I've quickly scanned my past posts and noted that all of them were based on what I experienced this year.  I've essentially been coaching myself for a year.  I consciously decided to practice what I preach and I am happy to say, it has worked out rather well.

I am most certainly happier, more centered and focused than I was this time last year.  My relationships with those that are important to me are better than they were this time last year.  I am even in better shape!  All of this, for me is the whole point of coaching and being coached.

Not that my life didn't have difficulties, because life will always have difficulties, but, I honestly feel I handled them much better than at any other point in time.  Handling life's difficulties better makes for an overall improved quality of life, I must say.

The highlight of the year for me, besides my daughters moving back to Canada! was a Christmas Recital Concert Fundraiser that my students and I did at our local train station.  Through generous donations by citizens and parents and through the effort (and practice) of the children, we were able to proudly send a sizable donation to a school that teaches music to kids who's families can't afford music lessons.  We had a great time and giving just feels so good.

Through some great continuing education coaching classes, my 2014 projects are more or less surfacing on their own.  See the first offering, Project: YOU 2014.
I have My Life plan loosely mapped out for the year with plenty of room to be spontaneous.  I will continue to learn and grow and do what I came here to do.  You will also continue to have an idea what's going on with me when you follow my blog!

I sincerely hope you had a wonderful holiday season and are ready in a great way for the coming new year.  Which, by the way, I can most certainly help you with. :) http://www.whatnowlifecoaching.com/servicescontact-me.html

If you’ve been following my blog, you know that a few weeks ago, I posted that I received a ‘hit’ of inspiration and I gave some coaching tips around getting inspired and then what to do when inspiration hits.

I am ready to share with you the inspiration that ‘came’ to me.

I teach piano and guitar lessons in my home.  Whenever a new student learns a piece or masters 3 chords I always joke that I’m going to take them down to the train station and we are going to make some money busking!

Each year I struggle to come up with a program and venue for our Christmas recital. I encourage my students to share their music as a gift and a to instil in them a sense of giving back.   In the past we have performed our recitals in a seniors home, always a fun experience.  I’ve hosted a Christmas recital in my home quite a few times and the students and I have come up with some pretty creative and also tear-jerking programs. 

I recently saw Sarah McLachlan on TV. in an interview where she was explaining that she has a music school that teaches kids who can’t afford music lessons.  That really impacted me.  I was a kid who was desperate for music lessons.  I befriended kids who had pianos and specifically to have them teach me to play whatever they were playing.  I was so fortunate to have music lessons in school.  I learned guitar on my own and got lessons on the recorder, the ukulele and the guitar at school.  When I pursued my own lessons as an adult, I was so glad to have at least those lessons as my foundation.

As I was pondering what to do this year, my words about busking were practically shouted at me from the heavens.  A truly awesome, yet weird experience.  ‘Not ‘words’ as we hear them, but a ‘knowing;’ a ‘pressing of a vision’ into myself.  Hard to use words to explain ‘woo woo’ kinds of things.  But, if you’ve ever experienced ‘woo woo’, then you know what I mean.

The ‘image’ I had was of us performing our recital at the train station and collecting money for Sarah McLachlan’s school of music.  I mean the inspiration just combined everything I had intentioned: being creative, sharing our music, and giving back!

There is always elbow grease required when making a dream come true.  For me the challengers were getting City Transit approval, student participation and Parental Consent.  These were relatively easy to accomplish. 

With inspiration there is also fear to conquer.  Right on the heels of the euphoria was doubt and fear.  I have not conquered these, but I am managing!  The inspiration was a gift delivered to me as if it already existed.  So cool.

If you happen to be passing through the Dalhousie train station (4785 Dalhousie Dr. NW. Calgary, AB) on December 17 between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m., you will see us offering our Christmas songs, fundraising for music lessons for other kids.  Your donations will be gratefully accepted and will be forwarded to Sarah’s school. http://www.sarahschoolofmusic.com