Remember you ARE nature. This comment was shared at a lunchtime discussion from one of the many amazing participants at Koelle Simpson’s Equus Coaching workshop. We were talking about the work of Sage Fire Institute. June, a city gal, said that her key learning from this work was that she doesn’t have to go to the wilderness to seek nature because as Michael told her “June, you are nature”. I just loved that message.

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Today was the first day of my Equus Coaching Course with Koelle Simpson. We learned a lot about horse psychology, horse emotions, herd behavior and more. One thing that jumped out for me and felt so similar to how effect teams operate effectively was… “The heard is always assessing who is most suited in a given moment to lead the herd. They do not follow someone they are afraid of. Nor do they follow someone who is worried or in a fretful state. Rather they choose to follow the member of the herd who is most aware and clear, the…

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I’ve been thinking about “control” issues a lot lately. The desire for control is presenting itself to me as a many layered, many faceted complex behavior. And I’m curious if any of us are really ever able to let go of the need to control. As I’ve consciously worked to let go of my need for control, I’ve been in a few situations lately where control issues have been right up in my face. And since I used to be the queen of control, I identify them pretty quickly. I can still go there quickly myself. But I am trying…

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My new favorite affirmation. Used by Crystal Smith, Social Worker, Harper High School, Chicago. See an excellent example of using a “strengths-based approach” with students in the toughest of school environments. http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/487/harper-high-school-part-one

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Why is this acceptable? Would it be acceptable in upper-middle class communities? Do you know educators who work this hard to keep kids in school and alive? Thank you “This American Life” for bringing this forward. Ira Glass is an American hero for bringing what is really happening in America to the forefront.

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As you live deeper in the heart, the mirror gets clearer and cleaner. Rumi Thanks to some deep reflection and wisdom and guidance from Mary Kay Stenger, I have actual evidence to validate the cliche “One door closes so others can open.” Mary Kay’s mantra to me has been more along the lines of “As doors close and you let go of things that no longer serve you, don’t rush to fill in with new things. Wait and see what appears in your life. Feel connections with you heart not your brain. And choose those things that support, nurture and…

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Drama is an interesting topic to me. I’ve worked hard over the past 5-10 years to minimize the drama in my life. And then, sometimes it creeps in. Well, it doesn’t actually creep in. I invite it. I create a safe place for it to put down roots and grow. I say “Come on! Welcome.” And just like a seedling, I water it. I feed it. And then when it starts to become invasive, I ask “How the heck did that happen?” Well, it happened because I welcomed it. I didn’t move away when I felt the first twinge of…

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