The best deal ever! Over on 800CEOREAD, Andy Nulman is offering a free copy of his new book, Pow! Right Between the Eyes to anyone who blogs about it and links back to his website.

I am a total sucker for free books.

Send me one, Andy! I promise to read it.

Joan Schramm
2983 Poplar Trail
Annapolis MD 21401

Hugs…

Joan

It all comes down to action. We’ve anaylzed, reviewed, honored our feelings and learned from our heroes. Now it’s time to put the past 10 days’ work into practice. Just sitting and “attracting” something  isn’t going to get it done. Certainly, the mindfulness of it is a huge part of success; but once we get the mindset going, we have to step up and act in concert with our beliefs.

Question #10—What parts of yourself will you need to call upon to create those three things with wild success in 2009?

The three things I’m creating in 2009 are money, new business and a healthier body. Here’s my plan.

1. Money. My intention is to attract lots of money in 2009. How much? Let’s call it, twice my current income. To make it happen, I’m relying on the guidance of my Very Cool Life Network (VCLN 2009) group. Our “textbook” for the group is the book Money, and the Law of Attraction: Learning to Attract Wealth, Health, and Happiness by Abraham-Hicks. To do this, though, I’m having to let go of a ton of old, limiting beliefs about money and what it means in my life. I’ll be chronicling my trip on this blog and revealing how my life changes through this work.

2. New Business. Although this is almost certainly a part of #1, I’m looking at it as a separate creation. Part of allowing new things in my life is to get over worrying how they will occur. I’m attracting more money into my life and some of that may come though my coaching, or it may not. I don’t control that, but I can control where I take my coaching business in the next year. In the next weeks I’ll be rolling out a lot of new ways to connect with people and stand in service to them. To facilitate this, I’m working with Travis Greenlee and the Master Business Building Club. I’m already fired up about a new direction, and I’ll definitely be writing more about it, so check out the club yourself and stay tuned for some big changes.

3. Healthier Body. All my life, I’ve had a weight issue—even when, frankly, it shouldn’t have been an issue. I’ve been up, down, and in between. I’ve gone through periods of intense exercise, and times when turning the pages of a book was the most exercise I got. I’ve just about despaired of ever getting fit, slim and healthy. Recently, a friend of mine recommended a book, called The Four-Day Win: End Your Diet War and Achieve Thinner Peace by Martha Beck. It’s a completely different view of losing weight—and, believe me, I thought I’d seen them all. I’m working my way through the book and gaining a lot of perspective in the process. Beck is a very funny writer, too—at times, I laugh out loud while reading.  This year, I’m going to get fitter and healthier, and this book is showing me a new way to allow that to happen.

What parts of me will I need to call on to allow all the above? I’ll need to work more out of my heart and less out of my head. I’ll need to open myself up to alternative viewpoints and teachers. I’ll have to reach out and ask for (and accept) help where I need it. Mainly, I’ll learn to listen to and trust my deepest self and sweep that old negative, nay-saying, mean voice out of my head.

I want to hear your thoughts and strategies for creating what you want in your life. Please hit the comment link and share, so we can all learn.

The Finish

Well, we’ve reached the end of  this particular road. It’s been enlightening and very interesting for me. I’ve met some new people along the way, and learned more about myself. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

If you missed any of the previous parts, the links are below.

I want to thank Laura Neff who wrote the post that started this all. She’s awesome, and I appreciate her help and support.

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The beginning

Photo by Jef Poskanzer

If you’ve been following this series, you know we’ve looked at a lot of different areas, both within and outside ourselves. Today’s question gets specific.

Question #9—If you could create three things in your life the coming year, what would they be?

It would be easy to toss this off as another goal-setting exercise—(1) lose weight; (2) clean out the garage; (3) write another ebook. Boom. Done. Next post.

Not so fast.

If I’ve learned anything over the last year, it’s that opening myself up and allowing something I want into my life is preferable—and has far better results—than old-fashioned goal-setting and achieving.

Creating a space for the things I want in my life is a big step in the right direction. Clearing out the clutter will make room for better things (and if I can sell the physical clutter on craigslist or ebay, so much the better).

My answer to question #9—If you could create three things in your life the coming year, what would they be?

1. Money. Further reflection tells me that it’s not so much the money, but what money represents. Freedom. Pleasure. Time to do things I want to do, rather than the things I “have” to do.

