Janet Cohen Consulting, LLC

Archive for the ‘Inspiration’ Category

I’ve been thinking about becoming unplugged since last Friday night, while we were at a Family Retreat at Greene Family Camp in Bruceville, Texas.

The camp director challenged us to turn off our cell phones and electronic devices as part of a 24-hour event called the National Day of Unplugging, sponsored by the Foundation for Jewish Camp and One Happy Camper. At first, an expression of shock appeared on the sea of adult faces throughout the dining hall. As Loui held his phone high in the air and turned it off, I joined most of the adults who followed his lead. “It’s only 24 hours,” I convinced myself in order to participate.

The gifts that came from that simple act were amazing. I thought of many friends who observe their Sabbath on Saturday or Sunday and refuse to work that day.

I thought of how dependent we become on our electronics, and I vowed not to turn on my phone.

Joy Climbing Alpine Tower

During that retreat, I treated myself to the freedom of spending quality time with my family and with myself. I engaged in lively conversations with people from Texas and Oklahoma, and participated in workshops that challenged both my mind and my spirit. I didn’t miss my phone, my apps, or my email. On Sunday, I continued the tradition.

I watched my daughter with pride as she played daredevil on the zip line and climbed to the top of the Alpine Tower. She has enough courage for both of us, and I’m amazed at her enjoyment of those activities. Mostly, I was proud that she invited me to join her. I might not have noticed that if I was distracted by my business. And I’m proud of myself for prioritizing my family without interruption last weekend.

So what are your priorities? And what do you need to unplug? I want to hear from you. Please post a comment.

In the 1980’s and early 1990’s I worked with people who were infected with and affected by AIDS and the virus that caused it. Back then, they didn’t use the term “HIV.”

I shared with Gwynne about the importance of my work. It energized me to be making a difference for so many people, yet it also contributed to my fatigue. Between the work itself and the governmental/societal attitudes at the time, my work seemed to be never-ending.   And then she gently jolted me with one sentence.  (Oxymoron intended.)

Gwynne simply looked at me and said, “Janet, the amount of energy you have to give to everyone else is directly proportionate to the amount of energy you give to yourself.”

Snoqualmie Falls, WA

She gave me permission to take some time for myself so that I would have more to give others. Gwynne continued that there would always be a need to raise more money, awareness and consciousness than the country was ready to face at the time. And she was right. 

I learned that I appreciated having someone in my life who cared enough to tell it to me straight. To suggest that I had permission to place my own needs above others for a brief time, and that as I did that, my work would become even more effective.  I was grateful for her bold support, for the wisdom she brought to the table when I couldn’t even see it at the moment.

As I coach, I try to bring a little wisdom to people as they deal with their own issues. I am blessed to have had such a good teacher in my life. Thanks, Gwynne!

Who gently jolted you, and what did they say that made a difference in your life?

I never thought I’d be old enough to write a memoir, but that has recently changed. Now I realize that I have an important story to tell at any age, and I started writing it.

Three months ago I took a writing workshop with Natalie Goldberg, and I’ve been consistently working on my book ever since. Yesterday I recorded 25,835 words with NaNoWriMo and I’m still working on my book.

The Galveston County Daily News did a story that includes my participation in the writing contest. The newspaper also mentioned my upcoming writing group that begins on 1/1/11, and they included a link to my web site for more information. Hats off to GCDN.  See details on the Power of Writing Practice at www.janetcohenconsulting.com.

My memoir will be published in 2011. On the surface it looks like a book about Hurricane Ike, but it is more than that.  Though Ike is the throughline, it’s not just another timeline with stories about how awful the storm was.  My book is more about the generosity of the human spirit and the silver linings that arise when people are genuinely evoked to do something for others. It is a story about philanthropy, community building and hope. At times you’ll laugh and at times you may shed a tear or two, especially when you read how the storm impacted my daughter.

A second throughline in the book is the relationship between loss and prior losses.   This will be rich with information for people in helping professions who counsel people in grief.  More to come.

Years ago, I wanted to write a memoir about AIDS/HIV because I was so impacted by it in the 1980’s and early 1990’s.  By the time I was 35 years old I had lost more friends than I had years in my lifetime, so I stopped counting deaths.  It’s been nearly 20 years since then.  I’m still impacted, but to a lesser degree.  And yet, I publish this post on World AIDS Day.

So I ask you.  How old do you have to be to write a memoir?  And if you are courageous enough to write one, what would it be about, besides your life?

I’ve been enjoying reading responses posted about gratitude, and I wanted to share some comments that were sent straight to my inbox via email.

I’ve always been amazed at how the idea of gratitude is something so contagious, so large, that it continues to unfold and inspire even more. Read on…

Kathy wrote: Friendship, fellowship, bullies biting their tongues, and of course the Turkey Bowl!

Sue added: “the full moon.”

Marcia wrote, “Yes, we who are aware of the richness in our relationships and the depth of those seemingly mundane activities in our daily lives are indeed lucky.”

And if you’re reading this now, for what are you NOW grateful?

It is so easy for people to get swept away at this time of year with the hustle and bustle, obligations, and routines, that they forget to stop and look around. 

While we were driving home from an early Thanksgiving dinner tonight with our extended family and dear friends, two extraordinary things happened.

First, Melody and I both saw a shooting star and stopped to acknowledge how fortunate we are. A moment later we saw a white-tailed deer grazing in the dark, and when she noticed us, I truly understood the phrase “deer in the headlights.” She was being fed by the abundance the universe provides, and I felt grateful.

Grateful to have a loving family, an abundance of friends, good health, work that I love. Grateful to have a home on the island, and a peaceful space in which to rest. Grateful for a spiritual connection that does not waiver, and a gift for expression that I cherish.

