What began in November 2006 as the monthly communication, Tips for Living a Live You Love, sent to visitors of www.womansfieldguide.com or readers of my book, along with all blog posts and web updates, came to an halt in August of 2009 given health challenges. A common thread woven throughout my life in the past few years has been around health challenges. A couple hip surgeries and a lot of chronic pain, a surprising diagnosis of chronic Lyme Disease, a lot of disagreeable meds, a recent discovery of severe gluten-intolerance all simply caught up with me this year and knocked me off my feet. There have regrettably been phone calls unanswered, self-care retreats wiped from my books and plenty of less-than-graceful moments while I have spent countless hours tending to my commitment to be in vibrant health regardless of the obstacles that present themselves.

Of course, with the health challenges come the opportunities for me to walk my self-care talk each and every day. Without getting into all the details, the good news is that the gifts have been, and continue to be, incredible. I am currently in great health! Now, with several months of extreme self-care behind me and an incredible array of health care professionals on my team  to be thankful for (including my medical team at Sanoviv!), it's time to pop my head back up and to share some holiday cheer with my readers. Hey, and what says "cheers" better than free gifts.

Free Mini-Guides to Improve Your Life

Supporting others in both living a self-care lifestyle and in living a full life with chronic pain continue to be passions of mine. Expressions of those passions are four new mini-guides that I hope you will find these helpful and share them with others.

• Oh My Aching ... Tips for Living Your Best Life While Managing Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is pain that persists past the time usually required to heal from an illness or injury. When you live with chronic pain, it is as if you live through a veil that cloaks much of who you are and how you may want to interact with others. People of all sizes, ages, colors and health conditions experience chronic pain. You might be a breast cancer survivor in recovery, a person whose low back pain will not respond to treatment, a sufferer of postherpetic neuralgia as a result of the complications of shingles, or someone unexpectedly dealing with a Lyme Disease or Chronic Fatigue diagnosis. If you and your family know the face of pain, this guide
may be of help to you.

• Self-Care for the Family Caregiver: 68 Tips to Help You Survive and Thrive

"There are only four kinds of people in the world - those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers and those who will need caregivers." Rosalyn Carter

• Self-Care in Your Wisdom Years:A Primer for Women in Midlife and Beyond, 105 Tips to Help You Shift from Burnout to Bliss!

It may seem obvious that taking care of yourself is a great thing to do, yet for many women it remains an elusive goal. Self-care is for the future, a dream far off in the distance which some of us just never get around to turning into a reality. The fact is that stress, a sense of being overwhelmed, and depression are epidemic with American women ...

• Gotta Book in You? Tips, Tools and Resources to Coax the Writer in You Out of the Closet

In a 2002 article in The New York Times, author JOSEPH
EPSTEIN stated: "According to a recent survey, 81 percent of Americans feel they have a book in them and that they should write it now." That means that millions of people are moving through their lives thinking, "Gee, I'd like to write a book." And here is the light-of-day truth: most people don't. We'll take liberties here and go on to assume that all those unwritten stories cause big regrets in countless people's lives.
We can't have that now, can we? What about you? If the thought of writing a book has been nudging you, this may be your ticket to get started.

Check out the Summer 2009 issue of a cool little magazine, Massage Envy Magazine for great tips on healthy and happy living.

Look to the article, A Dose of Closeness:
Connecting with friends is good medicine to learn what writer Teresa Caldwell Board (and Corrie) have to say about the importance of friendships. Here is an excerpt:

 "Sure, it can be tough for busy women to stay connected to their friends. But what are you missing when you don’t do it?
“I challenge people to ask themselves, ‘What
price am I paying when I feel disconnected from
my support system?’” says Corrie Woods, women’s self-care coach and author of The Woman’s Field Guide to Exceptional Living.
Say no to say yes. “Learn how to say no to things
in your current schedule so you can make time for
friends,” Woods says. Decide what supports your
overall well-being and make those things a priority."

This magazine makes for a great read cover to cover with down-to-earth great tips.

I LOVE taking time away from my day to day life on retreat. In the past few years I have taken many and each time I have been astounded by the results: renewal, clarity, and centeredness.

The farther I get from my last retreat, the more I forget the benefits. If I slow down though, I notice some tell-tails signs that a retreat would be a great thing:

• I feel restless and unable to focus.
• I find myself out of touch with my creativity.
• I am looking for a breakthrough of some kind that does not present itself easily.
• I hear the call - there is really no other way to say it.

