Birthdays

Polly just called and left this message:

"Hi, Sooz m' Dooz" (that's what she calls me; I call her "Polly Doodle" - we've known each other since our kids were pre-school)

"We (Jack and Polly, of course), know your birthday is coming up and we're going to save you from being as obnoxious as you usually are about your birthday to give you the directive which you can send out to everybody that it's your birthday on Monday and to let everyone know that Jack and I are bringing a cake on Sunday..."

I stood there and burst out laughing...I am totally obnoxious about my birthday, I have no sympathy for anyone who says someone forgot their birthday as that is impossible for anyone I love and with whom I want to celebrate. As a matter of fact, ever since I was a child, I've answered the phone on my birthday (May 5th, it falls on a Monday this year, as Polly has shared) saying "Happy This My Very Own Day." ....if it's a business call, there will be a pause and someone will say "I'm looking for Susan Hastings of Creative Communications Center" and I will respond : "This is Susan (I am only Susan professionally) and it's my birthday so I'm sure you'll want to wish me Happy This My Very Own Day!" Pause......."Oh, ah, yes, of course - Happy Birthday." (no enthusiasm)

Last year, when my son Brad called and got my standard greeting, I told him that perhaps I would stop that greeting one day. His response? "I doubt it."

And I have trained many friends to know that birthdays should last a full week - 3 days before This Your Very Own Day and 3 days after so of course, our pot luck comes within that time frame. But do know, I get excited about others' birthdays as well ...perhaps we should have a monthly birthday celebration...?

Susie

Creative Communications Center
www.adifference.com

Relationships make a difference - Spirit

Spirit implies a connection to something higher than ourselves.

I can give more in relationships that make a difference to me when I feel a connection to a power higher than myself, when I will take the time to be quiet, to listen, to give gratitude, to ask for healing. I feel congruent with all dimensions of myself at such times - emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. When I am not connected with this Source, I am connected with neither myself nor others. This is when I make poor decisions; feel indecisive, out of balance. Where can we find the quiet to nurture our own spirit so we can have more to give? Perhaps in nature - a hike in the woods or up a mountain or sitting by the ocean.

What can you do to raise spirit at work? Higher spirit means greater morale and relationships, leading higher productivity. We can't get positive results with negative conditioning. Since our work goes home with us and home comes to work with us, if one is out of the balance, it affects the other.

Creative Communications Center
www.adifference.com

How Happy Do You Want to Be?

Most People Are About As Happy As They Make Up Their Minds To Be
~Abraham Lincoln

A few nights ago, I woke up and, in a half sleep, moved my foot from lump to lump to lump - yes, there was Bella, my little Maltese dog; there were Angel and Spirit, my two longhair Tuxedo cats. I was aware of feeling deep happiness that we were all there, as usual, and I rolled over and went back to sleep.

The next morning I reflected back on that brief moment - a moment which brought to my awareness such happiness and contentment. It really is the simplest things that can bring us such deep gratitude - and again, I am reminded of the intertwining of happiness and gratitude.

So I've been watching more carefully the simple things that have brought me happiness in the few days since then and here are a few - perhaps you can create your own list.

**** even though I was sick, I was happy that it was during a heavy snowfall where I didn't want to go out anyway and could stay inside by the fire watching the beauty of it all outside.

*** I felt happy when I took a nap and Bella was lying on my stomach and Angel was purring in the crook of my arm.

*** I felt happy when a friend, who had read my book, ordered another copy for a birthday present.

*** I felt happy when I got a special email from a friend I hadn't been in touch with for years.

I could go on but you get the idea.

Was I able to find happy moments because this was such an overall happy week? No. As a matter of fact it has been a very stressful week. But then I find myself feeling happy that I have such wonderful healers in my life and that, in addition, I can - and have - tapped into my own healing resources through meditation, prayer, quiet times, journaling and my Angel Messenger Cards which always has the amazingly perfect 3 page message for me each day.

It isn't about feeling perpetually happy all the time. Life has its obstacles for sure, and sometimes they're very challenging. It is, though, about finding the happy moments that are all around us if we just become more aware of them. And to accept them with gratitude.

I love synchronisity and wouldn't you know, just this morning, I came across this quote:

"Now and then it's good to pause in the pursuit of happiness and just be happy." ---
~ Guillaume Apollinaire

How happy do you want to be? Do you want to join me in looking for the happy moments, perhaps in unexpected places - and give gratitude for that simplicity?

