Shokahn, Johan, Finn, Marat and Ava (cousins who love)

Have you kept your New Year's resolutions? Well, I would like to offer a resolution for February. Remember the movie: "Pay it Forward" or the bumper stickers that say: "Practice Random Acts of Kindness". I want to encourage you to practice love this month, spread it around. Smile. Open doors, be helpful and radiate a little light during your day. I warn you that my essay is a little heavy this month but my message is bright, it's about love. I always welcome your feedback.

All the best,
Wayfinder Coach Robin

Love More
February is the month of love. Although February is known for Valentine's Day and the love between couples, I want to encourage you to use this month of love as a way to reach out to everyone you care about. This past month, I was jolted into the reality of our foreign policy. A colleague of mine, Thor Hesla, was gunned down by the Taliban in the gym of the Serena Hotel. I was not close to Thor, we worked together over the past 20 years, most recently at the NATO Summit in Washington, DC in 1999. But his tragic death sent me reeling. I realized that what I was feeling was what soldiers' families and Afghan and Iraqi citizens must feel every day. I come from a tribe of political types who work on campaigns to get Democrats elected. We don't normally face life and death situations. It was shock to know one of our tribe was shot.

But I said February and love was my focus. Thor's close friends created a website to honor him http://thorthor-hesla.virtual-memorials.com. The outpouring of love has been amazing; hundreds of people have posted their thoughts about Thor. All I can think about is that I wish he could have heard all that love before he died. That's the funny thing about funerals, we say kind words that the dead never hear. So that's when I thought about encouraging everyone to say kind words to the people they love. A dear friend from grammar school sent me this poem I want to share with you:

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end
He noted that first came the date of her birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years
For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not how much we own;
The cars, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard.
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left, that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough to consider what's true and real
And always try to understand the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger, and show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect, and more often wear a smile
Remembering that this special dash might only last a little while,
So, when your eulogy is being read with your life's actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent your dash?
©1996 Linda Elli

So although, my story is sad I hope it inspires you to share your love with the people in your life. Love and kindness are really easy to give, it doesn't cost a thing and the rewards are so great. So this month practice random acts of kindness, tell your friends and family what they mean to you and "pay it forward." Let me know what happens.

Custom Retreats
Are you celebrating a birthday? Marking the death of a loved one? Looking for a fun way to build your office team? Then contact me about designing a custom nature retreat for you. For more information check out past retreats on my website.

Quote of the Month
"Present your family and friends with their eulogies now - they won't be able to hear how much you love them and appreciate them from inside the coffin."
–Anonymous

Environmental tip of the month
Make the Plastic Bag history
We use 8% of the world's oil supply to produce plastic and it is believed that each plastic bag takes 500 years to decompose. Bring your own bags when you shop or buy biodegradable ones.

What do I do now?
Using all the tools I learned working in strategic communications for elected officials, non-profit organizations and the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, as well as my training as a professional coach and certified master retreat coach, I work with individuals, groups and organizations to help them focus on clear goals and measured outcomes. As a professional coach I help individuals create strategic plans for their lives and I help executives become better managers and leaders. As a retreat leader, I design and lead custom retreats for individuals and organizations focused on what they want to achieve.

Wayfinder Inc. | 2840 Chesapeake Street NW | Washington | DC | 20008

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