Life Coaching with Ruth

Is Your Life Passing You By?

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:07:00 +0000

It seems that we spend a lot of time waiting for the ‘right time or opportunity’. I watch my 5 year old nephew who is waiting to be the appropriate height so he can go on certain rides at Disneyland ... and as I smile in his quest for height, I recall how many things I dreamt of only to believe that those opportunities would ‘always be available’. Now with some life experience (and seemingly missed opportunities) and a little bit of wisdom gathered along the way, I understand that there are ‘expiry dates to certain opportunities’ and that life can pass by if I wait too long.

Consider that there are certain things that you can only do/say/be on this very day of your life! A wise saying I read from an anonymous writer was “this is the youngest you are ever going to be, what are you waiting for!”

Life Coaching with Ruth
http://lifecoachingwithruth.blogspot.com/
e: randermatt09@gmail.com
t: LifeCoachRuth

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The Moment of Readiness

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:23:00 +0000

The blog post & photo today is provided by Jo McCarthy.

I sip my tea, humbled by the tiny spider nearby creating a beautiful, strong and inspiring web, a web filled with messages and lessons. The spider now sits, resting in the heart of its creation. I sit, inspired and in awe. I feel an aliveness through every cell of my body. The magic of the mystery. The possibility within the unfathomable

I look up and notice that, during that time while I have been ‘getting started’, this little bright yellow-brown spider, has created something beautiful. He creates something so much larger than himself, he spins something that one would never suspect possible from his delicate and diminutive form. It simply creates, naturally and organically, with the same degree of attention and care, no matter where it is. Maybe through that building and re-building, each time perhaps in different settings and circumstances, it becomes ever more adept at its craft.

At the same time, however, I realize that reaching that moment of readiness for the ‘creation’ to commence is not something to be ‘forced’ or ‘pushed’, just as there are moments during weaving the web that the spider pauses, apparently awaiting the invitation of movement to arise. I come to settle with the appreciation that it's only when I listen and allow myself to be present with what is, and a gentleness to arrive that a pathway reveals itself almost effortlessly. How a day, an hour, a minute can change everything… when we’re open to listening.

Jo McCarthy (Lawyer, Holistic Bodyworker, Liver of Life)

Life Coaching with Ruth
http://lifecoachingwithruth.blogspot.com/
e: randermatt09@gmail.com
t: LifeCoachRuth

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Tapping My Comfort Zone

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:07:00 +0000

I never signed up for tap dance classes with the intent to ‘take-over’ Broadway. Trust me; Broadway is by no means under any threat by my newly acquired marginal tap dance skills. My initial intent was to have some fun, and stretch beyond my comfort zone. If I'd had any idea how big a stretch I was saying yes to, I may very well have reconsidered my choice.

Last week at class, I was not having fun. As I looked in the mirror, what I was asking my body to do and what I was seeing reflected back at me were two different things. I was feeling completely humiliated, and I was on the verge of tears. How could I allow myself to even consider that I ,a Physical Education grad, with absolutely no dance background could learn tap dancing steps as a 50-something ... ha, who was I fooling.

At one point, I stopped to catch my breath, or else I would have totally melted down in front of all these other “Broadway threats”. It took getting to this place of near breakdown to collect myself. As I did this, I was able to watch the others in the full length mirrors, and much to my surprise, I could see that many of them were finding some of the tap steps challenging.

I made a point of chatting with my 20-something instructor, who makes it all look so easy, and she was able to acknowledge, “Hey Ruth, this stuff is hard, stick with it, you are doing better than you think”. Somehow her simple support was enough to help me return to class, where although I still feel like I am attempting crossword puzzles with my feet, I understand that the easiest thing would be to quit and then I would still be living in my comfort zone and my entire objective had been to stretch into new realms one step at a time.

Where do you need to focus on your tenacity in order to achieve your goals?

Life Coaching with Ruth
http://lifecoachingwithruth.blogspot.com/
e: randermatt09@gmail.com
t: LifeCoachRuth

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We Are the Sum Of Our Experiences

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:46:00 +0000

I came across this saying the other day, and it seemed to dovetail sweetly after my last posting of ‘taking 10 for you each day’. So often, we become intimidated or daunted by the magnitude of the project we want to embark on, and thus we NEVER start. Life is not a race; it is an accumulation of experiences, and we are the sum of our experiences.

