Shift - A Game About Love, Fear and Life

I’m not very good at doing things alone. (so for sure, I’m NOT also known as the Independent!) But I’ve decided that I have to overcome some things and accept some others. This weekend I overcame. For most people, driving from Denver to Aspen would be no big deal; they would never even hesitate (and I feel that fact has been made quite clear…). And the thing is, I would never hesitate if someone wanted to join me. But to make the journey on my own was unheard of, but really, was so exciting. I did it. One of my best friends, Riley, recently moved to Aspen. I knew it was important to visit now, not only because my fear of driving in the upcoming snow (Yes, I know, I am from the midwest…), but also because it shows I am making an effort and that he is important to me. And he is.

And as I drove along I-70, I found myself making an effort to keep my eyes on the road and not on the colors that were flying all around me. It was as if flames shot out from the trees - the colors seemed to be individually placed to make the perfect combination and I fell in love with it. I felt so lucky to be able to experience how beautiful it was, even if I was driving…

After spending four years in Boulder, I grew sick of hearing how it was "a four year escape from reality." But as my time there passed, I grew to recognize, and even accept that idea. After this weekend, I decided that if Boulder is a day dream, than Aspen is the fantasy. These places are unlike anywhere else on earth.

As I turned onto Colfax and was back in my neighborhood, a sense of relief came over me. I had troubles sleeping at night in Aspen because of the silence, and my brain did it’s best making lots of noise, even if it was contained in my head. I think it’s easier for me to hide with the craziness all around than face it in the peacefulness of nature. I will overcome that next. Promise!

My sister once told me to do one thing everyday that scared me, and I would be happy. So true. So, what’s the plan for tomorrow?

Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart

and try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms

or books written in a very foreign language.

Don’t search for the answers,

which could not be given to you now,

because you would not be able to live them.

And the point is, to live everything.

Live the questions now.

Perhaps then, someday far in the future,

you will gradually, without even noticing it,

live your way into the answer.

rainer maria rilke

Kristen read this to me the other night and it is very fitting for much of what’s going on in my life these days.  I’m making some big decisions in my personal life and I’m having to ask myself some difficult questions. Yet, when all questions have been asked, it really comes down to, “Am I willing to shift my belief?’  Until now, I can certainly say that I was far from willing. 

I have a relationship that I have set up as special instead of equal and I’m now realizing that it’s because of how I approach the relationship. I have expectations that always lead to disappointments and even though I’ve got the phrase, “Expectations are premeditated resentments” down, I’ve yet to really own it. I want so badly for it to be different that I make excuses and deny that no matter what I try, the outcome is always the same.  I have a belief that is so entrenched I’ve been mourning the loss of it.

It’s up to me to approach this differently. It’s up to me to respond differently. It’s up to me to see this person differently- in their wholeness.  I am choosing to have only healthy, loving, equal relationships.  To do that, it’s most likely that the form of this relationship will need to shift. And that’s my hook- my line and sinker. That’s where I let myself sink.

It’s down to survival now.

I must have patience with myself and with everything unresolved in my heart

and try to love the questions themselves. I am aware that the shift needs to take place in me.  Am I willing to shift my belief? Am I willing to let go and choose only that which supports me?

I’ve created a game that is a guide to living from love so as hard as it is, I am. I am willing. Playing the game in my life and choosing to make my decisions from love (especially self love) is the most difficult thing I’ve done to date and I’m really ready to have these lessons completed.

Yes I am willing. For now, I’m living my way into the answers and playing the game along the way…

We are all capable of making a Shift in our lives. We want to know about yours.
Tell us about a change you have made in any aspect of your life, big or small - with your relationship, job, family, or overall attitude.

You are not only an inspiration to us at Shift, you can become an inspiration to everyone who reads this.

Just hit enter your post in the “Leave a Reply” section below.

