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Peak Bloom - Cherry Blossoms

Cherry Blossom Photos @ Peak Bloom

Happy Spring! (or Autumn for my readers down unda’ and thereabouts).

I want to talk to you today about “Peak Bloom” – what is it? And why should you care?

Here are a couple of the pics I recently posted on my Instagram (SimplyCari).

They’re from the Cherry Blossom Festival, on the day designated as “peak bloom”.

Peak Bloom - Cherry Blossoms

I love this huge MLK Memorial. It’s especially stunning when the blossoms are at peak!

Peak Bloom - Cherry Blossoms

Peak Bloom is defined as the point that 70% of the blossoms are open.

Not 90%, not 100%.

Only 70%…and as you can see these trees look exquisite!

Because 70% can be good.

 

I’m not one to tell you to lower your standards, or your expectations.

And as a Certified High Performance Coach I’d never tell you to stop striving for progress.

But I will remind you of two phrases I have to remind myself of often:

 

Progress over Perfection
and
Done is better than perfect.

 

This is where 70% can come in helpful.

Not everything needs to be perfect, or even 90%.

I know, I know it goes against the old saying: “a job worth doing is worth doing right.”

But let’s be real, some jobs really are worth doing at 70%.

Going in at 70% helps you overcome perfectionism, over-thinking, indecision, self doubt, and procrastination.

Because simply being in action brings clarity, which brings creativity, energy, momentum and growth.

Think of something you’ve been putting off for far too long – I’ll wait…got it?

Now give yourself permission to do it 70%. Remembering, done is better than perfect.

That allows you to just get started on it without worrying about the end result.

Peak Bloom for the Cherry Blossoms isn’t 100%, it’s beauty at 70%.

What’s your Peak Bloom?

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can”.
Arthur Ashe

Have a fabulous weekend~

Carolyn Cooper

PS: I normally post my fun photos on my Instagram – including a lot of Washington, DC this past year -whee! I’d love it if you follow me there, and I’ll also try to remember to add more fun “sightseeing” pics to my emails, since that’s been requested by many of you!

This has never happened to me before…

So this is how it feels, eh?

In all my life I have NEVER been ready for Christmas a full 10 days ahead!

I mean, this is highly unusual…and I love it!

Many of my gifts needed to be mailed, so I had a deadline to get them sent so they’ll arrive in time for Christmas.

You see, because Dean the dream and I moved across the country earlier this year, we are celebrating Christmas by ourselves for the first time ever. Even before we had babies, we were either with his family or my family, never all on our own.

But don’t feel bad for us, we’re really looking forward to it! This has been a year of new adventures, so it’s all good.

We have so many fun activities planned, including late night Christmas Eve Mass at the Washington National Cathedral (we had to enter a lottery to even get tickets and we manifested it!). This will be another new experience for us!

And of course on Christmas day we’re having a family Zoom call (we’ve been having regular family zooms long before Covid). So, with our activities, our family on zoom, etc. we’ll be alone, but not lonely.

I was just in California visiting my son Sinjin, his darling wife Rochelle (for those who knew her leukemia story last year, update: she’s doing well- thank you for the prayers!) and my two adorable granddaughters. Nothing beats a few days of playing with play-doh and slime, and having deep conversations with a 5 year old and a 3 year old.

On the way home from Cali I stopped in Utah for a week to see my two kids there. They’re doing great, we had a fun week, and I enjoyed that southern Utah warm weather!

And get this…on my travels, I even met my other son in the Phoenix airport on Thanksgiving day for just long enough for a hug and a photo. He was flying from SLC to San Diego, and I was flying from DC to Ontario, Calif. We knew we’d be in the airport about the same time and it just so happened our gates were close, that was awesome!

So, I’ve seen all my kids very recently except my “diplo-daughter” in India – that wasn’t on my route this time. But we talk often even with the wacky time zones.

Wow, I hope this email isn’t sounding like an overly long family holiday newsletter, lol. My point is…

It feels SO great to be prepared, to meet a deadline and be ready early!

I hope with the holidays you’re also feeling that way now…or very soon!

Have a wonderful week of shopping, baking, wrapping, giving and whatever else is on your list.

And also remember to add in a little RELAXING!

Much Love,
Carolyn

We’re moving, guess where!

I’m moving across the country.

TODAY!

With my hubby Dean-the-Dream.

If you’re reading this email when it landed in your inbox, we are flying to our new home right now.

Moving from beautiful St George, Utah where we’ve lived and raised our five kids for 37 years.

I love the red rocks, the biking trails, the not-too-bad traffic, working in my patio-office for at least 7 months each year, proximity to Zion National Park (we go there a lot), I even love the desert heat.

It’s halfway between our kids in Salt Lake City and California.

But alas, a new adventure awaits!

And I love adventure.

We are moving to the Capital City.

Hubby got his dream job.

After 31 years of being a golf course superintendent, he retired and applied for another “slightly” similar job -(well, working outside with grass and plants)

He’s the new Grounds Supervisor at the Washington DC Temple.

We’re both super excited.

And, I get to keep my dream job too.

My energy work & coaching has always been over phone, Skype, or Zoom so I can (and do) work from any location.

In fact, work-wise you wouldn’t have even known I moved, but I wanted to share this happy news with you!

And also, in the next week or two I hope to be sharing some photos of the Cherry Blossom Festival -so stay tuned!

What about you?

Have you ever made a big move?
Followed a dream?
Changed direction because it just ‘felt’ right?
If not…
Do you plan to?

I’m truly interested to know! I love stories like this, if you feel like sharing your answers with me just reply to this email.

Sending you love and thanks for being part of my community.

Next week I’ll be writing from my new Eastern Time Zone!
Until then, have a SIMPLY great week,

Carolyn

PS: Speaking of “moving”…Move-up Mondays (personal sessions) starts again in April. Official launch is in 2 weeks, but if you want to secure a spot, you can sneak over here now and get in early.

Join me on social media for updates on the new life in the big city:

simplycari IG

carolyncoopercoaching IG

carolyncooper-simplyalign FB

PPS: Next REFRESHER Course (for those who’ve taken my 4-day Training) is April 29/30 online!
Registration is now open here: https://simplyalign.com/practitioners/refresher-2