Women and Words Conference

You are invited to attend the Women & Words Conference April 29/30^th

I am on the leadership committee and will be presenting there.

Register and learn more HERE: www.womenandwordsconference.com

Over 32 workshops, 4 keynotes and several panels. Some topics you may be interested in:

       ÿ       How to Get Publicity for Your Book  - Friday, April 29^th, 9:15am

ÿ       How to Attract the Right Publisher - Friday, April 29th, 9:15am

ÿ       GET SOCIALIZED! Literary Techniques for Social Media - Friday, April 29th, 10:30am

ÿ       Flog Your Blog: How to Turn Your Blog Into a Book - Friday, April 29^th, 1:45pm

ÿ       Power of Story: a System for Writing Your Non-Fiction Book - Friday, April 29^th, 1:45pm

ÿ       Your Book is Your Marketing Tool: Utilize Uncertainty to Create Fresh Possibilities - Friday, April 29th, 3:00pm

ÿ       Memoir Writing as Art and Therapy - Friday, April 29th, 3:00pm

ÿ       Audiobooks: How to Get Published Without Writing a Word - Friday, April 29th, 3:00pm

ÿ       PANEL: Writing Blocks

ÿ       PANEL: Trad. Publishing vs Self Publishing & ePublishing:

ÿ       OPEN PITCH:- Pitch to Publishers and Agents -

ÿ       10 Tips for Making Money Blogging - Saturday, April 30th, 9:15am

ÿ       A 30-day Guide to Launching Your Book Without Losing Your Mind- Saturday, April 30th, 9:15am

ÿ       Writing with Cold Feet  - for Reluctant Writers - Saturday, April 30th, 10:30am

ÿ       30 Days to Results: Bestseller Book Marketing - Saturday, April 30th, 10:30am

ÿ       KEYNOTE: Sharing Your Gifts as a Writer Saturday, April 30th, 12:30pm

ÿ       Make Your Mark in the Travel Writing World - Saturday, April 30th, 1:45pm

ÿ       How to Self Publish and Market Your Book to Big Companies - Saturday, April 30th, 1:45pm

ÿ       CRAVING Success - A New Publishing Business Model - Saturday, April 30th, 1:45pm

ÿ       How to Work with an Editor - Saturday, April 30th, 3:00pm

ÿ       Writing Articles for Profit and Promotion - Saturday, April 30th, 3:00pm

ÿ       How to Use Video to Market Your Book  - Saturday, April 30th, 3:00pm

ÿ       PANEL/ FORUM: Author Q & A - Open Questions – Saturday, April 30th

ÿ       PANEL: Social Media vs. Trad. Media - Saturday, April 30th

ÿ       PANEL: Do it Yourself vs. Professional Publicity - Saturday, April 30th

And much much more!!

United Girls of the World foundation.

February 22, 2011

I have founded a new non-profit organization, United Girls of the World.  Our focus is to aid girls locally and internationally with critical issues, including self-esteem related problems, violence, human trafficking and sexual abuse.   

My partner and I recently produced a flash mob video at Park Royal with a team of volunteers, including Pro Arte dancers, Pandora's Vox women's choir and a team of talented musical directors, choreographers and sound engineers.  Please take a look and help us get this video out to the world.  Our website is being upgraded as we speak, but please visit us at http://www.unitedgirls.org/

Assembly at Collingwood school

February 28, 2011

The flash mob video was shown on the big screen at the Collingwood Assembly. Everybody was wearing red and white to celebrate the first anniversary of the Olympic Games. I loved the whole experience! The photo includes Heidi, my foundation partner and Jon Borril, the music director of the flash mob video, me on the right
I just love all the feedback and comments for the flash mob http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4uyj11prB0 , many people are moved to tears.

A Whale kept me company today

Today a whale came within a hundred feet of where I was standing at the ocean!!! These perfect summer days in Vancouver are magical, but this wonderful experience today topped it all. I certainly got the best personal show there could possibly be. The whale kept swimming back and forth in front of me for over half an hour, showing his head, his tail, his fin and of course his long and powerful body kept emerging as he spouted the water. What an amazing sight!

Elke's Meditation made simple

Meditation made simple
Most common questions about meditation

What about my thoughts during meditation?
Observe that they are happening, no need to resolve them or try and stop them. They are a part of human nature and happen during meditation. Gently bring yourself back to the breath, the affirmations or the mantra. Simply observe your thoughts and don’t judge yourself or your thoughts. You will find the still gaps between the thoughts becoming longer and your mind getting calmer.

How should I be breathing?
The technique is not as important as the awareness of breath. When we feel stressed our breathing is generally too shallow. Count your breath as you gently inhale through your nose, 1, 2, 3, 4 and exhale slow, smooth and long . Fill your lungs with air, your rib cage expand and your stomach rise as you breathe in. Exhale just as thoroughly and let your rib cage and stomach push out all the air. Do this gently, no need to strain.

With each exhalation allow your thoughts to be released - all worries and concerns flow out of your body. Let your mind being exhaled. After a few sets, you can let go of counting. Whenever you feel like your mind has taken over, bring yourself back to your breath . This is a type of meditation in itself.

What if I am interrupted?
Resolve to return phone calls after and if you have to attend to an interruption simply go back to the meditation, or at least lie still for a few more minutes.

Where should I meditate?
Our meditations are best done in a quiet place at home. You can use some of the relaxation techniques like focusing on breath at the office, or while nature walking. This helps you come back to feeling centred during the day.

