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Wright Minded
www.wrightminded.com
December 12, 2005
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 Note From Karen
Friends,
The Sequoia Seed is selling so well that
I'm going to have to run a second printing
before I anticipated. That's the kind of
trouble I like! My thanks to all of you who knew
that your family and friends would like
The Sequoia Seed as much as you did.
Holiday Special Ends December 15th...SAVE 25%
on unlimited copies of The Sequoia Seed!
Normally $14.95, now $11.11
(not including s/h;
and tax for Washington residents).
Make a difference in a loved one's life - give a
gift that can lift their spirits and give them
the courage and confidence to live the life you
know they deserve. Click
here to read a few sample chapters!
Feature Article
Life Cycles
I know people all over
the planet read this e-zine and I realize that we
all are experiencing different weather. My Aussie
friends are baking in the sun, while my Saskatchewan
buddies are bundling tight. Although I'm a born and
raised Washingtonian, I escaped to southern climes
for a few decades. California - the land of
perpetual, if hazy, sunshine. No such thing as
summer clothes and winter clothes. Winter
for Valley Girls and Suffer Dudes was rain.
Sometimes torrents of it that flooded homes. But, we
lived near the ocean and eventually the water
refound its Pacific home.
Back here in Washington
state, I'm realizing how living in that balmy,
every-day-is-sun-day climate removed me from
an essential and balancing reality of life - change
is constant. And there's nothing more obvious than
the changing seasons.
Last issue I talked of
tree bones and diamond-tipped pine needles, today
the trees hunkered down in a soupy fog and draped
themselves in blankets of frost. If you've ever seen
an over-flocked Christmas trees, these magnificent
trees would put them to shame. That's what happens
when fog freezes. It clings to every surface
available. Pine-green needles had been coated with a
nightfall of powdered sugar. Like the
scrumptious beignets I used to get in New Orleans.
At 9:00am the
temperature was hanging on precariously to the
mid teens (F). I wore half my closet, but
couldn't find an alternative for bare-handed
picture taking. Like before, I was alone on
the trail. Even in a city that lives winter
every year, on a crisp Sunday morning folks
just had more inviting places to be. Since
digging out from beneath 8 inches of snow ten
days ago, we've not had temps above freezing.
What I'd feared would be a slick and icy
walking trail was, instead, an avenue of
crunchy white carpet.
Winter. Well,
almost...in another ten days. The shortest
day of the year. The bottom of the yearly
cycle and then a slow climb back up. Felt
oddly familiar. As civilized as we believe we
are, nature still has subtle and powerful
influences on our bodies and our psyches. It's
good to remember, every now and again, that we
fit into a much larger plan. Is it coincidence
that the Earth and the human body have similar
percentages of water? It has minerals and
protein, as do we. It has a life cycle of
birth and death and rebirth each year. In many
ways, we do as well.
Cycles are
natural. Inevitable. Needed. Yet, unlike the
trees and the animals who adapt to seasonal
swings, we tend to fight them. Not just the
climatic one, but particularly the
psychological and spiritual cycles. Times that
the early Christian mystic, St. John of the
Cross, called the dark night of the soul.
It feels like all that is good and healthy in
our lives has been muffled with doubt and
confusion. That which we trusted now looks
suspect. Tried-and-true paths end abruptly.
Like a frozen
landscape, we feel covered in numbing snow and
can see only muted shades of grey. We're
comparative creatures and by comparison, we'd
much rather be living Spring. But, if we let
go of comparisons of good and bad, if we
accept that all seasons serve, then we
can wake to the unfolding of our personal
evolution and marvel at the simplicity and
rightness of it all.
If you're
living through a dark night yourself, don't
fight it. Don't resist. There is a
bottom and you will make a come back -
but not until you walk through it consciously.
Listen more closely. Notice more carefully.
Wrap the moment around you like a cocoon and
let it transform you. This is a natural step;
not to be feared. Let die that which has
impeded you. Whatever you've felt you
needed to survive - you're stronger than
that now. You can let it go.
Trust that you
will know the meaning of this moment in due
time. We're never given more than we can
handle, although sometimes it's more than we
can understand at the time. Understanding is
timed perfectly with our capacity to receive
it.
Even under
drifts of cold and stillness, life thrives. If
we but realized how strong life is and how
resilient we are, we would be in perpetual
awe. We have nothing to fear. Ask the ruby red
berries stubbornly clinging to the vine. Why?
