It Really Is All About Me.....

It's all about me.  Yes, that's right.  That's what I said, it's all about me.  Now I'm going down the path that your brain just automatically went down. I'm talking about how I realized today how much I get in my own way.  I harbor anger against others that should be anger towards myself.  Someone very wise pointed that out to me today.  She said, all this anger you have towards others, what is really about?  It seems it was about how I have anger against myself.  Anger that I didn't make certain life choices, or I sat around and let others take care of me, or anger that I didn't set boundaries and let others take advantage of me.  It hurt so bad, my liver was actually glowing inside my body.  Ouch.  Sure way to come down with something life threatening. Now the next steps.  Now that I made that realization, where do I go from here?  How do I move on from that realization and move forward instead of sliding back into old habits?  If I slide into old habits, I will cause myself even more anger.  It's just now hitting me how much time and energy I spent focusing that anger on others and sitting around waiting until they changed, if they ever changed.  Phew.  That felt good.  That just felt like a weight lifted off my shoulders.  Funny how this all works.

Where do I go from here can be answered with a variety of ways.  The one I am relying on at the moment is quiet introspection.  Getting up early and meditating and asking, "Please show me the next steps to take.".  We all think that we need the final answer to the question instantly but I am coming to realize more and more that it truly is one step at a time.  Let me give you a for instance.   The past week we made the decision that it was time to sell our house.  The timing is just right as this will free us up to take the next right steps in life and to have some cash in the bank to pursue what we really want to do in life.  I leapt right into action with calls to agents etc.  However, I got the clear message that this might take some time but the outcome will be favorable.  I re-arranged and decided that a "soft" opening would take place.  What I mean by this is first tell some friends, then perhaps advertise on Facebook, etc.  This situation will take care of itself.

I've already had the inevitable, "Well, where are you going to go?".  For the first time in my life, I don't have the answer and I am feeling really calm about it.  I know I do need to take some steps to try and narrow it down and do some research, however, in the end it truly will flow as it should.  This is so a whole new way of thinking for me.

Today's message is just this:  it's time to go inward.  It's time to take the blame off of others and use that energy to work on your own "stuff".  It's amazing how liberating and powerful this can be.  I've already noticed a shift in my relationships around me because I am working on myself and staying in my own lane.

“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.”  ― Ernest Hemingway

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

Are you ready to say yes to your soul by shifting your perspective to create something extraordinary? I invite you to contact me via email at pwalker2650@gmail.com to discuss how I can help you to make your next chapter better than your last.

Please also follow me on my Facebook Page: The Second Half or via Twitter (Patricia A. Walker@50foraYear).

I'm No Longer the Life of the Party!

I used to be the first one out the door when someone had a party.  However, today I realized that hat didn't fit anymore.  My family left me home alone (woo hoo, did they hear the door slam on the way out?) tonight as they went to a gathering at a friend/old neighbor's house.  I made the conscious choice not to go.  I thought about it all day and then realized that the reason I was getting into a bad mood was because I had too much on my plate today and most days.  It is time to slim down my calendar and take better care of myself. I could have made the choice to go, but this week for some reason, I have been feeling an overwhelming energetic pull on me.  I have been steering away from conversations that pull me down such as politics, world and American events.  People look at me like I have three heads when I choose not to partake in these discussions.  My reason is, if I am not willing to step up and do something big about these topics, it's best to put my energies into something that will move myself forward.

Don't get me wrong.  I love the folks that would have been at this particular party, I just don't love the mood I am in right now.  It's best for me to stay home, continue on the path I am on, and use my time for my creative efforts.  If I were to have said yes to tonight, I would have ended up being in a far worse mood because I didn't stop to rest and do self-care when I knew that my body really needed it.  It's time to say yes, just to myself for today.  You know what?  That's perfectly okay!

I used to be that person that thought you had to say yes to everything.  Believe you me, I was a pro.  If I didn't go, so and so would be upset with me.  If I didn't participate, they may never ask me again.  I finally realized that this was pretty egotistical of me because you know what, they are all right with this.  They don't pay that much attention to whether or not I come to a party or not.  What I mean is, they are not keeping score because I still get invitations.  I also think that on some level, there are probably ten other people who upon hearing that I stayed home, secretly wished they were doing exactly what I was doing.  That's okay.  A Saturday night spent in your jammies reading a book, writing a blog or watching a show is awesome.

It's so, so important these days to do self-care.  If we run ourselves ragged, what good are we to others??  Not very much.  So use this as a hall pass on your next invitation that starts at 5:30 and you realize at 5:20 that you didn't even have the energy yet to get up and take a shower!  That was my hint that it was okay to stay home!

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

Are you ready to say yes to your soul by shifting your perspective to create something extraordinary? I invite you to contact me via email at pwalker2650@gmail.com to discuss how I can help you to make your next chapter better than your last.

Please also follow me on my Facebook Page: The Second Half or via Twitter (Patricia A. Walker@50foraYear).

Put Your Oxygen Mask on First!

I had an amazing break-through just this very morning.  It had been building up for a few days and finally materialized in one big, juicy collective breathe after breakfast.  It was the ever so simple, "Stay In Your Own Lane".  Now I know that I have brought this up on this blog before, but it showed up again this morning.  It reminded me to get back to a simple routine that needed to be done over and over again.  This healing process is a life-long experience.  Some people think it can be fixed with one phone call or one pill, but I am living proof that it is always evolving. By staying in my own lane, I take all the energy I would have ordinarily used to try and "help, fix or rescue" others and turn it back towards myself.  Some of you will know what I am talking about. I had a long conversation this morning with a friend of mine.  She is on a similar path albeit a few levels back.  I've been giving her some tips to use on her own journey.  She takes what she needs or wants to use at that particular time. Today she asked me to remind her about the simple steps again.  She keeps stepping into other's "stuff" over and over again.  She is realizing quicker and quicker how it sucks all her energy out and the other person usually doesn't appreciate or need to hear what she has to say. Needless to say, when I reminded her, it took me to a moment where I needed to hear those exact words this morning.  When we jump in to save the day, are we really saving the day?  In fact, what I ended our conversation with was "By trying to help people, are we more "not helping" them?"  She got what I meant, and I hope you do too.  Folks need to figure out their own journeys.  They may think they need help but when it comes right down to it, the answer is right there in front of them, they just want you to give them the answer and not search for it themselves.  When that Aha moment hit me this morning, the rest of my day was completely different.  When I had more energy to work on my own things, the day went a lot smoother.

