I wish for all fathers to fully realsie their significance in the development and lives of their daughters, to fully connect to the fragility of this relationship and it's profound effect on girls, future women. Fathers are SOOO very imporatant to us.

...There are sooo many deep lessons hidden in a form  a mere dance, it blows me away every time I teach it or dance it. Back, while going through my Spiritual Psychology training at USM, I felt that the best learning came in a form of an experience of being a participant (client), then a counselor and then a neutral observer. There are completely different lessons learned in each position. Same in Tango. As an instructor I learn by observing and sharing what I know and feel. As a dancer I experience and live what I teach. I am aware of all the challenges and obstacles of this complex experience (such as, for example, a requirement of NOT anticipating the next move that my partner/leader is going to come up with). As a female/follower in this dance, I want to feel safe and also execute the move in the most graceful way. Part of my wanting to anticipate or predict the next move is my own self-defense tactic as well as a way of still retaining some control over the process. The problem is that "safe" approach actually backfires in this dance and prevents my partner from being free to create something even more exciting and beautiful then the move before. This is what we do in life. We get in our own way of enjoying the unknown and relaxing into it.
...Just a thought to share...

"dance like no one's watching"
ilona

A few weeks ago I got a new Interior Design client who hired me to decorate her house for Thanksgiving holidays. I only had a week to accomplish what I needed to do, but I did it. She was very happy and the house looked GREAT! (pictures to com)
Meanwhile, our mutual friend who has put me and this client together, has warned me over and over that this woman is great BUT she owes a lot of people money. So I was to be cautious and make sure my agreements are defined and I get a retainer upfront. Well, having to deal with some of the collection issues in the past, I freaked out. By this time I spent almost 3, 000 on all the accessories and even more on labor. So, I was getting really concerned and was very nervous when writing her an invoice. But then the LIGHT came on...I stopped and decided to apply what I have need learning recently at Agape. I said to myself " I am stopping here right now. Others experiences are NOT my own, I don't have to take people's fears and negative outcomes and assume this is what I am going to have to deal with too. I am a spiritual being and I know BETTER." I started visualizing the optimum result and saying affirmations outloud.

When I presented her with my invoice, she took a few minutes to get back to me. I was sweating (inside). She called me back and said that my check is waiting for me. I came over and she handed me a thank you card with my check inside. It was THAT easy. We stayed and chatted for aver thirty minutes afterwords and it was very nice and relaxed.
So, I will try and remember this experience so that I can move through my fears and insecurities that may arise with  clients in the future. I will set my intentions and claim that IT IS DONE!

blessings...