Where do I go on retreat? It depends. I have taken off for some solo camping at one of my favorite spots on the planet - Cumberland Island, I have booked a few nights at a cabin within an hour or so of my home, and most recently I headed to Savannah for four days. The opportunity to spend some quiet time reflecting and kicking off writing of book two in The Woman's Field Guide series popped up when a gracious family member said, "Come on down! The house is all yours!"

As I arrived in the land of live oaks and inter-coastal waters, I immediately settled in to a retreat rhythm. No agenda, no have-to's, and no work to do. I took long strolls under Spanish moss canopies, I wrote as words flowed and honored the process when they paused. I ate light and simple, drank lots of water, wandered at dusk.

It is truly amazing to me the clarity that sparkled in areas of my life I was not expecting and the exhale I felt from some physical challenges that have been up for me. Every retreat I have ever taken has provided its own splendid gifts.

Clients ask me, why take a retreat? It is honest to say that I find it nearly impossible to give language to all the benefits. My response to their question, "In order to answer that question you must take a retreat and find out!"

Change happens.... it’s inevitable. As John F Kennedy so aptly said, “The one unchangeable certainty is that nothing is certain or unchangeable.” Here is the key – how we navigate change determines where we end up and in very real terms the quality of our lives. I would go so far as to say, the person who masters change, masters happiness.

Now, I can pretty much guarantee that your education on this topic was like mine.  There were no classes on how to handle change; no birds and the bees type conversation from my folks on change. Yet experiencing lots of change is natural and inherent in living life.

Proof that Change is Constant

• US Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that those folks who were born between 1957 and 1964 held an average of 9 jobs between ages 18 and 36.
• The US Census Bureau indicates just under 50% of marriages end in divorce
• 16%  - of all US households will move this year, which means new schools, new lives, new routines

It’s exhausting to think about!  These statistics touch on jobs, marriage and relocation. Other changes might be the birth of a child, a child leaving home, a change in health, a natural disaster, a fabulous new relationship or the ending of a painful relationship.

To get through change, welcome or unwelcome, we often tighten our seat belts and hold our breath until the dust settles on the other side. In that process we miss powerful opportunities to grow through change and become more empowered by the experience. How might we spend our time traveling the path of change more wisely? The journey might look like this:

1. To begin with, we’d stop for a long, thoughtful assessment of what is unfolding. We’d get real.
2. With a clear view in our sights we’d become intentional, willing adventurers on the journey. This is much better than dragging our heels kicking and screaming.
3. We’d document the days, our feelings and our “Ah Ha” moments in a Change Journal. Having a place to process unedited and unfiltered is important.
4. We’d carve out time to simply be. The whirlwind that kicks up around change can choke out all life and blur all perceptions. Quiet time in solitude can help settle those winds and the dust.
5. We’d become visionaries, getting really clear about where we want to arrive at the end of the change and who we want to be in response to it.
6. Finally, we’d surrender to the GAP. That place in between when finding our footing is tough, when the changing landscape leaves things hard to recognize. We’d trust that we can and will emerge with fresh insights and new gifts.

Contrast the ideas of handling transitions (large or small) with clarity and intention and what most people do: react to whatever hits them next in the process. The end results are dramatically different.   Spend your change wisely and over time you just might become a change master!

Some ah ha moments came this past week when I was on stage at the amazing Time for Our Power Conference. I had just a few moments on Saturday and then again on Sunday to convey to the dynamic and diverse audience a message that defines my work in the world. My challenge was how to do that with a handful of words?

My heart said, just show up, open your mouth, and trust. Stand in the spotlight and be yourself. That is just what I did.

Related to the theme of the conference it came down to this: If you want to do great things in the world, to claim your power and stand tall, if you want to have a great life, you HAVE to take great care of you! No way around it.

There are times that you are called to literally stand in the spotlight, but more likely, there are moments throughout each day that you have a choice - show up authentically or hide out. This seems the perfect time to share another chapter from my book ...

Excerpt from The Woman's Field Guide to Exceptional Living

Just imagine, the stage curtains are drawn and you are standing backstage, alone in the darkness. The house is full. Anticipation is building. You feel butterflies in your stomach. You know when the curtains open, a magnificent woman will be revealed standing center stage, in the spotlight, fully expressed. And, frankly, the thought terrifies you.

