at a crossroads in life, I would love to help you to explore your options and navigate the next steps of your journey.  If walking is not for you, I can also offer face to face coaching or via Skype. Please contact me  if you would like more information without obligation.

The post Are you at a Crossroads in Life? appeared first on Liz Walmsley.

Challenging, rewarding, fun, beautiful, varied, painful, delightful are just a few inadequate descriptors of a recent long-distance walk that I completed with my husband.  It was to fulfill a long held ambition of completing Wainwright’s Coast to Coast Walk from St Bees Head on the Irish Sea to Robin Hood’s Bay on the North Sea.  During the course of 16 days walking (and well over the stated 192 miles) there were many ups and downs both physically and mentally – although it was mostly ups! 

Walking the Coast to Coast allowed plenty of time for thinking, reflection and also there were many, many hours spent in a truly mindful and present state.  During the thinking moments, it became clear how this adventure reflected not just a holiday but one’s own journey through life.  My first ramble/blog reflected on the whys, the whats and hows.  This second ramble/blog through my Walking the Coast to Coast experience reflects some of the challenges and delights of the walk and how it mirrors life’s journey.

“One should always have a definite objective in a walk as in life – it is so much more satisfying to reach a target by personal effort than to wander aimlessly.  An objective is an ambition, and life without ambition is … well, aimless wandering”    A Wainwright

The Ups and Downs

The early days of the journey I suffered from blisters, the latter days of the journey my feet simply screamed at me after just a couple of hours of walking. Some days were considerably harder than others. However, to get the best views you have to remember your why, and therefore put in a lot of effort, build your resilience and take a few risks. 

Some people plod slowly up the rock-strewn hills, some find downhill excruciating on the knees and feet.  Some are not so keen on dizzying heights, some like to stop and take photos in the most precarious of places.  Some leap across waterfalls, some tread warily.  Some run across the bogs, others (try to) take a long route around.  In fact, the only time you walk ‘normally’ during the coast to coast is between your B&B and the pub!  But what is normal?  We are all different and have varying abilities, aspirations and fears.

Sometimes there are alternative routes with varying degrees of difficulty and reward.  In your bold planning stage after a beer the night before, you might go for that high route and then discover that it really isn’t a comfortable place to be and perhaps the risk for you is now too high. It is OK to retrace your steps (having taken a few photos!) and take a less dangerous option.

Sometimes you come across obstacles in the path that really have to be avoided.  For us, this came mostly in the form of enormous bulls and skittish cows.  We had to figure out how to skirt the danger, even if it was a long roundabout way, and then get back on the correct path.

Parts of the Coast to Coast are not clearly marked and often the weather does not help. Even with Wainwright’s guide and several maps, it can sometimes be difficult to work out exactly which rock or post you should be heading for.  Getting lost is part of the journey.  As long as you realise you might be heading down the wrong route, you can take stock, reassess and re trace your steps or find an alternative way to get back on track.

Bogs

Of particular note –  the Yorkshire Dales National Park coming down from Nine Standards Rigg.  Park authorities have laid paving slabs near the top – but any sense of security is soon lost as the slabs disappear and you are faced with a vast mass of bog upon bog with no distinct waymarks.  At first just inconvenient and mucky, it soon becomes really hard work trying to avoid the worst. You can’t avoid it – the only way to get across a bog is to assess and decide what route you will follow and just go for it.  Move quickly before the gloop sucks you under.  Occasionally it gets the better of you and you find yourself sinking in the mire.  At this point, the only thing to do is to accept the help and laughter of others (it will be their turn next), pull yourself together and crack on.  It is temporary, others have achieved it, it will be over soon and the rewards of the next section through Swaledale are simply glorious!  You can look back and laugh too.

Weather

We were so lucky with only one day of torrential rain when we were walking the coast to coast. It was not all sunshine though.  Previous experience has told us that it really is worth stopping and doing the whole waterproof clothing faff thing when the weather changes between wet and dry, hot and cold.  Being uncomfortable when you can do something about it only increases your challenge.