We seem to get so focused on failures or successes, when we overlook that it is our experiences here, whether they be triumphs or failures, which are the greatest moments for us to access our own wisdom. So many clients say to me, “I want to find my purpose in life” and I say to them, “rather than asking yourself, Why am I here, consider asking yourself, How am I here?”

So the next time you find yourself grappling with “Why am I here?”, consider, what have I experienced today? You will find the ‘now what’ reveals itself inside your life experiences by allowing you to challenge the conventions of your life that hold you back.

Allow 2012 to be a personal time of liberation of defying the conventions that limit your experience ...
Who says you need a dishwasher to get the dishes clean :)

Life Coaching with Ruth
http://lifecoachingwithruth.blogspot.com/
e: randermatt09@gmail.com
t: LifeCoachRuth

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Take 10 for YOU

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:37:00 +0000

It seems to be that time of year when we get obsessed with making resolutions, attempting to rectify all of our ‘distracted ways’ in no time flat. When I look at the 13 most popular resolutions in the USA , it makes me smile as I am sure the list hasn’t changed much for most of us over the years.

Ask any gym owners; how great the attendance is by the end of February after the January gusto has worn off. The key behind creating inspiring goals is to understand if we wait for the ‘appropriate amount of time’; likely the goal will never be tackled. In a society where ‘time’ seems to be our hottest commodity, I like to work time to my advantage and consider ‘taking 10 for me’, every day. To focus on what it is that appeals to you, whether you take 10 to stretch, write, clear out the clutter from a drawer, or sit and meditate ... if we wait for enough time to tackle an entire project, likely the project will not get started. Look back on 2011 and ask yourself, how many of those projects/goals that roll over on your list from year to year did you even touch?!

Know that you are the youngest you are ever going to be, taking 10 minutes each day for you to bring life to your dreams and know that the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

Life Coaching with Ruth

http://lifecoachingwithruth.blogspot.com/

e: randermatt09@gmail.com

t: LifeCoachRuth

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Let It Snow

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:03:00 +0000

I heard the other day that all snowflakes start out exactly the same and that it is their journey through the atmosphere to earth that distinguishes them from all the other snowflakes. I’d like to tell you from where I heard this, but since I didn’t write it down, ZIP it’s gone, and that's for a different blog entry. I have no idea how ‘they’ actually measure this proposed scientific concept...but it is fascinating to consider it is the journey in nature as in life that 'makes us who we are'.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

Life Coaching with Ruth

http://lifecoachingwithruth.blogspot.com/

e: randermatt09@gmail.com

t: LifeCoachRuth

Dreams Are Delicious

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:51:00 +0000

Dreams are truly delicious ... somewhere over the rainbow when we bring them to life! Sadly though we often tuck them away for safe keeping, with the false optimism that they will always be accessible, and we can bring them to life later. But wait a minute; there are expiry dates to certain opportunities in our lives!

Keeping a dream hidden from the world is doing yourself and the world a disservice. You were brought onto this earth to ‘live out loud’ and to share your gifts with the world. Through you living your dreams and ultimatley having the opportunity for your gifts to touch another’s heart the world becomes a better place.

What is it you are waiting for?

To be able to look back, and say “well I can no longer ... or would you rather say , "I hiked the Camino trail, or I wrote that book or I sang that solo" ... we all know only too well that the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow continues to move, so embrace your pot of gold that lies within and share it with the world ... we are waiting!!!

So what delicious dreams have you been harbouring?
Declare them, and then bring them to life!!!

Life Coaching with Ruth

http://lifecoachingwithruth.blogspot.com/

e: randermatt09@gmail.com
t: LifeCoachRuth

Maturation Factory

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 23:52:00 +0000

the smile at the end of a long journey :)

Ruth asked me to write down my thoughts after having the experience of moving to Canada.

It’s a very difficult task to fulfill. The story of moving is a very long story and somehow difficult to explain mainly because it’s a very deep and complex experience. I like to call it a kind of “maturation” factory.

