Listening Updates:

Listening to my boyfriend’s cat

I’m listening to Pancake (pictured below), whose little back legs have been wobbly for the past few days.

I’m watching her struggle to stay balanced as she drinks from the faucet, I’m watching her eat the wet food ravenously, I’m feeling her soft head with trepidation – because this girl is unpredictable, and you never know when she’s going to BITE. But she’s so soft.

I’m listening for signs of illness, and checking the bottom of her paws (carefully) for blue. Alert, I am listening for the moment when Patrick decides we should take her to the vet. She is not my cat, but I care for her dearly. She’s snoring in little honks on the sofa as I write this now.

Listening to my clients

A compelling theme has emerged in sessions recently: the idea that doubt doesn’t have its own support. Doubt, and in particular, self-doubt, requires constant feeding and reassurance. You manage your doubt, and in return, it sucks warmth from your ears and settles in your heart…if you can call it settling. Doubt shakes its leg in a chair like a coked-up businessman. And it crashes later.

Whereas – the fires of connection and courage stay glowing no matter how often you stoke them!

Remember that THAT’S the most powerful part of you, NOT the doubt. Really think about it. Really think about it. When you think about the fire of flirtation, or delight, or connection, or courage - those things stay with you for a very long time. They can sustain you in a crisis. Doubt just hangs out like a leech, sapping your energy, requiring constant affirmation.

Feel free to put that in your pipe and smoke it!

Little sound bites:

The soothing voices of the craftspeople on The Repair Shop, the whirs of gears turning, the clicks of a metal button, the weepy “thank you”s of a woman whose late sister’s teddy bear can play Brahms’ Lullaby again

This is a show that Pat puts on in the background. I highly recommend it, despite the fact that the presenter is a bad guy, apparently.

The snow plows outside

I don’t have to tell you that we had a big storm. Albany has a lot of snow right now. Every time a plow goes by, Pancake looks up to watch the lights encroach on the ceiling. Almost like she’s seeing a ghost, or the Virgin Mary scolding her. She’s disturbed by the plows. I coo at her, as if that helps. Shh, shh. It’s okay, baby. Just a plow! They’re taking the snow away!

Hearing myself say, “I’m so excited about my bingo group this year!!” and listening for the possibility that everyone involved will have a life-changing, fabulous experience.

Doors closed on Sunday. We have a group of eight people - the boards have been created, the introductions are being made. I’m smiling the whole time. If you want to know more about bingo, check out the last email I sent, and get yourself excited for next year!!!

Okay, that’ll be all from me! I will play you a song on your way out. Thanks for reading, as always.

A song I recently discovered, and like a lot.

Dear God, I would like the luxury of having strings 🎻🎻🎻🎻 on a record of my own music. That would be a dream. I ask that some day I will, when the time is right ♡

with no doubt,

Anna