It seemed that all is well - the game is off to the printer, we have our fulfillment costs determined, our shipping costs look good, the website is phenominal and I am learning something new every day. Let me digress and thank the many people - really experts in their respective fields - for helping us make Shift a reality. We made our first, not cold but luke warm, call yesterday and appeared to be turned down flat. As much as we try to say “their loss”, “must be a bad day for them”, etc we cannot help but be affected by this. Nikki and I take turns telling each other - no worries. But what is our next step? How do we help others understand the power and significance of this Game? We started to discuss PR and how we can get the word out. Do we start now or do we focus on pre-sales?
In the meantime, I read in the paper yesterday that Deepak Chopra is opening a spa in Westminster, Colorado - just down the road from us. He is actually going to be in town to unveil the project! Deepak Chopra - a man who could be a champion for us, who has enfluenced so many lives through his writings, The Chopra Center and his practice - all are in perfect alignment with Shift. To witness your thoughts is to be able to change your reality.
I tell Nikki, we should try to meet him - to be in his presence, to hear his voice. I think she agrees, but doesn’t really think it would be possible. A columnist with the Denver Post writes he tried to meet with Dr. Chopra and was told that “there would be little hope” that would happen. I am a firm believer in Karma, if we are meant to be in the same room as Deepak Chopra tomorrow, it would happen. I make a few calls and get the most beautiful voice of the company that is developing the spa with Dr. Chopra. Yes, there is a Press Event tomorrow with a lunch to follow. Would we like to attend? Are you kidding me? Now we need to find the right clothes to wear…and all is well. Watch for the next post!

Last Friday we started our first sales calls. It’s been over 4 years since I’ve sold a product… or worn anything close to professional. I must admit I had my concerns about whether I had it in me anymore. In recent years I’ve gone to networking events where I’ve been more than happy to support a wall in the corner instead of working the room and collecting business cards like the old me.

Turns out I still got it. The truth is, selling is easy when you’ve got a compelling product. Since last Friday, we’ve been picked up in The Boulder Bookstore, Atmosphere in Boulder, Om Yoga, McGuckins and The Tattered Cover. Shift circles or game nights will take place at the Boulder Co-Op and The Unity Church in Boulder is incorporating Shift game nights into their weekly Course in Miracles study groups. I must say, having Unity implement a game night into the Course in Miracles study groups really got me. I almost shed some tears during my meeting. Oh and did I mention that last week we got a letter from Marianne Williamson giving us permission to incorporate some of her content and oh yeah, we met Deepak Chopra!! This is what the last 2 weeks have been like. We’re cookin! and we’re having fun. I’m amazed by the response we’ve had so far and am so thankful that people are receptive.

I’ve been working on this for four years and even though I just pawned off all my gold jewelry today for extra spending money and tried my hardest to make my clothes seem like great consignment pieces, it’s all been worth it. I am so thankful for the people that have shown up to support our project… I am plain ole grateful…. and I am super excited. We are just a few weeks away from getting our first run back. I can not wait to hold this game in my hands.

A year ago, the game was still an idea. When my chiropractor, Dr. Pete, would adjust me, I’d deal with my anxiety by visioning something great. Although my “adjustment visions” were often scenes on a far away beach, more often than not, the thing I visioned most was seeing the game. I remember when I would try to see the vision- I’d try my hardest to see the board or the box… little by little the vision became more clear. On the scary neck adjustments, I would vision the game on some store shelf. For so long, I had no idea what it would look like. Well, within the month, I will actually see that box sitting on a store shelf.

Amazing.

I’m jazzed…

I seem to have had a blog drought again. But for good reason (and not for lack of inspiration!)

I went on vacation.

Chris and I went on a 10 day trip, well cruise, out of Fort Lauderdale, to Haiti, St Kitts, St Maarten, St Thomas and San Juan. And we had a fantastic time. Though I’m still not sure what the difference between a soup and a bisque is, I learned lessons of letting go of the stress from home, the joys of sea sickness, and even experienced the medical mystery of the “black tongue,” I also learned that the bumps along the way make you laugh later.