Wishing you happiness in your life - and all that has heart and meaning for you on your own path.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Upcoming Workshops that are open:

Unless you're new to my email list, you have heard me write often of my delight in teaching Living Your Purpose - On Purpose workshops, created by Meredith Young-Sowers, D.Div, creator and director of The Stillpoint Institute.

I am now traveling to teach them as well as having them in my home.

All are on weekends beginning Friday evening and ending Sunday afternoon. The upcoming schedule is:

March 28 - March 30 - Cape Cod, Massachusetts

April 25 - April 27 - Annapolis, Maryland

May 2 - May 4 - Norwich Vermont

In addition, I'll be teaching another Effective Parenting class, based on Dr. Thomas Gordon's Parent Effectiveness Training and Dr. William Glasser's Reality Therapy and Choices.

Wednesday evenings, 7:30 - 9:30 pm - April 23, 30, May 7, 28plus a follow up to be determined by the class.

If you can't make a class but want the results, I teach the skills through individual Effective Parent Coaching as well.

And, of course, there's my book and corresponding journal: Walking the Spiritual Path With Practical Feet: Ten Visionaries Who Make a Difference.

For details on all of the above, visit my web site http://www.adifference.com/.

Happy Moments to you!

Creative Communications Center
www.adifference.com

Essentials of Coaching: Turning Managers Into Coaches

Have you ever wondered how coaching skills might boost your managers' effectiveness? Would you like to help your managers develop the critical communication and relationship skills they need? I've worked or talked with many of you in the past and here's the bottom line on coaching skills:

Managers who know how to coach make their organizations more productive.

What makes Essentials of Coaching so unique? Click here to find out.

Creative Communications Center
www.adifference.com

You cannot commit your life spirit to a compromise.

That was a message I heard from Robert Fritz, the creator of Technology of Creativity and DMA, many years ago. It resonated with my soul.

When I look at the times I have compromised with my life spirit over my lifetime, they have been the times of greatest stress for me. It has felt like I’m trying to fit a square peg in a round hole or to make something right that I know deep down is not. Or to stay longer in a situation when I know the time has come to move on, whether it is personally or professionally. I have experienced both.

"A leader: one who does not compromise with their life spirit. One who will see the signs of stagnation and take action to keep the spirit alive whether it is in their personal life or their professional life, which keeps the winds of opportunity blowing so that our life spirit and our purpose for being here are one."

Click here to read more of this article.

Creative Communications Center
www.adifference.com

Did you know a book can offer new perspective on life?

"Walking the Spiritual Path With Practical Feet"
Ten Visionaries Who Make A Difference

If we're fortunate enough, we come across a book that stops us in our tracks, offers a new perspective on our lives and reminds us, as George Eliot said, "It's never too late to become who we might have been."

It is with great pleasure that I announce the release of my new book which does just that.

Walking the Spiritual Path With Practical Feet: Ten Visionaries Who Make A Difference is a powerful anthology with some of the people who have made a significant difference in my life. My signature phrase is "You Make A Difference" and these authors are models for me with what that phrase means. They will do the same for you by providing pearls of wisdom from a personal, business and spiritual focus and guide us toward a more fulfilling life.

Read more here: http://www.adifference.com/walking-spiritual-path.htm

Creative Communications Center
www.adifference.com

Effective Parenting - How I Can Help

Devoting the time and positive energy to learn new skills for you and your children results in Long Term Benefits for you and your children. You gain a deeper understanding of them and they of you and greater harmony and joy will result - and continue.

I will be offering a workshop on Effective Parenting , based on Dr. Thomas Gordon's P.E.T. Parent Effectiveness Training, which I began teaching in the mid 70's. It will help you in looking at your own behavioral style, as well as your children's, therefore assisting you to learn new ways to interact more effectively. Different equals different; it does not equal wrong. We tend to communicate with all people (and that includes our children!) the same way and that can be up to 75% ineffective because of the different styles.

This is what will be covered:

* Listen so your kids will talk
* Talk so your kids will listen
* Resolve conflicts of needs and values in a win/win way

Read more here: http://www.adifference.com/effective-parenting.htm

Creative Communications Center
www.adifference.com