Nurture Life Coaching : Blog » economic crisis

What is your wake up call?

Savannah — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:36:28 +0000

On this historic morning, as I listened to Barack Obama giving his inaugural address, I was struck by his call to action for every American. He calls us each to take responsibility in transforming our county and our lives.

Over the past few months, our collective reality has shifted. Our economy is in crisis, our livelihoods feel threatened and many of our worst fears seem to loom on the horizon. From global warming to the national deficit, we can no longer maintain the status quo.

“Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age.” -President Barack Obama

We are each given the challenge to look at our own lives and ask: “What hard choices have I failed to make? Where have I not lived from my own values, my own truth? What can I do differently?”

If this is a wake up call, what are you waking up to in your own life?

Each one of us makes a difference in the world. From the mother who lovingly cares for her baby to the store clerk who smiles at his customer to the activist who stands up for her beliefs. Each choice, each word, each action COUNTS.

“On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.” -President Barack Obama

While we might worry that we can’t make a difference in our small corner of the big world, the truth is that each time we choose connection over conflict, inspiration over apathy and resourcefulness over exploitation, we do make a difference. And our new President asks us step up and be who we say we are.

“What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility – a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.” -President Barack Obama

So I am rolling up my sleeves and bravely meeting the challenges in my own life. What about you?

We chose hope

Savannah — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 22:19:44 +0000

On Tuesday evening, I was snuggled up on the couch with a beloved friend, my toddler was bouncing on and off my lap and my teenager was 2000 miles away but as close as a whisper on the other end of the phone line.

At one point, the little guy grabbed the phone from my hand and said, “Bubba, I love you,” in his garbled toddler voice. Every day with him there is a new, exciting first.

But that night, we shared, all of us, another first. We listened to Barack Obama give his acceptance speech in front of a crowd of 200,000 people as President-Elect of the United States of America. I thought about how my kids will grow up remembering one of the first presidents in their lifetimes being an African-American. How will that change their experience of living in our diverse and beautiful country?

Every person: farmer, stockbroker, retired veteran, stay at home mom or therapist who voted for Obama on election day added their intention to his message, “Yes we can.” We collectively decided to choose hope instead of fear, unity instead of disconnection and new action instead of the same old politics.

I believe that Obama is a leader who can create transformation. Not just because he is the first black man to hold this powerful office or because he isn’t entrenched in corporate politics, but because he inspires people of many different backgrounds and belief systems to come together. After all, 63 million of us voted for him.

And did you see the cheers and tears of people all over the world? They want us to be the country that we can be.

As he told us Tuesday night, the road ahead will be a difficult one. We have veered far off course in many ways. But I believe that if we are honest and mindful about our current situation and hold in our collective hearts an intention to move forward with positive action, we can heal.

One step at a time. And this first step, this incredible unifying moment in history, is a good one.

Time for a family friendly economy?

Savannah — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:16:13 +0000

The current economic climate is stressful for many families. My article this week for the Tranquil Parent offers a conscious approach for families who are feeling the crunch!