Last week a former client and I traveled into Manhattan to see the Leaning Annex program featuring Marianne Williamson, author of Return to Love and many others. She has been an inspiration of mine for many years now and came into my life with such divine timing. Her work focuses on the teachings of A Course in Miracles and this evening’s talk was all about finding our mission.
We arrived just in time to catch Marianne’s introduction but decided to head straight for the Ladies Room where we faced a long line of women with the same thought. After a couple minutes of waiting a woman enters who immediately heads to the sink, wiping her teary eyes. It was Marianne!

We all gazed over to check out this shining light of a being! Up close Marianne looks no different than the professional head shots on her websites and books. I got a sneak peak into her everyday life by discretely listening to the conversation she was having with her assistant (or someone on her staff). “We should of rehearsed that…” she said in a distressed voice. Marianne continued on for a few more minutes in non upbeat fashion. Then within a moment she brushed herself off and politely asked us bystanders if we would mind that she proceed to the stall since she was about to go on stage for her presentation. “Go right ahead” we all pleasantly told her.

She was a bolt of lightening and came out shortly after. Marianne then walks directly over to me, looks me in the eyes and says, “Thank you. What’s your name?” I say, “Alison.” “Very nice to meet you Alison!” She proceeds to wash and dry her hands and out the door she goes…

Once we were through in the Ladies room we opened up the suite doors to an audience of eager spectators. Marianne was already on stage delivering her message which turned out to be full of hope, honesty, compassion and strength.

In life I always search for the deeper meaning in all interactions. There are lessons to be learned everywhere we go. If we are not awake to them, we will miss the boat that takes us new opportunites and gentler waters. Seeing Marianne Williamson in the ladies room made me realize that we all have moments. Someone of such charisma, presence and spiritual health carries the same emotions as those with less paying jobs, poor health or other unfortunate circumstances. How we choose to use our emotions is what carries us to our next destination. It was very clear that Marianne was present to the emotion that was expressed through her voice and tears yet once she made that contact she decided to shift herself to a brighter moment.

Thank you Marianne for showing me the real you! So often we look up those we admire and never see their faults. When this is the case we may self-sabotage even more because we feel we are inadequate and will never be able to live up to these idols. The truth is we are all interconnected and our emotions are universal. The challenge is to ask yourself when you are down and out, “What would bring me to my higher self right now” or even, “How would Marianne handle this situation?”

Looking for a new way to explore yourself? We read books, take personality tests, meditate and attend seminars in hopes that we will better develop our inner-self and outer-world. But what about pictures? Yes, pictures. Have you ever felt motivated or inspired by a single picture? They said, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” What’s your internal picture? (more…)

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