Following my declared Spring Break, it was back to work this week with the release of the first Module in my second “semester” of class at IIN.  I was keen to get back to work and this week did not disappoint.  We are well into Health Histories now and a lot of the work this week focused on the hows and the whys. We have classmates who have set up groups to help us connect with each other and I am meeting people from all over the country.  Many of us forgot to ask the question “What time zone are you in” when first setting up calls but we are beginning to get the hang of it now.  Our goal is to practice two a week until we have 10 under our belt and hopefully feel comfortable and have found our own style of interviewing.  I know it will get easier.  It already is becoming something that I enjoy doing.  Interesting how this is evolving and become such a part of my life.  That’s the point I think!

I heard a great story today about success.  From the perspective of the athlete, high jumper, pole vaulter, and an equestrian, if you think about it you will never get over the pole so just throw your heart over it and then follow your heart.  I can relate to that as I have thrown my heart into this learning and growing and if I hope to be a successful Health Coach then I will have to follow my heart.  Joshua says that there is a lot of synchronicity is this work that we do and it is certainly becoming very clear that is the case.  No matter what I am doing, even just walking home after taking the dogs for a run on Oak Island, I run into folks who want to talk and in many cases their perspective is very similar to mine.  People just find you if you are available.  I love this stuff.

Last weekend we were so lucky to have Margot and Hadley and Brew visit us. This weekend we are going to Jacksonville to see Katie.  Living here in the South in the winter is lovely but I miss my daughter and my grandchildren.  However, as I said to John, we have six months where we live within a weekend’s drive of Margot and six months where we live within a weekend’s drive of Katie and the grands.  We are lucky indeed.

Every week I evaluate what I have put into my work, what goals did I meet (I ignore the tendency to blame for not meeting a goal) in challenging myself, how did I do in the Primary Food area of Relationships, Exercise, Career and Spirituality.  This was a good week.  I pushed myself to contact people to do Health Histories, I finished my classwork and took the weekly test and passed it with ease, I researched and touched base with my accountability coach, I actually conducted a Health History that was really wonderful and made a new friend.  I took care of family as we had a little crisis that needed tending.   Our cousin who never imagined herself as a dog lover but who came to love her dog Malcolm had to put him down due to a serious illness.  We know that pain and sadness and were so glad to be here to help and support her.  I am so grateful that she learned to love him and am sad that she misses him so much.

Exercise was big this week.  Mastering the Fit Bit and recording steps is fun.  Thanks to Margot, John got a Fit Bit this week too and now he is really ramping up his exercise routine.  The first time the little guy buzzes on your wrist at 10,000 steps you are somewhat perplexed but once you figure it out, the next time is big smile time!!!  I am so pleased that John is jumping on the band wagon. He has worked hard on adding exercise and I think this really has him pushing himself.  He was thrilled to earn his 10,000 steps yesterday gardening (as well as a walk).  Here is what he accomplished.  Gorgeous, right?

Remember to follow your heart!  Have a wonderful week.

Lou