 Bored now

I found the most difficult section was the crossing from one ridge of hills to the next through the Vale of Mowbray.  Flat, lots of road walking or in recently ploughed fields and not much to look at (apart from a few feisty cows which meant another long road diversion). My feet were not happy, it was rather dull and morale was not at its best.  However, with some encouragement from himself, I kept the aim in mind and before too long we could see the Cleveland Hills in the distance and the promise of more excitement to come.

Breaking the day’s journey down into steps really helped.  Keep thinking and moving one step at a time.  The overseas walkers found it highly amusing to walk past us drinking our tea at the side of a path at around eleven o’clock and four o’clock almost every day.  It worked for us!  It is too easy just to put your head down and grind on – take time to stop, look around you, admire the views, celebrate successes and enjoy the ride. Don’t worry if others overtake you – it is not a race – it is your journey.

The People / Kindness of Strangers

Although the route was not overly busy, there was a sort of concertina effect as people set out on different days with different itineraries.  We met amazing people of varying age from all over the world and made some good friends en route.  We soon learned to bin the Brit reserve and to be open and curious.  Of course we all had the same ‘definite objective‘ of Robin Hood’s Bay in mind – but each with our own reasons for undergoing the challenge and we all struggled with different aspects.  Help and support for others was freely given – be it a helping hand, company or space if preferred, directions, recommendations, a phone call, a laugh or a cheer when you came in last to the pub. You can walk alone – but you don’t always have to!

Endings

I found the last couple of days surprisingly emotional as we neared the end of our journey.  Whilst I wanted to achieve it, I didn’t want it to finish nor to say goodbye to newly made friends.

As it was – the end was exhilarating, and an amazing sense of achievement.  Be prepared – Hold the memories, keep in touch, write the blog, do the photobook and plan for the next adventure!

The Best Bits

What were the best bits of Walking the Coast to Coast? – All of it – and I hope my photos (just a few of hundreds) help to portray the amazingness of the trail. 

• The frequent feeling of achieving self-actualization (the top of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs), of realising my potential, self-fulfilment, peak experiences – to be everything that one is capable of becoming. 
• Being so completely in the moment and enjoying the freedom from thought or concern.
• Walking across the top of Swaledale in the mist, enjoying laughter yoga with the (invisible) grouse.
• The views.
• The people.
• The challenge.
• The reward.
• The journey.
• The achievement.
• The beginning, the end and all in between.

How does this reflect in your life journey?

• What is your ‘definite objective’?
• How will you make sure you enjoy the journey?
• How can you break it down into manageable chunks?
• Which is the best path for you to take?
• How will you work around barriers that emerge along the way?
• What support do you need?
• How will you monitor progress and celebrate success?
• What will it be like when you get there?
• What will you do next?

These are the sort of questions that we address in my life coaching while walking sessions.  If you need help to work out how to achieve your objectives and work around barriers to success then contact me to arrange a chat about how coaching (with a much shorter walk!) might help.  

If you just want a chat about walking the Coast to Coast then also feel free to contact me!

The post Walking the Coast to Coast – Reflections in Life – Part Two – The Ups and the Downs appeared first on Liz Walmsley.

Challenging, rewarding, fun, beautiful, varied, painful, delightful are just a few inadequate descriptors of a recent long-distance walk that I completed with my husband.  It was to fulfill a long held ambition of completing Wainwright’s Coast to Coast Walk from St Bees Head on the Irish Sea to Robin Hood’s Bay on the North Sea.  During the course of 16 days walking (and well over the stated 192 miles) there were many ups and downs both physically and mentally – although it was mostly ups!

The Walk allowed plenty of time for thinking, reflection and there were also many, many hours spent in a truly mindful and present state.  During the thinking moments, it became clear how this adventure reflected not just a holiday but one’s own journey through life.  This first ramble/blog through my Coast to Coast experience reflects on the whys, whats and hows.

