Connecting with Nature - Transformative Yes! Coaching

16Oct 2023 by Manuela Zeitlhofer

Stewardship & Serenity

So often we find ourselves in despair because there is too much to worry about. Picking apart what can and cannot be changed can be a great way to empower ourselves and the ones in our care. Recently, my daughter expressed her frustration about worldwide pollution. It seemed that along with the sharing of facts, the school does little to catch those young minds as they battle the implications of what was shared with them. Tangled up in her questions, her frustration and her eagerness to make the world a better place, she asked me with some exasperation, what she can actually do. I pointed out that we are conscious of the packaging we buy, and we are purposeful with the way we use our car and the fuel (both…

29Sep 2023 by Manuela Zeitlhofer

An Invasive Species?

Connecting with Nature, Mindfulness, Nature, Personal Development

A few years back I was asked to raise three newly hatched starlings that had been found at the foot of a big tree by an old lady. Reluctantly, I took on those birds, and lo and behold I was able to raise and release them successfully. Whenever I see or hear starlings since then, I like telling my daughter that those are our three starlings saying thank you. Today, a extraordinarily big flock of starlings landed around the house and well beyond the creek. They were so loud it was both amazing and a little bit intimidating. Afterwards I thought about writing about this, as in "I had rescued the starlings and they came back with all their friends to thank me", when I remembered that European starlings are…

08Aug 2023 by Manuela Zeitlhofer

Connecting over Garbage

Connecting with Nature, Getting to know your Coach, Mindfulness, Nature

At first, we saw some garbage, the usual, a few discarded food containers, a coffee cup lid, carelessly dropped or lost by the inattentive visitor. Nothing that could not easily be picked up and collected in a small garbage bag later (and I generally do, because it hurts my eye more to see the garbage than it is an effort to pick it up and dispose of it in a designated spot). It was a hot Sunday. We decided to go for a swim at a place along a river, where the water cascading over sheet rock is easy to access and not too deep. Walking on we came across an abandoned campsite, with bottles and aluminum foil in the fire pit. Right next to it was a good sized…

28Jun 2023 by Manuela Zeitlhofer

Minding the Little Things

Connecting with Nature, Mindfulness, Nature

Leopard Frog I just came across a very small (what I believe to be a) leopard frog. Why I saw it? – Because it moved. Once it stopped, I had a hard time finding it again. Can you spot it in the picture-insert? Leopard Frog, June 28, 2023 When I held out my hand the frog jumped on it. It did not stop but kept moving, and I felt fortunate to get one shot with the little amphibian in focus. I am sharing this experience, because I felt so passionate about this sighting, so amazed at how tiny, how perfect and how fragile this little frog is. That created a sense of responsibility and reverence in me. What I learned from the encounter: Frogs are amazing. Life is precious. I…

14Jun 2023 by Manuela Zeitlhofer

Spirit Plants

Connecting with Nature, Mindfulness

When I lived in the Yukon, I was given a handful of Haskap berries. I harvested the tiny seeds and started them. I planted the little plants in a raised bed. They survived winter after winter, and after a three years they produced their first fruit. When I left the Yukon, I took some seeds with me. The whole story repeated itself, and we had our first berries last summer. This summer, we have such an abundant harvest, which made me think that Haskap bushes are definitely my spirit plant: They are easy going, produce fruit very early in the season and for an extended period, they are abundant, appreciative of what I can give them, they are decorative, and they are not of interest to little harvesters like chipmunks…

06Jun 2023 by Manuela Zeitlhofer

Your Body Has You Covered

Connecting with Nature, Mental Fitness, Mindfulness

When the fog is too thick for you to find your way around, your body knows where to go. That might be a bit of a metaphorical exaggeration. Please bear with me as I unroll my thoughts: Unfortunately, our area is currently experiencing dense smog from wildfires in this and other provinces of Canada. While we cannot really smell it (unlike yesterday, when the smell of a cold fire pit hung in the air), my chest felt heavy this morning, I felt reluctant to take a deep breath, and a headache was (and is) lingering. I pointed out to my daughter that there are people who spend their lives in conditions like this, where the air is polluted all the time. And how lucky we can be that this is…

12Jan 2023 by Manuela Zeitlhofer

Canine Assisted Coaching Anyone?

