Subject: The Flow of Life

Welcome to Celebrating the Journey!
Thursday, June 8, 2000
Issue #26

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Welcome Notes
2. The Flow of Life
3. Coaching: See the Beginnings in the Endings
4. Quotes
5. Celebrating A Parent’s Journey

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1. Welcome Notes

It is hot and dry here in the mountains of Colorado,
unseasonably so, causing the mountains to lose their
snow coats earlier than normal. I will do my first climb of
the summer, 12,953 foot high Mt. Sopris, this weekend.
Although I hike during the winter as well, the first climb
of the summer season marks for me the final termination
of the results of the winter snowfall and the beginning of
days and nights spent in the mountains which I so love.

I have set a goal for the summer of climbing 10 14ers (we
have 52 mountains in Colorado which are higher than
14,000 feet) and spending at least 10 nights in the
mountains. I’ll report on my progress as the season
progresses.

What are your goals for the summer?
Spend more time with your family?
Learn a new sport?
Relax on the beach?
Attract new clients?
Read more books?
Laugh more?

Share your goals with me, I’ll share them in CTJ, and we
can support one another in achieving them. The only
limitation is that they must be goals you will have FUN
reaching! How will you create a Summer Of Fun for you
and your family?

I welcome all the new subscribers this week, many of
whom came through the referral of current subscribers.
Let’s begin the summer with a bang: I ask each of you to
forward CTJ to 5 people you love. Our family continues to
grow, having reached 869. The more people we have
creating their own Summer Of Fun, the more light-
hearted the world will be. Spread the word!

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2. The Flow of Life: Graduation and Commencement

Last Saturday I attended the High School Graduation of
my godson. It was a marvelous celebration for students,
friends, and parents alike, and I was filled with pride for
the delightful young man who has been a surrogate son to
me.

As we exited the Aspen Music Festival Tent where the
ceremony was held, the outdoor “lobby” filled with
laughing students and smiling parents and friends, I was
struck by the coincidental use of the words “graduation”
and “commencement” for the same process.

Webster defines the word graduation as, “the receipt of a
degree or diploma on completion of a course of study”. It
is an ending. The ceremony of conferring the diplomas is
often called commencement. The primary definition of
commencement is, “a beginning.”

An ending occurs in a ceremony defined as a beginning.

And so is all of life. Whenever we experience an ending,
it is also a beginning. Endings may be accompanied by
feelings of accomplishment or sadness, celebration or
grief, excitement or disappointment. Whatever phase is
concluding and whatever the feelings around it, there is
also a birth, a new phase beginning accompanied by
equally as varying feelings.

Life is not a series of unrelated stops and starts,
incongruous events, incompatible occurrences. It may
appear that way on the surface. If you look into the depth
of life, however, you see the connectedness, the order, the
flow. When you allow yourself to flow with it rather than
fight against it, the journey becomes smoother and more
rewarding.

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3. Coaching: See the Beginnings in the Endings

Whenever something ends in your life or someone
leaves or a dream is not realized, look for the beginning
that is connected to the ending. It is always there.

If you can’t see it, get quiet. Take some time to write in
your journal, be out in nature, or sit in the sun and ask
your heart where the beginning is. Your heart knows. If
you listen, it will tell you, and your life will flow
smoothly.

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4. Quotes:

Doubt is the beginning, not the end, of wisdom.
George Iles

The world is round and the place which may seem like
the end may also be only the beginning.
Ivy Baker

There will come a time when you believe everything is
finished. That will be the beginning.
Louis L’Amour

Remember tonight.. for it is the beginning of always.
Source Unknown

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5. Celebrating A Parent’s Journey

T O M Y C H I L D . . .

Just for this morning,
I am going to smile when I see your face
and laugh when I feel like crying.

Just for this morning,
I will let you wake up softly, all rumpled in your sheets
and I will hold you until you are ready for the day.

Just for this morning,
I will let you choose what you want to wear,
and smile,
and say how perfect it is.

Just for this morning,
I am going to step over the laundry,
and pick you up
and take you to the park to play.

Just for this morning,
I will leave the dishes in the sink,
and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.

Just for this afternoon,
I will unplug the telephone
and keep the computer off,
and sit with you in the back yard
and blow bubbles.

Just for this afternoon,
I will not yell once,
not even a tiny grumble
when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck,
and I will buy you one if he comes by.

Just for this afternoon,
I won’t worry about what you are going to be
when you grow up,
or second guess every decision I have made
where you are concerned.

Just for this afternoon,
I will let you help me bake cookies,
and I won’t stand over you trying to fix them.

Just for this afternoon,
I will take you to McDonald’s
and buy us both a Happy Meal so you can have both toys.

Just for this evening,
I will hold you in my arms
and tell you a story
about how you were born,
and how much I love you.

Just for this evening,
I will let you splash in the tub
and not get angry.

Just for this evening,
I will let you stay up late
while we sit on the porch
and count all the stars.

Just for this evening,
I will snuggle beside you for hours,
and miss my favorite TV show.

Just for this evening,
when I run my fingers through your hair as you pray,
I will simply be grateful that God has given me
the greatest gift ever given.

I will think about the mothers who are searching
for their missing children,
the mothers who are visiting their children’s graves
instead of their bedrooms,
and mothers who are in hospital rooms
watching their children suffer senselessly,
and screaming inside that they
can’t handle it anymore,
and when I kiss you goodnight
I will hold you
a little tighter,
a little longer.

It is then that I will thank God for you,
and ask him for nothing,
except one more day.

This story came from one of a number of daily email
newsletters sent by Father Pat. You can find out more
about him and his newsletters at http://stbrons.com/.

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Give yourself the gift of Flow this week.

Namaste, Margo

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My purpose in publishing Celebrating the Journey is to
provide you with resources, motivation, inspiration and
energy for YOUR journey to 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 emails at
mailto:margo@tothesummit.com.

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Copyright © 2000, 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 email 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

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