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 heart. 

In this Issue:

Quote of the Month
Dispelling the Doldrums of Winter
Upcoming events: Workshops, One Day and Three Day Retreats 

Quote of the Month

Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving
safely and in an attractive and well preserved body, but
rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, latte in the other,
body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming,
"WOO HOO, what a Ride!" 
Sark

Dispelling the Doldrums of Winter

March often begins with cold winds and heavy snows. Cabin fever starts setting in and you may  experience a feeling of inertia, emptiness, and apathy. But don’t despair, by the end of March the first harbingers of spring will appear -- robins, crocuses and daffodils. Now is the time to prepare for new beginnings. It’s time to start shaking off the doldrums of winter.

Appropriately, we go into hibernating mode during January and February. But as time passes we may begin to feel at a loss, disconnected from our inner vitality and essence. The Native Americans have a  term for this -- soul loss. This is a separation from our essential self, from meaningful pursuits, and life affirming activities. Some try to fill this emptiness with overeating, or to overcome the blues with partying, while others simply succumb to the inertia by becoming an accomplished couch potato.

If you find yourself in this predicament, it’s time to provide a jump start for your inner spirit. That empty feeling is really a longing for something new to appear and fill the void. It’s calling you to grow and become more, to have new experiences. Often the best antidote for soul loss is to try something you have never done before.

It’s wonderful to be a beginner again, to learn a new way of moving, to speak a new language, and to see things from a different perspective. There is great freedom in not needing to know all the answers or to be the expert. It’s okay to fall down, to pick yourself up, and to try again. It’s rewarding to remember how much you can learn from your mistakes. Soon, new synapses start flashing across your brain. Long forgotten muscles start supporting you. Endorphins brighten your smile. Apathy is replaced with curiosity. Inertia is dispelled by spurts of creativity.

What are some things that you have always wanted to do but never took the time? Maybe you always wanted to travel to Italy, so why not take a class in Italian. What can you do differently to break worn out patterns? Perhaps you have been escaping to the movies a lot this winter; why not go see a play instead, or go to a concert, or ballet? Has your exercise routine become drudgery? Then mix it up. Try yoga, or Pilates, or a spinning class. Art classes are also wonderful winter activity. If this is something you do regularly, try a new medium, a totally different avenue of expression.

My husband and I enjoy hiking, but we haven’t had much opportunity recently with the unprecedented seventy inches of snowfall in our area this winter. So we bought snowshoes! It was great fun to lay fresh trails through empty woods. We fell, we laughed, and we embraced the beauty of winter! We literally viewed old paths with new eyes.

The whole point is to get out of your comfort zone. It's time to leave your winter cave and reconnect with your inner child. Here is a great challenge: Use your curiosity and ingenuity to come up with one new experience for every month of the year. Enjoy! 

Upcoming Events

MARCH MAKEOVER: Re-inventing Yourself from the Inside Out
Saturday, March 27

Is the real you still hidden behind door #3?
Do you need to pay greater attention to what your body is telling you?
Are you seeking fun and camaraderie with like-minded women?

Then come join Life Coach Karin Marcus and Asian Body Therapist Linda Marrical for a day of movement, sharing, and laughter all designed to help you re-kindle your inner spirit through the doorway of Taoism and the 5 elements.

When:  12:30 – 4:30 pm
Where: The Healing Touch Center, Havertown, PA
Investment: $65 Pre-registration Required


PURPOSE CLARITY WORKSHOP
Wednesdays,March 17 – April 7
If you are:
• Wrestling with a life situation or transition
• Trying to make a critical career decision, or
• Craving more meaning in your life?
Then the Purpose Clarity Program will help you:
• Identify your passions and interest
• Brainstorm up to 40 ideas of possible new directions
• Use your top ten ideas to discover your purpose
• Create a plan to bring your purpose to life.
Join Karin Marcus, Professional Certified Coach, for this engaging and inspiring workshop, and take the first step toward making your life purpose a reality.
When:  7 – 8:30 pm
Where: The Healing Touch Center, Havertown PA
Investment: $175, includes four classes, Purpose Clarity Workbook, and a personalized follow-up  coaching session by phone. Pre-Registration Required

CRUISING THROUGH TRANSITIONS
Mondays, April 5th -May 3rd
If you are wrestling with a life situation or transition, looking for a new direction, or revaluating your priorities, welcome aboard. Join Life Coach Karin Marcus and a group of your peers for lively discussions and brainstorming activities that help you learn to embrace change, re-identify your skills and interests, envision new possibilities, and set a course toward a life filled with a renewed sense of purpose.
Where: Main Line School Night at The Creutzburg Center, Radnor,PA
When: 9:45-10:45am
Investment: $65
To Register: Go to mainelineschoolnight.org or call 610-687-8201


LIVING IN FULL BLOOM
Friday, April 29th
Spring has sprung! It’s time to find your passion and bring new vitality into your life. Join Life Coach Karin Marcus, for a day of creativity and blossoming at the beautiful Chanticleer Gardens.
When:  10:30-2:30
Where: 786 Church Rd Wayne, PA.
Investment: $60, includes entrance fee.
Pre-registration required.

SPRING AWAKENINGS: A Women's Retreat to Revive the Mind, Body and Spirit (Sunday, May 16- Tuesday, May 18)
Enjoy an extended weekend in the country to actualize and nurture your feminine power. Gather with like minded women for 2 nights and 3 days of inspiring workshops, quiet reflection, and outdoor activities.
East meets West in this unique program with Asian Body Therapist Linda Marrical and Certified Life Coach Karin Marcus. We will help you revitalize your inner resources and wisdom through the practices of Chi Kung, guided meditation, visualization, journaling, dialoging, sharing and relaxation. This is a wonderful retreat to come to either by yourself, with a friend, sibling, or adult daughter.
To heal the body, you will be introduced to:
• Self acupressure techniques
• Chi Kung exercises (similar to Tai Chi)
• Breath work and meditations
To heal the spirit, you will explore:
• Extreme Self Care
• The Healing Qualities
• Nature's Wisdom

When: Sunday 3:00 to Tuesday 11:00
Where: Graystones Preserve, hidden in the Pocono Mountains, is the home base for our Pathways to Self-Healing Retreats in 2010. This beautiful natural setting has clean, secluded cabins surrounded by 6000 acres and four miles of pristine stream, bordered by private glens with comfortable Adirondack chairs.
Investment: Includes lodging, linens, food, and retreat activities. $375 for double occupancy, $475 for single occupancy. Reserve your spot with $100 deposit. Pre-registration required.

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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Copyright © 2010 by Karin Marcus. All rights reserved.
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