It has been so long since I’ve posted on the blog – and it’s for varying reasons that I have been lack in reaching out to the community of women that I care about so much.

I recently had the opportunity to connect with Craig Realty Group and was hired as their Marketing Director for the Outlets at Castle Rock.  Here is one of the many reasons why I chose to continue on my career path with this amazing organization.

In the early 1990’s Steve Craig, founder and CEO of Craig Realty Group started a charity event which now almost 20 years later is still going strong.  Shopping Extravaganza started at one of Craig Realty Group’s California centers and now is held every year at all Craig Realty Outlet Centers throughout the United States.

Each year local charities and community groups participate in the one day event where people have the opportunity to give to the participating charity of their choice.  For a $20 ticket, the VIP shopper (and that can be you!) receives a goodie bag with lots of premium items, discounts and huge savings specific for the VIP shopper, a catered lunch, a dessert bar, a free raffle ticket when you purchase your ticket with the opportunity to purchase many more for just $1 each.  The charities receive the proceeds from the raffle drawing-and so can you!  There are $30,000 in prizes that will be given away to all VIP shoppers.

If you are interested in participating in this event, we would love to have you!  In Denver, the Outlets at Castle Rock’s Shopping Extravaganza is being held on Saturday, September 26th from 10 am – 8 pm. Some of the charities participating this year include:

Gabriel’s Gift, American Cancer Society, Autism Speaks, Rotary International, Denver Dumb Friends League, Heritage High School, Highlands Ranch Band Booster Club, Special Olympics Colorado, Parker Hospital Foundation, Mom’s Club of Castle Rock, Denver Post Charities…and so many more!

Click here for more info on how to buy your ticket and support the participating charities.

The Purposeful Community for Women is still here.  I’m just reaching out in many different ways to connect with so many others.  Won’t you do the same?

To your purposeful life,

Lisa

As I look outside at the snow gently falling on the ground, I contemplate the last few months and the many changes all of us have seen in our personal and professional lives. I so often times have talked about the state of fear and how it can be so paralyzing and I believe now more than ever, we as a society need to embrace the change we are a part of; learn from the past decisions we have made and move forward with a renewed vision of what we want. We do have the power to create a future of what we want for ourselves and for our children.  In our society there has been an overwhelming need to believe everything we hear. And for what? And where has it left us? Living in fear right now is not the answer. Giving to ourselves in the form of time and giving to those we love in the form of our presence is the best gift we can give right now. Be gentle with yourself and those around you during this challenging time. We are in this together. Let us support one another and believe in the future that we want.

To your purposeful life,

Lisa

To the Purposeful Life Community~

I felt compelled to share the following email that I forwarded recently to Oprah. On one of Oprah’s shows on November 7th, she talked about how her and her staff prayed daily for Barack Obama during the recent presidential campaign. When my sister was visiting our family recently from out-of-town, we discussed how powerful it would be if there was a collective community, including Republicans, Democrats and Independents praying for our President, our global economy and the future for our children. So, because of Oprah’s extensive reach and her belief in the power of prayer; I composed the below email to her and asked that she start a “collective daily prayer” that all of us could be a part of. If this connects with you and you believe that reaching out to Oprah and asking for the same would make a difference, please do so. I believe that no matter what our personal beliefs are…that we truly are one and what happens in our life effects us all.

