Dear Impish one,
You are the reason for this newsletter. I'm dedicated to
supporting the "imp" in you - especially this month Increasing your Merriment and Pleasure
so that you will
contagiously spread Joy, Peace and Love. "Oh, says The Imp,
"Keep spreading it right through 2009".
You're receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to it,
you're a member of "The Imp Community" online, or a friend
passed it on. Sign up or unsubscribe at the end.
1. Feature Article:
No Room in the Inn
2. Coaching Q&A:
How Does One Find Joy Buried by Pain and Sorrow?
3. News, Comments, Success Stories, Winners
4. Inspirational Message to Ponder
"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in
swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was
no room for them in the inn." St. Luke, Chapter 2, verse 8.
A long ago story we hear each year. But is it really a "long ago
story"?
About 20 years ago I heard the Reverend Suzanne Spencer speak
at the Unitarian Church in Vancouver, Canada. From her talk, I
experienced a new appreciation of this story.
Now, I've heard many talks over the years and most of them I don't
remember. Why did I remember what Suzanne said? Because she made
it so relevant to here and now. She told the story of a young
mother who had to place her children in foster care because she
couldn't find affordable housing.
Today, we are more aware of the homeless in our communities. The
Vancouver Province newspaper Dec 10th front page is a picture of
homeless people lying on pews and on the floor of a church.
Here in the Comox Valley, three abandoned buildings (one fire
damaged), where the homeless sought refuge last winter, have been
torn down thus not available to them this winter.
When I was in Calgary at the end of September, as a participant in
the "Awakening Your Brilliance" event, we spent Saturday morning
at a shelter that provided 1000 beds (and a number of services).
What can one person do? One thing I do is carry in my pocket a
snack bar or coffee shop gift card should I run into a "street
person" which happens since I live within walking distance of
downtown.
For years I've donated to charities at Christmas in lieu of gift
exchanges with family members and friends. This year I will be
including the homeless in my own community by buying socks, mitts
and toques to take to the Salvation Army.
The song from the musical
"My Fair Lady"
comes to mind: All I want
is a room somewhere far away from the cold night air..." A local
woman once said to me that most of the homeless are not wanting or
expecting a big home but would prefer a small room/apartment for
themselves and their belongings. Most of them I'm sure do not like
being "herded" or "ware-housed" along with many others. Some are
far more comfortable as loners.
An idea of mine, is for an organization, similar to Habitat for
Humanity, to build low-cost rental housing and have individuals
or organizations "adopt" a unit and, for an otherwise homeless
person, subsidize the monthly rent (tax deductible charitable
donation).
To minimize the need for furniture (other than a chair), I see a
small unit with built-in bunk (doubles as a couch) with drawers
underneath and a table hinged to the wall (can be down when not
in use) . Except for a toilet in each unit, there could be shared
facilities for showers/tubs and laundry. Perhaps smaller sized
appliances (used in campers and trailers) could be in these
units.
For some this could be interim, temporary shelter; for others
their long term home.
By the way, the Bible I looked in to find the quote used above
had belonged to my grandmother. It was printed in 1899 and she
received it in 1900 for her baptism. I found two four-leaf
clovers in it!
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Reprinted from IMPressions, the mid-monthly e-newsletter from
Bev Howden, "The Imp Lady", Personal Empowerment Facilitator
Subscribe at
http://www.theimplady.com/newsletter-subscribe.htm
The Imp pipes up, "And if you like this newsletter, please pass it
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2. Coaching Q&A:
How Does One Find Joy Buried by Pain and Sorrow?
Wendy, a woman I met in Calgary at "Awakening Your Brilliance",
shared this story of an hour spent with a homeless woman at the
Calgary Drop-in and Rehab Centre:
I (Wendy) listened to May and asked her about her life. Answers
revolved around pain, hurt, confusion and dismay. (She had in her
past been abused, assaulted to the point of near death, suffering
brain trauma.)
She told me, clearly, all she really wants is a home.
I asked her to close her eyes while guiding her - to stand, and
in her mind's eye, to see herself at "her" kitchen counter, with
"her" kitchen sink in front of her that she had just cleaned, with
a wonderful window in front of her where she could look out into
"her" beautiful yard. Then noticing, behind her, she had "her"
bedroom and living room.
She did this and I watched her face soften as she went home...
We were missing one vital ingredient.
I said to May, "Tell me about a time in your life that you can
remember when something made you really happy." I could sense for
this lady we were going to go way back to find her happy moments.