Should I lie down or sit up during the meditation?
The important part is that you are comfortable. Your body needs to be able to relax. Many people don’t lie down, since they don’t want to fall asleep and miss out on the meditation experience. So if you lie down, make it different from what you do when you go to sleep. Prop up some pillows in your bed, or lie down on a mat on the floor and on a folded towel under your sternum. Or raise your legs with a pillow, if that is something that gives you comfort.

If you are sitting, settle into a comfortable posture. Keep your alignment: torso aligned with hips and head aligned with spine. Let your shoulders relax and your arms rest gently. Feel your sitting bones supported by the chair or the pillow you are on. Let your legs be rooted to the floor.

Conversation with Elke Babicki about audio book/CD’s

What made you decide to produce these CD’s/ Audio Books?

I have been a consultant to businesses and a psychotherapist for over 25 years. My clients often remarked how nice it would be to have something to turn to in the privacy of their own home. With the Cd or download, you can do just that, any time you want you can listen to what you need most. I am solution focused, and really enjoy getting people on back their feet in as short a time as possible. So I thought the best solution for helping others is to facilitate helping themselves. Nothing is more wonderful than people coming back and saying how well they are doing.

What are the Cd’s/ Audio books  about?

The first four address different kinds of Loss;Loss of a relationship, loss of a loved one, loss of a pet and loss of a job. The CD explains what you may be experiencing when your world feels like it has been shattered. We lead you through some easy relaxation and get you to breathe properly. We then move into what your consciousness needs to heal.

Why does the CD/ Audio Book help a person experiencing those kinds of losses?

During my Masters I studied cognitive therapy and guided imagery and post graduate I completed training in EMDR. EMDR is a much researched trauma reduction method that has produced some remarkable results. From those trainings I’ve come away with a method that has effects the way the brain functions. An optimal brain state engages healthy frontal lobes with alpha brain waves that help healing. Visualizing color is one way to relax your mind and tap into healing brain waves.  The music we carefully selected, the sound frequencies we chose and the alternating of affirmations to left and right hemispheres all help you create more relaxing brain waves and a more optimal brain state. Trauma ,like loss, creates stuck patterns, like flash cards with upsetting images being held up repeatedly. The CD’s are a way for people to free themselves of these destructive memories and create more healthy brain activity.

Does listening to the Cd’s / AudioBooks replace therapy?

 It does not replace therapy, however it does empower a person with what they need to create to rewire their brain in a productive way. It creates brain waves that are conducive to peak performance. Olympic athletes for example know all about this and train their minds in this way as well as their bodies.

Grieving After Divorce

“ I refuse to let what happened to me make me bitter. I still completely believe in love and I'm open to anything that will happen to me.”  - Nicole Kidman 

Allow yourself to Grieve:  It is entirely normal to experience mixed emotions. Mixed emotions may consist of fear, anger, resentment, frustration, sorrow, relief and, of course, confusion. It is crucial, while grieving, to acknowledge these feelings. While these emotions can be agonizing to express, when ignored they will lengthen the grieving process.

Discuss your feelings: It is important to express and discuss your feelings with other people. This may seem difficult, but in reality is crucial to grieving healthily. By expressing your feelings you will feel less alone with the pain you are experiencing and will commence the healing process. Another outlet that can aid you to express your grief is a diary.

Keep in mind the goal is to move forward with your life: While expressing your feelings can provide a sense of liberation, it is also crucial not to linger on negative thoughts or feelings. By holding on to these feelings you are unconsciously using valuable energy which inhibits you from moving on.

Make Plans for the Future: Once you have committed to another person, most of you hopes and dreams include that person. It is difficult to let them go, however as you grieve the loss of the future you once dreamed of , be inspired by idea that new hopes and dreams will replace them.

CHILDREN OF DIVORCE 

A child’s list of needs:

• A child needs the involvement of both parents in their lives. In order to accomplish this letters, phone calls, and interest in a child’s life are important.
• Work hard to stop fighting with your spouse, and try to agree on matters related to the child.
• Work out any jealous feelings you may be experiencing due to your child’s involvement with the other parent. It forces the child to take sides and therefore resent both of you.
• Try to directly communicate with the other parent when discussing the child’s well being.
• When referring to the other parent in front of the child remain kind. If you say un-kind things on front of the child it insinuates that you want them to pick a side.
• Keep in mind the child loves both of you.

THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP YOUR CHILD EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS:

Listen- often children of divorce feel a sense of sorrow, failure and frustration. It is crucial that they acknowledge these feelings.

Encourage honesty – encourage your children to say what they need to say even if it could hurt you.

Recognize their feelings – You may not be able to turn their distress into happiness, but by acknowledging their feelings you establish a sense of trust.

Recommended online resources:

1. http://bodyandhealth.canada.com/channel_section_details.asp?text_id=3043&channel_id=11&relation_id=26257 (Recommended because it stresses moving forward and not dwelling in what has already passed. Also provides helpful tips on how to achieve moving forward.) 
   
2. http://www.cmha.ca/bins/content_page.asp?cid=2-70-72 (Recommended because it deals specifically with the emotions associated with divorce.)
   
3. http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=4391 (Recommended because it provides helpful steps to emotionally coping with divorce.)
   
4. http://divorcesupport.about.com/od/copingduringdivorce/u/coping_divorce1.htm (Recommended because it provides links to specific areas of coping such as coping with financial issues, as well as dating and rebuilding your life after divorce.)