Here is the excerpt of what I sent:

Hi Oprah,

On the November 7th show you mentioned that you and your staff prayed for Barack Obama every day during the election. I believe there is a collective consciousness that connects each and every one of us on this earth and having said that, why wouldn’t we collectively as a global community come together and pray for our President, for our economy, for our future and for our children’s future? Can you imagine the impact that we could have collectively if we would come together, no matter if we are Republican, Democrat or Independent? And, no matter who we had voted for? I believe that we are at a pivotal time in our history and there is a major shift occurring. This time that we are in is a major wake up call for all of us and how are we to move forward? I don’t believe the old way of living, thinking and being is going to work anymore. What we all have believed is important is being stripped away and we have a choice in how we look to the future. Would you consider starting a daily “collective prayer” for our President and for our world? I believe so strongly in the power of prayer, as I am an example that miracles do occur. In 2003 I was diagnosed with a meningioma brain tumor and from the day of my diagnosis I believed that I was never alone. I was surrounded by a collective community of family and friends that believed in a miracle. There were literally hundreds of people praying for me from the day of my diagnosis and throughout my recovery. I just went in for my 5th and final yearly MRI and I am tumor free. I am healed. Can you imagine the healing that could occur for our world through the power of the collective consciousness that we could bring together? I am asking that you help me in this process for I know that your beliefs are similar to mine. I thank you for letting me share my story and vision for the future of our world. We truly are one.

Blessings to you,

Lisa Zetah

As I mentioned, if you are interested in sending a similar email to Oprah, here is the link:

https://www.oprah.com/plugform.jsp?plugId=220

Have a blessed holiday,

Lisa

The last couple of weeks have been filled with ups and downs…with embracing the unknowns and being ok with the a future that was uncertain. I have been taken back to being in the moment, being in the present and realizing that is all I have. The past is gone, the future is not here yet; so all I have is now.

And, in this present moment I have so much to be thankful for. For I received the call that I envisioned would occur. My five year MRI was done a couple of weeks ago and the results could not be better. There is no tumor. The team of doctors that worked with me when I was initially diagnosed said that if I got through the first five years without a recurrence of a tumor; that the possibility of it ever returning was slim to none. So I rejoice with the news. I am healed.

Through the journey since my diagnosis a lesson that has been evident is how important it was to believe in the connection to a greater source and embrace the community of like minds that walked with me every step of the way. I was never alone.

So for those of you who have faced life-threatening illnesses; either recently or long ago…know that you are not alone either. This community was created with you in mind. A Purposeful Community of like minds to walk this journey with you. Embrace your new reality. Embrace the now and know that the present is enough.

And…if the fearful thoughts and “what-if’s” about what the future holds start to creep in, don’t negate them. Look at that fear and when you do, you will realize the fear loses its power over you. Come back to the present and be grateful for this time. Your life is a celebration…embrace each moment – for it truly is a gift.

To your purposeful life,

Lisa

December, 2003 seems like ages ago and yet I remember that time as if it had happened just yesterday. For in December almost 5 years ago, I was diagnosed with a life-threatening tumor that would redefine how I looked at life from that day forward.

So why am I revisiting this memory today? This last week was a mix of so many emotions…from being on such a high that it was almost 5 years since I was diagnosed with a brain tumor that could have had a devastating outcome, but didn’t. I am a survivor and so much good has come out of something that at the time was so scary.

And…over the last week there have been low times too. Especially on Wednesday. Each year since my surgery, per doctor’s orders, I have gone in for a yearly MRI – to ensure that everything is still ok. And, each year; it seems that I experience many of the same emotions that I did when I had the initial MRI in December, 2003; when the brain tumor was found.

So on Wednesday as I prepared to go to the imaging center where I would have my MRI I decided to try and make the day as if it was like any other. I attended a meeting with a local PR firm to discuss possible ways that we could work together. I stopped for a late lunch and then arrived at my appointment. As I walked through the double doors that led to the imaging center I felt this crippling fear come over me. And the many “what-if’s” started to run through my mind.

What if – even after almost 5 years, the tumor has come back?

What if – they find something else in the MRI scan?

What if – I have to have another surgery?

As I filled out the paperwork I thought about all of the MRI scans I have had before and the many films I have viewed – looking at the before and after scan of my brain and how amazing our bodies can heal. And I realized something. No matter what the outcome would be of this last yearly MRI scan I knew I would not be alone with the news. From the day of my diagnosis, I have been surrounded by family and friends that have supported me every step of the way. At that moment I decided that I would go into the MRI scan with a positive outlook and as always envisioning the outcome of what I wanted to occur and let the rest of the “what-if’s” go.

