believe
believe by BlueMoon*, on Flickr
As I was watching the American Idol finale last night, I kept thinking about how amazed those kids must be to find themselves smack dab in the middle of their dreams coming true.   A national tour, singing on stage with their heroes, millions of screaming fans, etc.  I don't mean the finalists, either.  All of the top 12 are going to go on to some form of success in the music business because of the exposure and connections they've gained. 

But mostly, because the judges chose to believe in them and their talent.  They all came into the auditions with a dream and incredible talent and hope.  So did thousands of others who didn't make it to the live shows.  Some of them may even be more talented or motivated than the finalists, but they weren't chosen.  For whatever their numerous reasons, the judges put their belief in those 12, and so their dreams are coming true every day. 

I'm not saying that the belief was the only reason they're succeeding.  They had to have the talent first.  But when someone truly believes in you and shows you that they do, it gives your talent wings.  It helps you to soar higher and faster.  It moves you forward with strength that you didn't know you had until someone gave you that helping hand. 

I see it every day in coaching.  As soon as someone says their dreams out loud and we begin to focus on them, they grow and leap in ways that weren't imagined.  I see it in my women's circles- when we share those deep secret talents that we long to share and someone tells us how amazing it is.  That little bit of belief is just like Pixie Dust- with it and a good dose of happy thoughts we start to fly.
 

The wonderful Amy Palko has started a Beautiful Beliefs series and I'm thrilled to participate!  To play along or read the other posts, check out this link.  If you're ready for a bit of Pixie Dust and want to learn more about me and my work, check out this post or go here to set up your free Fairy Godmother Session.
 
 
Picture
1. One of my favorite photos of my parents. 2. My dad decided Mrs. Claus was more interesting than Mr., so he tried on the costume. Many hours of laughter have since ensued.
Yesterday was one of the best days I've had in a long time.  I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe and my throat is sore today from it. 

It's also the day I found out my little sister has endometrial cancer. 

I know it sounds like those two statements can't possibly both be true, but they are.  Her cancer is in the earliest, least aggressive stage and her doctor was very positive about the hormone treatments working for her. 

This is not my family's first round with cancer.  Thirteen years ago, my dad was diagnosed with stage four terminal sebaceous cell carcinoma.  Today, he's as healthy and happy as ever.  Chemo took a lot out of him, but he never lost his sense of humor or his positive attitude.  (This is a man who wore his Cat in the Hat hat for his Sam's Club photo ID so that the door greeters and cashiers would smile when he came in.)  He baked cakes for his chemo nurses and took them gifts every week.  He's a farmer, but he retired after his diagnosis because he didn't have the energy for the labor intensive farm work.  He took up sewing with his new-found free time and started making pillows for the chemo center to give the patients during their treatments.  He made floor pillows for everyone he knew (I still have 3 of them).  He and my mom made a book of the inspirational statements they found, including what Cancer CANNOT Do.  They still give them to anyone they know who is affected by cancer.   It took a toll on all of us, but the positivity and humor that we found certainly had a profound impact on his healing and helped us all cope with such a difficult situation. 

My whole family is full of smartasses and we make wise crack comments all the time when we're together.  Yesterday was no different.  And my sister was leading the charge.  Her doctor had a bit of trouble finding her cervix during the exam.  Her response was "Oh, has it gone on a walkabout again?  Well, keep looking, I'm not going anywhere."  Her doctor cracked up and the room was full of smiles instead of sadness. 

My sister's current treatment plan is hormone therapy and doesn't include radiation or chemo or surgery, so hopefully she won't have to deal with the worst of the side effects of cancer.  Her outlook is sunny and she is full of the best medicines- love, laughter, and support.  The forecast is brilliant and today truly is a Good Friday!

If you need a little medicine, here's a video that's sure to activate your laugh muscles:
If you need support in seeing the medicines in your life or in seizing the fun, please check out my Work page for more info on how we could work together.  Or go here for info about a free Fairy Godmother Session to dig into your dreams and see what magics we can find. 
 
 
Two weeks ago, I made a drastic physical change.  After 15 years of wearing my hair in the same basic long style, I had it chopped off into a chin-length bob.  I feel FABULOUS!!! I was so nervous about making that change, even though I’ve wanted to change my hair for several months.  I was just so unsure about whether it would be a good look for me and I was scared of trying something new.  We’ve all had those moments, right?  Where your comfort zone isn’t a happy place, but you’re scared to move out into the unknown, because it’s unknown.  Sometimes it’s something small and mostly insignificant, like a haircut, but sometimes it’s a huge thing, like leaving a marriage where you’re miserable or a job that isn’t your passion.  The leap is always a risk, but most of the time, the result is wonderful.  I look better, younger, & more professional with my shorter hair than I did with long hair.  It’s even spilled over into inspiring me to reinvest myself into my health & wellness goals.  Making that simple change and having it work out positively has motivated me to make other changes that I’ve been wanting to make.

Even though it might sound shallow- changing something physical, such as your hair style, clothing colors, or wearing special accessories, can get you out of feeling stuck.  That change symbolizes to you and to the universe that you are growing and moving forward.  It’s a physical manifestation of your intention to change on the inside as well.  If you mostly wear neutral colors, a red dress or jacket can suddenly make you feel powerful.  Your clothes are the first choice you make daily and help set the tone for your day.  Choose something that makes you feel successful, that feels good on your skin.  Your accessories are also an important tool for activating your courage to change.  A special piece of jewelry that connects you to your grandmother can remind you of your strong roots and help you move forward with your dreams.  A favorite scarf may make you feel more confident.  A new hairstyle can make you feel special and sassy and can stimulate you to leap out to try new things.  I know, because it’s certainly working out for me.  I can't wait to hear about what fun leaps you make!

 

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