By Ellen Brown

The natural world has always been a sanctuary for me, particularly in tough times: a sacred place to let go and recharge.

Perhaps the renowned writer and environmentalist, Rachel Carson, put it best when she said, “There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrain of nature – the assurance that dawn comes after night and spring after the winter.”

I find these repeated refrains in nature, these absolute guarantees, so comforting. They remind me that the dawn will always come and that gray clouds will eventually give way to sunny skies.

Yet as comforting as these natural patterns are, I sometimes forget about how important it is for me to spend time in nature, and that’s what happened recently, when my Mom died. I was feeling incredibly out of sorts, but didn’t question it because I was grieving after all, and it’s “normal” to be out of sorts when you’ve lost someone you love.

Then one day, I received a flyer in the mail for a retreat. It was an invitation to spend a day in nature doing absolutely nothing, and my heart did a happy dance – a little flutter flop. My heart was saying “yes please. Me, me.” So I signed up. And it was just what my heart desired: a day immersed in the beauty and music of nature.

I should tell you that one of my favorite things in the world is to wander around in nature, touching this leaf and that flower, giving my eyes and fingers free rein to explore the shapes and colors and textures. Basking in the beauty of it all like a child.

That day, as I set out on the windy path through the woods, with its lacey hemlocks and moss-covered ledges, I knew where I wanted to end up. I wanted to set up camp on one of the ledges and look up into the green summer canopy and just be.

After spreading out a blanket I’d carried with me, I laid down on one of the cool ledges, looking up into the trees. As I settled in for the day, all the worries that kept my mind churning slowly drifted away until it was just me and my breath and the wind in the trees. After awhile, I felt a warmth wash over me. An ahhhhhhhhhhhhh. I was home. Returned to the earth. At one with all creatures and plants.

I laid there watching the light weaving in and out of the leaves and the clouds shape shifting through the sky. It was a feast for the eyes –lush and sumptuous and healing. I felt blessed to be spending time in this sacred place. Blessed to be alive.

On that day, I was reminded again of the healing power of nature. Because no matter what we’re going through, no matter how difficult life seems, the natural world is always waiting for us with its sweet embrace. Soothing us with its melodies. Reminding us that life is constantly changing and this too shall pass.

So what does YOUR sanctuary look like? Is it someplace in nature, or an entirely different setting?

I’d love to hear what you have to say. Please leave a comment, here, on Stepping Stones, by scrolling down to the bottom of the page.

Are you dealing with job loss, the death of a loved one, or another challenging life transition? If so, I’d love to help out. Visit my website at http://www.ellen-brown.com to sign up for an introductory coaching session or a coaching package that’s right for you. Since coaching sessions are conducted by phone, I can work with clients anywhere in the world.

Ellen Brown is a certified professional coach based in Cleveland, OH.

By Ellen Brown

Dave Grier

Note: The story below is one in a series of articles I’m posting about people who have inspired me by overcoming life’s obstacles. I hope you find the story inspirational. It was originally published in Cleveland Clinic’s Transplant Center newsletter for patients and their families, and is reprinted here with the permission of Cleveland Clinic.

Although Dave Grier has dreamed of becoming a pilot, since he was a boy, for many years, the dream seemed out of range, first for financial reasons, then because of medical issues. But today, at the age of 51, Mr. Grier is more committed than ever to living his dream and is well on his way to achieving it. The student pilot passed ground school with flying colors, and completed his first solo flight in October.

Mr. Grier, who is a two-time recipient of liver and liver/kidney transplants, hopes to one day launch a non-profit organization that flies transplant patients to Cleveland for their surgery and follow-up appointments. While there are some nonprofits that already provide such services, none of the pilots on their crews are transplant recipients, and Mr. Grier believes it would be inspiring for transplant candidates and recipients to know that they are being transported by someone who has traveled a similar journey.

