Welcome to The Seasoned Path

Welcome to The Seasoned Path. In each newsletter I will share some of my musings along the path as well as inspirations gained from those who have traveled this way before me. My hope is to tickle your curiosity, heighten your awareness, and encourage you to become an environmentalist for your soul.

In this Issue:

Quote of the Month
Celebrating Your Inner Child
Nature's Coaching Tips
Going Green Tip of the Month
Readings for the Journey
Upcoming events: horses,beaches,kayaking,and much,much more! 

Quote of the Month

Your power comes from pouring your heart and soul into a worthwhile endeavor.
Your power comes from your downtime, your reflective time.
The ultimate is to gain your power from love, and to keep full of love during the setbacks.
There will be setbacks, no matter what path you walk.
To get a lot out of life, you need to be courageous.
To be a courageous person, you need to believe in yourself.”
– from Heron Dance

Celebrating Your Inner Child

"Come out, come out, wherever you are!" Summer is the time to invite your inner child to come out and play. Too often our lives become overtaken by our adult roles, and we lose touch with that delightful youngster inside of us. Life becomes full of routines and responsibilities, and we forget to honor the most unique and best part of ourselves – our inner spirit.

This summer, it's time for you to become your own best friend! It's time to rediscover your joy. Have fun! Be loving and kind to your self. That beautiful childlike spirit within you has been neglected and locked up for far too long. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to create a special day to celebrate that wonderful being. To do that you have to reconnect with your heart's desires, awaken forgotten dreams, reignite past joys, and open the door to adventure!

Here is an easy 6 Step Plan for Celebrating Your Inner Child.

Step One- Set the Intention: Block off a day on your calendar, and inform everyone in your life that you are taking the day off and will not be available.

Step Two- Reflect and Reconnect: Spend some time becoming re-acquainted with your inner child. You may want to journal or go for a long meditational walks. Here are some questions to ask your self:
When I was a child, I used to love….
I feel most happy and free when….
My energy soars when…
If time and money were not an issue, I would…
My heart smiles when…

Step Three- Plan the Perfect Day
Now that you have gotten to know each other, imagine spending a whole day with this beautiful child. What would be the most perfect day you could have together? How would the day begin? Where would you like to go? What would you like to do just for the pure fun of it? How would the morning unfold? What would you like to do for lunch? How could you make the most of the afternoon? What would make the evening a perfect closing, for a wonderful day? Create an agenda for the most delightful way to celebrate you!

Step Four- Preparation
Send out reminders that you will be unavailable for the day. Make any reservations that are necessary, fill the tank with gas, put your clothes out, and pack your day bag. Have everything ready so when you awake in the mourning, you can just walk out the door.

Step Five– Enjoy
Allow the day to unfold. Be ready to drop all your plans in an instant and follow your heart's desire wherever it may lead. Embrace your inner child, be fully present in each moment, and enjoy the adventure.

Step Six– Savor the Day
Before you slip back into your daily routine, take time to acknowledge and absorb all the wonderful moments of your day. Feel the happiness, the lightness, the completeness. Thank your inner child for being so patient and waiting for you. Most importantly, set a date for when you can play again. Now return to Step One.

Nature’s Coaching Tips

Recently, we experienced a brutal heat wave in Pennsylvania. Six days of high humidity and temperatures in the upper nineties. The air was thick and oppressive, and I became totally house bound. For someone who relies on nature and fresh air to feed my soul, this confinement was debilitating. I felt sluggish and restless and needed to refocus my energy. So I moved my coaching "walk and talks" to the early mornings and spent the afternoons catching up some reading, writing this month's newsletter, and planning future retreats.
Finally, a powerful thunderstorm broke the heat wave, and I awoke to a deliciously crisp and cool morning. Sitting outside to enjoy my morning coffee, I saw that my garden had suffered in my absence.  I put on my gloves and got to work. As I cleared the weeds and staked the tomatoes, I found my spirit returning to me. It was good to be outdoors and active again.
That's when I realized the past few days encapsulated the quote I had selected for this month's newsletter. Big and small setbacks, like inclement weather, are an inevitable part of life. My outdoor activities had to be put aside for awhile, and my power was found in engaging myself in creative endeavors. Everyday courage can sometimes be just accepting what is and finding new ways to express who you are and what you love.

