La Dolce Vita Retreats

And I am thrilled to have the opportunity to introduce our 6 faculty who will be participating this year. 

This is a group of brilliant, entrepreneurial women who share my dream of creating a rich environment that celebrates the camaraderie of women, provides an exquisite oasis in which to re-charge our batteries, to renew and nurture our whole beings.

La Dolce Vita Retreats embraces the concept of total wellness – mind, body and spirit- and that theme is carried through in all that we do – our interactive workshops, our play time, our leisure time,  even our evening conversations known as our Wise Women Circle. 

La Dolce Vita Retreats is not just a vacation.  It’s a way of life.  Each of us is energized by sharing knowledge, exploring new concepts, learning new talents or re-discovering  past hobbies. Just trying new things.

So, without further ado, I introduce our faculty.

Chunky Greenzang – Chunky is a Licensed Marr. & Family Therapist and has been practicing for 20 years.   She is also a Corporate and Life Coach. She will be attending the attending the September 2009 retreat in Lake Maggiore and will be presenting her workshop entitled “Creating Balance and Passion”.

Jacqueline Jacques- Jacqueline is a Licensed Naturopathic physician and is recognized as one of the top experts in North America on the subject of nutrition and weight loss surgery .  She is Chief of Scientific Affairs for Catalina Life Sciences and Medical Director for Bariatric Advantage.   Jacqueline will be participating at the April retreat in Portofino and the December Mother-daughter retreat in the Bahamas.  Her series of workshops will focus on nutrition, body image, creating a family health history chart, etc.

Moty Koppes – Moty is a licensed psychologist, counselor and certified coach with extensive experience teaching and coaching an international and multi-cultural client base.  She is speaks 6 languages fluently (Dutch, English, Farsi, French, Greek and Japanese).  Moty will be attending the March Cote D’azur retreat and will be presenting workshops on Emotional Intelligence and Work-life Balance, among other topics.

Lisa Quinn – Lisa is a licensed marriage and family therapist and has been practicing for over 11 years.  In addition to her counseling practice, Lisa is an adjunct faculty member at cal State Fullerton, teaching courses related to counseling, leadership, ethics and crisis intervention. 

Lisa will be joining us for the May, Amalfi Coast retreat as well as the October, Tuscany retreat and will be presenting her workshop entitled: Doing more of what you love and loving more of what you do.”

Nancy Linsley – Nancy is a certified Feldenkrais Practitioner, having begun her 4 year training at the age of 50, and is also a Certified Bones for Life teacher.   Nancy loves being in nature and is an avid hiker and trekked in Nepal for a month in 1995.  She also enjoys cross-country skiing and backpacking.  In addition, Nancy is a professional ceramic artist.

Nancy will be teaching the movement classes at the May, Amalfi Coast retreat and the September, Lake Maggiore retreat.  She will teach Bones for Life in the morning session and Awareness Through Movement in the evening session.

Cherie Miranda – Cherie has been researching and studying metaphysical and self improvement concepts since her adolescence. Cherie is the owner of CM Holistic Wellness and has a long list of credentials.  Some are, certifications by The Chopra Center as an instructor in Primordial Sound meditation, as well as in the Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga She is a certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, Certified NLP Practitioner, Certified NLP Success Coach, Certified TIME Techniques Practitioner, Certified Mindful Coach, Certified EFT Practitioner, a Reiki Master, and a member of the following associations:  American Holistic Health, Integrative Practitioner and the Yoga Alliance.

Cherie will joining us for the March, Cote d’Azur; the September, Lake Maggiore and December Mother-daughter retreats and will be teaching Yoga, Meditation, Mindfulness and Journaling workshops.

Wherever we are, it is our friends who make our world.  - Henry Drummond

Last night was the kick-off reception for the 2009 season destinations for La Dolce Vita Retreats.  It was an exciting time as I announced the locations,  introduced the faculty and expressed my vision for my company.  But most of all it was poignant and heart warming.  I was being mindfully present, not wanting to miss a moment, wanting to capture it all and store the memory securely in my mind. 

As I scanned the room, I saw before me my friends, new and old, the people I love, ones that had come from far and near to be with me for this special occasion to celebrate the realization of my dream.

There they were… my friend of 26 years who I met in “mommy and me” class when are daughters were barely one year old; another friend of 22 years, who I met when our daughters began kindergarten. Still others of 15 and 20 years who stood by me through thick and thin, shared funny times and sad times, attended graduations and a wedding.  Another, so loyal,  she traipsed across the globe to Indonesia with me when I needed a “little break”.  (She initially assumed a “little break” meant Palm Desert  or such. ) And then my new friends that have blessed my move to Orange County these past 6 years, friends that have embraced me as would the friends of two decades.

