authenticity

Setting Sail For New Horizons and a New Volunteer/Mentoring Opportunity

Posted by Barbara Techel

2014-06-08 16.26.47In April I had the opportunity to sit down with some of the young ladies and staff that make up Horizons4Girls, which is a non-profit organization in our area “helping young women navigate life’s road map.”

Their mission statement:  “Horizons4Girls works to help young women discover, in a safe setting, the options they have as they travel through life. Horizons provides a listening ear while working to stop at-risk behaviors. Horizons, while working with family, teachers, social workers and others, works to surround the student with a supportive and safe setting to fully develop necessary life skills as they continue into their adulthood.”

During our time together I shared with them my story which has led me to where I am today. We discussed everything from body image, worrying what others think of our choices, writing, judgement and following your heart. Gidget made a special appearance with me that day also and we talked about her disc disease, sharing with them that it does not define her.

Horizons4Girls helps these young ladies through staff and volunteer mentors with life skills, incorporating creativity in a variety of expressions, as well as involving them in community services.

A few weeks ago, Linda, who is on the Board of Directors, asked me if I’d consider being a volunteer/mentor. I have to say that I was quite honored, but I must also admit that I was nervous. Do I have what it takes to make a positive impact on these young ladies? It feels like a big responsibility.

But I was open to learning more, so I met with Founder, Char and Linda last week. They shared a few heartwarming stories of how the organization is making a difference in many young lives. I was even brought to tears from one of the stories.  While I didn’t make my decision that day, as I said I needed a day to think about it, I drove home knowing 99% I want to give this a try.

I’ve agreed to volunteer once a month for the next 6-12 months. A part of me is still nervous, but I’m also excited about this new opportunity. This, for me, is a sign that I want to try and see where it may lead. While yes, I am still nervous, I’m looking forward to my training Friday afternoon.

As I’ve shared on my blog before, I’ve been a part of a women’s group for the last 16-weeks called “Unwrapping the True Self” which has been so beneficial for my continued growth. Often during the discussions we have, I think of young women trying to make their way in the world today and how so much of what we learn in this setting could help them. So I hope to take what I’ve learned (and am continuing to learn), and be a positive example for Horizons4Girls and living from your true authentic self.

My first role this Thursday evening is helping plan a one day retreat for the girls, with Linda, and a life coach from the area, who has also volunteered her time.  So here we go!

Embracing Ourselves as Unfinished. It’s a Gift and We Need to Pass it On.

Posted by Barbara Techel

IMG_2044 e“It seems to me that the task of the unfinished woman is to acknowledge her life as a work in progress, allowing each passage, evolution, experience to offer wisdom for her soul.” This passage is from Joan Anderson’s bestselling book, A Year by the Sea.

Joan’s books changed me. They continue to change me. I’ve returned to them again and again. I’m returning to A Year by the Sea once again, beginning today. It’s why I’m writing this post today also, in celebration of Joan’s books having the opportunity to become a motion picture—to inspire and help millions to embrace themselves as unfinished. But she will need our help, so stay tuned to the end of my post and how you can help.

I’ve come to understand more with each passing year, embracing myself as unfinished is a gift. This means there are new opportunities for me to explore and dig further into the soul of who I am. To also truly accept this process is so important too.

While initially, which began in about 2004 for me, this was one of the scariest excavations I’d ever went on, I am so thankful I found the courage to do so. For me, it began with the “ache” of which Joan refers to. I wondered why I was here. What was the reason for my purpose here on earth?

It led me to reaching out to a life coach in 2005. Something I’d never even knew existed until a friend recommended someone she knew who helped people look at these unanswered questions. This is how I found life coach, Diane (now someone I call friend).

The call I made that day is still so clear in my mind. My hands were shaking as I dialed her number. I was scared to look deep into my soul. To know that I had to sit still and listen to the whispers of my heart, because they were getting louder. But the risk to not do so, felt larger to me. I had to take the chance.

I was scared to think about what I might discover. I was scared my marriage might end wondering about the “what if’s.” I was scared that I couldn’t do the inner work that needed to be done.

But that call to Diane changed my life for the better. Shortly after, I discovered Joan’s books which helped me move deeper into understanding the woman that I am, and most importantly, that I was not alone in my feelings.