Because their purpose is yet to be fulfilled.
They must trust that their time is
approaching. As is yours. Trust life, keep
walking, notice your feet on the path. Winter
is coming...and so is Spring...and Summer.
You Don’t Say
"We
experience
life looking
forward; we
understand
it looking
back"
Karen
Wright
"It
takes
a
lot
of
courage
to
release
the
familiar
and
seemingly
secure,
to
embrace
the
new.
But
there
is
no
real
security
in
what
is
no
longer
meaningful.
There
is
more
security
in
the
adventurous
and
exciting,
for
in
movement
there
is
life,
and
in
change
there
is
power."
Alan
Cohen
"Events
in
our
lives
happen
in a
sequence
in
time,
but
in
their
significance
to
ourselves
they
find
their
own
order
the
continuous
thread
of
revelation."
Eudora
Welty
-
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The Sequoia Seed
by Karen
Wright
Sequoia trees
can tower over 300 feet tall, yet their seed
cones
are very tiny...about the size of a small
chicken egg. It can take
decades for sequoia seeds to break free of
their protective cones
and sprout. Most often, it's the heat from a
wildfire that opens the
cone and releases the seeds. The fire that
destroys much, gives
birth to the seed and new life begins.
We each live
through many of life's fires. Illness, death,
abandonment, disappointment - our fires can
also destroy or give life.
When our personal tragedies leaves us with
nothing familiar to hang onto, that's when
seeds of new possibilities can finally take
root and bring us to a new awareness of who we
are and
why we're here.
The Sequoia
Seed was born from five years of weekly Waking
Up messages. Selected by readers and
strengthened and polished, each of these 23
chapters will reveal new insights into very
familiar challenges. If you've liked Waking
Up, you'll cherish The Sequoia Seed for years
to come.
Order
now and receive your book personally
autographed! $14.95 $11.11 plus s/h (and tax if you
live in Washington). Check out the first few chapters and table of contents.
Just in time for holiday gifts!
Sprouts I, II,
and III
Inspirational quotes that will touch your
life and give you pause. Beautiful laminated
cards, with a unique quote on each card,
come in shimmering organza drawstring
bags. Randomly pull a card when you're
struggling with a decision. It's uncanny how
the quote will provide new insights into the
issue. Or use like a horoscope each day to
give you focus. Stick one in a birthday card
that seems perfect for the recipient. You'll
find a million uses for these
thought-provoking tidbits of wisdom. Each
set of 52 cards is unique and no quote is
repeated from deck to deck. Get all three!
Sprouts I sample cards:
Beautiful teal cards in a shimmering white
organza drawstring bag.
Sample quotes:
- "Our thoughts are the currency with which we buy our lives."
- "What we learn is directly related to the teacher we choose."
- "Clarity does
not bring commitment. Commitment brings clarity."
Item # S1-03
Price: $10.50USD (plus s/h; tax for WA
residents)
Email your order below.
Sprouts II sample cards: 
Rich purple cards in matching organza
drawstring bag.
Sample quotes:
- "It's never too late to be what you might have been."
- "The
Universe is full of magical things patiently
waiting for our wits to grow
sharper."
- "Failure is never so frightening as regret."
Item # S2-04
Price: $10.50USD (plus s/h; tax for WA
residents)
Email your order below.
Sprouts III
sample cards: 
Midnight blue cards in a deep blue organza
drawstring bag.
Sample quotes:
- "We cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are."
- "Don't mistake a clear view for a short distance."
- "Well behaved women rarely make history."
Item # S3-05
Price: $10.50USD (plus s/h; tax for WA
residents)
Email your order below.
Brass display
easel
sold separately.
Special
Events
Personal Development
Workshops/Retreats
The Choice: mastering the mind, living the
dream
Coming to Irvine, CA January 8, 2006
Email for schedule
Looking into your future, do you see an
impending change? Are you being called to live larger - be bolder? What's holding you back? If you're like most who dream big, but never take the step,
what-if self talk is probably working overtime. Learn to master your mind and follow your passion. Lives have been changed by this workshop -
yours can be too!