Mr. Grier, who received both transplants at Cleveland Clinic, the first in 1997 and the second in 2007, explains his journey as a pilot this way: “After my first transplant, I pretty much knew that I couldn’t get my medical clearance passed because I was a transplant patient, and the FAA has some pretty high standards.”  But after recovering from his second transplant in 2007, he had some time to think, and his dream of becoming a pilot kept rising to the surface. Maybe he COULD actually become a pilot, he thought. Once he was strong enough to leave his hospital room, he went down the hall and hopped on the Internet. After doing a little online research, he found that there WERE a number of transplant recipients who had become pilots.

Mr. Grier remembers returning to his room with a big grin, with the knowledge that achieving his dream WAS possible. A year later, after fully recovering from the surgery, he applied for medical clearance for becoming a pilot, and on July 16, 2008, he had his clearance in hand. To say he was happy is a great understatement. “I was going to do a cartwheel in the post office when I got the clearance in the mail, but I didn’t want to explain it to the police,” he says with a laugh.

Recently, he accumulated enough in-flight hours so he could begin flying solo. Before he is allowed to have passengers accompany him on flights, he will have to pass a couple more tests, a fact that doesn’t seem to faze him.

Mr. Grier says his dream of helping transplant patients keeps him on track, so does his desire “to pay it forward” after being the fortunate recipient of the gift of life (from organ donors), not once, but twice.

For years, he has been giving back in a variety of ways. Today, he serves on the board of directors for TRIO, and for a time, he was the volunteer coordinator for the Minority Organ and Tissue Education program, where he had the opportunity to share his story and talk about the importance of organ and tissue donation to children and adults.

He’s also volunteered for the past few years in Cleveland Clinic’s Transplant Center, where he meets with patients who are awaiting or recovering from transplants. Mr. Grier says he loves to see patients’ eyes light up when they realize he’s there to talk to them about his experience, as a transplant recipient. “When I tell patients I’ve had two transplants, I notice that their attitude changes,” he says. “A lot of times they sit up in bed and pay attention. I think it’s really important for patients to talk to people who have undergone transplants and recovered. And I love being able to be that someone.”

To read more about Dave Grier’s high-flying adventures, visit his blog, Transplanted Pilot, at http://transplantedpilot.blogspot.com/

Copyright 2010 Cleveland Clinic

Sign up for my newsletter with tips for dealing with your difficult life transitions and download a free mp3 to help you overcome insomnia at http://www.ellen-brown.com

Ellen Brown is a certified professional coach, based in Cleveland, OH, who works with clients all over the world by telephone and Skype.Dave Grier

By Ellen Brown

Although the conversation took place more than a decade ago, I remember it like it happened yesterday. I was slumped on the sofa in my therapist’s office, telling her about my latest and most horrifying memory of child sexual abuse that had bubbled up. And suddenly I couldn’t stop sobbing. I mean, I literally couldn’t catch my breath, because I was crying so hard.

The message that kept looping through my mind was “I can’t deal with this. I’m never going to get over this.” This new memory of abuse, which I won’t describe here, had been the goriest by far, and I truly couldn’t see a way through the pain to the other side. I felt like a caged tiger. Unable to escape the pain.

After sobbing my way through several tissues, I took a deep breath and glanced over at my therapist, Susan, who was inching her chair closer to mine. When she was so close that our knees were almost touching, she said to me, in the most lovingly powerful way, “You WILL heal. You WILL get through this.”

“How do you know?” I demanded. “You can’t know that for sure?”

“I can feel it in the depths of me,” she said, holding my gaze. “I can feel it in my bones. I can see it happening.”

Maybe I was desperate. Maybe I was naïve. Maybe I simply needed to hear what she was saying. But I believed her. Immediately and whole-heartedly.

Susan was right. I did find a way through my pain to the other side. I DID heal and transcend the abuse.

Sometimes, when we are thrashing around in deep water, we can’t imagine how we will possibly make it to the shore. And we need to be in the presence of someone who can believe in us until we can believe in ourselves.  Susan was that person for me, through some of my darkest times.

Today, as a life transitions coach, I am honored to be that someone for MY clients. I truly believe that with the right support and the right tools, we CAN transcend anything we’re facing!

