|
|
Merry Christmas
&
Happy New Year!
|
|
|
|
Welcome to the December 2024 Newsletter
It's that time of the year again, where we get to celebrate, look back, close chapters, and open new ones. A time of reflection. A time to wind down. Unplug. A time to be grateful. To be hopeful. To plan (and often times un-plan :) ).
|
This year's end of year newsletter is a looking back, as well as a looking forward. It also includes updates on my upcoming workshops, podcast, as well as poem, book, and song of the year.
|
I wish you, and all of your loved ones, a peaceful festive period, a merry Christmas, and a wonderful start into the new year! May 2025 bring you closer to whatever your heart desires.
|
Wishing you all that is beautiful and good in this world!
|
|
|
|
|
Looking back: a personal update
|
|
|
|
|
2024 has been a good year, and a challenging year.
|
The year started off with some health issues, which have persisted throughout the year. Most of which had to do with my ability (or inability) to walk properly, culminating in meniscus tears, walking on crutches for a month while on vacation in the USA, and what felt like interminable visits to a variety of specialists and doctors... And while I'm still in treatment, this has not prevented me from also having some wonderful experiences.
|
🎶 On the personal side, one highlight was me joining the Swiss Gospel Singers (SGS) beginning of the year, and performing some beautiful African gospel songs with a set of wonderfully talented musicians from Kenya. A highlight concert for me this year!
And on December 12 & 13, I sang with SGS at their annual Christmas concerts, together with Chris de Burgh! Yes, yes, that's right... :) I was even able to, very briefly, meet Mr. de Burgh and give him a copy of my picture book "God's Love Letter - Creation"! WOW! :)
|
✈️ Another personal highlight was our 6-week vacation in the USA (crutches and all), where I was finally able to see my best friend Shadwa, her husband, daughter, and mom after a 10-year break. What a treat!
|
👪 I am also grateful that, despite life's usual ups and downs, my parents, husband, and daughter are all healthy and well. And I got to make some new friends this year - including some of you, so, thank you for being here! :)
|
👩🏽🏭 On the professional side, I got to run a Gallup strengths-based team workshop for a team I worked with already last year–always nice to be invited back and witness the team's progression. I also supported a variety of individuals through career-related transitions, and it was rewarding to see them gaining confidence and taking some first courageous steps towards their dream. I've also been running Gestalt coaching labs for fellow coaches and Cambridge alumni, which I'd like to expand on next year. More about that below.
|
🎙️ I also had my debut as a podcast host, thanks to the Association for Coaching. A wonderful experience, and it got me thinking about launching my own podcast channel next year. What do you think? Would you tune in? Would you want to be a guest? More about that in the "Podcast" section below.
|
|
🫶🏽 Most importantly, I am grateful for all of the wonderful people in my life! That includes you! My family. My friends. My singing buddies. My church buddies. My clients. And every new person who has entered my life this year. 🫶🏽
|
|
|
|
Your turn
|
What was 2024 like for you?
|
|
What were your ups and downs?
|
|
What are you grateful for?
|
|
What are some of those memories that bring a smile to your face? or maybe a tear?
|
Who have you met? Who has touched your heart and you theirs?
|
|
If you're so inclined, why not write your answers down. Or maybe you feel like painting them? Whatever the medium, do reflect back on this year and allow everything that's happened to sink in, as you look forward to what's next.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Starting January 30: Gestalt Coaching lab for coaches!
If you are a coach, and you are looking to practice Gestalt coaching principles, while exploring "use of self" as a way of "being" with your client and showing up–I have the perfect offering for you! No more of that sanitised way of coaching, but instead being in real relationship with your clients.
|
Starting January 30, and meeting monthly on the last Thursday of the month, I will be offering a Gestalt Coaching lab where you can discover new ways of being as a coach, and practice- practice-practice. All coaches are welcome - regardless of your level of Gestalt coaching experience.
|
Have a look, and reach out if you have any questions. I'm only one e-mail away! :)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Group Coaching events
I believe in the power of Community.
|
The beauty of group coaching sessions is that they offer you the opportunity to meet others who find themselves in a similar situation as you, so you know that 1) you're not alone, and 2) you have a space where you are heard, supported, nurtured, and encouraged to move forward. As your coach, I help you create a safe confidential space for each other, where mutual trust and sharing can take place, where you can learn from each other's wisdom, gain new awareness, so that ultimately change can take place.
