Posts Tagged "journey"
Seasons of Change
It’s that time of year when the colors begin to change and every time I get in my car I can anticipate the rich colors that transform the landscape as I drive to work and back. I especially enjoy the maple trees, the brilliance of the red and gold display a final explosion of color before they drop to the ground and the leaves turn brown. Fall is underway and as I start organizing new initiatives for the last quarter of 2010 I’m focused on the word QUALITY. Why Quality? Because I’m working on a large project with a focus on organizational quality so the theme of quality is on my mind and has me evaluating what does Quality...
Read MoreShamanic Healing Ceremony
Last Friday I drove to Wisconsin to spend time with my mentor and friend Lee, a Shamana. I was taking time for both personal healing and to continue to learn the way of the Shaman. Lee’s home is a beautiful sanctuary on a hill reminiscent of a retreat setting, the living room wall is all glass looking out over the hill at mature trees. The scent of burnt sage washed over me as I walked through the entryway into her living room. It’s quiet here and I’m surrounded by symbols of native ritual and ceremony, drums, rattles, essential oils, stones and artifacts. Her mesa positioned as altar, among the many artifacts gathered from her...
Read MoreChoices
One of my mother’s key values was the importance of “Choice,” her underlying principal was for women to be independent, strong and employed. “It’s important to work hard and get an education” she said, typical values growing up in Minnesota during the 1950’s and 60’s. I lived my life believing this until I became a Director several times over and learned that budget cuts are painful choices and that we let people go even though they had an education and worked hard. It’s been two years since I “chose” to leave my corporate job and reinvent myself, I’ve moved away from health care management and sales management in private industry back to...
Read MoreThe Healing Path
One of the kindest things about losing a loved one is that we tend to remember only the most wonderful stories about that person, all else is unimportant and forgotten. As I think of my sister Susie and look at her pictures and memorabilia surrounding me I remember all the most funny and delightful experiences we shared as sisters. I’m glad May is over because when I handed over the keys to her apartment for the last time it felt like I was reopening a wound - the total finality left me physically and emotionally spent. A part of me looked forward to the ending, being finished with the work of packing and unpacking all her personal...
Read MoreEmbracing a Joyous Life
I wrote a small item awhile ago on my friend Sherry a Breast Cancer Survivor; although new at the business of “thriving” she is running joyously toward her new beginnings. I received her email blast last evening where she routed her wedding pictures to those of us who are fortunate to be in her circle of family and friends. I had received a voice message from her Sunday night telling me she was thinking of me and just hearing her voice was a tonic for my soul. In the mist of her celebration she remembered to share my grief, holding me in her heart as I work through the physical, legal and emotional business of closing out my sister’s affairs. As I...
Read MoreQuick Bio
Mary Chapa is a multi-talented woman with a background in nursing leadership, quality management and business development in both health care and private industry; she's also a writer and a passionate holistic health practitioner living in Minnesota.
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