So…when I get the news next week from my Primary Care Physician and she tells me that everything is fine – I will know that I don’t have to experience another MRI scan for 5 years. And if by chance the doctor calls and says they found something on the MRI, I can handle that news too. I have been down that road before and placed my future in the hands of amazing doctors that helped me on so many levels and I can do it again. My mindset around the whole process will be positive, no matter what happens.

And so I wait until next week when I get the call from my doctor. But, I am not sitting around with the “what-if’s” running through my mind. I have already moved on. I will make it, no matter what. I have done it before- been strong and resilient in the time of uncertainty and can do it again…if need be.

The memories will always be there…but they don’t have to be crippling. What the memories can do for me is help me to remember how blessed I have been through the process and how much of life I have left to experience.

Here is to your purposeful life…

Lisa

So much has been going on in our world lately that has been difficult for all of us. I have found myself starting to “buy-in” to the fear-based journalism that is so prevalent on all of the news channels. We are facing some of the toughest challenges in our economy that we ever have and the necessity to be the calm in the midst of the storm around us is imperative.

I find it interesting that there are many parallels right now with the outer-world and my inner-world of reaching into the depths of the past and writing my story. When I first started to write about the diagnosis of a brain tumor, I found it fairly easy to put the pen to paper and share the details of what happened. That was then…and this is now. The details were easy to put on paper when it was the where, what, when and how. Now it is different. Sharing more than just the details of the diagnosis has been a painful process. I am facing the demons of my past and revisiting what happened in 2003. To go back to those days following my brain tumor diagnosis and relive each moment and connect with who I was then has been so hard to do. It has been paralyzing for me to face what could have been. I am in the grips of fear right now and feel stuck. I know if I can be kind to myself, embrace who I am now and embrace who I was then…I will be able to walk through that door and have another piece of me healed. Fear will no longer have its grips on me. So how do I move forward?

While in the process of getting my life coaching certification, one of the suggestions from the staff at Coach Training Alliance was to hire a mentor coach. I have been so blessed to have connected with Tama Kieves, Author and Coach who wrote the book, “This Time I Dance”. Here is a link to her website if you want to connect with Tama: www.awakeningartistry.com.

In the last meeting with Tama, she suggested I pick up a copy of the book, “Writing As Healing by Louise De Salvo. Tama’s suggestion was exactly what I needed right now. As I read this book, I feel that the words on the page have given me permission to write my words, relive my past and through facing the pain of what occurred, become whole again.

It is time for me to release the old stories of what happened – for all I have now is the present.

All any of us have is the present. Embrace what there is now in your life and embrace what is to come. Face your old stories and release them and have a piece of yourself healed too.

To your purposeful life…

Lisa

Welcome! We’re so glad you dropped by to our Purposeful Life Community. Throughout these pages, you’ll find thoughts and musings – with the goal of helping you to connect with the purpose in your life and live the life you envision! We invite you to comment, share and add your own “aha” moments as we build this like-minded community of women together. Think of us as a plaza in a town square on a sunny afternoon. Grab a cup of coffee, take a moment for yourself and join us, won’t you?

For those of you who have faced a life-threatening illness, there is a page created especially for you. Lisa shares her personal journey through her diagnosis and recovery from a brain tumor, with the hopes that you will share your story too. The one thing that Lisa found to be the most comforting when she was diagnosed was to connect with women that had faced similar challenges in their life. By walking the path of self-discovery through a life-threatening diagnosis and reaching the other side with a “new” reality of what her world is today, the goal of this community is to help you as you do the same. Click here and visit the “A Redefined Life” page, read Lisa’s story and those of others who have joined the community, and add your own. We hope to see you there.

Here’s to your purposeful life…