I have heard it takes 21 days to start a new habit. Lent is 40 days (excluding Sundays for some reason) and an ideal time to reflect on your life and make changes.
Traditional Lent decisions are to give up chocolate or alcohol. A penance.
Last year I decided to add something to my life and each day I was consciously thankful for three things. Small things like a midmorning real coffee, big things like a great friendship. Continue reading
Quickly write down the top three ways that you try to treat people you care about. Now..
Are you treating yourself according to your own rules?
I’ve been having a stressed few weeks. The old story; trying to pack in too much into too little time and not allowing enough time for rest or doing the things that bring me energy.
A coaching relationship has come to an end. Well, two actually. My own life coach and one of my life coaching clients.
My coach and I took time to acknowledge one another’s strengths and good qualities. And acknowledge the changes over the time we have worked together. It was a life affirming conversation.
There’s a mixture of sadness and joy. That beautiful word ‘bittersweet’. Continue reading
There are four times of year when I might think about the old and the new. 
New Year, my birthday, April (spring and a new tax year). And September which for many years was the start of a new school or university year. They can all be good times of year to think about the previous year and the year to come. Who I am and what I want.
About three years ago, I discovered a reviewing exercise . I had left my corporate ‘career track job’ two years before, I had spent time travelling the world and I was starting to get impatient about the next step. The process helped me to take a step back. Continue reading
Back in June, I published my six month goals (My goals ) .
Somewhat foolhardy maybe. Continue reading
Why do I put pressure on myself?
Why do you put pressure on yourself? Continue reading
I am having a nightmare situation with a tooth. In order to avoid a large bill for root canal treatment, I changed dentist to attempt to get the work covered on the NHS. This then involved a referral to the dental hospital which got lost and then an appointment at the hospital with a promise of treatment which never transpired and… it’s been a catalogue of disasters. In the background I have failed to chase up the different dentists, secretly pleased to be postponing what I knew would be a lengthy and painful treatment. The net result is that I may have left it too late and might need to have the tooth removed. Quick and cheap, but affecting the way I chew for the rest of my life. Ouch!
Sometimes I get caught up in the urgent and leave the important. Continue reading
I would like to share a favourite poem:
by William Carlos Williams
I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox
and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast
Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold Continue reading
Do you feel responsible for another adult’s health or wellbeing? Do you want to see them change? Continue reading
Those of you reading this in the UK know that we have had more rain this summer than the last 150 years. Or is it since records began? A long time anyway!
Friends have talked of frustration or even anger at the ‘bad’ weather. They haven’t been able to plan outdoor activities and go for walks or cycles without the risk of getting wet. They haven’t seen a lot of sun.
My response to the weather this year has been to be intrigued. It has been very, very wet. And there has been very little sun. And I find myself wondering what next – could there be snow even? Without meaning to, I have adopted a Zen-like acceptance towards British weather this summer. Or, to switch religions, ‘everything works together for good’. 
Continue reading
I am someone who plans. I like to know what my social arrangements are for the next week or three. I like to book up to see plays at the theatre months in advance. I like to have lunch plans, brunch plans, going to see friends plans. I even like to plan when I am going to relax. I like to have a full diary.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been experimenting with a new way of living – not planning. Continue reading
I am writing this slightly under the influence of too much red wine in a local pub which looks a little like a Parisian boudoir…a boudoir with a specialty in Belgian beers and an abundance of sausage and mash. Can there be too many varieties of sausage and mash offered? And the obligatory very expensive crisps which are regrettably very good as well as very expensive so I can’t say I prefer Walkers as I don’t. Although I did refuse a leaving pub bag of chips (see previous post regarding desire to lose weight – doing well so far and don’t want an inebriated desire for carbohydrates to jeopardise days of good work).
So. Relaxation. It sounds a bit of a contradiction, but sometimes I think we need to work at it. Sometimes just lying on the couch and watching Big Brother (resisted it so far this summer) doesn’t cut it. We can retire to bed as stressed as when we first got in from work. Continue reading
My coach has challenged me to set goals and publish here big goals for the next six months. Not just write them in my diary. Or, to rephrase – who do I want to be in six months time. How I wanted to develop as a person by Christmas. Who I wanted to grow into being.
So, here goes, Chris (www.coachchris.com) –
On Friday night, a friend and I shared a bottle of champagne (Veuve Clicquot – my favourite) and a picnic from Marks and Spencer and Aldi (also favourites). 
We were celebrating the fact that she was about to book a very exciting holiday and some good things that have happened in my business life. The bottle of champagne had been languishing at the bottom of my wine rack for far too long, waiting for a moment large enough to celebrate. When I discovered this friend was also a fan of this particular champagne we decided that we would make a plan to drink it whatever our circumstances, but as it turned out, we both had great things happen. Is that coincidental? Continue reading
Rosalyn Clare - coaching 