The second book in the Horse as Teacher book series is hot off the presses! The Path to Relationship is flying out the door. If you haven’t ordered your copy, click here to get it. If you would like to order both The Path to Authenticity and The Path to Relationship, I’m offering both for $30, a savings of $10 off the retail price. Click here to get both titles.
You might be wondering where I disappeared to the past few months. Nothing is ever dull in my life, and the past year has been filled with more change than even I am used to. After a need for some downtime, I’m beginning to resurface.
Recently, I took a five-day road trip from Dallas, Texas to my home in Portland, Oregon. Eleven years ago, I had taken the same trip in the opposite direction. Many things have changed since then, but I realized on the road that one essential thing has not: I have a passion for adventure and discovery, for travel and new perspectives, for learning more about myself, no matter the means or the vehicle.
Writing is one such vehicle, and I haven’t been filling that tank much lately, although I teach my writing coaching clients to use the adventure of writing to discover their true self, to dive deep into their experience, find the pearls that define who they are, and bring a new perspective to the surface. Unfortunately, I had not been doing that for myself.
Just before the trip, I started to write on my long-awaited book, Stumbling Into Grace. In fact, I had been stumbling over what direction to take the book and had been working on the subtitle, thinking that would help me clarify my message. After I returned, I pulled out all of my old journals, looking for some creative juice.
Ironically, what I discovered was a common thread through many years: That I love road trips, adventure and discovery, and I love to write about those themes. What a surprise.
As I traveled down memory lane through my journals, I put some music on, choosing the first album I ever purchased, Cat Stevens’ Tea for the Tillerman.
The first song that came on was “On the Road to Find Out”. The lyrics described me to a “T”, from the first stanza… “Well I left my happy home to see what I could find out. I left my folk and friends with the aim to clear my mind out…” down to the final line… “…pick up, pick up a good book now…”
The universe had gently giving me a roadmap and was nudging me to finish the journey.
Stumbling Into Grace: On the Road to Find Out is the story of my journey to find the essence of living a grace-filled life, despite obstacles, wrong turns, and an occasional collision along the way. I still have roads to travel, and more sights to see. I hope you’ll join me on the adventure.
I’ll be sharing my writing in this blog. I’d love to hear your feedback. Constructive comments are welcome!
It’s been awhile since I posted anything. Been working on some projects. One of those is now published!
Horse as Teacher: The Path to Authenticity is Now Available.
The stories in this collection will move you to tears, make you laugh, remind you of your first brush with love (in the form of a horse), and most important, connect you with your soul; because that’s what horses can do when you are willing to embrace what they so naturally and beautifully reveal to you.
The authors come from a variety of horse backgrounds, but there is a common thread – they all see the simple truth that these magnificent animals, through their presence and grace, can raise our consciousness, peel back the layers to uncover our true selves, and show us how to shine with brilliance.
Only $19.95 US! Click here to purchase your copy!
If you’ve been a reader of my blog posts, you’ll know that I’m merging my passion for technology, information, and spirituality. I’ve got the information part down, with my coaching, my writing, and my knowledge of how to create information products. What I was confused about was how to bring my passion for shamanism and energy medicine healing, as well as my more recent work with healing with horses, in alignment with technology. They seem like different ends of the spectrum. I finally had that a-ha moment a few days ago.
What I realized is that I’ve been looking at it from the wrong perspective. I had been trying to fit all the pieces together as if they were separate objects. What I finally asked myself is, “What is the common denominator of each of these important parts in my life?” The obvious answer? Healing.
However, you might ask how technology fits into that answer. I now see that as the most effective tool to share the knowledge that I’ve learned about healing with others. It’s one thing to have an ability to be a vessel for healing; another to let others know about what one does in that work. By creating information products about shamanism, energy medicine healing, healing through writing, and my work with healing with horses, I believe that my vision of helping healers become leaders and leaders become healers will be realized. By sharing that information on the internet, in my blog, through social media, online articles, and my e-zine, I can contribute not only what I know, but what other healers and leaders are discovering.
I will build from that platform into more live events, spreading the information to even more people.
This might seem like a simple realization, but because I was so locked into a specific perspective due to what people might think, instead of what I’m called to do, I had trouble seeing what was true. Sound familiar?
After a long gestation period (ironically, nearly 9 months), I finally have clarity about my next steps. I’m sure it has confused some of you to see my struggles. I’m usually at the front of the pack, charging ahead with purpose. But I realize now that my mission has been evolving, that all of the targets I had been shooting at had to come together for me to move forward with a clear focus.
How do I know this is different than other things I’ve aimed for? Other attractions have always left me with a feeling of immediate euphoria, a “high” if you will, about the pursuit of something new. However, after a short time, my interest has peaked and I’m soon searching for the next best thing.
What I feel right now is a calm knowingness, a certainty that at long last, I’m connecting with a deep passion by bringing together all that I have learned in my experiences with these seemingly disparate, but passionate directions.
So, I thank you for your patience, for sticking with me, and for all of your comments and support. Stay tuned for more!
This morning I read an article by John Canzano, sportswriter for the Oregonian, Portland’s daily newspaper. The article was an update to a Christmas day column he wrote about 24-year old Katie Shearer, who died Sunday after a lengthy battle with melanoma.
By the end of the article, tears were pouring down my face. Here was a young woman who was at peace with her death because she had already lived a full life. The lesson Katie shared is that we are all mortal. In fact, she had thought about having a tattoo with “Memento Mori” (remember you are mortal) lasered onto her wrist. Katie understood what life is about… evolving, learning, looking at life as the journey, rather than death as the destination; enjoying each moment that remained and living life to the fullest.
What would you do if you knew you had a week to live?
Most of us trudge through life looking more critically at what we haven’t accomplished than what we have, at what might not happen instead of what is happening right now. What a way to live life. I know, I’ve done it. Katie’s story reminded me that the present is really what it’s all about. Each moment is full of joy, if we embrace it. Instead, we regret the past and fear the future. In the meantime, we miss what’s happening right now.
If you knew in this moment that the next moment would be the end of your life, what would you do? Would you be worried about the economic uncertainty in the world? Would you treat people with more respect? Would you laugh until your ribs hurt? Would you revel in all you have done in your life? Would you by happy or sad? Would you just be in that moment?
What would you do with this moment if you knew you it was your last?
Why wait?
