If instead of a feeling, the desire for change were a place, it would be New York City. The cultural backdrop of the city inspires the almost 9 million residents to constantly reevaluate beliefs and actions. In some ways, New York City is the ultimate Life Coach!
Read moreFalse Start -- Life Renovation Week 5
It’s been five weeks since my condo purchase in Park City. My hopes and dreams for a quick renovation were dashed in short order. Work has not yet begun, but I’m actively using my Life Renovation Survival Tactics.
Read moreMusical Monday -- New Attitude
Today’s Musical Monday is inspired by the new attitude that accompanies the change of seasons. It took the song New Attitude to make Patti LaBelle a solo star at age 40…
Read moreMusical Monday -- Life Changes
Changes, one of David Bowie’s first songs released in the U.S., was a sign of things to come. Bowie was 25 in 1972 at the time the single was released and is perhaps best remembered for personal reinvention throughout his life....
I still don't know what I was waiting for
And my time was running wild
A million dead-end streets
And every time I thought I'd got it made
It seemed the taste was not so sweet
So I turned myself to face me
But I've never caught a glimpse
Of how the others must see the faker
I'm much too fast to take that test
Changes, David Bowie
It’s fitting that Changes was the last song Bowie performed on stage in 2006. At the time no one knew that this performance with Alicia Keyes, at her annual Black Ball charity event, would be his retirement from live performance at age 59.
I’d like to think that Bowie went into retirement still believing in change. The concept of reinventing retirement is prevalent today. With so many retiring early and searching for a more meaningful lifestyle, the only thing certain is change!
What changes will you face when you leave your career? How will you change direction in life? What does reinventing retirement mean to you?
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Musical Monday -- Good Vibrations
To celebrate the end of summer in some parts of the world, Musical Monday features a Beach Boys classic tune.
Rolling Stone Magazine counts Good Vibrations as #8 on their Readers’ Poll 10 Greatest Summer Songs list, and #5 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
“I’m pickin’ up good vibrations
She’s giving me excitations
Good, good, good, good vibrations”
-- The Beach Boys, Good Vibrations
In 1966, The Beach Boys released the rock masterpiece Good Vibrations, a groundbreaking mosaic of session recordings, and the industry’s most expensive single when it was released. The song represented a big departure from hits like Surfin’ USA and I Get Around for The Beach Boys.
Mike Love’s lyrics reflected the exploding flower power culture in the U.S., and Brian Wilson’s music was inspired by his Mother’s belief that people give off vibrations. Wilson was reportedly frightened by the concept of life force vibrations as a child and the feeling went on to inspire him to greatness.
The concept of life energy has been studied for over ten thousand years in the Far East. Chi, as it’s known in Chinese medicine, is the core of many health and wellness practices such as Massage, Yoga, Reiki and Acupuncture.
Maintaining a balanced energy flow through the body is growing in importance in Western medicine and culture as well.
What techniques do you use to ensure a healthy flow of energy through your body? How do you know when you are in mental and physical balance? What do you do when you feel out of balance in some way?
Musical Monday -- When was the Last Time?
Former rock now country artist Darius Rucker has a new album with a lead single that could be a Life Coaching anthem. Darius (51) asks a provocative question that many mid-lifers are currently considering.,,
Read moreMindful in Manhattan
“If I can be mindful here, I can be mindful anywhere.” While not exactly what Frank Sinatra sang about in New York, New York, the analogy certainly works. There aren’t many more interruptive places on earth than New York City. So naturally this is where I decided to get serious about my meditation practice.
I’ve meditated in majestic temples across Asia, but have never committed to a regular practice. It’s inspiring to turn your thoughts inward while surrounded by magnificent golden Buddha’s or chanting Monks.
It gets a bit harder to focus on being present when surrounded by 8.5 million people and the musical sounds of Manhattan.
In search of the perfect place to get centered in New York City, I wondered into Inscape (www.inscape.life) and fell in love with myself. Trying all the different guided meditation techniques was as heady as tasting my way through an exotic cocktail menu. Today I’ll try mantra and mindfulness, tomorrow relaxation and vision…
Within two weeks I was in a state of bliss and committed to a mindfulness practice that can travel with me anywhere.
In case you don’t live near an inspiring meditation center, a guide is already in your pocket or purse. Healthline.com recently rated the top mediation apps of 2017 and inspired a great dialog on the subject. If you are interested in trying a new mediation app, I recommend you check out the article and comments for a great list of options.
http://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/top-meditation-iphone-android-apps#1
How do you get centered? Do you prefer group mediation or private reflection? If you have a meditation practice, how has it changed over time?
Musical Monday -- Asking for HELP!
Music is one of life’s inspirations. The artists who motivate us to think, while we tap our toes, deserve to be recognized. I’m kicking off a Musical Monday blog theme with The Beatles’ Help!
“When I was younger so much younger than today
I never needed anybody’s help in any way
But now these days are gone, I’m not so self assured
Now I find I’ve changed my mind and opened up the doors”
-- The Beatles, Help!
In a 1971 Rolling Stone interview, John Lennon said that Help! was one of the few true songs he had ever written about himself. Lennon was only 25 in 1965 when he opened the door to ask for a little help. However, he had already undergone one of the biggest life transformations imaginable.
Life transition on any scale is often stressful. It’s easy to become “not so self assured.” The good news is that like John Lennon, we can always ask for Help!