Kindling the Sparks of Vision

p>The midlife experience for women might beinspires me. The bamboo also reminds me that my
described as "Life Reinvention 101." We've comecoach is holding my vision with me; I feel supported.
through the first half of our lives having done whatWhat is your dream? How can you create a visual
we've done, learned what we've learned, and beenexpression of it?
who we've been. We understand it is up to us, to a2. Declare your intention. Say it out loud several times
large degree, what the second half of our lives will be.a day, for yourself, in the form of an affirmation. Speak
We might redefine in huge broad strokes, or we mightit to your friends. Making a declaration is itself an action
simply fine tune. But there is a sense of urgency.that can be very powerful. Be open to the ideas that
Barbara Scher captures it in the title to her ovular (notcome into your mind when you declare your intention.
seminal!) book about creating the second half of life:You may tap into intuitive information you would be
"It's Only Too Late If You Don't Start Now."wise to act on. Trust yourself to know.
One of the ways to "start now" is to kindle the sparks3. Protect your dream; it is a fragile organism when it's
of your vision. Whatever dream you see for yourself,new. Just as you would protect a newborn baby from
nurture it. Allow yourself to move in that direction. If itdanger and harm, or a tulip shoot just peeking out from
isn't right for you, you will know it. As you movethe soil - protect your vision from harm. Do not expose
forward, more of your vision will come clear. Takingit to the kind of people my daughters call "dreamkillers."
action will result in your greater clarity about what's forYou know who I mean. When you say "I'm training for
you.the AIDS Ride, they say, "Isn't it a lot of work to raise
You may have only inklings and inclinations right now -all that money?" When you say, "I'm cutting back my
that's fine! Honor yourself by nurturing them. Feelhours at the office so I can spend more time painting,"
inclined to take a comparative spirituality course? Do it!they say, "Aren't you afraid they'll find someone full
Curious about Tai Chi? Try it! Psyched to learn how totime to replace you?" It's better not to declare your
cook with kale? Borrow a good cookbook.vision to people like this, certainly not at this stage in the
Or you may have a great deal more than inklings. Youlife of your dream. Share it with people who are likely
may know you want to start a foundation or a theaterto say things like, "Great!" or "How can I support you in
troupe. You may know you need to work on solvingthat?" or "I can totally see you doing that. What a
the world hunger problem. You may know you havegreat idea!"
to live at the ocean now.4. Keep moving! Stay in action, taking steps toward
Wherever you are in your own process of nurturingyour vision. The steps can be as small as looking up a
your vision, consider these suggestions as ways towebsite, or as large as writing up a plan for your new
support you in your process.business. What's important is that you stay in action.
1. Create a visual expression of the dream and place itEach next step you take will bring you to a new
where you can see it daily. Part of my vision forlocation where you can see a landscape you couldn't
myself is to further develop my work as a coach,see before you took the step. There is new
writer, and speaker and to reach a greater level ofinformation for you here, feedback for you to process.
prosperity through it. My own coach gave me aLet it in and let it inform your next step.
beautiful bamboo plant, a symbol of prosperity. SeeingThe sparks of your vision can lead to the roaring
this lush, beautiful bamboo in my office every dayflames of a great new adventure. Trust the process
keeps the spark of that dream glowing for me, andand have faith in yourself. Enjoy your journey!