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3/26/16 MHA Law, Oakland
March 7th, 2010Last fall and early winter I had the pleasure of presenting a series of nutrition and life-management workshops to the staff and partners of McDonough Holland & Allen PC, Sacramento. It is a privilege to have been invited to meet the professional staff and partners at their Oakland office towards the end of March, when I will be presenting a workshop entitled Optimal Personal and Professional Health. I am looking forward to it!
Animated blog talk radio interview, 3/1/10
March 5th, 2010This was a very fun interview with Anastasia on blog talk radio. Take a listen when you have a minute.
An Invitation to the Intersection
February 28th, 2010The lesson I was presented with was unexpected, as they usually are. It was fascinating to watch unfold and in retrospect, I can clearly see that this lesson brought me to an intersection.
Last Tuesday morning, I watched Chris Brogan’s Kitchen Table Talk video, in which he discussed the complexity of how we perceive others, and specifically referenced the subject of public speaking. I was touched by this posting, as it showed a compassionate side of Chris, and made him very real as he spoke about an issue near and dear to my heart: confidence around public speaking. I was somewhat surprised to learn that Chris experiences nervousness before speaking, but more intrigued by the tenderness with which he spoke. My own self-judgment about making presentations diminished just a bit as I absorbed his message.
Come Thursday morning email, Chris Kitchen-Tabled me again about public speaking, in his review of a book written by communications specialist Dr. Nick Morgan, routed to him by Tim Sanders. In linking to Tim’s site, I read a post of his about, guess what — yes — public speaking! In this blog, Lightening Up, he shared with me an epiphany moment he had recently experienced that led him to understand that he would benefit greatly from “lightening up” when he spoke to a group. Tim’s words resonated with me as he described how the drive to be successful will impact the intensity of the presentation, rendering my talk as off-putting or lecture-y to the attendees. The most profound suggestion he shared was to commit to providing value to the audience but make sure that I “enjoy myself along the way”. How liberating that was!
The next day, Friday, I received an email from a colleague and friend, Sally Edwards. She was facilitating a weekend workshop in my community that I was planning to attend; you know Sal, she’s the founder of Heart Zone Training, world class athlete, author of more than 15 books, and a very fun woman with a commanding presence. Anyhow, she invited me to PRESENT A BRIEF SECTION OF HER WORKSHOP, a 5-15-minute review of a component of her training workbook with which I was very familiar, on a topic that I am excited about and passionate about sharing with others, and one that is an integral component of my business. Oh my! Share the stage with Sally Edwards? I panicked. My brain went right to all the practical reasons why I could not possibly speak on such short notice–I wouldn’t have time to prepare, I didn’t know much about the anticipated audience, or how many would be in attendance, and really, how could she EVEN suggest that I could get something together in less than 24 hours?! I breathed. I fretted. I ignored it for a while. I thought about it. I looked at the workbook syllabus she had sent as a .pdf attachment. I was pleased to see that she had written “my” section very well and used language that was similar to the way that I cover that topic, and that her perspective nicely linked the content of this favored subject of mine to her Heart Zone Training format in a way that made sense. OK, maybe I could do this…
Well, guess what? I had sent her an email in response, early into my 5-hour doubting marathon, that said, “geez, I just don’t know…it’s tomorrow, and well, how many people, and who, and what should I wear”? No, I didn’t include the wardrobe reference but it did cross my mind… A few hours later, I received Sally’s reply which was “Hey…flow with me here – you don’t have to present “my” material…do what you want…use your own handout…just talk…yes, this material can go in anywhere we want it…be game … have some fun…share the stage…what do you say”? Wait a minute, where I had I that before? Wasn’t it just the other day…? In a couple of blog posts that had caught my attention…? Ah, the paths of awareness were leading me somewhere…
An epiphany of my own. A moment in which I was at the intersection of my place in the world. A clear understanding that of course, I could give this brief presentation. That I would do so with confidence. That I can and do, positively impact the lives of others. That I bring my message to the world with a genuine intention to make it a better place.
Late Friday afternoon, I spent probably 10 minutes making some notes that related to the pages in the syllabus that I would be addressing. I thought about it for a couple more minutes Saturday morning. That afternoon, when Sally called me up to the front, the words flowed, I was relaxed and effective, and best of all, I enjoyed myself!
3/1/10 Blogtalk radio show
February 23rd, 2010The Need to Knead
February 21st, 2010
The dough has just gone into the warmed oven to rise over the next couple of hours, when it will then be transformed into a fabulous calzone dinner. It’s been a while since I have made this dough, you know how it is when certain recipes just fall out of your repertoire. But once I got my hands into the mix and began to knead to my heart’s content (pun intended!), I immediately dropped into a place of mindfulness and remembered…ah, how fabulous is the rhythm of kneading dough–and of creating a dinner made with love and healthful ingredients. Kneading dough invites a wonderfully rich experience when the change in consistency from a sticky mass to the aromatic, plump, almost sensuous, ball-of-dough-that-will-soon-become-dinner is occurring right under my own hands and nose. I felt in tune with the organic ingredients, with the movement of my hands and body (and yes, kneading is a full bodied activity!), and with the sound of the dough catching and grabbing on the wooden board. In those few moments of mindfulness, I felt gratitude for my love of cooking, for having the healthful ingredients in my pantry, and for the sheer pleasure of the artful creation that will nurture and nourish my family.
I kneaded it!
Bittersweet
February 13th, 2010Just a moment of bittersweet awareness:
We had a marvelous day in San Francisco; beginning with a long run in the morning through Chinatown, up to Coyt Tower, and ending at Pier 1, at the most fabulous organic farmer’s market on the planet… and a light and healthful breakfast. Later in the morning we were mesmerized by the rich history of art and culture displayed at the Asian Art Museum…and savored a light, healthful and delicious noodle bowl lunch there. The afternoon found us at the Strybing Arboretum, where we walked for hours among blooming flowers, singing birds, and luscious gardens.
From the bus ride back to 5th and Market, walking through Union Square, I saw a young woman, sitting on the street corner, with a dog in her lap, reading from a worn book, a couple of bags pulled tightly to her sides, and a sign that said “Hungry, cold, and alone, please help”; she caught my eye, perhaps because of the book, or maybe the dog…
We hurried off to the dinner reservation at a fabulous restaurant that we have enjoyed several times, and savored a divine meal, reveling in the company, delighting in the flavors, celebrating time together in a romantic weekend. Food was left over. We were full. I had it packed up, with the young woman on the corner in mind. She was still there as we went back.
I squatted down next to her and she looked up from her book. Her blue eyes regarded me cautiously but I could see the warmth there. How heartbreaking. Her dog tentatively wagged it’s tail. I shared with her that in the bag were yummy, healthy leftovers for her and asked if she was hungry. Of course she was. I asked her if she smoked cigarettes, and she said no she did not, but she could bum one for me if I wanted. Clarifying my intention, I told her that I would like to help her and was relieved that she would not be spending money on cigarettes… she explained that she gets a room several blocks away, when she collects enough money, where she does not need ID, because she does not have ID, and where they will allow her dog. Reaching into my purse, but holding her eyes, I choked up, and she choked up, and we shared for just a brief moment, a sisterhood and a thread of connectedness. I felt sad, so sad for her plight, but so grateful for the moment she and I shared and for my ability to help her — briefly.
