Access Greatness

After spending over a week in Austin, I made the decision to drive all the way to California. I left some stuff with Gabby and that made my load a little lighter. The chair I bought in Costa Rica and 2 pictures made a nice addition to her apartment. I felt a little sad as I said goodbye however I know I’ll be back soon.

The road through Texas was beautiful and long. I couldn’t believe how big the state is. I marveled at the mountains in the distance and observed how dry the land was with so little rain for so long and temperatures over a 100 degrees. I was going to stop in El Paso but my sister and her husband suggested I stop in Deming.Deming is a small town in New Mexico. As I crossed the border into New Mexico I felt a strange sense of calm and peace. I stopped at a Starbucks in a town called Las Cruces and refreshed myself with an ice cold green tea. The young girl at the counter told me about a winery in Deming that is the largest in the state. As I drove to my hotel, I saw the signs to St. Clair Vinyard so of course I had to stop. I did some wine tasting, talked with an American Indian who asked if I was Indian. He was a Navajo with deep dark eyes. We both picked out our wines and said goodbye.

After getting some tacos for dinner, I arrived at my hotel. The room was so pleasant and comfortable that I found myself getting the best night’s sleep, waking rested and got an early start for my sister’s house in Cave Creek, Arizona.

As I drove on 10 west into Arizona, I passed an area with big boulders on both sides of the road. They were majestic and looked like statues made by the Gods. I was breathless as I viewed the beauty of nature. Amazing to see these rocks standing so beautifully strong and high towards the sky. They looked like natures skyscrapers; a sight I shall always remember.

Had a few days with my sister  and brother- in-law and my nephew and his family. It was truly great having this special time to spend together. I enjoyed everyone especially Tommy who is seven. He was so much fun and impressed me with his maturity and wisdom.  His definition of cousins are brothers and sisters who live far away. Guess we need to have a family gathering so all the cousins can get together. Family is so important and special and having this time is the best. I am so grateful and thank God everyday for this gift of time to be with those I love. I was sad to leave but I know that I will visit again.

Getting back on the road felt exciting. I loved driving through Arizona into Nevada. Drove over the Hoover Dam. What a sight. I love this country and it’s geographical diversity. Makes me want to see it all. Every state has a beauty of its own and a particular personality. I felt so grateful for this opportunity to see and experience a spectacular show of natures beauty and expansiveness. The earth in its natural beauty gave me a deeper sense of appreciation for the greatness of this planet and showed me just a little glimpse of its magnitude and splendor. For this experience, I shall forever be grateful. And it has left me with a hunger to see and experience more of the beauty of Mother Earth.

I did it. It has been quite an amazing process and task to empty my home of all my belongings. I gave things away, sold things and of course made hard decisions of what to keep and take with me to California. I definitely took more things then I probably need however I found it difficult to let go of some things that I have loved. So I mailed boxes to my daughter’s house and I packed my car and off I went on July 18th as planned.

I left Florida about 11 am and traveled on the turnpike north. It was a beautiful day and I stopped to get some food and discovered a natural foods cafe on the turnpike. What a delightful surprise.
My first stop was Tallahassee. After 6 hours of driving and seeing beautiful trees and sky, I was happy to find my hotel. In the morning at breakfast, I met a woman and her 7 year old son traveling from Santa Barbara, California to Fort Myers, Florida. What a brave woman, I thought traveling with a UHaul. We shared our moving stories and she too left everything behind and shared with me how much lighter and freer she feels. There must be something to this on a spiritual level that lets go of the past and is opening to a new simpler life with less material stuff and more space for experience.
Next stop for the night was Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I drove happily through Alabama, crossed the Mississippi River which was beautiful. I loved driving through Louisiana and then to Texas.
Arrived in Austin Wednesday late afternoon a little tired but very happy.

Several years ago, as I sat with a friend having coffee, she asked me what would make me happy. I told her I would love to get in my car with a few belongings and drive across country to California. Now, here I am doing it and living it.

As I drove along the highways, I marveled at the beauty of this country. I realized I loved open space, green pastures, and the rivers. Our Mother Earth is so magnificent. It gave me an opportunity to appreciate the green lush earth we sometimes take for granted. Loving Mother Earth and her beauty filled me with a sense of awe and pride to live in such a beautiful country and a desire to see more of this amazing country.

I don’t know exactly what I will find when I arrive in California. Yet I do know that I will be creating a whole new life. New friends, new work , new home…………….one thing I have learned is to trust and have faith that I am a co-creator with the energies of the Divine and that everything is in Divine Order unfolding perfectly in my highest good. I am happy and at peace.