During immigration you see a lot of new stuff, you enter a new territory with new rules and regulations but what was more striking to me was that like in a maturation process after awhile you build up new skills by which you can connect things together in a whole new different way and come up with new understanding about the world around you. Shortly after, you end up having a new worldview which leads you to become a new person all together. This new person carries a lot from his original identity but also possesses a lot from his new home and in this way he creates a new and unique identity. Most of the time this new identity is not recognized or known (and sometimes not respected) from neither of his old or new homes. Some call it ‘defragmentation’; I call it ‘transformation’. For some it can be a devastating experience on many different levels.

It is said that we learn and understand more efficiently out of ‘contrasts’; ‘paradoxes’; and ‘differences’. Interestingly these are all parts of the so called “cultural shock” which is a notorious experience for all immigrants. When (and if :-) we survive this state of cultural shock then we are totally a different person. We behave differently; we goal differently; our concerns change; our values change; our judgments change and so on. For me the most fun part of my journey was exactly this part! In fact I exactly signed up for this shock. It was tough, very tough indeed. I had so many humbling experiences from not knowing how to get off the bus on my first ride, to being so over judgmental in my new social life to the realization of ridiculous ideas that I lived with for so long. There were times that I had nothing left to identify myself with. But to me the gain definitely out weighted the pain. Moving gave me a much better understanding about myself and the world around me. It empowered me with better explanation of myself and other peoples’ choices, wishes, behaviors, goals, and differences. It helped me a lot to get out of my ‘little boxes’ and enabled me to see the ‘bigger picture’ better. Immigration for me was a huge maturation stage. I feel that I went through a ‘Forced Fast-Forward’ growing up process!
Its a unique experience that I believe should be done at least once in a lifetime :)

Life Coaching with Ruth
http://lifecoachingwithruth.blogspot.com/
e: randermatt09@gmail.com
t: LifeCoachRuth

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Just A Dog

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 18:07:00 +0000

I just couldn't resist sharing this email that came to me via Christy at The Healthy Hound.

From time to time people tell me, "Lighten up, it's just a dog," or, "That's a lot of money for just a dog." They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent or the costs involved for "just a dog."

Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog."

Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog," but I did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog," and, in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it's "just a dog," then you will probably understand phases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise."

"Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy.

"Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that makes me a better person.

Because of "just a dog" I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.

So for me, and folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past and the pure joy of the moment.

"Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog" but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a human."

So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog." just smile....because they "just don't understand." (author unknown)

Life Coaching with Ruth
http://lifecoachingwithruth.blogspot.com/
e: randermatt09@gmail.com
t: LifeCoachRuth

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A New Canadian

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 03:45:00 +0000

the welcome package for a new Canadian

I have always been proud to be Canadian, but never more so than when I attended a ceremony of 85 people receiving their Canadian citizenship last week. I was startled by how moved I was by the ceremony. I am the by-product of two immigrants, and I have heard about my parents’ contrasting journeys of becoming Canadians for my entire life. My mum spoke English and my father came to Canada knowing only two words (thank-you and potato). I have always been drawn to the intrigue of the immigrants’ path. It was not until I married an immigrant myself that I came to appreciate the courage, discipline, and vision it takes to choose a new homeland and to learn to live your days in a language other than your mother tongue.

As the judge spoke of the faith it takes to leave behind the security of family and customs, that they, regardless of their past, have come to a country that offers a future. I realize we all have a future, but many of us have not had to be so premeditated about it. Having been given the gift of Canadian citizenship as a birth right, I found my heart swelling as this group of new immigrants swore their allegiance. The judge invited the rest of us in the room to join in with reaffirming our allegiance, and I was still for a moment, as I realized I’d never really taken a moment to acknowledge what it means to have the privilege of Canadian citizenship.

I was curious to know each of their stories and the pathways they each took to choose Canada, but time and space did not allow this. So I settled my curiosity and merely drank in the celebration in the room. I left knowing that they each had to find within themselves something I could only imagine deliberately connecting to. This was a moment of true celebration that I was grateful to have shared with my new Canadian friend.

