GRATITUDE + CONSCIOUS LIVING Page 23 of 26

Giving thanks

Posted on 2011-11-24 at 7:06 pm.

I’m not American and I don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, but I love the idea of a special day where you thank everyone you love for being in your life.

Recently I seem to have been quite hidden away from the world, busy working on some exciting but full-on projects. While this has meant I have got to do some really fulfilling, thought-provoking work, it has also led me to the point where I feel I have no idea what is going on in the life of some of my very good friends. And even blog friends – I haven’t done the rounds for weeks, months even (and more and more people seem to have blogs that are hard to comment on for techie reasons, so I haven’t even left comments on those I have visited).

If you are one of them, you know who you are. Please know that when I’m not sending you emails or letters or gifts in the post, it doesn’t mean I’m not thinking of you. Know that when I don’t come to dinner or make it to your party, it’s not because I don’t want to. It’s because right now there are a few things I need to get done. But through every moment of that, know that I am thankful for you. So very thankful.

How living wildly transformed my relationship with food and my body: Nichole Kellerman shares her story

Posted on 2011-11-07 at 8:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s shared story comes from Nichole Kellerman, a weight loss and lifestyle coach with the drive to help as many women as possible be fit, healthy and happy while having a blast! Having struggled with her weight and self image in the past (even as a personal trainer), she has now dedicated her life to showing women how to let free that curvy, sexy, strong women she already is!

Growing up and all through high school I was never concerned with my physical image, or what people thought about it. It wasn’t until summer 2004 when I was working with a girl named Sarah (let’s call her), who broke me down day-by-day, slowly picking away at me till there was nothing left. I didn’t realize that that summer would be a summer that flipped my life upside down.

Working as lifeguards together and being that we were always in bathing suits, Sarah would constantly state how fat she was as she sat there glaring at her body in the mirror, picking, prodding and dissecting each and every part of her body.Soon Sarah began directly insulting me, looking at what I was eating and asking, “You’re eating that? It must be your fat day!!” She shot all of her insecurities at me like a rubber band, stinging and burning every time. Slowly I broke down; believing what she was saying and beginning to wonder what was going on in my mirror as well….

From that summer on, I put my body AND mind through a horrible experience. I subjected myself to both mental and physical abuse on a daily basis. I would even go as far to call it self- mutilation. I went from compulsively eating to starving myself, while drowning in thoughts of self -hatred. Exercise was an obsession along with trying multiple crash diets, diet pills, and purging. I did anything to change who I currently was. I was in a state of complete self-rejection.

It was consuming me, and taking every essence of my being. It was suffocating, I felt like I couldn’t breathe! Even though my focus was on LOSING weight, I gained about 15lbs over that summer….. Coincidence? Uh, I think not!…I like to call that mental weight gain.

During that time I remember I wasn’t a great person to be around. I never smiled, I was very jealous and insecure; I was unhappy on every level.

Still struggling after 2 years, I decided to go to school to become a fitness professional. I was telling people it was because I wanted to be a trainer, stating “I’m in the gym all the time already, might as well get paid for it!” But deeply, I was just wanting to lose weight and be that perfect image I so badly dreamt about.

I now understand that, that summer, with Sarah picking me apart as if I was her project, was actually a blessing in disguise. I joined school and loved every minute! I learned that I was doing everything wrong, and the right way to get into shape wasn’t about starvation. It doesn’t take self destruction.

Yes that is a picture of my head on a fitness models body…Tactic to reach my ideal body, another self-hatred act.

Beginning my career as a personal trainer was amazing, but, truthfully, those thoughts still existed. I told everyone that I had dealt with them and that it was water under the bridge. I was just trying to convince myself that those thoughts no longer existed. I was 30lbs lighter, got my diet on track, and my compulsive exercising was under control. But I STILL was unhappy with myself, and very insecure, continuing to pick apart my body in the mirror.

