community – Karen Creamer Author, Coach, Speaker

Be kind

October 28, 2017October 28, 2017 by Karen, posted in (it's all about the) food, celebrations, restaurants, Travel

I recently had the pleasure of travelling to meet hundreds of like-minded individuals and as part of this adventure, we all went out for dinner together (I know) at a restaurant that (I daresay) is not used to receiving parties of this size routinely.

We blew them away.

The kitchen went under in about thirty seconds. We learned that the staff that was desperately trying to prepare our food was all brand new.

Talk about trial by fire!

As a former restaurant manager and former graduate nurse, I was no stranger to this sink or swim indoctrination into a new job. It’s no fun, but one silver lining for both employer and employee is this: it often works. You know pretty quick who is cut out for the job and who is not.

Anyway, I was so proud of my group! We could see how hard they were all working to serve us, to keep their heads above water. How hard they were trying to get us what we needed as quick as they could under what was probably the most adverse conditions most of them had ever encountered on the job.

They didn’t think about themselves. They thought about us.

A friend, Chris, pointed out that this reminded him of a quote:
BE KIND, FOR EVERYONE YOU MEET IS FIGHTING A HARD BATTLE. –Socrates

All of us were kind, patient, and used one of our secret weapons, humor, to keep this evening fun and productive. (Spoiler alert: We didn’t starve!) They kept at it until everyone was taken care of. They did their best, and isn’t that something we all aspire to? By them giving us this gift, we all received another gift.

The gift of community.

As we in the ‘audience’ observed and discussed ‘the performance’, we all learned more about each other (not to mention about ourselves).

Today’s actionable: “Give everyone the benefit of the doubt today…” ~Lori Deschene, Tiny Buddha’s 365 Tiny Love Challenges

Also, I have to say that I had one of the best bowls of soup I have ever had in my life at that restaurant!

Here are some other photos from the dinner:

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The BRAVE Interview #8 March 2017: Jennifer Greiner

March 4, 2017July 4, 2017 by Karen, posted in friends, Interviews, local fun, Metaphysical healing, The BRAVE Interviews

Here is #8 in The BRAVE Interview series! It’s the Who, What, When, Where, How, (and sometimes Why) of YOUR ‘one brave thing’! December’s interview is with Jennifer Greiner. 🙂

WHO are you? I am Jennifer Greiner, a strong, individual woman who knows what she wants and works hard to get it. I am passionate, caring and considerate. I am professionally a therapist but also an essential oil and hula hooping enthusiast! Part of my identity has become being a significant other to a first year Med Student.

WHAT is your One Brave Thing (so far!!)? My One Brave Thing was starting my essential oil business, Green Thinking. It is something I have never done, nor have ever particularly wanted to do. It was very scary for me to jump into selling products to others that I, myself, love. Not only did I just start Green Thinking, I was also adjusting to a big transition: moving to a new state and vicariously beginning medical school. Thank goodness I was brave enough to launch into this wonderful endeavor as it helped keep me busy, adjust and gain a wonderful new community!

WHEN did you do it? I officially started Green Thinking at the Saco River Market on October 29th, 2016.

WHERE did it occur? The Saco River Market had just changed locations from Saco Island to a church in Biddeford, ME. It was an adjustment for the whole Market and was crushing after that first market day, to learn that we would be moving to another new place, 40 Main St., Biddeford. I could easily empathize with other vendors as it was normal for me to move around and wait a while to get used to a place. I have been able to easily settle into our new space, as I believe, so has the rest of the market.

HOW did you make it happen? Pretty easily, looking back on the year. I had been making my own products for myself for months. I had tested them out and shared with friends. When I learned of the Saco River Market, I went down there to speak with them about becoming a vendor. I printed out the application, sent it in and discussed that I would start at the end of October. Then it was the scramble to get products made, labels on and purchase a table! I was able to make it all happen and be ready for that first market.

WHY did you do it? One of my many passions is essential oils. I want to share them with everyone and teach how you can incorporate them into your lifestyle, to help elevate your life and live naturally, chemical free. I’ve always admired market vendors and was eager for the opportunity to become one myself. I consider myself a people-person and looked forward to talking with and meeting new people to immerse myself in my new community. I am so happy to have persevered through my One Brave Thing to feel successful and accomplished!

If you’d like to read the other interviews in the series, click here for the list: https://kwrites.com/?s=the+BRAVE+interview

If you’d like to be interviewed for this series about your own ‘one brave thing’, email me at kmcwrites@gmail.com.

Ho no!

January 2, 2016July 21, 2016 by Karen, posted in my one word, yoga

I got some unwelcome news today that my beloved Holy Yoga (HoYo) Saturday morning class is ending. Moving to Tuesday evenings. When I am at work.

My first thought was, OH NO!!! Then the Big Sad descended. I paused. I breathed (it was yoga class, after all). I could still enjoy this class, today. I could still Be Here Now.

I did my best.

My next thought was this: now there is room for something else to come in. I wonder what it will be?

There are some parting gifts. A new song that I am listening to now by an artist, with whom I was unfamiliar but with whom now I am virtual BFF’s-JJ Heller. See her Christmas song here-I know! It’s late! But better late than never.

But the biggest gift is this: as I am standing here in my kitchen, consoling myself with a Nonni’s Biscotti and Spicy Eggnog coffee, I checked out the annvoscamp.com website and as I was scrolling around, I saw this quote: