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Getting Over the Fear of Rejection Back in March I found myself doing what just about everyone else I knew was doing, cleaning house. It's funny but cleaning appears to be a great stress reliever. ‘If the house is in order so is everything else.’ At the time, I wasn’t cleaning my cupboards, I was cleaning up my laptop. Come to think of it, it could use a serious clean up right now! As I perused my many, many folders, I stumbled upon one that was titled ‘my books’. I had been so busy that I had forgotten about it. Which has its positive side. That means I was generating business and leading a full, rich life. When I opened the folder, I discovered I had started not one, not two, but five books. All great ideas! ‘Hmmm …’ I wondered, ‘perhaps now is the time, the time to actually complete them.’ Coaching myself, I advised to start with one and move on from there. Whoever listens to their coach? So I completed two books. I finished writing them. I copyrighted them. And I uploaded them into the appropriate file formats. I even designed the covers. They have both been in that position for a long time, approximately four months. It's my job as a coach, now to advise myself to get over the hump and publish them! But that's a scary thought. That means I open myself to exposure and criticism. And who wants that? Not me! Go figure. Here I am writing this article, quite publicly. This brings us to the topic of adjusting your mindset. It's a classic topic for all coaches to assist their clients in working out. No one ever said that coaches didn't experience the same issues their clients experience. Ideally they, we, the coach have stumbled through the crisis and figured it out, allowing us to share that newfound wisdom with you the client. Now and again, as you likely know, even when you've got life figured out, you find out you don't. Patterns are hard to change. And rejection is hard to face. Even if it's just a story in your head with no solid foundation. So I'm going to use this article as an opportunity to coach not only you, the reader, but me! Because I'm stuck. Not really sure what it is I'm afraid of exactly. I mean, exposure and rejection and criticism … those are all just big categories. So let's see what's underneath those headings. Fear of Exposure I was talking to a client this morning and she shared a dream that she has had on a regular basis. You may have had the same dream. You're suddenly exposed, naked in public or something like that, and you feel all kinds of uncomfortable feelings - shame, fear, confusion. When we put ourselves out in the public eye, we reveal ourselves to a much larger audience then, let's say, our friends and family. And we all know how tough some of those friends and family members can be. They know us. And therefore they can push our buttons. So why on earth would anyone, me or you, want to expose yourself to a much bigger audience than that? We’ll come back to the answer in a moment. Fear of Rejection Have any of you ever auditioned for a role and been turned down? Not only did you not get the part, but someone else with less talent, less experience, and well they're just not you, got it! You've been trying to sell a house and someone else sells it out from beneath you. You're in your third stage of negotiation with a prospective client, and they select another company! You’re first in line for a job opportunity and it falls through. Each and every one of these scenarios is an experience of being rejected. The key here is not to take it personally! It's really not about you. This is beginning to sound like a break up, isn't it? ‘It's not you. It's me.’ Quite honestly that's usually the truth. But so very hard to except and believe. 'If only I just … fill in the blank … she or he would still be here.' Why then, would anyone in their right mind publish anything? Ego. Sure. Financial income. OK. How about this. What if what you have to say will save someone's life. What if it could help someone be a better person. Lead a better life. Heal unhealthy habits. Be more successful in relationships. Establish a thriving career. These are all great reasons to get published. If there's a book inside of you, or an article, or a blog post for that matter, roll up your sleeves, get out of your head and into your heart and let it all out. My new book is called Mindfulness Tip of the Day. It offers creative ways to reduce stress and create peace and joy in your life. Wish me luck getting it off my laptop and onto yours Alana Cahoon is the founder & creative coach of Grow 2 B U, LLC. Grow your business. Expand your mind. Heal your soul. www.AlanaCahoon.com  