|
|
I'm planning some exciting group coaching events next year around managing career transitions, exploring ones natural talents and strengths, burnout prevention, and more. Dates will be coming out soon. Meanwhile, you can express your interest to me by e-mail and you'll be the first to know as soon as dates are published.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Coaching Beyond Tools: My new podcast series
In case you've missed it, I've hosted a mini podcast series on behalf of the Association for Coaching on a topic that is very close to my heart "coaching beyond tools". The idea for the podcast came from a book I started writing and hope to publish end of 2025...
|
It is easy to lose ourselves as coaches in the fascinating world of coaching models, techniques, acronyms and tools, and forget that the most impactful, significant, and possibly “the” single-most important factor of all is you, the coach. In this series, my guests and I challenge coaches to reconsider some of the prevailing thinking around what “good coaching” looks like and invite them to show up within the coaching relationship - beyond tools.
|
|
Whether you are a professional coach, aspiring coach, a manager, or simply wanting to be a better listener to the people around you, do tune in! There are golden nuggets in there for everyone!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Launching my own podcast next year
My experience with the Association for Coaching as a podcast host got me excited about launching my own podcast channel: Dina's fireside chats (working title :) ).
|
We all meet wonderful people throughout our life, and some of them we wished others could get to know as well. So it got me thinking - what if I launch a podcast where I interview regular people about their life, their struggles, their way of coping (or not), their hopes, dreams, success, failure... Ordinary people who were able to achieve extraordinary things or learn invaluable lessons in the most ordinary way...
|
- Would you tune in?
- Would you want to be a guest?
- What do you think about my working title "Dina's fireside chats"? Got a better one in mind?
|
Let me know your thoughts as I start embarking on this journey. As I always say, I'm just one teeny tiny e-mail away. :)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For this end of year, winter phase of life, I thought I would share with you one of my favourite poems–one that I've come to share with a few of my clients this year...
|
Who here hasn't had the experience of "you're damned if you do, and damned if you don't"? No matter what we say or do, there will always be someone who disapproves, criticises, judges, maybe even excludes us for who we are...
|
Mother Theresa said something once in an interview that stuck with me for years. She was/is one of those people who were equally loved and hated by many, and the journalist asked her what she made of that. She first took a pause, then said: "I am who I am in the eyes of God".
|
Now, whether you believe in a God or not, we all need an internal compass by which to live our life, so that we don't move through life like a leaf in the storm, following the whims of every wind that blows, forgetting our own centre and worth... whilst remembering that we are enough... You are enough!
|
The poem uses "she" - but you can easily replace that with "he" or "they".
|
Now, sit back, relax, and read it out loud.
|
BREATHE
by Becky Hemsley
she sat at the back
and they said she was shy
she led from the front
and they hated her pride
|
they asked her advice
and then questioned her guidance
they branded her loud
then were shocked by her silence
|
when she shared no ambition
they said it was sad
so she told them her dreams
and they said she was mad
|
they told her they'd listen
then covered their ears
and gave her a hug
whilst they laughed at her fears
|
and she listened to all of it
thinking she should
be the girl they told her to be
best as she could
|
but one day she asked
what was best for herself
instead of trying
to please everyone else
|
so she walked to the forest
and stood with the trees
she heard the wind whisper
and dance with the leaves
|
and she spoke to the willow,
the elm and the pine
and she told them what she'd been told
time after time
|
she told them she never
felt nearly enough
she was either too little
or far, far too much
|
too loud or too quiet
too fierce or too weak
too wise or too foolish
too bold or too meek
|
then she found a small clearing
surrounded by firs
and she stopped and she heard
what the trees said to her
|
and she sat there for hours
not wanting to leave
for the forest said nothing...
it just let her breathe
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I've read many books this year - mostly about or related to coaching. But my favourite read was, no surprise there! :) , a picture book called: THE RABBIT LISTENED by Cori Doerrfeld. A heartwarming book – for both children and adults as far as I'm concerned, about the power of listening and just being there for someone else.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I have many plans for next year – what exactly will come to fruition is in God's hands.
|
I was never a fan of setting new-year goals... things will emerge when they emerge as far as I am concerned. I prefer to hold "intentions", and then let life unfold.
|
- Do you have goals for 2025?
- Do you hold any particular intentions, however so lightly, that you hope you can achieve next year?
- Is there any way I can support you as you tread your own path?
Remember that you are not alone!
|
|
Find "your" people. Build your community - however big or small... and you'll never walk alone!
|
|
|
|
|
OK - if you've read this far, you're amazing! Thank you! And to end on a musical note, here's my song of the year:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MOVE
by MercyMe
|
I love this song, because it was a life-line for me 9 years ago when I had my burnout. It gave me energy, hope, and an outlook.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wishing you a fulfilling and prosperous 2025!
|
|
|
|
|
  
|
|
|
|
|
|