Are you a survivor in the advanced stages of healing who like to thrive rather than just survive? Or could you use some support as you are navigating another difficult life transition? If so, I’d love to help out. Visit my website to learn more about my coaching services or to sign up for a coaching package that’s right for you: http://www.wellnessjourneys.com/blog/life-transitions-coaching/

Ellen Brown is a certified professional coach in Cleveland, Ohio who works with clients, by phone, all over the country, to help them overcome their challenges with courage, hope and optimism.

By Ellen Brown

Years, ago, when I was healing from child sexual abuse, I found it SO important to be around people (and books and movies) who could inspire me, as I traveled the journey from victim to survivor (ultimately becoming a thriver). Because navigating that transition could be grueling, and sometimes, I’d wonder whether I’d make it through the darkness and into the light. But when I met other survivors and read books about people who had traveled similar paths, I felt hopeful that I, too, would heal.

Back then, one of the people who inspired me the most was my therapist, Susan, who became a counselor, after transcending her own abuse. While she never talked about what had happened to her (thank goodness!), it gave me great strength to know that she had healed and been able to help other survivors like me. She had made it through the storm, and that gave me great hope. Because if she made it through the storm, then maybe I could too!

During that time, I also read a number of inspirational books by survivors who had overcome abuse, as well as the proverbial bible for survivors of child sexual abuse: The Courage to Heal by Ellen Bass and Laura Davis. That book, which was an emblem of hope and healing for me, offered a plethora of healing exercises, as well as numerous examples of people who had overcome their abuse. The authors, themselves, who are both survivors, were also a great source of inspiration. Though I never met them, I felt inexplicably connected with them, as I made my way through their 600-page tome. Sometimes, it seemed as though they were right there beside me, cheering me on, saying “you can do it, girlfriend: keep going. Don’t let anyone stop you.”

At that time, there were only a couple of websites you could visit to commiserate with other survivors, but today there are tons of online resources for people dealing with abuse and any other transition imaginable.

Today, as a coach, I encourage my clients to seek out an extra dose of inspiration, whether they are healing from child sexual abuse, dealing with the loss of a loved one, or navigating any other challenging life transition. While I certainly provide them with plenty of encouragement, as their coach, I believe there’s no such thing as too much inspiration!

Below is a short list of inspirational resources (listed by transitions) I often recommend to clients who are dealing with difficult transitions. But please don’t be limited by this list.  Explore the Internet and your local library and bookstores to find some resources that resonate with you.

Inspirational Resources

Transcending Childhood Abuse

The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse, By Laura Davis and Ellen Bass. (See description above).

I Never Told Anyone: Writings by Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse– Featuring a number of moving testimonies by survivors of child sexual abuse—edited  by Ellen Bass, co-author of The Courage to Heal.

Freedom’s Just Another Word, By Dan L. Hays – An inspiring memoir, set in Houston, Texas in 1987, about healing, hope, and forgiveness in the wake of hismemories of childhood abuse.

Minute to Freedom: http://www.radiokevin.com/minutetofreedom.htm – One minute audio segments by author and speaker Dan L. Hays that help people transcend their difficult childhoods, one minute at a time.

Dealing with Illness and Healing

Waking: A Memoir of Trauma and Transcendence, By Matthew Sanford – An inspiring story about hope and healing that chronicles the journey of Matthew  Sanford — from when he awakens in the intensive care unit of a hospital after a car accident that killed his father and sister —  to becoming a paralyzed yoga teacher and founder of a nonprofit organization.

Choosing to Be: Lessons in Living from a Feline Zen Master, By Kat Tansey – A wonderfully inspiring book that revolves around a wise Maine Coon cat named Poohbear Degoonacoon, his kitten muse Catzenbear, and author Kat Tansey, as they take the reader on a challenging and oft times amusing journey from the disorienting haze of depression to the freedom and clarity of Buddha mind.