Canine Assisted Coaching, Connecting with Nature

Today I would like you to meet our dog Danica. Danica is an English Shepherd, and she is 6 months old. She has been with us since September, and she is in training to become a Therapy Dog, assisting me in my coaching. What Danica (along with so many of her fellow canines) brings into the world is her playful, gentle nature, and her ability to live in the moment, while never wasting time with grudges. Danica loves to play with her Frisbee and with sticks of all kinds. __________ Danica’s question for you: When was the last time you petted a dog? Danica and her Frisbee (12.1.2023) __________ Manuela Zeitlhofer | Mental Fitness & Nature Coach

10Jan 2023 by Manuela Zeitlhofer

Mental Fitness Snippet: Walking & Breathing

Connecting with Nature, Mental Fitness

The snow is crunching under my feet. I breathe in while I take two steps. I breathe out while I take the next two steps. My mind chatters. I think: “In” (and take two steps), “out” (and take two steps). I let go of the thoughts that want to bubble up. “In…. out” (crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch). https://youtu.be/zzReU25B79Q __________ Manuela Zeitlhofer | Mental Fitness and Nature Coach

02Dec 2022 by Manuela Zeitlhofer

Playing to our strengths

Connecting with Nature, Mental Fitness, Mindfulness, Personal Development

Playing to your strength means doing what you are able to do well, rather than doing other things. An example: A friend’s son was assessed for ADHD. In the process, it was found that he is simply a kid who needs more physical exercise than he was getting in school and at home. It was not easy, but the school and the parents found ways for him to get more play time outside and more time when he is unplugged from any technical devices. This story led me to think about people in general: - Are we living our lives playing to our strengths or are we just playing along with the structures we find ourselves in?- How can we create the lives that make it possible for us to…

01Dec 2022 by Manuela Zeitlhofer

Unique Animals

Connecting with Nature, Getting to know your Coach

We have been enjoying the very unique personalities of several domestic ducks. It all began with a few barnyard-mix ducklings in 2021. In 2022, two Magpie-Cayuga ducklings followed. A number of them were males, so we found them loving new homes where they have been enjoying their own flocks of duck-ladies. At the end of this summer, we had one female (Sunny) and one male (Magnum) left. For the second time in her life, Sunny was in the process of laying eggs, and for the second time in my life, I was collecting those eggs. Sunny did not want to accept the fate I had chosen for her – that is, not to have ducklings in late fall. I kept reminding her that it is much more sensible to raise…

03Aug 2022 by Manuela Zeitlhofer

My Animal Teachers

Connecting with Nature, Mindfulness, Personal Development

Minding The Little Things Series Dora & Speckles, June 21, 2021 After I had written my previous two posts, a racoon attacked and killed one of our ducks: Dora, a little black female. I was reminded that nature is neither good nor bad, nature just IS. The racoon needs to eat. The ducks don’t fight back. (And I failed to keep them safe, as our electric netting fence was not strong enough to keep the racoon out.) We have been planning to get a dog in September. Too late for Dora, but hopefully the dog will deter any predators and keep our remaining ducks safe. I am still sad about loosing that little bird. And I am contemplating what it means to be human, and to have the choice to…

28Jul 2022 by Manuela Zeitlhofer

Animal Communication

Connecting with Nature, Mental Fitness, Mindfulness, Personal Development

For many people, animal communication is something that only the 'gifted few' can achieve. This of course is entirely untrue as we were all born with the ability to talk to and hear animals. Holly Davis, Animal Communication With All Species __________ Challenge: Communicate with the next animal you see. Then drop me a note! What have you learned? “Starlings”, by Manuela Zeitlhofer, May 28, 2020 __________ Manuela Zeitlhofer | Authenticity & Mental Fitness Coach

28Jul 2022 by Manuela Zeitlhofer

Animal Teachers

Connecting with Nature, Mindfulness, Personal Development, Philosophy

How frequently do you interact with animals in your daily life? – Chances are that those interactions are scarce, or limited to pets. Our societies might have separated humans from animals, seeing humans as superior to animals. Yet, we admire certain qualities in specific animals. What can we learn from animals? How about patience, living in the Now, connectedness with the intricate web of life we are part of, responsibility, attentive listening, living in tune with the natural world, and sticking together. (inspired by 10 Important Life Lessons we can Learn From Animals) __________ Can you guess which animals possess then traits listed above? – This can be a rewarding activity to do with your child! Also, you might want to observe animals around you to see which traits they…

15Jul 2022 by Manuela Zeitlhofer

Doing Little Things That Matter

About your Coach, Connecting with Nature

Do you remember the story “The Star Thrower” who was rescuing starfish one at a time, and even it did not seem to make a difference in the big picture, it made every difference to the starfish he did rescue. Here is how this story resonates with my life: I believe in minimizing my footprint and taking care of nature. I own a little piece of land – 4 acres – and I feel that I am the steward of this land. I am responsible for, but I am not entitled to do any damage to this land. I have the right to live here, to grow my plants, to live in my house, to be who I am. I see this stewardship as our calling as humans. We have…

