Blog Posts

March 28th, 2014

3/28/2014

These last three weeks have been very devastating. Two weeks ago my daughter, now 24 had to put down her childhood 4 - H horse Katie. I watched her make the very hard decision. She was so brave and did what was best for the horse. It was heartbreaking. The following Tuesday the news helicopter of the station I did traffic for crashed. Right off the top of the roof onto traffic in downtown Seattle. Although I did not know the pilot or photographer, everyone I worked with did. Many had flown with the pilot. As the news unfolded all day and the next it was so painful listening to my colleagues share the stories and memories of these two well loved men. The following week, a massive mudslide in Oso Washington took the lives of many. My nephew a volunteer firefighter in a nearby town is on scene digging through the mud to find his 14 year old nephew. The family just ran to the store for a few minutes and when they came home their son and home was gone. Charlie Harger A reporter says it best. It is taking a toll on all of us. The outpouring of generosity and good will is incredible. The head of FEMA who arrived on the scene said he has never scene a disaster quite like this. When he arrived the people embraced him. He listened to them... They are loggers and know the terrain so he listened to them. He said they were underway with the rescue faster than ever due to mutual respect. Good things out of tragedy. In the meantime, my heart is aching and I work on a music station WARM 106.9, we are supposed to be uplifting, light, encouraging. How do I put on my "happy" face in the midst of so much pain? The afternoon host and I addressed the issue and how people can help. What I have struggled with in the midst of all this pain is.... How do I maintain my happiness and joy, when so many are in such pain? It is a fine line. In the past I would have thought. I have no right to be happy with my life when others are suffering. Now I see it as, if I can bring laughter or joy with respect, during a time of grief, then maybe that is my mission.
My book was just published and I am so excited.
My daughter just announced she is moving with my granddaughter to another state.
I got another speaking engagement.
The mountain collapsed and my nephew and his family are searching for their 14 year old nephew.
How does this correlate? happy sad happy sad?
I just know that there are so many emotions about these situations and I can choose to balance them rather than negate them. It is okay to be happy and sad. Joyful and sorrowful all at once. The problem is when we let our guilt get in the way. I had to put guilt on the back burner to do my job. That is when I realized there is room for all of these emotions even at once.
Make it a great day
Coach Laurie

Did Not See That Coming

11/20/2012

"Let a series of happy thoughts run through your mind. They will show on your face."
Norman Vincent Peale
1898-1993, Author of The Power of Positive Thinking

Just launched a fund raiser for the first printing of Did Not See That Coming, before the time was up the funds were raised. I had been challenged by my coach Kim Fulcher, to be seen, to stop hiding and show up. What I discovered is LOVE. For so long I have been "on my own" trying to make ends meet, make sense of my life, wondering if I did a good enough job for my kids too much trying. I have always been a dreamer, this last dream, getting back into radio seemed impossible. Then when it began to happen it was a lot of work and crazy hours. Now it is getting very sweet. Better hours, weekends off, great exposure and lots of fun. And the book just weeks away from the first printing. Remember your dream, pursue it, don't give up even if it takes a really long time. My hope is you will be as I am today. Sitting on my couch, looking out at a beautiful view of the Puget Sound with tears in my eyes because life is so incredibly wonderful.
Live your dream,
Coach Laurie

What About You?

10/6/2012

Although this video is about smoking it is so true in many other areas of our lives.
How would you answer the question at the end of the video?
It’s amazing how most people know what
is best for their lives, but they either aren’t willing
to something about it, or they just don’t know
what they can do.

Bitter Sweet

9/30/2012

My friend Cherie came to spend the weekend with me for a retreat, renewal, and girl time. We ate, drank lots of coffee, shared, read, walked around town, dreamed and re decorated my apartment. In the midst of our fun friend weekend, my neighbor was saying good bye to her best friend. My neighbor has terminal cancer and her best friend came from the East Coast to say goodbye. As she left to catch her plane, Cherie and I could hear her sobbing as she walked past my door. We both teared up and couldn't speak. We "shot prayers" in her direction. How can we be inside dreaming about our future while a glass pane away a final goodbye was in progress? As our fun weekend progressed, the firemen showed up next door to take my neighbor to "Comfort Care" where she will be for the rest of her life maybe a week. There are no words to describe the grief we were witnessing, right outside my window. Life is so short and we are so blessed with the gift of life. It was as though we were being reminded that dreams are to be lived and that we can never know how much time we have. When we said our temporary goodbye's to each other is was a blessing and we appreciated that we would see each other again. We nodded our knowing that life is to be lived and challenged each other to action. We are so lucky we have another chance, another day.

Isolation a Dangerous Game

9/3/2012

Single parents you know what I'm talking about. Ever been misunderstood? It causes us to isolate and stand back from the crowd. If not physically then emotionally. Isolation is very dangerous. Take a risk reach out and keep a support system in place. At times it is easy to be overwhelmed even feel like a failure or looser. These are lies from the enemy. When we believe them we end up alone. Fight these thoughts and share your feelings with safe people. There are times when we just need to be alone, that is different. What I am talking about here is survival. Stay in community. Find your safe places and risk sharing your struggles. We don't have to do this alone. Reach out to me here or on FB Did Not See That Coming and share your struggles. We walk this path together and we not only survive we will thrive.

I'm Possible

8/30/2012

I've been guilty of giving in to doubt and fears. I start to think negative destructive thoughts. Sometimes I would think to myself. "I'm never going to make it". Sometimes single parenting was so overwhelming. I remember Cousin Donna saying to me one night, "I just can't let myself go there." Giving fear a foot-hold was too dangerous for me. I decided I would not go there either. Sometimes it is as simple as mind over matter. Choosing to believe I am going to be okay. I am going to make it....no matter what. I'm Possible.

Great Moms

8/26/2012

I was in a group where a mom was telling us how hard it was to let go of being so clean all the time. She says she can't relax until everything is done and she knows the kids pay a price for that. She of course let us know that her house was so clean you could eat off the floor. I chided in saying, "yeah, mine too because there is food on it". I am the first to admit I am a recovering messy. My friend Jennifer says her biggest struggle is mom guilt. If she is working she feels guilty for being gone, if she is home she feels guilty for not making money for her family. Same with cleaning, I feel guilty if my house is a mess. I feel guilty when I'm hanging out with the kids because I "should" be home cleaning. If there is any thing we can let go of maybe, just maybe it's the "mom guilt". You do enough. In the end what are the kids going to remember?

You are enough

8/22/2012

Imagine, people inspired by you simply being you. You are enough. Some days the overwhelm wants to take over and send us into despair but remember you make a difference. You are enough. Choose to believe it. You are going to make it and you can do more than survive. You can thrive. Remember what you love.

The Inner Voice

8/1/2012

When you put it that way. I want to be responsible for the positive "inner voice messages" not the negative, debilitating messages. Especially if my voice will be their inner voice after I've gone to the grave. Something to think about.

July 27th, 2012

7/27/2012

What are your superpowers? It is very easy to get caught up in what we are not doing, what we don't have and lack. Take a minute and think about all the amazing things you do. Pretty amazing huh? Focus on those things today and how you have held it all together in spite of the odds. Relish your superpowers.
Coach Laurie