Tag Archives: intentional

Jonathan Fields, Living Intentionally, Marriage, Pay Attention, Power Hour, s.n.a.p., Tracing Hope, Tribewriter

A Close Up Look at THE Exquisite!

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Last week I shared with you the wonderful word EXQUISITE. In that post, I defined the term and the different meanings associated with the word.  (You can go back to read that post here.)

I had every intention of writing a second blog post related to this because I wanted to think through a concept Jonathan Fields introduced at the TRIBEWRITER Conference I attended in September.

In our journey to hone our voice in writing, but also in our life work, we so often give out, put out, produce only to find ourselves going through the motions, but feeling a void; of running out of ideas, direction or energy.  That happens because we are not effectively refueling or putting back into ourselves.

Jonathan challenged us to develop an ‘inner key’ that is more about input rather than output.  Continue reading A Close Up Look at THE Exquisite! →

Heroes, Jennifer Wenzke, make a difference, Mentor, Questions?, s.n.a.p., So Now Professional Network of Women, Worth/Value

Story to Share 2:The Story Began…

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Boy, Do I Have a Story to Share!

A few days ago I shared the introduction post above with a promise that I would continue the story.  It is a story of my champion; a woman who walked into my life and made her authentic difference.

I learned much from pondering this story over the summer.  This post is Part 2 of- well, I’m not sure how many more posts it will take to finish the story.  Lean in! Listen close! Continue reading Story to Share 2:The Story Began… →

100 Days, GHC opportunities, Goals, Living Intentionally, make a difference, Questions?, s.n.a.p.

S.N.A.P to Finish

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The Fall season is not officially here, but with the start of school, and football games and the cooler temps we’ve been having (at least in Ohio), it feels like fall all over.

But that also reminds me that we are nearing the end of 2017.  Can you believe this year is on the wind down? Doesn’t it seem like we were just setting our goals for the new year?

If you are a goal setter, you might strategically set goals

  • the month,
  • or the quarter or for 90 days at a time
  • or 100 days at a time.
  • or maybe just a wing and a prayer moving through each day as it comes.

I like to look at 100 days at a time (though the ‘wing and a prayer’ has been known to happen on many occasions. )  I especially look at the last 100 days of the year which, if I counted right, actually starts September 23rd.

Or if you save the last week of the year for time with family and friends, or reflection of the old year and planning the new, then the last 100 days of the year start September 16th.

But here’s the thing.

I can spend a lot of time making goals, creating plans, strategizing about next steps and get to the end of the year and wonder…

Is this where I wanted to end up this year?

Or am I trying to do what I think I should do to be who I think I’m supposed to be?

Have I made the kind of difference that I really value most in my own life?  

What questions do you have in your own experience?

Well, that’s why every year about this time Continue reading S.N.A.P to Finish →

GHC opportunities, grief, Hope, influence, Living Intentionally, LOSS, make a difference, wrestling

6 Reasons to Be Grateful at a Funeral

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I recently attended the funeral, actually, the celebration of life of a 23 year old daughter of a friend.

The uncanny timing of this particular event was not lost on me.  As I sat at this funeral, I was reminded of another that took place just one week shy of 11 years ago- in the same church- led by the same pastor.  It was a funeral I was very much a part of since the life being celebrated was my 15 year old daughter, Leisha. Continue reading 6 Reasons to Be Grateful at a Funeral →

Fresh start, Goals, LIFE, Living Intentionally, Pay Attention

Are You Waiting For Tomorrow?

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This is a ‘new’ season for me.  It’s a time when I am FIERCELY taking on some issues in my life- mostly related to my health.

For the last 12 years, I’ve slept more than I’ve done anything.  There have been so many days spent trying just to get the most important thing done. I’ve talked about getting serious about my weight, and my blood sugar.

For the last 5 years or so, I’ve been choosing one BIG thing to focus on.  One year it was a new coaching program for Green Hope Coaching.  Another year it was following up on a coaching credential and certification.  Of course one- or two years I spent writing and publishing the book, Lovely Traces of Hope. 

This year I knew that I had to make ME the focus.   I chose to be intentional about me.  I made an appointment with a Dr. that specialized with endocrine issues.  I committed to a 21 Day Detox.  I cleaned out my fridge and goody shelf and started to create a new menu for the week.