I’ve also come to really get that we are never finished. We are never complete. This is why we are here. To keep excavating. To continue to awaken each step of the way. To live in awareness of our soul speaking to us. To move deeper inside and capture the true essence of who we are. This is our purpose. Our purpose is not outside of us. It is in us. This is what we must radiate out into the world. This is what makes a difference. This is what gives others permission to do the same.

As I continue working on my book, Joie’s Gift- Finding Purpose in the Pause I am understanding more and more why I had to pause once again when I took my sabbatical last fall. Joie was the gift that helped me see this. In many ways I still consider myself in this pausing and reflecting state as I write the book and live my everyday life.

It didn’t end with my sabbatical. It is a daily journey for me. And I’m often times reminding myself to enjoy the process of being in this inner place of work instead of thinking I have to find a purpose outside of myself. This is my purpose today, tomorrow, and always. Every time I lose my way thinking I should be more and do more, I go back to one of my favorite quotes from Joan in her book, “The Second Journey.”

“Nothing happens overnight. Developing a relationship with the unknown takes time. In doing so the seeker is granted the greatest gift of all—clarity. I have come full circle yet again. I must be willing to journey forward—spiral into the center and then back out again. Then and only then will I be whole, in touch with all that I am.”

I truly can’t say enough good about Joan and her willingness to be vulnerable and share her journey with us. But in doing so, she has helped so many women (and men too) accept themselves for who they are. Those inner soul explorers, by doing so, have encouraged others to do the same, whether they know it or not. And those beacons of lights of courage are radiating out into the world with each one of us that find the courage to live from the very soul of who we are.

So here is how you can help Joan’s books become a motion picture in Hollywood!

Stop by her Facebook page, A Year by the Sea and give it a “like.” Then share the page and video with 10 of your friends.

If you’ve not read her books, I’d encourage you to do so. Here is her website and A Year by the Sea website.

 

Getting Lost & Finding My Way Back to Center

Posted by Barbara Techel

gidget apr 2014I got lost once again. It happens. This is what they call life.

But it happens to all of us. The trick is remembering what our center feels like. That place of knowing and that feeling of yes, this is where I’m meant to be. While I know many go through life without ever considering what their true center is, I give thanks that I do my best to stay tuned into what that center looks like for me. It has become so ingrained in me and once you have experienced that true place, even though I got lost, I knew I needed to find my way back again.

Last week was a trying week. My dad was taken by ambulance earlier in the week to the hospital. All turned out okay and they think he had a reaction to a new medication. But it was an odd feeling. A scary place I’d not really experienced before. To see my dad frightened as they put him in the back of the ambulance. Though I remained calm on the outside, when all turned out well, I found my insides feeling shaken up. The day will come when my parents are no longer here. It became even more real than I’d ever felt before.

At the end of the week I found myself resigning from two committee’s I had joined. One committee I had joined was recent, while the other I had been a part of since January. With the latter, I had been experiencing frustration, but I really wanted to be of service and help.

But as the months unfolded and I did my best, politics as it often plays out in these situations, made itself known. I realized I was in the wrong place. This isn’t me. While yes, there are internal issues, it was also  a tap on my shoulder that I had lost my way. I needed to return to center. I wanted to find myself back to what matters most to me.

My 21-day meditation practice I did that Oprah and Deepak Chopra offered served me well as I’ve been re-visiting lately in my heart what is important to me. My women’s group I’ve been a part of every week for the past 12 weeks has also been so enlightening and beneficial, helping me stay on track.

It’s so easy to fall off the track because we want to be good people. We want to make a difference. The trick is to do that in the way that speaks to who you are.

So I found my center again. I found it in the two hour Q & A I did with Dodgerslist on my Facebook page. The moderators, a vet assistant, and I were available for two hours yesterday morning to help people with questions they have about Intervertebral Disc Disease. Something as you all know, I’m very familiar with.

Though the two hours was intense with many questions being posted, after it was done I felt elated. I was so happy to have helped. This is what matters to me. This is how I can continue to make a difference. And on a side note, we are looking at doing another one in the future and this one in the evening.

This morning as I worked on my book, Joie’s Gift I felt back in that center again. I was also eager to come to my blog and write about my thoughts about this. This is who I am. This is where I’m supposed to be. This is where my energy of my soul is best served.

And when you live within that center of that energy that speaks to who you are, it fills you up. That light shines and shines bright, which then filters out into the world as it should. In an authentic way – not a forced or false way.

Hello center. Hello me. I’m so happy to see you again!