It was a magical night for me.  So many familiar faces, warm hugs, genuine happiness for me exuding from each guest. Bob Dylan once said, “if you want to keep your memories, you first have to live them”.  Well, I lived one last evening, one I will keep forever alive in my heart. 

People often ask me why I named my company La Dolce Vita Retreats.  I tell them because I truly believe that each of us can create our own concept of La Dolce Vita and make it a reality.  How do I know?  Because I am truly living “La Dolce Vita”. I have discovered “my own dance” and I am living the life I want to live. 

Blessings,

Janice

The other day I participated in a workshop of which a part was to develop our personal metaphor.  The question was a fill in the blanks model.

I am the _________________ who/that ________________________.

Mine is :

“I am the gardener who plants the seeds of infinite possibilities.”  That resonates with me very deeply.

What is yours?

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?”

Yes, what is it?  Have you thought about it?

I invite you to share your thoughts with me because when you commit to paper, they become more of a reality.

What is it you plan to do with your life that will make it meaningful and fulfilling for you?

Today I attended the The Women’s Conference – The California Governor & First Lady’s Conference on Women.  This was not my first time.  I began attending years ago.  I remember being in awe of 1100 women coming together for a day of celebration of our roles!  I thought it was simply amazing that we filled the entire arena floor for a luncheon with plated lunches and had the privelege of hearing accomplished female trailbrazers as our speakers and having them share their stories.   In those days it was earth shattering and the energy was phenomenal.  Unbeknownst to me, my final journey began a decade ago, with the women’s conference.

I WAS IN AWE TODAY!  It’s been a few years since I last attended; in fact I think it was Maria Shriver’s first conference that I last attended because of my abundant travel schedule.  KUDOS, KUDOS to her.   I’ll be honest.  She was never on my top 10 list of women that I admired, or top 1000 for that matter.

But today, Maria Shriver touched my soul and inspired me in a most profound way.   I hope that she is on the top 10 list for our daughters, my daughters.   She has blossomed into a most beautiful woman, a real person - a wonderful mother, a poignant and loving daughter, wife, niece, cousin, … a woman who has found her passion and herself and her values.  She shared her soul and her humanity today, and she has never been so exquisite, or touched so many of us, as she did today. 

Imagine walking into a forum of 14,000 women – the energy could light up the entire western USA.  Today was the most exhiliarating experience for me because it reinforced my beliefs in living a passionate life; in being authentic human beings; in believing that each of us can make a difference; and that our relationships as human beings and families, and community members and global leaders are what bring meaning to our lives, and what make our country great.  I embarked on a journey that I believe in, for which I feel there is a need.  Is it sometimes scary?  You bet!  Does that little inner voice try to undermine my venture?  Right again!  But when you confront the fear and you contemplate what the loss is to you by not chasing your dream, it’s crystal clear.  Life must be lived passionately, authentically, joyfully and compassionately.

I truly believe that women have a special energy, an internal strength, a camaraderie that when brought together and celebrated, can solve many of the problems of the world. 

My dad used to say to me, “Janice, you can’t save the world.”  But, I watched him over the years, save people, by fulfilling their dreams, if not for themselves, for their children.  He did his deeds quietly but changed the world for many, never expecting anything or any recognition.  He was my mentor, my best friend, my role model.

In my mind, I still want to save the world but have resigned myself to making a difference.  I have founded La Dolce Vita Retreats because I feel that I am a living example to other women that we can create the lives we want to live despite adversities that befall us.  We can find the loves of our lives.  We can change careers and pursue our passions. If we can dream it, we can do it!  

I believe it is our responsibility to share that with our children and to set an example for them by living authentically.  We only are assured of this very moment, and I hope that each of us is living this moment authentically, passionately, fully, purely and proudly – setting an example for those following us.

I was very blessed in life.  I had a father who believed in me, who pushed me to excel, to come out of my shell, to face my fears.  I lost him too early.  But I always remember him saying to me, “You’re living in a gilded cage, Janice, but it’s still a cage.”  What he meant, of course, was that I needed to pursue my passion in life, that being successful meant more than a substantial bank account. 

As many of you know, La Dolce Vita Retreats is the culmination of my dream.  It is my passion….all the things I love to do, all the things I aspire to be and do, shared with like-minded women who are commited to making a difference, not only in the world but within their own lives.  We often nurture, reach out or sacrifice for others and neglect ourselves.  We must honor and cherish ourselves and replenish the energy we need to help and support others.  We each have a legacy we wish to impart to our daughters, granddaughters, great-granddaughters.  We each have dreams to be realized.

The resounding theme today was “Be all you can be, live passionately, be authentic, just do it!”  That is the essence of La Dolce Vita Retreats.  Come along and start living…la dolce vita!  Find your passion and live a fulfilling life.