The answer was music to my soul!

Suffering a bout of cabin fever last December, I made an unplanned trip to a coffee house here in Frederick, MD. It was Friday evening, and both my husband and I had worked a long week and were past due for a break. I had even become "snippish," if such a word exists!

To break the tension and relax our moods we headed out to look at Christmas lights, one of our favorite pastimes during a season of cold; when the leaves and flowers are gone, somehow the bright holiday lights make up for the dreary weather.

As soon as we entered the coffee house, I heard a wonderful folk singer-guitarist, Lisa Taylor, and I took a seat up front in the small and sparsely populated café.

As I listened to Lisa's wonderful music, I was struck by what I saw as a similarity between her passion for music and my passion for writing, coaching, and training.

Now I'll pause here and tell you, I did not speak to Lisa...she was still performing when we left. So I can only share my assumptions as to what she might have felt or thought that evening.

As for me, earlier that day I had been somewhat melancholy. I'd mailed out my monthly e-zine to my hundreds of wonderful readers. Yet what a "remote" experience that is, to hit the "send" button and yet remain out of touch with how my words are of assistance to those who ultimately read them and put them into action to make their practices, and the world, a better place.

I was having one of those, "I love what I do, but am I reaching people?" moments.

Fast forward a few hours to Lisa's fabulous performance in a small coffee shop, with about 10 patrons - half involved in their own conversations, coffee machines busily grinding beans, laughter, and street noise.

Yet you would have thought Lisa was performing at Carnegie Hall, for the energy, talent, and magic she put into her performance. I was transfixed.

The experience was a mirror for me, doing what I love to do, regardless of who is there to applaud, to understand, to "get it." I felt the presence perhaps of a kindred soul. I likened Lisa's performance to my own offering of numberless seminars and classes, some well-attended, others with only a handful of enthusiastic participants.

For each offering though, I'd "suit up and show up," because spreading the word about coaching and inspired learning is what I truly, truly LOVE to do. I now believe that those who are supposed to show up and receive will do so in the right and perfect numbers.

I remembered hearing author Wayne Dyer say that he started by speaking to audiences of 12! Twelve people hearing his message. What an inspiration that was to me, to measure my success in terms of what I share rather than the number in the audience.

My mood was considerably lightened by crossing paths with Lisa and hearing her music. I came away appreciating how each of us can touch another life, whether one at a time or in large numbers.

My question shifted from "Is Anyone Out There?" to "It's Just Fine in Here!"

Until next month,
Blessings & Light

Wow! I haven't even publicized my newest class yet, and I already have five prospective students waiting to enroll!

This summer I will launch my newest class, "Training Skills for Holistic Practitioners."

Are you a skilled holistic practitioner who has been asked by your clients to teach them the basics of your service?

Perhaps your massage clients would like to learn just enough to practice self-massage, or your intuitive guidance clients would like to learn how to increase their own powers of intuition.

The class will teach the basics of adult learning, instructional design, and presentation skills, with a focus on mind/body specialties.

After completing this class you'll be able to create additional streams of income, and reach more clients than a one-on-one practice allows.

Stay tuned to my monthly e-zine for special announcements about this exciting class, coming in the Summer of 2008.

To learn more about how I create a safe and celebratory learning space, in all of my classes, check out the Foundation for Inspired Learning, or contact Anne Kelly, A New Leaf Coaching, (301) 693-9580.