Arrangement by Sue Whitehead

A line from the movie “Peaceful Warrior” goes “there is never nothing going on” . . . and that is so true, especially this month, right?! This is a great month for “arts & crafts”. Attached is a photo of a lovely flower arrangement created by ICS Workshop Alumni, Sue Whitehead. Thanks, Sue, for letting us see some of your cool arrangements! We are grateful for our ability to be of service to our community and extend our wishes to all for a safe and happy December 2010.

Jim Niemi’s Implicit Career Search has certainly been life-changing and life-enhancing. Jim – you are a terrific Facilitator and I learned more about what I can contribute to the world as well as feeling even more connected to life and motivated to contribute my gifts and skills to others, and earn an income doing so.

I feel like the Workshop “unwrapped” me, took me apart –especially in the first week! – and wrapped me back up into a wonderful gift for the world, and tied me up with a bow – everything that was already there – but now even more apparent and ready to go!!

This is a one-of-a-kind Workshop, and I am so grateful to you and the staff and my classmates for all that I have learned.

Thank you! Diana Walker
Diana’s Healthy Lifestyles
Diana Recommends

David attended the Implicit Career Search Workshop in August 2010 at Stepping Stones Consulting. He is now in Vancouver for the next year taking a Diploma Program in Professional Photography ~ following his passion and dream to become a professional photographer! Congratulations, David!

In David’s words “I am getting settled in and am excited about my future. Again, I wish to express my gratitude and appreciation to and for Stepping Stones.”

The attached photograph of a beautiful spot in Salmon Arm was taken by David and was framed and dropped off last week – it now graces our reception area! Thank you, David ~ we are in gratitude!

To see more of David’s photography, go here: http://www.davidandthecamera.blogspot.com

Live the Essence of You!
By Denise Gibson

Step out of the darkness, move into the light
It’s all in the perspective, there’s no wrong or right.
Look at your behavior, acknowledge what you feel
Let go of your defenses, allow your past to be healed.
Be true to yourself, show you really do care
Choose your own life, be fully aware.
Accept the rejections, the laughter, the tears,
Be liberated from embarrassments, cast out all of your fears.
Remove all of your masks, peel them back one by one
The better to see through your window to the sun.
Be ready for messages that appear in all forms
Sing the song from your past and calm all of your storms.
Find your true center, where your spirit resides
There’s no room for your ego, your blame or your pride.
Shout out “I’m Alive!” Be spontaneous, choose your fun,
So you can live your life’s mission on this journey you’ve begun.
So live by your mission, guided and true
It’s all that you need to live the essence of you!

I AM READY
By Ahn van Mentz ~ July 22, 2010

I feel so sorry I feel so shame
I feel so angry I feel no tame
I feel so scared I feel so confused
Why am I so accused?

When all we have is a choice
When all we have is a voice
When all we have is change
When all we have is strange

Whatever lies ahead is the way
There will come a bright day
To a magical place of our soul at wait
Shining from our Essence
Through our presence
As I’m open to this

I will learn from my mistakes
I am ready for what awaits
I choose to learn and grow
With what I already know
I know that you know that I know you know this
But how she knows this is unknown
Because

When all we have is a choice
When all we have is a voice
When all we have is change
When all we have is strange

I am ready for the scary unknowingness
I am ready for my life, full force ahead

In 2007, I was no longer able to work at the career I had been trained for and employed in for many years. I was devastated and depressed, thinking that my life as I knew it was over. The Employment Place referred me to Stepping Stones consulting. My journey began with the Steps to Success facilitated by Alexandra Kirchner, and then on to the Implicit Career Search, facilitated by Jim Niemi. It was soon evident my life is my responsibility and change starts from within, attitudes shift and allow for growth to begin. The changes were not planned, I entered with the thought that there was a “magic” solution, a job would be handed to me, and my life would be back on track.

I soon came to realize that these thoughts were getting in the way of my growth, my life and my happiness.

I decided that I still had much to offer and contacted Okanagan College to see what was available. A two year diploma program for Human Service Work was being offered for the first time on the Salmon Arm Campus in the fall of 2008. I came up with many reasons why I could not enroll in this program. The fact is I was afraid of failure and believed I could not go back to school at my age, and “compete” with so many people younger than myself. My “pity pot was overflowing”. There were many more such reasons and excuses that came to me, until I got out of my way and realized that I would not know if any of these were valid unless I tried.

I then met Trish and Connie at Bowman and applied for funding. There were some prerequisites that needed to be done and that was the beginning of that leg of the journey.

September of 2008 arrived and off I went, back to school, it soon became apparent that I was the oldest in the class and that was, at first, challenging, but only for me. Again it was my preconceived ideas and stories.

There were many trials and tribulations along the way, it was not a smooth ride, but it was an exhilarating one, and many lessons were learned, both in and out of the classroom.

The biggest lesson I learned was that anything is possible if I want it and am prepared to do the work and make the changes that are needed. Life is a journey that can only be taken “one step at a time”. I am now onto the next part of my journey, giving back to the community and world that I live in, any way that I can.

Sharon Thorpe
Human Service Worker