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I am a HUGE fan of dreaming in life! Seeing the possibility of something, believing it can happen and going after it!

I am also a fan of dreaming when I am asleep. It can be a lovely escape, you can go on whole adventures without leaving the comfort of your bed. 

But what I have no interest in are dreams that make me more tired when I wake up than before I went to sleep!

I am sharing this because last night I had one of my old favorites.  The anxiety dream.  Ah yes, this is the dream where,  I suddenly realize that I have not been going to class, or band practice or play rehearsals all year and now, it is time for exams or time for a concert or time for the show.  In the dream I have to not only 1) find the class that I have not been attending all year  but also 2) show up and perform.  I mean honestly, can you imagine showing up to the theatre, standing back stage, trying to memorize lines right before you have to go on and not even knowing what show you are acting in?! It sucks! (Please excuse my explicative language) it sucks sucks sucks!   Arg!

Well, the one last night was the same old theme but a new venue.  This time I was in college! (Usually it is a high school event that I have been neglecting, but it seems I have graduated.)  So last night I got to spend the night realizing that I had class that I had not attended, looking for where the class was located and what time it started.  I also got a tour of all of the dorm rooms while looking for mine which I couldn’t find and looking for my boyfriend (my husband) who seemed to be nowhere in site.  Ahhhhh. 

The interesting thing is, even though I did not enjoy this dream, it clearly represents something going on in my life.  The anxiety “there is something I am supposed to be doing that I am not” is definitely there as I step out into the world in this new way.  There are so many things I want to create, so many things I want to contribute, but what should be first and which second, have I forgotten something, etc. ….?

I offer that the dream is a tool for awareness. If you have so much going on that it is showing up in your sleep, perhaps that is something to look at.  So what I see from my dream is, it is time for a new plan. Time for me to put intentional thought into creating a new list.  It is time to get it all out of my head and onto paper so that I can see all the moving parts and make sure that I know what they are and where they fit.  So I can look at what needs attention and what can wait and so that nothing falls through the cracks.

It is rare that I actually take the time to interpret my dreams, but from time to time I will be intrigued by what my dream has presented me and I will use an online references tool to see what the dream books have to say about the flying penguin in my living room (go to www.google.com and type in “dream interpretation or “meaning of dreams” and you will find plenty of resources.)

Looking up dream interpretations can be fun, interesting and sometimes quite informative.  For instance, tornadoes and volcanoes often show up for me in times of change or intensity.  The interpretations I have found for both of these from various resources are around intense emotions and stifling those emotions.  So a volcano or a tornado always has me stop and look at what is going on in my life. Do I need to step back? Do I need some support or is this just something to watch.

I don’t pretend to understand the full mechanics of dreams (are they really just random synapses firing?) and a person doesn’t have to make them mean anything, but I offer, if you happen to become aware of your dreams, check them out,  They can often offer insight and awareness as you walk your path.  If you look, there is something there for you.

Sweet dreams,

Joelle

Last week I had the opportunity to take my mother in-law up on the most fabulous offer!She called me up and said, would you like to join us to see "Wicked" this Sunday.  Well, I can tell you saying YES to that offer was one of the best things I did all week! (how interesting, I just looked at the word "mother in-law" for the first time – it means me “mother” by law.  So you get married and you get a new mom according to the law. How interesting.)

Wicked is a musical which reveals the untold story of the witches from the Wizard of Oz.  It turns out that Glinda (the good witch) was actually once a friend of The Wicked Witch of the West.  As the audience gets a glimpse behind the scenes of the story we all know and love, it become very clear that perhaps the movie was only part of the picture.  Without giving too much away, the story begins when we meet a young Glinda “the good” (think Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blond) and her arch nemesis “Alphaba” (the soon to be Wicked Witch of the West).  If you think back, what is one of the distinctly unique qualities of the Wicked Witch of the West?  If you said, she was GREEN then you are right on track. Just ask yourself, what would life be like born green?! (we all know what Kermit has to say about that – it’s not easy!)

Being a green kid in school is kinda crummy and when we get to know Alphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) we see while she is green, she is also bright, together, talented and just plain misunderstood. If you show up moody, blue, annoyed or stressed, I promise, you will forget your concerns and be infused with delight and inspired by the colorful set, powerful music, intriguing characters and the inside jokes for those of us who have seen the Wizard of Oz.  They do a great job of playing with the audience who is only familiar with Dorothy’s side of the story.  Some of my favorite W of Oz references include the comment about “that farm girl, taking shoes off of a dead person! Was she born in a barn?” and the comment to Glinda that not everyone is not so fortunate to come and go “by bubble!”. 

With songs like “Dancing through Life” and “I Defy Gravity!” I floated between giddy and on the verge of tears for most of the show (oh, and all out bawling).  I am getting goose bumps just recalling it and writing it here.  Above all, I saw this as a love story about the power of friendship with a message of understanding and acceptance. 

