quotable

greetings!

I quote the wisdom of others every day. Lately I've been wondering how these quotes get captured and released into the big quote pool. Does some random third party fish it out of a book or article and share it? Does the quotee write it down and release it themselves? What's the mechanism of distribution?

I found myself wishing that some of my own words might one day swim in that pool of popular wisdom. (yeah, I know. not very humble, am I? but I coach others to dream big, so I gotta walk my own talk. LOL)

Last week I sent an email to a friend, and she wrote back saying she loved a particular phrase I wrote. And she quoted me! Well, as you can imagine, the glimmer of a golden opportunity caught my eye. So I'm shamelessly and ambitiously throwing this little guy into the pool, and we'll see if it's worthy of swimming with the big fish.

As long as I don't abandon myself, I'm in good company.
-karen alonge

Perhaps you have already discerned the context of my statement: when we look deeply into the nature of our relationships with others, we find the truth of impermanence. I've been told that people come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. I can't know in advance which it will be, so I prefer to live each day as if it could be our last one together.

But there is one person who is guaranteed to be my lifetime companion -- ME. Therefore it seems logical to take full responsibility for nourishing and deepening my relationship with my Self. Being abundantly human, I have varying degrees of success with this.

I try not to betray my own integrity or truth in order to manipulate someone into approving of me. When I remember to, I forgive myself rather than turning on myself with anger, blame, or judgment. If I notice self-condemnation, I try to talk to myself like I would to a friend I really care about.

When I succeed, I notice something fascinating and empowering: It's not what happens out there with other people or circumstances that determines how I feel. It's what I think those things mean about ME.

When I am sure of who I am, I become anchored in joy and acceptance and cannot be blown about by the winds of opinion or accusation or intimidation. And if for whatever reason I do step away from my centered self temporarily, I know the way back.

so anyway, there you go. if you feel inspired to, please pass it on.

have a great day!

-karen

update from the synchronicity dept:

A friend called me from her cell phone a few hours after I emailed today's postcard. She was driving away from picking her child up at school, where she had casually spoken to another mom who mentioned that she was feeling inspired by an article she read today. My friend asked to hear more, and the other mom went on to quote from the article.

I bet you can see where this is going - the article was my postcard. I'm delighted to report that my wish to be quoted has already come true! Not only that, but several readers responded with offers to quote me elsewhere. This is so cool. Synchronicity rocks!! (and so does dreaming big ...)

thank you to everyone who passed it along. mwah!!

be here now

The thought that you should be doing something else is a distraction. Be fully present with what you are doing, and it will lead to better.

-- Alan Cohen

free teleclasses

howdy-

just occurred to me that some of you might not know that I lead free monthly telegatherings on these subjects:

the movie The Secret and the Law of Attraction
Joint Custody with an Uncooperative Ex
Parenting: Dealing with Difficult Behaviors

if you are interested in attending, drop me an email (karen@karenalonge.com) and I'll give you the phone number.

namaste,
karen