I contemplate all the time finding blog writers. I get so bored with myself! So my recent workshop gave me the perfect opportunity as one of the attendants dream was to write and blogging was on her list. So here it is in her very own words the story of  ‘The Dream’ Workshop held here last weekend! Enjoy….

On a biting cold Saturday in January, a multigenerational group of women sat in JoAnn Adams Altonelli’s studio on the beautiful grounds of the Martyn House in Ellijay to share their dreams.  What brought these women from Atlanta, Blue Ridge and Rome together to express their passions, roadblocks and lives with each other?  Could a one day workshop unlock the power and motivation to move us in the direction that our inner critic might mock, but our heart desired?

I was one of those women, prepared initially for the exploration with a backpack full of cynicism, fear and questions and a prewritten, one day description of what a “dream day” would look like for me.   Seated around an antique farm table, each woman had chronicled their dreams onto loose leaf notebook paper, into leather bound journals or simply typed on plain white computer paper complete with web captured pictures to portray what was lurking, bubbling under the surface.  To bring these dreams to light meant we had to read these dreams out loud to each other and we felt silly, exposed, excited and some even felt like “posers”.  But we read, we cried, we effused and we grappled with the validity of wanting to lead authentic and exciting lives.  It was powerful.  And powerful in a way that I did not expect.

Stories were shared about dreams of buying land, organic farming, winning industry awards, living in Manhattan (with a live-in Chef/Boyfriend, no less), writing/finishing a novel, developing a culinary school and building a business based upon a family recipe for sausage.  I’m not sure what the connection was about with all the food related dreams, but I am clear that living a creative life was definitely a theme. 

After listening to each dream, JoAnn thoughtfully probed to identify what was keeping us stuck.  She drew colorful maps on an easel for those more visually inclined or simply led an animated discussion with some ideas to help us gain momentum.  Her style was no-nonsense, but not intimidating.  She provided hope and real world ideas on how to move to the next step.  For some that had placed their dreams as a futuristic, “perhaps when I retire” notion, she asked why.  Why would you wait to do something you love?  JoAnn wove her own story into ours, recounting her past successes/failures and her current dreams and how they were coming to fruition.

But my surprise came when I saw the value of sharing these things in a group setting.  We helped and encouraged each other through the process by offering suggestions of great books to read, locations to buy antiques, leads on land for sale and mentoring suggestions.  But the unexpected came in the form of the burgeoning comradery that has resulted in post-workshop Facebook Friending and encouragement.  We plan to revisit these relationships by attending her next workshop, The Plan, in February.  http://cli.gs/wc03bsv

The backpack that I arrived with that day was emptied and refilled with hope, some concrete ideas, and an accountability pact I made with JoAnn.  I left behind my stagnation and the ridiculous notion that I didn’t deserve or have the capacity to live a larger life.  One participant, in an impromptu and symbolic ceremony, burned her dream at a campfire site just outside the studio as she realized that what she thought was her dream, was not. 

So perhaps, in a not so distant future, I may be typing these words in a Manhattan apartment as I feast on some sausage balls sent by FedEx from my friends in Georgia from their B&B/organic farm.  (I hope my Chef/Boyfriend doesn’t get jealous).  Next to my computer is a copy of an article written about a successful culinary school/yoga studio that is being marketed by an award winning social media expert.  And next to that is a newly published memoir from a Louisiana born author.  Having my dreams collide with others will make for a very good day, indeed.

Every new year comes on with a glass of bubbly for me and lots of incredible energy of possibilities for my life! This year was no exception. The brewing of my dreams usually starts in December, as i take my long winters nap from the every day duties of the Martyn House. I take long baths, I imagine and i begin to make my vision board. This year seemed most of my vision was on solidifying ‘The Homestead’ concept here on the farm. We will fix the chicken coop up and plan a spring batch of chicks. Jury is still out whether we will allow a rooster in:) Then we will begin our first bee hive.  So much to learn! Our gardens are being expanded and we are planting some fruit trees as well- i need a fig tree! Everyday I imagine what life would have been like here for the Martin family who originally built our little paradise. In 1930 there was no super highway coming up from Atlanta so life had to be pretty self sufficient. If you have never read the Fox Fire Collection of Appalachian ways it so worth a read. These were times when life was simpler, $ was not so plentiful so folks had to be creative in tools, clothing and so much more. I believe the local department store was in moms sewing room or dads workshop!  The work was hard and the reward was self sufficiency which back then was not a trendy cool concept it was survival.

Life has a way of being so entertaining, seriously- we create cool Farm to Table Dinner’s  gathering food locally grown and have big dinners  and call it edible foods or farm to fork or whatever and they did it every Sunday and every barn raising or birth or death as a community, it was a way of life! That is one thing California is not 10 years ahead of us on although they think they are because they named it and created a cool trend out of it:)  Self sufficiency has its birth place right here in the South. So here we are in 2012 just mirroring what happened in 1930 because one thing has never changed the need for FOOD. And since getting good organic non chemically toxic food seems harder and harder our only option is to grow our own and in the process help others to do the same—so the movement is on….Look out FDA!!!

