Connections: Alison Armstrong
A few years ago, I attended a workshop about Celebrating Men, given by Alison Armstrong. It was funny, informative and transformative.
Truthfully, I went to the workshop because it was a prerequisite to a Celebrating Women workshop I wanted to attend. I relished a reflective weekend to deepen my creative power and to achieve my fullest potential for my very best life.
I did not have a burning desire to celebrate men.
I did not have a need to understand males.
I did not have a gap to bridge in my relationship with my husband.
I wanted to take this workshop to get it out of the way so I could go on and learn more about myself. In fact, with the effort I put into my marriage and parenting, I only wanted to give back to myself. I wanted to spend time and energy on me, not on anyone else.
I sought the Women’s workshop to discover my core values and to spend time with other women fully exploring us. But first, I had to take this Celebrating Men workshop.
So, I started the Celebrating Men workshop with an open mind, but without much hope of any lasting effects. It was a check the box exercise to get to the good stuff.
Or so I thought.
It takes a lot to surprise me and I was surprised.
It takes a lot to impress me and I was impressed.
It takes a lot to move me to tears and I was – moved – to tears.
Alison was so engaging, I found myself participating more eagerly than I had anticipated. The information was so accessible, I found myself looking forward to each new segment. The impact was so simple, yet profound, that I remember the salient points, even now, years later.
I came away with a greater appreciation of the men in my life.
I came away with a better understanding of my relationship with my husband.
I came away with a deeper level of self-awareness and clarity of connection with others.
As the weekend came to a close, I had one of those stunning revelations with this funny and engaging speaker amidst the energy of so many supportive and beautiful women. The revelation took my breath away. It literally stopped me in my tracks as I took a few moments to capture the insight and write a letter to my husband.
Dear Greg,
I am so grateful for you, Nicholas and Katie.
…I want to let you know that I have learned so much about myself this weekend.
…I realize that I spend so much of my time being masculine that I do not allow space and time for you to be…I will learn how to be more feminine….
…I want to work in joy…I need to be more creative…to start a new path…to let you support me….
I love you beyond measure.
You are my hero.
Kim
xoxo
These excerpts capture the essence of my epiphany and led to a complete 180 in my life.
This workshop launched a complete change in direction in my life work. It changed my relationship with my husband. It changed how I enter and interact in the world.
It was funny.
It was interesting.
It was memorable.
It changed my life and I wanted to share it with each of you.
For more information:
Alison Armstrong
PAX Programs Incorporated
There are workshops, books, teleclasses and more.
