Subject: Don’t Water Your Weeds
Welcome to Celebrating the Journey!
Monday, January 29, 2001
Issue #51
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Welcome Notes
2. Don’t Water Your Weeds
3. Coaching:
4. Quotes
5. Humor:
6. Celebrating Out Loud!
7. FREE Teleclass on Boundaries
8. Shameless Marketing: Your Best Year Yet in Aspen
9. Reading for the Journey
~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=
1. Welcome Notes
Welcome to our new subscribers! And thanks to all who
have forwarded CTJ to friends, family and co-workers. I
want to draw your attention to the newest section of
Celebrating the Journey: Celebrating Out Loud. This is a
place for you to celebrate the joys of YOUR journey with
all of us. Birthdays, anniversaries, new awarenesses, new
freedoms. Shout ’em out loud! Let them be a motivation
and joy for the rest of us as well as a celebration in your
own life.
I celebrate the snow this morning. We have had little
during the month of January, and for a ski town, that is
not a good thing. It’s been snowing since yesterday
morning, and I delight in the soft grayness of the sky and
the frosting of new snow that covers the evergreens
behind my house. The world is colored in tones of black
and white and grays, like the magpies that peck at the
birdfeeder in my back yard. What are you celebrating
today?
~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=
2. “Don’t Water Your Weeds”
This is my favorite quote from Harvey Mackay, best
selling author of “Swim with the Sharks Without Being
Eaten Alive.”
“Well, of course,” you say. “How obvious,” you say. “Of
course you don’t water the dandelions or thistles or
ragweed,” you say.
And you’re right. It is obvious. In the garden.
How about in your life? Is it obvious to you there as well?
Do you sometimes lose the joy of today in worrying
about what might happen tomorrow?
Do you ever dwell on all that you don’t have in your
life rather than being grateful every day for what you do
have?
When you look in the mirror, do you tend to see your
faults and not your gifts and assets?
Do you have lots of reasons why you can’t have the
life you dream of, ready to be listed at any moment?
Do you frequently use the word “but” ?
Have you ever given up a goal because you were a bit
diverted from the path?
When there’s a problem in a relationship, do you
sometimes withdraw rather than talk about it?
Is your conversation occasionally seasoned with
phrases like:
I’m too stupid
I’m too old
I can’t
There isn’t enough time
There isn’t enough money
We all water our weeds once in a while. We are human.
That’s a good thing. None of us have a completely weed
free garden, and in the process of watering the roses, those
weeds will get a drink as well.
The problem comes when we don’t recognize the
difference between the flowers and the weeds; when we
don’t take the time to identify which is which; when a
weed has been in our garden for so long that we water it
simply because it’s familiar.
Weeds are not a bad thing. They can help us see the beauty
of the flowers in our lives. And we need to know which is
which in order to create the garden – the life – of which we
dream.
~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=
3. Coaching: Pull the Weeds and Water the Flowers
Simple advice. Even obvious. And sometimes not so easy.
Some of our weeds are like thistles: it is almost impossible
to get out all of the root system so they tend to grow back.
Some resemble flowers on the outside, so it’s hard to tell
which is which without an expert’s advice. Some of us
have gardens that are so filled with weeds that we feel
there will be nothing left if we don’t water what’s there.
Whatever your weeds look like, no matter how deep their
roots, until you quit watering them, there is limited space
for the flowers that are just waiting to bloom in your life.
The first step to creating the garden of your dreams is to
identify what’s there now: which are the weeds and which
the flowers. You can’t know what to water until you
know which is which.
What are the weeds in your life? What thistles or
dandelions or ragweed to you water unconsciously? What
weeds take up the space that could be filled with the
flowers of joy, serenity, success, freedom, love, prosperity,
peace?
Identify and begin pulling them. Acknowledge the places
in your life where worry or negative thinking or self-
judgment use up your energy and begin to eliminate
them. Plant the seeds of the bright and colorful flowers in
their place.
You CAN have the garden you dream of. You CAN have
the life you REALLY want. And both begin with pulling
the weeds.
p.s. Fresh flowers are a delightful way to brighten your
home and remind you to keep pulling the weeds in your
life. Buy some today!
~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=
4. Quotes:
What you think about and talk about, comes about.
Larry Winget
Don’t be afraid of the space between your dreams and
reality. If you can dream it, you can make it so.
Belva Davis
Every problem has a gift for you in its hands.
Richard Bach
You don’t drown by falling in the water; you drown by
staying there.
Edwin Louis Cole
~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=
5. Humor: Where Does the Time Go?
These smiles come from my co-worker Stephanie Perrin.
1970 to 2000 – What 30 Years Can Do
1970: Long hair
2000: Longing for hair
1970: The perfect high
2000: The perfect high yield mutual fund
1970: Keg
2000: EKG
1970: Acid rock
2000: Acid reflux
1970: Moving to California because it’s cool
2000: Moving to California because it’s warm
1970: Growing pot
2000: Growing pot belly
1970: Watching John Glenn’s historic space flight with
your parents
2000: Watching John Glenn’s historic space flight with
you children.
