Welcome to my Blog

This is the space where i give you some insight into my personal life and what is important to me. Seem voyeuristic….well it is and that is what makes it fab. Whatever is written here is for me to share myself with you and what makes me KickarseKate. Leave some comments, and most of all enjoy….oh yeah and if you need some inspirational coaching ramblings you can find that too, or visit my website for the more work related stuff.

To get a fabulous complimentary course titled SPRINGCLEAN YOUR LIFE in 28 days then visit my website on www.life-coaching.co.za

The Wonder of Winter

I am re-posting this article as it is relevant time of year again to help you think about winter in a mindful way this year

My writing is always about drawing inspiration and metaphors for life from nature because nature simply follows patterns and unfolds majestically. We can take much needed advice from it to assist us with the “busy-ness” and stress that we deal with constantly. All too often nowadays we are so manically trying to do everything for everybody every day, that we burn ourselves out trying so hard. I am suggesting that we learn to go with the flow of the seasons, harnessing the cycle of life. So, what insights and inspiration can we draw from the season of winter and what do we need to pay attention to over these few months whilst the earth is slumbering?

 

Winter falls over a solstice, which literally translated means “standing in the sun’. For us in the southern hemisphere, the sun will be furtherest north from us, thus creating very short daylight hours and longer nights. This deliciously cold season of winter can gift us several opportunities beyond curling up alone next to a hearty fire with a great book.

 

How do we translate this into our lives?

 

The underlying energy that we can tap into is one of completely and utterly pausing: there is a kind of gentle stillness around us. The wheel of life naturally completes over the solstice on 21^st June, before it can start up again for the year ahead…it is the natural end and beginning of the cycle of the year. This makes it somewhat harder for us living in the southern hemisphere because we usually hold this intention of endings and beginnings over our New Year celebrations in December. We South Africans need to be extra mindful of this mid-year break to re-charge annually. Alongside this “pause” in life, we also greatly benefit from integrating into a more social way of life during winter, where we stop to re-charge our internal batteries by spending time with loved ones.  This is a time to pull together and gather socially to get through the cold winter nights, creating an inner fire of warmth through friendships and sharing. Whilst the energy of winter creates a slowing down and a conserving of energy, it is also an important time to reflect inwardly even more deeply, and find the point of focus for the next stage ahead.

 

I recommend the following practical pointers to take advantage of this wonderful winter energy, particularly around the solstice:

 

1. Start spending about ten minutes quiet time alone every day….such as in meditation, or simply just sitting quietly focusing on your breathing. Become aware of where you are spiritually, mentally and physically at this stage in your life. Be mindful and still. The more you practice the easier it will get.

 

2. Also start journaling a little bit every day to completely reflect your life on paper after the quiet time above. How you are really feeling on the inside? What do you deeply wish for? Your hopes and intentions?  This “ME” time every day is vital for self awareness – remember this is the time for “pausing”.

 

3. As you relax into the quiet time and journaling, try and allow more of your deeper hopes and wishes for the months ahead to filter through. Over autumn I suggested you look long term for the year ahead, and winter is the time to become very resolute and focused on some specific plans for the months ahead. So when the time is right and the energy starts gathering again as the days get longer, what will your plan of action be? Winter is the ideal time to spend on this focused plan, preparing for the activity ahead, and that makes the implementation so much easier down the line. You could call these your “resolutions” for the start of the new cycle.

 

4. Lastly, as close to the solstice as possible, invite your nearest and dearest over….and rather than the bring and share suggested for autumn, this winter season is about being generous and sharing all that YOU have with others. Ideally this should be an outdoor celebration around a huge fire. If this is not possible and you don’t even have an indoor fire, then use as many candles as possible to generate the fire energy. Celebrate that you belong to these friends and family, and this is a great time to share your intentions for the next few months with each other. Also fantastic time for poetry and story telling to celebrate your friendships. Revel in the delights of generosity and togetherness.

 

Enjoy the still, inward energy of winter, and generously sharing with friends, preparing you for the upbeat, outward going movement of life as spring kicks into gear, but more about that next issue.

if you want to celebrate winter with your girlfreinds and live in JHb, then why not come and join me for a White Russian Winterland ladies night

Just keep on keeping on

Sometimes it is all you can do to keep on keeping on. One step at a time, padam padam, prati padakam.