There are just some of us humans who want to love on folks.  We want to fix, teach, rescue, etc.  It's our nature.  It takes a lot of work to get out of this pattern.  Sometimes the person you are "rescuing" tries to put even bigger hooks into you, but hold strong and remember at the end of the day, it's your health and well-being that are the most important.  As you hear on that airplane, "Put Your Oxygen Mask on First".  If you don't keep yourself whole, how can you help others??

When you say yes to others, make sure you're not saying no to yourself!!!

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

Are you ready to say yes to your soul by shifting your perspective to create something extraordinary? I invite you to contact me via email at pwalker2650@gmail.com to discuss how I can help you to make your next chapter better than your last.

Please also follow me on my Facebook Page: The Second Half or via Twitter (Patricia A. Walker@50foraYear).

Finding Myself Through My Travels!

It's been a few weeks since I have made a blog post.  I was away for an extended road trip and was processing a lot of my stuff while in the car.  What do I mean by this?  I was doing a life examination and seeing where I could make some changes and what needed to go.  I'm back home and ready to rock it.  I had some huge Aha moments and some that threw me for a loop.  I highly recommend this process to anyone who feels stuck. It's a great way to get away and work on some of your "stuff". It's hard to go there, but if you want different results in your life, it's the way to do it.  I realized that you can't sit around and wait for others to change, you have to change your response to things.

Back in my "happy place" - Santa Barbara, Ca., June 2016

I'm a fan of Doreen Virtue (Google her if you aren't familiar, she's amazing!) on both Facebook and Instagram.  Doreen has some great posts just about everyday that always seem to hit me right in the head.  Today's was, "Stay out of the drama, even if for just one day!".  Wow, that's great.  I went out for a bike ride and decided to do it.  Guess what, it was amazing how many ways people tried to bring it to my handlebars.  I'll give you one example.  I had a beautiful monarch butterfly land on the front of my bike. They were all around.  I stopped to enjoy them.  A gentleman was walking by me.  I told him about the butterflies and hoped he would enjoy seeing them as well.  He looked at me and uttered, "Yeah, well this place is also filled with snakes!".  I looked at him and said, "I'm going to focus on the positive!".  That felt really good!  Butterflies vs. snakes, what will you choose?

I'm feeling really good about the future because I realized this past week that you shouldn't even go to the non-existent future.  Take one step at a time.  I was feeling overwhelmed because my book is going to be coming out here very soon.  Why was I not excited?  I was feeling overwhelmed because there is still a lot of steps between here and there.  This is when I realized to stop looking at the future, and to take it in small bites.  Case in point, make a list every day of three things (yes, just three things) to do.  I will let you know that when you feel so good about just getting those three things done, your list will grow and you will have the energy and spirit to finish it.

After driving nearly 2,500 miles, the Aha list was very long.  With my new thinking, I'm going to take that list one at a time.  As long as I do this, I will keep moving forward and my future will sort itself out.  There is a reason I am in the situation I am in right now. It's preparing me for my best self.  If I don't stop long enough and learn the lessons that are being thrown at me right now, how will I ever move forward in a positive manner. As someone wise told me last night, "Different forest, same trees!".  Basically, if I refuse to figure my "stuff" out now, history will just repeat itself.  Take that nugget and go out there and get at it!!

Dinner View at Duke's Malibu!

“You've got to find yourself first. Everything else'll follow.”  ― Charles de Lint, Dreams Underfoot

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

Are you ready to say yes to your soul by shifting your perspective to create something extraordinary? I invite you to contact me via email at pwalker2650@gmail.com to schedule a complimentary intuitive coaching session to discuss how to make your second half of life better than your first.

Please also follow me on my Facebook Page: The Second Half or via Twitter (Patricia A. Walker@50foraYear).

Life is Like an Open Book

I'm in the process of finishing up all of the work required to put out my first book.  I'm very excited about the whole thing, but am realizing more and more how much appreciation I should have given to all the authors of all of the books that I have read up until this point in my life.  It's a long, hard process.  I didn't realize it until I find myself in the middle of being in that process.  I can see the finish line but am trying to muster up the strength to see it until the end: publication date! I'm currently working with several people including book designers, both inside and out.  I'm also working with an amazing editor who has helped me immensely throughout this whole process.  It's not unlike having a whole staff of people at my beck and call.  I appreciate them and the hard work that they are putting in to help me see this through to the completion.

This book will mark something more than just becoming a published author.  It will mark me finally seeing a project through until the end after a very long time of floundering with what I wanted to do.  You see, I stepped out of my corporate role when my son was very little.  I wanted to stay at home with him and enjoy his growing up years.  I didn't realize that somewhere in that process, I would lose my sense of self. This book is me re-inventing myself and not getting lost in the saga of "I've stayed at home for six years and now have nothing to show for it except seeing my son bravely step into the world after I have prepared him for that role".  I'm so proud of both him and myself for forging on and finishing up what life has shown us so far.  My book is the sprinkles on the sundae after making sure all are happy and healthy.

The book is a compilation of stories from this blog.  Each chapter shares a story and then has a section at the end that will give the reader some ideas on how to make their next decade their best decade.  I'm looking forward to sharing these stories with my readers and will be thrilled if it has a positive impact on someone who will be inspired to turn their way of thinking about that next decade into something positive and motivating!

I look forward to hearing from my readers about any stories that this book sparks them to have.   The book should be released sometime next month.  Stay tuned.......

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

Are you ready to say yes to your soul by shifting your perspective to create something extraordinary? I invite you to contact me via email at pwalker2650@gmail.com to schedule a complimentary 30 minute consultation to discuss how we can work together to make your second half of life better than your first.

Please also follow me on my Facebook Page: The Second Half or via Twitter (Patricia A. Walker@50foraYear).

Drama Knocked on the Door & I Didn't Answer!

I'm noting a trend in my life this week - drama is coming from all directions.  It made me stop and ponder, since I am the common denominator, where do I need to make some changes?  When you start making changes in your life, it causes a ripple effect among those closest to you.  They see you making changes and wonder if they too, need to do the same.  This produces some interesting reactions.  We've talked about this before on my blog, but since it is coming up yet again, I felt like there needed to be more discussion around it. As you rise on your path, you will find that you are having some folks closest to you try and bring you down.  It's disappointing to say the least.  Case in point, this week I had someone very close to me share news of someone that just wasn't her's to share.  It traveled around, was shared with me, and next thing I knew, I was feeling like I was the bad guy when in fact I tried to shut it down by telling the person sharing it that it wasn't hers to share and I was going to forget she told me.  Confused?  I was too!

