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Summer
Contrasts
By Bonnie Henriksen, Life Coach,
Trainer & Group Facilitator
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It’s hot.
It’s humid. Summer activities cram our
schedules: softball games, reunions, picnics,
community festivals, haying, gardening, and more.
We rush around fitting all these activities
into a mere three months because spring comes late and
fall encroaches before we’re ready. Then winter
comes: that long cold, white, barren,
freeze-your-booty, stay at home, hibernating season
when different chores and different activities take
over.
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In northern
Minnesota
, contrast provides an incredible gift: opportunities
to stop the rat race and take a breath.
Lakes and waterways beckon us to swim, canoe,
fish and soak in the refreshing calm of their liquid
beauty. Forests
offer places to retreat and seek nature’s quiet,
calming connection. There is nothing finer than
sitting in the dappled shade of a stand of birches
watching clear blue water sparkle as a breeze blows
against hot skin.
There is nothing so halting to our busy-ness as
shooting lightening and crashing booms of a
thunderstorm blowing in. |
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My coaching
colleagues and I talked recently about this unique
characteristic of northern
Minnesota
culture. Seasoned northern Minnesotans don’t seem to
take life as seriously in the summer as our metro
neighbors to the south.
Maybe we know a secret!?!?
It probably really isn’t a secret, but there
is wisdom in knowing what we value and recognizing the
importance of giving what we value priority in our
lives. Our
bodies and our hearts know how short
Minnesota
summers are. We
know innately, that if we don’t take advantage of
the few short months of good weather to replenish our
“fun and alive tanks” it will be 9-12 months
before we have another chance! |
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I encourage my
coaching clients to recognize their values---those
innate, born-with beliefs that are at one’s core.
Values are the deep knowing of what we need to
have present in our lives.
My clients learn that when we live by our
values, “honoring our values in what we do and
say,” we experience joy, fun, deep satisfaction and
positive potential.
When we fail to listen to our values and
don’t let them guide us, we feel dissonant.
When our values are violated, we know anger or
frustration and struggle to find success. |
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The wisdom I share this
month is twofold.
First it’s about taking advantage of our
wonderful
Minnesota
gifts---take time to experience the beauty, recreation
and calm they offer. Busy lives don’t get enough
calm, don’t have enough fun.
Claim what you need!
Soak it in! Enjoy it! |
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Secondly, recognize that
just as you know the “secret” of
Minnesota
summer, you also know secrets that are unique and powerful in guiding you.
Identify your values and prioritize your time
and efforts to live out what is truly important to
you. Values
are different for each of us, as unique as our
individual DNA. I
know a woman who recently left a successful job in
banking. The
bank offered her more money and a prestigious title to
stay with them. She
chose to leave because neither money nor title allowed
her to give priority to what she values more--- time
with her children.
The bank president doesn’t have children or a
strong value around family.
He values money and prestige.
Neither person is right or wrong.
They have different values and different ways
to gauge success.
Think about your values….what’s most
important to you?
How can you make space and time to bring that
fully to your life? |
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It’s nice
chatting with you.
I’ll be back next month, but if you’d like
to learn more about life coaching or discovering a
more compelling life, visit my website at www.lifesongcoaching.com.
or give me a call at 218-327-2691. We’ll make a
plan! |
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.pdf
version of this article |
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| More Life
Notes on the reading page! |
Life
Notes
articles may be reproduced when
Bonnie’s byline and web contact
information are included.
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