1970: Trying to look like Marlon Brando or Elizabeth
Taylor
2000: Trying not to look like Marlon Brando or Elizabeth
Taylor
1970: Seeds and stems
2000: Roughage
1970: Popping pills, smoking joints
2000: Popping joints
1970: Our president’s struggle with Fidel
2000: Our president’s struggle with fidelity
1970: Parr
2000: AARP
1970: Killer weed
2000: Weed killer
1970: Hoping for a BMW
2000: Hoping for a BM
1970: The Grateful Dead
2000: Dr. Kervorkian
1970: Getting out to a new hip joint
2000: Getting a new hip joint
1970: Rolling Stones
2000: Kidney stones
1970: Being called to the principal’s office
2000: Calling the principal’s office
1970: Screw the system
2000: Upgrade the system
1970: Parents beg you to get a haircut
2000: Children beg you to get their heads shaved
1970: Passing the drivers test
2000: Passing the vision test
1970: “Whatever”
2000: Depends
~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=
6. Celebrating Out Loud
Share the flowers in your garden! E-mail your birthday or
anniversary or shift or ah-ha or joyful moment to
mailto:celebration@tothesummit.com
Know someone who’s celebrating a great occasion? What
better gift than to forward them a copy of Celebrating the
Journey with a celebratory wish in it. Let’s spread the joy!
January 18: Melanie celebrated the 53rd birthday of her
father, Mitchell Hersch. mailto:Mela458@aol.com
January 19: at 2:30 Regina Gayle Trainor’s divorce was
final, and she celebrates the beginning of a new and
wonderful life. mailto: GinaG1001@aol.com
January 22: Priscilla Tucker turned the pages from her 40’s
to 50! I have found my 50’s to be the best decade yet and
celebrate this transition with Priscilla. mailto:Vtparaedu@aol.com
January 27: Rena celebrated her 54th birthday. Her e-mail
read, “Happy birthday to me, tra-la.” Happy birthday,
indeed! mailto:reggie@janics.com
February 4: Dina Perlmutter is getting married!
mailto:dina421@hotmail.com
To share YOUR celebration, send an e-mail with the
details to mailto: celebration@tothesummit.com. Let us
know what great stuff is happening in your life!
~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=
7. FREE Teleclass on Boundaries
One of the most common weeds in people’s gardens is a
need for stronger boundaries. This FREE teleclass is a great
way to pull some of the weeds that are growing in your
life’s garden. Join us on the calls to create more space for
the flowers of your heart to blossom. For more
information or to reserve a space on the call, send an
e-mail to mailto:teleclass@tothesummit.com
FEBRUARY: Boundaries: The Self Protectors
Do you often say, “yes,” to things you don’t really
want to do? Do people treat you in a disrespectful
manner? Do you put up with almost anything to avoid
confrontation? Do you feel guilty when you put your own
needs first?
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, it’s time for
you to learn to set better boundaries.
A strong boundary is like an energy field of protection that
you draw around yourself to protect your heart, mind,
body, and spirit. Coach Cheryl Richardson, a regular guest
on the Oprah Winfrey Show, says that, “If I were asked to
name the one action step that would most improve life
for the better, it would be to create stronger boundaries.”
This teleclass teaches what healthy boundaries look like
and how to create them. Topics will include:
Examples of weak boundaries
What happens when your boundaries are weak
The benefits of having strong boundaries
How to set a boundary
Boundaries don’t have to be serious!
Practice with setting a boundary
HOW IT WORKS
We will meet via a bridge telephone line on 3 Mondays:
February 12, February 19, and February 26.
The time of the call is 10:00 am, Eastern time. (That’s 9 am
Central, 8 am Mountain, 7 am Pacific). The only cost to
you is the telephone call.
The number to call is 702-565-8327. If you’d like to reserve
a spot on the call, send an e-mail to
teleclass@tothesummit.com stating that. Otherwise, the
class is on a first come, first serve basis.
If you’re unable to attend all 3 calls, feel free to join us for
as many as you can.
The first time you participate in a Teleclass, you will be
entitled to a free follow-up coaching session with Margo.
Work one-on-one with her to solidify and expand the
shifts that have occurred during the teleclass!
FUTURE TOPICS
MARCH: Free Your Life: Become A Toleration Free Zone
We humans put up with a lot of stuff in our life. Most of
it just isn’t necessary. Putting up with tolerations wastes
our time and energy, keeps us stuck, causes us grief and
generally gets in the way of having what we really want in
our lives. This class is about getting rid of what’s bugging
you! Topics will include:
What is a toleration?
Why do tolerations drain my energy?
Benefits of being Toleration Free.
How do I identify my tolerations?
Now that I know what they are, what do I do about
them?
Eliminating tolerations
(You will eliminate at least 5 tolerations during
the teleclass.)
Maintaining a toleration free zone
APRIL: Standards: Raise Yours To Attract High Quality
People and Opportunities
February’s Teleclass on Boundaries deals with how others
treat us. This month we will talk about the behavior and
actions to which you hold yourself.
What are high personal standards?
Benefits of having high personal standards.
What happens when one’s standards are too low?
Who do you admire and why?