Drama will come to you from all avenues, it's your reaction to it that is what matters. It's a struggle but you will find it easier and easier to rise above each time.  The less time you spend reacting to it, the less drama will come your way.

I'm choosing to take back my power in this situation and cut cords to those that stirred up the drama in the first place.  The Universe is obviously trying to tell me that I need to, yet again, pull in my circle of influence and surround myself with those that lift me up.  It's those folks that create an issue and then don't take personal responsibility for it that will find themselves on the outer layer of my "circle".

I am seeing a trend for what I am calling "rescuer energy" lately too.  I've been there and done that.  Let's spend our day working on other's issues so we don't have to spend time on our own issues.  I get it, it's so much easier that way.  Why bother to address our "stuff" when we can get in the mix of others?  I'm making the choice to no longer step into drama.  There are days where it will show up on my doorstep, but I know I have the personal choice to pretend no one is home!!

“Free yourself from the complexities and drama of your life. Simplify. Look within. Within ourselves we all have the gifts and talents we need to fulfill the purpose we've been blessed with.”  ― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

Are you ready to say yes to your soul by shifting your perspective to create something extraordinary? I invite you to contact me via email at pwalker2650@gmail.com to schedule a complimentary 30 minute consultation to discuss how we can work together to make your second half of life better than your first.

Please also follow me on my Facebook Page: The Second Half or via Twitter (Patricia A. Walker@50foraYear).

A Weekend Full of Good Food & Fun!

A weekend spent in the Phoenix/Tucson, Arizona area is a weekend full of fun, hot weather and great eating.  I've gone to this area a couple of times in the past, but this weekend I was able to, for the first time, spend some quality time driving around and really enjoying the cities for what they are.  It was super hot, but the many air conditioned restaurants and misters in the gas station serve to keep one cool. I landed in Phoenix just in time to join my Arizona-based brother for a lunch at the Tempe location of Culinary Drop-Out (http://www.culinarydropout.com).  A funky, cool vibe greets you when you pull up to the valet stand.  In the Arts District, the building is big, loft-like and filled with small white Christmas lights, wood accents and big, garage-like doors.  It offers both an indoor and outdoor seating arrangement.  As it was super hot, I stuck with the indoor one.  My chicken salad was to die for!  I also partook in the pretzel and fondue appetizer.  Needless to say, very filling.  It was a bit much to eat those and then climb in the car for the 1.5 hour drive to Tucson.  However, I got her done!

My Friday night started out with a wonderful meal at Tavolino Ristorante Italiano (http://tavolinoristorante.com).  This fine eatery had many surprises in store.  I started the meal with the traditional mozzarella caprese which was very yummy.  Fresh tomatoes and mozzarella combined to make this an amazing appetizer.  My main course consisted of sharing a plate of beet raviolis with my cousin.  We also passed around a plate of butternut squash raviolis.  Have to say, the beet raviolis were the winners hands down.

Although the air outside was over 100 degrees of "dry heat", inside things were warm with laughter, love and good food.  I hadn't seen all my cousins in one group in a few years.  It was so great for me to be around all this good energy for lots of laughs, tears, and toasts.  There is just something about being around those you grew up with for you to be able to let your guard down and hang loose.  These particular cousins grew up across country from my native New Jersey, however, once I moved out West, we not only re-connected but also bonded deeply.  They are my "happy, healthy" family members who I love to be around.

The weekend continued on with graduation parties, shopping and even a squeezed in work-out at my new addiction, Orangetheory Fitness.  We have a new franchise here in Park City, and I was able to join in on a class in Tucson at their new location.  This one hour work-out (www.orangetheoryfitness.com) consists of sessions split into intervals of cardiovascular and strength training with heart rate monitors to track intensity and maximize metabolic burn.  I have never stuck to a work-out routine before, but for some crazy reason this one is addicting.  The one-hour work-out goes super fast.

I finished up my time in Arizona with a ladies' brunch at Agustin Kitchen (http://agustinkitchen.com) in Tucson.  I arrived early and was able to spend some time getting to know the fabulous Jamie behind the bar.  What a sweet, upbeat young lady who clearly enjoyed her job and excelled at it.  She was a whiz at mixing up beautiful mimosas, Bloody Mary's and anything else you could want on a hot Sunday morning.  My cousins and I ordered off the brunch meal.  We started off with a huge, home-cooked cinnamon roll that tasted like a sugary cinnamon/gingerbread mix.  Only order one for the whole table because they are giant.  Well worth the extra calories.  I had huevos rancheros that were amazing as well.

As you can see, I spent most of my Arizona time soaking in the amazing food.  We are a little understated here in Utah when it comes to great food, so when I go out of town I have to make up for it.  I totally did that and more in Arizona....

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

It's easy to impress me. I don't need a fancy party to be happy. Just good friends, good food, and good laughs. I'm happy. I'm satisfied. I'm content.  - Maria Sharapova

Looking at Life Through New Eyes

This past week has been a series of ups and downs.  I'm moving ahead in my business but seem to have trends of going backwards in other areas.  It's almost as if there are forces out there that say, look how good she is doing, we better throw her a curveball. What I realized after a while is that perhaps I'm the one throwing out the curve ball. I'm the one that is making the choice to accept the part in drama.  This just has to stop. I can make the choice to either participate in the distraction or walk away from the distraction. Case in point, yesterday was Mother's Day.  Happy Mother's Day to all of you moms, step-moms, etc. out there.  My day was wonderful.  Cards, gifts, getting waited on and slipping under the covers to read my latest novel while it poured rain out.  Then, the drama showed up.  (Cue the music for Jaws here.)

I had sent out a group text to all the mothers in my family in the morning, wishing them a great day.  I got back the usual responses, "You too!", "Have a wonderful day.", then the one showed up that triggered me.  It came from a relative who has devoted her life deep into religion.  The text showed up with a bible verse of some kind.  Now mind you, I'm not against religion, I just choose to do it in my own way.  She chooses to do it in her own way and makes sure that not only does everyone know, but tries to judge us when we don't get onboard her bus.  It started me down a path of how dare she, who does she think she is?  It took me awhile and a few phone calls with my tribe to bring it back down to not judging or basically doing the same as her.  She is entitled to her opinions/thoughts, it's just when she tries to put it on others that it irritates me.

I had a great phone call this morning with one of my ladies!  She has been in a similar position and summed it up by saying that this relative is a salesman (the religious one in the family).  She thinks she is here on Earth to sell this program and won't rest until everyone is on board the train.  No matter what I might say to this person, she won't hear it.  Again, her prerogative.  What I have to decide is, do I jump in the fray or remove myself from the situation?  I'm going to choose to remove myself from the situation.

