Writing & Reflection Retreat-Winter Solstice 2013

Posted on December 26, 2013 by admin


After attending a memorial service in Rhode Island to honor my friend Jen (a.k.a. Pirate Jenny) I took a little time in Martha’s Vineyard to rest, reflect and do some writing on Book II of the Adventures of Isabelle. These videos and stills are from the photographic safaris I took. I hope you enjoy them and I invite you to share any reflections you may have from this time of the year as we let go of the old and welcome the new.

I arrived on the soltice. After docking in Vineyard Haven and dropping my bags I was hungry for lunch.  Clam Chowder at the Net Result . Christmas shopping on Main St., Vineyard Haven. Dropped gifts back at the house then headed off for Lucy Vincent Beach, Chillmark. It was an unseasonably warm and sunny day.Red rock hand smallburning tree small

 

 

 

 

 

I took time to really focus on xanax the beauty, be in the moment and just breathe. Something about this skate egg and the reflection of the water on the rocks held me captive.

On the second day after writing all morning I headed first to Aquinnah. The day was chilly and fog hung over everything. The fog was so thick I could not see the ocean from the road alongside the Gay Head Light house.

I drove from Aquinnah to Edgartown stopping to take clomid pictures along the way. The fog persisted and a light mist fell on everything shrouding the lanscape in quiet solitude. After about 40 mins I arrived in Edgartown to find it all done up for Christmas.

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I walked around town then took the road to the light house stopping in the Fields Hotel to warm up by the fire place before walking out across the dunes to the light house which wore a cheerful wreath and Christmas lights for the season.

path to lh sandLight house closer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Close to sunset and dinner time I made klonopin my way back to Vineyard Haven stopping in Oak bluffs to take some pictures/video of the ocean and the colorful ginger bread houses that can be found there. There was also a lone little Christmas tree lit up and floating out in the lagoon.

xmas tree vineyard havenAs the sun was setting I made my way back to Vineyard Haven. Not able to resist I picked up clam chowder again from the Net Result before heading home. Passing along Main St. I enjoyed the Christmas decorations and the smell of pine in the air from all the wreaths and trees. This tree (to the right) was my favorite tree.
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After this couple of days of rest and reflection I boarded the ferry for Woods Hole the next day then made the long trek home. Just in time for a wonderful Christmas Eve and Day with family and friends. Grateful for my life and all the many blessings.

Wishing you much success, well being and happiness in the New Year!

Nicole

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A Woman’s Vision Conference March 22-23 in Springfield, VA!

Posted on December 18, 2013 by admin

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I’m honored to be speaking at “A Woman’s Vision” March 22-23 in Springfield, VA! I would love it if you could join me for this inspirational event!

nicole

Speaking at The Life Balance Conference in Atlanta in 2012

REGISTER HERE!

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Every woman seeking direction and clarity in her life, career or work. This conference will aid in cultivating your vision, providing the tools needed to achieve your goals in 2014 and beyond!

Visit A Woman’s Vision Facebook page to learn more.

If you are pursuing your Vision on the Heroine’s Quest join our tribe at the Vision Quest Retreats facebook page.

If you are a Woman Business Owner come play with us every Wed. at Women Owned Business Wednesdays; a 24 Hr Happy Hour where you meet cool people and win cool stuff!

Wishing you much success on the quest!
Nicole

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Natural Splendor Meditation-Autumn into Winter 2013

Posted on December 12, 2013 by admin

Before the hybernation of white winters in my part of the world Mother Nature puts on one last spectacular show of brilliant color. This treat brings the blessings of Fall. This slide show is my attempt to capture just a small piece of Her beauty. Photos taken on the property of the Airlie Center in Warrenton, VA while there to lead a diversity workshop at the all staff retreat for the National Park Conservation Association.

If you are a woman or man pursuing your Vision on the Heroine’s Quest join our tribe at the Vision Quest Retreats facebook page.

To learn more about my organizational development services check out Cutts Consulting’s facebook page

Wishing you much success on the quest!
Nicole

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Guided Meditation: Rainbow Light for Purification and Centering

Posted on May 26, 2013 by admin

Click the videos below to watch…

Click the video below and adjust your volume to a comfortable level for you.

