Hi gang!

It is 5 days and counting to the election! It is an exciting time in our national history and for those here in the US I am counting on you to get out and vote!

(My fuzzy Canadian butt does not get the privilege, as you will read below in this Month's article:  The Election, Standards of Behavior and The Future of a Nation so get out there and exercise your right!)

In other news, I had the privilege of spending 10 days in the desert with my husband, 4 of which were spent in bathrobes at the Mii Amo spa at Enchantment resort in Sedona.  It is one of the most beautiful places on the planet, and I can tell you, hiking the red rocks to greet the day, hitting the pool, getting massages, having naps and then going to dinner in your bathrobe…. It just never gets old.  (Sigh.)  Oh and the BEST PART was that when I arrived home to our condo and the cold, wind and dark grey clouds of the Cleveland fall, I could not have been happier.  I love that feeling of coming home with a renewed sense of appreciation for what you have. Yay!

Speaking of appreciating what we already have, this is a really good tip for those of you who may be experiencing some fear and upset around the economy.  Most people reading this email, you have a place to sleep, you won’t go hungry, you have people who care about your wellbeing and you are safe. There are so many things to be grateful for at this time and the beautiful thing is that no matter what is going on in the world, you still have the power to create your future.  If you happen to have the "economy blues" you may want to take a quick read over the Thoughts on The Economy on the Coach Joelle Blog for a little pick me up!

And for those of you who want to get a personal-power infusion you can sign yourself up for Monday’s Introduction to Passionate Powerful Living event and learn more about how you fall in love with your life, even in these uncommon times.

Also, for those of you who are local to Cleveland, Coach Joelle will be a guest on That’s Life With Robin Swoboda” on Fox 8 at 10 am Thursday, November 6th.   We will be talking about claiming your power and it will be an excellent inspirational interlude in your day.

But now onto other important things, really important things.... read on.

I love you!!
 

Joelle

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The Election, Standards of Behavior and The Future of a Nation

I have been thinking a lot recently.  I have been thinking about the times we are in and the current state of affairs.  The world waits as America fights for its future in an intense election and navigates an economic situation that is arguably the most challenging of the modern age.  And here I am, someone who tends not to pay attention to such things, paying very close attention and recognizing that it would be inappropriate to let this period pass without comment.

My job, my commitment in life is for all people to experience the magic of a life lived on purpose.  I stand for love, peace, courage and people just being happy.   While I am an imperfect person and I do not always hit the mark, these are the things to which I aspire and want to create in my own life and in the world.

So in the face of the world at this moment (and the US in particular) I will put aside my usual bright eyes and happy, empowerment-centered message to share a reflection of this moment in history.

I have thought for weeks now.  What do I write about all of this? How do I share without hurting, offending, or alienating some part or other of the population during these heated times?   It has left me relating to a line by Canadian singing group, Moxi Fruvous, a satirical, often political group of buskers that became a staple in the mainstream Canadian pop scene in the 90’s.

The line in question opens a song entitled “The Gulf War Song” written about the first gulf war.

“We got a call to write a song about the war in the gulf,
but we shouldn’t hurt anyone’s feelings.
So we tried….. then gave up…. Because there was no such song.
But the trying was very revealing.”

I understand how they felt.

Over the past months I have been forwarded many emails (as I am sure you all have) that have come from people I have respected and admired, speaking very specifically and passionately about the election and the candidates. It takes courage to share such strong views and I will not be following their lead.  

The truth is that after the primaries I would have voted for either candidate happily, I was actually quite content because what I saw, in that brief shining moment, was a better world either way and two men who shared my views and would take us to a brighter future.  But today, I do not feel that. In this race I have seen things that trouble and disappoint me, things that make me question what we are doing, what we are becoming as a nation and what values we are fostering.

Somewhere along the way, it feels to me that it got dangerous to have an opinion in this country.  I am a huge advocate of self-expression and yet never have I been so aware that sharing my opinion at this point in history is actually a somewhat risky affair.   I am Canadian, and I grew up to hold a certain set of values that I have always been proud to hold. Because of my nationality, I not only have somewhat of a unique outside perspective on the current affairs but I also am watching with an interesting experience of impotence. You see, while I have spent 10 years and thousands of dollars to live in America, I am still a year away from even being eligible to apply for American Citizenship and that means -  I don’t get a vote.  I believe that voting is not only a right but a responsibility and that if we choose not to vote then we are also reneging the right to complain if we don’t like the outcome. So as one of those who doesn't have a choice, I pass the torch to those of you who do to decide my future with your ballot.  

I stand here, watching an increasingly heated struggle for power between two parties and the echoing response from the public; angry chanting, booing, defacement of property, violence and even someone carving up their own body to fuel the fire of divisiveness and fear.