I started out today with feeling like there were tentacles trying to pull me down a few energy levels.  However, I quickly realized that I have the resources within me to not go down that path.  It's taken a lot of years and lots of new tools, but I'm happy to report that it is getting easier and easier.  The outlook for this week is that it is going to rock!!!

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

Are you ready to say yes to your soul by shifting your perspective to create something extraordinary? I invite you to contact me via email at twalker.wellness@gmail.com to schedule a complimentary 30 minute consultation to discuss how we can work together to make your second half of life better than your first.

Please also follow me on my Facebook Page: The Second Half or via Twitter (Patricia A. Walker@50foraYear).

Building Your "Version" of Family

Last Saturday ended on a beautiful note.  It ended in a way that restored my faith in the Universe and in Spirit.  Let me explain. It was a day full of endless errands and my to-do list: cleaning, meal planning and shopping.  As the day wore on, my energy felt more and more depleted. There were people running stop signs, flipping people off and just energy all around that felt off kilter.  During all of this, I was getting more and more text messages from family members.  It was almost like they all decided to reach out on the same day.  I was feeling like the information booth at the rest-area.  When is so and so's graduation, what are the emails for these relatives, and on and on.  I stopped and thought to myself, how exactly did I get to be the information booth for my extended family?  On one hand, great, I'm happy to help.  However, on this particular day I was feeling depleted. It got me thinking about how my role in my family has changed.  I have become the "different one".  Can you relate?  Are you the one in your family who is bucking trends and deciding to reach outside the box to figure things out and not repeat family patterns?  If so, you know how gratifying yet exhausting it can be.

Awhile ago, I changed from being the one with FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) to the one who started saying no.  I started saying no to things and family events that I knew would again, deplete my energy.  I realized that it is okay to say no to some things.  If something didn't feel right or would take me away from my immediate family, I was going to say no.  Well, you can imagine how this was met.  It was and still is a bone of contention amongst certain family members.  I'm starting to see, though, that they take it personally.  If I say no to something they invited me to, they think it must be about them.  It must be something they did wrong.  Hate to burst your bubble, but it probably has nothing to do with you.  It has to do with me and keeping myself healthy either financially or physically.

Since I have started to say no, certain things have started to happen.  I feel liberated.  I feel healthier and I am happier.  That day, however, I had a back slide.  One that made me feel as if saying no was somehow wrong.  Maybe saying no is something that would be causing me guilt.  After all, I'm told, it's family and you have to go.  I wallowed for all of about two hours and worked through it all using both energy techniques and meditations that I have learned.  I got back on track and realized that it really is okay to say no.

Once I was back on track, I started down a path of feeling some grief.  After all, my family doesn't seem to be the Norman Rockwell version that America seems to think we all need. I realized that I don't really have a close relationship with any of my four siblings.  We are in five different states for a reason.  We have nothing in common.  We all have different interests, different families and different ways of life.  While that might seem sad, I was reminded today that I have made (and am still making) my own version of family.  I have wonderful friends and a great group of like-minded folks that I am growing to know and love.

That day ended on a great note that made me feel warm and cozy and that the Universe had my back.  A wonderful couple who I have met recently (they reside in Arizona) were in Utah for a family event.  They went out of their way (mind you, they were traveling with kids and grandkids) to meet up with me long enough for ten minutes of chat and some warm hugs.  They went out of their way for me.  I can't begin to tell you how much that gesture meant to me, especially that day when I was processing some grief. Thank you both!!

I wish you all a happy, healthy tribe around you.  If that includes your family, kudos to you.  If you have worked to create your own family, even more kudos.  Know that you are not alone in your path to your "family".  I am living it too.

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

Are you ready to say yes to your soul by shifting your perspective to create something extraordinary? I invite you to contact me via email at twalker.wellness@gmail.com to schedule a complimentary 30 minute consultation to discuss how we can work together to make your second half of life better than your first.

Please also follow me on my Facebook Page: The Second Half or via Twitter (Patricia A. Walker@50foraYear).

Vancouver: You Will Always Have My Heart!

I love travel.  It's an opportunity to see how others live, experience new places and best of all, try new food.  This past week found me north of the border in beautiful Vancouver, BC, Canada.  This was my third trip to these parts, but the first time that I have spent more than a few hours exploring this beautiful city. The last two times I was there, I quickly headed up to Whistler Mountain.  I am so glad that I had the opportunity this past week to spend it all in Vancouver. When you arrive in Canada, you realize that although you are close to the United States, you feel a billion miles away.  Entering the country, you are met with an almost European like scenery.  The gorgeous mountains surround the water while the city sits on an island like atmosphere.  There are tall skyscrapers surrounding beautiful churches, buildings, and waterfront scenery.  I was there for six days and had the chance to absorb quite a bit of this incredible city.

The first night we arrived, we came upon an interesting sight.  Evidently the TV show "The Flash" was being filmed outside of our hotel.  Fun to watch, explosions and all.  Vancouver is becoming quite the hub of film production.  The US Dollar is doing well up there, so I guess folks are migrating out of Hollywood.

There are plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities in Vancouver and her surrounding areas.  The days saw us going up in a seaplane, visiting museums and walking across a suspension bridge 250 feet in the air at the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park (https://www.capbridge.com).  This experience took me several tries before I went across the suspension bridge.  It was surprisingly hard work to get across having to wade through multiple groups of tourists stopping right in the middle to take their selfies.  I was afraid to look down on the way across, but as this is the only way in and out of the rest of the park, I stopped on the way back to gaze at how high up I really was.

Our days continued with good weather (which is a rarity in Vancouver), good food and fun experiences.  On one of our last days in the city, we decided to try out the Granville Island Market.  This was definitely one of the highlights of the city.  Taking the water taxi to the island affords you a great view of the everyday hustle and bustle.  It also alleviates you having to find a parking spot which is rumored to be difficult.

Stepping into the Public Market was a sensory overload.  Whatever food you could think of had a vendor or multiple vendors.  I saw rows and rows of beautiful fruit, meats, cheeses, and best of all bakery goods.  The macaroons were to die for.  After eating our way through the market, we ended our day by walking back to our hotel and calling it a night.

I can't wait until I have the chance to visit this beautiful city again.  It left a lot of memories implanted in my mind.  I will always think of the wonderful time I had across the border.

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

Feel free to follow me on my Facebook Page: The Second Half or via Twitter (Patricia A. Walker@50foraYear).