Mother-Daughter Getaway Weekend
Email for schedule
Mothers and daughters - a special and unique relationship. Or it
can be. It can be more than reliving old storylines; more than event-driven interactions; more than superficial niceties. The wealth of wisdom and personal insights from both sides of the relationship can create a sacred bond that nourishes and gives strength to the whole family.
Whether you're the Mom or the Daughter, don't
your deserve to know and share more while you
still can? Minimum age limit for daughters: 21.
Looking for a Speaker for Your Event?
Email to discuss your goals
If your organization is looking for innovative
and high-impact workshops, you'll find options
for employees and management at:
http://www.wrightminded.com/business_programs.html.
Create stronger leadership and build a culture
of trust and commitment. Businesses that don't
invest in their people are at the mercy of those
who do. Contact me to find out how to customize
these programs for your company and your needs.
Upcoming Speaking Engagements
-
December 30, 2005, Spokane, WA -
South Rotary, Red Lion River Inn, Noon
-
January 7, 2006, Costa Mesa, CA -
Toastmasters District Training, National
University, 3390 Harbor Blvd, 8:30am and 12:30pm
-
January 8, 2006, Irvine, CA - The Choice
workshop for women, Chapman University, 7545
Irvine Center Drive, 1st floor, 9am-4:30pm
-
January 14, 2006, Port Gamble, WA - The
Dauntless Bookstore, 4790 NE State Hwy 104, for
more information:
gollum50@comcast.net
-
January 16, 2006, Spokane, WA - Spokane
Valley Rotary, Mirabeau Park Hotel, 1100 N.
Sullivan, 7:00am
Business Workshops
Email to discuss your goals
If your organization is looking for innovative
and high-impact workshops, you'll find options
for employees and management at:
http://www.wrightminded.com/business_programs.html.
Create stronger leadership and build a culture
of trust and commitment. Businesses that don't
invest in their people are at the mercy of those
who do. Contact me to find out how to customize
these programs for your company and your needs.
Karen’s Picks
Each week in this section I'll feature resources that have
made a difference in my life. I hope they'll enhance yours as
well. And, remember what your Mom told
you...sharing is nice. If you have something you've seen or read
that changed your life, let me know about it. You may find
it featured here in the future!
I wanted to share a resource
with you that I've just found. It's specifically for women
born as baby boomers between 1946 and 1964. There are 78
million Boomers (men and women) turning 50 or older by the
end of 2005. One turns 50 every 7 seconds! Largely ignored
by marketers and advertisers infatuated with youth, Boomers
are making their own connections and creating their own
networks...like we always have. So, I wanted to bring this
resource to your attention. Enjoy!
The National Association of
Baby Boomer Women, empowers women to explore and live their
passions. It is the only association that is devoted to
addressing issues concerning 38 million of the healthiest,
wealthiest, and best educated generation of women to ever
hit midlife. Visit
www.nabbw.com and view the membership package that has
something for every woman at midlife. Join through December
at the reduced rate of $50.00!
Also visit
www.boomerwomenspeak.com the # 1 site on search
engines for "baby boomer women." Join the online
neighborhood and learn how wise, warm and witty women are
connecting, encouraging and supporting one another every
day.
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Market Place
The internet is such a wonderful tool for discovering new and life-enriching
gifts. In this section of Waking Up! I will share with you
the talents and expertise of other
professionals. These are paid advertisements, and although I will hold high ethical standards for placement here, your own due diligence is required to guarantee your satisfaction.
If you'd like to reach a worldwide audience with your quality product or service, please
contact me
by email and I'll give you the specifics on
how to take advantage of this opportunity.
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© Karen Wright, 2005. All rights reserved.
Please feel free to forward this free ezine. See my website at:
www.wrightminded.com
***********
Waking Up is a free weekly ezine created to help you activate
your natural motivation to move beyond mere existence and to
really LIVE your dreams.
To subscribe. visit:
http://www.wrightminded.com/free_ezine.html
To unsubscribe, click here: http://www.wrightminded.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi?f=u&l=wu&e=[email]&p=[pin]
***********
Reproduction for publication is approved, provided the copyright
information is included along with the following attribution:
From "Waking Up", a weekly ezine by Karen Wright. (509)
891-6602; karen@wrightminded.com
***********
Have a story or experience that you think would be helpful in
igniting the fire of passion within others?
Please send it to me at karen@wrightminded.com
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Is it not strange that we fear most that which never happens? 