Life Coaching with Ruth

http://lifecoachingwithruth.blogspot.com/

e: randermatt09@gmail.com

t: LifeCoachRuth

Self Talk

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 18:56:00 +0000

"the finish line within sight"

As I passed Squamish and I cycled up next to a woman who had placed an inspirational message to herself on her handle bars, “I think I can”, I found myself considering, “I know I can”, but then I was only half way and the ‘defining part of the race’ was about to present itself.

As I came into the canyon after Squamish, the temperature rose to 39 degrees Celsius, and in the final kilometres of the 122 kilometres race, mother nature decided to prove who is always in charge. The heat felt as though it continued to climb, and after the 8 kilometres climb out of Squamish and what felt like an impossible hill, mother nature decided to graciously offer a headwind.

Throughout the race, I had been asking for support from my dad to keep my path safe and my tires free of punctures. I hadn’t considered asking him to deal with the weather. I found myself becoming obsessed with the headwind, to the extent I was spiralling away my energy. I knew I had a limited supply of energy and I could feel myself begin to battle the self-doubt.

I then could hear my mum kick in, “enough of this, you’ve got more in you than to be knocked about by the headwind”. Once I stopped ‘giving away my energy’ with the request for it to switch to a tail wind, I could feel my power go back into my peddling. I knew at this point in the race, I had limited resources and I found myself becoming anxious about what else mother nature may decide to give to me. As I made the mental switch, I was happy to only deal with the heat and the hills.

It is not until we have to dig deep and see what resources we have available within do we understand the importance of supporting ourselves and truly celebrating our own achievements. I am grateful that the challenge was enough to have taken me to my edge safely, and to have been able to see the goal through to completion.

Are you your greatest supporter? If not, why not!!!

Life Coaching with Ruth
http://lifecoachingwithruth.blogspot.com/
e: randermatt09@gmail.com
t: LifeCoachRuth

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Value Of A Deadline

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 00:20:00 +0000

yet another day of training

For those that have been patiently waiting, thank-you for your patience as life seems to have had its way with me ... I’m back, and ready to share on my blog.

There is nothing like a deadline. A deadline can serve as an inspiration or at times it can serve as an event that overwhelms us. It is a true art to create goals that are inspiring and have an internal momentum.

When I signed up to cycle the Gran Fondo to Whistler last September, I had no idea what was in store for me in the year to come. Packing up the house that has been the family home since 1956 became a project beyond my wildest dreams. I know that during the packing process, I have never been so tired nor so emotionally drained and it is powerful to know that goals can help provide the throughline during times of great emotional demands.

The thoughts of developing a smooth relationship with a new racing bike, getting my body to comply with my hopes to climb mountains effortlessly often faded when faced with yet another load of items to be dealt with from the family home. It was an impossible daunting task that I was sure I would never complete ... the house, the training, and yet here I am on the eve of the big race and I am ready to go!

The prospect of the race managed to get me on the bike to train 3 days a week ... even during the dismal days of June and July and I can happily say now on Sept 9th that it is the best deadline I have created in a long time. The counter balance of the training rides were magical in relation to the deep emotions of collapsing our family home.

I anticipate a healthy and happy ride tomorrow along with 7,000 of my new cycling friends on the Gran Fondo Whistler and I am grateful for the deadline that has ignited me into movement when I would have likely unplugged and collapsed on the couch.

Where in your life can you say yes to a challenge and have it provide sustenance on your journey?

Life Coaching with Ruth
http://lifecoachingwithruth.blogspot.com/
e: randermatt09@gmail.com
t: LifeCoachRuth

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Tuning Into Excellence

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth) — Thu, 12 May 2011 19:38:00 +0000

Many people believe that excellence is a destination. I would like to suggest that excellence is a place that constantly resides within each and every one of us. The root of the word excellence is to ‘rise up’ or ‘to elevate’. When musicians tune, they essentially are ensuring their frequencies are in harmony so the musical notes feel good, and sound good. When we ‘tune into excellence’ we become more of who we are, and that is precisely what the world needs.

Think of two people who exemplify excellence. Are their attributes identical? The expansion of excellence is absolutely individual. If we attempt to emulate another person’s excellence, we may find it is like trying to get it right. The expansion of excellence is often confused with the quest for perfection. Perfection is a head-space about ‘getting it right’; excellence is the essence of who we are. Excellence is a way of being and it can vary from day to day. The key to excellence is doing the best we can in the moment, and know that it has a distinct organic feeling.