What does fully expressed really mean? A word that comes to mind is authentic. According to The
Merriam-Webster Dictionary, authentic means: true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character.
To live authentically means that you truly hold nothing back. You believe in who you are and the
gifts you have to share. Yet, as simple as this might sound, there are countless reasons people have difficulty living authentically, difficulty showing up in full color, difficulty being fully expressed.

How does life feel when you are surrounded with people you cherish, who cherish you, and who inspire you to be the best you can be? Interact, engage, live the benefits that come when you are in nurturing and playful relationships. Choose your community wisely, show up, and delight in the revelation that having fabulous people in your life supports a fabulous you!
- Excerpt from The Woman's Field Guide to Exceptional Living

When Terry contacted me to celebrate the release of my new book and to celebrate the ambiance and delight she dishes up at her WineCellar, my response was an enthusiastic YES!

What I experienced was ... a group of very cool women getting to know one another in a fun way, a warm environment/space crafted with care by Terry, delicious wines to delight my taste buds, and a reminder that the possible ways to connect with women are endless and it just takes a little creative thinking.

Terry will be gathering women together on a regular basis for a women's night out in her fabulous venue so, if find yourself in beautiful Waynesville, NC stop by to see her to learn more!

Vin Wine and Tapas Bar

Creative Living in Technicolor

Is your life flat or full? Does life seem one-dimensional or multi-faceted? Do you experience life in black and white or in Technicolor? We often race so quickly through our lives that we forget to stop and smell the roses. A wise and inspired man by the name of Leonardo da Vinci once said, “The five senses are the ministers of the soul.” One way to enrich our existence is to expand our ability to live through our senses. Once inspired, we literally and figuratively come to our senses and begin to live in a state of gratitude and marvel at the textures, tastes, and sounds that reveal themselves each and every day.

Think back for a moment and remember a time when you felt truly alive. What comes to mind when you recall that experience? Perhaps the tingling of your skin, brilliant colors or the way light sparkled, a pulsing heart, a delicious smell that curled into your nostrils or a flavor that made your mouth pop! Your senses: sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell are portals to rich experiences. Spend time playing and rediscovering the power of your senses and it will transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.

The key to awakening your senses is to get out of your head and into your body. Although you can read about the power of your senses, your own experience will teach you the benefits of living a more sensory life.  Take action! Use exercises like the ones below to intentionally become present in your day-to-day life.
Exercise 1: Seeing with Eyes of Love and Wonder
Look into the face of someone you cherish. Invite them to share this experience. Spend several minutes in quiet observation and reverence. What can you learn about this beloved? What do you see that you have never seen before? How does your heart feel in response to such an intimate viewing?
Exercise 2: Clear Vision
Experience with clear vision what you see, instead of interpreting. Once the colors, shapes, and images become good or bad, pretty or ugly, familiar or unfamiliar, you have stepped away from a clear view. Describe in your journal a sunset, an oak tree, or the moment at dusk when all is in shadow. Describe it with your sense of sight in vivid detail.  Do not stop until you have captured it all. Once you have set your pen down, read through your description. Notice how many details you would normally miss with a casual glance. What surprises can you find in your observation?
Exercise 3: Capture the Music of Your Life
Take some time to reflect on your life and discover what sounds still ripple in your memory. A puppy’s excited bark, the sound of the 10 PM train, the melody of instruments from the kitchen as your mother prepared Sunday breakfast, a cat’s quiet purr, thunder rolling down off the ridge as a storm was approaching, the kettle whistling or the sound of a deep breath. We don’t always notice the nuances of sounds, but when we do, the moment is far richer. Master the skill of listening with your whole body.  Have an attitude of gratitude and compassion to the story the other person is sharing. This kind of intentional listening is a real gift to give and receive.
Exercise 4: Touch Awareness Day
The idea of touch may conjure the obvious: a warm hug, a firm handshake, or a gentle massage; but how many things do you touch each day that you don’t even notice? What if you went through one day paying attention to everything you touched and noticed how everything felt? Create your very own Touch Awareness Day and watch for surprises. Expand your touch capacity even further by going through one day consciously touching everything with loving hands.
Exercise Five: The Taste and Smell of Inspiration
Plan a feast for yourself and a few friends.  Choose the location, menu and table setting to reflect your personal tastes.  Feature your favorite wine, foods, and desserts.  Once prepared and ready sit and enjoy each dish with great attention.  Describe the smell of each food and take your first bites all together.  Savor the flavors and then share with one another how the tastes affect you. Acknowledge the feelings your body is experiencing because of the tastes and smells.

Be inspired to embrace how different life is when you come to your senses!