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I'm going to begin a ten day meditation retreat… Tomorrow. The last time I entered into a weeklong meditation, the global pandemic was declared. My fingers are crossed. My heart open. Hoping to be greeted near week’s end by a vibrant rainbow across the sky. And being prepared for just about anything. Let's take a look at where we are this very day, June 4, 2020. The United States of America is in turmoil. Protests march peacefully among many streets not only in our nation but across the globe. All to bring attention to the racial injustice of our society. Generally speaking, I am not politically inclined. I'm a creative. I am very happy behind my microphone, canvas, yoga mat, and meditation cushion. Speaking out in a political way just hasn't resonated with me. Until now. Because the immorality I see is crushing the fabric of society. The foundation of democracy. In our very community here in Rochester, New York, I have not only seen and witnessed but experienced the racial divide. I grew up in the inner city. And after being assaulted at the innocent age of five, I asked my parents if I could go to Catholic school. I know now that that was not in their budget. But they made it happen. So there was a new level of safety for me, a little Italian girl, in a little Italian neighborhood, in a racially divided community. This new level of safety did not always protect me from my walks back home from school. My belief in Jesus and Mary did. My respect for all beings did. And my gift for standing up for myself and speaking reason to a prospective offender did. Hear me out. I was raised to believe that we were all born equally. Each and everyone of us regardless of the color of our skin or the homeland of our ancestors. And so when I was hurt by someone whether from my own nationality or another, I stood up for myself. I prayed for them. I was empathetic. I was never afraid. And that's what confuses me about today, half of a decade later. Why is our nation so afraid? America, the United States of America is a melting pot. My ancestors came from Italy. Your ancestors may have come from Ireland or New Zealand or Africa. We are all from the same planet. We all eat and breathe to live. And loving acceptance is crucial for us to survive. Last year I found myself in my old neighborhood, reminiscing about the fun we had. Playing kickball in the middle of the street. Or football in someone’s backyard. Or going to Spaghetti Dinners at church. I decided then and there I had to give back. I had to truly forgive my own injustices. Then I stumbled upon a wonderful memory. I was riding bikes with my cousin Eileen at the age of ten. We were near the school parking lot which was exciting enough as it was because we weren’t supposed to be there. And then I saw it. A ten dollar bill. Just lying there on the sidewalk. Like a miracle. We didn’t tell anyone, for several reasons. 1. We weren’t supposed to be there! And 2. We wanted to spend it on ourselves! There was a Diner on North Goodman called Carrols. I had only been there once before with my family. Eileen and I decided to go there - on our bikes - and got 2 burgers, fries and a milkshake. This was decadent at the time, considering the first McDonalds had only just opened. And with that memory, I decided to start dropping dollar bills in the neighborhood. Opening the car window and sending them out to fly and land, hoping that someone, anyone would find them. I could feel their joy and excitement. Maybe, they would get their burger and fries and milkshake. Or maybe they’d use it toward their bills. It filled me with such a sense of release, of offering peace that I took my little idea to the nearby parks, folding up dollar bills and tucking them in the crevices of the trunks of trees. You have no idea how much fun this has been. And I share it with you to inspire you. To forgive those who have hurt you. To release your pain and suffering. To bring joy to others who may very well be less fortunate than you. I was going to write about what to expect when entering a meditation retreat. Well here it is in a nutshell. You get off the grid. You pray. You get in touch with the deepest aspect of yourself. And you seek the truth. You may not like what you see. Whether it's about yourself or others. And that's where the real work begins. Addressing what you don't like about yourself and others. In a non-judging, loving way. Self acceptance allows you to accept others exactly as they are. Self love is about seeing yourself in others, and loving all beings regardless of their heritage, their accent, the color of their eyes or the color of their skin. Wish me luck. Because I already know that as I enter into this meditation retreat, I am about to see ugliness that needs addressing. Within my own mind, behavior, and attitudes.
