As a Heart2Heart Coach, I am often asked what I do, what does coaching mean, what’s the plan, and similar questions. I usually respond with a description of getting from where you are to where you want to be. Most recently, I’ve discovered that many people feel they are at a crossroads.

It may feel like there are many choices or there are none at all. Confusion may set in. Change may be the order of the day, but how to do it, what direction to head? It may seem like the universe is giving you a very strong message to go in one direction or another, but you find yourself seemingly without the tools, resources or belief in yourself to take the initial steps.

I am reminded of the quote from Yogi Berra who was quoted as saying, “When you reach a fork in the road, take it.” Simple enough in a way, but a little zen. I researched to make sure he actually said it. He did, but he was giving a friend directions to his home. At the point where a fork in the road appeared, bearing right or bearing left would lead you directly to his house. Not so zen after all, but still indicative of the need to make a decision.

There are multiple decisions to be made when proceeding from a daunting crossroads. And I have found that during this experience, support for your progress is rather essential. Friends and family can be most helpful, or sometimes not. This is one of the reasons I’ve pursued my coaching practice. As a more objective observer, I can assist those challenged by the crossroads experience. There are questions to be asked, steps to be taken, obstacles to be overcome and decisions to be made. Usually none are right or wrong but need fine tuning to align with your purpose and life direction.

The crossroads experience comes along repeatedly during our lives. I’ve noticed that when worldly events intensify (have you noticed?) the whole process appears, and may indeed be, more crucial to our progress on the path.

Take joy in the knowledge that the crossroads experience may be challenging but always indicates incoming change and transformation, and your heart will undoubtedly lead the way.

The sun seems brighter than usual. Some of my pansies have curly edges this year and are waving in the brilliant breeze. Fresh activity is abroad in the land. These were the best of times, these were…..What are we discovering about ourselves?

A certain intensity is prevailing. Whether overcoming or transforming, our inner power centers are being turned up to meet the challenge. Sometimes there appears to be a battle. Warrior-like and full of belief, we charge forward. And then we are tasked with recharging and regrouping. The next opportunity is on the way.

A friend recently found this quote from Helena Roerich, 1929: “Blessed be the obstacles, through them we grow.” I say Amen to this idea. Although kindness and support may be needed to get us through, we are ultimately masters of our lives and ever evolving destinies.

Every time I write a blog or offer coaching or a reading, I too am listening and learning. I join the pansies in sending you great love.

A few days ago I opened my front door to see this friendly chicken strutting around and apparently waiting for me right on the Welcome mat. While I am wondering whether chickens can read, I watched her pecking around looking for any traces of crumbs, wandering back and forth, checking to see if she could come in (no!) and finally settling quite happily on my deck in the sun. She seemed quite peaceful and right at home, but was obviously not where she belonged.

After some time passed, I realized this new resident in my yard was making no moves to return to her home. I finally posted the picture on my local town site asking if anyone was missing a chicken. After some comments here and there, it turned out that she had been staying at my neighbor’s house across the way. Because their house faces another street, I hadn’t had occasion to meet them but thought I had heard chickens in their fenced yard.

My neighbor and I had a delightful chat meeting each other while she collected up the chicken. But this was only part of the story. This chicken had appeared on the sidewalk of a nearby block a few days previously with no evidence of where she had come from. My neighbor, having a small flock herself, decided to take Miss Chicken in and care for her until her owner was found. The only problem was that Miss Chicken was capable of escaping her yard by flying over a 6-foot fence and had had to be rescued from the neighborhood numerous times. Another visit from Miss Chicken a few days later convinced my neighbor to clip her wings a bit. That day I got to meet my neighbor’s sweet daughter. I do hope Miss Chicken finds her home and family, wherever it may be.

Miss Chicken delivered me a happy happenstance in meeting my neighbors. The symbolic meaning of a chicken appearing is that you are meant to scratch below the surface of your emotions and do an internal evaluation to make sure your are responding to situations from your heart. Never a more timely and appropriate message for me as I am focusing more intently on my HeartSupport Coaching and Heart2Heart Readings. Thank you, Miss Chicken!

This photo of fourth of July fireworks was taken years ago by a young friend of mine. Sometime later I enlarged it, added the mantra in the corner and hung it in my previous office. At the time I was envisioning changes in my life, but goals and details were unclear.

Fast forward and I have moved, downsized and found my life going quieter and deeper. 2020 actually helped me somewhat personally but the world has changed dramatically. And this image just recently popped up in my photo archives as a reminder that in order to navigate all that is new, rethinking is once again on the table.

Rethink is defined as thinking again about something, for example a policy or course of action, epecially in order to make changes. I would like to add our behaviors, our thoughts, our actions and reactions and our ability to activate or create change – in a word, everything.

There are habits and patterns of behavior that can add comfort to our lives, but there are others which need to be deleted. I am often found seeking more clarity but at the same time realizing that that place of knowing more likely resides in my heart. I am learning to trust my intuition more and rely on logic less. I also just found this quote from Rumi: “You want everything to be yours? Become nothing to yourself and all things.”

Navigating the zen nature of an earth spinning faster takes aquarian skills to be sure. I would love to continue this conversation with you. What skills are you using to sail the seas of 2021?

My best to all of my readers. Your presence in my life is appreciated!

PS What am I activating? I am returning in earnest to HeartSupport Coaching and my Heart2Heart Readings. See www.livelifevibrant.com for more details or email me at susan@livelifevibrant.com.

We can all agree that 2020 has been like no other year we can remember. As I acknowledge the many blessings in my life of friends like you, family, a warm cottage, nourishing food and the spaciousness of prayer, I also realize it is time to be grateful for the things that appear to be stumbling blocks on the path.

Although boulders may present themselves, whether small problems or large, we often take the approach of hoping to remove them by magic, more prayers, ruthless action or denial. It is usually the case that none of these is the solution. We seem determined to accomplish a certain outcome, by hook or crook. However, it may be that we have profound lessons to learn from the apparently unfortunate incident or ongoing situation. The divine has many ways of speaking to us and providing grist for the mill as they say, to propel us to a higher walk and a deeper understanding.

Acceptance of all that comes our way, no matter our preferences, may seem a passive act but is in reality an assertion that we are being watched over from heavenly realms – and that we are not in charge of everything! Accepting all the gifts we are given, whether we view them as good or bad, is the direction we will ultimately find most rewarding. It has oft been said that what you resist persists. Going forward then requires welcoming those unexpected packages that land on our doorsteps, listening with the heart to a rhythm new and yet to be learned, and finding the peace and faithfulness to keep moving forward.

Happy Thanksgiving 2020 to my Blog readers. May you find joy in every step!