
Inspiring Nuggets
From Annelies & Conduit for Change, LLC
Annelies M. Gentile, MA, PCC
Integrative Life & Leadership Coach
Consultant | Facilitator | Process Artist | Author | Speaker
Hello Dear Ones,
I trust my words find you well. How are you? I think of you often and am here to listen, as needed. I also respect your time and space available in your head and heart-- so I'm mindful about frequency and content of my emails to you.
Inspiring Nuggets newsletter is published five times a year and based on the five seasons of Chinese medicine. The last publication you received was in March. You have made it to summer! How's re-emerging going for you?
Since last we connected, I'd say it's been a gentle emergence for us starting with vaccines in early spring and a few small gatherings. Outside of a torn rotator cuff, we've been healthy and hope you are too.
In our home, my husband and I have gently tended garden and birds, paddle boarded when weather allowed, walk frequently in nature, and cook up some much needed hugs and quiches for folks going through tough stuff.
Over the last few months, I officiated a wedding, presented for the NC Paralegal Association on mental health and ethics, facilitated several NCSU graduations and retirement celebrations (also via Zoom) which staff and students were ever-so-grateful for.
If you retired via Zoom in 2020/2021... you are not alone. I hope you take the time to celebrate and mark your accomplishments soon, especially-- if others couldn't join you last year. It's okay to make up for missed paaartays! What's worth celebrating loud and proud?
I do my best to honor the stages and phases of life for my clients via coaching, retreats and in ceremonies. There's a difference between getting old and fizzling out or becoming an elder and enriching others with your well-earned wisdom.
Remember, retirement doesn't need to be re-tire-ing... but in fact an invitation to re-fire and re-wire! 'Cause who wants to re-tire again? Why not go back to school, write a book or start a legacy project? What's your soul's calling?
I keep things simple here for less stress and less cost. I continue to coach executives, leaders and entrepreneurs through personal and professional change via phone with a paper calendar and a head set. Old-school ;) How can you simplify?
My clients are quite amazing. The work they do makes such incredible impact in our world. From global to community impact, I fall in love with them over and over again with each session. As a result, I've attended a few funerals over the past months too. Not client funerals but for their parents. That's how touched, engaged and committed to supporting them I am. I care because they care, and they care because others cared about them. Between us, the web of support continues. What constitutes your support system?
For me, I get grounded in nature and through play. One is quiet turned inward, the other expressive turned outward. Along with mindfulness, nature and creativity are valuable tools for resilience. Yummy farm-to-table meals enjoyed while painting and teaching Art in the Garden have been a joyful occasion for me. What's in your resilience tool box?
As always, I encourage you to tap into creativity for the sake of wellbeing, peace and leadership that's grounded and intentional verses thoughtless and reactionary. Resilience is not about overcoming but becoming. Especially after covid... who are you becoming now?
You and all your gifts matter! Shine and share.
Enjoy your summer and thank you for your presence!
Love and light, Annelies
SUMMER :: Joy :: Element of Fire
Each season I provide inspiring nuggets of wisdom through my newsletter which includes invitations to upcoming events. My goal is to help YOU better navigate, cope and create through change. Seasonal teachings come through both my personal and professional experiences and the Chinese Five Elements philosophy of Wu Xing (wŭ ching) and Tao, among other philosophies and sciences which highlight and explore unique nature-based ways to understand the processes of change. In addition, each newsletter aims to help you master mindset and provide resources to build resiliency in the face of personal, professional and cultural change. Find this newsletter useful? Be the gift that keeps giving, share it with a friend!
One of the ways I help professionals become better leaders in life and at work is to help them cope and manage change. We cannot separate the human condition from our work life. They're inseparable. When we try to separate our humanity from the tasks, lists and linear roles of the work-world we harden ourselves and become hard towards others. What's more useful is understanding how to integrate our humanity into all expressions of life, even at work. As life gives us a variety of challenges to cope with, exploring problem-solving through nature is not only interesting and inspiring, it's also a unique way to better understand our own nature.
