Welcome!
Do you have nagging self-doubts, discouragement, and overwhelm that hijack your energy?
As an ordinary woman and retired life coach entering the evening years of my life, (see info below). I can readily answer “yes” to the above questions.
I know these feelings well. And I have learned they are common to most of us.
Feelings of doubt and discouragement or inadequacy leave us stuck in a spiderweb of conflicting emotions. Spider webs are strong and sticky and our thoughts get caught in sticky negative narratives. Our hearts grow weary and our creative energy diminishes.
We can get stuck in our own stories.
In fact, I am pleased to announce I am coming out from being stuck in my own story of several surgeries, falls and ongoing complications and limitations. I am finally sensing a shift in my approach to setbacks! I have missed being in touch with my TSJ friends and family and now seek to write for fun and learning.
Finally, whether whimsical or quizzical or wise and profound, I hope to cast new light on familiar life journey challenges. I still can play a small part in shepherding hearts and minds as we share stories and celebrate and learn that we truly can achieve things we never thought possible!
My name is Margaret (or “Margie”) and I am in transition from my life-coaching practice to writing simple blog letters. This photo is a bit old but I still wear the same outfit and haircut. Just imagine more wrinkles.
The Power of Shared Stories ; How They Can Inspire and Encourage Us
Upon retiring from my School Psychology profession, I was perplexed about my calling and purpose.I knew I was still filled with a passion for encouraging people.
Then one morning while pondering my next steps, I “happened” to read a magazine article that captured my imagination.
I remember well it was the story of a man who developed a life coaching practice. At the time life coaching was so new that it had just begun to see the light of day. The article was the catalyst for me to imagine doing something similar. His story inspired, informed, and empowered me to become a life coach. And The Shared Journey life coaching practice and my certification was midwifed about a year later.
We humans are designed to share stories. Like bread, they feed us. Like water, they quench our thirst for better days ahead.
Now, as I write this, The Shared Journey is starting a new chapter of life. I am retired from the Life Coaching practice and am more focused on finding quiet moments to refresh, renew and to write blog letters about everyday life challenges such as aging and illness and losses and how they can turn from woes into wisdom and wonder.
Personal History
I grew up on a large farm surrounded by beautiful hills. I often felt hugged by those hills when life was tough. Ours was a family blessed with good food, hard work, and Christian faith. And yet I was often hungry and afraid due to my mom’s emotional volatility at the time. With wise spiritual and psychological counseling for help recovering from early childhood traumas, I have grown to deeply value the “both-and” nature of life, love, being human and vulnerable.
Along with farming (cows and chickens) where nature and animals bring out the best (and sometimes the worst) in us, my greatest teachers have been children. I am a seasoned mom with four delightful adult children (an adopted son, a biological son, a stepson, and a stepdaughter) and their spouses. My five grandchildren are also teachers of life and a great blessing. The “training wheels” for my parenting adventure came from being the oldest sister with three younger siblings who loved me unconditionally. And having an older brother (by two years) was another of God’s gifts of grace.
A Few Fun Facts About Me
I love God, family, people, and nature in all forms. I love to laugh and be playful, occasionally at inappropriate moments. Things that delight me are reading, dark chocolate, cheese, soft ice cream, long walks, open-hearted conversations, and journaling.
Now it is time for you to meet my muse, Solomon. He is part of my playful side and helps in my own search for practical and spiritual wisdom for our shared journeys.
Meet My Muse – Solomon
To be clear, Solomon is a stuffed sheep with a sewn-on smile and eyes that glisten in the light. He sits in my office and makes many people smile. He frequently turns frowns upside down! He shows up in my blog letters frequently.
Solomon was midwifed from my imagination. He represents the “stuff” of ordinary life and practical, “wooly wisdom.” Remember, wool while valuable, can be weighty! And sheep have to contend with all kinds of grit and grime that gets stuck in their wool. Though unpleasant, shearing is very important to their well being. They need a shepherd to shelter and shield them from harm.
One “weighty” day in my life, “Solomon” arrived in the mail. My late and fun loving husband, Tom, had ordered him online after he heard my squeal with delight when I “found the perfect sheep” to represent my Shared Journey parent/coaching or “shepherding” practice.
Tom always embraced play and humor. This sheep was the only thing he ever ordered online, which qualifies him as a special muse at TSJ. So when this immediately huggable sheep arrived, I named him Solomon after King Solomon of biblical fame who was the son of King David. Both were shepherds before becoming kings. Can you hear a shepherding theme coming through?
So Solomon, sits in my office reminding me about Psalm 23, a song written by King David “The Lord is my Shepherd….”
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Come take a walk with me!
My vision for the TSJ blog is to shepherd hearts and minds to become encouraged, empowered, and equipped for travels through our valleys of hurts to vistas of hope. All by practicing kindness and pursuing practical wisdom.
Remember to sign up to receive free blog letters in your email. I hope they will inspire, guide, and empower you to carry on with faith and hope amid life’s challenges. I also hope you enjoy gleaning some “Wooly Wisdom” from them. A sheep’s wool has value but can get messy.
“WoolyWisdom”
Solomon and I warmly invite you to become a TSJ subscriber. As a subscriber, you will receive free blog posts – randomly but usually about once a month. But remember, Solomon does not come without being invited. Wisdom seeks respect…not coercion or intrusion. And remember you can always unsubscribe with ease.