Joy – Transforming Grief – Grief Counselor, Life Coach- Santa Cruz, California

Living Fully Personal growth Uncategorized

Creative Expression – My New Year’s Theme

Every year on New Year’s, John and I have a tradition of sitting down to review our personal and professional accomplishments from the previous year, and set our intentions for the year to come. We include our financial goals, as well as, our ideas for exploring Santa Cruz and having fun. I love this process and the opportunity to start anew. Typically, New Year’s is my favorite holiday. This year was different. I woke up yesterday feeling tired and depressed. When we sat down to review our accomplishments, I had difficulty remembering what I did “right”. Instead, all I could think about was the financial mess I had created by investing in my business and going into debt. How was I going to pay rent? Buy groceries? I felt angry with myself for not meeting my goals and intentions from the previous year around growing my business. After all, I…

KarenJanuary 2, 2013

Grief and Loss Transformation

Ocean Magic – A Celebration of Life

“Life is a celebration of awakenings, of new beginnings, and wonderful surprises that enlighten the soul.” – Cielo The sun felt warm on my skin. It was mid-morning late in October and I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt while walking my elderly dog, Rennie. Smiling, my heart was full of gratitude for the beautiful day. I peered down the street towards the beach, only three blocks away, and wondered why there were sailboat masts bobbing up and down so close to shore. Earlier, I had read in the newspaper about the humpback whales feeding just outside the harbor. I wondered if the boats were there to see the whales. Excited, my pace quickened as I headed straight to the beach, away from our usual route, dragging Rennie by the leash. Approaching the beach, I saw hundreds of pelicans and seagulls circling in the air, some diving for fish, creating…

KarenNovember 7, 2011

Grief and Loss Personal growth Transformation

Grief Counseling Services Now in Santa Cruz!

If you've experienced a major loss in your life such as the death of a loved one or pet, a divorce, illness, miscarriage or job lay-off, it is normal to go through a grieving process. Unfortunately, society today does not honor the mourning process and encourages us to "get over it". Many of us feel we have to quickly move on with our lives. If we repress our grief, though, it can cause all sorts of problems such as anxiety, depression, physical illness and a general feeling of dissatisfaction. If we express our grief on the other hand, we will experience more joy, vitality and purpose in our lives. Here are some suggestions to help you express your grief: 1. Feel your feelings. Meditate and journal every day to get in touch with your painful feelings. Start writing using the prompt, "What I really lost is..." Write for ten minutes…

KarenOctober 21, 2011

Grief and Loss

The Heart Rock Story

Cruising on I-90 form Washington back to Colorado, John and I are ready for rest after eight hours of driving. We stop at a campground with easy access to the freeway, just outside of Missoula, Montana. Fortunately, the campground is practically empty. We set up camp among tall ponderosa pines and bushes tucked away near a creek. It is the perfect respite from our long trip. Enjoying the solitude and beauty of our site, we decide to stay an extra day. Sitting on a large rock at the edge of the creek, I allow myself to slow down and be in the moment. I notice small butterflies, bees, bugs and ants busy doing their thing. I take in the gurgling sound of the creek, the blue sky, and the warmth of the sun. At the height of the hot summer day, John and I don our bathing suits. We frolic…

KarenDecember 18, 2010

Personal growth

Play Like a Child

In mid-August, there was still snow on the ground. But, fortunately for me, we were experiencing a heat wave, so at 9,000 feet above sea level, even though it was already 5pm, it was still 80 degrees outside. “Burr! It’s freezing!” I shouted as I slowly stepped into the glacial lake water, the soft mud squishing between my toes. My friends cheered me on from the shore as I held my breath and dunked my head under water. Exhilarated, I swam calmly across the placid lake, creating small ripples with each breast stroke. Then, my inner child kicked into gear. Pretending to be a dolphin, I swirled and twirled around in circles, keeping my head above water. I also dove up and down, using my legs to propel me forward. Gleefully, I laughed out loud and encouraged my friends to come in. “You’ve got to try this! It’s amazing. But,…

KarenAugust 31, 2010

Personal growth

Allowing Prosperity

The news is grim…the Gulf Coast oil spill, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, financial loss, etc. No wonder many of us walk around with heavy hearts, feeling sad, and scared about the future. A pervasive fear consciousness permeates our society. But, this isn’t the truth of who we are. We were created from God’s source of never-ending love. It is our birthright to be prosperous, to experience abundance…a feeling of fullness, fulfillment, love and joy. At all times, we are able to tap into this infinite Source. The question is…do we allow ourselves to tap in and receive? Or, do we block the flow of our own prosperity? There are many ways we block the flow of receiving prosperity. As women, especially, we were taught to put others needs before our own and that giving love is more important than receiving it. This pattern diminishes our vital life force energy and can…

KarenMay 26, 2010