The Game of Telephone

“When you are not honoring the present moment by allowing it to be, you are creating drama.” ~Eckhart Tolle Remember that game of telephone that you used to play when you were little??  I am sad to report that it still exists as an adult.  There are still those people out there that won't come right to the source to get the truth.  Why?  They love trauma and drama and gossip.  I have come to realize that I am surrounded by this every day whether I want to be or not. I can only do so much to remove myself from this modus operands but even when I try, it still comes right to my door.  It's just an every day fact of life. With this in mind, I set out to do some research and see how I could exist on a daily basis and not get caught up in the fray.

There are several wonderful tools you can use when confronted by drama.  I was recently confronted with drama when my child decided to tell a non-truth to a classmate of his.  It spiraled out of control and eventually, two weeks later came to my door (thankfully) through a friend who was willing to step up and ask me if it was even true (it wasn't).  Thank God she did.  It has since come out that this untruth went around the neighborhood and through the woods.  See, an instance where the game of telephone came up.  I wish folks had just come straight to me and asked instead of taking for granted that this untruth was well, true.

It's my new MO to uplift situations.  For instance, when someone starts talking about our negative-filled presidential race, I can do one of two things, 1) ignore and change the subject or 2) walk away.  There is a third option, that is to make some humor out of it.  I'll give you an example, I made a comment the other day about how hot the Prime Minister of Canada is and guess what, it completely changed the tide of the negative conversation that was starting to take place.  Mission accomplished!

Let's be real, drama will forever be a part of one's life.  It's the reaction to the drama that will determine how it will be handled and what your reaction will be.

I recently came across a blog post on Tiny Buddha - http://tinybuddha.com/blog/7-crucial-steps-to-minimize-drama-in-your-life/.  An amazing article that puts it all into perspective.  Here are the top five points that this article goes on to explain.  I highly recommend reading it in detail though.

1. Recognize when you might be creating drama.  If there are multiple areas of drama in your life - be honest, you're the constant.
2. Change your perspective.
3. Don't feed into other's drama.
4. Reconsider unhealthy relationships.
5. Be clear and straight with people.

Five basic but powerful steps to use when you are wanting to move away from drama.

I wish you luck in creating a drama-less atmosphere.  It's amazing how you're perspective will change and how it will change you.

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

Are you ready to say yes to your soul by shifting your perspective to create something extraordinary? I invite you to contact me via email at twalker.wellness@gmail.com to schedule a complimentary 30 minute consultation to discuss how we can work together to make your second half of life better than your first.

Please also follow me on my Facebook Page: The Second Half or via Twitter (Patricia A. Walker@50foraYear).

Minding My Own Business

“You would be very surprise with how much positive changes that you could make in your life, if could make it your top priority to mind your own business.” ― Edmond Mbiaka

I heard a simple but powerful saying the other day!  "Stay in your own lane.".  Think about this and the statement it makes.  What this means is, mind your own business. The author Byron Katie has a saying, "There's three types of business; yours, mine and God's.  If you are in my business, who is in your business?  Etc."  Very profound.  Very simple, but very profound.

I'm a helper by nature.  I like to help people, give them advice and wish only the best for them.  This can sometimes be to my detriment.  I end up spending too much time helping people and this has taken away from my own business.  This year I decided that I can make the choice to stay in my own lane and work on my own "stuff".  Easier said than done.  Any time the phone can ring and someone can lay a drama at my feet. There I go again.  It's just been this past week that I have made the decision to not get caught up on other's dramas.  If they have drama, darn it, fix it yourself.  Or better yet, don't create drama where it's truly not needed.  If you need to remedy a situation in your life, don't take off and try and help others before you fix what needs to be fixed in your own lane.  Love this.

How's this working for me so far?  It's been tiring, freeing, exhausting but slowly getting to the point where I'm staying in my own lane.  I'm getting more work done, figuring life out and in general, being in a happier place because I know I am moving myself towards my best self.

It can be hard to stay in your own lane.  I know, I've been there before.  However, until someone pointed out to me that it's healthier to go inwards, I didn't always make that choice.  I grew up in drama and trauma.  My relatives thrive on that stuff.  However, I am setting boundaries and moving past this old story.  It can be done, believe me.

I wish you luck on creating your own boundaries and staying in your own lane.  It's a very powerful move.

Until my next adventure,

P.A. Walker

Are you ready to say yes to your soul by shifting your perspective to create something extraordinary? I invite you to contact me via email at twalker.wellness@gmail.com to schedule a complimentary 30 minute consultation to discuss how we can work together to make your second half of life better than your first.

Please also follow me on my Facebook Page: The Second Half or via Twitter (Patricia A. Walker@50foraYear).

Healing in A Medium Way

Have you ever sat back and noticed how many different facets of life there are?  Let me explain.  So my guilty pleasure at this moment is watching "The Long Island Medium" on TLC.  There, I said it.  I put it out there.  I bet there are many other people that can relate to this as well.  It gives me an hour of brevity while I eat my lunch.  Since I work out of my house, it's nice to get out amongst the "real" world for an hour or so and see what's going on. Theresa Caputo is your typical Long Island resident.  Well, perhaps I shouldn't stereotype folks like that.  I'm sure they are not all walking around with long nails and big hair.  However, since I left the East Coast 15 years ago, I kind of still have that stereotype in my head.  Heck, I had the big hair myself.  Never quite understood the nails though.

I digress.  As I was watching an episode On Demand today, it became very clear to me that although we all come different backgrounds, cultures, family size, family style, geographical location, etc., the themes of life run the same throughout all different types of people.  In my life's work, I would love to be able to heal people to the point that they can get out of their ruts and move into their best selves.  After watching today's episode, it dawned on me that that is just what the Long Island Medium wants as well.  You can literally see the folks she is doing readings for lift up in spirit and body. It sometimes looks as if they have gained back years of their lives.  What a gift to get.

I lost both of my parents to a heart attack and Alzheimer's respectively.  One I never got to say goodbye to and the other the goodbye was too long.  What I mean is that my mom suffered with this disease for a long time.  It would have been nice to know that she passed over sooner and got to a peaceful place.  There are days where I know their souls are around me.  In fact, just the other day I distinctly smelled cigarette smoke around my house. I went out and no one was anywhere around.  In fact, I know none of my neighbors smoked.  A ha, I thought, Dad must be coming in for a visit.  He smoked like there was no tomorrow.  Unfortunately because he smoked so much, there was no tomorrow.

In each of the readings that Theresa does, you can see the different themes of life:  loss, love, regret, gratitude, joy, relief, etc.  Loved ones get the answers they have been looking for.  Thus they can begin the long process of healing and moving on with their lives.  That's what I want for my clients, myself and my family members as well.  Take that first step and the others will follow.  Step out of your need to be right and step into saying yes to your soul!

