Life Notes from Chair 17

Eagle-Eyed Inspiration

The challenge of remaining patient and present on our path ... are we right? Especially when it seems like everyone has something to say on what we should be doing vs. what our gut-instinct is actually telling us to do. Join CH this week as she discusses finding unexpectedly expected inspiration to stand tall, hang in and stay true in the face of conflicting voices.
 
Show Notes
Expected Inspiration
Definitions regarding the symbolism of eagles were taken from WorldBirds.com and PureSpirit.com.
UNexpected Inspiration
The interviews featuring actor Stefania Spampinato (Dr. Carina DeLuca - Grey's Anatomy / Station 19) discussing her struggle and persistence in achieving her success:
Jessica Sherman/Stefania Spampinato (Instagram Live - August 2020)
One of Us - Stefania Spampinato (Consulate General of Italy Los Angeles - March 2021)
Tommy Didario/Stefania Spampinato (Instagram Live - February 2022)

Share the Chair: Colleen Coleman

New year. New guest series. As we kick off 2024, we start with an inspirational and educational episode. CH sits down with good friend and former colleague, Colleen Coleman, to discuss Colleen's journey to becoming a medium - what lead her to discovering the gift, how it has inspired and changed her life, and the greatest lesson it has taught her. We also debut ... drumroll, please ... our newly minted C17 Questionnaire (inspired by the James Lipton version from Inside the Actor's Studio).
 
Show Notes
For those interested in learning more about Colleen's practice of being a psychic evidential medium or to book an appointment with her, you can visit her Web site: ColleenColeman.com.
Information on Colleen's teachers, Ivo Grossi and Cosetta Romani, can be found in the the Resources portion of Colleen's Web site under the section titled "Pura Vita Wellness."
The podcast CH referenced that discusses the impact and/or dealing with grief and loss is the Hidden Brain Media Podcast - Healing 2.0: Life After Loss.
The oracle cards used at the beginning of the episode were The Enchanted Map Oracle Cards by Colette Baron-Reid.
Additional information on Sylvia Browne can be found via her official publisher's Web site Simon & Schuster.
Information on Arthur Findlay College can be found on its official site.
The term Clairsentience means "clear feeling" – the ability to clearly feel energy.
The term Trance is defined here.
Additional information on the different types of mediumship can be found here.
James Lipton's Inside the Actor's Studio questionnaire, and the original Bernard Pivot/Marcel Proust versions that inspired it, can be found here.
Movie references:
Ghost (1990)
TheHaunted Mansion (2023)
The Sixth Sense

2023 (The Reframed Version)

2023. Not the best of year for us ... and for many that we know. But with one inspirational holiday text from her good friend, Nathan, CH reframes her look back on a challenging year, finds the light within, and looks ahead to 2024.
 
Show Notes
CH's visions for 2024 (which some might call resolutions) are as follows:
To remember to turn on the light (cue Albus Dumbledore)
To find the joy in the simplest things
To dream big
To believe in the kindness of strangers
To trust the path
To not succumb to fear, worry or doubt
To return to favorite places and perhaps find new ones
To be present in the moment and enjoy the space in that moment - however it may be defined
The Happy Holidays message featuring actress Danielle Savre's (Maya Bishop) inclusive combination of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanza into a single word can be found on this reel via the official Station 19 Instagram page.

Holiday Fooding (Come As You Are Version)

Holiday fooding. What is it really supposed to be about? The food? Or the gathering? Probably depends on whether you are a foodie, a family person or both. One thing it ideally should not be about: stress and perfection. Join CH this week as she talks about keeping the priorities straight on what it really means to come together over a holiday meal. As you are. As you were. As you want to be.
 
Show Notes
While not officially Grandma CH's Pea Salad recipe, a pretty close version of it can be found out on Food.com.
A classic recipe version of Mexican Pozole can also be found on Food.com.
Our episode was not technically inspired by Nirvana's "Come As You Are," but for those who may not have heard of the song and/or would like to listen to it, check out the MTV Unplugged Version from back in the day.

The C17 Birthday Articles

Birthdays. Sometimes, the stuff of legend. Other times, notsomuch. As host CH gets set to make another circle around the sun, she reflects on what birthday celebrating means to her in the shadow of a challenging year. And in the process, creates a new set of guiding wisdoms to hold herself accountable for future years.
 
Show Notes
The full list of The C17 Birthday Articles (a.k.a. CH's Birthday Amendments to her Life Constitution, if you will)
Birthday celebration is not limited to the day or month we are born.
Treat yourself.
Create a tradition.
Health is the greatest gift of time.
Age really is a number

A Krankin’ Christmas

Holiday movies. We love them (lots of them, actually). And the one we love the most ticks some of the essential feel good boxes we think of when we think of holiday films - humor, sentimentality, coming together, a life lesson learned and celebration. Join CH this week as she talks all-things Christmas with the Kranks, and how a story centering around skipping out on Christmas actually showcases both the traditional and untraditional holiday spirit.
 
Show Notes
If you want to check out a bit more, head to IMDb's listing for Christmas with the Kranks 
Honorable favorite holiday film mention goes to A Christmas Carol (the Jim Carrey/Disney animated version)

Brief Encounters

In this week’s special episode, CH honors the inspiring impact of a colleague and friend who recently passed away, and the importance of focusing not necessarily on the length of time we know someone but on the impact from that time.
 
Show Notes
The first episode of our podcast ("This Is Me Starting") was shared with CH's dear colleague and friend, Trudy, shortly before her passing. True to her selfless, supportive and kind spirit, she sent one final, inspiring text to CH shortly after the episode launched: "Great idea."

Soloing the Holidays

Holidays. They can be the best of times … and maybe the not-so best of times - particularly when we find ourselves flying solo after years of having a co-pilot and/or full crew. Join CH this week as she discusses her journey to finding and developing her own holiday traditions.
 
Show Notes
A couple of CH's holiday traditions:
Listening (and playing drums) along to classic holiday songs from the 1930s, 40s and 50s (Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Duke Ellington)
Honorable music mentions: Michael Bublé's Christmas album; Ottmar Leibert's Poets & Angels album
Bellevue Botanical Garden's "Garden d'Lights" (Washington)
"Snowflake Lane" in Downtown Bellevue (Washington)
Christmas Ship Festival via Argosy Cruises (Washington)
REI #OptOutside
Northwest Harvest

Present in the Moment

Time is a preciously finite thing - and how we spend it even more so. Join CH this week as she discusses the simple importance of being present in any given moment, which then can - and often does - end up being an invaluable and priceless contribution to the tapestry that weaves our life journey together.

What’s the Score?

What happens when you combine a favorite film and a live symphony orchestra performance? An amazingly entertaining concert experience. For all ages. And for fans of both film and music alike. As a lifelong lover of film scores, join CH this week as she recaps her recent viewing of the The Harry Potter Film Concert Series as performed by the Seattle Symphony, and how it is an inspiring, unique (and dare we say hip?) way to experience an orchestral music performance (especially if you have never thought about going to one).
Show Notes
For more information on The Harry Potter Film Concert Series, check out HarryPotterInConcert.com for the current films being played by symphony orchestras worldwide.
For additional information on The Seattle Symphony and Benaroya Hall, check out SeattleSymphony.org
The Holiday can be rented or viewed on most streamers.