Do you feel stuck in your life?

Have you ever felt stuck in a rut?  That feeling of not moving forward but doing the same thing over and over again?  I so get that. 

When I was a teenager, we took our cows up to a ranch in Wyoming for the summer.  Supposedly, the fence was sound but we soon found out...the hard way...it wasn't.  We ended up searching for our herd all summer.  I loved it!  Of course, I was a kid and the impact of losing our family income wasn't really in my awareness.  What I remember was getting to go to this amazing mountain.  The air so fresh, meadows, aspen trees, babbling brooks and cow searching.  When we did find a cow it was so exciting! 

Anyway, on one of our cow searching adventures, we got stuck.  My dad, mom and I were in our 3/4 ton brown Chevy pickup.  We landed right in the middle of a big old mud pit and there we were.  Our truck was rear wheel drive.  If you gave it too much gas it would just spin out.  Not enough gas and you just sat there.  It took two of us pushing, one driving ( I was a pusher).  Pushing, gas on, rocking, pushing, gas, rocking back in forth until suddenly- out we went!  It felt so freeing!  We were all tired and at least two of us coated in mud from top to bottom. 

This is the visual I get when I think of being stuck.  A beautiful mountain surrounding one little family, a brown pick up truck, probably cows curiously watching and a mud puddle.  While we were pushing and pushing, we didn't see anything but that truck and mud.  It was only after we got unstuck did we once again smell that fresh air, hear the birds and see the mountain.

When you are stuck- for whatever reason, some work is usually needed to get unstuck.  Habits have been formed, patterns, ruts created.  It takes a little effort, focus, persistence and sometimes a bit of help to get your truck and life out of the mud. 

As a coach, I get to work with lots of clients in transition from stuck to free.  Clutter clearing is a perfect example of this, as is moving, shifting careers, changing family structures or finding a way out of the daily grind so you can thrive.  I love it!  I absolutely love helping people get unstuck.  When shifts happen, I get just as much joy as I did when our truck popped out of that mud! 

If you ever feel stuck in life, no need to fret.  Get some pushing help, put your foot on the gas, keep rocking back and forth until you pop out.  When out of your rut, clean your self off and go find your lost cows!

As always, I wish you great joy in your travels,
       Denise

Long Lost Things

Thank you to everyone who has attended my classes last month.  What a great groups!!   Last Thursday at Kirkland's clutter clearing class, I read this poem from my aunt Velma.  I was asked to post it and so here it is... enjoy

  For anyone who doesn't know this story, my mom and I got a message from my aunt when we were cleaning out her home.  My great Aunt Velma, passed away a years ago. She was 103- vibrant and very curious.

 My mom and I cleaned out her home after her passing.  As many of you know this is a tough job, deciding what needs saved and what needs to be let go.  In many ways it is easier to clean your own stuff than to be responsible for some else treasures.  Anyway, as we were cleaning we came upon a poem taped to the inside of an my aunt's china closet/desk.  She had left us a note...Thank you Aunt Velma!!!  Here is the note/poem she left behind for us non ruthless fingers;-)

I would be glad of fingers

Not too ruthless

But impersonal

Would weed out little keepsakes

I have kept for years

Scrapbook poems

Letters, useless gifts

Once dear with sentiment

                                         Greeting cards    

And other bits of old remembering

I have no need of them

They clutter up my desk

But once I start

To clear them out

And pause to look at them

My hands are stayed

Nor can I bring myself

To throw one single thing away!

I would be glad of fingers

Tender but impersonal

Would throw my little

Long kept things

Away

                                         Written by: Lou…

Stress and Joy two ends of the same rope

 Did you know the top remedies for reducing stress are also the top remedies for creating joy?

When we are joyful we are more creative, resilient, healthy, prosperous, productive, intelligent and flexible. The exact opposite is true for stress...hummmm

These two partners- stress and joy are like two people on the end of a rope playing tug of war.  Joy pulls- we get happier, stress gives a tug and we lose some creativity.

If life is feeling out of control- just like the weather outside today.  Your best and most productive way to get your grove back on is to de-stress!  As a bonus, when you are stressed you usually don't realized how stressed you are.   With the kicker being, you lack the creativity and intelligence to work your way out of stress.  It's kind of like being stuck in a wet paper bag but having no idea how to get out. 

If you are feeling less than joyful then consider stress as the culprit.  One of the best joy inducers and stress reducers is going outside and moving!  Fresh air and exercise is a two dose pill for a happy spirit.

As always wishing you a healthy, happy and prosperous life,
              Denise

The Northwest is having one doozy of a storm.  Today I went running in the wind and rain.  Talk about getting the stink blown off!  Fresh air bring fresh energy.  It is hard to get too wrapped up in the day when you are running in a storm