The Bright Side! ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~
Vol. 2, Issue 44 December 12, 2001 www.BrightSideCoaching.com ISSN:1530-4334
~~~~~~~~~~ Welcome A Little But Very True Christmas Story Contact Info ~~~~~~~~~~ Welcome to all and Happy Holidays to those of you who celebrate the Season! Recently, I had the privilege of spending five days in the company of sixteen of the world's most innovative and brilliant coaches. It was awesome! At one point during our retreat, after days of meetings in a hotel, we decided to take an outing. There was a person from each of the following countries in my car (small car -- we were cozy!): Australia, Japan, German, France, and England. Talk about a global vehicle! That was cool! In our many discussions on coaching, I came away with some interesting thoughts that I would like to share briefly with you here. Consider it my quarterly commercial for BrightSide Coaching. :-) Have you ever bought a self-help book only to never finish it? You are not alone! Did you know that only 20% of self-help books that consumers buy are ever finished? They are either not the "right one" for the reader or the reader does not feel accountable and thus never finishes the book. Having a coach is like having your own personal self-help book. It's the one you pick off the bookshelf specifically for you! A relationship of accountability is established and an ongoing conversation ensues based on YOUR agenda. It becomes all about making informed choices. If you are aware that you have self-limiting behavior or if you are aware that you could use someone to hold you accountable, then now is the time to consider coaching as you prepare for a GRAND 2002! I am taking this opportunity to expand my coaching business and I am accepting new clients in January. It is my intention to have an OUTRAGEOUS year in 2002 and I want to work with exciting, smart people! I bring a fresh, unique style of coaching to the partnership and am described as: a vibrant visionary, a transition pathfinder, a holistic life strategist, a people uniter, a predicament reframer, and a FUN magnet! Think of me as a cheerleader for your soul -- encouraging, energizing, and empowering you to be the best you can be! If you are interested in cranking your life up to the next level, please contact me to discuss further. You can reach me at 678-938-0419. Let's make 2002 the best ever! With Love, Beth ~~~~~~~~~~ (Encore Article) A Little But Very True Christmas Story "If, as Herod, we fill our lives with things, and again with things; if we consider ourselves so unimportant that we must fill every moment of our lives with action, when will we have the time to make the long, slow journey across the desert as did the Magi? Or sit and watch the stars as did the shepherds? Or brood over the coming of a child, as did Mary? For each one of us, there is a desert to travel. A star to discover. And a being within ourselves to bring to life". ~ Author Unknown ~~~~~ Once upon a time there was a little girl who grew up in a family in which she was loved and taken care of. She wasn't rich in the material sense, but she certainly had it better than many other children her age. She was comfortable and well taken care of in all the ways that children need to be taken care of. It was a good life. And she was happy. And she LOVED Christmas! She loved decorating the house and the tree. She loved helping her Mom bake and cook that special meal. She loved the Christmas secrets and the anticipation that Santa was coming. She loved going to church and seeing the live Nativity. She loved the carols and hummed them all though the Holiday season. She loved having people in the house and hearing the laughter that filled the air. It was all so magical! And she had peace in her heart. The little girl grew up, got married and had a family. She had a nice home and many nice things. For several years things were fine and Christmas remained a special time. Babies make for such sweet Christmas memories. As time went on, and the years passed, she began to realize that something was missing. How it happened remains a mystery, but suddenly there was no magic in the Christmas season. December became a month of frantic emptiness. The Holidays were filled with endless errands, finding the biggest, best, newest toys. Nights were filled with empty parties of people she didn't really care to know. Days were filled running from one event to the next. Time was spent writing piles of Christmas cards (with a picture enclosed of the 'perfect family,' of course). Afterall, the more cards one sends, the more friends she has, right? She spent time cooking mountains of food and every type of cookie known to mankind. The refrigerator overflowed with food that could never be eaten before spoiling, even if a small army was visiting. She went to bed late at night, falling into a dead sleep -- nothing else to give. No time for gratitude, prayers or a hug. Because this is a true story, the truth must be told, and the truth is that there was adversity and pain through the years. There was the marriage that no longer worked and divorce followed. The end of a long term relationship and friendship was hurtful. And a child who became seriously and chronically ill was devastating. There was simply no magic. How could there be joy in such sorrowful times? There was no peace in the woman's heart. Time went on, as it always does, and things eventually began to change. Healing took place as the woman took charge of her life. She found that many, many answers are found in silence and stillness. And the woman began to relearn what she knew as a child. She learned that it really doesn't matter WHAT is in your life as much as WHO is in your life. She learned that 'illusions' are for mirrors, but not for the real world. She learned that to fully love others, you must love yourself too. She learned the humming Christmas carols can brighten the spirits on any day. She learned to say 'no!' to the things she didn't really want, and 'yes!' to the things she did. She learned that simple things like taking your kids to cut down a Christmas tree can be the make the most wonderful memories of all. She learned that Christmas isn't merely a season -- it's a feeling. She grew so much and she glowed with anticipation of all that could be! She filled her time with meaningful and lasting things like deep friendships, time to read a book, and sit by the fire with a child. She learned that 'more' can be a burden and bigger is not always better. Sometimes it is the simplest of gifts in which the richness lies. And giving is always wonderful, but receiving with grace is also a gift to others. She learned that God is always here and He doesn't give up on you even if you want to give up on yourself. And she learned that peace in your heart is the most precious gift of all. Today, the little girl, who grew into a woman, allows herself to become a little girl again. And Christmas is sacred once more. The End. ~~~~~~~~~~~ In honoring my own need for some Holiday time, there will not be another issue of The Bright Side until January, 2002. I look forward to connecting with you then. Until that time ... enjoy the things that really matter. Wishing you a season of joy, peace and miracles, Beth Coach / Writer / Human Being ~~~~~~~~~~ Beth Burns is a Professional Life Coach -- partnering with motivated people on their personal and professional goals. Her mission is to teach people to love themselves and to love the life they create. She offers two free email newsletters and can be visited on the web at www.BrightSideCoaching.com . She can also be reached by calling 678-938-0419 or by email at Beth@BrightSideCoaching.com ~~~~~~~~~~ Contact Information Copyright 2001 Beth Burns Attribution required for distribution/duplication. We appreciate you passing this message on with our full contact information provided. We encourage you to ask others to subscribe to The Bright Side or Growth, at www.BrightSideCoaching.com/subscribe.htm Your email address is secure and will not be sold or used unethically. To unsubscribe, please follow the link below. www.brightsidecoaching.com/unsubscribe.htm To subscribe to The Bright Side and Growth, please go to www.BrightSideCoaching.com/subscribe.htm
