We, at Kuel Life, are excited to welcome Carin as a Guest Blogger and a Coach. Carin will be offering her coaching services through Kuel Life soon. Stay tuned.
There is power in story telling. There is power in community. There is power in sharing. The more we know about one another; the more we understand; the more powerful we become.
This is Carin’s:
KUEL LIFE: What are you pursuing now, after 50, that surprises you or might appear to others as if it’s come out of left field?
CARIN: Relocation to the Colorado Rocky Mountains…9,000 feet to be exact. Building a home from the ground up. Painting. Every whim of my soul. Being an inspirational writer. Surrendering myself fully to God (this is non-dogmatic for me…more like the Truth, or energy or the oneness of everything, what “just is”). Downsizing, downsizing, downsizing.
KUEL LIFE: What’s a typical day like for you?
CARIN: Quiet, contemplative time in the morning. Sometimes followed by writing. Engagement with nature…on a bike, with my dog, staring at the river. Cooking a healthy dinner and catching up with my partner. Seeking purposeful contribution – aka “work” but it won’t feel like “work”. Watching “The Voice” or Major Tennis tournaments.
KUEL LIFE: With what do you struggle?
CARIN: Surrendering, wanting to be in control, body image, perfectionism…do I have to admit this next one? – being judgmental of self and others.
KUEL LIFE: How do you motivate yourself and stay motivated?
CARIN: Pray, engage with friends who share spiritual ideas and values, write.
KUEL LIFE: What advice would you give fellow women about aging?
CARIN: Accept that our age is a reflection of wisdom, experience, and hopefully a whole lot of love and adventure! AND, live in this moment because if you are here, you are alive and have so very much to offer.
KUEL LIFE: What does vulnerability mean to you? What has the ability to make you vulnerable?
CARIN: It means to surrender. When I realize I am not being the best me. Fear of having enough financially. Fear of not having a purpose.
KUEL LIFE: What are three events that helped to shape your life?
CARIN: 1) Getting lost in the wilderness and praying for God to show me and my dog the way out and moments later hearing a voice that said “go this way”. I realized in that moment that I had a direct line to divinity.
2) Starting my own architecture firm.
3) Closing my firm and responding to my soul’s urge to travel solo in an RV.
KUEL LIFE: Who influenced you the most in life and why?
CARIN: I have several.
My mom: ~ she taught me the value of safety and security in relationships. She taught me to listen to myself and to trust my worth. She insisted that I be accountable for my choices and actions from the time I was born which I believe gave me freedom.
A friend and business associate: ~ he and I have shared the most honest, integrous and authentic friendship notwithstanding differences of opinion or life direction. He was my absolute business mentor.
Ex Partners: ~ oh the influences and lessons ranging from spiritual evolution to learning to listen to my instincts to creating clear boundaries to letting go forever WITH love.
My three golden retrievers:~ Diva who taught me joy and companionship. Ave who taught me relentless play and adventure. And Dolce who teaches me loyalty, faith, courage, adventure and love with a dash of willfulness on the side.
I can’t close without saying God.
KUEL LIFE: What is the best advice you’ve been given from another woman?
CARIN: Be unapologetically YOU!
KUEL LIFE: What woman inspires you and why?
CARIN: Ooooh, hard one, there are several. Caroline Myss because of her direct teachings on living from your soul. St. Teresa of Avila because of her wisdom in terms of how to have a direct relationship to God. Harriet Tubman for doing what was right at the risk of death. This one is a surprise that I will share but it’s true: Madonna for her relentless pursuit of what she believed and for being an incredible business woman. Oh how I want to qualify my response because I’m a purist and don’t believe in the systems but wow did she own the systems. There’s more, generalizing: any woman who lives and breathes and courageously goes out into the world BEING herself.
KUEL LIFE: Are you grown-up?
CARIN: NEVER! My mom used to call me Peter Pan. I LOVE my inner and outer child. AND, yes. I am accountable, I am responsible and I have a lot of wisdom. I call myself a DR of life…I have a Diverse Resume!
KUEL LIFE: What do you do for self-care?
CARIN: Pray. Spend time in nature. Be alone, with myself, just me. Eat well, sleep, journal, take courses, seek, get massages and acupuncture.
KUEL LIFE: And last but definitely NOT least: What are the top three things on your bucket list?
CARIN: Write my book. Photograph bears fishing in Alaska & spend time with elephants in Africa. Surrender!
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