But this morning Continue reading Are You Waiting For Tomorrow? →

#lovelytracesofhope, Heroes, influence, life lessons, Lovely Traces, make a difference, Tribewriter

Heroes…and sidekicks!

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This weekend, I attended the TRIBEWRITER conference in Franklin, TN which is a “marketing conference for people who don’t think of themselves as marketers. It’s a gathering for writers, artists, and creative entrepreneurs to grow their craft, share their work, and get the attention their work deserves.”

In my previous post, I shared some of the effects of last years conference; the primary one was the completion of the “LOVELY TRACES OF HOPE” book which I had been working on for several years before committing to finish it.

This year, I am still sifting through the ‘one thing’ i will do because of what I learned.  But…Jeff Goins, founder and host of the Tribewriter event kicked us off with a great reminder.

batman-with-his-sidekick-jeff-robin

Jeff introduced us to his superhero son, Aiden who is 4.  Aiden is Batman.  He wanted Jeff to be – not Superman, like Jeff was last year, not Spiderman or The Hulk.  You guessed it, Robin, Batman’s faithful sidekick.

Jeff reminded us that often, as business owners, authors and creatives of all kinds, we think our purpose is about being the super hero to our clients and readers.

In reality we are there to be a sidekick to the stories in our tribe. My story is only truly effective as I influence the reader engage with their own story.

I do that by:

  • Being Present- show up, yes, but more than that- engaged!
  • Being Helpful- Give first, often you will benefit, but help anyway.
  • Being Brave- learning to do that next hard thing afraid.

Think like a sidekick and make it about ‘them’.  The act of being allows activity to follow identity.

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As I sat and listened to Jeff’s comical, but motivating challenge, I read the words on the card at my table.  The picture below may be easier to read.

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Ok! This is exactly why we need to be present, helpful and brave.  If we dare to look into the depth of the world’s darkness, then people will be willing to listen to us as we dare to shine light into theirs.

I’ve never been very good at the super hero role.  How about you?  Are you a super hero?  Sometimes we become one in our story out of necessity. But often it is not because we are super great – it is because we were present for someone, or helpful to them at a time when they needed us to be brave.

But who are you a side kick too right now?  Is it your family or a close friend?  Maybe it is a client who is counting on you to help them do what they need to do.

Well, I am Kathy, and I’m your sidekick!

So…how can I help you? What’s going on in your story? Leave a comment below or email me at kathy@greenhopecoaching.com.

Lovely Traces of Hope
Lovely Traces of Hope

Wondering if Kathy knows what it means to struggle to find hope in a dark place? Get Kathy’s new book called Lovely Traces of Hope?

Go to Amazon.com to order. 

Fresh start, LIFE, life lessons, Living Intentionally, LOSS

A Journey to Be!

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Below, I am REPOSTING a post from a year a go.  I wrote this during my first ever writer’s conference- TRIBEWRITER’s in Franklin, TN last August 2015.  I remember being scared, excited, sick to my stomach and sure this was my next right/write step. 

Today as I prepare to attend my second Tribewriter conference, I read this post agin.  I am in awe of all that has happened in a year.  

A year ago, I spoke the words “I am a writer” for the first time. A year ago I declared that I would finish writing and publish a book.  

Now it is done.  It took a great deal more to complete this task than I ever dreamed, but I have a book to show to the Jeff Goins as I thank him for helping me own who I am and  for introducing me to Christine Niles and others who inspired and challenged me through this process.

I don’t know what I will learn this year at TRIBEWRITERS, but I’m scared, excited, sick to my stomach and sure this is the next right/write step. Pray for me!

*******

As a child, did you ever wonder what you would be when you grew up?  Journey to Be

I did often.  It had everything to do with being a mom, and working with music and worship in the local church. And if I happened to be married to a pastor, that would be all the better. I never wanted to be anything else.

But today I sat in a room full of people and realized that is not who I am anymore.  I still have the same gifts and abilities.  I still love music and prefer to use it to lead others in worship.  I still have a husband who thinks about ways to teach God’s word and loves to talk about church leadership.

The fact that I am not what I once was used to feel like failure, then just loss.  But today I came to see in fresh ways that all that WAS is part of all that IS.   All that I have learned is part of all that I now share.