While some of this activity is certainly the behavior of a few unstable people, how much of this is actually created by the negative campaigning, antagonistic speakes and that “anything goes” mentality of the modern election?

When I look to our future leaders, the behavior I am often seeing does not have the feel of “noble and admirable” leadership but often more of someone in sighting a riot. “Hiss… Boooooooo”.  I have honestly had flashes cross my mind of a day when people would have picked up pitch forks and headed out into the street to fight their neighbor.  The divisiveness that has been created and the growing mood of hate and intolerance for another’s opinion that is being spurred has me uncomfortable, sad and yes, at moments a little scared

I often find myself asking this same question that Moxy Fruvous so eloquently asked in their song 10 years ago….

“What makes a person so poisonous righteous,
That they'd think less of anyone, who just disagrees?
She's just a pacifist, he's just a patriot.
If I said you were crazy, would you have to fight me?”

Would you?

Get your facts strait.

Ok, so part of the whole election deal is that everyone puts out their own ads and their own propaganda but as a relative newbie to the country I can honestly say that I had no idea that you got differently slanted news depending on what stations you watched.  I really had no idea, in fact, I can hardly believe that this is what we have come to.  It is as though “truth” and direct reporting has no place in our current American society.  Depending on what channel you watch you will get news with a spin to the Right or the Left and I actually find this puzzling and shocking. It is as thought integrity has no place in this conversation and it honestly makes me wonder where a person could find the whole truth and nothing but the truth.  And by “Truth” I mean that I would be interested in someone reporting the information – “he said this”, “she said that”, “we did this” and let people figure out what it means for themselves. That sounds like news to me but perhaps I am naive. (For those of you who want to keep our politicians honest and want to sift out the real news from opinion you can visit www.factcheck.org with their tag line “holding politicians accountable” and you will be a small step closer to what we are really deciding on Tuesday.)

A word on campaign tactics, leadership and personal integrity.

It appears that the going philosophy on much of the political process is that the end justifies the means and winning at any and all costs means that anything is fair game.  What I have witnessed in the primaries and in the current campaigning is an undue focus on what is wrong with the other person, a shameless willingness to bend the truth or outright lie to hurt the opponent and displays of sarcasm and meanness (again, call me naive) to make the opposition look bad. 

So, apparently this is acceptable behavior, all is fair in love, war and politics but the thing I really want to get to today is, should it be?  Should it be “win at all costs?” and should the American people turn a blind eye and go, ok, so my guy/my gal/my party lied a little, played a little dirty or was a bit of a jerk (or a lot of one), but as long as we win then once we are in power we will see leadership, honor and integrity, the stuff that makes a great president.

Is this not the same thing that got us into our current financial situation?  Win at all costs?  We have created a culture where anything is justifiable if the money or the prize is right whether it is hurting people for the sake of a stock price, putting dangerous products on the market because they will make you a lot of money before people start dying of brain tumors (read a little about Aspartame and you will get my drift) or baking the planet so we can drive hummers.  I am an advocate of a free market, but I ask, could we try doing it with a little balance, a little compassion, a little self and other respect?

As I have watched the candidates battling it out I have been shocked and disappointed by what I have seen when it comes to negative campaigning, personal attacks and outright lying.  I would like to say it was just this one or that one but much to my chagrin, each campaign has been guilty of this behavior at some level and it astonishes me when a candidate or representative stands in front of the media, caught in a lie against the opposition and instead of withdrawing their comment or admitting an error they try to spin it.  My heart broke when I saw a representative for my preferred candidate do this – ah, come on guys! Is this our standard of behavior?!!  Is this what we have come to? Is this how we play? Is this what we condone? 

Let’s imagine if we took this win at all cost mentality to other aspects of life.

Reality check - Election values in everyday life

Imagine you are interviewing someone for a job.  Now imagine that person comes into your office and they start, not with an explanation of their resume or a listing of their best attributes or a sharing of their record of past accomplishment, but instead they begin by saying why the other applicants suck. They sneer in disgust at their opponents’ experience and share how they looked into Bob’s past and have some pretty scary stories to tell you about Bob. They slam their fist down on the desk a few times and then walk out.

Ok – so does this sound like an appealing candidate.  Oh yes, oh yes!  Please come work for me!  

Let’s try another scenario shall we. 

It appears you have an admirer and they want to go on a date.  They show up at your door, not with flowers and love letters but with a list of their exaggerated opinions of and past wrongdoings of the other guy that likes you. They go on to smear the other’s name with half truths and hyperbole and then put out their hand to take you out for ice-cream.  Now that’s sexy!  EWWWWW!  I mean really come on – is this attractive, appealing and anything you would want to spend time with, much less the next 4 years?

