Living Life Intuitively

I had lunch with my mediation teacher, Tsipora, at Whole Foods Market today. I know the next steps I will be taking, now that I have my mediator's certificate from Portland Community College.

I was struck, in listening to Tsipora's story, how much we both live our lives intuitively. Tsipora started trusting this process at a much younger age than I did, and she's almost 60 now. Tsipora was born in Israel and recruited to become trained as a nurse in the army at the tender age of 18. She saw war on the front lines that early in her life...and knew that there must be a better way to resolve conflict.

When I started with the M/6 women's group (M to the 6th power) back in 1999, I had no idea how much my life would change because of attending that first meeting. Becoming a part of this group eventually lead to my first book, Six Degrees To Your Dreams, and my first business, Wishweavers, LLC.

When I attended my first voice class with Linda Brice, I had no idea I would eventually be asked to become an apprentice teacher, and that - two years later - I would be teaching my first private voice student in barter for a beautiful painting.

 

I signed up for Tsipora's mediation class at PCC for the same reason I signed up for that first voice class. I knew I was supposed to be there. The minute I walked in, I felt at home - that I was with my "tribe." I feel a calling to be a part of peaceful conflict resolution. Of course, if I'm really good at this, I could end up making $350/hour as a divorce mediator, or something like that. But that's not why I'm doing it - anymore than becoming a voice teacher at $55/hour was why I signed up for that first voice class.

I'm living my life intuitively...taking steps I feel drawn to take...and waiting to see how the process unfolds. It's been working really well for me. I highly recommend Living Life Intuitively.

Being a Voice Teacher

As many of you know, I've been trained through the Transformational Voice Institute (www.transformvoice.com) to become a certified voice teacher, and better singer myself. I'm on the faculty and taught Voice Lab last summer in conjunction with my treasured colleague, Nevada Jones.
I wasn't expecting to have my first private voice student so soon...but the opportunity presented itself when I first met David, an artist I admire. I wanted a painting, and he wanted to improve his voice. David is not only an artist, but art teacher who frequently speaks in public forums, and at the age of 50 had never really liked his speaking voice. Plus, he had a wounding experience as a young would-be singer, in a would-be band, in his early teens.

David suggested we exchange a painting for voice lessons.

The painting has been hanging on my wall since we first made this arrangement, and I am IN LOVE with it. Look at the colors, the movement in this exquiste piece of art. Flamenco dancers in Barcelona, Spain, inspired David to paint this...and the thread/cord you see moving through the dancers is his painted interpretation of the music they were dancing to.

We had our third lesson today. I simply could not have been more pleased with his progress, and I couldn't ask for a better student. David is taking the lessons to heart and rehearsing in between our lessons. He's highly aware of his rib cage expanding, what we call the "plop" when breathing in and the belly expands, his onsets (the first sound coming out in voicing a vowel) have dramatically improved...his vocal folds are no longer being shut together...rather the sound comes out on the breath. He's already started to understand diction and registers. He's learning and incorporating so quickly, I hope I can keep up with him!

I write this today because I was frustrated after our session last week. I was concerned I wasn't giving my student what he needed. There was some backward breathing going on...in that the tummy was contracting while inhaling, the rib cage was collapsing, and there was a lot of tension in the shoulders, etc.

But I must have done something right, because in David's rehearsal over the week...he got it! We worked more and more today on speech, elongating and sustaining phrases, even a bit into diction and registers.

I have one awesome student here who is taking this work to heart. He's made incredible progress, and I simply couldn't be more happy! Mainly I'm happy for him. But I'm also happy for me...my teaching is getting through, despite the frustration and doubts I felt last week.

Yeay!!!

A Safe Place to Land

On the subject of relationships, Ralph and I have been fooling around with a poem surrounding the theme "A safe place to land." Got out the easel paper, markers, etc.

It's certainly not finished yet, but here's our start. I'm happy to hear your input, and to see what kind of a poem you might write about someone you feel safe with. Or don't feel safe with.