So now that I have outed myself as a fan of a reality show, I feel like a weight has been lifted off of me.  Why do I sit in the basement and hide this? Why don't I put myself out there with the other fans of her show, why, why???  So this is probably the subject of another blog post to come!!

Until then,

P.A. Walker

Are you ready to say yes to your soul by shifting your perspective to create something extraordinary? I invite you to contact me via email at twalker.wellness@gmail.com to schedule a complimentary 30 minute consultation to discuss how we can work together to make your second half of life better than your first.

Please also follow me on my Facebook Page: The Second Half or via Twitter (Patricia A. Walker@50foraYear).

The Power of a Rest Day!!

Never underestimate the power of a day to snuggle in.  It's been months since I have had the opportunity to just stay in bed.  My son and I cut a weekend in Southern Utah short because we both were feeling under the weather and wanting to be in our own beds.  We drove home late Saturday night and ended up both having a great night sleep. Imagine our delight when we woke up to it raining and cold.  A perfect excuse to go back to bed.  See, where I come from the sun shines 300 days a year.  There's really never a day where you can just sit and not feel the overwhelming urge that you have to go outside to ski, mountain bike, or hike.  I know to those of you in gray states, this sounds like whining, but it seriously can be a problem. Back to bed.  It's 10:00 AM and I have been very creative today while still staying in my jammies.  The rain is hitting the windows, the kid is watching a movie and I am snuggled under my comforter thinking about all the things I'm glad I am not doing today.  It's giving me the excuse to do a re-set.  I've been cleaning up Facebook, typing up blog posts and sitting in meditation to see what Spirit has in store for me this upcoming week.

Our society teaches us that it's a badge of honor to keep saying, "I'm so busy, oh, I'm so busy".  I can remember being in the corporate world and saying the same thing myself. I thought it showed that I was someone who deserved respect because I was so BUSY. However, nowadays, I see it as someone who can't manage their time very well.  If you truly wanted to be with someone, or do something, you would find the time.

I am so enjoying this moment of peace.  It's letting me hear the birds chirping, see the rain turn to snow, and giving my physical body time to rest after a day yesterday of hiking and driving for four hours.  I can actually feel my body sighing and saying thank you.  Thank you for taking time to nuture me.

I hope that you take the chance to have a "snuggle in " day.  The benefits, especially around the time change, will be huge!!  Enjoy and let me know if you can recommend any good movies!!

"Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for.  Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us." - Maya Angelou

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

Are you ready to say yes to your soul by shifting your perspective to create something extraordinary? I invite you to contact me via email at twalker.wellness@gmail.com to schedule a complimentary 30 minute consultation to discuss how we can work together to make your second half of life better than your first.

Please also follow me on my Facebook Page: The Second Half or via Twitter (Patricia A. Walker@50foraYear).

Life is Not A Dress Rehearsal

As I raise my personal vibration through self-examination, it's become very apparent that others around me are having trouble with the changes.  At first it made me sad that others were not there to support me, but then I started to re-frame it and realize that it has nothing to do with me.  It's on them!  Perhaps a change in me has triggered something in them that they dream of changing and just don't have the courage to. Perhaps they are looking outside instead of looking inside.  Again, not something for me to worry about but to move past. My journey of self-realization has been happening over the course of more than a few years.  It's taken shape in everything from workshops, to coaching, to fitness and beyond.  It's been a struggle sometimes, but more than ever now, it's been a road to joy, amazing stories and a sense of being very grateful to the Universe for all that has come to me.  It's hard work but I'm glad I am pushing forward on this path.

Someone told me just a few months ago that my soul's blueprint is that I am here to help people see their true selves.  It's a tough job but someone has to do it.  How am I going to accomplish this when I am trying to stay in my own lane?  Perhaps it's just by being a example to others that it's never too late to change, or to move forward.  It's never too late to take those things that you have always wanted to do and act on them. Do you want to travel the world, have a successful business, adopt a child?  NOW is the time to do them.  It's not something to wait to do, because as I have discussed in the past, tomorrow may never come.

There are all kinds of reasons and excuses to not go forward on your path.  Maybe you say that a spouse is holding you back or that you have to be home for your child. Perhaps you are saying that you will start a new fitness routine tomorrow, but never get around to it because it's easier to just stay rooted where you are.  What will this story look like in a year or two from now?  Will you be in the same cycle that you were two years ago?  How will that feel?  I'm guessing, not too great.  I've been in these situations before and thankfully, have dug down deep in order to see that it's time to move past them.  Just realizing this is the first step to doing something on that new journey.  If you change just one thing a week, for example swap out a healthy food for a previously unhealthy food, look how far you will be in a year!

Life is not a dress rehearsal.  We get one shot at this folks.  We get one body to borrow and one mind to use.  What will it say to our children or others around us if we don't take these gifts to heart and use them to their fullest potentials?  I'm betting that we might not get the chance to do it all over again.  Enjoy your life, live your life, and get out there and rock this one shot we have!!

"Look at what you want to change, gather a few people who believe in it like you do, and start moving forward. It's important to remember that you don't always need a destination. Sometimes, you just have to make forward motion. And you absolutely can." -  Debby Ryan

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

Are you ready to say yes to your soul by shifting your perspective to create something extraordinary? I invite you to contact me via email at trish@thesecondhalf.us to schedule a complimentary 30 minute consultation to discuss how we can work together to make your second half of life better than your first.

Please also follow me on my Facebook Page: The Second Half or via Twitter (Patricia A. Walker@50foraYear).

The Different Sides to Santa Barbara

I have traveled to Santa Barbara several times over the last two years.  It feels like home to me.  Each trip here has me finding more and more layers to it.  This past week I was exposed to just a little more…. I was blessed to be able to experience a conference this week that rocked my world. Basically it was an energetic/business gathering.  I won't get too much into why I was there, but more into what I garnered while I was there.  For years I have been saying I wanted to volunteer at a soup kitchen, homeless shelter, etc.  However, I never made it happen.  Not really sure why, but this week I was able to take part in a group activity that truly changed my world.  Another first!

One of the nights that we were at meeting, we were told to meet at 5:00 in our conference room to find out what we would be doing.  We arrived to find bags of bread, jars of peanut butter and jelly, plus bottled water.  We quickly got down to work and assembled as a group 100 bags of sandwiches and water to pass out to the homeless population in Santa Barbara.  If anyone knows what Santa Barbara is like, you would be hard pressed to believe that such a population exists.  Not only does it, but it is pretty numerous and all around from the beach to the parks.