“One should always have a definite objective in a walk as in life – it is so much more satisfying to reach a target by personal effort than to wander aimlessly.  An objective is an ambition, and life without ambition is … well, aimless wandering”  A Wainwright

Purpose, Planning and Preparation

Let’s start with the Why?  Both of us are keen walkers and, although I walk with clients as part of my work, we, like you, have many other commitments that get in the way.  So when the opportunity arose with a 3 week gap in our diaries we grabbed it.  What were we looking for?  A break with the norm, time together, a physical and mental challenge, the opportunity to see places we have not been, a clear sense of purpose and direction.  The Coast to Coast seemed ideal – a clear start and a definite objective.

Some people plan the whole route on a day to day basis, hoping that accommodation will be available at their daily destination or at least somewhere to pitch a tent.  Good for them, that is their goal!  We took the quicker and easier solution of having a company make all the arrangements for us, including baggage transfer – after all this was a holiday and we acknowledged that they were the experts.  A fair amount of research was done beforehand, checking out other people’s experiences and taking advice and guidance on what to take, what not to take, what to expect.  We made sure that all our kit was in good condition and took a couple of long walks in preparation. Somehow we made time to ready ourselves physically and mentally.

Ok – so we knew what our end objective was and were very excited to be on the journey where every day presented particular challenges but many more delights. We usually celebrated our daily achievements with other walkers over a beer at the end of each day.  After this welcome refreshment, we sorted out ourselves, our kit and planned the next day prior to settling down for a robust Northern dinner and a good night’s sleep.  We therefore woke up every morning knowing what we were going to do for the day (walk), where we were going (the next B&B), how we were going to get there (follow the map/guide) and what the challenges might be (haha!). 

Every day took us in the general direction of, and many steps closer to, our final destination.  It was a tremendous sense of freedom from other distractions of our lives and gave us a real sense of progress. 

Needless to say, it wasn’t always quite that straightforward and there were many ups and downs!  Do hop over to my next ‘ramble’  which talks about some of the many challenges and delights of walking the Coast to Coast.

In the meantime – How does planning for walking the Coast to Coast reflect in your life journey?

• What is your aspiration / goal?
• What is your why?
• What opportunities and options do you have?
• What needs to happen to get started?
• What support do you need?
• How can you set the groundwork?
• What is the first step you need to take?
• What distractions do you need to remove?
• How will you monitor and celebrate progress?

These are the sort of questions that we address in my life coaching while walking sessions.  If you need help to work out your whys, whats and hows then please do contact me to arrange a chat about how coaching (with a much shorter walk!) might help. 

If you just want a chat about walking the Coast to Coast then also feel free to contact me!

The post Walking the Coast to Coast – Reflections in Life – Part One – Purpose, Planning and Preparation appeared first on Liz Walmsley.

So first of all – What is coaching all about?  

Well, the term literally comes from the old Anglo-Saxon word for carriage – a means of transport.  Nowadays few of us would set out on a journey without a reason, a planned destination, a post code for the satnav, or in my case a good old fashioned map.  Yet so many of us set out on our life or work journeys with no idea of where we are going.  If you don’t know where you are going then how will you know when you get there?  

Much to my amusement, I received a message the other day from someone seeking to book a coach – from Portsmouth to Goodwood!  So perhaps I should explain more….

How does Coaching Help?

Often when we talk with friends and family, or when networking, we like to look like we are doing OK and might hold back from our deeper thoughts.  If we do open up there is a natural tendency for people to offer us advice and guidance which might sometimes blur the vision of what we really want.

Working with a coach is different – it is not about what the coach would do in your situation or about offering direction. You are the expert in your life and a coach will provide a completely independent, non judgmental and safe environment, and time for you to think more clearly, figure out your goals and how to reach them – you are in control. The role of the coach is to listen, and I mean really listen, so that they can then help you to develop your thoughts on what you want to have happen and what you need to do to achieve it.  

So why do I do my coaching while walking?

I love walking, be it a leisurely stroll or a more strenuous challenge.  I have always found walking with family and friends a great way to share and talk through challenges and work out solutions.  When I started my coaching business, I felt that this was something that would really benefit my clients.

And what are those benefits?

