October 27, 2008

Challenge or opportunity

Filed under: Uncategorized — admin @ 4:25 pm

Gratitude as Motivator for change, a love letter

Ok, so you got a lousy diagnosis (I did)*. Darn it! Damn it! This was not part of the plan. OK, deal with it. Do what you have to do. Ask questions. Have tests. Have consultations. Have second opinions. Have surgery. Recover. Get on with it.

Whether relaxing at the world class spa resort having had a massage, facial, delicious meal served pool side or sitting in the radiologist’s office awaiting results of the third round of x rays, it is possible to direct your thinking to greet each challenge as an opening. Yes, you can. It’s a version of saying yes to it all and being willing to understand that within every situation, even the challenging ones, exists an opportunity. I love knowing that. I didn’t know it all my life and it is truly life changing to be able to be in touch with the power to use gratitude as a motivator for change. Yes, it is power.

Are you feeling like a victim? Are you enriched by your opportunities? Are you willing to take time such as a visit to a spa to ponder and relax and be open for possibilities?

The spa experience is ideal for generating new and delicious possibilities. Whether you travel to one of the popular, well known spa locations, or create a spa like setting in your own garden, you can benefit from setting that time and space aside to review how it is with your world and what you’d like to change. Consider the possibilities even if your budget is limited: >Getaway Package (you turn off the ringer on your phone) >Aromatherapy Massage (sit in the sun with your favorite lotion) >European Facial (maybe you could try that mask that’s been in the drawer) >Spa Manicure (take turns with a friend or splurge and make an appointment) >Spa Pedicure (a really special treat, include a soak while you read something uplifting or inspiring) >Spa Gift (make an i.o.u. and begin to save spare change to treat yourself later)

And, if cash is flowing, consider this option: Eco-spas are set in a natural or protected area and have a major commitment to incorporating environmentally friendly practices such as organic gardening, water conservation, and ecological building design. They encourage sensitivity to the natural environment and wildlife through education of spa-goers, and may also promote the well being of local people and culture by preserving indigenous healing traditions and ingredients. Thus you’d combine travel and education along with your spa experience.

In addition to a variety of spa options, there are many, many ways to view any situation or fact or incident. I say, choose gratitude. Yes, regardless of the challenge, it is possible to build new muscles while handling it and become stronger in the process. I wish it for you! Please see the resource box below if you*d like to have a coaching conversation about the possibilities. Love, Leslie

*(the result of that diagnosis is a book entitled, The Not-so-Scary Breast Cancer Book, a companion to the earlier self helpful Have You Ever Been A Child? and Private Keep Out!, all at amazon.com)

Why Carlaisa from Ireland Visits Chamonix Mont Blanc

Filed under: Recreation Resources, Travel Tips — admin @ 12:51 pm

Chamonix Haute Savoie France is a unique French town with the infamous Monte Bianco as well as majestic glaciers. Most of us like to go paragliding or sometimes sightseeing. I sometimes catch a plane from Big Piney and stay at a Chamonix guesthouse for the duration of my stay.

My family and I previously went to Clarion Hotel at the Palace however it sometimes didn’t meet the standards of its its advert: The Clarion Hotel at the Palace is within walking distance of 16 different music shows and approximately six miles from Branson’s M Graham Clark Airport. The Grand Village Shops and Grand Palace are located right next door. This location is also three miles west of Highway 65 on the famous 76 Country Blvd. Factory Merchants Mall is one mile away, Celebration City is two miles away, and Silver Dollar City and Table Rock Lake are within six miles of the hotel. The Clarion has hosted its own list of royalty over the years. Former President George Bush and his wife Barbara are two of the celebrated guests that opted to stay at the hotel. Hotel amenities include the restaurant and lounge, indoor and outdoor pools, fitness center, and complimentary continental breakfast. The hotel also offers bell service, laundry facilities, and complimentary limo service for pickup from Branson’s M Graham Clark Airport.

However in Chamonix village the catered chalet is always outstanding. Moreover eating out in my preferred French restaurant, Evelyns Nanaquaket Drive-In Inc, eating yellow squash pie is a real treat. Chamonix Mont Blanc France is a big enough town to insure that there is lots for the holiday maker to do. Including a casino and a weekly market with fresh local produce, Chamonix offers a combination of walking, French alpine charm and shopping which not many French ski resorts can match.