Welcome to SoulFULLY Living #35... (Click for HTML Version - www.lifecoachmary.com/issue35.htm)  . . . . . . WELCOME NEW Subscribers...and GREETINGS from Los Gatos, California.  A few of you may have been wondering about your next edition of  SoulFULLY Living... and here it is!!!  Typically, SoulFULLY Living comes out twice a month...except when major life activities consume the chief editor.  Please NOTE:  This is a longer issue than normal, but one I hope you'll find engaging.The last several weeks have been incredibly full of changes and adventure.  In July, Spirit directed me to explore living possibilities in Northern California...as I have numerous close friends and family in the Bay Area.  So, I spent a couple weeks exploring, and 10 days later found myself loading a U-Haul with some hired hands.    And, here I am.  Laguna Beach is now a place I'll visit (I'll be back monthly on biz for awhile), and Los Gatos is my new home base.BIG NEWS...Most of my friends are learning of my recent move, HERE, for the first time....as it was quite sudden.  My apologies for the delay in the news.  But, when leases come up, and Spirit talks.....I do my best to listen.  Many factors have indicated this is where I'm suppose to be right now.  And, so it is.FEATURES this week...Given my recent "moving" activities....this issue's theme relates to...you've got it...MOVING.  While moving is often considered a dreaded activity.....it doesn't have to be.  Those who know me, are aware that I've moved approximately 11 times in the last 4 1/2 years!!!  Yes, that's insane (but, I was living in million-dollar homes...so it was worth it!).  AND, with experience always comes distinctions...and wisdom.  EMPOWERING ENVIRONMENTS - I'm going to skip the "packing" tips, and offer "6 Valuable Tips on UNPACKING - Getting Settled into your NEW Home Quickly".  This may be particularly useful for those who still have boxes lurking, un-hung pictures, and a nagging feeling of "not quite settled-in" yet....even if it's been months...or years. And, most of us will move at least one more time in our lives.Soulful Spotlight - "THE ZEN MOVE"   Since my passion in life is about living from states of peace, joy and love.....I like the challenge of experiencing an "optimal" state of being -- even when stressful emotions seem the more natural.  Hopefully, you'll find both entertainment and inspiration from my recount of a remarkable 48 hour period.  Within this recap, you should also find several "truths", that are useful when translated and applied to everyday life.    Peace, Joy and Love, Mary Allen, CPCC, PCC SUBSCRIBE/unsubscribe

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THE ZEN MOVE First off, before I move...I set an intention of having "the most effortless, flowing, stress-free move I've ever experienced".  I imagine everything coming together neatly into boxes, things moving quickly, nothing getting damaged.....and most importantly ME EXPERIENCING PEACE throughout the day.  There are  ALWAYS THINGS WE CANNOT PREDICT OR CONTROL  -- in the outside world, however, we CAN ALWAYS CONTROL our INNER BEING.  And, when we do, we always find peace and joy. There are several over-riding beliefs, that I believe allowed me to have the experience that I did during the move.  Also, useful beliefs to live life by. 1. It will all get handled...ultimately.  It might look a little messy and disheartening in the middle of it, but I WILL get from Point A to Point B.  My team and I are RESOURCEFUL enough to complete the task at hand.  Our task, fitting "all my stuff" into a 17 foot truck and  my car, which would be towed behind the truck.  No easy feat.  But, there is "always a way" when one is committed. 2. I am at peace, as long as I DON'T resist "WHAT IS".  "Accepting what is" is one of the most useful principles to live by.  The cranky lady at the U-Haul office is just being herself.  I can think "she shouldn't be this way", OR have compassion for her, and chuckle instead.  RESISTANCE is the ONLY factor that creates STRESS.  It's never the cranky lady at U-Haul...or whatever you think is creating stress in your life.  It's ONLY our reactions and resistance to "reality" or "what is".  3. All is well.  With this belief, I know I can experience PEACE in any moment.  When we embody "all is well" to our core...nothing in the outside world can rock the center of your soul.  Unless someone has a knife at my throat, or I'm threatened physically.....I am fine, really.  THE ZEN MOVE... The excitement began on Thursday at 8am when I picked up the FIRST U-Haul from the "cranky lady".... ....dropped off the W/D and Fridge, picked up my dining set.....found out the transmission was shot in truck #1 (most trucks should be able to drive up a long, steep driveway forwards, don't you think?), exchanged the truck, attempted to get a larger truck with no avail.....then drove to another location for the auto transporter.   Blah, Blah, Blah....adventure, excitement, challenge, and that cranky U-Haul Lady.  All this -- and a few other details I left out -- took us until 4:30pm. OK,so nothing was really going that smoothly.  However, my predominant feeling inside was one of deep, serene inner peace and the "all is well" feeling.  It was as though two entirely separate experiences were present.  The thought, "Mary, you should be really stressed right now" came to me several times.....and yet, I was just "going with the flow".....truly ACCEPTING each little challenge and moving to the next. Finally, I broke.  