But I realized that beautiful beaches, little shops, good food, and a tan only go so far. In the end, it’s the people that make it worth it.

On most cruises, they assign you a table for dinner and those are the people you sit with the whole length of the trip. We ended up sitting with some of the most wonderful people - each with something different to bring to the group - all unlikely friends - but all having a fabulous time together, looking forward to dinner each night. I’ve said this many times, but I firmly believe it is the people that make the place - and ultimately the experience.

So to my six new friends - Thank You for making our trip what it was.

There’s something about a speaker thumping so hard that you can feel it in your chest and your knees (almost like those really fantastic fireworks…) that makes you feel so alive. I know that sounds silly, but sometimes at a concert when you can feel the bass in every part of your body, I almost feel like it’s the music reminding me to dance and to feel alive. So I dance and I’m glad.

“You can turn off the sun, but I’m still gonna shine…” Jason Mraz (a fantastic concert last night at the Fillmore)

OUR VISION
-to love

OUR MISSION
-to reach as many people as possible and remind them that they are loved.

OUR VALUES
-LOVE
we see love as our reason for everything we do – especially our work.
“teach love, for that is what you are.” ACIM

-CREATIVITY
we love doing things just a little different and the celebration of big ideas.
“creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.” Mary Lou Cook

-CHANGE
we believe that we all have the choice to make the changes that will support us most.
“the only way to grow old is to lose your willingness to change.” Robin Zdravkovic

-BALANCE
we see life as being filled with abundance and that there is time for work and time for play.
“live a balanced life – teach some and thank some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.” Robert Fulghum

-SUCCESS
we believe success will be reached when we all start to see just where our thoughts are coming from.
“…to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived – this is to succeed.” Emerson

I’ve spent hours looking going back and forth between cnn, hn, fox, msnbc even the weather channel. I can’t seem to find any worthwhile coverage on the storm. If I hadn’t spoken to friends and family down there I’d have no idea how intense the storm was… been looking online to get th real story. Wondering why this isn’t news for the rest of the country.

Just want to gripe. I’ve seen coverage of Tanya Harding, the Nor Easter, Cancun and even Havana- even 3 full minutes of coverage on the Naples zoo. It just seems so odd that when 98% of the population from Key West to West Palm Beach is without power (and some estimates say it will be 3 weeks before they get it back on) and when they are all under curfews, that I can’t seem to get one image or story on a national channel. I’ve almost seen an entire hour of CNN and 3 minutes on lions in the Naples zoo?

I’ve looked online and found video from the Miami stations. This was a big hurricane, much larger than anticipated, and I wonder if that’s partly why we’re not seeing coverage. The South Florida channels talk about water and ice from the govt. that was supposed to be at locations at 9am but didn’t get there until the evening- Fema said there were cell phone issues and problems with fuel. Unfortunately they told the government officials to announce the locations in advance so people were waiting and frustrated.

I know this is nothing like Katrina and maybe I take it personally because Miami is my home town. My family and friends have said that this was worse than Andrew. Where my mom lives, all the ficus trees that line the main entrance (these trees are 6 ft across and then some with massive root structures) were knocked down. The st0rm took many by surprise since they were told it would be a category 1 or 2 - in fact, many places along the coast didn’t recieve an evacuation since they thought the land would slow it down.

I just want to see some more coverage. Seems quite odd. 6 million people without power who may not get any for 3 weeks… shouldn’t we hear about that?

Funny, I was thinking my gripe was about feeling disconnected. I guess unconsciously I sometimes seek connection through the TV or just images in general. If my belief is that we are always connected it doesn’t matter if the power lines are up or down or if there’s a voice at the other end of the line. I got to speak to my family and friends in form today… and although I’m not down there in the dark trying deperately how to remember the rules for “Go Fish” I’m with them.