We set out in small groups to areas that we thought might have some folks in need of a meal.  The biggest gathering that we came to was in Alameda Park downtown.  Sure enough, we came upon many folks that were truly grateful for a sandwich or two.  We spent considerable time just connecting with the folks.  They have stories, lots of stories.  We met a young lady whose family had disowned her after her grandmother died for various reasons.  We met a man who lost everything a month ago in Michigan and was now living in a park in Santa Barbara.  He had an amazing attitude and said, "Hey, who wouldn't want to live here in such a beautiful place?'.  It truly was a mind-shift for sure.

One of the take-aways from this experience that was a huge shift for me was their attitude of we have enough.  What I mean by this is, we would try and hand them enough food for two days and they said no.  They would only take enough for one and say, we are okay for now.  Can you imagine?  These folks don't know where their next meals are coming from and they still said they had enough.  It was a huge lesson for me in abundance, being grateful and realizing that I have more than enough.

The homeless population in Santa Barbara is bigger than most people realize.  There were two gentleman who actually did a documentary about it, the actor Paul Walker and his friend Brandon Birtell.  The documentary was called Shelter.  They worked with a local therapist who was a big advocate in Santa Barbara for the homeless.  He has since retired.  Unfortunately with Paul's untimely passing and the unfavorable response of some to the movie (Paul actually received death threats while promoting it.), most folks have never heard of the documentary.

This issue of homelessness is one of huge importance.  I am so grateful that I was able to have this opportunity to spend some time with some of the homeless population in Santa Barbara.  It certainly changed my view.  I plan to look for more opportunities to help out this cause in the future.  I urge you, the readers, to seek out opportunities to help out as well.  It was amazing how giving to someone else, can give us more in terms of feeling so good about our own lives!

"I know I sound like a broken record, but 10 years ago I was living out of a garage and pan- handling, so just being a little comfortable is more than good for me. In fact, this is heaven." - Paul Walker to the Chicago Sun Times

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

Are you ready to say yes to your soul by shifting your perspective to create something extraordinary? I invite you to contact me via email at trish@thesecondhalf.us to schedule a complimentary 30 minute consultation to discuss how we can work together to make your second half of life better than your first.

Please also follow me on my Facebook Page: The Second Half or via Twitter (Patricia A. Walker@50foraYear).

Anything You Dream is Possible!

On Monday, February 1st, 2016, James Twyman walked into ISIS controlled Syria to perform his peace concert.  He had asked his tribe previously if everyone would say a prayer of peace at the exact same time throughout the world.  I had the time to pray programmed into my phone so I could be a part of the collective.  As the time neared, I actually got chills and felt like there was a powerful energy building up.  I wanted to tap into it and give my support. This whole process got me thinking as to what makes up an individual such as James Twyman?  Why is it that some people will kick ass and do this sort of thing and why do some folks decide that just getting by is good enough?  It's an interesting thing to ponder.  Why am I one who is ready to look deep inside and why are some folks just okay with staying home, never traveling and just surviving?  I want to thrive.

I am realizing more and more that the James Twyman's of the world usually have been through some earth shattering situation that turned their lives around in a minute. There are the cancer survivors who say, "Cancer is the best thing that ever happened to me." There are the people who have lost loved ones in an instant that are well aware that life is just too darn short to waste it.  That's the avenue that put me on this path.  The loss of someone with whom I have a connection with changed my life in just one day.  The path that I am taking since his sudden death has been one that has not only amazed me but those around me as well.

Remember the story of Randy Pausch, the charismatic young college professor who chronicled his battle with pancreatic cancer in a remarkable speech widely-known as the "Last Lecture?  If you have never read this book or seen his lecture, I would highly recommend it.  In fact, I am going to share the video of it right here.  Please take a moment to watch it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncoSRKoU6GQ

Mr. Pausch points out a few important factors in this video.  "Anything you dream is possible.".  He talks about how to live life as if you were dying because, well, he was dying.  I watched this video and said to myself, "If this man is so inspirational and upbeat in his last few months, what could I do here on Earth without being that sick?"  Imagine the possibilities.

The lessons that have come through loud and clear for me over the last few months is, life is short.  We are all going to die.  No one gets out of here alive!  With that in mind I decided it was time to take some action and live the best life that I can!  What does that look like?  It's a daily work-in-progress.  I have been given the gift of this realization by folks I have lost way too young.  The best way that I can honor their memories is to live my life to the fullest.  I know that they are around me everyday.  I talk to them.  Obviously they might not talk back, but I know in my heart that they are there to support me.

“Don't you ever get the feeling that all your life is going by and you're not taking advantage of it? Do you realize you've lived nearly half the time you have to live already?” ― Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

As always, you can connect with me on my Facebook Page, The Second Half and also on Twitter.

Family By A Different Name

A visit from family is something to cherish, or is it??  This past week I had the pleasure of having my brother's ex-wife visit me here in Utah.  In the 15 years that I have lived here, she has not made it here yet.  However, I believe that she is now a fan of our beautiful state. Her visit got me to thinking about how my family life has evolved over the last 10 or so years.  I am one of five siblings, the youngest in fact.  My siblings are spread out all over the United States from Oregon clear across to New Jersey and South Carolina.  We also throw Arizona into the mix.  There is a reason we all live in different states.  In fact, there are several reasons why we all live in different states.  That could be the subject of another blog.

What I started to think about while my ex-sister-in-law was here, was how I define family now. For starters, she is on paper my ex-sister-in-law but in the heart and on the phone, for all intents and purposes, she is my sister.  I have known her since I am 12. She could tell stories about me that even I didn't know.  I appreciate her, I cherish her and we had the best visit ever.  It got me laughing when I introduced her to folks.  We look nothing alike, but I introduced her as my sister.  You see, my biological sister is someone that I have nothing in common with except being born to the same parents.  I haven't seen her in person in years and I know for a fact that she probably gets her information about me from my niece who is on Facebook with me. My niece rocks, she is an interesting young lady who appears to have more of my traits than my sister.  I pray that someday soon she moves out West so I can get to know her all over again.

Family these days, according to most of my neighbors and friends, is a mix of biological and self-made.  I love my Park City family (friends).  They treat me with more respect than I get from most of my siblings.  I cherish the time I spend with them.  I enjoy it.  I have more in common with them than I do my own family that I have known all my life.