A Safe Place to Land

In the moment, the time, when hearts meet and blossoms bloom

there is the mist of thoughts gently moving

through the meadows

into a timeless beat of a breath

the place which heralds

the delight of two hearts

falling into each other

onto the soft caress of the Mother's embrace,

the sturdy warmth of the Father's love,

the Universal flow of I am

 all is

a safe place to land.

Ralph and Laura, 3/2/2012

All that said, here I am wearing nothing but an apron and a killer pair of Michael Kors red pumps. In my kitchen. Guess who took the photo?

I should invite Valerie Bertinelli and Demi Moore over for lunch.

A Wonderful Wedding

Lorinda and Richard's wedding was wonderful.

Here's a photo of me and my partner, Ralph, at the wedding.

I found it rather interesting that when I made this post - and also posted some of the photos on Facebook - a couple of people thought it was MY wedding!

Can you see me with my arms outstretched in the sign of a cross and quickly going to hang garlic around my neck??!! Lol.

Don't expect to see this gal walking down the aisle any time soon!

Trust me, it has nothing to do with Ralph; he's really fabulous. In fact, probably the most fabulous guy I've ever met - and the amount of things we have in common is almost uncanny. As is the communication style we established very early on - like on the first date.

It's just one of those - been there, done that - kind of things. When I married Jeff in 1994 I had no second guesses, no qualms, and knew we'd be together for life.

But then, after over a dozen years of marriage, and trying so hard to make it work - including two separations and a really good counselor - whom I credit for our marriage lasting an additional 2 1/2 years...we weren't.

In the five plus years I've been single, I've realized there are many things about being single I truly love. After being with people all day long, it's nice to come home to my quiet, nicely decorated, place and greet my two lovely cats, Lady Jane and Katie Mae.

All of this said, I couldn't be happier for Lorinda and Richard. I share in their happiness, and can't wait to have them over for dinner, with Ralph, after things calm down for them after the wedding.

(And, besides, I heard that I had been described as a "force of nature with fairy wings" by the bride, to someone I hadn't met until the bachelorette party. I considered that a huge compliment. :) I think.)

Here's to beautiful unions...in whatever form they appear and take shape. :)

A wedding coming up

It seems to me this "How Are You" topic has run it's course. I'm interested in learning how to put photos on the blog, etc. But...in the meantime...I have a wedding to go to next Saturday.
You know how you just know some couples are going to make it, and others aren't? This is a couple that will go the long haul. As in...I would be utterly shocked if they ever got divorced.

I re-vamped a poem I wrote for a college roommate to include in their wedding card. The college roommate I wrote it for in 1990 is still happily married, with two children, after surviving breast cancer. I believe these other friends will be happily married 20 years from now as well. The poem I wrote is below. But in the meantime, do you also - just know - sometimes whether or not a union is really going to make it through the long haul?

Friend,

on your wedding day

I wish you joy.

For if each of your days

is touched by the happiness

you unselfishly bring

to the lives of those

who know you as I do

then you will be blessed

and you will be happy

as I have been happy

in knowing you.

On your wedding day,

I wish you trust.

For if your marriage is granted

the trust and assurance

you’ve earned in your relationships

like our special friendship

then you will be gifted

with faith and sincerity

as I have been gifted

by my friendship with you.

My friend, on your wedding day,

I wish you love.

For if, on your journeys

you encounter devotion

behind each obstacle

and scatter affection,

as you have in my pathway

I know you will find

the joy, trust, and love

that I found

            in having

                        a true friend

                                    like you.

Laura Handke, 2/25/2012

How Are You?

Typically I say 'groovy.' The latter depends on my mood. -HM, CA

How Are You?

I had a hotel desk clerk tell me that fine might as well mean that things suck. This happened when I was checking out, had other things on my mind that were bugging at me; I responded with fine and she then asked me what was wrong with my stay. I guess Marriott hotels have training in place to make sure peoples stays are better than fine. DB