It was as if nothing would ever be good enough. Being a personal trainer, I still was struggling inside. I tried everything: Starving/Bingeing; Body For Life; Eat-Stop-Eat (not eating for 24hrs); Just eating vegetables and fruit; Weight Watchers (brought back my obsessive behavior); 2 hour workouts; Jillian Michael’s Making the Cut Program; Fasting for days (horrible); Working out 2x a day; Diet Pills etc… Just trying to find the ‘perfect formula’ to reach that ‘perfect’ size 2 goal (yeah, right!). I truly believed that if I got to that size I would FINALLY be happy. Even if it meant doing destructive and unhealthy things to myself.

Over time, working with a therapist, and going to an amazing massage school, where I did lots of healing is when I began accepting myself for what I was truly meant to look like, and it felt AMAZING! To look at areas I once hated and say “I love you” is something I have wanted to do for so long.

I will never regret telling people about my story and how I struggled because I learned SO MUCH and found my passion! Helping women reach their health goals and love themselves is THE reason why I was put on this planet!

The biggest thing I learned through my experience was how I was the reason why I wasn’t changing. I did it all to myself – the thoughts of self-hatred were keeping me the weight I was and I went through hundreds of failures to figure out how to make that mental shift. When I did it completely changed my life.

I don’t want one more woman to have to fail as many times as I did to reach their goal. I have strategically designed all of my programs from my past experiences for optimal success.

Oh and just to make it clear, I never reached my ‘perfect goal’ and am by no means perfect. I have just learned to love myself, every flawless flaw and adorable dimple!

I still have my indulgences! I love ice cream, pizza, peanut m&ms and the occasional night out with the girls with one two many glasses of wine, all while still living a very healthy lifestyle. It’s all about finding balance and I can show you how to get it.

[All images courtesy of Nichole Kellerman.]

Learn more about Nichole at wildlyaliveweightloss.com

***

Only one week to go until The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design featuring Rachael Taylor begins!

Have you secured your place yet? Register here.

Meet mind-body-soul seeker Karin McDermott

Posted on 2011-10-17 at 8:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s shared story comes from movement coach Karin McDermott.

Experiencing life from the soul’s point of view is what drives and sustains me. I’ve made it my mission to revere soul through the enormous gift of the senses. They offer nourishment and sanctuary to my body, yet also deliver the bewilderment needed to continually be enchanted by life. My own journey taught me that enlightenment is not a destination – it’s a philosophy of living. It means cultivating a fully considered and continually evolving life, accepting challenges with grace, and then luxuriating in the everyday resolution…with passion.

Honoring the wisdom of my senses took an unwavering faith in their ability to orchestrate my decisions. It had become vividly clear that my soul was yearning to be seduced by an honest connection to the Divine. For me, that put meaning into meaningful. I call that grace. Grace saturated my life when I surrendered to being impassioned and replete with soul. I strive to live there…every day.

We’re collectively joined by a craving for beauty, serenity and meaning. The senses are my refuge into those cravings; they’re a tangible connection to a union with my self, my family and my surroundings. I’ve always been a mind-body-soul seeker, but my refuge wasn’t always assured. My early twenties found me continually entrenched in a stack of self-help books that either explained how to chase my toddlers while still smiling, or how to lock the door so a bath would magically engender the promise of balance. Great ideas for living in the moment, but they left me continually searching outside of myself for the big-picture answers. I was an overwhelmed, over-exhausted single mother so deeply absorbed in caring for others that I forgot to nourish the innately essential me. I had insidiously fallen away from the wisdom of my senses, and yearned desperately to be enlivened again. So I began to revisit my physical self, first and foremost through my love of movement. I realized it was the one thing I instinctively trusted for the safe exploration of my soul. My senses were awakened there. What I discovered in the process was the deeply galvanizing truth that the human body demands refuge within itself for authentic exploration. Physical connection to the outside world is the resplendent expression of the soul’s yearning to re-engage the senses. This became the driving force behind the sojourn back to me, and the revelation that changed the direction of my life forever. I pledged faith in the wisdom of my senses to unearth my passionate human soul. And I never looked back.

