No Matter Where You Are

The experience of being human is an adventure, no matter where you happen to be in the world. Cultures place different values on the experience, but there are certain values that remain the same, no matter where you are.

Family. Friends. Belief in a higher power.

In my travels this year, I have noticed one difference. How people use their cell phones.

A cell phone is a wonderful invention that connects, informs and directs, all from the palm of your hand. With the swipe of a finger, you can learn the history of anything or discover the answer to the most obscure question.

But this tool can also isolate and separate people.

When I was in Hong Kong and Sydney this year, I noticed that most people used their phones as a shield against the world. It was a sign that clearly said, “Don’t bother me.”

This is not a comment on either city, just an observation.

In Paris, however, it is a different story. The Parisians may come across as rude or indifferent to tourists, but when they are with friends, they are intense, engaged and attentive.

Yesterday, for example, we had lunch at a sidewalk cafe. To our right was a group of three men who were engaged in a spirit discussion. Different voices made emphatic points, to which the others responded. All of this communicated over food.

To our left were two women, also engaged in a deep conversation. Each looked into the other’s eyes, listening attentively.

No one had their cell phone out. It was not in sight and was never used during either of these conversations.

I didn’t think much about this until we took a stroll last evening along the Seine. Notre Dame rose in the sunset as small groups of people enjoyed the cooler air. Food and wine were part of every gathering…and not a cell phone in sight.

We are humans, wired to be connected to each other. Why don’t we pledge to leave our phones out of sight and intend to listen. When we connect to others, we also connect more deeply to ourselves.

Viva la humans!

A Quick Announcement and a Favor

I will get back to my regular blog posts tomorrow,

but first I wanted to ask you for a favor.

I am almost ready to release the newly revised and updated 2nd Edition of Dance with the Divine. This novel is about a family torn apart by a secret that disrupts their very foundational beliefs. While the 1st Edition did well, I felt that it needed deeper content and life-changing lessons that transform the characters and hopefully the readers :-). Before I release this latest edition, I need your help.

The description found on the back of the book is critical to attracting readers. Creating a compelling summary is tricky. That is where you come in.

I have created Version A and Version B, which are shown below. Without knowing anything else about the book, can you please let me know which one you liked better? There is a one question poll form at the bottom of this post. And this is very important — if you did not like either of them, let me know that too!

Thank you for taking your time and sharing your opinion. I would love to hear any additional comments from you in the space below.

Be well,

Kathryn

Version A

A dark secret from the past erupts into the placid life of the Hartt family. Pushed underneath the surface for years, the effect of one decision threatens the very fabric of their lives. Brian and Christine must decide how they are going to relate to each other and even whether separation or divorce is an option. Savanna, their 14-year-old daughter, must face her fears or rebel against the entire situation.

Their actions and reactions take a predictable course, until a mysterious young woman offers a different path. Savanna opens her heart to these new spiritual laws and begins to transform from an angry, hurt teenager to a wise and patient young woman. Can her parents follow her lead? Or is Savanna destined to walk this way alone?

Full of inspiration, transformation and confirmation, Dance with the Divine will move you to tears, make you laugh and finally, force you to examine the stories you hold dear that prevent you from moving forward.  Change your story. Change your life.

Version B

The Hartts are a typical American family. Brian and Christine both work and they try to be available for their 14-year-old daughter, Savanna. Their lives are mostly drama-free, until a dark secret from their past threatens to destroy the entire family. The lingering repercussions from a decision made before Savanna was born have made themselves known, and now these consequences can no longer be ignored. Divorce seems imminent unless they discover a miracle.

Savanna refuses to stand by and see her family be destroyed. She is determined to find a better way…and it actually discovers her. A mysterious young woman and her dog show Savanna how to look past the physical and see the spiritual side of her situation. A leap of faith and courage to stay the course provide Savanna into a new perspective about her life, her value and her purpose. But can the adults in her life make the same faith leap and give up their stories about the past that are tearing them apart?

Brimming with inspiration, transformation and empowering messages, Dance with the Divine is life changing. It introduces a 4 step process called “Story Alchemy” that can be used to transform any story that threatens your peace and happiness. As you cheer on the choices made by each of the Hartts, you will also reflect on your own stories that keep you playing small.  Change your story. Change your life.

Fathers are All Around Us

Today is Father’s Day, a time to celebrate the men who have played an important role in someone’s life.  Whether he is a dad, step-dad, caring uncle or concerned grandfather, men who love someone younger than themselves all display characteristics of “fatherhood.”

The concept of  “blood relations” has fallen away in the realities of today’s social and moral standards.  Adoption, same-sex marriage, and blended families make it almost impossible to adhere to strict bonds of blood.  That may have worked in feudal times, when life’s complications boiled down to survival with your “clan” but it surely does not apply in today’s world.

So that leaves us with the question of how to define “fatherhood.”  I think it boils down to this…if you are a man who has established an emotional relationship with someone younger than you, and you guide by loving advice, provide consistent, unwavering support and encouragement, then you qualify to be called a “father.”

But the best way to find out is to ask the other person.  You might be surprised by their answer!

Connections to the Past and Future

Today is Mother‘s Day.  A time to pay tribute to those women who gave us life and who guided us through the turmoil of childhood, adolescence and adulthood.  Today is also a time to take a breath and be thankful for our children or the people to whom we have been mentors.

Think of it as connecting the past to the present to the future.

We learn to relate to others from the people who raised us.  Our first experiences of relationship is with those who fed, bathed and clothed us.  If done with love and joy, we blossomed.  If anger or frustration sometimes showed their face, we shrunk.  Either way, we learned how to be with other people.

Those lessons are passed down to future generations.  Whether you have children or not, you can still be a mother.  Think of it as being a mentor, someone older and wiser who shares her wisdom with another.  The emotional connection can be just as strong whether you are biologically connected or not.

We all have something to share – a bit of wisdom that was hard-earned but runs deep.  A morsel of advice that sheds light on another’s dark day.  Even a smile that shows you care.

So let today be a celebration of love – for your self and the world.  We are all connected on some level.  We all share the same origin of birth.  We all have to negotiate our way through life, no matter who we are.

So be a mother, whatever that word means to you.  Find someone who could use an encouraging word, or a hug, or just a loving squeeze of the hand.  Let them know you care, and that love will connect us all.