. December 2003 Meeting you where you are and helping you reach your next level
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TransformationWorks® Newsletter
In this issue...
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Seeds for Transformed Living

"Happiness is a choice that requires effort at times."
-Anon

"The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for."
-Allan K. Chalmers

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us."
-Helen Keller

"The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself."
-Ben Franklin

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself."
-Harvey Fierstein

"Live as if your were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."
-Mahatma Gandhi

"Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact."
-William James

"Don't dwell on reality; it will only keep you from greatness."
-Rev. Randall R. McBride, Jr.

"The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: decide what you want."
-Ben Stein

"There are no great things, only small things with great love. Happy are those."
-Mother Theresa

"May you live every day of your life."
-Jonathan Swift

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Simple Pleasures

Think about and savor them one at a time before going on to the next one:

Watching a lovely sunset

Finding a $20 bill in your coat pocket from last winter

A luxurious bubble bath

A long distance call from an old, dear friend

Swinging on swings

Holding hands with someone you care about

Hearing your favorite song on the radio

Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep

Waking up and feeling excited to start your day

Hearing someone say something complimentary about you

Making eye contact with an attractive stranger

Winning a really competitive game

Lying in bed listening to the rain

A stimulating conversation

Watching the reaction on someones face as (s)he opens a much desired present from you

Taking a moon bath

Having someone tell you that you are beautiful

Laughing so hard you can't stop

Making new friends and spending time with old ones

Taking a drive on a pretty road

A special glance

Hot towels out of the dryer

The comfort of someone who really knows you

If you have Simple Pleasures you'd like to share, please email them to me.




Quick Links...
What have you accomplished this year?

The end of the year is a great time to take stock of what you've accomplished and what you are grateful for. Your own accomplishments are the best and most authentic reminder that you can create your own future and become more the master of your own destiny.

So, between now and the first of the year, take time to write a list of what you have accomplished and what you are grateful for in 2003. Not only will you experience positive feelings from doing this list, but the experience will set a strong foundation for writing your 2004 goals.

Today
It's necessary and wise to work toward future goals, but it is also necessary to focus on today. Don't be one who puts your life on hold while striving for your dreams. You've heard the old refrain, "After I reach such and such, then I'll be so and so." You are focused, you work hard, you get there. Then, after the high of success has gone, the "why didn't I" is felt. "Why didn't I spend more time with the kids?" (or relax more, pay more attention to my health, my partner, my parents, take that vacation I've always dreamt of, start my own business, etc?)

Instead of waiting to be an old lady to wear purple, wear it now. Instead of waiting for retirement to take that Alaskan cruise, consider planning for it now. When we put our dreams and goals far off into the future, we can end up with many regrets. When we choose to live our dreams and goals each and every day, we experience life as full and fulfilling.

So, if you feel as if your life is somewhere out there rather than right here, right now, stop and really ask yourself:

  • What is missing in my life?
  • What do I keep putting on hold?
  • What am I waiting for?
  • What would I regret if I died tomorrow?
  • What do I feel passionate about?

    Notice your answers to these questions, and commit to making one or two changes that would make your todays more fulfilling.

    • Get up, get out, and do something---
    5 Ways You Can Change The World in 2004

    Get Dressed. It's time to clean out your closet. Your nearly new suits and work separates can help women in need to enter the work force in style. Check out Dress For Success to find out how to organize a clothing drive at your office or for the nearest dropoff location in your city.

    Shoe In. Before you go out and splurge on some new Nike Air Presto Wovens, pack up your old sneakers and send them to Nike's Reuse-A-Shoe. This program conserves natural resources and reduces waste by grinding up old sneakers to make athletic surfaces.

    Big Sis/Big Bro. Bag some of that weekend chill time and make a difference in a little shorty's life. Whether you go to a play or work on math equations, you'll help him or her improve in school and increase his/her self-esteem. For a directory of mentoring opportunities in your area, log on to Mentoring.org.

    Money Talks. Make a difference by giving to a charity that reflects your interests or personal experience. Visit JustGive.org and type in your favorite cause, for example literacy, GLBT rights, or homelessness, and the search engine will locate local charities.

    3 Rs. Practice the 3 Rs. Reduce, reuse, recycle. Walk, ride a bike, or take public transportation as much as you can to save fuel and emissions. Save a tree by jotting notes or printing on the back of once-used paper. Get into the habit of recycling your paper, plastics, metal, and glass.
    ~excerpted from Honeymag.com

    Living a Transformed Life

    Embarking upon a journey of personal healing and growth enables us to change our patterns-history, perceptions, thoughts, and feelings. And, as we do so, we are enabled to begin living a transformed life of self- awareness, vitality, and generativity.

    Living a transformed life doesn't mean it will always be easy: rather life becomes richer as we live closer to the pulse of possibilities. We create space for transformation as we let go of "shoulds" and "have- tos" and move toward accepting our magnificence of spirit along with our human foibles-our light and our shadow, our giving and our withholding, our wisdom and our blind spots, our connections and our aloneness. We set new standards. Our boundaries become clearer. We speak our truth more from the heart. We can know that transformation is beginning when we hear ourselves saying, "I want to. I want to see, to know, to feel, to open, to shift. I am willing to let go of old patterns and beliefs and move into new levels of awareness." Such words are sometimes spoken in moments of despair and desperation. Most often, they come after a time of healing or personal growth work. And sometimes, they just come like an inspiration.

    Upcoming Events

    Women's Business Focus Group
    Beginning January 2004
    (by invitation)

    The Women's Business Focus Group (WBFG) is a success team for women who want to turn their business or professional visions and ideas into achievable goals and sustain momentum toward success.

    Collage Playshop
    If you missed the Collage Playshop in November, you won't want to miss this one!

    Want to understand more about your talents and abilities? Want to know more about your life purpose overall or maybe the best direction to go in the next six months? Want to put an extra zing into manifesting your dreams and goals? Then register now to participate in the Collage Playshop.

    Saturday, February 28th
    9:00 am to 1:00 pm
    Early Registration $30
    Regular Registration $35

    Working Effectively with Your Inner Critic
    (Leisure Learning Unlimited)
    Saturday, February 21, 2004
    9:30 am to 12:30 pm.
    Class code: 5161
    Cost: $29
    Location: 2990 Richmond, Suite 120
    Register now.

    Need a Speaker?
    Book Joyce in 2004 to speak to your group or organization. Whether it's a 20- minute presentation or a 3-hour seminar, Joyce can meet your needs.

    For the last 18 years, Joyce has spoken to audiences- ranging from the general public to small workgroups to her professional peers--on a variety of business, professional, and personal development topics. Sample topics include:

    The Power of Coaching
    Working Effectively with your Inner Critic
    Effective Communication in the Workplace
    Managing Stress and Avoiding
    Distress

    Call Joyce at 713-667-6047 or email her for topics and available times.

    Coming in 2004!
    Joyce's next book, Twelve Keys to Transformed Living.

    .    email: transworks@aol.com
       voice: 713-667-6047
       web: http://www.transformationworks.com

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