Louise with Elizabeth Gilbert - Author of Eat, Love, Pray
I took a lovely drive up to Frenchtown with my hubbie the Friday before last to go up to the Two Buttons warehouse sale that Elizabeth Gilbert and her husband (yes, the Brazilian she met in Bali) own. I had met Elizabeth earlier in the year at special weekend Yogaphoria put on for her when she signed my copy of her book Eat Pray Love, and got to chat to her then, as well as at her shop a couple of days later. I found her to be a wonderful human being, self-deprecating, humble, but with a dry wit, and sharp intellect. Truly an interesting person to converse with. She told me how she was writing I think its her 5th book, on the subject of marriage, and gave some wonderful tips to us for our travels to Thailand telling the little hotel they normally stay in on their buying trips.
Anyway this time, I happily bumped into her in her warehouse, after admiring the biggest white marble buddha I have ever seen! Incidently some local individual bought it to sit in his field. How cool is that! Mid conversation when she was telling me she had re-written her manuscript for her latest book, I realised that I was a little star-struck because I was so in awe of her accomplishments and who she was as a person. What occurred to me in that moment was that because of where I was in my head, that I wasn’t actually paying attention to her on a genuine human level. That awareness drew me straight to earth! I realised I wasn’t honoring her and the spirit of who she is, with my behaviour, and of course being the person I am and being a coach(!) I absolutely wanted to relate to her in a sincere and authentic way. As the awareness came, I immediately became more focused, and connected with her eyes, and became more centered in myself. I am not sure if she noticed, but I really wanted her to feel heard, and so part of that for me was listening intently – I felt my body and mind switch gears, and become present to her being. It was a wonderful feeling and revelation for me. A practice of becoming more present is key for me right now, so it was a beautiful gift. It was a double bonus!
Do you pay attention to how you are being when you are talking to your friends or clients? Do you really listen?
curiously yours,
Coach Louise