She responded with immediate reflections on giggling with her
sister about some incident and waiting for a litter of puppies to
be born. She told me she loves cats and dogs.
My cue was her face lighting up. We talked about her memories that
all the while she was reliving. I facilitated her staying in that
moment of joy for as long as we could to anchor it before I told
her:
"May, this feeling you are in right now; I want you to notice how
you feel. You are in your own personal Joy and it's important for
you to know this is something you have never lost; buried it but
never lost. Right now we are bringing it back so you can feel it
and acknowledge it, where you've had it so buried by all the pain
and sorrow..."
"This is something no one can ever take away from you. Take this
Joy and hold it dear because it is precious and it is you. It is
the real you."
Coincidently, I'm a cat breeder and happened to have baby kitten
pictures with me. Knowing May loved cats and dogs, I showed them
to her. She was in awe.
I was about to give her a picture...only... wait...
Where would she put it? She has but a garbage bag to retain her
few belongings, which can easily get lost, stolen or damaged. I
searched my hip pouch and emptied a plastic folder which the
picture then went into - a safe place for her new kitten.
After all this, I placed my palm on May's chest and told her that
she has today found such Joy inside of her and anchored with her
where this Joy is. It is but a heart beat away, and all she needs
to do is remember what makes her happy.
I asked her if she could remember me for the next 7 days - this
lady who came into her life today, talked with her and helped her
find inner joy? I asked her if she could wake up each of those 7
days and find a thought that made her happy - be it the sky, a
blade of grass, her new kitten, or how beautiful she is?
(Wendy also spent time helping May find ways to cope with the
distressing environment amidst the other homeless shelter
patrons.)
Will May remember? Will you remember?
What challenges are you facing on your journey to greater self-
empowerment? When your question is answered in this column, you'll
receive a complimentary 40-minute coaching session by phone or
a set of whimsical imp notecards.
Client names are changed to protect identity and maintain
confidentiality. Go ahead! E-mail me your question:
with "Coaching
Question" in the subject line.
Your question will be answered promptly.
No waiting until the next newsletter.
Do you really have what it takes to live a life of Inspiration, Magic and Passion? To find out, take The
Imp's Quick Quiz and
apply for a complimentary 40 minute phone consultation.
http://www.theimpjournal.com/quick-quiz/
You're Invited to submit your Member Profile. What is IMPortant
to you? Your Interests? Motivation?
Passion? What is an Inner Magnificent Part of you yearning to
express? This is one way to
put it out to the Universe. E-mail
with "Member Profile" in the subject line.
I received one Christmas letter from Elaine, a long-time friend,
who wrote that While she was reading a book by Mary Jo Leddy,
entitled "Radical Gratitude" she was struck by the line, "The
liberation of gratitude begins when we stop taking life for
granted." And so she says "Our letter this year will be telling
you - and reminding ourselves - of some of the things we have
experienced over the year for which we are so very thankful."
I've read (and written) many Christmas letters over the years.
Elaine's touched my heart in a way others never have. I've
requested "Radical Gratitude" from the public library.
There are 3 ways to win a wee Imp "dreams to reality" pillow
including a "Law of Attraction" booklet to guide its use.
3. When you purchase
The Imp Journal: Guided Journal Writing for
Personal Empowerment, Vol.1
Our winner this month is a subscriber who just gave his/her
initials. So "T.C." contact me and a wee Imp "dreams to reality"
pillow will be on its way to you.
The Imp encourages you to write the quote on a card, read it
regularly, and then journal about your thoughts, insights,
feelings and, especially, actions. And gratitude!
Two this month:
As I grow to understand life less and less,
I learn to love it more and more. - Jules Renard
In the midst of winter, I found there was within me an
invincible summer. - Albert Careb
I often mention great books. If you are interested in having
a copy for yourself, just use my direct quick-link to Amazon:
http://www.theimpjournal.com/gotoAmazon
Who do you know that would enjoy this issue of "IMPressions"?
Just hit the forward button on your e-mail program...
May you and your family be very blessed during the holiday season.
Look for your next newsletter in mid-January.
Warmly, "The Imp and I", Beverley ;-)
Beverley Howden, M.Ed.
"The Imp Lady"
Personal Empowerment Facilitator
1-250-897-0992
The Imp, the delight of my life, came to me during the bleakest
period of my life. If you're rebuilding your life or reinventing
who you are, check out my other website http://www.StartingLifeOver.com
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