My greenhouse is fired up with little seedlings already! The winter garden is in. The leaves still cover the ground here, the perfect blanket as winters cold and snow comes to settle on our little farm. Not sure who thought raking leaves up was such a great idea someone with way too much tine on their hands -waste of time if you ask me- i mean really think about it have you ever seen an abandoned house with the yard covered in fall leaves in the summer? NO! because nature has that all figured out for us.Winters winds blow all the leaves into the beds and then spring rains hammer down and decomposes then into compost and then waala…seedlings come out of this newly perfectly laid mulch! who’d a thunk it?

So our plan for 2012 is to do more Glamping, and Gardening, more Recipe Creating and Experimenting with food. Culinary will take on a whole new meaning this year!

I have started a series with my new biz -have you heard the buzzzz? Inside Out ? This month we begin with The DREAM…because every great thing that has ever happened and i do mean every one.. started with an idea that was infused with passion that became a dream and then with some serious, incredibly exciting  discipline it became a reality. Each month i will be taking one of the steps in my life experiences of building dreams and sharing how it works and why-I have been called the master manifestor by some but the truth is anyone can do it, but there are some disciplines.  Join me as i unveil them this year one by one.

So we begin a New Year with new thought and new adventures. Do not let another year of your life pass you by without trying something new, do the unexpected, laugh more, believe more, create more, encourage others more, see the possibilities more, do a good deed every day, believe in the perfect life and one day you will wake up and be living it. Trust me I am the living proof of that!

This all started over 30 years ago when I realized life was a journey  worth exploring. Since then I expanded by religious  origins which are Roman Catholic  and western thought to include other spiritual teachings and eastern thought as well. I realized at a very young age that everyone seemed to be saying the same thing but in their own language… but ‘dog gone it’ if they were not adamant in believing they each had a different truth and so the mass dogma began.

I m not sure how one does not learn lessons from nature. To watch these storms we had earlier this year and see these trees sway in unbelievable winds and watch them bend and try to hold steady to the earth. And then there were the 22 that literally fell over or got uplifted because their roots were not planted deep enough. Are yours? When the storms of life come do you sway and hold firm? Or do you swirl in chaos and say why me? Everyday of our lives we should be practicing to ground ourselves so that we are prepared for life’s challenges.

From the day a seed is planted in my garden and sprouts it begins the downward root system that sustains it, as well as the upward plant that bears the fruit of its life. It is these roots that absorb the nutrients and help the plant to get grounded so it can grow strong. The sun helps the plant leaves take in nutrients as well. It is pruning and harvesting that expands growth. Do you see how similar our lives are to nature and that is just one nature tale. …Look at animals….the night sky….water..I think you get the idea.

So after years of observing and finding what i believe is some form of sense in the world I officially launched a business i have chosen to name ‘Inside Out Coaching’. The word coaching feels a bit overused, its really guidance,  helping you think differently about your life -finding your joy and moving you closer to that and a life that is more authentic.
And so it all began last Saturday as I held my first workshop. We were under our beautiful Gypsy Faire tent which added even more creativity to the day. I had 11 sign up my goal was 12. So I was off to a great start. The day unveiled all sorts of what i like to call awakenings- where we see where we are stuck, we think about things that never seemed that important to where we are in our lives. In groups there is a beautiful thing that occurs when one shares often there is someone there with exactly those thoughts as well. The group begins the dialog, the connections, the ideas, and soon each person is settling into another way of thinking.

And so it was Saturday, the day started with me telling my story and working in a few exercises in between. We looked at what it meant to be ‘authentic’ and  understanding that we are all a sum total of our parents ideas, our siblings, friends, teachers, media and somewhere in there are our ideas. Finding out how you think and what is important to you is essential for a happy peaceful life. They found out what their core values are, which is where all decisions should be made from in order to be living your authentic life. We looked at the elements in our lives that make it whole-
And the class ended with vision boards. After a day of understanding ourselves and each other the vision boards proved to be the icing on the cake of the day!.
Some from the class have already had some awesome changes  happen in their life just since the workshop. There is a powerful synergy that happens if you move while positive group energy is still present in you. Others are making plans but everyone seems to agree it was a day well spent by all.

So I will continue to do this introductory class  “A day of Exploration” throughout the winter. I am adding several other workshops to the mix as well.

On January 14th I will be hosting a workshop about ‘The Dream’. All great businesses or adventures start with an idea, fuel that idea with passion and this idea becomes a Dream. Come as we share our ideas and look and see how these ideas  can be translated into an authentic life. We will define, refine and expand our dreams. This workshop is invaluable to anyone needing that missing piece to seeing the big picture.