2. New business. I’m getting antsy and feeling stuck with my business the way it is now. The itch to expand has been there for way too long, and it’s time to get with the program. I don’t know exactly what it will be yet, but I’m getting more signs and I can feel a breakout coming very soon.

3. Healthier body. Enough with the old diet routines. I’ve been on every diet in the world and nothing sticks. I’m scrapping the “diet and exercise” mentality and adopting the same holistic approach with which I’m living the rest of my life. It may not be perfect, but it will be mine.

What three things will you create in your life this year?

Tomorrow, we wrap it all up. Question #10—“What parts of yourself will you need to call upon to create those three things with wild success in 2009?”

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The only journey is the journey within. ~ Rainer Maria Rilke

Today’s question asks us to look inward and honor our “knowing” about where we should go.

Question #8—What are you being called to next in your personal growth?

This is an interesting posing of the question—what am I being “called to”. Not “what am I striving towards”; not “what are my goals”; not “what am I trying to achieve”. What, deep inside of me, is calling me forward?

Can you learn to listen to that voice, that soul (if you will)? If you could listen to it, what would it say?

Who am I?

Do we know who we truly are? For most people, this is doubtful.

We hide away. At every period of our lives, we add more layers. After years of this, we stumble around like someone wearing three pairs of pants, five shirts, two pairs of socks, a sweater and an overcoat. Does anyone have a clue as to what’s really underneath? Would we even recognize ourselves, without all those layers?

When you start down a path of personal change, the first thing you have to do is start shedding layers. How can you free yourself to live a new life if you can’t move? If you jumped into the stream of life like that, you’d drown. Leave behind all the old ideas, the feelings of inadequacy, the anger and frustration and the hard shell you grew to keep the world away.

You don’t have to strip naked and start again; change the layers as they come up, step by step. For most of us, it’s too big a jump from despair to joy in a single movement.

Live Who You Are

“You are not a troubled guest on this earth. You are not an accident amidst other accidents. You were invited from another and greater night than the one from which you have just emerged.” ~ David Whyte

When trying to figure out who you are, or what you’re being called to do, the first thing to remember is that you can’t fail—you are who you are. You can’t be somebody else (although many of us spend years trying to do just that).

Get to know yourself. Spend some alone time with you. I’ve recently started meditating most mornings for about 15 minutes. Even on days when it seems my thoughts are flying everywhere during that time, I notice that the rest of my day unfolds more smoothly and easily than it used to.

Drop the words “should”, “ought”, and “have to” from your vocabulary. Those words belong to those outer layers you’re trying to slough off. When you hear your lips form any of the words, replace them with “want to”, or “choose” or “desire”. Part of living who you are is choosing to do what feels right and good all the time.

Finally, be as generous and forgiving with yourself as you would be with your best friend. Don’t speak harshly to yourself, or put yourself down. It’s paradoxical that you must love yourself as you are now before you can move yourself to the next level.

My answer to Question #8—What are you being called to next in your personal growth?

I feel strongly called to learn more about my inner self; to discover what my true gift is. I’m very drawn to more mystical experiences, such as shamenism, and I’m finding ways to allow that into my life.

This past year has been one of huge upheaval and change—not only in my personal life but around the world. I believe we’re entering a period of renaissance and rebirth and I’m eager to take my place in it and see what calls me forth.

How are you changing this year? What energy is shifting in you and where do you see it taking you? Please share!

We’re on the homeward stretch—only two questions to go. Tomorrow we’ll talk specifics. Question #9—“If you could create three things in your life the coming year, what would they be?”

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January is the month dedicated to the Roman God Janus. He was frequently used to symbolize change and transitions, looking forward and back at the same time, and is an appropriate symbol for today’s question.

Question  #7—What are the most important lessons you learned in 2008 that you want to be conscious of in 2009?

Learning is a life-long project. Every day we’re alive, we have something new to learn. And we’ll still be learning on our last day, as we take that last breath.

Some lessons are awkward at first, then become rote through practice and familarity. Remember when you first learned to drive a car? You had to consciously think through every step. Now, you hop in the car, turn it on, buckle up, set the radio, check the mirrors, and do whatever else is in your pre-trip ritual, totally on automatic. Once you learned that routine, you didn’t have to think about it any more, unless something happens to change the pattern. If you get a new car, everything will seem unfamiliar at first, but within days you’ll be going through the motions of driving without another thought.

Then there are lessons that take a lot more conscious thought and work to learn. Those are the ones that we need to carry into the future.

