Our beautiful imaginations...and miracles around us this season and always!

I'm thankful every day for having had the chance to learn the strategies I've been learning the past 15 years.  I needed them today.  Today was the day of the specialized mammogram because they found a spot 6 months ago. 

I hadn't thought about it much until the past week.  What would this visit show?  Would it still be there?  Would it be bigger?  What was it?  What would that mean for my life, especially if it was the worst case scenario?  I went through a range of emotions as anyone would do in that situation.  And then I stopped.  Because I knew that wasn't the best use of my imagination. 

Einstein said that the imagination is more powerful than the intellect.  I didn't want to waste my beautiful imagination on worst case scenario because I don't now how powerful our imaginations really are....but I wasn't going to take any chances.  Instead I focused on a me free from negative medical news.  I 'saw' in my mind's eye the nurse saying everything was ok.  I pictured myself rejoicing after, doing something fun.  I sang on the way there, putting myself in a good mood.  I also did some loud statements saying in the present tense that I was "strong and healthy".  Seems to be some effect in saying things out loud although most of us feel funny saying positive things out loud. We have no trouble bemoaning what's not right or saying negative things to ourselves.  No room for negativity today...all positive... all focus on what I wanted, not what I feared. 

When I got there, I grabbed a pad and started writing the words to the CD I'm creating from my last seminar.  It keep my mind focused and busy, unlike the last time when I checked all my worldly possessions into a locker and just had my imagination and all the medical signs to keep me company.  A wonderful woman named Frannie took me and made me as comfortable as possible considering that part of my anatomy was about to be painfully squished.  And then I joined the other women waiting, all of us nervous in our identical blue wrap-around tops.  I made a joke or two about us forming a group and then one by one we were called out until there were just two of us left. 

And then Frannie called me.  "You're ok," she said.  "You're free to go."  I did a quick "YES!" and thanked her, overcome with the emotion of the moment.  Whatever was there before was gone or maybe never was.  "Just keep up your yearly appointment," she said.  I nodded yes and headed out into the bright December sunshine, relieved, exhausted, exhilerated.   I'm so lucky...so grateful. 

Whatever else happens this Christmas week, I've received the best gift of all.  I'm healthy.  All the other little stresses are nothing really.  I always knew that.  Even the fall I had on the way in (due to my new clogs and my graceful ways) is nothing.  Not a scratch on me despite coming down on the concrete.

I don't know the reasons for the miracle.  I do know the strategies I learned were there for me today as they always are, ready to change my focus, to see the world as I want it to be.  I'm not sure anything is 100% but I do believe they work on a pretty regular basis...  so glad I got to learn them all those years ago..and lucky enough to be able to share them with so many others.

Whatever comes your way this week, try to see it in the best light, the way you want it to be.  Make a conscious decision not to use that incredible imagination for worry or negativity but to create what Oprah often calls "your best life".   It may just bring a miracle or two your way as well...

Marianne

Holiday stress buster strategies...

There's a lot of stress out there right now.  Holiday madness, economic woes, negative news.  I've spent several hours online with various tech support people after a major virus broke through my virus software on my laptop.  I can tell you it has not been fun...

We can't change some of the stressful incidents out there.  But there are four things we can do to manage stress as I see it.

1. First is to decide the meaning for the stressful events as they happen - and choose a meaning that feels good
2. Try not to take things personally
3. Don't be the cause of stress for ourselves and other. That means be safe and keep the drama in check.
4. Choose gratitude and kindness over negativity and hateful messages.  Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays beats the rude gesture every time...

Suppose someone grabs the parking space you had your eye on.  Maybe they didn't see you because they were looking at their child in the back seat.  Maybe they were deep in thought and didn't know your intention.  Let them in...it's only a parking space. You'll find another.  Don't try to go in the space anyway like 2 cars in front of me tried to do today.  Almost a collision...not smart. 

Be as kind as you can to those around you - the clerks, your co-workers, your family members.  It's not always easy especially when they're irritating you to no end.  Or maybe you could decide they're not really irritating...but entertaining (you put the meaning on everything after all).  When you're kind - even to people who don't appear to deserve it - it begins to radiate back to you...

And please be careful out there... be the driver you wish everyone else around you is.  No texting, no cell phones, no drinking while driving, of course.  Let's make this a memorable holiday season for all the right reasons...  breathe, smile, go!!  And leave the stress behind you....

Marianne

Behind the scenes...

Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother

Ever wonder what's going on behind the scenes?  I do.  I'm incurably curious about just about everything and I always want to know how things are done or what makes people tick or why something does what it does.  I especially like it for movies and TV because I've gotten to do both in my lifetime and it's pretty interesting.

I got to thinking of "behind the scenes" today as I was backstage as the Fairy Godmother in Kaleidoscope Theatre's Cinderella's Christmas.  I love this show but I have to tell you, the show behind the show is even better.  I won't give away all our secrets because that's our private space but the stuff that happens back there is funny, sometimes chaotic, often unpredictable, and full of great comraderie and teamwork. 

During these two shows today, I saw the mice (remember the mice befriend Cinderella) and their moms singing and dancing backstage, I saw a frantic search for the pumpkin for the next scene (the one that gets turned into a coach) - it was with Cinderella as it was supposed to be, I saw the actor who played the Minister miming one of songs to the pure delight of our newest mouse in her first show.  I also experienced something for the first time - almost missing my entrance because I was talking backstage, something you really shouldn't be doing for just that reason.  I made it out there on time but said a few lines of gibberish which hopefully the audience didn't catch...  Or maybe they did which adds to the fun of live theatre.

"Behind the scenes" is not just for plays, movies and TV though.  There's "behind the scenes" in retail, in businesses, in government, in families.  We often just see what we're supposed to see but if we take the time to look behind the scenes, hopefully there's the same kind of cooperation and spirit that's part of doing live theatre with people like the great people I worked with today. 

If all the groups I mentioned looked out for each other and tried their best as we did today, I think we'd see a more productive economy, better government and happier families.  That kind of world might seem like a fairytale, like the one we performed for the audiences today.  But backstage is real life, with real people, real problems.  When all choose to work for the same goal - for us, a successful performance - the results can produce a standing ovation!  Let's work on making the "behind the scenes" parts of our lives as worthy as the picture we show the world.

My thanks and kudos to my fellow cast mates and the great crew!  I love working with you all! See you next week at Connecticut and New York!!