The Lure of the Distant

WowCoach(tm)
DeskTopCoaching
June 11, 2001

In this Issue:
1.  Quote of the Week
2.  The Lure Of The Distant
3.  Surfing the Perfect Wave
4.  The Secret Of Wisdom
5.  Coaching Tip

Welcome to the weekly edition of DeskTopCoaching. This
newsletter is designed to bring coaching into YOUR life.  Through
thought provoking articles, strong questions, and requests for weekly
action, we will bring a coaching slant to your life.

How do we make changes in our lives?  One step at a time!
Participate in the concepts of the newsletter and watch the shifts
begin to happen.

Our network grows by your referrals.  Please feel free to send
copies of the newsletter to friends and colleagues.

Have a wonderful week.

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"Don't think of it as failure.  Think of it as time-released success."
                                Robert Orben

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Summer promises trips to the beach, the ocean, or simply lazing by a
stream.  The concept of water, and the flow, is a theme for me
this week.  There have been times in my life where things have
felt like a raging river full of rapids.  Other times have felt like
meandering streams.  And some blissful moments have truly felt
like riding the crest of the wave!

Each of these has distinct meanings for me.  Even the rapids have
brought learning and new opportunities into my life.  Perspective,
and the choices of how we interpret all of these times, determine
the true outcomes.  As we talked about last week our expectations
have a great deal of impact on how these various scenes play out.

A key element for me appears to be living in the moment and
learning from the experience.  Too often I catch myself not
appreciating where I am, and wishing that I was at another
place.  If I am in the middle of the rapids, I wish for the lazy
stream.  Once I slow down, and am lazing by the shoreline of
the stream, I want more excitement like surfing the wave.

"The lure of the distant and the difficult is deceptive.
The great opportunity is where you are."
                       John Burroughs

There will always be a 'greener pasture' or stream out there.  The
truest gift is letting that image go, and simply enjoying the ride that
you are on.

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Surfing The Perfect Wave
Oprah Winfrey, The Oprah Magazine

Can you feel summer yet?  Can you hear the rush of the waves, the rustling
of the leaves - the rhythm of everything?  All life has its own current.
Are you moving with it - or are you struggling upstream?

Moving with the flow - surrendering to an energy and power that is greater
than you know - riding the big wave that is your life instead of fighting it
and getting pulled under.  How do you let go?  Control is a difficult thing
to relinquish.  For many people, letting go feels like giving up.  But when
you can let go, it means that you actually have sense enough to surrender
that which you can't control, and to honor what you can control - yourself.
And if you're willing to give up your attachment to expectation, you'll be
rewarded with a life much grander than the one you've been reluctant to
release.

As the circle of seasons makes another round and brings us a
glorious new summer, take time to be mindful of the miracle of your life -
and to let go of your harried, hurried pace, if only for a moment at a time.
For once, decide that you'll take a long Sunday nap without feeling even
a little bit of guilt.  Kick back in a hammock and stare into the sky.  Sink
into a cool bath.  Or just feel the tall blades of grass as they slide
between your toes.  And with each moment, embrace the idea of riding
through your life without fear.  Commit to the wave.

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The Secret of Wisdom

Once there was a young woman who heard that an old wise woman
had the secret of wisdom.  The young woman was determined to
track the old woman down.  After traveling many months, the young
woman found the old woman in a cave.

She entered and addressed the old woman:  "Old Wise Woman, I
hear you have The Secret of Wisdom.  Would you share it with me?
The old woman looked at the youth and said, "Yes, you seem sincere.
The Secret of Wisdom is good judgment."  "Good judgment, of
course," said the youth, thanked her mentor, and started to leave.

However, as she got to the entrance of the cave she paused,
turned back and said, "Old Woman, I feel funny, but, if I may ask,
how does one obtain good judgment?"  "That's a good question,"
said the sage.  "One obtains good judgment through experience."

"Experience, of course,"  said the young seeker, and proceeded to
leave.  But once again she stopped in her tracks, and humbly walked
back to her mentor.  "Old Woman," said the young woman, "I feel
foolish, but I have to ask:  How does one obtain experience?"  The
old woman paused, nodded her head, then proceeded:  "Now
you have reached the right question.  How does one obtain
experience?..Through bad judgment!"

Errors of judgment rarely mean incompetence; they more likely
reveal inexperience or immaturity, perhaps even boldness.  Our
so-called "failures" can be channeled as guiding streams (sometimes
raging rivers) of opportunity and experience that ultimately enrich
- widen and deepen - the risk-taking passage...If we can just
immerse ourselves in these unpredictably rejuvenating waters.

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Coaching Tip:

"The lure of the distant and the difficult is deceptive.
The great opportunity is where you are."
                       John Burroughs

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Copyright 2000. All rights reserved. Permission is
granted to reproduce or distribute this newsletter as
long as this copyright notice and full information about
contacting the  author is attached. This newsletter is
produced by Dr. Janice Hughes B.Sc., M.Sc., D.C.

Dr. Janice Hughes is a Chiropractor who focuses on
health and wellness. She runs a private practice,
Whole Body Health, in Brantford, Ontario. She has created
an integrative health model which provides a group of
professionals partnering to provide lifestyle coaching
and education. Dr. Hughes is also a Coach who works
with individuals, teams or organizations who are
committed to getting ahead, changing direction or
simply growing.

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