Going Green Tip of the Month

Slow down you move too fast, you've got to make your money last...
Did you know that driving 10 mph faster than the speed limit increases fuel consumption by 20%. and 20 mph faster the extra gas wastage climbs to 25%.  Also when driving on the highway use  your cruise control function. Maintaining a constant speed is incredibly beneficial in making the most of your car’s mpg capability. Something else to keep in mind, plan to do your errands when traffic is consistently lighter. If you can avoid unnecessary starting and braking, fuel usage can be improved by up to 10%.

Readings for the Journey

Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life  by Marshall B. Rosenberg. PhD

Horse Sense for People  by Monty Roberts

Listening to Nature by Joseph Cornell

Upcoming Events

HORSE SENSE: An Adventure Retreat for Women (September 18th): This is a unique opportunity to connect with your Self through a magnificent animal. The day will include time to groom and connect with your horse, a beginning riding lesson,  and personal visioning activities. Where: Thorncroft Equestrian Center, Malvern, Pa. Time: 10- 3:30 Investment: $80  Limited to 8 women!

CAMP ME, MYSELF, & I: A SELF CARE RETREAT IN CAPE MAY (Sunday, Oct. 5-Tuesday Oct.7th): Life Coaches Patt Osborne and Karin Marcus will team up again for 2 nights and 3 days offering a combination of outdoor adventures and personal growth activities. Location: The Marianist Family Retreat Center in quiet Cape May Point, just steps away from the beach and Cape May light house Your Investment: $369 before September 1st/$399 after September 1st. Includes: modest single or double accommodations, all meals, guided group activities, all retreat materials, plus a coaching session with Patt or Karin to continue your self-care once you get home. Payments can be made by check or on-line with PayPal. To register contact Patt at: 609-953-0027 / patt.adventurecoach@verizon.net,  www.adventurecoach.com

PURPOSE CLARITY TELECLASS (Oct. 8,15,22&29 Wednesdays 7-8pmEST)
Are you searching for your purpose in life? Are you looking for a new direction? Are you re-evaluating your priorities? Are you craving more meaning in your life? Then you will benefit from this Purpose Clarity Program. It will help you rediscover your inspired self and identify your future direction. Your Investment: $200 includes EBook, 4/1hr group calls, and 1 personal coaching session.

WALKING WITH INTENTION (Friday, Nov. 6): Enjoy a 3.5 mile hike exploring the beautiful John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge. Our focus will be on reconnecting with your life purpose and living with intention. Time: 10:00 to 3:00pm  Investment: $70 early registration by Oct. 23rd / Later $60

PATHWAYS TO SELF HEALING: A Women's Retreat to Nurture the Body, Mind and Spirit
(March 15-21, 2009 ):Join us for 6 days of renewal, reflection, and adventure at the Maho Bay Eco-Resort in the Caribbean. East meets west in this unique program with Asian Body Therapist Linda Marrical teaching the art of self acupressure, and Life Coach Karin Marcus guiding women to become environmentalist of their souls.
Your Investment: $1,380 includes 6 days of lodging and all retreat activities.
Easy Payment Plans: Save $50 with single payment by cash or check $1,330.Or pay by installments $100 non-refundable deposit to reserve you spot followed by four $320  payments

For More information on these and other retreats go to www.SteppingOutCoaching.com.

The Small Print

To schedule a complimentary 30 minute coaching phone session, email me at Karin@SteppingOutCoaching.com or call 610-667-5247

Visit my website for more coaching info www.SteppingOutCoaching.com

A Note About My Recommendations
I provide links in this newsletter to products and services I am offering or I have personally found valuable. If you are ever disappointed with one of these recommendations, please let them and me know. If they don't make it right, I will.

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The Seasoned Path is published 12 times a year and distributed by e-mail to subscribers on or about the first Monday of each month. Comments, submissions and suggestions are welcome. Please forward any or all of this newsletter to those you know will appreciate it and encourage them to subscribe for themselves.

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