If you are looking for a delightful evening of great music, inspiration, entertainment and fun don’t miss Wicked! And when you go make sure you pick up your “Green Babies Rule!” t-shirt!

To your wicked great time!

Joelle

P.S. Here is the write-up and a link to the home page for ticket sales and the route for the touring group.

Long before Dorothy dropped in, two other girls meet in the Land of Oz. One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two unlikely friends end up as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch makes for the most spellbinding new musical in years. WICKED, the untold story of the witches of Oz, features music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Academy Award winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and book by Winnie Holzman ("My So Called Life," "Once And Again" and "thirtysomething"), and is based on the best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire. With musical staging by Tony Award winner Wayne Cilento (Aida, The Who’s Tommy, How To Succeed…), WICKED is directed by 2003 and 2004 Tony Award winner Joe Mantello (Assassins, Take Me Out, Frankie & Johnny in the Clair de Lune). Recommended age for children is 8 and up.

No children under 4 admitted. www.wickedthemusical.com

There is one business I experienced at the Ladies Who Launch Live event ( see original article below) that I saved for a special entry. 

When I met these two sisters and heard the stories of the gift they bring to the world it moved me to tears (my personal measure of an inspired idea) and I knew I had to share it with you.  Michelle and her sister created <b>Willow Creek Baby</b>, a company that focuses on creating memory blankets from your children’s clothes.  The playful display of patch work made of ducky shirts and bunny jumpers that had since been grown out of, is a delightful gift for any parent.  As the stories were shared about the range and depth of occasions these blankets have been created for, I saw that this was in fact a truly inspired gift to the world, disguised as a baby blanket.

These blankets are a tool for transition from baby to toddler, from vulnerable and needing mommy to shouting "no" and standing in independence and surprisingly, from life to death. The ladies shared stories of parents who had lost their children, and this blanket lovingly made of their clothes served as a cherished keepsake of the lost life.  Whew. even now I tear up. As i spoke with them I heard the reverence with which they approach their work, painstakingly caring for the clothing entrusted to them by the parents or family member and artistically/intuitively laying out the patterns that will be treasured for years to come. 

If you want to share a gift that will inspire, preserve memories and wrap the receiver in love.  Go to www.willowcreekbaby.com and place your order.

Sending love,

Coach Joelle

I can honestly say that I have come to a point in my life that I do not attend events just to "attend" something.  What I mean by this is that once upon a time I just liked being out and talking to people and learning and so, I would go to seminars, networking events, parties just because they are there.  Today I value my time more and I am clearer about what I am committed to in life, so I make very careful choices with my time.

With that being said, I have to tell you there was an event that I attended last week that I have been looking forward to attending for about 5 weeks and now that I am on the other side, the 5 weeks of anticipation was warranted! The event I am talking about is Ladies who Launch Live!,  an all day event focused on education, connection, empowerment and play for women launching businesses.  I had the opportunity to accompany one of the founders Victoria Colligan to one of the local chapter meetings in April, and the delightful mix of high energy, creative women taking action and of course a little wine and cheese had me saying, i want to play with these gals! Last Thursday’s "live" event left me with the same impression.

Over the course of the day there were speakers on everything from obtaining financing for your business to, how to get the attention of the media, to panels of ladies who have launched and inspiring stories of entrepreneurship, struggle and success. The room was motivational seminar meets trip to the mall.  Vendors lined the outer walls of the fabulous old church converted to gallery and banquet hall, but these were not just any vendors – they are ladies who have launched! Everything from Chrissy Knuth Sparrow, the creator of www.stylstyk.com (recently seen on QVC), a nifty invention that allows you to beautify your do with just a zigzag of the styk, to Karen Miller of The www.funkyviolet.com, a fabulous boutique with the most fun, vibrant purses, jewelry and clothing, to a full display and demonstrations by Lisa Lansing of inspiralmotion of something called Gyrotonic, a combination of yoga and Pilates all guided by the gentle hand of a masterful instructor (I fell in love in my first 5 minutes!).  finish that off with an “invite your men” cocktail hour and I cannot think of a better way to spend the day.

One of the things I love about “Ladies who Launch” is that the whole thing is unabashedly girly and I respect that. Event the website has lipsticks and pink shoes as navigation icons and the tag line “Entrepreneurship and Creativity as a Lifestyle” pretty much says it all.  The other thing I love, is the passion I see in the people who are involved with this organization. It is the most vibrant, energized, fun, women in business networking group I have ever participated in! From everything I have seen, these gals are up to something great.

If you think you may be ready to launch yourself you can check them out at www.ladieswholanuch.com to sign up for an "incubator" (1 month program and support group to launch your vision) or to see if ladies who Launch live is coming to a city near you!

To your launching!

Coach Joelle

My friend Hui shared this site with me a few months ago and when I created coachjoelle.com and the Coach Joelle Blog I knew that I had to share it. 