When I mention the word excellence, it is amazing how much of a trigger this word can be for people. Some tighten their laces eagerly wanting to get moving, while others come to a complete standstill consumed by fear of judgement. The word conjures up the feeling of being better than and that they will not measure up.

Tuning into excellence is a deliberate choice, and our capacity to ‘tune-in’ can vary based on the day and the circumstances. Just like a radio receiver, sometimes we have to spend time adjusting the dial for the optimal reception, and other days we simply turn the radio on. In our day to day existence, we tend to have many distractions that impact our performance. Mobilizing and focusing our passion to achieve excellence allows us to push aside those things that are not congruent with our own personal excellence. We do nothing good without passion; nothing excellent by passion alone. Passion is what gets us started on any endeavour, but passion alone will not bring the project to fruition. It takes courage to move into the excitement of excellence. Can you do it?

Of course you can!

You are in charge. Moving from competence to confidence depends on you and your willingness to cultivate your relationship to your excellence. My wish for you: Take a moment to deliberately consider what it is that inspires you and find a way to elevate by “tuning into your excellence ... make a choice to live in partnership with your excellence because you deserve it.

if you would like to read more about "tuning into excellence', go to http://lifecoachingwithruth.blogspot.com/p/tuning-into-excellence.html

Life Coaching with Ruth
http://lifecoachingwithruth.blogspot.com/
e: randermatt09@gmail.com

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Who is my competition?

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth) — Mon, 09 May 2011 01:22:00 +0000

on your mark, get set, go!

Competition is an interesting endeavour ... it can draw an immense amount of energy into an outbound activity, often distracting us from our ‘true intention’. If our intention is to ‘bring the best of ourselves forward’ because of the activity, yippee, but when the event becomes an end in and of itself to win ... then we will get lost in the race.

I was in a discussion with my massage therapist, Peter Roach, after he’d made a posting on his massage clinic blog about another luminous Life Coach that is a massage patient in his practice. He was genuinely interested in not wanting to offend me by highlighting another Life Coach. So as I shared my philosophical beliefs about who are 'true competition is', he was intrigued, and he wanted to hear more.

If we each stand forward with all of who we are and share our gifts, it is easier for others to be drawn to us or repelled from us. The key to understand is that we are the only one on the face of this earth with this combination of gifts. Our distinctiveness is supported by the style and format that we choose to share our gifts in.

Do the world a favour, step forward with all of who you are, trust yourself, and know that your only competition is yourself yourself.

Life Coaching with Ruth

http://lifecoachingwithruth.blogspot.com/

e: randermatt09@gmail.com

Law of the Garbage Truck

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth) — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 19:43:00 +0000

'have a garbage free day'

This email came to me this week, and I thought it was worthy of sharing with you.

Law of the Garbage Truck

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us.

My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly. So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!' This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally.

Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so ... Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't.

Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!

Have a garbage-free day :)

Life Coaching with Ruth
http://lifecoachingwithruth.blogspot.com/
e: randermatt09@gmail.com

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Finding The Courage To Grant Me Permission

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth) — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 21:06:00 +0000

Katy’s Kids

Marjie (aka Aria Diva) & Ruth (aka Patsy Cline)

As we grow older, we become better at managing the speedbumps or ... do we simply protect ourselves by removing them!?

Last week as I was attempting to memorize my music for the North Shore Music Festival, I hit the wall, and then the panic set in. I contacted my voice coach, Katy Hedalen, to withdraw. She gently brought me to a place of understanding that I could give myself permission to ‘not have to be perfect’ and to embrace the experience for some fun and learning.

Needless to say, I reconsidered and I went to the festival. As I waited two hours for my name to be called by the adjudicator, my heart was pounding, the lyrics had disappeared and I was certain I was ‘on a sinking ship’. Well, my name was eventually called, the gods and the stars aligned and much to my own surprise, “I nailed it”.

