I was so inspired by the project that Julien Leitner, 13 years old, began in an effort to have a positive impact on the world. This dedicated and precocious teenager has a goal to raise 2 million dollars in small 2 dollar donations for charities that help other children around the world.

His foundation, The Archimedes Alliance, is named after the Greek mathematician who said, “give me a lever long enough and a place to stand, and I can move the earth.”

By NASA Goddard Photo and Video, shared via Flickr

“I knew there were people who wanted to make a difference but didn’t have enough money to do it on their own,” he says in his on-line video. “Now, they don’t have to. I launched the Archimedes Alliance to leverage the power of the Internet and to bring together people of good intentions and limited resources and give them a voice and a means to create the change they envision.”

I just donated from my Nurture Life Coaching business account, please take a minute to send your own donation right now!

No Comments »

I love the gratitude banter that goes on during Thanksgiving week. I think every year having a week or so when we highlight appreciation is an important ritual, especially in a culture that is so driven by consumerism.

Over the years of working with my life coaching clients, I have realized something very simple, yet profound: giving and receiving both require being open.

In order to freely gift another person with your time, energy, money…you must be willing to open your hands and let go.

Likewise, to receive requires you to open your arms and heart to the gift that is being given. Gratitude is an expansive feeling.

Photo by jonathan.hadiprawira, shared via flickr

This brings to mind the beautiful poem by Rumi entitled “Birdwings”

“Your grief for what you’ve lost lifts a mirror up to where you’re bravely working.

Expecting the worst, you look, and instead, here’s the joyful face you’ve been wanting to see.

Your hand opens and closes and opens and closes. if it were always a fist or always stretched open, you would be paralyzed.

Your deepest presence is in every small contracting and expanding, The two as beautifully balanced and coordinated as bird wings.”

No Comments »

One of the (many) reasons that life coaching works is the focus on what is already going well. When clients are ready to make important changes in their lives, I often turn their attention to what is already working for them. In other words,  gratitude.

It can be easy to focus on problems. The big brick wall you see standing between you and the man/job/creative venture/ect… of your dreams is hard to miss. But, if you are only looking at that cold, rough surface, you might forget that you have scaled walls before and even have a special skill you can use. Or maybe you are so entranced with how tall the wall is, you don’t take the time to see if it is really as long as you feared. Did you forget about all the friends you have who could hold the ladder while you climb?

The benefits of gratitude are scientifically proven. Robert Emmons of UC Davis performed a series of studies on gratitude with some of the following results:

• Those who kept a gratitude journal exercised more frequently and had fewer physical symptoms
• They had better success with a large range of personal and professional goals
• They were more likely to help someone else or offer emotional support
• A group with neuromuscular disease reported better energy levels, mood and sleep

Is there an area of your life where you would like to have more clarity or fulfillment? Do you have a big change you navigating? If so, make gratitude a regular practice; I promise that it will open your heart to greater possibilities!

No Comments »

Over the weekend, my family went to a Harvest Breakfast at our very cool little church. We sat around tables in a loving community, ate delicious food, sang songs and did a fun gratitude exercise. Based on a Jewish tradition, we made a list of 100 things we feel grateful for in our lives. Each table made a list and there were eight tables! That is an abundance of appreciation.

My article in the Tranquil Parent this week is all about the power of gratitude and how it can enrich and transform your life. Give it a read and then start your own list!

No Comments »