They asked me to fill out yet another U-Haul application for that auto-transporter that should've been at the first location.  Can you believe it??  As I noticed my ego reaction building, RESISTING THIS PROCESS and wanting DESPERATELY to be done with this silly preliminary stuff...these words came to me, "what's REALLY different in this moment, than the others?".  After about a minute of pouting, I started laughing at myself and surrendered to the process.  What's another 5 minutes, really?  The only thing that was different was ME, and my RESISTANCE to the reality of the moment. Well, the movers left at 9pm after miraculously squeezing EVERYTHING I own into every available inch....except the patio set (which I gave them), and my mountain bike -- which I fetched last week. Packing a truck is like completing a very large jigsaw puzzle, don't you think? Feeling rather spunky, I decided to drive the 17 ft. truck - towing my stuffed car by trailer to Northern Cal. Yes....the same night.  Figured the cooler air would be easier on my plants and frozen vegetables...and the beloved U-Haul.  Still in my moving clothes, and 12+ hours of running around...I cautiously inched ahead with the monstrous load.  Since I'd been "living in the present moment", I hadn't stepped into the experience of driving the contraption, until THEN.  Thus, hadn't "stressed" about it.  Let me tell you, it is a bizarre feeling to drive something so big, knowing your car and EVERYTHING you own is behind you -- and in your care.  Yikes!   The thought came again, "Mary, you should be really stressed right now".  And, yes...plenty of evidence for stress.  However, simultaneously, and even more profoundly....I had a very deep "inner calm".  Peaceful, even blissful.  A true knowing that indeed, "all was well", and that I was going to be "in good hands" on my drive to Los Gatos.   In this altered state, I noticed the cars around speeding ferociously past me.....one after another.....as I awkwardly plugged away at 45 mph.  Yet, it was so beautiful!!!  All the tail-lights zipping ahead...like watching the wake of a boat separate around the bow.  Very surreal.   Of course, it seemed like I was driving REALLY fast at this point.  How bizarre to be the one BEING passed, since I'm typically doing the speeding.  Again, it seemed that I "should be" stressed.  But, from the depths of being was that incredibly calm, warm feeling of security.  And,.....what a great metaphor for life - "it really IS okay to slow down, to go at my own pace, letting other's pass me by -- knowing that I WILL reach my destination if I just follow my path".  There was an intense joy and relief as I surrendered even more fully to this knowing.  And, I thought...."how true this is - in life".   Society creates expectations and pressure about going fast, getting it done, speed, and yet...when we get "in tune" with what feels "right for us" in the moment -- even if it doesn't match the outside world -- we ARE on "the right path", and life becomes a joy.  It's all we have to do...just trust in our process.  And, I thought...this is going to make a great Soulfully Living topic.  How perfect. :-) Well, I had to stop 3 times going UP, UP, UP the Grapevine overpass on I-5...because the beloved U-Haul needed breaks. I assumed that when the little gage goes all the way to the top of RED, and I smell something funny....it needed a rest.   I pulled over... stopped for 15 minutes while the engine cooled, then continued.  I surrendered once again to reality.  In addition, each time, I pleasantly asked the angels to help this beloved truck get over the darn peak.  We eventually did.  After 3 stops.  Sometimes, this is what life delivers.  Without sounding airy fairy, it truly felt as though a team of angels and spirits were "with me"....transporting me to my destination.  They kept me awake and alert - without a cassette or CD player.  They kept me safe. And, they allowed me to eventually approach speeds of 65-70 mph.  Or was it adrenaline and the excitement of the move??  Hmmm.  I KNOW I wasn't alone.  How else could I account for the inexplicable feeling of "peace" that was present throughout the entire event? I drove until 4:30am.  Slept for 2 ½ hours in a rest stop between a few dozen semi-trucks. At sunrise, I finished off the 9 hour trip (it actually takes much longer with all the stuff), driving into Los Gatos at 9am. After a brief pit-stop, went to Home Depot, was swarmed with Hispanic workers (imagine dropping food into a tank full of fish....you'll get the picture).....picked 3 that "sort of" knew English.  2.5 hours later they'd emptied the truck. Then I got a hankering to drive my Lexus, so went to U-Haul and drove it off the ramp. My friend Margaret had come up from Aptos to help....so, well....."no time like the present", we jumped right into unpacking and box shuffling. Signed the lease in here somewhere. My friend Dave also stopped by to lift the heavy stuff. Margaret's actually a World Champion power lifter so I didn't do the REALLY heavy stuff. Then, of course, it was time for dinner. It's good to eat occasionally...and I'd mostly forgotten about that for nearly 2 days. Between the margarita, the glass of Red Zin, 2.5 hours of sleep AND moving constantly for 2 days.....I could barely see straight by 9pm.   But, the job was done.  I slept well that night.  Three days later I was nearly 100% settled in my new pad.  Some times it's essential to SURRENDER to the snail's pace, and some things are best done very QUICKLY.  Especially, with a little help...   Wisdom is knowing when each serves you best.