I realize I gave myself permission to ‘do the best I could do considering the circumstances’ and I had the freedom to ‘show-up’ and have some fun. I had underestimated my own capacity and I would have easily forgone what has become one of the first moments my heart has beaten since my dad died in December. It’s a thin edge we dance on when finding that healthy portion of stress to pull us up over the edge, but I see how easily we as adults will say no, before allowing ourselves to say ‘YES’.

Where can you cut yourself some slack, and grant yourself permission to say ‘YES’!!!

Life Coaching with Ruth

http://lifecoachingwithruth.blogspot.com/

e: randermatt09@gmail.com

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It's Home

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 23:28:00 +0000

red sweater Aunty Joyce with her friends

It's Home

You can play in it,

sing in it,

have ten fits a day in it.

It's Home

Cry in it,

sleep in it,

you could possibly keep sheep in it.

It's home

Walk around quite bare in it,

have someone there to share in it,

laugh when no-one's there in it.

It's home

Dance the Highland Fling in it,

hang upside down in it,

stick pictures on the wall in it.

It's home

Have a midnight feast in it,

act just like a beast in it,

scream until you're hoarse in it.

It's home

Soak hours in the bath in it,

sing out loud offkey in it,

dress up outrageous and shout 'look at me' in it.

It's home

This lovely poem about 'what can happen in a home' was sent to me by a reader who's dear Aunty Joyce, "who was a very artsy and free spirited woman who definitely lived her life to the fullest", wrote shortly before leaving her home.

Life Coaching with Ruth

http://lifecoachingwithruth.blogspot.com/

e: randermatt09@gmail.com

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The Measure Of A Life

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:32:00 +0000

home sweet home 1956

As my siblings and I, attempt to pack up our family home that we have lived, loved, and laughed in for 55 years, it is heart rendering to consider ‘what the value of life’ is. We all know that it is not the ‘stuff’ but ‘the moments we shared that are the value'.

As much as we each know that our time 'here' is temporary, there is nothing that 'hammers this concept home' like the collasping of a lifetime of memories from a family home. I find myself reflecting on my impact, my legacy, and my temporary status here on earth ... makes me want to 'get on with things' but that will need to wait a while until I am able to catch my breath from the current task. What I do want to keep current in my heart is how much life there is in dying, and as it serves as a poignant reminder to 'live the life you are in'.

Have you noticed any openings for living in your life that you have neglected?!

Life Coaching with Ruth

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e: randermatt09@gmail.com

Positively Embracing Change :)

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:00:00 +0000

" Cheryl, my biking ambassador of positive change"

How often have we all heard this? As much as I know change is an essential part of healthy living, I had a big laugh at myself when I showed up to my spin class this morning to find the instructor had changed. I could feel the ‘panic’ rising in my body, and the struggle I experienced with myself to realize that there may possibly be something here for me.

As critical as change is to our very existence, we tend to resist or deny ourselves the opportunity when it presents itself. So, as I sat spinning on my bike, my legs desperately attempting to find fluid movement, I knew I had to be very deliberate to make the ‘mind body’ connection, to make it through the class.

The class was a sheer delight! Who would have thought that the spinning of the sprocket would help me to integrate the power of the antagonist (quads) and the protagonist (hamstrings) into a fruitful flow. A concept my writing instructor has been attempting to have me grasp for years.

The very nature of exercise is built on the concept of change through resistance designed to make us healthier in our bodies. As much as I know this, I am humbled when I slam into the ‘wall of fear’ and I must deliberately connect to find my way through.

As wise as we get, we do need to 'show up' to enjoy the ride!

Life Coaching with Ruth

http://lifecoachingwithruth.blogspot.com/

e: randermatt09@gmail.com

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The Nature of Encouragement

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth) — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 17:23:00 +0000

"okay, I'll try it one more time"

Encouragement comes in many forms. I think back to when I went to a water-ski camp with my older brother in the late 90's in the Okanagan. After an entire morning of falling flat on my face, my arms felt as thought they were about to dislocate from the sockets. The water-ski coach had been my cheerleader all morning, very sweetly encouraging me, the only woman in the group, to get up on my feet.

After falling yet again, I looked up dejectedly at the coach in the boat, and said "I'm going to take a break, and try again after lunch". To which my brother, hung his he head over the side of the boat and said, "why did you even bother coming out if you are not going to get up!”