Of course, some of life’s journeys come the very hard way and force us in yet another direction, but it’s how we take the next step that defines us. In my case it also forced me to take a penetrating look at how my time would be spent and how going forward it needed to be only ‘doing what I love.’ Yes, I had been an overwhelmed, over-exhausted single mother for whom physical depletion sadly became my normal way of life. And yes, I found a method to reinvigorate that life through my senses. But in the meantime, I was given the diagnosis that Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus) had already found it’s way into my body, and on that day I knew my life would again change direction. A drastic shift in lifestyle was immediate and compulsory. A good team of doctors, an overdue divorce, less stress, more sleep, new daily affirmations and my Soultree™ movement practice became the collective kick-start to my journey of cultivating a life ‘Doing What I Love’. Next came infusing the senses into every area of my life with the fierce devotion of a righteous warrior, and I prevailed. I realized the re-engagement of my sensual life was also the missing piece of my wellness puzzle, and it was that discovery that reinforced the direction of my calling. I have been abSOULutely compelled to share my methods with others ever since. It’s my quest, and I respect it deeply. Since 2000, I’ve been teaching movement as a method for unearthing the passionate human soul to clients in the U.S., Europe and Australia.

In 2004, I founded Soultree Motion, Inc., a movement and lifestyle company based in Manhattan Beach, California. I’ve been fortunate and blessed to share my philosophy with features on Oprah, Discovery Channel, 48-Hours, HGTV, Univision, SoCal’s Best & Celebrity Overhaul. The opening of my proprietary Soultree™ studios on both U.S. coasts gave sacred space its aesthetic due as a vital mechanism for cultivating a soul-directed life, as well as providing women the evocative serenity they craved. My teaching methods continue to garner enthusiastic accolades due to my SOULutions proffered with humor, grace and my uniquely familiar and forthcoming book title…abSOULutely! I do what I love daily, I luxuriate in the sensuality of every moment, and through my own phenomenally blessed journey, I discovered I had a knack for sharing how. That makes me smile. I live passionately every day…from my soul. Join me.

Doing What I Love… is cultivating a deeply authentic and passionately inspired life of sensual harmony.

[All images courtesy of Karin McDermott.]

To find out more about Karin visit her website or connect on Twitter @Karin_McDermott.

***

Have you heard about my collaboration with surface pattern designer Rachael Taylor?

The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design is open for registration now! Find out more here.

On a mission to take back our plates, one delicious bite at a time: Sue Ann Gleason shares her story

Posted on 2011-09-26 at 11:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s shared story comes from nutritionist Sue Ann Gleason.

I am a food lover, food writer, and food-based healer. (aka: culinary nutritionist) I started my business because I wanted to create a delicious approach to radiant health. But the road has been a little bumpy. You see, before I set off to study every form of mind-body-health and nutritional science I could get my Type-A hands on, I was simply a happy, “healthy” food lover. Or so I thought.

And then, I lost my health and found it again through a deep, introspective look at the food I was eating, or not eating when I was on one of my extreme diet or exercise regimes. And when I found the courage to dig a little deeper, I discovered it wasn’t only about the food. My beautifully complex life needed more than just the application of glorious greens and fresh vegetable juices. Non-stop, copiously compulsive Type A overachiever. That was me. I used to shave one leg in the morning and one at night to save time. My calendar was color-coded. Even “spontaneous” moments had a color—blue. I was proud of my resourcefulness. I was an accomplished multi-tasker and it even earned me the distinction Teacher of the Year.

Taking on a health crisis was, for me, just another project. I attacked it with tenacity. I started studying things like cellular rejuvenation through raw food nutrition. I climbed into bed with The Autoimmune Epidemic instead of my favorite memoir. My body became a human laboratory. And I healed.

But old habits die-hard. Even in healing mode, I found a way to live life in the extremes. It started with my raw food journey. Instead of reveling in the vibrant colors and textures of homegrown tomatoes, ravishing red peppers, crunchy cucumbers and glorious greens, a meal became a contest. Anything less than 100 percent raw somehow became less nourishing than its cooked counterpart.

There I was—immersed in my new career with more degrees, studies, certifications, awards, and endorsements than I knew what to do with—surrounded by healthy, like-minded nutrition gurus and healers, when I came to the striking realization . . . I WASN’T HAVING ANY FUN.