Balance during a global pandemic. Sounds impossible doesn't it? It doesn't have to be. It certainly may be more challenging than if life was moving along at a normal pace. But what is normal? Today's world is the new normal. And there are a lot of good things about it. Don't get me wrong. It's been a very difficult transition. But let's look at the positive. Our planet is doing better. Why do we care? Because we live on it! I know it's hard to think of anything outside our own four walls right now. But the earth is healing. And that's good for us. 1. Pollution There's no pollution. Although we may be facing a disease that harms our lungs, the air is actually cleaner than it was before the pandemic. There are fewer cars being driven emitting less carbon dioxide into the air. There are fewer planes flying. There is an over all shift in travel. This is good for the air we breathe. It also slows down the effects of global warming. There’s even a bright side to the economic shift. With fewer manufacturing plants in operation, nitrogen dioxide is less profuse. The overall quality of our air is improving. 2. Animals I'm talking about wild animals here. There's a new freedom for them to come out of hiding. Perhaps populate again more freely. Why is this good for our planet? And why is this good for us? Evolution. The animal kingdom is vital to the balance of humanity. What would it be like if there were no squirrels running up trees, collecting nuts; no birds waking us up with their song; no deer to fawn over; no snakes to make us jump back. It would be a lonely, quiet world. 3. Water Our water is purifying! There are less contaminants being drained into our water supply. Fewer boats such as cruise ships make a significant impact. And it’s quieter. The marine life are able to swim about more freely. Now let’s talk about home life. Of course there are challenges we are all facing. Like being in the same house 24/7 with the same people. It can be annoying. Maybe a desire to have your own space. But it also offers a new opportunity to reconnect on a deeper more personal level. The demands of our lives pre-pandemic nearly consumed us. We spent more time in the busyness of our lives versus with family and loved ones. The stress of full-time jobs didn't necessarily give way to quiet attentive time spent at home. Many of us are now working out of home offices. Our children are being schooled from the home. It's taking us back to a time that was, perhaps more wholesome. When priorities were focused not as much on how much money we earned, rather on how healthy our family was. This is an opportunity to bring that family bond to the forefront. Whether there are only two of you or ten. I'm noticing another shift, where adult children are returning home. Again, it offers challenges and gifts. As adults, they may not want to be told what to do. They have developed their own routine or lack thereof. As much as they may challenge us with their independence, they may fall back into a comfortable routine of wanting to be taken care of. It’s a balance we are all teetering on. This new normal. When the challenges seem overwhelming, consider the gifts. Career. Work. Business. How’s that going for you? Anxiety is at its worst in this realm. Business owners are closing shop; laying off good employees; and wondering what's next. Property owners are wondering how their tenants will keep up with rent; banks wondering the same regarding mortgages. The economy is in shambles. This is ample time to be creative! There's really no choice. Roll up your sleeves, pull up your socks, and come up with a solution. We are Americans. Born and raised with the motto of freedom and democracy. With that comes responsibility to make things happen. Shake things up! Entrepreneurs are doing just that. They are scribbling at their desks, erasing and re-creating ideas on their whiteboards. They are brainstorming how to move to the next level in this new seismic shift called the global pandemic. EXERCISE Take out a piece paper and colored pens if you have them. Draw three columns with the following headings: Nature Family Career Under the first column, jot down anything you notice about mother earth. Are you noticing the trees blossoming? The sweet scent of flowers? The green grass? At night, can you see the stars more vividly? Hear the croaking of the frogs? Or the chirping of crickets? Have you noticed more wildlife? Spotted an eagle? Held eye contact with a wandering deer? Under the second column, write down five things that are annoying you. Let it all out! You're welcome to throw this out afterwards to avoid offending anyone. Then list five things you're grateful for. For instance, your 26-year-old daughter may have returned home after being away for a year. You may be getting that extra sleep you have been desperate for. You're spending quality time with your partner. Note whatever comes to mind. Now begin listing all and any of the issues you are facing around career life, work and money. List these until you’ve exhausted the subject. Then begin a new list with everything that’s going right. It may be that you’ve been thinking about switching jobs and now have the perfect excuse. There may be a business Idea you’ve wanted to launch but never had the time. Write down everything that’s going right for you. In times of transition, stay open to seeing both the gifts and the challenges being offered. Receive the gifts with grace. Tackle the challenges with boldness!
