Many people I know are facing big life challenges. For some, family matters such as aging parents, relatives in crisis, severely ill children, career upheavals or financial stress are a daily concern. Others are frustrated and frightened by political uncertainty and social problems that appear insurmountable and growing worse. And, there are those who have friends or relatives connected either directly or peripherally with military activities overseas.

Last week I was talking with a dear old friend. Ordinarily, I can count on him for several good laughs or very bad jokes during any conversation. Lately, he's been weighed down by a few of these aforementioned challenges. He tells me that these days his sense of humor doesn't show up very often.

We homo sapiens have a miraculous capacity to laugh and cry simultaneously. Frustration and joy, guilt and delight, fear and passion -- opposite emotions can and do co-exist. Now more than ever, during these moments of sorrow or struggle, making the time and space for what we love, what makes our heart sing, and what brings us joy is an essential ingredient to surviving and eventually thriving once again. No matter what sticky situations we're facing, eliminating what some might call "frivolous" activities and focusing solely on the crisis at hand is counterproductive. It denies us the opportunity to replenish and renew our energies and our spirits.

I believe that we have been given these gifts -- the capacity to laugh, feel pleasure, appreciate beauty, and so on -- especially for times like these. Owning our silliness, love of music, or fondness for puns; taking a few minutes to appreciate a sunset or bird song or cook a nourishing meal; making sure to ask for and give hugs and reassurances and flirt just a little are all acts of affirmation, defiance and hope. We're not minimizing or avoiding our responsibilities, we're placing them gently in a strong cardboard box and putting them up on the top shelf of the closet -- just for a little while. Even in the midst of disappointment, sorrow, frustration or fear, taking time out to nourish our bodies, minds and spirits is the best way to stand firm and face the days ahead.

Copyright 2004 by Nancy Birmbaum-Gerber. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Nancy Gerber, Professional Certified Coach and President of Stepping Stones can be reached at http://www.sstones.com.

How can you help yourself stay connected to your blessings and gifts?

What can you do to help others?

April 28, 2005
Empowering Yourself at Keefe Tech Continuing Education

Do you feel like you need to make a significant change in your business or personal life and would like some support to address these issues? Coach Andrea will provide her 5-step program for gaining control of your life. This seminar is scheduled for Thursday, April 28th, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Keefe Tech, Framingham, MA. To reserve your place, please call 508-935-0202 or go to http://www.ktconed. org and click on "Health & Life-Style."

I was thrilled to be on hand to help my colleague Suzanne Bates celebrate the release of her new book, "Speak Like a CEO." A former news anchor, Suzanne is now the CEO of Bates Communications -- a firm that helps clients develop and master presentation skills through one-on-one coaching and group training. To order Suzanne's book or to learn more about how she can help you or members of your organization master the art of speaking, visit http://www.bates-communications.com. The book is full of practical and inspiring techniques, and Suzanne's style and approach to helping others gain visibility and credibility through the spoken word is second to none.

Coach Andrea's Coaching Tip of the Week is brought to you by Andrea Novakowski, Master Certified Coach who provides Business and Personal Coaching to Corporations, Businesses, and Individuals. Andrea is a professional coach who partners with people to set goals and create momentum to produce effective results in their business and/or personal lives.

Andrea is available for individual coaching. If you are serious about reaching your goals and living with greater fulfillment and satisfaction, consider using a coach. To schedule a COMPLIMENTARY initial consultation, send an e-mail to Andrea at
andrea@coachandrea.com.

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Coach Andrea
Focusing your vision, achieving results

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