These are the musings of the Earth-Ship, Coach Barbie. Her first-year mission: to explore strange new perspectives; to seek out new possibilities and new ideas; to boldly go where she has never gone before … physically, mentally, spiritually.
And so begins my first experience with blogging. [Some dramatic theme music here would be nice.] Am I going boldly? Probably not by Star Trek standards, but certainly by mine.
My last year has been a series of changes and firsts. Blogging is yet another first on the motley mental list that’s been begging for months now to be transferred to a lined legal pad. Not making a list is a first in and of itself. [A special thanks to my Mastermind Co-Creator Deb Eibner for pointing that out to me!]
I love lists. I have lists for everything: for things to do today, things to do tomorrow, things to do next week, next month, next year; groceries to buy; books to read; places to visit; web sites to explore; people to invite to dinner. I even have a list–91 pages long–of every time I’ve worked out on my treadmill since May 16, 1998. Who would I be without my lists?
As a coach, I am constantly challenging my clients to try on new ways of thinking as well as new ways of being. I ask them to challenge their self-limiting beliefs and create for real the life they say they want. And with every challenge I offer to another, in my quiet, reflective time, I offer it to myself as well. How can I effectively ask others to step outside their comfortable ruts unless I know firsthand what it’s like to be ” listless”? Or at least to be one list short of a tome?
Over the next several weeks and months, I’ll be writing about my journey into a life of flow. It’s what I’ve said I want. It’s an important element of my vision for a joyful, fulfilling life. But flow requires being in the moment, being flexible, and being willing to set aside a list when using it feels like paddling upstream through rapids. I want to keep what works and gently allow the rest to fall away, without regret, resentment, or judgment.
I invite you to take this journey with me. Explore what it’s like for you to go places you’ve never been before, to think new thoughts, and to eventually become a whole new version of yourself. Feel free to post comments here, or contact me directly at Barbie@CoachBarbie.com … Oh, and be sure to join my newsletter LIST! 😉
(You can sign up at the bottom of the home page at www.CoachBarbie.com)
Coach Barbie Dallmann 
WARP SPEED, MR. SULU!!! – Captain Quirk
Hi Barbie,
CONGRATULATIONS on your newest endeavor! I admire your pursuit of the “F-word”, flow, and will look forward to updates. 🙂 And I can certainly identify with the challenge of being “listless.”
Keep doing your wonderful work in the world. You have such a gift.
Hugs,
Linda
Thank you Barbie for sharing this wonderful blog with me! I still remember how you “lifted” me 2 years ago when I felt the soil under my feet getting deeper. It’s since then that I tried to hold on to an old believe, a known life style, a semi-secure life … and yet, I have let go of it completely … emerging myself with complete uncertainty … unknown, putting the key to my past/memories in a little box sending them away … and creating my bright future in my mind with daily imaginations, meditations, affirmations. Its been a journey to step out of that box, one by one, day after day, experience after experience … ONLY THE UNKNOWN and LEAVING OUR COMFORT ZONE however will ever ignite who we really are … THAT I AM CERTAIN OF. Thank you for sharing your list since it reminds me of my own agenda of always wanting to do the right thing … for me time has come not being able to please anymore … but swim upward the stream … it makes me feel stronger than ever, and crashes my picture of the perfect world … which in the end does not exist … what a great start to reality … keep coaching … that life of imperfection has to offer much!
Barbie, you have indeed pulled off another first !! Way to go with your new blog!!
Indeed, the only thing that remains the same thoughout life is change. As we age, each of us slowly become different people. At age 50, I am only now realizing how much I never understood about life, and how much more I must learn.
There is a whole new person that I must become in order to move my life in the direction that I need to.