I found myself longing for the companionship of food-loving friends who appreciated beautiful, wholesome meals, and . . . CHOCOLATE. One blustery weekend, I attended an Integrated Health Symposium in New York City. You know, the kind of conference that fills both your brain and your CEO bucket. The presenters were brilliant. The information was cutting-edge. But the exhibit hall was filled with powders, potions, pills, bars, and supplements. I was trying to find my way out of the tangle, bumping into voracious vendors hawking their wares, when a bright-eyed gentleman blocked my path,

“Our products come from whole food botanicals, optimally cultivated, fair trade and sustainable, rich in human compatible/absorbable vitamins, minerals, EFA oils and antioxidants, especially vitamins C and E. Do you use super food powders with your clients?” he asked. “No, I use food,” I replied. Though, admittedly, I was impressed with the number of words that spilled out of his mouth in just one sentence. That was a pivotal moment. I knew it was time to reclaim my relationship with real food, all food, fun food, and start hanging out with people who actually ate it.

So, I tried a little experiment. What happens when you take away all the fear-based notions around food and health and you just focus on the blissful benefits of consuming colorful, vibrant meals? What happens when you slow down and enjoy what you’re eating? What happens when you shift the pace of your life and make a commitment to engage in at least one delicious activity each day that makes you laugh? What happens when you start eating chocolate for breakfast?

I can tell you, ‘my’ life changed. I didn’t throw away my credentials or the gazillion books I had collected on biochemical imbalances or nutritional theories. But I did create a shift in my life and in my practice. I discovered that I have a unique gift. I can transform even the most contracted eater on the planet. I know how to laugh. I know how to use my creative powers to get to the heart of their nutritional stories because I’ve explored the shadows and contradictions in my own story. And I am passionate about my work as a culinary nutritionist, because embedded in this work, is a heartfelt mission: that we take back our plates, one luscious bite at a time.

[Image courtesy of Sue Ann Gleason.]

Sue Ann, founder of Conscious Bites Nutrition, is a Washington DC-based culinary nutritionist, dynamic eating psychology coach, speaker, and writer. Find out more about Sue Ann on her website or her blog.

Roadtrip #4: A fairytale wedding

Posted on 2011-08-28 at 3:33 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

It was actually a wedding invitation that took us out to the US in the first place.

One of my man’s old school friends fell in love with a lovely girl from Bow, New Hampshire, when she came to England to help develop the game of lacrosse. They decided to get married at the bride’s family home – a beautiful house set in gardens the size of a field, overlooking nothing but mountains in the far distance. The wedding was simply stunning, like something out of a film – and a very happy time was had by all.

Although the wedding was huge, it was really personal and so full of loving touches. The bride’s family even built a bar in their roof garden in the style of an English pub in honour of the groom, and put up framed vintage photos of the groom’s hometown in Manchester to make him feel part of the family.

It was interesting to see the similarities and differences between US and English weddings. One of my favourite parts was travelling from the church to the reception in an old school bus!

And the bit where the wedding party (including best man, bridesmaids etc) made a big entrance doing a funny dance. I cannot imagine that happening at most traditional weddings in England! I also loved the favours – we each found a glass jar waiting at our tables, and could fill it with as many sweets as we wanted from a table overflowing with old fashioned sweets. Perfect for the road trip ahead!

Around 50 people had flown out from England, so it was fun to have a few days enjoying the area with old and new friends. This was our second overseas wedding this year, following a gorgeous one in Greece just a couple of months ago. It is quite odd to have your holiday destination determined for you, but it is a fantastic new way of experience a place – and so much fun to party on such a special occasion in different corners of the world!

***

More roadtrip adventures all next week!

***

“Life-changing”, “Revolutionary”, “Awe-inspiring”, “Transformative“ – just a few of the ways former participants have described the Do What You Love e-course.

Do you fancy some of that in your life? Do you want to get closer to identifying your true passion and finding a way to do what you love, for life? Then this is for you!

The Do What You Love e-course is open for registration now. The adventure begins on September 26 but places are limited so book now to secure your place. This is the last time it will run this year.

This is your chance to join a global tribe of like-minded people who will support and encourage you to find your way.

It could be the most influential six weeks of your life… Join now!