According to Eastern tradition of Tao, there are five elements expressed through five seasons each represented by an element, color and emotional characteristics. Here's a simplified explanation.
• Winter : Water : Blue : Stillness : Fear
• Spring : Wood : Green : Creativity : Anger
• Summer : Fire : Red : Connectivity : Joy
• Late Summer : Earth : Yellow : Integrity : Gratitude
• Autumn : Metal : White : Acknowledgement : Grief
The season of summer is related to the element of FIRE which feeds and inspires laughter, joy, passion, playfulness, connectedness, maturation and expansiveness, and is represented by the color red and the sound of laughing.
Think of fire as a metaphor. Qualities of popping, expanding, bursting forth, the element of fire in the season of summer has the potential to connect to and affect other things. Think of it as an opportunity to bridge separate parts together.
Let's explore just one fire/summer quality; connection. After a year and a half of tightened inward behavior and isolation, you may be bursting at the seems to reconnect to people, places and activities again. Or... maybe not. You may be more hesitant to be with lots of people. There's no wrong way to unfurl and reconnect.
Two in One: As a matter of fact, this is a perfect example of two elements present in one season. Do you feel both ready to emerge and resistant to do so? Metal/Fall (tight, stiff, solid, resistance) and Fire/Summer (loose, free, wild, movement). It's okay if you do. The rebound back to full vitality may take time.
First things first. Accept how you feel and make small choices that can help you reconnect to meaningful activities that bring you joy, direction, purpose and meaning. No need to rebuild Rome in a day. Besides... what you'll create next may be infinitely more impressive. :)
Look Within
- What brings you joy?
- What makes you laugh?
- How do you connect with others and yourself?
Personal & Professional Transformation
Feed Your Soul
ART IN THE GARDEN is where creativity, community and cuisine connect! Learn basic watercolor techniques, meet new friends, eat fresh veggies and rejuvenate in the presence of nature. Easy, peaceful, beautiful. Join us.
Join Artist/Coach Annelies for an artful adventure to inspire and feed your soul. She'll teach you how to paint watercolor as you learn to see life differently. Allow the magic of the moment to take you on a journey. A little (or a lot) intimidated by creativity? Come as you are! Curious creatives, beginners and seasoned artists welcome! Discover that creativity really is good for you!
COST: $58 morning class/$68 for evening class
WHAT: Two hour guided watercolor class includes all art supplies. Stay until 1PM to enjoy a garden-fresh meal! Prepared by Anne Everitt of Natural Cook Durham.
- Apr 24 10AM morning class plus farm-to-table lunch
- May 22 10AM morning class plus farm-to-table lunch
- Jun 5 5:30PM evening class plus farm-to-table dinner
- Jun 26 10AM morning class plus farm-to-table lunch
- Jul 31 10AM morning class plus farm-to-table lunch
- Aug 7 5:30PM evening class plus farm-to-table dinner
- Aug 28 10AM morning class plus farm-to-table lunch
- Sep 18 5:30PM evening class plus farm-to-table dinner
- Sep 25 10AM morning class plus farm-to-table lunch
- Oct 16 5:30PM evening class plus farm-to-table dinner
- Oct 30 10AM morning class plus farm-to-table lunch
** Rain or shine, we'll paint and dine!
** No refunds, all sales are final unless we cancel due to unforeseen circumstances.
"THIS IS MORE THAN A BOOK. THIS IS A MOVEMENT!"
From Chaos to Calm :: Leading Change From the Inside Out is a quiet call to wake up to our individual and collective role and responsibility in solving our most pressing 21st century problems by cultivating resiliency at the personal level first. In this part personal story, part philosophy and part guide book, you'll learn useful nuggets for life, leadership and well-being. To regain a sense of peace with what is, even in chaotic times, we need to begin within.
Available at Quail Ridge Books, Amazon, Wake County Public Libraries and on Kindle too! Love to listen to books? It's also an Audiobook on Audible!
Contact Annelies
Empowering people, inspiring ideas and fostering change in you and the world. Conduit for Change, LLC
Email: annelies@conduitforchange.com
Website: www.conduitforchange.com
Phone: 919-345-8396