Meanwhile, as I stay in Austin with my daughter, I give thanks everyday for this opportunity to be with her and to have this precious time together. This is what truly matters. The simple things like sharing a meal together, sharing our feelings and expressing our love.  I will cherish every moment of every day………….

The journey continues……………..until next time, enjoy the gift of life!

Well, here I am a few weeks away from moving out of my condo in Florida and to begin my journey across the country to my destination.
Moving back to California has been my dream for years. Now that it is finally happening…….it is a bit unnerving.Walking into the unknown is something that always brought up tremendous fear and panic. I guess my need to feel in control way overshadowed my desire for adventure.

It’s not that I haven’t experienced change before. Like most people, I’ve had my share but this feels very different. It’s as if I am ready to take on a new journey that is about surrender and trust.

I am now on my spiritual journey and I know that I am a spiritual being having a human experience. I also know that I am guided and protected by the Divine. My connection to the Divine is strong and grows stronger everyday.

During the last month, I went through stuff that I accumulated over 15 years in Florida. I threw away bags of paper that represented my past.  Looking over every piece before I shredded it brought back so many memories. I celebrated them all, the good times and the hard times. Getting rid of clothes was easier. It went it stages. First I thought I couldn’t live without it and then a few days later it went into a bag that was going to the Battered Women’s Shelter. Oh, books and tapes were really difficult and went in several stages until I could part with them. The furniture was not as difficult as I thought it would be……..Giving things to friends and selling some items was a way of recycling everything to new homes and to be used by people who wanted and appreciated them.

I am still in my condo with less things around………..I feel lighter, freer, less encumbered by possessions and am beginning to experience myself from a new perspective. Life is an incredible journey and a great mystery. My mother use to sing, Oh, sweet mystery of life at last I’ve found you………………………

Now I find myself  excited about taking a leap of faith and jumping into the unknown. I feel awake, aware and alive. Living in the moment, taking one day at a time is what I have been searching for……………allowing myself to be guided and listening to that small quiet voice within.

More to come, until next time. Be well and be happy!

Here I am at a crossroads in my life and I am choosing the path less traveled. Some people might look at my choices and think has she lost her mind. I had a career, a home and close friends in Florida. At present, I am leaving everything behind and driving across the country to Marin County, California to follow my heart and my dream.

For many years prior to moving to Florida, I have been following my spiritual path. It has taken me to the Holistic Life University in 1976 where I completed a 2 year certification as a Holistic Health Counselor and a Massage Therapist. My specialty was helping people reduce and manage their stress through guided imagery and other healing modalities.

After meeting my exhusband Dino, I was guided to work with him conducting workshops and consulting with companies on Authentic Communication. Throughout the years, I meditated and journaled guidance from my higher self.

During a particularly difficult time in my life and my family, I was guided to study energy work and became a facilitator of Access Energy Transformation. Through this work, I was able to release many fears and conditioning that was preventing me from living a joyous fulfilling life.

As many of you know, for more than 11 years I have worked as a career coach with a major corporation. I was able to use some of my acquired skills to help many people manage their emotions and stress during a difficult time in their lives.

Now that I am no longer employed and my youngest child is on her way to be a self sufficient young woman, I am ready to follow my dream.

Over several years, since the death of Matt Best, my daughter’s boyfriend, I have opened my consciousness to the world of the non physical reality. I have studied with a spiritual teacher that has assisted me in seeing my authentic self and I have begun to experience my true essence. This has been a miraculous journey of self discovery. Matt has been and continues to be a teacher and a guide for me and has shared many secrets of the non physical world of spirit. I have had many experiences in this domain and have heard from many souls who have made their transition into the next level of consciousness and I can say that life is eternal and that life continues…………….Many souls that have passed are not complete with their loved ones and have messages for them that is healing for all. I have witnessed many and it is a beautiful loving experience.

I am open and willing to follow my heart and spirit and to let this journey unfold. I have complete faith and trust that thy will be done………………………………………………………..to be continued.

I am in Austin. Arrived here Saturday to spend some time with Gabrielle. We spent a lovely Mother’s Day together in this beautiful vibrant city.

Her new life here is filled with activities and excitement. Shopping for her new apartment was fun and the restaurants are amazing. Music fills the streets and people are so friendly.

Unfortunately, Gab came down with a really bad flu on Tuesday and it finally broke today. I was glad I was here to take care of her.