Yoga! Yoga! Yoga! the Spiritual & the Physical By Alana Cahoon Breathe. Stretch. Repeat. Sounds like you’re washing your hair, right? Close. You’re washing your body. Inside out. I’ll never forget being introduced to yoga back in the 1980’s. A long haired hippie dude was teaching at a gym in NYC. He wasn’t very good. That experience turned me away from the practice for awhile. I was a modern dancer at the time and practiced hard core aerobics. I didn’t need to add yoga to the mix. Today, I couldn’t imagine living without it. Yoga the spiritual and the physical. That’s the beauty of it. There are meaningful aspects of the practice that bring about a range of health benefits. And that’s what is needed today. More than ever. Spiritual The spiritual aspect of yoga is found within its philosophy and meditative practice. The aim being to unite one’s spirit with the Divine. Doesn’t that sound amazing? The meditative practice of yoga is equivalent to samadhi or concentration which brings about self awareness. As a teacher, I like to begin classes by setting an intention. This acts as the theme throughout the session and is frequently aligned with your spirit such as, ‘I feel calm and relaxed.’ You may have heard of balancing the chakras. This is something I have been doing for most of my life. It’s a beautiful sequence of activating the 7 main chakras or energy centers of the body. These are aligned along your spine, the first located at the base moving up to the seventh at the crown of your head. In addition to balancing these energy centers during meditation, they can also be activated during the physical aspect of your yoga practice. Some say the practice of yoga began approximately 5000 years ago in India. My course of study suggests less it dates back to the 2nd century BCE with the Yoga Sutras of Patanjala, the foundation for the practice. These were brought to the West in the 20th century. Hatha yoga, which is the form we are most familiar with in the US emerged in India around the 10th century with origins in tantra. ‘What?’ You may be asking. No worries. Meditation is the first step to the spiritual side of yoga. Understanding its roots and beliefs of origin are the next. You may be fascinated to learn more. If so, there are dozens of books and videos available on the subject. I suggest you peruse several and see what’s a fit. If you learn best by reading, you may want to engage in a book on the traditions such as the Bhagavad Gita or the Upanishads or Yoga Sutras. If you’re a visual learner, check out videos available online. Start with a simple search of Yoga and go from there. The spiritual side of yoga is found within its meditative practice. This elevates the conscious state to one that is clear and in divine union, ultimately bringing one to a sense of absolute freedom. Ommm. Physical I believe that the physical aspect of yoga is just as important as the spiritual side and vice versa. A balanced mind body and spirit involves the activation of all. Typically a yoga class is focused on the asanas. These are the physical poses of yoga. These poses can be held for several minutes which are often found in the yoga teaching of Iyengar. Or they can move from one to the next in a flowing series which can be found in the Vinyasa style. As a dancer, which do you think is my favorite? Right. Vinyasa! Hatha yoga is the overarching style predominantly taught in the west. Vinyasa, Iyengar, and even Power yoga are all under its umbrella. A well rounded yoga class will include focus on the breath, the asana and the concentration. These aspects will stretch and strengthen your mind, body, and spirit. Today there are numerous yoga studios both in brick and mortar and online. Circling back to my first encounter with yoga, may I suggest not to give up if at first you don’t like the experience. The teaching style, environment and/or personality of the instructor have an impact on your personal experience. Find some one who speaks to you. In mind - body - spirit. Here are some of the yoga poses you may learn. I’ve noticed that depending on the source, the names may differ slightly. The first word is the basic English name. The second is the Sanskrit name. Have fun saying them and doing them! Asanas - Yoga Poses Boat - Navasana Bow - Dhanurasana Camel - Ushtrasana Cat - Marjariasana Chair - Utkatasana Child - Balasana Cobbler - Bhadrasana Cobra - Bhujangasana Crescent Moon - Anjaneyasana Crocodile - Makarasana Crow - Kakasana Dancer - Natarajasana Downward Facing Dog - Ardho Mukha Shvanasana Eagle - Garudasana Easy - Sukhasana Fish - Matsyasana Garland - Malasana Half Moon - Ardha Chandrasana Half Spinal Twist - Ardha Matsyendrasana Headstand - Sirsasana Head-to-Knee - Janusirasana Locust - Salabhasana Lotus - Padmasana Low Plank - Caturanga Dandasana Mountain - Tadasana Pigeon - Kapotasana Plank - Phalakasana Plough - Halasana Pyramid - Parshvottanasana Seated Forward Bend - Paschimottanasana Shoulder-stand - Sarvangasana Shoulder Supported Bridge - Setu Bandha Sarvangasana Side Angle - Parshvokanasana Side Plank - Vasishtasana Staff - Dandasana Standing Forward Bend - Uttaasana Standing Half Forward Bend - Ardha Uttanasana Sun Salutation - Surya Namaskar Tortoise - Kurmasana Tree - Vrikshasana Triangle - Trikonasana Upward Facing Dog - Urdhva Mukha Shvanasana Warrior 1 - Virabhrasana I Wide Stance Forward Bend - Prasarita Padottanasana Yogi vs Yogini As a man who practices not only the physical but the philosophic aspect of yoga is considered a Yogi. For all you women out there on the path of yoga, you are on your way to being called a Yogini. Alana Cahoon is the founder & creative coach of Grow 2 B U, LLC. Grow your business. Expand your mind. Heal your soul. www.AlanaCahoon.com
It's tax season time. If you're an entrepreneur like me, you'll be scrambling to get all of your documents in order. This includes your receipts, bank records, and a system to put it all into place. If you're smart and lucky, you'll have an accountant by your side to assist you. Money. It's a funny thing. The flow of currency. A piece of paper that makes a difference. Representing power. Transactions can appear complicated depending on your mindset. I'm one of those people who are challenged. Even having my spreadsheets neatly organized with columns, numbers create havoc. I can feel them rumbling around in my stomach. Thank goodness I meditate. In the end I always come out in the black. Once again thank goodness! I’m what you call an intuitive money girl. Let's shift that to a Money Goddess. I kind of like that. I think it fits. You're welcome to try it on as well, girlfriend! As a Money Goddess, I attract abundance naturally. I'd like to say easily. But it does take some effort. In fact the more you can focus on the law of attraction, the more effective it will be. So where do we begin. Let's start with you! Becoming a Money Goddess Step #1 Who are you? Self discovery is pertinent in almost every aspect of your life. Money included. How you think of yourself and how you show up in the world make a difference. Let’s examine that. Self-worth. Do you believe you are worth it?! Do you deserve comfort? A steady stream of income? Extra money to play with? Mirror How do you show up in the world? Take a look at yourself right now. What are you wearing? Are you composed? What is your posture saying about you? Everything about your appearance, and I mean everything is a reflection of what you expect from the outside world. Go ahead, wear your jeans and T-shirt. Walk around in your sweats. But know that you will be treated like someone walking around in their jeans and T-shirt or sweats. Which means very casually and not very seriously. True, there may be some exceptions to the rule. Especially if your jeans are really nice and your T-shirt is neat and new. How you present yourself to the world sends out a direct vibration of what you expect to come back to you. Step #2 See it In order to start attracting something to you, you need to see it first. Clearly in your minds eye. Heck you can even write it down, or find a picture of it, print it and post it someplace you can see it often. Whichever way you choose, you need to clearly visualize what it is you want to attract to you. Let's try that now. Money Since were talking about money. Think of that right now. Imagine money. Imagine it flowing to you. You can see it as hundreds of dollar bills flowing toward you. Or piling over you. I'd like you to think about how much money you would like to come into your life over the course of the next year. Go ahead and do that now. Now, add a zero at the end of it. And tell me how it feels. Notice I mentioned money coming into your life. Not the money you were earning. Know that there are many sources of money. So as you see money coming toward you, see it coming to you easily. Unless you're really keen on working really hard, long hours! When you came up with your dollar amount, $75,000 for instance, what was your reaction to increasing that dollar amount by one digit? Were you comfortable with the concept of bringing $750,000 into your life over the course of the next year? These are serious questions in regards to how the law of attraction operates. If a dollar amount is too low, you may simply ignore it. On the other hand if it is too extravagant, you may be intimidated by it. Play around until you find the dollar amount that suits you. This brings us right back to tax season! Look at the columns of your accounts receivable and accounts payable. Did you spend more than you earned? Are you in the black or are you in the red? Coaching These are just a few of the ways you can tap into