January 2012 Archives

If you were to drum out a song for those you love, what words would you hope to convey?

If you were to make a heart card, what would you draw in and outside the
heart?

If you danced love, how brave would you have to be?

No matter what way you choose to express, hope you have fun.

Don't forget to send those love notes to yourself..."What I love about myself is that I...What people say they love about me is...

Celebrate the memories, the today, and the tomorrow hopes of love.

 Natalie

Natalie Caine M.A.
Empty Nest Support Services
Life In Transition, What's Next?
(800) 446-3310 or (818) 763-0188
Los Angeles

Featured in Time Magazine, USA Today, Huffington Post, Better Homes and Gardens, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Lifetime Radio for Women, Chicago Tribune, Sirius, Associated Press, Miami Herald, and many more.

Change is inevitable. Get Ready. Get Support. Life transitions need a hand to hold.
www.emptynestsupport.com
www.lifeintransition.org
 
- Private Telephone Consultations
- Speaking engagements
- Support groups
- Workshops
- Mentoring
- Facebook, Linked In, Twitter

What do you know about love?  That is the question I posed to my ongoing fabulous support group.  They gave themselves about fifteen minutes to write. You can imagine the joy and tears that filled the living room. Colored pastels were also on the table if they felt like doodling or drawing rather than words or wanted to do both.

Humans get hurt.  Humans tell their stories over and over to heal.  Humans feel the happy force of love and its ignition of new possibilities.

These are some words from their writing about what they know about love:

 Children do it for me
 Not a promise
 Still believe
 Didn't learn enough about it to receive it
 Makes me cry
 Not hallmark on valentine's day
 My dog
 Gardening
 Learning something is love
 Giving is love
 Asking for help is love
 Playing outside is love
 Vacations from self-pity
 Tears mean you love
 I eat less when i am in love
 I pass on my smile when I am love
 Love is for everyone
 Baking
 Reading is love
 Work is love
 Beauty
 Everyone everywhere in the world feels it and wants it
 Silly
 Parents weren't really in love
 Husband is my teacher of love
 Up to me to love
 Comes from within
 Motivator
 Mysterious
 Solo can be love
 Hiking is love
 Sitting with a friend
 Praying is love
 Being present to love
 What would you say about love?

What loving action will you give to yourself and then others? One woman in the group said, "I will be ok with sitting on the sofa and doing nothing, rather than feeling guilty."  Another said, " I will go somewhere in my city this month that I have never gone to before and get over my fear of going alone."  "I will call a friend and tell them I need some help today."  "I will write a letter with no words, just doodles to my daughter."  "I will smile when I am at work, even though I wish I had a different job." "I will clean out my closet."

No matter what, LOVE RETURNS. Love is fed by what meaning, what deeply matters to you in your life.   Nurture love. Nurture Joy.

"I will remind myself that my life is really good and I am a good person." "I will self-care and stop thinking about the other person."  "I will dress sexy for me."  "I will make that sacred personal place in my home." "I will back off from nagging my kids."  "I will laugh more by going outside to play."

Wishing you many possibilities of love,
Natalie

Natalie Caine M.A.
Empty Nest Support Services
Life In Transition, What's Next?
(800) 446-3310 or (818) 763-0188
Los Angeles

Featured in Time Magazine, USA Today, Huffington Post, Better Homes and Gardens, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Lifetime Radio for Women, Chicago Tribune, Sirius, Associated Press, Miami Herald, and many more.

Change is inevitable. Get Ready. Get Support. Life transitions need a hand to hold.
www.emptynestsupport.com
www.lifeintransition.org
 
- Private Telephone Consultations
- Speaking engagements
- Support groups
- Workshops
- Mentoring
- Facebook, Linked In, Twitter

Parents packed up their college kids, again, and said goodbye, after a great winter break together.  Our support group shared that even though they have done this before, tears still fell.  Some said they held back tears, while others just didn't want to stop the sudden drop.  All were grateful to be sitting together, sharing their stories and hope for, what's next. 

Reflection of what worked, what was unrealistic, and what was a challenge, is an ongoing journey.  Now they hope to get into nature for easy hikes and ponder their new role as parents and as women.

Letting go over and over is easier when you have women on a similar path to understand the unknowns and the hopes.

One mom, again, hopes to stay away from her son's Facebook because it either punches her buttons what he is doing, along with the photos she sees, or she slips and says something about what he is doing because she read it on Facebook.    The computer is so seductive, isn't it?

Another mom is taking a sculpture class, while two others are wondering what new career would be a fit for them. Care-taking her mom is another's challenge.  Relationship and moving, faces a mom because of her being separated.  Over- scheduled or under scheduled sits in the room of exploration.  Then, of course, as women, there is the ongoing chat and laughter about losing those five pounds and being more active.  

Bottom line, it is so much fun to be together no matter what we are exploring or laughing about, as we walk this ever changing role as parents and women.

How was your winter vacation with your family?

Natalie

Natalie Caine M.A.
Empty Nest Support Services
Life In Transition, What's Next?
(800) 446-3310 or (818) 763-0188
Los Angeles

Featured in Time Magazine, USA Today, Huffington Post, Better Homes and Gardens, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Lifetime Radio for Women, Chicago Tribune, Sirius, Associated Press, Miami Herald, and many more.

Change is inevitable. Get Ready. Get Support. Life transitions need a hand to hold.
www.emptynestsupport.com
 
- Private Telephone Consultations
- Speaking engagements
- Support groups
- Workshops
- Mentoring
- Facebook, Linked In, Twitter

I said I would use lotion during the dry winter and I didn't.  I did say out loud what really matters to me this year of 2012.   I did write a list of my strengths and challenges.  I wrote who I am grateful for and who I am no longer interested in, which sounds so cold when I write it, but it is true for now.  

I am beginning, while reflecting. I feel a little on tilt.  I am excited about 2012, partially because I love newness. 

Here is a thought for you:

What do you want to say to yourself?   
-  I am....... 
-  I feel....   
-  I think... 
-  I no longer want......  
-  I do want...... 
-  I am grateful.....

What do you want to say to someone?  I was thinking about you and.....

Finding meaning, new meaning, and keeping meaning that matters to you, will feed your happiness.   What is a meaningful life to you?  You get to take your time. You get to change your mind.  Your anchor is compassion and curiosity. 

When you are living an unknown, pause, go inside and have a little chat with yourself about what you feel, know, and need each day.

I wish you laughter and wellness, topped with the grace of simply loving the life you have and keeping hope lit for dreams and desires.

Ask for help. You would help someone if they asked.

Natalie

Natalie Caine M.A.
Empty Nest Support Services
Life In Transition, What's Next?
(800) 446-3310 or (818) 763-0188
Los Angeles

Featured in Time Magazine, USA Today, Huffington Post, Better Homes and Gardens, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Lifetime Radio for Women, Chicago Tribune, Sirius, Associated Press, Miami Herald, and many more.

Change is inevitable. Get Ready. Get Support. Life transitions need a hand to hold.
 
- Private Telephone Consultations
- Speaking engagements
- Support groups
- Workshops
- Mentoring
- Facebook, Linked In, Twitter