coachjoelle.com

Coming from Canada I grew up on the tale of Anne of Green Gables (If you are unfamiliar with the feisty red-haired orphan who wins the hearts of an east coast community, I invite you to give it a read or pass it onto your teenage girls). One of the most remarkable parts of the story is the friendship between Anne and what she calls her bosom friend, Diana (I remember as kids we would giggle at the word bosom ).   A bosom friend is a friend you hold close to you, a friend that touches your very soul.  I am grateful to say I have a handful of these bosom friends and today I am very present to their impact on my life.

I am in Arizona this week. I lived in Arizona for 7 years and over those years I really became the woman I am today; someone I really like and that I am proud to be, and the people I collected in my life over those years are a reflection of that woman. In January I moved to Cleveland to live with my new husband and over these past months my focus has been creating my home there and building my business.  Seeking new friends has not been a priority.  I have been on the phone with my bosom friends in weekly scheduled conversations to keep the love and support in our lives but I tell you, it is something different to be here with them, sharing space and spending time face to face. 

I am only one day into my trip to Arizona and I am already so much more grounded, and peaceful and the world is open to possibility.  I attribute this to a power that my bosom friends hold.  This power is – being with them, reminds me of who I am.  My bosom friends love me and they see who I am in the world when my own clouded mind is shrouded in fear and doubt. My bosom friends have unwavering faith in me, are always quick with a hug, and would fly half way around the world in a moment of need.  My bosom friends are so beautiful and so powerful and it is wonderful to stand beside them on their path, holding the mirror up to them and showing them their brilliance when they are feeling weak and tired of this journey.

Thank you God for my friends, for their love, and for the opportunity to know each of them – I would not be half of who I am without them. I invite you to take a moment and tell your bosom friends what they mean to you.  Give them a call and let them know the impact they have on your life. Pick up the phone right now and tell someone you love them. BIG HUGS to all my bosom friends!

To the love of friends,

Joelle

YIPEEE!! Today is a great day!

I am hot on the path to financial freedom and I just had to share with you!  I made residual income!!! That’s right! Little old me, I did it!

I have heard so much about setting up passive streams of income to take you from trading time for money to being able to create sustainable wealth and now I am one of the special few! That’s right, I checked my account and I have made….. are you ready…… $1.13 in passive income!  This momentous occasion I can attribute to my sister buying my birthday present ( a delightful assortment of Lush products) from the coachjoelle.com website.  Thank you Squiffy!

Now when I say passive, yes it did take me 4 hours to create the page on my site and 2 hours to go through the vender approval process and figure out how to get the links on my site but still, look at that, I made $1.13 while I slept!

Financial freedom here I come!

Joelle

June 30 is my birthday.  Birthdays are interesting things – each of us has our own meaning we give it, our own expectations.  For instance, for some hitting a monumental number is significant: The day a 12 year old becomes a  full blown teenager or the 16 year mark when you get your drivers license or the celebration at 21 and then for some, the suffering with what it means to no longer be in your 20’s or hitting milestones of middle age.  Each year has it’s own significance for the individual.  Some people want to celebrate and others want the day to pass unnoticed.  Well, here are my thoughts on it all having just freshly come through my big day!

First of all, I love getting older! All I know is that as time passes I learn more about life, I get clearer about who I am, I like myself more and life gets easier. Not easier in the sense of less to do or less to accomplish or achieve, but easier, in that my feelings are not hurt as easily, I do not spend as much time bending to the will of others or seeking approval.  Life hurts less now.

For someone that talks about living loud and having a powerful passionate life you may be surprised to see me talking about life hurting.  I think the world is an amazing place and I am constantly astounded by our humanity – what it is to be a human being and how it all works. With that being said, I set out to understand life and sought joy and passion because I did not want to hurt and be sad and be scared the way I have in the past.  Don’t get me wrong, I have had a great life – there was nothing particularly difficult or “wrong” with my life, it is just a life like any other and with that comes joy and sorrows, passion and moments of apathy.  My quest has been to have more joy and more passion and more play and to have a great life and as I grow up I get clearer and more adept at creating these things in my life.  So needless to say, 34 feels great! I love getting older. Bring it on! 

To celebrate my special day I went for a walk. That’s right, I walked my neighborhood and I wanted to share the delights that were waiting for me. I set out down the street and found a green space no more that 30 seconds away from my front door and yet I have never seen it. This is how life often goes – always rushing somewhere – always in a conversation  – not even seeing what is right in front of us. This space is surrounded by trees, has grass and even has a picnic table. I instantly fantasized about me laying in a hammock under the trees or setting up with my laptop on the grass. Ahhhh.  Then I walked down the hill into little Italy. I have been meaning to do this for months and as I expected it had many treasures waiting for me. I found the most fabulous quaint bohemian teahouse call Algebra.  Complete with a low table with cushions around it – how nummy! I browsed the myriad of eclectic shops and art galleries while being sung to on my cell phone by birthday well-wishers ( I love that!)  Around 3:00 I stopped for lunch at an outdoor café for antipasto and a glass of Riesling.  

As I enjoyed the summer day and my glass of wine I reached into my purse and what did I find, but my birthday card from my mom – a special treat I had taken with me to open on my adventure.   My mom is my best friend and trusted advisor and a card from her always brightens my day.  Her thoughtful message and of course the birthday money made for a delightful interlude.  As I reached into my purse I found another surprise waiting for me. I had packed a book for my trip and so I sat in the sun with my wine, shoes off , feet up, reading a book on a sunny Friday afternoon. I really cannot imagine a better way to spend the day. 

Thank you for letting me share my birthday with you.   I invite you to take a day for yourself or if not a day, even just a few hours to marvel in what is around you, explore your surrounding and indulge yourself. Everyday is worthy of celebration, not just birthdays so why don’t seize the day and tell us how you will celebrate your life today!

Sending love,

Joelle