Sign up        http://themartynhouse.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=21&products_id=111

It was my birthday Thursday, November 10th….I had 4 days off….seriously!….4 days!…it would be a full moon that evening and I was on my way to Tybee Island as a guest of a media event to promote the island and its lovely Tybee Wedding Chapel  http://tybeeweddingchapel.com/… and  yes i had a Gypsy Faire Tent in tow! Mint Julep was her name and she was mint and turquoise perfect for a seaside event! 

When we arrived my sweetie had a surprise birthday dinner for me planned at Elizabeth’s on 37th in Savannah http://www.elizabethon37th.net/ not too shabby. The evening in Savannah was perfect the food divine service impeccable..happy birthday to me.. happy birthday to me…

We slept in Friday morning after settling into our lodging on the island very late the night before but when we looked out our window the ocean lay right at our feet so we got to scrambling those feet! Beach walking is so soothing..the waves crashing… the sun rising up out of the ocean…birds swooping -we took  it all in! The next two days are a blurr because we just chilled out…we took walks…had great talks.. even took a few naps…. the mts of Georgia behind us the coast was embracing us. What a wonder to live in a state with such diversity. We had left the mountains and were literally standing at the oceans edge in less than 6 hours.

On Saturday the social events began. A great advantage of being with a media group is the hosts  are going to show the island off and all its best food and sites! Saturday evening we had a progressive ‘sip and nosh’. In our neck of the woods we call it bar hoppin:)

Tybee is eclectic the culture there is right up our alley having come from The Martyn House. They sure love those bright beachy colors and they do not hesitate to paint them on everything everywhere. Many of the residents and biz owners we met were long time Tybee dwellers, they like us decided to escape the big city and live a more alternative life with the ocean as their backdrop instead of the mountains.  They wear bright colored island shirts , sported salt and pepper pony tails and had smiles on their suntan faces. Life in the slow lane….

The following morning we had a brunch in the beautiful home of Lannie and Stacye Jarrell two of the warmest hosts you’ll meet and huge supporters of this little island paradise.  http://oceanfrontcottage.com/ Their home overlooked the wetlands or what is known as the Georgia Coast barrier islands. Golden colored marshlands as far as the eye could see,  if one did not know better you would have thought we were looking out onto a  Nebraska prairie.

That same evening was the REAL treat as  7 chefs from Georgia decended upon this little island for some chef jammin! The highlight of each course was none other than Georgia’s very own  “Sallies Greatest” Jams http://www.salliesgreatest.com/index.html I had the privilege of sitting across from Sallie and Garden and Gun art director Marshall McKinney. So as each course was served I got to see Sallies response to the creative endeavor each chef had made with her jams and of course remind Marshall what a great feature The Martyn House and Gypsy Faire tents would be for their magazine  ! A funny story about Sallie is that she was high on the corporate ladder when G&G discovered her homemade jams (which by the way was a passion and hobby of hers). She entered a contest they had for FUN and she won! OK really??? ….YES i kid you not!  You remember what I preach about living life fully? -do what you love and the dream will unfold HA!! and she never looked back quit her job and she just hopped on that road less traveled and launched her Sallies greatest!

First course served up was by Brittaney Blackshear of Savannahs ‘Crepe by Crepe A Diem’..http://crepeadiem.com/it was a crepe sushi with smoked salmon and of course Sallies greatest Blueberry lavender jam infused cream cheese in wasabi crepes and that was just the beginning! Next course showcased Libbie Summers Bacon beignets with lemon thyme curd and yes of course Sallies blueberry lemon thyme Jam. Now here’s the really great part of her course, if your little pig napkin was orange and not pink you got a FREE cookbook -Libbies very own ‘The Whole Hog Cookbook’ So when i saw  Rick sportin his sassy orange napkin i promptly replied “orange ya gonna give me that cookbook as a birthday weekend gift?”  don’t ya just love to extend those birthdays another day or two or three or …yeah why not celebrate the entire month! yes that means gifts are still welcome:). http://www.libbiesummers.com/

I could go on and on about the roasted lamb with 4 cheese ravioli and fennel crusted ahi tuna, spiced port poached seckel pear…..but instead i will just say..” chefs take a bow!”

All and all it was a pretty amazing weekend as Rick and I  got renewed and inspired by the relaxation of the ocean air and so many culinary delights.

We were happy to return to our mountains and our puppies and kitties but alas the lesson of the weekend?  Take time away from your life even if you already live in paradise like we do…seeing what is happening outside your own fortress is inspiring and gives one a renewed  outlook for their own ventures..so LOOK OUT.. and be sure to sign up for The Martyn House Newsletter  http://themartynhouse.com/join-mailing-list/ as we will be posting very soon our 2012 events, new products and services and of course lots more Glamping~!

until then …. live inspired creative lives and keep jammin!