I offer that if our children were running for president of their school in the ways that it has become normal for an adult to get elected to the highest position in the country THEY WOULD BE REPRIMANDED.

I can see the signs now…

“Davey, picked his nose and ate it in grade 3, do you really want a nose-picker for president?’

“Samantha hung out with the band geeks for her whole first semester – no geeks for president!”

Take this to the polls

As I am writing I have to keep checking in, what are you trying to do here, Joelle?  What do you want people to come away with?

Would I like to have you vote in alignment with my personal views – sure, if they are in alignment with yours but I am unwilling to tell you how to vote.

Would I like to see - what is the acceptable norm in politics shift to be in alignment with the values that we would expect from the great men and women in the world?  Yes. Yes I would and I maintain that much of what I have seen is not that.

I think what I would like most of all, is for people to take a moment and think.

Don’t cheer, don’t get swept away in the drama or the “specially selected news” or carefully rehearsed talking points.  Take the time to educate yourself on the motives, records, plans and dare I say character of the individuals vying for your vote.  What do they REALLY stand for, what will they REALLY do, how have they handled themselves over the past few months and yes, the past years and is that the behavior of someone you would want to have impacting your life, shaping your future and the future of your children and running your country. 

Take a moment and step apart from your party and look at the candidate who has been chosen, is this the person that aligns with your values and what you want to see in the world?

If you find yourself well - informed and the answer is clear wonderful. Then, by all means, vote with a clear conscious knowing that you have cast a vote for a future of your own choosing.  If you are left a little puzzled, I invite you to consider something a very lovely and thoughtful woman named Denise La Croix, shared with me regarding her vote.  This paragraph is a portion of an email she sent out in response to a mass email denigrating one of the candidates. 

Denise shared that while she is registered to vote one way, she has consciously chosen to vote another.  She listed those reasons and then closed with this….

“Get quiet.  Go within.  And ask who is the best choice for me, my family, my neighborhood, my country and the world.  Whatever answer you hear from your Heart will be the right answer for you.  Let's take the hate, fear and blame out of this election and replace it with Heart.  That way we can never lose, no matter who wins!!!”

And I think Denise said it in one line better than I have said in this whole rambling article.  Let’s take the hate, fear and blame out of this election and out of our country and replace it with the heart. Let’s take it out and replace it with love, compassion, understanding and a place for our friends and neighbors and family members to share a different view, and for that to be ok. Let’s create a place where politicians can campaign on the issues and still honor each other. 

What do you say?  Are you with me?

That gulf war song I told you about… it ends like this, (imagine a dark room, the crowd silent, tears running down our faces, voices raised,  a capella, in four part harmony….)

And history seems to agree
that I would fight you for me,
That us would fight them for we.
Is that how it always will be?

[Choke.]

It doesn’t have to be.

I believe people are good and that when we get quiet and follow our hearts
 we will choose things that allow us to find harmony, prosperity and happiness in our lives and with our fellow citizens.

As you step out in these days leading up to the election,
as you cast your vote,
and as you live in the aftermath,
be the person who you would honor and respect,
hold others to these standards,
and vote accordingly.

With love,

Coach Joelle

Start your research right now at:  www.johnmccain.com  and  www.barackobama.com and of course www.factcheck.org

Have a comment? Post it on the Coach Joelle blog. 

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The Make Your Life Program™  

January 14 - March 11, 2009

The Make Your Life Program™ is a one-of-a-kind tele-program which combines practical coaching skills, and professional support with creativity and play, allowing you to consciously create a life you love and experience the magic of a life lived on purpose.

READ MORE about the Make Your Life Program!

Experience the Magic of a Life Lived on Purpose

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Recent Coach Joelle Blog posts include:

Thoughts on the Economy from Coach Joelle

Old Shoes, Cat Hair and Those Pesky Life Limiters

Making the Life - My Peace Schedule

Make Your Life - Let the Adventure Begin!

Take a Walk With Your God

My Father's Daughter

Everything's Coming Up Roses: Lots and lots of them

What I Think About the Youth of America

 

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Make your life a work of art!  Find yourself, take it to the next level, create a whole new life! Learn more› Contact Joelle via email or at 216-320-9298. ”Working with Joelle has really given me the tools to own my power, to trust my intuition and to follow my dreams no matter what.” -Alexandra Jaye  Malibu, CA

Get more Joy in your job! Increase productivity, earn more and have more fun at work! Learn more› Contact Joelle to explore the possibilities. via email or at 216-320-9298. “This was truly a life changing event for me both personally and professionally.” -Gary B. Feldman  Vice President of Sales and  Broker Relations  Delta Dental of Arizona

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