28Jan 2022 by Manuela Zeitlhofer

Multiple Perspectives

Connecting with Nature, Getting to know your Coach, Mindfulness, Personal Development

Essentially, things just are. We attribute meaning to things and events. Sometimes we dwell in the negative aspects or implications of something, when there really are other sides to everything. In coaching we use this principle, and we call it reframing: We encourage a different perspective or seeing something in a different light. Today, I did this with my sandpit: Part of our property consists of a former sandpit that was left in its soil-deprived state. For the past 25 years, nothing more than a few tough grasses, willows and even fewer very tough pines and cedars (all looking like bonsais) have been growing here. In the summer, this bothers my agriculturalist’s heart. Now, with a little bit of snow, the steep banks make marvelous sliding hills. And I wonder…

13Oct 2021 by Manuela Zeitlhofer

Less Knowing More Being

Connecting with Nature, Mindfulness, Personal Development, Philosophy

Sometimes I wonder about the scope of our awareness. My ego does not agree, but my intuition tells me that there is more than I can perceive. Nature taught me a valuable lesson about that: I have been baffled many times by the perseverance of ants, walking back and forth on their established routes, carrying up to twenty (!) times their body weight. I kept thinking about their world view: What do they see? What do they perceive the world to be? And where does the world as they know it end? While I am aware that the average ant might not be thinking those thoughts, I inferred that their world view is probably more limited than ours. Yet, they might confidently state: “This is how the world is!” We…

01Oct 2021 by Manuela Zeitlhofer

What Snapping Turtles Can Do to You

Connecting with Nature, Personal Development, Philosophy

Life has been a bit challenging recently, due to ____ (please feel in the blank). Today is a sunny late summer day. As I took a break from work and went outside to sit in the grass for a few minutes, my gaze fell upon a little snapping turtle, no bigger than two inches. He (?) was sitting 1 foot away from me, staring me “down”. I had to smile, and I thanked that little creature for making me smile. Then I realized that the world had not changed, but my attitude had shifted: from my problems to the possibilities life holds. My name is Manuela. I am a Professional Life Coach. Contact me when you are ready to shift your focus from the backwards look at your problem to…

08Sep 2021 by Manuela Zeitlhofer

Doktor Wald (German)

Connecting with Nature, Philosophy

(This is a simple and slightly provocative poem by a German forest ranger that seems to address what I coach by: The power of nature!) Doktor Wald Wenn ich an Kopfweh leide und Neurosen,mich unverstanden fühle oder alt,und mich die holden Musen nicht liebkosen,dann konsultiere ich den Doktor Wald.Er ist mein Augenarzt und Psychiater,mein Orthopäde und mein Internist.Er hilft mir sicher über jeden Kater,ob er von Kummer oder Cognac ist.Er hält nicht viel von Pülverchen und Pille,doch umso mehr von Luft und Sonnenschein.Und kaum umfängt mich angenehme Stille,raunt er mir zu: "Nun atme mal tief ein!"Ist seine Praxis oft auch überlaufen,in seiner Obhut läuft man sich gesund.Und Kreislaufkranke, die noch heute schnaufen,sind morgen ohne klinischen Befund.Er bringt uns immer wieder auf die Beine,das Seelische ins Gleichgewicht,verhindert Fettansatz und Gallensteine.nur -…

06Aug 2021 by Manuela Zeitlhofer

The Beauty of Weeds

Connecting with Nature, Philosophy

I found those beautiful flowers by the side of our house. They are tough in many ways: tough to pull out, tough to give up during a drought, tough to give up in a dry location, tough to walk on, tough to mow over with the lawnmower. Yesterday, I walked around the house to find some of them in full bloom. That made me think of the (often) hidden beauty of things we label as undesirable. What was the last thing, plant or animal in nature that astonished YOU?

07May 2021 by Manuela Zeitlhofer

Nurture with Intention

About your Coach, Connecting with Nature, Philosophy, Self-Reliance

I love my house. And I love my garden. My property is surrounded by wilderness, I have started o draw a line of where my endeavors end and the freedom of the wild space around me begins. In some way, that is also where my freedom (the freedom to enjoy instead of trying to control and modify for example) begins. I cannot help it. I pull out the grass from the well-fertilized garden beds, and I start grass on the less fertilized and sandy soil around. “Of course”, I thought yesterday, “the grass wants to grow in my garden beds – that’s what I nurture. I have to nurture the grass where I want it to grow.” What do you want to nurture in your life? And do you do…

Category: Connecting with Nature