Life-changing events led us to do what we love: Hillary Rubin and Cathy Bueti share their stories

Posted on 2011-07-25 at 8:30 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s shared stories come from Hillary Rubin and Cathy Bueti who have overcome huge life-changing events – including the loss of a loved one and a serious illness – to discover their life’s purpose and passion.

Hillary Rubin

For me doing what you love is being in alignment with your desire. I’m not a believer of purpose even though it’s in my tag line and women come to me to discover what their purpose is. Most of it really is work to go back to what they love, tune into what they desire or rediscover what they love now.

I have seen from my personal experience when I’m not doing what I love my soul aches. When I’m not doing what I love my body cries. When I’m not doing what I love the best part of me dies.

In 2010 my husband had a crisis – or what I call a course-changer. He was not doing what he loved and like a good man was providing for our family. His soul suffered so much that he ended up in the hospital.

It was scary to see the man I loved suffer. He had a foot of his colon removed and made a promise to himself never to do it again. Today he is healthy in mind, body and spirit.

Now we have a contract that we do not take on projects, jobs, or clients unless it is for something we love to do. I cannot think of a better commitment to have to yourself and with your partner.

Being a Gemini, I love to do so many things and always like to have a healthy learning curve. At the beginning of my life most of my choices were from survival of what I had to do. I chose to move to NYC to study at Fashion Institute of Technology. I loved it. I felt alive and free.

I went from doing windows at ABC Carpet and Home to being a fashion editor at a menswear magazine, and then to styling, to producing fashion shows, to having my own PR company and then at the top of my career landed a plum job at Prada.

Prada was not as cool as I thought. I hated it but wanted to be on the in-crowd so I stuck it out as much as I could.

Until my time in fashion came to a painful end with a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. After I let myself out of a prison of victimhood, I was on a new quest to heal myself and to my surprise found what I loved.

It was through my pain that I found what was next on my what-I-love-to-do path as an artist, healer and cultural creative. I devoured all I could in the alternative realm to defy my prison sentence of ending up in a wheel chair. In 2002 I moved to LA to take a yoga teacher training course and worked as a PR director for a fashion company. It was worth giving up a six year relationship, a fabulous apartment in the west village and the fast hip lifestyle for my healing cocoon.

But I really did not give anything up… I got so much more.

Right after my yoga teacher training ended, I started teaching and never stopped. Something came alive in me. Not only was I healing but I was stimulated like never before. It was love at first sight. I was on my path. I travelled the world teaching yoga, connected to amazing people and ended up getting certified in Anusara Yoga(TM).

Not only did I love teaching classes, I went on to create a yoga podcast called Hillary’s Yoga Practice + produced my own bestselling DVD called Yoga Foundations with Hillary Rubin.

I loved it and never looked back.

With hindsight, I know now that whatever I do creatively is my body of work. It will always evolve and I cannot do it wrong. I listen to myself and let my intuition guide me. When the fun stops that is my red flag to shift my attitude or let it go so the next wave of creativity can come in.

If you are feeling challenged to do what you love then I suggest you release the following:

Release the need to care what others think – live your life for you.
Release the need to have it ‘perfect’ and take small baby steps.
Release the need to believe your fears – you don’t know if you’ll fail or succeed unless you go for it

Once I released this for myself I was able to flow and evolve. I have a foundation in yoga, am a spiritual life design coach and a multi-passionate entrepreneur. I help women stop licking their wounds and create a life filled with passion, purpose and unshakable self-confidence. I love creating valuable content that breeds transformation and freedom to live the life you desire.

What’s next for me is launching a group program for women to get back to prosperity without shame, be healthy without guilt, find purpose without overwhelm and be happy without excuses, publishing my first book and hosting my television show called Get Real with Hillary.

[All images courtesy of Hillary Rubin]

Find out more about Hillary on her website or connect on Twitter.