Yes, I’m grateful for stuff, too, but it’s the little things like seeing a shooting star that make this Life amazing to me. For what are you grateful?

I’ve been thinking a lot about Hurricane Ike recovery these days. On the two year anniversary since the storm, I wonder how people are doing, really.

There are some responses like, “We’re glad to be back, but we’re still innundated with stuff to do.” And others say they’re still reeling from some of the bureaucracy. Still, others talk about how difficult times are, how they’ve accrued what seems like endless debt, and how business has not been the same since the storm (unless they own a series of large hotels or restaurant chains along the Seawall).

I wonder how the average person is doing, two years later. Are you still having flashbacks of stuff on your lawn? 

How has Ike enriched (yes, enriched) your life?  For example, I now know that I can live with a lot less stuff than I had before Ike. I call that an enriching experience.

How are you still dealing with the after-effects? Are you working as much? Are you still unpacking? Do you still have nightmares? Are you closer with your neighbors if you’ve moved back to the island? Are you living on the mainland now, or farther?  How has your professional life changed?  How have your children changed?

And if you weren’t personally affected, how was your life touched by Ike?  Do you even remember it, or does Hurricane Katrina still stand out for you as the worst one?

If you had one piece of advice for people who need to evacuate before a storm, what would it be?

Share your story. I, for one, want to know.

I’ve been thinking a lot about Hurricane Ike recovery these days. On the two year anniversary since the storm, I wonder how people are doing, really.

There are some responses like, “We’re glad to be back, but we’re still innundated with stuff to do.” And others say they’re still reeling from some of the bureaucracy. Still, others talk about how difficult times are, how they’ve accrued what seems like endless debt, and how business has not been the same since the storm (unless they own a series of large hotels or restaurant chains along the Seawall).

I wonder how the average person is doing, two years later. Are you still having flashbacks of stuff on your lawn? 

How has Ike enriched (yes, enriched) your life?  For example, I now know that I can live with a lot less stuff than I had before Ike. I call that an enriching experience.

How are you still dealing with the after-effects? Are you working as much? Are you still unpacking? Do you still have nightmares? Are you closer with your neighbors if you’ve moved back to the island? Are you living on the mainland now, or farther?  How has your professional life changed?  How have your children changed?

And if you weren’t personally affected, how was your life touched by Ike?  Do you even remember it, or does Hurricane Katrina still stand out for you as the worst one?

If you had one piece of advice for people who need to evacuate before a storm, what would it be?

Share your story. I, for one, want to know.

Just returned from a writing and meditation retreat/workshop with Natalie Goldberg and Wendy Johnson at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY.

It’s been a dream of mine to meet and study with Natalie, after reading everything she’s published and listening to all of her audio recordings. This workshop was a delightful combination of studying different authors (Patricia Hampl and Chang Rae Lee, to name two), writing (solo and in groups), reading our writing aloud (with guidelines for listeners), meditation (indoors and out), and learning techniques that aren’t usually taught in traditional classrooms.

Goldberg, best-selling author of Writing Down the Bones and several other books, has a way of teaching people how to follow the author’s minds, be natural about when to follow and when to crack structure, and when to be still enough to let the writing settle.

Goldberg’s work is pure pleasure. My favorite of her books is Long, Quiet Highway; at this point, I’m re-reading Thunder and Lightning. I highly recommend her work.

Johnson, a Zen teacher, master gardener, and author of Gardening at the Dragon’s Gate, led some meditations (both indoor and outdoor) to help ground us in our writing. Her book is a deliciously rich combination of memoir and gardening, but it is oh-so-much-more than that.

Join me for a regular writing practice group in Galveston.  This may be for you if you are at any level of writing, from beginning journal writer to published author. Only a desire to write freely and unleash “Wild Mind” is necessary.

The small group will meet for a series of eight Wednesdays, September 29 through November 17, from noon – 2:00 p.m. in Galveston.  Please pre-register by September 24 and read Writing Down the Bones prior to participating. Cost for the eight weeks is only $120.00.  Are you in?

Just returned from a writing and meditation retreat/workshop with Natalie Goldberg and Wendy Johnson at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY.

It’s been a dream of mine to finally meet and study with Natalie, after reading everything she’s published and listening to all of her audio recordings. This workshop was a delightful combination of studying different authors (Patricia Hampl and Chang Rae Lee, to name two), writing (solo and in groups), reading our writing aloud (with guidelines for listeners), meditation (indoors and out), and learning techniques that aren’t usually taught in traditional classrooms.

Goldberg, best-selling author of  Writing Down the Bones and several other books, has a way of teaching people how to follow the author’s minds, be natural about when to follow and when to crack structure, and when to be still enough to let the writing settle.

Goldberg’s  work is pure pleasure. My favorite of her pieces is Long, Quiet Highway;  at this point, I’m re-reading Thunder and Lightning. I highly recommend her work for writers of any level.

Johnson, a Zen teacher, master gardener, and author of Gardening at the Dragon’s Gate, led some meditations (both indoor and outdoor) to help ground us in our writing. Her book is a deliciously rich combination of memoir and gardening, but it is oh-so-much-more than that.

Join me for a regular writing practice group in Galveston.  This may be for you if  are at any level of writing, from beginning journal writer to published author. Only a desire to write freely and unleash “Wild Mind” is necessary.

The small group will meet for a series of eight Wednesdays, September 29 through November 17, from noon – 2:00 p.m. in Galveston. Please pre-register and read Writing Down the Bones  prior to participating. Cost for the eight weeks is only $120.00.  Are you in?