Insomnia Relief Recipes, By Kat Tansey http://www.insomniareliefrecipes.com/

– This unique sleep program, created by Kat Tansey, is the result of the author’s personal quest to overcome insomnia. After spending many months researching the roots of insomnia and the nature of sleep, she was able to create her own unique recipe for regaining her confidence and learning how to get the restful, restorative sleep she needed, no matter what the circumstances. After realizing how pervasive insomnia truly is, she decided to develop Insomnia Relief Recipes to help others get a good night’s sleep. She used everything she learned from her research to put together a comprehensive program, complete with audios and videos, that will help you create your own, customized Insomnia Relief Recipe.

ShareWIK: http://www.sharewik.com –- A warm and inspiring online community in which experts dispense information about health and healing, regular columnists share their experience and knowledge, and people on the path to wellness gather to share what they know.

Dealing with the Loss of a Loved One

From Heartbreak to Happiness, By Aurora Winter – An intimate diary that reveals a single mother’s journey of tragedy and triumph after the sudden death of her 33-year-old husband.

The Year of Magical Thinking, By Joan Didion –  Author Joan Didion chronicles the year following the death of her beloved husband, fellow writer John Gregory Dunne, from a massive heart attack in 2003, while the couple’s only daughter, Quintana, lay unconscious in a nearby hospital suffering from pneumonia and septic shock. While some may find this book less than inspiring, because of its rawness, I found it particularly inspiring and cathartic.

The Grief Recovery Handbook: The Action Program for Moving Beyond Death Divorce, and Other Losses, By John W. James and Russell Friedman – A wonderful guidebook to help you navigate your loss and make you realize that time does NOT heal all wounds, but that healing is possible, if you take the necessary action. The book was inspired by the authors’ personal losses.

General Inspiration

Inspiremetoday.com, By Gail Goodwin: http://www.inspiremetoday.com - – Free daily inspiration, designed to remind you that you have the power to create anything in your life you desire. A great way to start your day.

E-couragement,– Daily encouragement delivered to your email inbox by Thomas Waterhouse, a counselor in Tampa Bay, Florida, who believes that “Hearts filled with courage can rise to any challenge.” Sign up here: http://www.simpleencouragement.com/eCouragements

SO who or what inspires you the most?

What are your favorite inspirational books, movies or websites, and why?

Are you dealing with a challenging life transition? If so, I’d love to help out. Visit my website at http://tinyurl.com/yc7meqo to sign up for an introductory coaching session or a coaching package that’s right for you. Since coaching sessions are conducted by phone, I can work with clients anywhere in the world.

Ellen Brown is a certified professional coach, based in Cleveland, OH.

Note: This was the second in a series of posts on inspiration. In my first post, I talked about the importance of surrounding yourself with inspiring, positive messages during difficult life transitions. And today, as promised, I discussed some other types of inspiration, designed to provide you with hope as you travel this new life passage.

By Ellen H. Brown

Today, I’m excited to launch the first in a series of inspirational interviews that will feature some extraordinary people who have overcome adversity in their lives. Sometimes, when we’re faced with tough times, we need a little inspiration to show us that we CAN transcend whatever life hands us. I hope this interview with author and speaker Dan L. Hays helps light your way, as you travel your own life journey.

What follows is our interview:

EHB: Dan, I read your book, Freedom’s Just Another Word, and was inspired by your journey, and the way in which you were able to overcome so much of what happened to you in your childhood. Could you tell readers a little bit about the book and what inspired you to write it?

DLH: The book is a memoir set in Houston, Texas in 1987.  It is about healing, and hope, and forgiveness.  As the book opens, my life was spinning out of control, and I didn’t know why.  I realized I was walking around with many of the symptoms of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), but didn’t have a traumatic event that I could connect it all to.  As that was happening, my Dad died.  In my struggle to deal with his death, I got back a buried memory about a violent incident with my Dad that made things begin to make sense.

EHB: What would you say helped you the most in terms of recovering from the abuse you dealt with when you were young?

DLH: For me it was a combination of things – I used a number of tools.  Therapy was very helpful, both individual and group.  I became involved with a 12 step program for people who had grown up with alcoholism, which was an incredible help.  Particularly the 12 steps themselves, because they offered a spiritual solution.  But a big component was a walk of faith, in being led to confront those dark events that had ruled my life since childhood.