My answer to Question #7—What are the most important lessons you learned in 2008 that you want to be conscious of in 2009?

1. The most important lesson I learned was to focus on today. It sounds simple and it is; it just isn’t always easy.

I can’t do anything about what happened last week or last month or last year—or even 5 minutes ago. The best I can hope for is a version of the Omega 13 device from the movie “Galaxy Quest”. When activated, the Omega 13 rearranges time back 13 seconds. Doesn’t seem like much? As Tim Allen’s character says, it’s enough time to right a wrong or correct a single mistake. Wouldn’t that be nice?

In the absence of such a matter re-arranger, we’re left with the here and now. The decisions we make about how we live our lives now will carry on and affect the future course of events—even in seemingly minor things. If I’m driving in traffic and slow down to let someone move over in front of me, I expect that that decision and behavior will attract the same to me—and my commute will go a lot easier.

2. The second thing I want to carry into 2009 is that relationships matter. I’ve always been leery of teamwork—in my mind, it always meant I would have to do my job, and everyone else’s as well. But I’ve been opening myself up to the possibility that other people might do a job just as well as I do (even if not in the same way) and that having a partner in something lightens the load.

3. Another shift in my thinking occured around the idea that I need to look at things the way I want them to be, rather than the way they are. Tell a new story, in other words. By looking ahead—while still being happy and centered in the moment—I can shift my energy and attract the things I want most in my life. I can do that if I’m stuck on “not enough money” or “don’t have time” or “things are so unfair”. Try, “I’m looking forward to having enough money for everything I want”, and I’ll get there much sooner.

I’m sure there were other lessons I learned in 2008 that I will carry forward into this new year, but these are the big three.

What are you bringing into 2009? Click on comments and share your thoughts and ideas to make things great!

Tomorrow’s question is a little more esoteric. Question #8—What are you being called to next in your personal growth? Until then…tell a new story!

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For today’s question, we’re turning outward a little and looking at people who affected us most.

Question #6—Who impacted your life the most this past year?

I’m not going to go all “Time Magazine Person of the Year” and say, “who impacted for good or bad“; I’m going to stick with the positive. Here’s a big shout-out to my heroes from 2008.

The “A” List

The members of the Very Cool Life Network (VCLN 2008)—Drew Rozell, Karen Witzig Rozell, Wendy Down, Leah Shapiro and Barb Glover. This was an awesome group that met in person twice and on the phone at least twice a month. We laughed; we cried; we were down; we were up; and we learned from one another. I only hope the other members got as much out of knowing me as I did them.

Robin Rice of Be Who You Are. I wrote in an earlier post about how I met Robin and she had a profound effect on my life in 2008. She brought out my inner shamen and set me on the road to learning more about myself and my history in the world. Among other things, she took me on a soul retrieval journey that still reverberates.

Denise Wakeman and Patsi Krakoff (The Blog Squad).  If nothing else,  they introduced me to Mari Smith  and my world turned upside down with Facebook, Twitter, and social networking.  Aside from that, Denise & Patsi have been a wonderful source of help and inspiration for this blog.

Travis Greenlee. I recently started working with Travis and he is one of the most generous people I’ve ever met. He consistently gives WAY more value and information than is required and is never too busy to answer a question or take a call asking for help.

Honorable Mentions

I read a lot, and these bloggers and other writers consistently speak to me while providing interesting, thought-provoking and unique perspectives on the world. I almost always find some new nugget of information to move my life forward, give me a different perspective on things or just make me laugh. If you haven’t met them yet, give them a look. I promise you’ll love them!

Steve Roesler
Phil Gerbyshak
Joan Stewart
Michael Port
Fabienne Frederickson
Andy Wibbels
Rob Schultz

Finally, I have to include my husband, Michael. I wouldn’t be the person I am without knowing him, and he’s one of two people in this world I feel “at home” with 100% of the time. He’s a wonderful man who makes me laugh every day. And he’s a great videographer! This past year was challenging in many different ways, but Michael always made the journey interesting.

So, that’s it—my list of people who impacted my life in a good way in 2008. I’m sure there were more—everyone we meet affects our lives to some extent, and often we never know when we’ve had the biggest impact on another person.

Who had the biggest impact, or most influence, on your life in the past year? Share the goodness!

Thanks for reading this far. We’re on the home stretch—only 3 questions to go (and they’re not getting any easier)! Tomorrow is question #7—“What are the most important lessons you learned in 2008 that you want to be conscious of in 2009?”

