Portage
March, 2002 Newsletter
from Deb Martin, Transition Coach making life an adventure and transitions flow smoothly at http://www.portagecoach.com

Welcome
Welcome to my Portage Newsletter. 

My intent for this newsletter, if anything, is just to present the musings of a wandering woman. I've learned a lot about myself in this process of writing and from your feedback. I appreciate that feedback. Keep it coming! And a special thanks to those of you who have passed this newsletter on to others.

I'd love to hear your thoughts, insights and understandings. deb@portagecoach.com

In this issue...
1) Outside My Window
2) The Abundance Table
3) Quotes
4) Coach's Challenge
5) Outside My Window Now!

Outside My Window
Huge snowflakes are coming down. In Michigan, we see these kinds of fat, wet flakes in March because winter is losing its bitter cold grip. I'm excited. Yes, we'll get a few more blasts but winter has lost its spunk. It's bluffing. 

The Abundance Table
I often hear concerns about scarcity. That there just is not enough time, money, love or energy to go around. Scarcity seems to be an issue stemming not from how big or small our bank accounts and houses are, how secure or not our jobs and relationships are, but from old attitudes about wealth and worth. Attitudes that there isn't enough to go around, having more than others makes one a bad person, and sacrifice makes a better person.

My dining room table is not only a place to eat but it's my place to experience abundance. When I encounter thoughts of scarcity, I sit at that table. First, it gives me a clear view of the creek flowing through my backyard. I often marvel at the fact that no matter how much water flows by, this creek has an endless supply of more.

The table almost always hosts a vase of flowers or a flowering plant like today's large red blooming amaryllis. There's also a collection of cool things I've found in the woods, like the tiny hornet's nest, the flat red round rock with a hole in the center just big enough to hold a birthday candle, and the milkweed pod that is bursting at the seams with white feathery seeds. Last month, my friend, David, went on a Cabela's shopping spree and sent me a box full of fishing accessories and a shiny, golden, and beautiful Shimano fishing reel. It too sits on the abundance table. Thank you, David! In the past my table has held a huge glass jar full of colorful jelly bellies, and a large box of Crayola Crayons. You remember the box. Yes, it has brown, red, green and yellow, but it also has burnt sienna, magenta, fern and goldenrod. Often the table holds a few pictures of friends, family or recent vacations.

My table gives me the opportunity to experience abundance daily. You might suggest, though, that this kind of abundance has little to do with feeling secure. I'm not so sure. By focusing on the pure pleasure of "experiencing" abundance, all feelings of scarcity disappear. Once feelings of scarcity are gone, there's not much more to do but step securely into the flow.

Quotes
“Claim abundance! Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune in to.” ~Wayne Dyer 

“The abundance of life does not know plus or minus, just abundance.” ~Translated from Rene Egli's “The LoLA Principle”

“I’d rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck.” ~Emma Goldman

“The only factor becoming scarce in a world of abundance is human attention.” ~Kevin Kelly, in 'Wired'

“When you have too much month for you paycheck, then what you need to do is realize that there is abundance all around you and focus on the abundance and not your lack and as night follows day abundance will come to you.” ~Sidney Madwed

Coach's Challenge
Quick! Go grab three or four things that represent abundance to you and put them all in the same spot. Preferably a place you look at, sit at, or walk by often. Now, simply enjoy!

Outside My Window Now!
Well, it's been three days since I started writing this newsletter. So much for winter's bluff. Today, we have about 20 more inches of snow than when I started. A different sort of Abundance Table, eh? Picnic Anyone?!

Portage is published 12 times a year and distributed monthly by e-mail. Comments, submissions and suggestions are welcome. Please feel free to forward any or all of this newsletter to those you know will appreciate it and encourage them to subscribe for themselves. I am always pleased to receive your suggestions as to what type of material you would like to see here. 

Although this material is subject to copyright, please feel free to reprint this publication, in whole or in part, in your company publication, in training, presentations, or wherever you feel it would be of benefit. This also holds true for members of the media. All I ask is that you use the following credit line: Reprinted with permission from Deborah Martin of Portage at http://www.portagecoach.com

The names of newsletter subscribers will never be shared or sold. 

Copyright 2002, all rights reserved.