EHB: As a survivor of rape and child sexual abuse I know that there can be many dark nights of the soul. What kept YOU going during those dark times?

DLH: My faith in God kept me going and kept me safe through those many dark nights of the soul, and enabled me to see the light on the other side.

EHB: You’ve mentioned that some readers said your book provides a sort of roadmap for people on their journey of healing from PTSD and all sorts of abuse. Could you explain what you mean by that?

DLH: In the second half of the book, I went through a number of healing experiences, some therapeutic, some a part of the journey of faith, that other people have told me they use as a template for how to get past their own abuse issues.  I was really surprised by that, and very gratified.  It turns out that people whose abuse was nothing like mine drew from the book, mainly by applying the healing exercises to their own experience.  People have reported using some of the techniques I tried, most of which had been recommended by therapists or wise mentors.

EHB: I know you have some other projects in the works, including a couple of books and some radio shows. Could you tell us about those and how you feel they can help people?

DLH: Healing was a process that took place over several years, that wouldn’t all fit in one book.  I have several books planned to share other parts of my journey.  I think they will help put it in perspective for people that it’s not a quick fix solution.

The radio spots are called Minute to Freedom.  They are brief thoughts or insights from my road to healing, and people have said they get a lot of hope and insight from them.

EHB: In what way does all of this work you’re doing benefit you, personally?

DLH: It’s like they say, you don’t get it until you give it away.  In sharing with others about my journey, it helps me see where I was and where I am now with a much greater clarity.

EHB: You’ve mentioned that you’ve done some mentoring with people who have been abused and/or have PTSD. Could you explain how you work with these people?

DLH: Mostly I share my experience – much of which is the things I describe in Freedom’s Just Another Word.  I talk about how things opened up for me when I was flat on my back, and became willing to try things I normally would not try.  Then I describe some of those things, if it seems appropriate in the conversation.  Healing exercises, inner child work, letting go ceremonies, things like that.

EHB: Where do you hope all of the work you’re doing will lead you?

DLH: When I started dealing with the abuse issues, I felt pretty hopeless, like I was doomed to a life of unhappiness and frustration.  For others who might be in a similar situation, I would like to be able to share the message that there is the hope of healing –  there is a way to get beyond the effects of abuse.

Dan L. Hays is an author and speaker who lives in Fort Worth, Texas.  You can learn more about him, and how to buy his book, at his website, http://www.danlhays.com

Are you dealing the death of a loved one? Or are you struggling with another life transition? If so, I’d love to help out. Visit my website at http://tinyurl.com/npmube to sign up for an introductory session or a coaching package that’s right for you. Since coaching sessions are conducted by phone, I can work with clients anywhere in the world.

Ellen H. Brown is a certified professional coach based in Cleveland, Ohio.

By Ellen H. Brown

Many years ago, when I was healing from child sexual abuse, my therapist proposed what seemed like an outrageous idea at the time.

After I’d described how difficult it had been, dealing with flashbacks and body memories of the abuse, over the past couple weeks, she validated my feelings, as always. Then, easing forward on the couch, she told me, in the softest of voices, that she had an assignment for me. Over the course of the next two weeks, she wanted me to write down five things for which I was grateful, each day.

At first, I was angry. Who did she think she was, suggesting that I be grateful when I was dealing with all these atrocities? What in the world did I have to be grateful for, anyhow?

Though she understood I was struggling, it was important for me to consider the good in my life, in the here and now, rather than focusing all my attention on the past, she said. At the time, I thought her idea was cruel and unusual not to mention the biggest bunch of bunk ever. While I was too polite to say so, I’m sure my facial expressions spoke volumes.

Nonetheless, I started my assignment the very next day, albeit begrudgingly. At first, I struggled to come up with my “five things.” Sure, I had a supportive husband and our house was okay or maybe even pretty good. But what else? We had a sweet dog. Enough money. And as the saying goes, at least I had my health. Big Deal, I thought. Who cares! Needless to say, I didn’t connect with the spirit of the exercise on that very first day.