From the memories of all that I am from to the discovery of the voice that has always been within me, I am still me.

Only more!

I’m more aware!

I’m more raw!

I’m more real!

And that is good.

Today I came closer to identifying and becoming content with who I am!

I am an entrepreneur.   I own a business.

I am a coach and a speaker.

I am part of a tribe and I am a leader of tribes.

I am also a writer!

It is out of who I am now that I will write.  It might suit you and it might not.  I might speak to the core of your issues and I might not.  I might write out of the suffering more than the healing and I might not.

But I will write because I must. I will continue to explore who I am coming to be because I will not go back.  I will continue to share the truths that I am being taught.

From the memories of all that I am from to the discovery of the voice that has always been within me, I am still me. Click To Tweet

I will not count the past as lost, or wasted.  I will see it for the training ground it has been.   I will not fear the present or the future because I have known the hand of God in bringing me to this point.  I will trust it as I continue on.

Today I have seen more of me.

And it’s ok!

So are you!

Who are you today?  What do you need to embrace in this day?

Join me in the journey to be,  won’t you?

dream, Fresh start, grief, Hope, influence, LIFE, life lessons, Lovely Traces, make a difference, Mentor, Offering Hope, Pat Emery Hixon, Pay Attention, Questions?, wrestling

Friend of Influence

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20150321_162126Yesterday I shared a post called THAT’s INFLUENCE.

Today I want to share with you a friend of influence.  Her name is Pat.

Pat is has been a long time friend, though recent years have brought us together more purposefully.  She has been my coach as I launched into business.   I was her matron of honor a couple of years ago at her wedding.  She has listened to me through so many transitions of life – and I to her.

Our favorite thing to do is grab a table at Touches of the Heart in Glandorf for lunch and stay till they close.  Julie, the Touches host, knows when she sees us to put on another pot of coffee.  We will be there a while.   Pat and I are never at a loss of words to fill an afternoon.

I have spent that last few weeks struggling with finding energy to do life- but more significantly returning to the grief tunnel as I processed some of the chapters for the manuscript I am writing.  The more I tried to get deeper into my story, the less strength I had to do it. I had spent 10 weeks grappling with the emotions and wondering if I could actually write them down.

I felt so alone. No one can do that except me!

Then Pat called- she connects with me in one way or another nearly every week.  This time she called.  We talked about my health, rejoiced over our families, shared what we are learning about ourselves, about God.  Like I said, we rarely run out of words.

Then she asked about the book.  I told her I haven’t written much for 10 weeks.  We talked about how my health and lack of energy seemed directly connected to the book. She said, “Kathy, do I just need to come and sit with you while you write?”

Ah!  There it is!  So many days I had wished for someone to be with me in this journey.  I had not said anything because I know that I am the only one who can write my story.

But Pat saw me!

She invited herself into my pain.

She asks the questions others are afraid to ask.

She listens to my ramblings as I come to find my own answers.

No, I don’t need her to come write with me.  But I did need to know someone saw what I needed and was willing to be an answer to my need.

That’s influence.

Pat, I am filled with gratitude for the influence you have had on my life. And just so you know, I’ve completed 5 chapters and rethinking 3 more. Thanks for spurring me to finish what my heart must do!

Love you friend!

Brielle, influence, LIFE, life lessons, life stories, Living Intentionally, make a difference, Mentor, Pay Attention

That’s Influence!

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This past week, my daughter lost a mentor.  Denny Griffith had been the president of CCAD, Columbus College of Art & Design while she was a student there.  She describes him often as such an instrumental person, a spectacular man, an artist, and a person of influence.

I always marveled at the closeness she felt toward him.  And then I read one of her Facebook posts this week.  She wrote: Continue reading That’s Influence! →

Fresh start, GHC opportunities, Goals

TAKE FIVE to Make Your Goals Happen!

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5 yearsIt’s the middle of January!  How are you doing with New Year’s Resolutions? Need some help?

In celebration of our 5th anniversary, we are offering a TAKE 5.  Five Private sessions designed to assist you in having your best year ever. 

Before January 31st, schedule five 50 minute sessions weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly to take place before May 31st.

Together we will TAKE 5 to:

Continue reading TAKE FIVE to Make Your Goals Happen! →