I once read a book called, "Why Do I Love These People" by Po Bronson.  I highly suggest it.  It is a great read.  The sub-title is Understanding, Surviving and Creating Your Own Family.  It's like he wrote this book just for me.  Now don't get me wrong, my family has it's good traits.  But I am the "different" one.  If you are that one in your family, you will know what I mean.  I am the one who is out there seeking the answers to why we operate in certain ways.  I ask the questions that nobody wants to talk about.  You can imagine how well that goes over.

As I get up there in years, I have come to the realization that society imposes quite a few "rules" for how a family operates.  I think that Norman Rockwell's famous painting of family dinner probably did a number on a lot of us.  Holidays are now defined by this painting.  How many times does real life look like this?  I know for a fact, that it's been a very long time since mine has.

It's taken me a long time to get to the realization and knowledge that you pick your family for a reason.  Some folks even say that this happens prior to birth so that you can come into this life and learn certain lessons and hopefully correct some things.  I am a believer in this.  There are days where I go, what the hell are they trying to teach me?  It all gets back to the basic messages of unconditional love and letting folks live their own journeys. It takes patience, and giving up the need to be right.  Just because I operate one way doesn't mean that I should expect anyone else to operate the same way.

There are days where I get sad because I don't have one of those families that pack up and meet all in one destination for a week of fun. In fact, a few years ago my sister tried to make that happen and 98% of us said no thank you.  When I was speaking with my "sister" this week, I said that I have resigned myself to knowing that it's going to be one of those see everyone at the next funeral type of operations.  However, I also remember that I do have a "family".  I have assembled my own with child, friends, neighbors, etc.  I have gathered a tribe with similar interests who boost me up and encourage me to be my greatest self.  I love, love, love this.

“But none of that really mattered. I had found my tribe. It felt like a family reunion for the family I'd never really known, a homecoming at the place where I was always meant to be but hadn't known how to find.” ― David Levithan, Hold Me Closer: The Tiny Cooper Story

Until my next adventure,

P.A. Walker

As always, please connect with me on my Facebook Page - The Second Half or on Twitter!

Living My Own Reality Show

Sometimes it's hard to think about life when it throws you a curve ball.  That's kind of what's happening to me right now.  Life as I had imagined it would flow decided to show up and tell me that it has other plans for me.  I could do one of two things, lay down on the couch, watch television and wait for it to pass me by.  Option B would be to stand up, look life in the face and say, "I've got this!".  I am deciding to go with Option B. When faced with these two options, sometimes I do have the urge to go with the first one. Boy that couch looks way too comfortable.  I could click On Demand and cue up a reality show, but instead I'm deciding to live out my own reality show.  I'm going to take those lemons and make lemonade.

Something became very apparent to me this weekend.  I am licking my chops and deciding that it is time to move on.  Move on from relationships, previous ways of life and my life in general.  How will this look?  Not quite sure yet.  However, I actually put on Pandora and sang to myself in the shower.  When I came out, I was excited about what the future holds.  I can do anything I want!  How's that for un-nerving?  I have the right to make my own choices, live my life on my terms and move forward to provide an exciting future for my child.  I want to give him the best role model that I am capable of.

We get plenty of opportunities in life to hit the re-set button.  Self-care is huge during these moments.  Take time for meditation, salt baths, nature walks and self-love. Without our energy supply on it's highest, we won't have the stamina to make it through those times when life throws you curveballs.  Take a moment to collect your thoughts, look around you and be grateful for what you already do have.  As long as you have a roof over your head, food to eat and good friends, you can do anything!

Selway River, Idaho

How have you, the reader, made a different decision?  What choices have you faced and how have you handled them?  Again, I look forward to an exciting future.  I know my angels are hanging in there with me and will be there every step of the way!

“So what do we do? Anything. Something. So long as we just don't sit there. If we screw it up, start over. Try something else. If we wait until we've satisfied all the uncertainties, it may be too late. - Lee Iacocca”

Until My Next "Adventure" - P.A. Walker

As always, you can follow me on my Facebook Page - The Second Half or on Twitter!

Time to Let Go of Your Old Story!

How do you say goodbye?  How do you say goodbye to one phase of your life and move into another?  It's hard to let go of the past, but by doing so you say hello to the future. Letting go of your old stories makes room for the new.  Everyone has stories that they hold onto for dear life.  What does holding onto your story get you?  It could be comfort, it could be not having to step into the unknown, and plain and simple it could be fear - raw, deep fear. Moving from our old stories can be a mixture of things, but think about what your life will look like if you do move from your stories.   It's the individual who makes the choice to move ahead that makes the most life changes.  Making these changes gives you the opportunity to step into your most amazing life ever.

Do me a favor sit down and imagine what your best self looks like.  What are you wearing?  What are you doing?  Where are you working?  Take some time and see how this feels in your body.  I bet it feels pretty good.  If you are like me and can't get the thoughts out of your head long enough to make these pictures in there, write it down on paper.  Do some journaling.  Journaling is a great tool for you to get these ideas out of your head and into your heart.

When you have that best self feeling in your body, continue on with the process.  Write down your willingness to do the work to step into your best self.  What would this look like?  Would it be hiring a coach, exercising, going to a therapist, eating healthy, moving away from family drama?  In order to move into your best self, taking that first step is the most important.

Most people believe that it is an all or nothing proposition to step into that best self. However, let me tell you that baby steps are the way to go.  If you make a list of three things to accomplish in one day and you successfully do that, just think about the feeling of accomplishment you will achieve.  For example, your goal is lose five pounds this month.  How about going out and walking for 30 min. three times a week?  If it's more than you are doing now, I bet that it will spur you on to move it up to 35-40 minutes the next week.  Little steps add up like you would not believe.

I have seen a lot of times that when folks don't continue on with their self-improvement it is because they get frustrated.  They will go all out and start a diet. Let's say they decide to eliminate sugar, fats and carbs all in the same week.  What are the chances of success?  It will be pretty much next to nothing.  Start slow, eliminate one thing a day or change up one thing a week and look how far you will be in a month. Most likely a lot better than when you started that month.

Making the decision to make some changes in your life is a brave move.  It will sometimes start as the result of no longer being comfortable in your dysfunction, or getting tired of living the same life.  However, I applaud you if you were drawn to read this blog.  It means that there is some part of you that wants to make a change!  I say go for it!!!

"Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." - Lao Tzu

As Always,

P.A. Walker

Are you ready to say yes to your soul by shifting your perspective to create something extraordinary? I invite you to contact me via email at trish@thesecondhalf.us to schedule a complimentary 30 minute consultation to discuss how we can work together to make your second half of life better than your first.

Please also follow me on my Facebook Page: The Second Half or via Twitter (Patricia A. Walker@50foraYear).