Aligning your standards with your values.
Choose and live a new standard.
For further information send an e-mail to
mailto:teleclass@tothesummit.com.
~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=
8. Your Best Year Yet in Aspen
Here’s the perfect way to identify and remove some of the
weeds that are taking up space in your garden.
John Gray said about Your Best Year Yet, “Personal success
does not have to be years away. [Your Best Year Yet]
masterfully guides you from thought to action and
inspires you to start actualizing your heart’s desires this
year.”
Can the next 12 months of YOUR life be your Best Year
Yet? You bet it can! This 3 1/2 hour workshop leads you to
a simple one-page plan for exactly that, and provides
tools to support you in following the plan. It’s a small
investment with a big return!
I am offering the Your Best Year Yet workshop in Aspen,
Colorado on the morning of Saturday, February 10, from
8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at The Aspen Chapel, 0077
Meadowood Dr. The cost for CTJ subscribers is $100.
Visit https://www.tothesummit.com/YBYY.html for more
information or click mailto:margo@tothesummit.com to
receive a registration form or answers to any questions.
Margo has a few slots open for motivated clients who
want to create a successful life and have the time to enjoy
it. Every dedicated athlete has a coach. Why not
have a coach for the most important game of all: the
game of life. Visit our website at
https://www.tothesummit.com for additional resources
and tools. To schedule a consultation, send an email to
mailto:margo@tothesummit.com
~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=
9. Reading for the Journey
Reading is an important part of watering my garden.
Today I offer you 2 books which are not self-help or
personal development or success related. They are simply
delightful, touching, heartful reads. One has been out for a
while; one is brand new. One describes the life of a most
remarkable relationship; the other a most remarkable
journey. Read and enjoy.
Modoc: The True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever
Lived by Ralph Helfer.
“This is the story of the deep spiritual bond that between a
man and his extraordinary nine-thousand-pound
companion,” says the book cover of this extraordinary
book. It is more than that. It is the inspiring story of how
two best friends face and survive the trials of their lives.
The fact that one of the friends is an elephant simply
enhances the fact that these two are soul mates in the way
that we all dream of.
I laughed and cried; celebrated and grieved; and celebrated
the animals in my own life in a whole new way. I have a
special passion for elephants which made this book even
more of a treasure. Anyone with an affinity for animals
will drink in this book. It is one which kept me up far past
my bedtime. I simply couldn’t’ put it down.
Create a cozy space and time and read this book for the
pure pleasure of it. It’s available for $10.40 at
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060929510/tothesummit.
Below Another Sky by Rick Ridgeway
Because the “Lost Father” in the title of this book was a
close friend and had, and continues to have, an enormous
impact on my life, I picked up Rick’s book with
anticipation and some trepidation as well. Any fears were
groundless.
Rick has woven a marvelous fabric of adventure
intertwined with a young woman’s courageous journey
into unknown parts of the world to search for the answers
to questions she has asked her entire life. He binds the
story with the thread of his own soul searching and past
adventures, described in a straightforward, heartful
manner.
This book touched me deeply. And also entertained me.
Rick is a great story-teller, using simple, matter-of-fact
language to describe hair-raising, and even life-
threatening situations.
This is a book for lovers of adventure, for those in the
middle of their lives, taking time to look back as well as
forward, for those with unanswered questions in their
lives, and for anyone with a father – known or unknown.
This book will touch many places inside you. I highly
recommend it. It’s available for $20 at
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/080506284X/tothesummit.
~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=
Give yourself the gift of flowers this week.
Namaste, Margo
~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=
If you received this copy of Celebrating the Journey from
a friend and would like to subscribe, visit
https://www.tothesummit.com or send an e-mail to
majordomo@tothesummit.com
and in the body of the text include
subscribe tothesummit-list youre-mailaddress.
To stop receiving CTJ include
unsubscribe tothesummit-list youre-mailaddress.
My purpose in publishing Celebrating the Journey is to
provide you with resources, motivation, inspiration and
energy for YOUR journey of creating success and freedom
in all areas of your life. CTJ will use stories from my life
and others, coaching tips and resources, quotes and
humor to deliver a learning experience that can enhance
your life. I am always looking for comments, ideas and
ways to improve CTJ. I welcome your e-mails at
mailto:margo@tothesummit.com.
~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=
Copyright © 2001, all rights reserved, by Margo
Chisholm
I invite you to share Celebrating the Journey with your
mailing list, friends, and associates. We ask only that the
entire e-mail with copyright and credits be included. The
author of this article is Margo Chisholm. You may contact
her at (970) 704-9336 or at mailto:margo@tothesummit.com.
—
“At every moment of our life we have an
opportunity to choose joy.”
Henri J. M. Nouwen
Margo Chisholm
Coach, Speaker, Author, Therapist
Partnering you in having success,
freedom and joy in all areas of your life
970-704-9336 fax 970-704-9346
margo@tothesummit.com
Celebrating The Journey is a free, weekly
email newsletter, full of resources and
quotes, humor and coaching to support you
in having the life you REALLY want. Visit
https://www.tothesummit.com to subscribe.
Get Social