"Okay, I'll try one more time", I muttered out of sheer exhaustion. Much to my amazement (and delight), the very next attempt I was up on my feet soaring along on top of the water.

My brother got me to do many athletic things in my life that I thought were impossible, periodically with tender support, but most often with blunt declarations ‘because he believed I had it in me, and what was the delay with my performance’ .

Encouragement comes in many forms, perhaps not in the form we had hoped for or thought would be most helpful, but it is interesting how ‘we get what we need’ if we are willing to listen.

Where can you expand your listening?

Life Coaching with Ruth

http://lifecoachingwithruth.blogspot.com/

e: randermatt09@gmail.com

t: LifeCoachRuth

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Inner Peace

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth) — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 17:51:00 +0000

As this email came into my email box the other day, I thought, I'm just not up for 'any more advice on inner peace today', and I delayed opening it. Once I read it, I realized it was just too sweet to keep to myself. So here it is:

If you can start the day without caffeine,
If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without alcohol,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,

Then...YOU probably are The Family Dog!

'our ultimate teachers for inner peace'

Life Coaching with Ruth
http://lifecoachingwithruth.blogspot.com/
e: randermatt09@gmail.com

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What Does Trust Look Like?

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth) — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 20:01:00 +0000

As I was out walking with my furry friend Loosey this morning, I was ‘taken-aback’ by the complete and unquestioning display of trust between 2 sisters.

The push-scooter, barely big enough for 1, had 2 girls squeezed onto it. They zoomed by me attempting to make it to class before the bell rang. As they came to the top of the hill, I swallowed, certain they would get off and walk down, but NO, the older sister, all of 9 with her long slim legs stuffed into her stove pipe jeans, skillfully navigated the hill with her younger sister jammed in front of her on the push-scooter. As the older sister masterfully applied periodic pressure to the rear wheel, they handled the hill easily and made it to class with moments to spare.

I sighed and recalled the time of ‘complete trust’ from my childhood when my older brother would race down the hill with me perched on his front handle bars. And me, a gleeful participant knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, I would be fine because I trusted my older!

We often talk about trust, and we rarely understand it; today I know these sisters on the the push-scooter truly understand the magnitude of trust.

Life Coaching with Ruth
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e: randermatt09@gmail.com

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Making Valentine's Day Mine Own

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 06:16:00 +0000

Valentines Day

I always thought that Valentines was a "Hallmark holiday" and in truth, it probably still is. I came to realize that I had to make Valentines day my own. It is a day, a time, a moment, to tell the people that you really care about that you love them and if it takes a date on the calendar to do this, then so be it.

Life is short. Little things become big things, and the people we care most about often get the least amount of our time and attention. So I say to my friends, who get almost none of my time, you are amazing and you make my life shine brighter for being in it.

Happy Valentines Day.
Katy Voice Coach

guest blog post

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Life Takes Place In The Details

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 21:57:00 +0000

'a loving cuppa joe for me'

As I was anxiously awaiting a delicious cuppa joe from my favourite 1-touch cappuccino machine, it dawned on me how distracting the details can be in our day, and yet how essential they are in experiencing the fullness of our day. We live our lives forward and yet we tend to only understand the details of it backwards! Here I was going to have some ‘me time’ during the multitude of details in my day, and the one detail I overlooked was placing a cup under the spout. So the one minor detail of a cup, delayed the tranquility of a simple cuppa a joe.

Details, details, details, can drive you crazy, whether we like it or not, they are so essential for living. Where are you resisiting the details that will allow you to fully embrace your life?

Life Coaching with Ruth

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e: randermatt09@gmail.com

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Happy New Year!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth) — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 20:15:00 +0000

make your 2011 wishes on the sliver of a new moon

Wishing you all the love you can imagine in 2011,
the boldness to dream big
the curiosity to discover,
the tenacity to follow through
the tenderness to love the ones you are with
& the wisdom to skip those that get on your nerves

Life Coaching with Ruth
http://lifecoachingwithruth.blogspot.com/
e: randermatt09@gmail.com
t: LifeCoachRuth

If this blog inspires you and you would like to be notified when new entries are made, go to subscribe via email box on the right column of this blog.