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The Date From Hell-Radio Show

Posted on April 8, 2013 by admin

WHAT’S YOUR WORST/FUNNIEST BAD DATE STORY?
We Want to Hear It! We have all had them..that “Date From Hell” that you will never forget (but wish you could).
Not Alone but LonelyCall in tomorrow to the Sheila Alexander-Reid Live Show 202.588.0893 OR email

Dr.Cutts@VisionQuestRetreats.com with a synopsis (no more than two paragraphs) of one of your worst and hopefully funniest dating stories and we may read it On Air this Tuesday 4/9/13 on WPFW 89.3 FM (Don’t worry you can remain anonymous!)

Tune in Tomorrow (4/9/13) from 1-2 pm est or listen online at www.wpfw.org to hear the horror stories and get some tips to increase the chances of creating a successful relationship
PASS THIS ON!

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Is This Holding You Back?

Posted on March 19, 2013 by admin

Sandberg Quote in Time

Success vs. Popularity
Sandberg learned one of the key lessons in her book during her time in business school (Harvard, again), and not in a good way. After her first year, she won a fellowship. The guys who won all talked about it. But Sandberg sensed it was better to keep quiet. “Female accomplishments,” she writes, “come at a cost.” And that cost is people declining to click on the Like button.

Sandberg often refers to a 2003 experiment that found that students considered a successful entrepreneur in a case study more likable when her name was changed to a man’s. “The data says clearly, clearly, clearly that success and likability are positively correlated for men and negatively correlated for women,” (Time March 18, 2013)

Very sad right now upon receiving this confirmation for something I have long suspected, but before I throw a pity party for myself and others I wanted to check in with you. Do you find the above to be true and if so how do you combat this? What do you do to support other women’s success and how do you cope with a lack of support for your success?

If you don’t agree with the above please share your experience also.

I like what Camille Mirshokrai, Director, Leadership Development, Accenture had to say “You can’t be a leader today without being a steward to other women.”

If you are a woman pursuing your Vision on the Heroine’s Quest join our tribe at the Vision Quest Retreats face book page

If you are a Woman Business Owner come play with us every Wed. at Women Owned Business Wednesdays; a 24 Hr Happy Hour where you meet cool people and win cool stuff!

Much Continued Success & Well Being,

xxoo Nicole

Nicole Cutts, Ph.D., CEO Cutts Consulting, LLC & Founder Vision Quest Retreats

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Access the Power of Passion and Purpose to Fuel Your Vision’s Success

Posted on January 17, 2013 by admin

Dr. Nicole Cutts Executive & Success Coach explains how passion for what you do is the fuel that will take your vision or career to the next level. Viewers are guided through a success coaching exercise to help them clarify and achieve their Vision of Success.Take The Purpose Inventory:

Write your answers to the following questions.

1) What is driving you to do the work you do or are seeking i.e. security, the meaning you find in your work, fear, a need to succeed? Ask yourself which forces you are choosing as motivators.

2) Have you made or are you willing to make service the foundation of your work? Why or why not? What does being of service mean to you? 

3) Does the work you are doing or seeking contribute to the world in a positive way? How do you envision this work contributing to the world?

4) Are you really willing to allow yourself to be guided by a deeper purpose?  If so why and if not, why not?

5) Describe how the work you are doing or seeking expresses your unique talents?If not describe what talents are not being expressed.

6) Do you love your work/career and does it bring you joy? If so how, and if not why not?

7) What do you value most about the nature of your work/career or the work/career that you are seeking?

8) Think about a time when you felt most happy, vibrant and alive in your career.  What was it about that time that made it a “peak experience”?  What can you do to get more of what you loved from this past experience?

NEXT STEPS: Once you have the answers to the above tune in next week for next steps…

If you are a woman passionate about living her vision learn more about the Woman’s Vision webinar taking place Jan. 25, 2013 (9-3 est ) at www.awomansvision.com

Much Continued Success & Well Being,

Nicole

P.S. If you are a woman pursuing your Vision on the Heroine’s Quest join our tribe at the Vision Quest Retreats face book page

If you are a Woman Business Owner come play with us every Wed. at Women Owned Business Wednesdays; a 24 Hr Happy Hour where you meet cool people and win cool stuff!