During these few days, I became aware of how vulnerable we are. This came home to me in a big way. Unexpected events show me how little control we have in life. Of course, we can choose how we respond to life’s challenges and rise up to meet it.

 I have learned to be independent and to make decisions on my own. Some decisions that I have made have been good and some had consequences I was not aware of or even prepared for. Nevertheless they were mine and I take responsibility for my choices.

Being vulnerable and admitting to myself what I need from others is not something I am comfortable with. I am comfortable with helping and being there for others.
Now in my life I am beginning to welcome a new way of relating to myself, to others, and the world.

I have been feeling more vulnerable lately and realizing how much I need my family and friends for support. Asking for what I need has brought some surprising reactions and insights. I am experiencing a strength in being vulnerable and a new way of allowing people to contribute to me. I am allowing myself the gift of receiving and I am feeling more love . My protective blocks of not wanting to be hurt are melting away. I am freer and more open to receive the gifts of the universe……………….

During this time of major transition, so many unexpected things have come up and I have found a place of strength inside myself that guides me through. Listening to the messages I receive from my inner self allows me to move forward in peace and love. I am so grateful for the many souls that I am connected to both on the physical and non physical realities. I feel truly blessed…………….til next time, peace and blessings, Sheila

Got back home several days ago. My flight was delayed for 3 hours due to the storms in Alabama and the South. I was glad to get home safely. Coming back to Florida has confirmed for me that this cycle of my life is over. It is now a process of taking the actions to pack up and complete all I need to do.

I was surprised that I felt such a deep sadness and emptiness as soon as I arrived home. It was a strange sense of knowing that what I came here to do had been done and now I was opening to another cycle of my life. I reviewed in my mind the last number of years and I was able to acknowledge to myself that I fully created this experience. The choices were mine alone and that I did my very best in all the challenges I faced.

What I will take with me is the knowing that I learned to trust myself and the universe. I learned that I can create work that is meaningful to me and that I can have an impact on people’s lives. I know what truly matters to me in my life and that I make those things my priority. I learned to love unconditionally and to forgive the hurts that I was holding in my heart. I learned what it feels like to love my children and grandchildren so much that I would give up my life for them. And I learned that I am a spiritual being and that my life is sacred.

My life is changing and I have changed………..to be continued.

I spent an amazing day at Point Reyes with a friend and afterward he sent me an email. The subject line was Leading From The Heart and as I read it I had a strong reaction to it. To me it says it all. John Lennon said, Love is all we need and what the world needs now is love, sweet love……Love is all we need.
The journey to Greatness is a journey of the heart. It is not always easy to connect to our heart and to lead our lives from the energy of the heart. Our minds have such a powerful effect on our thinking. Yet do our thoughts create happiness……….even those positive thoughts are just thoughts. But the energy of the heart when its open allows us to feel love, joy and peace. The heart also feels sadness and compassion. When the heart is closed and we operate from our mind, life can feel restricted and limited.
Another friend, once wrote a song about Forgiveness. He said it was the Key to happiness. I believe that is true, when we forgive, our heart opens and we feel happiness and love.
Expectations can also restrict the flow of energy to the heart. Letting go and surrendering to what is happening in the moment with no expectations or desire can heal the heart and open the flow of energy to spirit. That is my journey now to lead from my heart, to feel my emotions, to forgive, to surrender to what is and to let go of expectation and desire…….to live in spirit and to discover the deepest secrets of my soul.

When I returned from California after Christmas, I was informed that my office was closing and that my position was being eliminated as of March 4th. I felt a moment of sadness for what had grown so familiar and yet I also felt a burst of freedom. A freedom that I have been longing for and for the opportunity to create something new. I was ready to start the next chapter of my life, even though it had not be written.
Also, when I returned from California, my daughter, Gabrielle told me that when she visited Austin with her Dad, she fell in love with the city and was going to move there. At first it was a bit shocking that Gab and I would be living so far away from each other however as I experienced her happiness in finding a place that was calling out to her, my feelings changed to happiness and excitement for her. Her plans were made and off she went to a new city and a new adventure.  Honestly, she took that city by storm. Made new friends and found the job of her dreams in a very short time and started her new life.  As I observed her process and her determination I found myself amazed and delighted at her willingness to create a life and lifestyle that is authentic to who she is. This has been  an inspiration to me. Her clarity and her courage is commendable and I am so proud of what she has accomplished.

