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 Ann and original GS group member Karen, in front of Karen's business "The Right Touch" This month, in the United States, we are celebrating National Women's History Month. For us, it's an opportunity to look back, look around us, and look forward. Confused? Let us clarify, Sisters!
~ When we look back, we enjoy reading about the women who paved the way. Check out this comprehensive list of books that celebrate women's accomplishments, compiled by Jennifer Tang of Hostos Community College Library: http://www.hostos.cuny.edu/library/hcc/whm-shelf.asp.
~ When we look around us, we like to celebrate each other's tenacity, courage, and stick-to-it-ness in reaching their goals. Recently, Michelle's friend Beth Cooper headed out on a 5-week journey to climb Mt. Everest. Knowing how far Beth is traveling out of her comfort zone, Michelle sent her a "You-are-amazing-and-inspire-me" card. You can read up on Beth's journey here: http://www.westhawaiitoday.com/articles/2009/02/24/local/local01.txt.  Torrey Goodman and Beth Cooper, talking to 8th graders at Kealakehe Intermediate School before leaving on their 15-day trek up Mt. Everest ~ When we look forward, we notice the gifts that have yet to be bestowed on our Sisters. One of the original GS group members, MJ, is expecting a baby girl in May. We're cooking up ways to help her celebrate her new baby and all the ways her life will change!
 Michelle and original GS group member, MJ, giving the shaka sign! Let's not forget to celebrate our own journeys this month, because as we wrote in Chapter 4 of the Goal Sister book, it's important to celebrate your successes and failures.
What? Did you just read that correctly? Yes, we believe in celebrating both your successes and your failures because both experiences offer a growth opportunity, if you learn from them. And now for the caveat - we don’t really encourage Goal Sisters to pat each other on the back when one of you fails to meet your goals per se. We celebrate each other’s willingness to see our failures as important lessons and to learn from these lessons. We know that may sound schmaltzy, but that’s one way we support each other - help one another find the treasure among the ruins. And when you find it and don’t get mired in the “I blew it” part, that’s worth a song and a dance, and high fives all around!
Click on the link to listen to Ann speak to Kaplan University students about setting goals:
http://www.kuartsandsciencesmedia.com/GoalSisters/GoalSetting.htm Ann held her annual workshop at Spiva Arts Center this month and they came . . .  . . . to search for images and words that inspired them, make new friends, bounce energy and ideas off of each other, and . . .  . . . create a visualization of their goals and desires! On January 11, 2009, Ann facilitated 'The Art of Possibilities 2009' at the Spiva Center for the Arts. It was a great way for participants to gain clarity on their 2009 goals while creating a visual reminder they'll refer to throughout the year.
Didn't make it to Joplin? No worries! Here's Ann's list of questions she posed to the Treasure Collagers:
~ Who do I want to become in 2009?
~ How do I want to feel in 2009?
~ What 3 habits would I like to develop?
~ What would I like to explore and learn?
~ Who will I ask for help and support?
~ What would add more value to my life?
~ What do I want to achieve?
~ What would I like to improve?
~ How do I want my relationships to be?
~ How will I express my spirituality?
~ What do I want more of?
~ What actions will I take?
Let your responses to these questions form the foundation for your 2009 Treasure Collage. Simply search for word and pictures that convey your answers and start cutting and pasting!
Copyright © 2004-2009 by Michelle Beaulieu Pillen, Ph.D., and Ann Leach. All rights reserved. No part of this Web site may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise.
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 Colleen's Treasure Collage If you want to see YOUR 2009 Treasure Collage here, please email a photo of it in jpeg or pdf format to michelle@goalsisters.com.  Better Homes and Gardens
February 2009 Ann and the GS book were featured in the article "Train Your Heart," by Chrystle Fiedler. Here's the excerpt:
Work Out with a Buddy. Enlist a friend who "gently nudges you in the direction you want to go," says Ann Leach, author of Goal Sisters: Live the Life You Want With a Little Help From Your Friends. Together, you set personal exercise and diet goals for the week and check in with each other to see how you're doing.
Thanks to Diana West for alerting Ann to the mention!
 March 2009 This year, I'm trying something new for my 2009 Treasure Collage. I bought a calendar, glue images and words from magazines, and draw myself goal-related reminders on specific weeks. Last month's calendar helped me to stay in the flow with writing reports. I finished writing 6 of them (yippee!), and the process was much more enjoyable because I re-framed "writing reports" to "telling stories." My husband and I also took a quick trip to the Big Island (not Paris, which was an image that showed up on my February calendar), where we hiked to watch lava from Kilauea spill into the ocean, shopped at the farmer's market and antique stores in Hilo, and drove up the west coast to take in the magnificent ocean views. It was a fun-filled 2-day respite!
I'm late in posting my March calendar collage (see above) because the beginning of the month was much busier and hectic than I expected. Most of the images this month are from one of my favorite magazines, Vogue Living Australia. I glued photos of carpets, paintings, and buildings randomly among the squares. This month's To Do List involves more "story telling" which I intend to balance with a 5-day visit from my nephew, responding to new job opportunities, and keeping the home fires burning. I decided to keep a photo of me paperclipped to the calendar, to remind myself how I want to feel, look, dress, create, and be in 2009!
Contact Information:
Ann
417.624.3377 (Missouri)
ann@goalsisters.com
Michelle
808.262.2796 (Hawaii)
michelle@goalsisters.com
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