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A Happy New Year Success Coaching Exercise to Try

Posted on January 1, 2013 by admin

An integral part of living your vision is taking stock of where you are on the heroine/hero’s quest. The new year is a great time to do this; to look back assess your growth and make decisions about how you want to move forward. I like to take some time out around the end of the year to do this. I looked at what I had set out to accomplish in 2012 and took stock of losses and gains. I made some interesting discoveries. At the start of 2012 I predicted that it was going to be a big year. (View my 2011 New Year’s Eve Message from Key Largo to see what I mean.) Well it turns out that 2012 was a big year but I could not predict in which ways it was going to be big. It was in many ways a quiet yet powerful year with many losses and gains.

I had also set some rather lofty goals for 2012. In reviewing them I can say I accomplished some, not all and to lesser or greater extends than hoped for but one big change in 2012 was that the accomplishment of goals became less important and the energy and intention with which I worked became more important. This I see as a very positive gain. It also turns out that the loses, that were considerable, provided great lessons for me. While many of the losses caused great grief there was also cleansing around these loses. Nothing was wasted.

I see 2012 as a time of clearing. While in 2010 and 2011 I had been more focused outward (think of tree branches and fruit) 2012 was more about working on an inner level (the roots). When trying to decide what goals to focus on in 2013 I decided to add no new goals but to continue to work on those of 2012 in the way that I came to learn; easy doing it but doing it, working with balance and self compassion.

During my couple of days of reflection and assessment I also took a trip to see one of my teachers, Ken Yamaguchi-Clark a Buddhist teacher and body worker. My session with him helped bring clarity and more cleansing. Finally on the 31st of December I did a little ritual to help me transition from the past year to this new one. I wrapped up my journaling by the fire then burned a list of things I wished to be rid of.  I found these exercises most illuminating and that’s why I’m sharing them with you. It’s not too late to take stock of the past year and look toward this year to decide what you want to bring with you from the past and what you want to leave behind.

Give these exercises a try:

1) Take some time to reflect on the past year making a list of losses and gains (this can be on any level) pay attention to what you learned from these experiences and journal about it.

2) Look at your goals from last year and assess how you did (remember to be compassionate with yourself) noticing where you might have been unrealistic and where you could have done more.

3) Make a list of what you want to focus on in this year. This can include goals and may also just mean what behaviors and thoughts you want to continue from the past year.

4) Make a list of things you want to/are ready to let go of then write them on a piece of paper. Either burn or bury this list with a prayer to help you to release them. On my list were states of mind and self defeating patterns.

Feel free to drop me a line with these exercises or any end of year/beginning of new year exercises you find helpful.

Much Continued Success & Well Being,

Nicole

P.S. If you are a woman pursuing your Vision on the Heroine’s Quest join our tribe at the Vision Quest Retreats face book page

If you are a Woman Business Owner come play with us every Wed. at Women Owned Business Wednesdays; a 24 Hr Happy Hour where you meet cool people and win cool stuff!

 

 

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Power, Powerful, Powerlessness Can YOU Roll With All Three?

Posted on October 29, 2012 by admin

Today I am contemplating the importance of Power and Powerlessness. Maybe some of this has to do with the fact that Rex and I are camped out at my mom’s house waiting for Super Storm Sandy to knock the power out. But some of it is that I’m just coming off of speaking at the Power Up Weekend 2012 and prior to that I was interviewed on Powerful U Radio by Uneeka Jay, Power Mommy on the subject of  The Power of Vision and then after that I was interviewed by Jamie Fleming-Dixon on For Colored Gurls blog talk show to discuss passion and how that gives us power (click) Flyy, Female & Fabulous: Dr. Nicole Cutts to listen in.