It will not always be effortless, fun, elegant or simple. But it will keep on keeping on. Time marching on is a given, you getting up each day, whether healthy or sick, hung over or full of beans, is going to happen until the day you take your last breath.

I have been doing lots of  BIKRAM yoga again, in an extremely  hot room, whch makes for hectic detoxing and emotional squeezing, and this practice of body, mind and soul is so difficult, that it has been reminding me that “this too shall pass”. Some days I can hold a posture, somedays I can’t, somedays it seems effortless to be strong like a bengal tiger, otherdays I feel like a fluttering fly barely hanging on. But whether weak or strong, good or bad, it passes. So the trick is to NOT get hung up on the external.  Let it go, non attachment. Just like in life.

If I was to panic about the hot air, or the fact that my hip wants to give way as I stand with a my other leg out in front me, or I feel ill and ready to throw up in front of the class (ok so if you have never been to a bikram joya class this may sound a tad extreme, so don’t judge till you have got your ass to a class.)….well then each class would be pure hell.

But the truth is, if I just keep on keeping on, it passes. The air eases, my hip eases, the emotions move and shift and it all goes to a new place.

so my question is, do you get hung up on the external stuff in your life? do you get all reactive, trying to control the outcomes and silly, or are you able to remember that this too shall pass? Something awesome can shift to being ugly, something beautiful can actually be borm out of your hardships in life…nothing is ever the same for very long in reality, so don’t expect it to be and that way you won’t be disappointed.

My gift through Yoga, is to just let go, and keep on…..I wish you the same insight in your life when the going feels tough

Blessings,
Kate

Warm cookies

A friend sent me this as a reminderr of what we ALL need sometimes.

Robert Flughum “ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN”

• Share everything.
• Play fair.
• Don’t hit people.
• Put things back where you found them.
• Clean up your own mess.
• Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
• Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody.
• Wash your hands before you eat.
• Flush.
• Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
• Live a balanced life – learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
• Take a nap every afternoon.
• When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.

Is love ever enough?

I have often heard the expression from Michelle and always my body reacted against it, But I am also starting to believe that love alone is not enough to sustain a relationship. I remember my astrologer once telling me that you need three things in a relationship for it to work long term. You need connection (sex!), common goals in life and communication.

When any one or more of these factors breaks down, then the relationship beings to topple. Love is the glue that holds all the above together, but you can absolutely love someone and still not have the makings of an awesome life together. So if love between two people is the given, then it is these other three that need working on and paying attention to in order to stay in love and in connection in your relationship.

Is commitment more important to you than your souls’ happiness. I have been through so much internal and external stress in the past threee months trying to re-engineer my life. My intention for this year was 100% re-alignment, no matter what that meant. If it meant for me personally that I needed to let go of my relationship, then that might be something to consider. When we start down a particular path of action, we can NEVER be sure of where it will take us. You can’t stand at the beginning of a windy path, no matter how beautiful or scary it looks ahead of you, and be able to know all that you will find along the way. Life is about showing up and dealing with what comes your way as you travel the path.

So My partner and I embarked on a journey that we did not know where it was going to end, and for me it still has not ended it is just in a werid place right now for us… there have been a few hailstorms, surpirse tornadoes, some sun and some rain along the way. The path suddenly seems to have got steep with no end end in sight for us, but we have to keep making decisions at every step of the way which fork in the path to follow.  Trust for me is a huge element…..not trying to control each and every outcome, but letting it unfold no matter how uncomfortable, painful and frightening.

So whilst i mourn the loss of one thing, I fund myself also rejoicing in the fact there is change in my life and there is new afoot……and I have no idea what that means down the line for us, but that old, stuck structures we created around us no longer had enough energy and fluidity to sustain both of us in a delicious way…structures that did not serve us are being torn away at a rate of knots, allowing us both hopefully to get to the top of the mountain in tact and able to admire the scenery whilist being connected to all that lives within and around us.

I wish you the ability to make a choice even when you do not know what choice to make

Blessings

Kate

been a while….

When life turns upside down all you can do is let the washing machine tumble you around until the programme stops. Whilist I always sprout about how we can take full control over our lives, there are also times when we need to allow things around us to unfold, and to stop resisting so vehemently. The past month I have been in the washing machine on full speed cycle. I am stonger, more resilient, more determined and more sassy about who I am. I don’t have all the answers, but I have TODAY. I have been practising the one day at a time theory, even when deeply tired from physical exhaustion. I am practising the art of one moment at a time…..it is one the best practices of getting through the tough times that I know. Breathe, let go, and just BE

everything moves in cycles…..which one are you in right now?