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We’re halfway through the 10 Questions for 2009. What do you think so far? This should be a pretty easy one today. (After the last few, I need a break…)

Question #5—What did you learn about yourself this year?

I learned a lot this year. Part of what I learned is how much more I have to learn.

Let me say right off, I like learning. I love discovering new things and reading about them. The best thing about the internet, in my opinion, is that I can almost instantly find information about anything, 24/7.

Want to know which opera Beethoven wrote? (Fidelio)
How about where Capt. James T. Kirk was born? (Riverside, Iowa)
Tie a bow tie? Shoot a video and upload to a website? Bake a Boston Cream pie? All readily available online, any time.

But learning information is much different than learning about myself. That’s where the hard work comes in.

Intimacy, Awareness and Spontaneity

In the realm of self-awareness, I think there are three main areas that tell us how we’re doing. They’re inter-related and, by learning about ourselves in these areas, we can develop a picture of where we might need to spend some more time and focus our attention.

Intimacy refers to the feelings we have in relation to other people. Do we feel comfortable with other people? Can we form close relationships? Do we trust ourselves and others? If we feel complete and whole within ourselves, then we are able to feel that way with other people.

Awareness is the ability to trust our own perceptions and judgments about people and situations. Do we trust ourselves and our own valuation, or do we let other people and events sway our perception. We trust our “gut” and don’t overthink every issue that comes along. We act from a place of knowing, rather than thinking.

Spontaneity is reacting to things with immediacy. It means we trust ourselves enough to take action without having to research every single point, and without overly relying on the guidance of others. Again, it’s a matter of knowing and trusting ourselves and our intuition.

I keep returning to these areas again and again. I think learning is a life-long pursuit, and learning about myself is more valuable than almost anything else.

My answer to #5—What did you learn about yourself this year?

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken”. -  Oscar Wilde

The top 5 things I learned about myself this year.

1. Once I open myself up to a new idea, it’s there; I can’t go back. Even though sometimes it seems like it would be easier if I had never experienced all this Law of Atttraction and living life fully stuff, I can’t unring the bell. I need to keep moving forward.
2. I can live quite a nice life on far less money than I thought. Not that I don’t want more; I’m just saying…it’s not the end of the world.
3. Relaxing and trusting other people is better than keeping everything hidden deep inside where no one can see it.
4. I can go out to a group of people where I know absolutely no one and have a good time without feeling wierd or self-conscious. (Still working on this one).
5. I don’t have to always be right. Oh, I can still argue down to the last period to make my point, but I’m learning to let things go more often. It’s easier. And less tiring.

So, tell…what did you learn about yourself this year? Big or small, it doesn’t matter—hit the comment button and tell me.

Tomorrow is a fun question I can’t wait to answer! Question #6—“Who impacted your life the most this past year?” See you then.

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We’re on day 4 of 10 Questions for 2009 and it bring us to a point that separates the people who live their lives fully and those who just coast through (or worse).

Question #4— What did you shy away from in 2008 that you wish you’d gone for?

There’s probably too many things to count. I come up with great ideas, then immediately start second-guessing myself, playing Devil’s advocate, and thinking up all kinds of reasons why the idea won’t work.

Truth is, I don’t “go for it”.

Or, at least, I didn’t. But I’m learning. The past year has taught me a lot, and through my exploration I’m learning to step out and play bigger in the world—just a little. Baby steps, you know?

Sweatshirts, sailboats, and going for it.

While on vacation last fall we ran into unexpectedly cold, windy weather. I hadn’t brought anything warm to wear and we were going fishing at first light the next day, so I needed a sweatshirt. We ducked into a local shopping emporium and I started looking through the sweatshirts. One attracted me immediately. It was one of my favorite colors, and it had a picture on it that I really liked. But it was $10 more than the plain, utilitarian sweatshirts. What to do; what to do?

I tell you, it was an enormous struggle. A huge part of me didn’t feel like I should spend $10 more for the sweatshirt I really wanted; after all, I had sweatshirts at home and I was just buying this one because I hadn’t packed for the trip properly. Since it was my “fault” I had to buy new sweatshirt, I certainly didn’t deserve to get the nice one. Really, the plain blue one would work just fine. I picked up the blue sweatshirt and, with one last, regretful look at the one I really wanted, I turned around to walk to the checkout.

