don Miguel Ruiz Jr - Truly Alive Magazine

A Heartfelt Interview with CelebrationFair Keynote Sonia ChoquetteBy Darci LodsinWith the wonderful Celebration Fair coming toAlbuquerque for the first time this April 26-28,we have made a special commitment to bringingoutstanding national speakers as well as the best regionalpresenters and exhibitors. The highlight for many will comewith the two chances during theweekend to enjoy a two-hoursession with New York Times BestSelling author Sonia Choquette.She sat down with me, DarciLodsin of Celebration and offeredthe following thoughts for 2013.Darci Lodsin: Sonia we hear about people feeling downcoming into the New Year. What do you say to those coming toyou as they approach the coming spring?Sonia Choquette: If you are feeling empty, isolated, ordisconnected from life in any way, then perhaps you havelost touch with your Spirit and an awareness of the manyblessings and gifts God has placed before you right now. Tolift out of low spirits, wonder where you might be missingthe blessings raining upon you right now, and begin tonotice them.Start by counting your blessings, one-by-one, beginningwith the most obvious. For example, you might count theblessing of having had a good meal today, or a warm bed tosleep in. Or perhaps you can count theblessings of having real friends, ora loving family, or the blessingof the companionship of awonderful pet. Maybe youcan count the blessing ofgood health, which somany of us enjoy butforget is a real blessing.Just ask those who arenot experiencing thatblessing right now.Maybe you can countthe blessing of being ableto be a good friend tosomeone, or the blessing ofbeing able to help another introuble. Blessings are not justthose received, but also those we can share with others.Count as many blessings as possible, both sharing andreceiving, each day, out loud, for a while, even if you aren’tfeeling particularly blessed at the moment. I have found thatby counting my blessings I start feeling them and noticingmore and more of them at thesame time, until I feel such anabundance of blessings that itsoon becomes overwhelming.Doing this always moves me outof my fear and helps me get backinto the flow of life very quickly. Ieven wonder if the very act of counting my blessings attractsmore and more my way. It seems so.DL: What sorts of lessons will people experience in one of yourworkshops? Can you give us hint as to a tool they will discoverat Celebration?”SC: I have found [a good way] to lift my Spirit is to dosomething I love to do, every day. Try this and see if itworks for you as well. Start by remembering what youlove, naming all of those things, out loud. For example, Ilove my daughters, travel, good friends, drinking goodcoffee, listening to great music, singing, dancing, yoga,meditating, listening to my guides, taking classes, walking,being a student and learning new things, assisting others inmeeting their Spirit and trusting their intuition, laughing,sitting quietly, and more. I could go on for a while but yousee what I mean. Remembering and naming what you lovebrings you back to center, to your true Self and the path ofyour genuine purpose, the pathway of what brings you joy.At least it does for me.Once you name what you love, commit to engaging inone of those things every day. Make it first on your list, apriority, and not last, something you might try to shove intoyour busy day after you do everything else you must do. Forexample, I love yoga, and start my morning with it everyday.Some mornings I am so tired that I want to shut off thealarm and continue sleeping, figuring I’ll do yoga later in theday…and yet I always get too busy and never do. On thosedays that I succumb to my resistance and put it off, I feel asthough I’ve cheated myself out of something important tomy Spirit, and I don’t like the feeling I’m left with. Because ofthat “yuck” feeling, I move quickly past my resistance in the36 Truly Alive | www.trulyalive.net