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6 TIPS on UNPACKING and "settling into your new home" - QUICKLY.1.  JUST DO IT.  I like the metaphor of "pulling off a band-aid quickly".  It's less painful to get the job done fast.  As much as I speak of effortlessness here...the commitment to "getting it done" is the magic.  Combine with flexibility and non-attachment.  While you're in the speed-mode - use it as an opportunity to organize, de-clutter, clean and toss out the old.  Most tasks don't really take that long.  By moving quickly from one task to the next, you'll save the energy often expending in "thinking about doing it".  Nike is brilliant, it's more efficient to "just do it". 2.  Find a Place for EVERYTHING - Since I used to live in homes that were "on the market" for sale, so it was essential to get all the boxes and "stuff" put away, ASAP.  It's also ESSENTIAL to that "settled in" feeling.  Out of sight, IS "out of mind".  Make it a game, like solving a jigsaw puzzle.  Utilize those cabinets, closets and storage space.  Break down those boxes.  While it's ideal to organize as you go -- (remember - "just do it"), however, it's more important to get it ALL PUT AWAY.  Then, make a commitment to reorganize the drawers, closets and boxes that become your "quick fix" solutions.3.  "FEEL YOUR WAY" into Place - How does one decide where to put everything?  Practicality is one.  And, FEELING it out -- is the other.  Furniture, art, knick-knacks, bookshelves, etc.  Place something....and ask, "does it feel right energetically?"  Listen to your intuition.  Adjust until you find that "ah, yes" feeling. And, remember KEY #1. JUST DO IT.  When stuff FEELS out of place, you'll be expending energy just thinking about it, until resolved.4.  Hang those Pictures - This is NOT my favorite task, but I've learned to just "decide" where to place the pictures...and I "just do it".  Something about hanging pictures creates a feeling of completeness.  If a picture has been sitting at the base of a wall for a few days, "just hang it".5.  Establish NEW Routines ASAP - We are all creatures of habit.  Take away our habits, and you'll experience instability....until new ones are formed.  That's why it's so comforting to come back from vacation.   I find that re-establishing the staples in my life quickly, helps me feel settled and re-grounded.  For me, this includes selecting a gym, Bikram yoga studio, grocery store, dry cleaners and water-service delivery.  Other essentials include the bank, post office, office supply store and of course, Home Depot.  As for habits, my exercise routine is a biggie for me.  The new running trail, gym days and yoga schedule.  Get into action quickly.  Laundry (where do the dirty clothes go?) and cooking (is there food in the fridge yet?) routines are also big ones.  Another element is the Change-of-Address routine.  Well, it's "routine" for me.  Start with the POST OFFICE.  Then, make a list, make new address labels and a master letter ...and again "just do it".  Email works great for friends.  When everyone knows how to find you again....your move it complete.6.  LOVE and APPRECIATE Your New Place - Feeling "settled" is derived by a great set of emotions.   And, "feeling good" is one of the keys to living in peace.  Appreciation is one of the quickest to access.  Appreciate your new space, and all it's unique features.  Appreciate all your belongings as you touch, unpack and move each item into its perfect place.   Notice how the energy is flowing in your new home.  And, finally appreciate yourself...for getting the job done. Moving isn't easy...even for those with experience.  However, when done with intention, ACCEPTANCE of the process, and the commitment to "just do it" --- you will minimize the pain and "down-time", AND be "settled" quickly in your new home.  I never would've believed this is possible.  However, I HAD to become efficient in moving, and continue to choose to make it a "fun challenge" to see how quickly it can be done. As a result, I get to maximize the enjoyment of living in my new space, and feel "settled" quickly.  I hope you're inspired to do the same with your next move.  Good luck.

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We hope you've enjoyed reading this issue of the Soulfully Living.  We LOVE hearing feedback....especially if you've enjoyed this issue.  Let us know what you like, so we can give you more of what you want.  And, if you've got a suggestion of how we might improve or enhance SoulFULLY Living, please email mary@lifecoachmary.com .    If you'd like to make a contribution to one of our topics areas in SoulFULLY Living, please email mary@lifecoachmary.com, we're always looking for valuable material to pass on to our readers. Soulfully Living encourages reproduction of the contents of this newsletter with proper attribution. Soulfully Living is a trademark. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies. Mention of third-party products is for informational purposes only and constitutes neither a recommendation nor an endorsement.

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