the Law of Attraction. But it's easy to forget about, to lose track of, to lose interest in! That's where coaching comes into play. Someone who hold you accountable, who guides you along your path. I've worked with coaches myself who have helped me to attract more money into my life. It works! It especially helpful to have someone hold you accountable. A coach to remind you what your goal is. To help you set your intention clearly. And to celebrate your victories. Be specific with your requests before sending them out to the universe. Because they will come back to you. If you ask for a lot of money without explaining how it will come to you, you may not like the source. If you ask for abundance in your life without being specific, you may suddenly get a whole lotta stuff you don't want! One time I realized I had no baseball caps. Hear me out on this. And I sent it out to the universe that I wanted baseball caps. Within the year I had seven. I don't even know how I ended up with them! Point being, be specific on what you want to attract into your life. Nothing brings me more joy than watching my clients break through the six digit income plateau. You Can too. Alana Cahoon is the founder & creative coach of Grow 2 B U, LLC; guiding women and men to self discovery and business formation. Grow your business. Expand your mind. Heal your soul. www.AlanaCahoon.com   Is your glass half empty? Or half full? Some of the time? Or all of the time? The practice of giving thanks will fill your glass to overflowing. Every time! I asked a few gals around Grow 2 B U Studios what they were thankful for. Here’s what they shared. Abigail Clark, DJ “The courage and spirit to keep on trying in new ways!” Thank you, Abi for reminding us to never give up, especially on ourselves! Her alias, Abi Rose shares more uplifting thoughts on air at WXIR 100.9 FM on her segment of Reclaiming the Narrative - Art Blooms. Caitlin Coleman, Occupational Therapist “I am grateful for my loving and understanding friends, many of whom I do not spend enough time with (and desperately need to).” Caitlin reminds us how important it is to not only have friends but to spend time with them! Call a friend today. Thank them for their friendship. Then do something wild and fun together! Or just catch up. Kathy Jackson, Real Estate Agent "I’m grateful for the chance to take care of family, including my mom and grandson, for good business, beautiful nature around, ….life.” Kathy comes full circle as she takes care of her family; grows her business; and wonders at the natural environment surrounding her. She sees them all as opportunities to cherish, not to be taken for granted. Thank you, Kathy. Nicole Corso, Yin Yoga Teacher “I am grateful for gratitude because it is both a gift giving gratitude and a gift in receiving gratitude. Namaste beautiful sister” Namaste Nicole! The practice of gratitude is to be thankful for! Kellie Adami, Advertising Agency Director “I’m grateful for my friends and family always—but something new—I’m grateful for taking charge of my life and finally realizing how important self love is.” OMG Kellie! I’m so glad to hear you say it. May this be everyone’s new mantra: I’m Grateful for Taking Charge of My Life & Finally Realizing How Important Self Love is While it’s true to value our loved ones, friends and family, it’s just as true to nurture our selves. We need to fill our love reserve before and after sharing our compassionate nature with others. Begin each day with a message of self love. Self nurture. Value. Compassion. As we treat ourselves with loving kindness, so will others. Joy Kravetz, Yogi-Dog Walker “I am grateful for my health and the health of my family and friends! Hard to narrow down just one thing but that was the first thing that came to my mind as I read this just after leaving the gym.” Joy’s comment points to our health. Not just hers but everyone’s. This may have been inspired by her workout at the gym or her yoga practice at the studio! My mother used to say she was grateful for her health all the time. I didn’t get it. I was born with excellent health and just assumed that everyone else was, too. I wanted her to be grateful for something else. At that, she would say she was grateful for me and my siblings. Boring! I thought. But now as an adult and mother who’s had her share of illness and injury, I get it. Min Chiou, Engineering Executive “I'm grateful for the opportunity to explore who I want to be. I'm grateful for being surrounded by good people and influences to guide me on my way.” What a gift! The opportunity to gain insights on your own way of being. Self discovery has become a thing only because our true selves have become hidden! Conformity vs authenticity may have assisted in moving society forward in a swift and structured manner. But what has been lost?