And there, in front of me, was a gorgeous sailboat model. Almost 18” long and nearly two feet high, it was made of wood; three sails were hung from the masts and the rigging was looped and tied and coiled. And on the largest sail was printed the words: “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go. ~T.S. Eliot”.

I put the blue sweatshirt back, got the one I wanted, picked up the sailboat and headed for the checkout. My husband stopped me. Why was I buying that boat? Where was I going to put it? How were we going to get it home in one piece? Why was I buying that boat?! I don’t know, I answered to all his questions. I don’t know. But I’m buying it.

It probably sounds silly for this to have been a defining moment for me; it’s just a sweatshirt and a model sailboat. But in that moment, I completely stopped the voice in my head that tells me I shouldn’t...I don’t deserve...it will never work...just stop...and I did something purely for the joy and pleasure it gave me.

Wow. I truly can’t remember the last time I just let myself go like that, without any second-guessing or weighing the options or feeling just a teensy bit guilty. In that moment, I got it—I got the whole feeling of how much better my life could be if I just stopped thinking everything to death and started acting out of  knowing.

Here’s the thing. Most of us live the lives we’ve been taught to live and we mistake that for who we really are—or who we could be. Now I know I can live a different life, and I can’t wait to get there.

My answer to question #4—What did you shy away from in 2008 that you wish you’d gone for?

I was talking with a friend in real estate. She’s been having a horrible year. While we were talking, I suddenly had a vision of how my husband and I, working together, could put together comprehensive marketing plans for small business owners. It was crystal clear! I excitedly shared my thoughts with her, the words spilling over themselves in my haste to get them out of my head. I would up by saying, “I can totally do this for you!” We made plans to talk further and get some things cooking.

That night, I lay in bed tossing and turning. Was I crazy? I don’t know how to do that. What was I thinking? I don’t have the background/skill/contacts/time to do something like that. Where would I start? And what about my current business? No, it’s too hard; too risky; what if we fail? No, no, no. No.

Whew. Glad I got that out of my system.

Except…it keeps coming up in my mind. And every time, I squash it back down. Again. And again. And again.

I should have gone for it.

So, where are you? What one thing should you have done last year that you just didn’t let yourself do? And how can you tell a new story for 2009?

If you want some help on this path, and you’re ready for a change, I strongly recommend joining me and a group of like-minded people on a path of self-discovery and learning. It’s called the Very Cool Life Network (VCLN 2009) and I promise you’ll love it. Deadline is Mon, 6 Jan, so time is running out.

And check back here tomorrow for question #5—“What did you learn about yourself this year?”

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The post that started it all.

Day 3 of 10 Questions for 2009. Today’s revolves around an issue I think a lot of people—me included—struggle with.

Question #3—Of all you’ve experienced in the past year, what are you the most proud of?

Do you have trouble taking credit for things you’ve done? Or feeling proud (or even really good) about yourself?

What’s that all about, anyway? I read this question and I’m seriously thinking of canning the rest of this series, because I can’t think of anything.

In different groups, and with different coaches, I’ve been asked a variation of the question, “What are you most proud of in your life?” And I’m always stymied. Usually I flake out and go with “Appearing on Jeopardy”, but that was 1996. Do I really believe the highlight of my life was 12 years ago, and it’s been all downhill since then?

Well, when you put it that way…

Pride goeth before the fall

You probably grew up like I did, with your mother trying to instill in you a sense of propriety and humility. As kids, we are fearless about shouting out our accomplishments and trying to out-do one another. As we get older, though, we pick up on clues that other people don’t like it when we brag about ourselves and we learn to keep our successes hidden. What we don’t always learn, though, is the right way to take credit for our accomplishments.

What are some of the things you heard growing up?

“You’ll break your arm, patting yourself on the back.”

“You have two ears and one mouth, so listen twice as much as you talk.”

Or, my mother’s favorite, “Self-praise stinks.”

There’s a wide gulf between practicing humility and feeling pride in ourselves. No matter who you are, there are things you excel at. OK, you’re not Mother Teresa or Bill Gates or even Bret Favre, but I know there are things you do better than anyone. They don’t have to be big things—maybe you grow the best pansies in town—but I know they’re there. You just need to let them out.

What I do best—“It ain’t braggin’ if you done it.” ~ Dizzy Dean

To start off, here’s a list of 3 things I do better than anyone I know.

1. Make gravy. To judge by the number of people who have asked me to teach them how to make gravy over the years, this has to be top of the list. It is good. Liquid gold. I swear.