But what happened over time surprised me. After the first couple days, the exercise became easier, and while it wasn’t exactly enjoyable I noticed that I was allowing myself to FEEL the gratitude instead of disconnecting from the process. When I did, something shifted inside. I felt more hopeful and connected to people and less bitter. I was softening, yielding, coming home to myself.

Why am I telling you all this? Because traveling through life with an attitude of gratitude can make you feel more happy and peaceful. It may even help you have more faith in yourself, and in God (or whatever you call your higher Power).

It’s certainly had that effect on me. Looking back on that day with my therapist, I am so grateful that she had the courage to push me beyond the bounds of my comfort, because that one little exercise transformed my life.

Today, I not only recommend this gratitude exercise to clients who are dealing with job loss or the death of a loved one or caring for a relative with a chronic condition, or overcoming rape or sexual abuse, I do it myself. Religiously. Because when I “forget,” I don’t feel as happy or grounded or connected with people.

If you’d like to experiment with bringing more gratitude into your life, here are some ideas to get you started:

• Make a list of the 5 best things that happened to you today and everyday.
• Write down the names of 3 people in your life for whom you are grateful and list the reasons why for each person.
• If you are dealing with a difficult situation right now, consider what you’re learning from the situation. For example, if you lost your job, ask yourself what am I learning from this experience?
• Be on the lookout for reasons to be grateful, whether it’s a beautiful sunset, the person who lets you into traffic or your loved ones who support you by making the morning coffee or walking the dog.
• Send a thank you note to someone who’s made a difference in your life, describing why you appreciate him or her.

Notice how you feel after trying these strategies, and please let me know what you think. I’d love to hear about your experience.

How has gratitude helped you in your life?

What do you think holds you back from feeling more appreciative?

Please join in the conversation by scrolling down and leaving a message, here, on Stepping Stones.

Are you facing a difficult life transition such as job loss or dealing with the death of a loved one? Are you struggling to keep your head above water as a primary caregiver of an older adult? Or would you like to thrive as a survivor of rape or sexual abuse, rather than merely surviving?

If so, I’d love to support you on your challenging life journey. As a certified professional coach, I help clients navigate difficult transitions with hope and grace, encouraging them to see the treasures buried deep within their “tragedies.” Visit my website at http://tinyurl.com/npmube to sign up for an introductory session or a coaching package that’s right for you. Since coaching sessions are conducted by phone, I can work with clients anywhere in the world.

Ellen H. Brown is a certified professional coach based in Cleveland, Ohio.

By Ellen H. Brown

Last night, I was excited to learn that I was nominated for the Kreativ Blogger Award by Annette Colby, who writes the blog, Divine Self: http://www.annettecolby.com/blog/

Thank you, so much, Annette for your nomination! Annette is an amazing colleague who has spent the last twenty years helping thousands of people create greater joy and abundance in their lives, as well as helping them fulfill their dreams. From the first time I met her on Twitter, I’ve appreciated her warmth and generosity. She is real and down to earth, and when I learned how much she loved animals, when we were discussing ground hogs one day, well, that only made me like her more.

In accepting this award, I’ve been asked to do several things:

· Thank the person who nominated me (check)

· Place the Kreative Blogger logo on my blog (check)

· List 7 things about myself that people may find interesting.

1. I once traveled to the Canadian Rockies and bicycled through the mountains
2. I love cooking and have never met a noodle I didn’t love.
3. I think skunks and groundhogs are the sweetest animals!
4. I married a former cowboy.
5. I used to think of myself as a “dog person” but we now have a cat we adore, so maybe I’m really an “animal person.”
6. In addition to being a coach, I’ve also been a writer for the past 25 years.
7. Though I love the water, I’ve never learned how to swim.