Try and not judge where you are…rather take the lessons and the blessings. Being in jhb reminds me how swiftly people do business here without the distraction of my favourite mountain and the sea. Being here also reminds me of the fiery energy that jhb holds, and I am tapping into that to help me shift my world.

Are you waiting for someone else to make your life better?? A poll taken shows….

I received an e-mail today that REALLY got me thinking and go searching on the internet for the related info. It was referring to a recent poll conducted by USA TODAY and GALLUP and was something like this:

WASHINGTON — Americans are as down as they’ve been in decades about the state of the country and its polarized politics, even as they express soaring confidence that Barack Obama will be able to turn things around.

A USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds stratospheric expectations for the incoming president that his own supporters acknowledge may be unrealistic. A majority of those surveyed say Obama will be able to achieve every one of 10 major campaign promises, from doubling the production of alternative energy to ensuring that all children have health insurance coverage.

Seven in 10 predict the nation will be better off when Obama’s term ends in four years.

Ok so what the heck is the point? As a life coach that is committed to assisting people the BE the change they wish to see, this is fascinating for me to witness. When someone comes along that is gonna shake up history and shift the consciousness of people (for e.g. as Mandela did for us in SA and Obama is doing right now in the USA)- it is always a great way to feel re-energised, hopeful and once again tapped into the power of the human spirit. As Obama now officially leads America into its next chapter, let’s think about the content of the above POLL and how it may reflect in your life….

I do believe that powerful and transformational leaders are necessary to mobilise families, companies and countries, let alone the global family into new ages and new eras of life. The world definitely needs some different leadership right now. The power of someone’s words can elevate the people’s minds and hearts to think differently, act compassionately and experience from true values once again. BUT what about the fact that 7 / 10 people believe that the USA will be better off after his 4 years. You could be DEAD in 4 years!  What kind of power are they handing over to someone they have probably never met, and never will. Please do not mis-read what I am saying, but if you are totally reliant on the head of a country to change your world, then you have got one heck of a surprise coming your way.

 

YOU, that’s right, YOU, need to BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE (taken from another transformational leader, Ghandi) and get cracking in your own life today. I admit I sat glued to the TV watching the inauguration of the first African American president, and feel in my heart this is the marking of some necessary changes, but I am not going to sit back and wait for someone else to change my life. The poll showed that the majority of people believe OBAMA will be able to deliver on all 10 of his HUGE commitments. Do you know what those are….they are massive?

Well imagine if you had huge commitments in your own life, and started working progressively to making the changes. Now that would be truly phenomenal, as opposed to sitting around waiting fro someone else to fulfil his promises!

 

I am taking some committed clients on a RE-BOOT your life coaching boot camp starting 2nd FEB. Come on; let’s give Obama some support in making changes by doing them for ourselves.  If everyone mobilised their energy, activated goals and started being responsible for their own happiness, it will make the mammoth task of CHANGE IN THE WORLD a lot easier. That way no matter how well he does or doesn’t do, you will definitely have shifted your world, which spirals and positively affects everyone else!

What will happen if you make huge commitment and promises in your own life?

See you at www.life-coaching.co.za   for the details on a course to fullfill your own commitments.

Can a mouse change your life?

Whilst just coming off the beach for my regular awesome morning routine walk, I noticed a lovely pale blue Jaguar pull up at the parking lot just as I was bundling my three wet noses (commonly known as dirty dogs after cavorting on the beach) into the car. I was expecting either a dude coming to check out the waves for surfing, or a fellow beastie walking bringing other excitied dogs to play in the sand ‘n surf.

So I was pretty intrigued when I saw this 55 odd year old guy take out  one of those big black plastic storage boxes from his boot. Trying not to look too suspicious by eyeing him closely, I watched intrigued whilist very slowly taking my time to load my noisy loot in the back seat. He proceeded to open the plastic box, and then take out yet another cardboard shoe box. Hang on a minute what the heck was this?