2. Iron men’s shirts. This was my job as a teenager and my father was very particular about his shirts, so I learned to do them perfectly. In college, my friend P.J. and I made extra money by ironing shirts in our dorm room.

3. Make blueberry pie. Homemade crust; fresh blueberries; vanilla ice cream. It’s killer. (For more on blueberry pie, see yesterday’s post.)

My answer to question #3—Of all you’ve experienced in the past year, what are you the most proud of?

OK, still hard to answer, but I thought about it and thought about it and here’s what keeps coming up.

Early in 2008, my husband and I went through a very difficult period. Family health problems coupled with a serious financial setback ratcheted my stress quotient to stratospheric levels.

I came close to panicking a few times but, with the help of my coach and my friends, I kept myself from spinning out of control and stayed focused on what was truly important. And, a year later, things are in a much better place than I could have ever imagined. It’s a true accomplishment for me, and I’m giving myself a lot of credit for pushing through all the old ideas and ways of living that would have dragged me down and strangled me.

So, what about you? What are you proudest of in the past year? And, share a little more…what 3 things do you do better than anyone you know? Hit the comment button and let me know.

See you back here tomorrow for question #4—“What did you shy away from in 2008 that you wish you’d gone for?”

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We’re looking at 10 questions for 2009 to help you get the most out of this new year.

Question #2—How are you different today, internally, than you were a year ago?

As a child (and even as a teen) I had a vivid imagination. I read incessantly and made up stories all the time. I didn’t play board games—I made up games and assigned parts to all my friends and we played those. I was fascinated by fantasy and “magical” things and I had a deep spiritual interest outside of mainstream religion. When I was about 4 years old, I met an elderly Indian named “Running Wolf” and he gave me a pair of beaded moccasins and a card with his name. I wore the moccasins until they fell apart, and I still have the card.

By the time I finished college, though, I had pretty much gotten rid of all that “feeling” stuff and was going through life ruled by my head, my intellect. I didn’t think I was pretty, or interesting, or charming—but I did always think I was the smartest person in the room and I led with that belief.

The Law of Attraction

A couple of years ago, I stumbled across the Law of Attraction. This was well before the slicked-up “Secret” version exploded into consciousness. The more I read, the more attracted I was, and the more I found to read and study.

Slightly more than a year ago, I joined a year-long group called the “Very Cool Life Network”. It was transforming! (Note: A new group is starting for 2009—learn more here.) I opened myself further to new ideas and new ways of living. But I was still in my head, not willing to go over to the “other side”. I mean, those people are wierd, aren’t they? I’m not like that.

The next steps on the journey

Then, in April, a friend took me to a meet-up group called “Wine, Chocolate, and Conversations that Matter”, run by a woman named Robin Rice. Robin calls herself a contemporary shamen. This was a little further than I was prepared to go and my friend almost had to drag me there by force. In the end, I decided that any group featuring chocolate and wine couldn’t be too crazy.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that I was utterly entranced from the first meet-up. I couldn’t wait for the next month, and the next. I brought another friend and my sister-in-law. I studied every word of Robin’s website, waited anxiously for her monthly newsletter, and went back and read some of my old favorite books about shamens and celtic legends.

In the fall, Robin held a workshop on shamanic journeying and I signed up. At the workshop, people paired up randomly and my partner was a young man who I had never met before—didn’t even really get to know his name. He did a journey for me and met a little boy who said his name was Joe, and said to thank me for the blueberry pie.

My father-in-law, who passed in late Dec of 2007, was named Joe. One of his favorite things in the world was my blueberry pie, and whenever the family got together he would ask me to make him one.

Can I explain that? No. And it’s a measure of how far I’ve come in the past year that I don’t feel the need to explain, analyze or dissect it. It is what it is.

My answer to Question #2—How are you different today, internally, than you were a year ago?

I’m living a more spiritual life, encompassing all types and levels of spirituality.
I’m meditating most mornings, visualizing what I want my life to be.
I’m noticing signs of bigger things in my life—like the bald eagle I wrote about.
I’m calmer and able to handle day-to-day stressers better (well, a lot of the time, anyway).
I’m more open to alternate points of view and getting away from having to be right all the time.

How about you? What internal changes have you seen over the past year? Please share, and let me know how you got there. I’m always looking for different or alternate paths.

Come back tomorrow, when I’ll talk about the next question—“Of all you’ve experienced in the past year, what are you the most proud of?”

#1 of 10 Questions