· Nominate 7 other bloggers, post links to their blogs, and let them know they’ve been nominated:

1. Jade Barbee is a gentle, hearted-centered man I’ve had the good fortune of meeting, who uses a unique blend of EFT and guided imagery to help clients transform their lives so they can feel more peaceful and fulfilled: http://www.emotionalengine.com/blog/
2. Joanne Julius Hunhold is a warm and generous certified professional coach who partners with introverted women who want to be (happily) themselves and who realize that introverts don’t need to be fixed. Visit her blog at http://overwhelmingsuccess.typepad.com/just_have_fun_with_it/2009/07/better-done-than-perfect.html
3. J.T. O’Donnell is the founder of Careerealism.com, an amazing blog for people on the hunt for a job or a new career. J.T. is real and accessible, not to mention a nationally syndicated author. Check out her blog at http://www.careerealism.com/
4. Fred Krazeise is a certified massage therapist and intrinsic coach who runs an integrative healthcare practice focusing on women’s health and shock/trauma recovery. I love his holistic approach to everything! Visit his blog at http://empoweredandfit.ning.com/
5. Nicola Bird is a wonderful online coach I worked with this spring to learn how to sell more than my time, as a coach. Her blog site is a wonderful resource for coaches, featuring a wealth of information about everything from blogging to launching a member site to choosing your niche. Learn more at http://www.morethanyourtime.com/
6. Diana Keogh is the co-founder of Medical Mommas, which, in her own words is “an informative, sometimes sassy but always smart interactive social networking medical site dedicated to discussing topics and subjects relevant to every woman’s life, including those things our mommas taught us not to discuss in polite company.” While I’ve never met Diana, I read her compelling articles with interest when she was a writer at the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and I’m impressed with Medical Mommas, which takes a refreshingly candid look at everything medical. Check it out at http://www.medicalmommas.com/ You won’t be sorry you did!
7. Pat Weber, a coach whose blog helps introverts and people who aren’t all that excited about sales, sell their services with confidence and style: http://prostrategies.com/wordpress/2009/07/

I am grateful for being nominated for the Kreativ Blogger Award and for being in the good company of all the other wonderful bloggers mentioned above.

Do you have a blog that you love that you’d like to share with us at Stepping Stones? Please leave a comment, here, telling me why you appreciate this blog so much.

Want to learn how to run a successful business without sacrificing your personal life for your business? Sign up for my monthly newsletter at http://www.wellnessjourneys.com

Ellen H. Brown is a certified professional coach based in Cleveland, Ohio. She works with solo entrepreneurs who want to be more productive, profitable and peaceful.

Today’s post of gratitude is dedicated to the people in my life who have caused me the greatest pain, because, in many ways, they could be called my greatest “teachers.” I’ll spare you the gory details. But suffice it to say that I survived some serious physical and sexual abuse, during my childhood.

As a result, I often pitied myself and held decades worth of hate in my heart. Back then, I was stuck in a victim rut, blaming the people who hurt me for all my failings. But then one day, when I was tired of telling my same sad story for the gazillionth time, I realized that I had a choice: I could keep on blaming the people who wronged me for all my failings, or make peace with what had happened. I could continue to hate them or forgive them, not for their sake, but for mine.

After coming to terms with what they had done, I slowly forgave them and began to reclaim my life. I won’t pretend that the process was quick and easy. The truth is it took time and faith and a willingness to open my heart, which was no small feat for someone who truly believed that love was for suckers.

While I never preach forgiveness, because I believe it’s such a personal decision, for me, the act of forgiveness has released me from my own inner prison. And while I’d be fibbing if I pretended to never feel a twinge of anger or sadness about what happened to me, I’ve released the bitterness, blame and rage I used to hold dear.

Although I’d never wish abuse on anyone (myself included), I do believe that the pain I endured helped shape me into the person I am today: a strong, determined, compassionate, grateful, forgiving woman. And a sensitive, caring coach. And for that, I am eternally grateful.

Can you think of a time in your life that was painful but transformational? How did your experience change you?

Please join in the conversation by leaving a comment, here, on Stepping Stones.

Would you like some help navigating a life transition? If so, I’d love to help out! Visit my website at http://www.wellnessjourneys.com to sign up for a coaching package that’s right for you or to schedule a complimentary session. Since coaching sessions are conducted by phone, I can work with clients anywhere in the world!

Sign up for my e-newsletter, here, on Stepping Stones, at the top of the page.