Ashes and Snow is a traveling art exhibit that completely transcends the ordinary.  I have not experienced it in person but when I went to the site listed above I turned up the sound on my computer, settled in and was transported into a very quiet, very still, place of awe. 

My words cannot do it justice, so I offer that you take 10 minutes for your soul and go and explore the Ashes and Snow web-exhibit. 

www.ashesandsnow.org  

With love,

Coach Joelle

My friend Mark Nead sent me this link to We Feel Fine – a social experiment collecting feelings from web logs across the planet on a moment by moment basis.  The idea sound cool in it self but wait until you see what they have done with it!

This site is truly a work of art painted with humanity.  Our emotions are the colors and life is the canvas.  When I went to the first "movement" called madness ( which is a description of how the information is organized/not organized) what I experienced was a black screen filled with little moving colored dots.  As I move my cursor around the screen, certain dots grow and if I click on the dot a colorful quote comes up from a web log somewhere on the planet with the date and a location where it was written.

Here is what I found when I clicked on a little blue dot labeled upset: "I have been through a lot of crap in my life. And I have cried over that crap and wished it all away, but, you know, I would go through that crap ten more times if it meant that I wouldn’t have had to feel the pain I felt yesterday; if it meant I didn’t have to say good bye." The caption said – Florida, on a rainy day, yesterday.

Beyond the intrigue and the beauty of this site, what impacted me was that in the moment that I was there surrounded by the little color dots that are other people’s emotions, I was really present to humanity and it seemed in that moment that I was there with all those people and I realized that whatever I was feeling, someone else ( many someone elses) was feeling.  It seemed like you could never feel alone on that site.  hmm.  I encourage you to check it out (link below and more information at the bottom of this post). It is really brilliant! http://wefeelfine.org

With love and compassion

Coach Joelle

We Feel Fine – 2006 We Feel Fine is an exploration of human emotion.

Since August 2005, We Feel Fine has been harvesting human feelings from a large number of weblogs. Every few minutes, the system searches the world’s newly posted blog entries for occurrences of the phrases "I feel" and "I am feeling". When it finds such a phrase, it records the full sentence, up to the period, and identifies the "feeling" expressed in that sentence (e.g. sad, happy, depressed, etc.). Because blogs are structured in largely standard ways, the age, gender, and geographical location of the author can often be extracted and saved along with the sentence, as can the local weather conditions at the time the sentence was written. All of this information is saved. The result is a database of several million human feelings, increasing by 15,000 – 20,000 new feelings per day.

Using a series of playful interfaces, the feelings can be searched and sorted across a number of demographic slices, offering responses to specific questions like: do Europeans feel sad more often than Americans? Do women feel fat more often than men? Does rainy weather affect how we feel? What are the most representative feelings of female New Yorkers in their 20s? What do people feel right now in Baghdad? What were people feeling on Valentine’s Day? Which are the happiest cities in the world? The saddest? And so on.

The interface to this data is a self-organizing particle system, where each particle represents a single feeling posted by a single individual. The particles’ properties – color, size, shape, opacity – indicate the nature of the feeling inside, and any particle can be clicked to reveal the full sentence or photograph it contains. The particles careen wildly around the screen until asked to self-organize along any number of axes, expressing various pictures of human emotion. We Feel Fine paints these pictures in six formal movements titled: Madness, Murmurs, Montage, Mobs, Metrics, and Mounds.

At its core, We Feel Fine is an artwork authored by everyone. It will grow and change as we grow and change, reflecting what’s on our blogs, what’s in our hearts, what’s in our minds. We hope it makes the world seem a little smaller, and we hope it helps people see beauty in the everyday ups and downs of life.

We Feel Fine is a collaboration with Sepandar Kamvar, and was launched simultaneously with Lovelines on May 8, 2006. www.wefeelfine.org

I remember the first time I heard of a blog.  What a funny word! It brings to me an image of someone just spewing every word out of their head in one dump .."BLOG!".:-) Hey, I guess it is a pretty appropriate word.

Anyway. This is a very new thing for me, blogging that is.  I have written since the beginning of time and I LOVE recording my thoughts and insights, it has been an incredible tool for me over the years. But now, I am writing and the world gets to see it ( ah, delusions of grandeur as my father would say), you know, anyone who wants to read my blog can see my blog, it is a little different than writing in a journal. 

For 1) I figure I have to be interesting!  My journal never cared if I was interesting, heck, it never even required that I made sense, but I figure part of this blog is to provide insight, awareness, value and information of interest.  hmmm. 

Thing 2) there is that really interesting fine line of what do you write and what don’t you write. Are their taboo subjects? Maybe I should not be writing about a fight with my husband ( but of course, we never fight), or moments of fear and terror as I make my way in the world ( of course, that never happens either).  I guess I get to make the rules on this one so here is my rule.  I will write what is there to write, providing, it does not intentionally hurt someone and that my motives are to positively impact the world. hmmm, I like that! So those are the guidelines, the rest shall unfold as it will.  How fun!

sending  love,

Coach Joelle

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