***

Cathy Bueti

I remember loving art when I was a child. I was always doodling something or spending hours with my coloring books. My most vivid art memory was when I created a pastel butterfly in the fourth grade. As I grew older art seemed to disappear as life got in the way. A crazy childhood with an alcoholic father, my parents divorce, becoming a widow at 25, and then a diagnosis of breast cancer at 31 halted any thoughts of creativity. I graduated college with a degree in occupational therapy and worked for almost 20 years in the healthcare field. After my husband was killed I began keeping a journal. I discovered I enjoyed writing. I continued journaling during my cancer experience and began writing a book hoping to one day share my experience and help others. It was during this time I also discovered a love of photography and most recently painting.

I remarried eight years ago and am now a 10 year cancer survivor. During the first few years after I finished my treatments I realised that something was missing. It was getting more and more difficult to work with patients after having been one myself. With my husband’s support I left my day job as an Occupational Therapist a couple of years ago and have the opportunity to create everyday. My life has been tough but what I have found is that creativity helps me deal with the fear that comes in a life after cancer. Being creative gets me to a nice place in my head and quiets my mind. I get lost in those moments with my art. I am discovering myself and seeing all that I am capable of which is more than I ever imagined.

In May 2009 my memoir “Breastless in the City” was published and I was able to fulfill my dream of being a writer. Last August I started my blog Artsy Butterfly where I share my creative life, pieces of my art, and pieces of myself. I also opened an etsy shop which allowed me to achieve another goal and put my art out there into the world to hopefully inspire others.

It was scary to leave a career I had done for so long. I thought, “who am I to even dream of anything else?” Then I thought about how much I have lost and how short life is. I started to realize that I couldn’t let the chance pass me by. I longed to live in the moment and do what would make me happy every day. I believe that everything I have been through has led me to this moment. I wouldn’t be who I am without surviving those difficult experiences.

I can’t help but smile when I think about the man who has shared a few pieces of my art with his little girls. One of them wants to be an artist too. It makes my heart happy to know they enjoy my work. It connects me with the little girl I was so long ago… the one who drew that pastel butterfly.

[All images courtesy of Cathy Bueti]

Cathy is a self taught photographer and mixed-media artist living in Brewster, New York. Visit her at Artsy Butterfly.

Morning rituals

Posted on 2011-07-19 at 10:11 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

When I woke up this morning I had this really strong flashback of my time as a student in Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan (and my favourite city in the world). I was sat in my homestay family’s kitchen some 15 years ago making cheese on toast in their strange grilling machine, using the delicious squidgy doorstop bread I have only ever found over there. I had this incredible sense of joy in the moment, as I went through my breakfast ritual in this foreign land, before heading off to school past rice fields and bamboo forests, a whole day of adventures stretching ahead of me.

I keep feeling a very strong pull to Kyoto these days. It comes in waves and my mind keeps wandering East. And when I woke up this morning it struck me what an incredible sense of freedom I had at that point. I was virtually alone the other side of the world, with very limited money but a whole year to savour all for myself. I was picking up the new language piece by piece, with mini triumphs every day as I managed to converse with the old man selling sweet potatoes, or read a new roadsign or sing along with a festival chorus. I went to school in the mornings, and spent the afternoons exploring. My time was my own, to spend how I chose.

And then I realised it is not that dissimilar now. I have a business to run and bills to pay, but one of the reasons I made the leap away from the corporate world was to have that freedom to choose how I spend my time. Sometimes you find yourself working so hard that you forget that it is completely up to you whether you start your day on the computer, or in the park, or in the studio… So I’ve started a new routine for my mornings – tea in the garden and half an hour with a book about Japan before the day begins, and a moment of thanks for this freedom.

What about you? What is your morning ritual?

Cafe life

Posted on 2011-06-17 at 3:10 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

I spend far too much time in cafes.

When I go travelling I tend to gravitate towards cosy, welcoming places and love sitting with a steaming coffee watching the world go by.

This picture is of one my latest discoveries, in Oia on the Greek island of Santorini.

***

What about you? Where is your favourite cafe and why do you like it so much? Recommendations are always very welcome…

***

Scottish island life

Posted on 2011-04-27 at 9:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

(View of Bressay lighthouse through the crooked stone window of an abandoned croft house)

Staying in a lighthouse has always been a bit of a dream for me, so when I found out about a book making workshop taking place in a lighthouse on the remote Scottish island of Bressay, I knew I had to go.