At that moment he looked over to me and said very simply ” mouse”- clearly aware I had been eyeing him out!! With that I closed the car doors, knowing all too well Sasha the Jack Russel would love to get her snout on the mouse, and walked over to him. This lovely man then told me how every know and then a mouse comes to visit him, and it takes him about a week to catch it, then he lovingly brings it down to the beach to set it free in the dunes and fynbos. What a lucky little chap, the mouse that is, that he didn’t visit my house to be torn to shreds by a cat or dog! But even more importantly was that I think this man was a lucky chap too, that his heart was open enough and kind enough to do these kinds of lovely acts. I love the impact this man and his mouse left on me…..it would have seemed, to many, so much easier for him to simply kill the mouse, trap it, shew it out or any number of options. But he chose to make a difference to that little mouse, and probably had a good feeling in his heart and soul because of it.

I had that just from being witness to this event at 6am on the west coast. There are lessons and blessings everywhere if you are simply mindful of seeing them.

So, pay attention to who does what around you, what can you learn from it, and how can you be inspired to do the stuff that matters to you. Have a beautiful day …..just keep your mice away from our house ok.

till next time, blessings,

Bla Bla bla for the new year…

Welcome to 2009…are you sick of hearing that yet from every which way you turn?

Here is my simple wish for you and me this year: That you allow yourself permission to follow your heart. It is all that actually matters. Whether that means slowing down, speeding up, moving home, moving partners, going for walks, starting to eat better, going on that holiday, saying no to the bullshit you subscribe to yet don’t love, letting go of clutter…..all that matters is that you live your life the way that makes you feel fabulous and integrous. we can all lose our way in life…i have had my fair share this past year re-evaluating what matters. the journey can be hard, but it is always worth it.

If you allow yourself to follow your heart, the rest does fall into place.

Maybe it is time to simplify a little in 2009.

What am I personally doing?

I am doing simple yet proufound daily awesome habits to keep my groove in groove if you know what iImean. When I combine these along with the goals I have set for the year, then I am on a winning ticket. If I get too caught up in the goals, then I know I lose sight of the magic of each day.

Today is where the magic lives, not tomorrow or yesterday. Do what you know makes you feel fabulous, follow your heart, and your life will be on track.

Sounds simple…..it actually if far simpler than we let ourselves believe

So what is possible for you this year if you start listening to and following your heart ??

go on, i dare you

Here is some of what I did over the festive season if you want a peek into my life….

My Niece Roisin and I enjoying the view in sani Valley…was that a fish?

The view from our room on misty porridge days

Mum at her 70th birthday picnic

Aren’t you ever wierd too?

Our whole Family: Maja, Jem, Mich, e, Mum, Simon, Roisin and Aine. The only pic we have together in years!

Mich and me at christmas dinner

gals and moms…with yet some more champagne!

My niece Jayde and I “arse” skating at grand west ice rink

Walked to top of Lion’s Head on New Year’s Eve

BOOTCAMP

Are you a brave brave mouse….are you very very brave? I am not called KICK ASS  KATE for nothing. I am busy gearing up for bootcamp – LET’S GO BIG challenge. Yes I know that not all coaching is about action and charging forward and gettingthings done in a certain time frame. but BOOTCAMP IS!!!!! Heeeeehhaaa

I am taking some mad clients/ old and new, on a 4 week journey to achieve some goals for the year. Nothing like 150% commitment and me breathing down your neck every day to get things done and end the year on a total high!!

if you want to come and play you better act fast!!

Spending down time with Nick

I consider myself to be really blessed by the people that I meet along my journey. 3 years ago I contacted Nick Williams (international best selling author of “the work we were born to do” with  a cheeky e-mail about his book and how I was taking some of my clients through it, and asking is there was a way we could somehow, somewhere, do something together. That one e-mail has opened up a whole new chapter for me. I have learned some things I could not have learned from anyone else, been exposed to great ideas, and I have made a friend.

Nick epitomises the art of being a gentleman, even when he swears which I love cos I can throw words out  like the best of them! His quiet unassuming nature just coaxes the best out of everyone he meets. He has been on a whirlwind tour of Cape Town and jhb since getting here two weeks ago, and I have been able to share much of it.

Whilst I have truly loved the “work times” we have shared this trip, through talks, media stuff, coaching  master classes to a jam packed Inspired Entrepreneur workshop, I think i have loved the special quiet moments with him the best. I even get to say he came to our home and was loved by all our 6 wee beasties…..who says being in SA on your own is lonelY?

oh the thrill of a big Harley

Just to prove he did go for a ride and not just pose!

ok lets be fair...he has worked REALLY hard whilist being here! This was taken the night he arrived, addressing 250 people at the GSB.