Escape the paraphernalia and ‘stuff’ of life and work

• Put physical and mental distance between you and all those things, people or minutiae that are weighing you down or distracting you
• No other engagements, commitments, obligations, duties or telephone to distract you.
• Give your undivided attention to the issues you wish to resolve.

Fresh air and exercise – your brain works more effectively

• Research consistently shows that exercise can significantly reduce anxiety and stress while improving overall mood –  so things feel more possible and obstacles less daunting after a good walk and talk
• Combine the best of coaching with health and well-being
• Walking kick starts the endorphins – helps clarity of thought/creative solutions
• Helps you to look up and out and not just at the nearest crocodile,
• Helps you to be more analytical and creative

“I have been a fan of your unique coaching idea – walk and talk – ever since I heard of it and I have to say that experiencing it has been even better than I expected. It is great to be able to clear your head and just focus, whilst enjoying exercise and fresh air.” SN

Slow down and relax

• Walking helps you to slow down, get into a flow and organise your thoughts
• Walking side by side helps you to feel more relaxed
• Talking is more conversational because you are constantly moving
• It avoids the potential discomfort of constant face to face contact or uncomfortable silences
• It gives you space and time to think and talk without pressure

“Walking while coaching was an excellent experience and one I would thoroughly recommend. The exercise, open space and relaxed situation created a coaching space unlike anything I’ve experienced.” JV

Connect with the environment

• Feel more grounded and connected with nature
• Be in the here and now while focusing on the future
• There are so many metaphors!  Bridges to cross, steps to take, options at crossroads, the path ahead, the whole eco-system and the synergies with your life!

Renewable Energy

• recharge your batteries
• refresh your mind and your motivation to take forward and act on all the great ideas that you have come up with.

Coaching while walking is good for the body and soul – and a great way to move forward, metaphorically, physically and mentally!

I offer coaching and walking with individuals and teams in East Hampshire and West Sussex.  I would love you to contact me if you are ready to recharge your batteries and put the spring back in your step.

I also facilitate a monthly walking while working group for entrepreneurs and people who work on their own.  All the above benefits are realised within a dynamic and growing community of business owners.  More details are available here.

The post Why is Coaching while Walking so Great? appeared first on Liz Walmsley.

Hmmm…….

The reality was slightly different.  First of all we had to wear tights, get used to completely new equipment, then discovered that we were confined within narrow tramlines.  Learning to move along the flat, and even uphill, was a doddle; figuring out how to stop when going downhill was a bit more challenging.  The first time I came to a sprawling halt apparently moved the mountain,  and my coccyx continued to become very familiar with the hard ice!  Sitting in the very welcome jacuzzi in the evenings I had time to reflect on life coaching and the similarities between learning to cross country ski and life….

• Falling over hurts but if you really want to get anywhere you just have to get up and give it another go.
• Just as you start to feel confident, your feet will be swept from under you.  It hurts even more and you just have to get up, brush yourself down and try again.
• Fear of falling / failing can stop you in your tracks and you just have to take a leap of faith knowing that you CAN do it.
• You start to enjoy the ride, you know what you are doing and you are having fun.
• You fall over, you have bruises on your bruises, you hurt, and your pride hurts.  You have to get up, brush yourself down, figure out what went wrong and keep going.
• Eventually, you feel that you have got it all worked out.  You have the confidence to set out on increasingly challenging trails, you are whizzing along the tracks and enjoying the most fantastic views that the majority of people never get to see.

• you fall over (right in front of the restaurant!).  Nobody notices.  You pick yourself up, brush yourself down and keep going!

Throughout our week in the beautiful Dolomites, we were coached by a fabulous instructor, a 22 year old Italian lady who has been cross country skiing for 18 years – who was also 7 months pregnant with her second child.  With her support and encouragement we did learn a new skill, found wonderful new places, laughed a lot, swore a bit and ended the week vaguely competent and with a sense of achievement.

Coaching is a process that enables you to move forward from where you are now to where you want to be.  Sometimes in life and work we also need that support and helping hand. That’s why I offer  coaching while walking.  Going for a walk and talk detaches you from the paraphernalia of life/work,  gives you time to clear your head and think coherently.  The flow that your body gets into while walking also helps to put the mind into flow so that new ideas and solutions can emerge – and it is a far less painful experience than cross-country skiing!

