Hedria

Serendipity

I met someone and said "Wow" I wanted to discover more about this person and knew the other person felt the same way? This was professional networking at its finest! It was serendipity happening!

I met Lynn at the Creative Problem Solving Institute this summer. She came into the room, sat attentively, asking questions becoming engaged in the material. I was presenting this seminar for the first time since my book Square One at 51 had been published and it had taken on a new meaning for me. Lynn grasped this immediately and we connected.

Last month when I met her for lunch in Atlanta I had one of my folders with me and Lynn remarked on the quote I use "What makes your world go around...Let Hedria take you on a voyage of discovery."  When I returned home and rechecked her web site www.lynnschoener.com  it had the following words "she (Lynn)takes attendees on a self-discovery of how to manage change - and even how to thrive - in a changing, challenging world." No wonder we felt a kinship, we take others and ourselves on the same paths. 

We had arranged the meeting so she could give me feedback after the seminar. I was blown away when Lynn told me: "I haven't read your book yet. When I returned home, my colleague Sherrie's husband had died suddenly, and I gave her my copy to read!" There are several similarities between Sherrie's situation and mine - her husband Issac and my husband Paul both died suddenly. Although I am not of the baby boomer generation, I was in my 50's when this happened and so is Sherrie and her husband. Lynn said later: "The Baby Boomer generation doesn't think anything bad can happen to them!"

Sherri and I discussed incidents that we shared: Enormous ones like: preparations for a child's wedding without your mate; moving your home. Smaller hurting ones such as: changing next of kin on your doctor's information; buying a card for your son's birthday and signing it Mom; taking out the garbage alone. These are all bitter sweet moments. Sherrie said reading the book "gave her confidence to know she would survive" - that is get through it all and come out okay.

The other colleague at lunch was Patricia DiBona. Her web site is fantastic, please give it a visit www: Patriciadibonadesigns.com. I resonated with her quote: "The purpose of life is to create --- so we know who we are." Isn't that insightful? Her scrapbooks and diaries are fantastic. She and Lynn do weekend seminars together and they must be sensational!

A bottle of wine, a beautiful day, a lovely restaurant and 4 women interested in each other's stories. What a fantastic way to spend four hours! Thanks Lynn for arranging this! 

Welcome to Hedria's blog!

In our journey through life we make goals and reach milestones. Fortunately in these past years I have reached many of my personal and professional goals. I am among the lucky ones who love their work; it is both my vocation and my avocation.

My passion for the seminar and speaking business has afforded me the opportunity to travel and work on five continents. The world of Creativity has inspired me and allowed me to change my life.

My reasons for starting this blog include my desire to share my experiences and ideas about Creativity and how to use it consciously to enrich our lives and to continue learning by connecting with others ... with you!?!

My Recent Presentation at CPSI 2007

In June I went to my very favorite and most important conference.

I have attended CPSI the Creative Problem Solving Institute for over 15 years and find it packed with great material, information, colleagues and friends.

This year I had the opportunity to present my seminar Square One at 51 based on my newly published book, Square One at 51. The seminar and the book are a reflection of the lessons I learned while writing a journal after my husband died:

The importance of Self awareness, Creativity, Articulating Goals and Networking that helped me move along and re-create myself.

It was very excitng to do the seminar with my book in hand. The audience was receptive and appreciative. At the end of the seminar members of the audience came up to ask questions, share their stories and purchase the book. I have presented this seminar before as Navigating Change and it was extremely gratifying to be able to align it now with the journal Sqauare One at 51 and present participants with something tangible to take home and read.