Newsletter:Right Now! Coach

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LifeRhyme Notes
January & February 2003
By Rev. Rochelle Melander, Coach
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IN THIS ISSUE...
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We've Moved!
Free Coaching!
Clogged Pipes
Single Step Challenge (TM)
Brief Book Reviews
Quote for the Journey
Reader's Corner
News

WE'VE MOVED!
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If you need to send me anything via snail mail, call or e-mail to get the new address. Our e-mail address will also be changing, so use the one below.
New phone number: 414-963-1222
E-mail address: rochelle@liferhymecoaching.com

FREE CALL-IN COACHING!
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On February 11th, from 11:00 -12:00 AM (Central Time), I will be offering to YOU, LifeRhyme Notes subscribers, free call-in coaching. During that hour, you may call me (414-963-1222) for a free, five-minute coaching moment. If you call and get voicemail, do not leave a message. I won't be able to return messages. Keep dialing until you get me! And, if you do not get through, do not worry -- I will offer another free coaching call-in soon!

CLOGGED PIPES
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About a week after we moved into our new house, the dishwasher overflowed, dumping water into the kitchen and below that, onto boxes piled in the laundry room. At the same time, the sink drain stopped draining. The trouble? A badly connected dishwasher and a pipe clogged with mold and debris.

"It's the worst pipe I've seen," grunted the plumber.

"How did that happen?" I queried, suspecting that I or one of the kids had inadvertantly stuffed a meatloaf or a sneaker down the tiny drain-holes.

"It hasn't been used enough. When you don't use a pipe, it grows moldy and rusty and eventually gets like this."

UNDERUSE! I'd never have guessed that! And, it got me thinking about life. That's how the parts of our lives that we fail to use become -- moldy, rusted, and clogged.

So, what happens? We get that big epiphany on New Year's Eve and resolve to change our lives -- become better and more beautiful and all. We'll devote quality time to our friendships, really love the one we're with, get buff, make next year's holiday gifts ourselves, and organize the house.

THEN, we start working on those resolutions and it doesn't go so well. And, that's not so surprising - because we're operating with clogged pipes! We haven't used those pipes in years and it takes a while to clear out the crap and get the good stuff flowing. Unfortunately, many of us get discouraged by that "clogged up feeling" and stop trying. Those who long to write cease writing because it's too hard to get the right words down on paper. Those who want to get fit, stop after the first week, discouraged by cranky muscles. Those out of practice relating find communicating very challenging and sink back into a safer but more lonely place.

I've been thinking about this in my life and I'd like to encourage you to do the same. What parts of your life are clogged and moldy from disuse? How might you begin to unclog the pipes and let the good stuff flow again?

SINGLE STEP CHALLENGE (TM)
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Identify your "clogged pipe."
Create a series of steps to unclog the pipe. For a writer, this might mean reading, reading about writing, taking classes, and writing daily.

Make sure your steps are manageable for you. If your goal is to make more friends, one step might be reading the local paper for activities that you could attend to meet like-minded people. The next day, you might call one of the groups.

Also, it helps if you take a step each day. It keeps you limber and builds momentum, even if the step is a small one.

Good luck with those clogs!

BRIEF BOOK REVIEWS
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"Ten Poems to Change Your Life," by Roger Housden.
Housden has written essays on how these poems might change the way you think about and live your life. My favorite is his essay on Mary Oliver's poem, "The Journey."

"Change Your Life and Everyone in It," by Michele Weiner-Davis.
A great book for supporting you in thinking about creating small goals and achieving them.

QUOTE FOR THE JOURNEY
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"It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that things are difficult."
Seneca

NEWS!
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Free Group Coaching
Milwaukee-area residents -- join the LifeRhyme Coaching book club. Our next meeting will be on Monday February 17th at 7:00 PM at the Barnes and Noble Bookstore at the Mayfair Mall. Our topic will be Loving Your Body and the book will be "I'm Gonna Like Me" by Jamie Lee Curtis. This will be especially helpful for parents of young girls.

THE NEW BOOK HAS ARRIVED!!!
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Our newest book, "The Spiritual Leader's Guide to Self-Care," is in print. The fifty-two weeks of exercises are packed full of information, guidance, and suggestions on topics such as:
* creating your life's vision
* setting boundaries
* coping with toxic people
* designing a daily spiritual practice
* creating an exercise program

Visit The Alban Institute to order your copy today (http://www.alban.org).

If your small group, clergy group, or group of friends is interested in having the authors speak to you via telephone for free, send me an e-mail! (rochelle@liferhymecoaching.com)

GOT A BOOK IDEA??
WANT TO USE YOUR IDEAS TO SELL YOU?
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I also offer writing coaching! As an experienced author and editor, I can support you in putting your thoughts on paper ...AND GETTING THEM PUBLISHED! Visit my web site: http://www.writingcoaching.com Or contact me for details: rochelle@liferhymecoaching.com

A FREEBIE
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+Needing to create the time, space, and energy to do what you love?
+Wanting some guidance as you discover what you want from life?
+Looking for someone to encourage you to stick to your goals?

Newsletter recipients are welcome to a free coaching session, done by telephone, with Coach Rochelle Melander.

Groups in the Milwaukee area are welcome to a free speaking session.

Call 414-963-1222 or e-mail Rochelle at rochelle@liferhymecoaching.com for more information.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
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LIFERHYME NOTES 2003 is a free monthly e-mail newsletter designed to consider how we can integrate spirituality into our daily lives. It is written and produced by Rochelle Melander, personal and professional coach. If you have any questions or comments, please send them to:
rochelle@liferhymecoaching.com.

I would love to hear from you. Feel free to forward your copy of LIFERHYME NOTES to anyone you think might enjoy it. I do request that you keep the entire newsletter intact, including my contact and copyright information.