The post Cross Country Skiing – Life Coaching Lessons appeared first on Liz Walmsley.

As December sets in, amid all the challenges and joys of the festive season, many people start to think about their to-do list or wish list for the following year.  They may even be slightly discouraged when dusting off the current year’s list to find that there are a number of tasks left unchecked.

Before you start next year’s list, may I suggest that you take a good look back and focus on your achievements for this year.

Do not focus on the things left to-do.  Acknowledge the things that you have done, big or small,  and celebrate your achievements.

• What are you most proud of?
• What did you really enjoy doing?
• What made you happy?
• What worked well and why?
• What could have worked better and how?
• What characteristics and strengths were needed to achieve them?
• What have you learned about yourself along the way?

Now you can start thinking about what you really want to have happen for next year:

OK, so there will be some things that you think you ‘should’ do – but do ask yourself why.   Think hard about the things that you want to do and there is a better chance that the “done” list will be much longer next year.

• Why should you do it?
• Why do you want to do it?
• What will it be like when you have done it?
• What does success look like?
• How do you need to be for it to happen?
• What will you do more of and how?
• What will you do less of and why?
• What resources and support do you need to help you along the way?

Most importantly, don’t wait for the New Year to get started on what you really want to do, take the first steps now.

What will you do RIGHT NOW, before the end of December, to start the ball rolling towards your dreams and desires for 2016?

My coaching while walking sessions create the time and space for constructive and creative thinking as well as bringing the benefits of being away from the paraphernalia of your usual environment and being out in the fresh air.  If you would like a no-cost initial chat to see if coaching with me can help you towards working out what you want to have happen and achieving your goals in 2016, contact me here.

I wish you every success in 2016 – Whatever that looks like to you!

The post Before you start planning your 2016 to-do list ….. appeared first on Liz Walmsley.

It is that time of the year, a season for change.

The clocks have gone back, the days are shorter, the summer is definitely over.  At home, our weekends see us raking up leaves to preserve our grass and to provide mulch and nourishment for our plants next year.  Inevitably as we do this, we watch more leaves steadily falling around us.  Some might find it strange that I actually enjoy doing this, even when the work seems never to be done!  

I do love the changing of the seasons, how nature responds, and how these natural eco-systems are reflected in our own lives.  At this time of year nature is mostly about decline and yet knowing that, even while the trees are resting, they are storing up energy and nutrients ready to burst forth in spring next year.  Our human systems, challenges and achievements might not match the seasons in time, yet everything we do contributes towards our natural development.

The changing season gives us an opportunity to reflect on the past, to purge the unnecessary and make plans for our future – a season for change.  Yet sometimes we really cannot see the wood through the trees (or the grass through the leaves) and this is where Life Coaching can help.  A coach helps you to think positively about your achievements and disappointments, and how these have contributed to your very foundations and knowledge.  You can then decide what to let go and where to find inspiration, hope and direction as you approach your next season with a spring in your step.

The writings of Ilan Shamir sum up the changing season for me!

Advice from a Tree

Dear Friend,
Stand Tall and Proud
Sink your roots deeply into the Earth
Reflect the light of a greater source
Think long term
Go out on a limb
Remember your place among all living beings
Embrace with joy the changing seasons
For each yields its own abundance
The Energy and Birth of Spring
The Growth and Contentment of Summer
The Wisdom to let go of leaves in the Fall
The Rest and Quiet Renewal of Winter
Feel the wind and the sun
And delight in their presence
Look up at the moon that shines down upon you
And the mystery of the stars at night.
Seek nourishment from the good things in life
Simple pleasures
Earth, fresh air, light
Be content with your natural beauty
Drink plenty of water
Let your limbs sway and dance in the breezes
Be flexible
Remember your roots
Enjoy the view!

I hope you enjoy the changing season and the opportunity presented by a season for change.

The post Changing Season, Season for Change appeared first on Liz Walmsley.