Dear Newsletter Readers,
I always like to practice what I preach. Last month I suggested that you make sure to find time for your passions. This month, in order to make time for two of my own passions, summer travel and Musical Improvisation (creating songs on the spot), I am sending a reprint of a former newsletter. As many of us got a late start on summer, it's a great reminder to soak up all we can while the good weather is here!

A former Special Education supervisor and I used to love to talk about our favorite island vacation spot off of Cape Cod. While describing all the island pleasures she remarked, "I think the best thing about the island is that everyone there becomes a child again, even for a short time." When is the last time you intently watched the activity in an ant hill, climbed a tree, or made boats out of leaves to sail down a river? When is the last time you did something totally silly, carefree and didn't care who was watching?

Children focus intensely on the moment at hand, blocking out all other distractions. I think we have something to learn from this habit! They become egocentric, thinking only of what they want in the moment. After all the additional stresses of this year, don't we adults deserve to concentrate on pure joy?

Most of us know that focusing our attention away from our worldly thoughts can be a beneficial practice. This time away from our thoughts reduces stress, and helps us focus better when we do return to our duties. By regaining the wonder and innocence from childhood, we can view the ordinary things we take for granted with new perspective. Try picking apart a flower to see how it is constructed, eating an ice cream cone with total concentration, stop during your bike ride to explore some new path as if it could contain adventure and great surprises! These moments of mindfulness go a long way to provide more energy to take care of all you do need to get done.

Moving forward: While I would love to think we will do this spontaneously, some of us will need to put this in our calendar as a reminder. Perhaps Mondays are the best time to do this activity, as they may contain the most stress. Take a moment now to schedule in this concentrated play time in your planner, as many times as you would like. Be generous by giving yourself the time you need!

Check out next month's newsletter for the latest Good News! from my clients.

INDIVIDUAL COACHING: Explore what coaching can do for you! For people new to coaching, I always offer a complimentary session designed to help clarify and move forward to the career, relationships, and lifestyle you truly desire! Coaching can help you gain clarity about your goals, provide accountantability and structure, and help you move through your obstacles and fear toward success. Coaching will help make the changes you want so you live a life that reflects your values and priorities! Click on the link under my picture to access my website, with a coaching video from a television spot I did for WCVB Boston Channel 5 Chronicle Magazine and detailed New York Times and Boston Globe articles profiling my work, and testimonials from satisfied clients.

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