Wellness Journeys: A Holistic Approach to Coaching

Note: This is one in a series of posts I’m running on Wednesdays about the people and places who are inspiring me along my life journey. My goal is to spread the good Karma and express my appreciation for the bounty of people and organizations that are making a difference in the world. I hope you find the posts inspiring and uplifting. 

Last year, when the house next door went on the market, again, for the third time in three and a half years, I tried not to get my hopes up.  For years, I had been hoping that a handyman with vision would swoop down and rescue the house, providing it with the tender loving care it deserved. It was a good house with good bones; it just needed someone who could see the beauty beneath its imperfections. But no one seemingly could. So it sat empty, except for a brief time when it was rented.

The first time it was on the market, the price was too steep, given the fact that it needed some serious work, and the fact that there was a glut of other houses available. Back then, as the asking price continued to plummet, my husband and I began to worry about how low the price might go and who might settle next door.

In these dicey economic times, when it’s not uncommon for homes to go into foreclosure even in seemingly stable neighborhoods like ours, I caught a bad case of the what ifs. What if the house went into foreclosure? What if our neighborhood slipped into decline like others had in Cleveland Heights, a vibrant inner ring suburb of Cleveland, OH that we love for its community spirit, tree-lined streets, and artistic sensibility.

In my darkest moments, I feared the worst. In my most optimistic, I dreamt of the noble handyman with heart.

Then, at some point the house actually sold. But before we had the chance to celebrate, someone in our neighborhood told us that a contractor had purchased the house so he could “flip” it for a big juicy profit.

In spite of this latest piece of news, I tried to focus on the positive. Whoever this contractor was, he’d obviously seen something in this piece of property, regardless of whether he was going to “flip” the house or not.

What happened next took me by surprise. A team of workers swooped down in mid September and got busy, and a giant dumpster that took up residence in the driveway quickly became filled with materials discarded from inside the house. The house got new gutters and a new roof, as well as a new front porch and driveway. In addition, the garage, which was a serious eyesore, received a much-needed facelift.

While we weren’t sure what was happening inside, it was obvious that some serious renovation was taking place. One day, my husband, met the general contractor for the project, who told him that the house had been purchased by Frank Vale, an investor who had renovated a number of houses in our city that needed considerable work.

It seemed that Frank found it rewarding to restore the architectural detail to older homes, updating them with modern touches and high-quality materials like granite and marble, and making them more energy efficient.

Over the next two and a half months, we were amazed to see a team of workers working long days on the house, at least six days a week, sometimes seven. Since both my husband and I work out of our home, and are particularly sensitive to noise, we were grateful that the workers never played loud music and were always respectful.

 While we never got the chance to see the renovations close up, we were able to sneak a peak at the improvements on the Howard Hanna Realty website, once the house was on the market. The photos said it all. The house had been transformed into a home that anyone would be proud to call their own, with gleaming hardwood floors, a beautiful new kitchen with new appliances, a spacious master suite on the third floor, and updated bathrooms throughout.

Amazingly, my dream had come true! A generous soul had rescued the house next door. It would have been gratifying to see at any time. But given the wobbly state of our economy, it gave us a real boost. Though the newspaper headlines made it sound like the sky was falling, here was an investor in our city who was forging ahead, sinking his resources into our neighborhood and our community.

A few weeks ago, we learned that the house next door had finally sold. Needless to say I did the happy dance! I’ll forever be grateful to Frank Vale. Not only for rescuing a house that seemed destined for foreclosure. But for believing in our neighborhood and community during these uncertain economic times.

Who has inspired you, lately?

And how have your perspective and actions changed as a result of knowing this person (or people)?

I’d love to hear what you have to say. Please join in the conversation, by leaving a comment, here, on Stepping Stones.

Are you ready to embark on a Journey to reach your life potential? If so, I’d love to help out! Visit my website at http://www.wellnessjourneys.com to sign up for a coaching package that’s right for you or to schedule a complimentary session. Since most coaching sessions are conducted by phone, I can work with clients anywhere in the world!

Sign up for my e-newsletter, here, on Stepping Stones (see the signup box at the top of the right hand column).

Wellness Journeys: A Holistic Approach to Coaching