I miss her alot and I know this is a very important time for both of us. We are very close and have a strong mother-daughter bond and also a very powerful friendship.  She is becoming more independent and is learning to trust herself.  I am entering a new phase of my life……….where I am now able to move into my spirituality in a way that allows me to trust on a whole new level, to move into the unknown and to open to new possibilities that are more in alignment with my heart and authentic self.

I have been in California with my daughter, Karen for several weeks and have been able to balance wonderful family time with time for myself………Being with my grandchildren over this time has been fulfilling and has deepened our relationship. It was  important for me to spend this time with Karen and support her in her journey.

While I have been here, I have been studying and listening to many spiritual online programs that have been contributing to my evolving consciousness. There are so many great teachers on the planet that I have signed up for a teleclass with Barbara Marx Hubbard called, Agents of Conscious Evolution and another teleclass with Mark Silver called The Heart Of Money. Also listening to The Shift Network , Bringing the Spirit of Shamanism into your Everyday Life with Grandmother Floremayo. In the mornings, I listen to Lazaris CD’s or Meditations with a channel called Theo. I am creating a new life for myself that has my spirituality at the core. This time is truly a gift  and I am very grateful for manifesting it. I have a knowing that I am on my path and that everything is unfolding in divine order. I can let go of worry, doubt and control and surrender to the will of God.

I’ll be returning to Florida in a week and am excited to see my friends and to continue this new chapter of my journey……………………………to be continued……

…………..

Never thought I’d ever leave California but after the divorce, I prayed alot for guidance. My parents were living in Florida and were both at a point in their life that they could not care for themselves without help. Florida never appealed to me but as I prayed it became clear that I had a mission to care for my parents. So I packed up and my daughter, Gabrielle and I left for Florida. I didn’t know a soul except for my parents and an aunt and uncle. Yet I knew if I was guided to be there, everything would be all right.

Florida at first seemed like a fun place but it has been the most challenging years of my life. Learning to depend on myself felt like a curse and a blessing. Over the years I began to trust myself in a way that has proved to be the greatest lesson so far in my life. Being with my parents during their last years was truly a gift I shall treasure always. The love we shared and the laughter and the tears will be in my heart forever.

Raising my daughter, Gabrielle has taught me to be strong, to let go of control and to again to trust the universe that no matter how difficult it seemed in the moment, we were loved and protected by the love of God. Putting my trust and faith in God has shown me that miracles do exist and that prayers are answered.

For over 11 years, I coached people who had lost their jobs due to corporate restructuring. I learned how to work energetically with people’s emotions and to assist them in transforming their fear into possibilities.  Losing ones job can be a terrifying experience on many levels.  Everyday, I felt I made a difference in people’s lives and I am grateful for the opportunity I had to be with so many individuals  as they went through a dramatic process of change.

I never felt that Florida was home. When we moved there, I believed that once my parents made their transition, that Gabrielle and I would move back to California. However, God had other plans and I patiently and sometimes not so patiently waited for a sign that it was time to leave Florida.

The sign appeared and my guidance told me it was time on January 5, 2011……………………………………………..to be continued…………………..

My life on Planet Earth has been quite an adventure. Maybe not the adventure most people think of but for me it has been a journey of remarkable magnitude. I guess I knew that I was following a spiritual path sometime in the late 70′s. Got married, moved from New Jersey to San Francisco in the 60′s, had 2 children during the Vietam War, found the women’s movement and then the human potential movement in Marin county. When I moved to Marin, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. It was the most beautiful place I had ever seen and could hardly believe I was living there. Marin in the 70′s opened my mind and my heart and led me on a quest to find out who I was and why I was here on Earth. I knew there had to be something more than what I was observing in how most people lived. It was then that a tremendous hunger and desire welled up in me to find what living was all about………..
I became an avid reader of self help and spiritual books and I became convinced I was on to something but wasn’t sure what it was.
I divorced my first husband after 15 years and met a new age man who was all about Authenticity. We moved to Los Angeles and we had a child together and built a consulting business to teach companies how authentic communication would improve their bottom line and develop high performing employees. We were very successful however we weren’t walking our talk in our relationship which led to a very painful divorce. This second marriage showed me what was possible when I was connected to my heart and was able to listen to my guidance. Life began to feel expansive and joyful. Being connected to myself and having a purpose gave my life a new kind of meaning. I began for the first time to feel who I was authentically and to experience my ability to manifest abundance. This was for me extraordinary and exciting which led to the next chapter of my life, living in Florida as a single mom.