Are you 'good' at failing?//Why I didn't run my programme//+ Singing in the woods...
Hello Carouseller,
Today I was supposed to start my 3 month Carousel Coaching Programme - I didn't.
I've spent time debating whether I should even acknowledge this to you readers. Would it look unprofessional to announce that I've u-turned on a project? Would it not be better to keep quiet and let people assume it was still happening?
But as a coach and space-holder my personal learnings and experiences become the things I teach, and I know that the process I went through - having a creative idea and then deciding not to continue with it - is something many Carousellers and multi-passionates grapple with.
So here's my account of why it didn't happen - and I'm hoping that my share will release some of you from the grip of guilt you have about letting go of whatever is no longer alive for you.
More events, blogs and listens below...
Big hug
Sarah x
Read: Fear of 'Feel-ure'
Following a situation with a client where a workshop didn't go to plan, I've been questioning what it means to be 'good' at failing. I believe there are two stages, and often we skip to the second without truly honouring the first.
Read my blog here.
Read: Work/Life Balance - What a Crock of Sh*t
Anouk, CEO of Unleashed and a client of mine, wrote this honest piece about work/life balance in which she featured my Quitting Quadrant as a helpful tool.
Join in: Afternoon of Musical Joy
I'm really excited to be offering an ACTUAL IRL event for the first time since February!
I'm reinstating the popular 'Day of Musical Joy' (a make-shift choir in a day), this time in Epping Forest on Sunday November 8th. We'll spend 2 hours singing folk songs and 90s medleys, mingling at a distance and warming up our hearts through communal music-making.
There are limited tickets and you can sign up here
Listen: Birthday Girls Houseparty
My comedy night Rye Laughs would have been celebrating its 6th Birthday this month. It's still at the Back of the Carousel until we can find a new venue and have a proper crowd there.
In the meantime my co-host Rose Johnson has re-launched the podcast with her sketch group Birthday Girls. It's HILARIOUS - full of mad creative tasks and hilarious chat about the meaning of life.
Listen: How to Fail with James Acaster
I also recommend listening to Rye Laughs favourite James Acaster sharing an inspiring and moving account of his music and comedy career on 'How to Fail'. (One of his failures is having no Wi-fi when Djing at a friend's wedding and being harassed by guests for requests, which I massively related to!)
Listen: The Lost Words Blessing
A song I've really loved this month was inspired by the updated Junior Oxford English Dictionary. The editors took out common nature words like 'otter' and 'heron' and replaced them with technology words like 'wifi' and 'database', as it was believed children no longer came into contact with the natural world enough for them to be common usage.
A group of musicians put the piece together to honour all the forgotten words - it is absolutely beautiful.
Soak Up: Colour Your Life
I love my friend Maz's new website of her paintings. She's currently living in Mexico in an artistic commynity and has been inspired by the colours around her to create these vibrant prints.
What’s on my Carousel right now?
Collaborating with a web designer for my Sarah Weiler website - A Learning Design Project for Google - Participating in an 8 Week Mindful Self-Compassion Course with Kind Mind and a 4 month Sister Stories ''Drawing Inwards'' online community - Planning the Afternoon of Musical Joy - trying to get in as much nature and walks as possible in this gorgeous Autumn light - Coaching wonderful clients who are committed to living a life that lights them up - My daily Morning Pages ritual at Writers' Hour.
Want to have a chat about what's on your Carousel?
I offer everyone on this newsletter a free 1:1 coaching session to work with the model. Book in here.