Thanks, Min, for allowing us to receive wisdom about ourselves through coaching, mentors, and advisors. May we all open to our true nature! What are you grateful for? Every day as you wind down and prepare to sleep, review your day and give thanks. Consider the natural environment such as the weather, the sun, the flowers and trees. Appreciate your accomplishments. We tend to ignore the small steps toward big goals. But without them, we may never move ahead! Feel the warmth or coolness of your home. Its four walls of safety. The hum of electricity or sounds from an open window. Offer appreciation to your loved ones near and far. Give praise to your highest self, your spirit guide, your creator. Give thanks for your beautiful body as it is at the present moment. Affirm that you will take care of her or him as you would your best friend. Admire that amazing mind that is reading these words and making sense of them. Love the lively spirit within you. Wonder at the colorful emotions you get to explore every moment of every day. Go to the gym and strengthen your body. Take a yoga class. Mediate to clear the mind and calm the emotions. Practice Mindfulness on a daily basis. This will help you to not only bring attention to your health, but offer you the awareness of the beautiful world around you. Appreciation becomes an effortless practice. And your glass becomes a glass half full. Alana Cahoon is the founder & creative coach of Grow 2 B U, LLC; guiding women and men to self discovery and business formation. Grow your business. Expand your mind. Heal your soul. www.AlanaCahoon.com I considered writing a column about the holiday blues because, let’s face it, we all have them. Gift buying or no gift buying, romance or no romance, tree or no tree, there are a lot of choices that can add to the overwhelm in our already busy lives.
Instead, let’s talk about possibilities! Let’s get inspired. Inspiration #1 Dream. Dare to dream about the places you never thought you’d see. Whether it’s a quick getaway to an island, a trip around the world, or a month in a foreign land, dream BIG about the places you’d like to go. Inspiration #2 Make a difference. Everyone knows that there is plenty of room in the world to make a contribution. Make yours unique. Let it have meaning to you. Let it not only touch the heart of others but awaken your own. Need an idea? Host a meal for a group who may not have family. Volunteer at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen. Make handmade gifts for nonprofit organizations serving those in need. Sing at a benefit concert! Allow your unique gifts to be shared. Inspiration #3 Bake cookies - but don’t eat them all. Baking can be a healing gesture in the home as long as it’s shared. Children love baking! The aroma wafting through the kitchen into all the rooms of the house brings a nurtured vibe. It is sometimes what makes a house a home. Decorate them using themes. Then pass them out to neighbors, friends, and colleagues. You can even make them healthy! Inspiration #4 Host a holiday party. Offer an activity that supports a cause. You may have everyone bring in their favorite photos and show them how to transform them into holiday cards. Then send them to prisoners or hospitals. Offer inspirational sayings of health and bright futures. Inspiration #5 Share the wealth. There’s nothing more satisfying than knowing that you can help someone less fortunate than you by offering a financial gift. Remember the saying ‘As you give, so shall you receive.’ It’s true. It doesn’t matter the size of the gift. It could be dropping coins into the Salvation Army bucket, giving $2 - $5 at the checkout of your grocery shopping, or mailing in a contribution to a charity. Inspiration #6 Meet a friend for a cup of tea, coffee or cocoa at a local cafe. Dine with friends and family at a family owned restaurant. Go window shopping at boutique stores. Get your nails done with friends. All these will bring you and your friends joy while supporting your local business owners. Where to Start All of these make you feel better. And they definitely make those whom you are serving feel better. Why wait? Here are some connections to set your ideas into action: Travel Google ‘Travel’ or ‘Cheap Travel’. You’ll receive options that will likely have something that both resonates with your soul and your pocketbook. Try one of these. Travelocity.com Orbitz.com Kayak.com TripAdvisor.com HomeAway.com Expedia.com Priceline.com Help the Homeless Contact one of these agencies and ask how you can assist. Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network 585-506-9050 Open Door Mission Samaritan House 585-423-1825 House of Mercy 585-546-2580 Volunteers of America 585-454-1151 YWCA 585-546-5820 Sing! Share your voice at a benefit concert or chorale your own group and bring music to your neighborhood. Contact your local church to inquire about singing opportunities or try one of these: Rochester Women’s Community Chorus 585-234-4441 Taiwanese Choral Society of Rochester 585-326-1047 Concentus Women’s Chorus 585-586-5677 Bake Cookies Maybe you’ve collected a book of recipes from your favorite aunt. If not, it’s never too late. Here are a few places to find fun & tasty recipes, as well. AllRecipes.com delish.com tasteofhome.com joyfoodsunshine.com foodnetwork.com ghiradelli.com Send Cards Offer Inspiration to someone being hospitalized. Get a listing of those serving time at a local jail or prison. Then send them holiday greetings filled with inspiration! Monroe County Jail 130 Plymouth Ave. South Rochester, NY 14614 Monroe County Correctional Facility 750 East Henrietta Road Rochester, New York 14623 Strong Memorial Hospital - or - Golisano Children’s Hospital 601 Elmwood Ave Rochester, NY 14642 Highland Hospital 1000 South Ave Rochester, NY 14620 Rochester General Hospital 1425 Portland Ave Rochester, NY 14621 Give Donations Entrances to grocery stores and shopping malls usually have someone dressed as Santa ringing a bell, carrying a bucket, hoping you will drop a few coins into. Here are a few charities that you can send bigger sums to. WillowCenterNY.org Providing services and beds to women and their children surviving domestic abuse BCCR.org Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester offering free programs and events to cancer patients, survivors, and their families RecoveryFitness.org Helping people in recovery from drugs and alcohol to get fit using exercise, yoga & meditation UntappedShores.org Providing clean water to places where there is lack of sanitation FoodlinkNY.org Offering food and food shelters to the hungry ChildrenAwaitingParents.org A place to connect parents with children in need of a family Hochstein.org Teaching children how to play music PlannedParenthood.org Providing sexual healthcare services to all VeteransOutreachCenter.org Supporting those who have served us in national security OutAlliance.org Creating a supportive community for homosexual orientation RCSF.info Rochester Children’s Scholarship Fund providing financial support to qualified RCSD high school students Eat, Drink & Window Shop! Here are a few places you can explore in the city.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. Be creative and come up with your own inspirations. You may start a tradition of your very own! Alana Cahoon is the founder & creative coach of Grow 2 B U, LLC; leading professionals to bring prosperity, joy & balance to their lives. www.AlanaCahoon.com These fabulous gals have each made their mark as industry leaders. Some with bold branding, others with heartfelt motivation. You’ll have the chance to listen to them live at the upcoming 'Women Leaders Thrive in Monroe County’ workshop series on November 6th. Get a glimpse into their stories now, and be inspired. Online Registration Read article at RWO October 2019 Issue Page 338 - or glance below. & leave your comments!   |
AuthorAlana writes her monthly column 'Body Mind Spirt' for RochesterWomanOnline focusing on the balance of all 3 in a creative manner, filled with inspiration. Archives
August 2020
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