Uneeka asked me a couple of questions in particular which really got me thinking. One was, “When you think of being powerful, what does that mean to you?” and the other was “Do you think most women feel powerful?” To hear my responses to those questions click The Power of Vision With Dr. Nicole Cutts

I love feeling powerful…I mean who doesn’t? Yes power comes with responsibility and that can sometimes be daunting but I definatley prefer power to it’s flip side; powerlessness. Even as I type this the storm is picking up power and speed and as it does so I feel threatened and yes a little bit scared. Why am I scared? I like to CONTROL, that’s a part of feeling powerful; being in control. In control of myself, my work, my vision, my destiny, but am I, are we REALLY in control? I certainly don’t control mother nature. I don’t control the wind or the rain or any of that powerful stuff. I wish I did. I mean life would be so easy if I controlled everything, right? Yes sure it would but then I wouldn’t be a human being. I find it’s a lot more difficult to accept my powerlessness and to accept my human frailty.

One of my jobs is to empower women (myself included) and I love any ability I have to do this. One way I do this is by passing on the lessons I learn. Today the lesson I’m working on is to become better at accepting powerlessness, to know that I can plan and wish and pray and work hard but there are always going to be forces beyond my control like old Super Storm Sandy that I don’t control. This I have to accept.

So we will see what happens. My gutters are cleaned, I’ve stocked up on dog food (for Rex), I have done what work I can that requires the internet, I’m at mom’s where all the provisions are so all that’s left is to wait and see how well I can roll with what comes next. Oh but I wont be rolling alone because in order to get through my lessons I need a little help. I find a great tool for situations such as this is the Serenity Prayer: God/Goddess grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen!

I would love to hear your thoughts on power and powerlessness. Feel free to leave a comment here or drop by The Vision Quest Retreats with Dr. Nicole Cutts Facebook page and leave your comments there.

Much continued success and well being,

Nicole

To view more pics from the Power Up 2012 Conference click Power Up!

 

 

 

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Sailing with Pirate Jenny & Her Crew

Posted on September 29, 2012 by admin

Book II of the Adventures of Isabelle’s subtitle is “Journey to Orphalese” and most of the book takes place aboard sailing vessels, on the high seas and on tropical islands. It is a tale replete with pirates, mermaids, and plenty of passion not to mention a good sword fight or two. So it was great luck that my writing retreat to Martha’s Vineyard (see Martha’s Vineyard Writing Retreat 2012) took me near Rhode Island and the home of my good friend and nautical consultant on the book; Jen. Jen is a retired lieutenant from the US Navy and the inspiration for the character of Pirate Jenny in my book. (She is by no means  a pirate in real life but a Navy nurse isn’t as scary as a pirate.)

So adding a day to my trip, I arrived at Woods Hole by 8:00 a.m. Sunday morning and drove south to RI to meet up with Jen (you may recall that I had stopped by for coffee on the way up). After breakfast we headed to Newport to meet the rest of her crew (friends; Mary Ellen and Alison Dwyer, taking her sailing for the day for her birthday) and Capt. Mike. Mike runs a sailing school which was great because we actually helped him sail and I got to learn a bit about sailing. While I love boats and the ocean and while I love pirate adventure and lore I am a very lazy sailor and usually find myself on motor boats and fishing trips working on my tan so it was good for me to actually do a little real sailing (or at least be near people who are sailing). We took a lovely trip around Newport harbour seeing the sights and just generally enjoying  a perfect day. We were not attacked by pirates and I spotted only one mermaid but it was great non the less.

Naval War College at Newport

After sailing we parted ways from the crew and Jen took me on a tour around Newport then to the navy base where she had attended officer induction school. That was a lot of fun. I have a thing for army and navy bases so this was a big treat for me. The heroine of my story Princess Isabelle is the commander of her Royal Navy (of Xamayca) so again this was good research for me not to mention fun to see a place that my good friend had spent so much of her life.

By the end of the day (we ended up on the deck of the officers club as the sun was preparing to set), which also came at the end of an awesome but busy week,  I was pooped! We went back to Jen’s house with her three cute pups had waffles for dinner watched a movie then went to sleep. I had to shove off early and a good night sleep was exactly what I needed.

The drive home was easy and the weather great. This gave me a nice time to reflect on my gratitude for an awesome week. I got my R & R (rest and reflection), saw beautiful sights, did a good amount of writing, had fun, ate good food and got to spend time with good friends and make some new ones.

Post Script: Jen passed away on November 25, 2013 and is dearly missed!

The K Man

To view more pics click Newport Sailing Adventure

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