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“Up” Your Convivial Game: 3 Part Series
Decision 1: Work with a coach and do some inner work
There were plenty of strategic decisions which led me to decide on and make the transition from Convivial Society to The Convivial Woman. Self-awareness, personal motivation, outrageous self-belief, intentional tribe building, conscious action and the beauty of synchronicity all played their part in this new creation.
The idea to possibly change the name of the site first came to me in the Fall of 2010 while working with my coach, Lisa Carmen of SacredSexyU. Lisa’s coaching is normally geared for women who want to reconnect with their sense of self, femininity or sexuality, and she even offers sensual dance and movement sessions, but I didn’t necessarily find myself lacking or needing to connect with myself in those ways.
Instead, I saw my connection with Lisa as divine intervention. When I first quit my job in banking and returned from being on sabbatical in central Mexico in 2005, I was searching for answers, signs to help me along my new path as a writer. I came across a flyer at the local bookstore of a group called Spark, for women wanting inspiration and connection. I signed up for the updates, received a couple of email newsletters and remember the group organizer’s name was Lisa Olson, but I never made it to any event and went on living my life.
Fast-forward to 2010, a girl named Lisa Carmen “friends” me on Facebook and begins showering me with praise and support for what I was doing with Convivial Society. I felt this sense of dejavu when I looked at her pictures and read her words, then…it hit me (more…)
TweetMaking The Convivial Switch
Convivial Society is about to shape-shift and take on a whole new name in less than 24 hours! Relaunch date: Wednesday 9 March 2011
The relaunch will go down in convivial history like this…
:: You’ll mark your calendar (umm…like right now) and set your alarm clock for 6am on 9 March 2011 ; then you’ll nearly pee your pants as you race, while laughing freakishly, to your nearest computer or smart phone to get your first peek at my newly relaunched website.
:: You’ll experience a euphoric feeling as you feast your eyes on the updated logo and devour my new tagline (think Mona Lisa + a call to action). With great power, comes a great need to change…I love recreating myself, don’t you?
:: You’ll poke around the site and check out the newly polished message I’m preachin’ and see what my Convivial business has to offer you. Hint: A One Stop Convivial Thought Shop (articles on da blog, baby), 1 on 1 strategizing sessions, and ooh…do I see globetrotting in our future? That’ll be up to you!
:: You’ll be so excited about what you’ve just seen and read and will feel compelled to share it with everyone in your world on Facebook and Twitter! That’s right!
:: Lastly, you’ll stay tuned into this convivial channel by signing up for my monthly newsletter here to see where life takes me. And you!
For the month of March, you can look forward to:
:: A series of interviews on the topic of “Breaking Free” from some inspiring women who influence and motivate me personally. Their stories are filled with courage and strength and guarantee plenty of convivial takeaways.
:: A fun video interview with my hubby, Martin on his first encounter with The Convivial Woman (psst…a woman who was always willing to put herself first–even when she was madly in love.)
:: Another video interview with Vin Diesel-looking, tattoo-loving, Dubai-partying, U.S. Air Force Veteran and dear friend of mine, Mr. John Charles Bernal (that’s his stripper name–he’s been knighted in another life by me!) We’ll cover dating bloopers and mishaps all the single ladies should avoid if they want him to put a ring on it. Well, not necessarily “him” specifically. He’s just representin’ and giving voice to the single man.
:: and of course, some EXTRA SPECIAL blog posts from The Convivial Woman herself…yours truly.
Now’s the time to get your front row seats to this show! I’m eager to share this experience with you, so be sure to get your name on my list right –>HERE.<–
Counting down the days…Wednesday 9 March 2011…See ya then!
TweetThe PowerHouse Series: Megan Monique Interviews Me
Can you imagine standing in the middle of a football field with friday night lights flashing on you? No one in the stands, no one on the field, just you and everything significant about your life being cast in the spotlight for the world to see.
Could you imagine if there was someone or something out there that could give your life such an illuminating effect? How amazing, enlightening and oh so much fun that would be! Well, guess what? I know someone who is a Life Illuminator and she’s my friend, Megan Monique Harner.
She’s been featured on here once before as a very special model for The Convivial Woman Photography Project: Episode 2 and she offers Life Illumination Courses to anyone who wants to take a magnifying glass to see how wondrous their life already is. I’ve had the chance to peek at some of her course activities and they are really cool. What’s cooler is her course lasts a whole month!
Megan offered me the sweetest gig one Friday afternoon. She asked me to participate in her PowerHouse Series of interviews. Moi? A PowerHouse? But of course! Lights, camera, action! I must say we shared quite the convivial moment together and I’m pleased to share the video here:
The PowerHouse Series with Cheryl Chavarria from MeganMonique on Vimeo.
Get to know Megan Monique Harner by following her on twitter @meganmonique and make sure to check out her Life Illumination Courses if you’re up for some fun self-discovery.
TweetTen Most Convivial Moments in 2010
1. Being called out for who I am: The Queen Archetype
2. Going to New York for the first time solo
3. Experiencing Rich Happy & Hot LIVE with Marie Forleo and connecting with amazing women in business
4. Spending the year watching my two sons grow and play together
5. Celebrating my second son’s 1st Birthday at the Cowboys Stadium
6. Hiring my first business coach, Lisa Carmen and truly experiencing this quote by Anais Nin
7. Surprising my special friends with The Definitive Regal Chic Brunch
9. Christmas Eve with my husband, two sons and no one else
10. Getting an LLC registered for The Convivial Woman at year end
10. Sharing each moment then and now with YOU
TweetThe Convivial Woman Photography Project: Episode 2
When it comes to my hair, I can say with confidence that I be workin’ my follicles after a good blow dry, but my newest model for The Convivial Woman Photography Project, Megan Monique Harner is one woman who shows you how to own your hair! I loved capturing her lovable spirit and the audacity of her high-pink-ness!
Click below to view her photo session
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| Convivial Woman Photography Project |
Megan Monique is…
a writer, Pink Posse leader, traveler, aspiring life coach and an activist for creative exploration and discovery. She is also the Community Manager and Lovemuffin Extraordinaire for Owning Pink. It has become Megan’s mission to see others with Magical Eyes, allowing the love and light in everyone she meets to shine through. To learn more about her and the wonders she performs in the world, visit her HERE.
TweetDon’t tap out. Find that strength, lady. Defend your spirit. Your power. Know it. Tap into it.
TweetPut your Sunday best on… everyday. Chin up, stomach in, shoulders back, posture good. Now…RELAX. And just keep moving forward.
TweetMy Sexy Little Cup Runneth Over
The Current of Love Between Us
I have some pretty amazing women in my life. I see the beauty in each woman and do everything in my power to remind her of it. When presenting her, I want the world to see what I see- her beauty, humor, talent, intellect, her fragility, sexiness, style, ambition…simply, the power she possesses within herself.
I encourage her to dream, travel, get lost, find her way again, speak up, take that risk, walk away, bust some balls, leave that job, get a life of her own, fight for what’s right, plan a getaway, sit still, demand respect, be convivial, whatever she needs to do to express her power and intention to live.
Women and the dynamics of our interaction with one another can be a beautiful and scary thing.
It’s easy to confuse the friend you can be to others with the friend they can be to you. Once you distinguish and understand how far each friendship is suppose to go, how deep things can or cannot get, everything else is easy.
No more guessing how to feel, what to say, or how it’s suppose to turn out. You learn to let go and just sail…experiencing all the waves and unexpected bumps along the journey while taking in the amazing view that unfolds before you.
There was a time when it was important for me to be the first to know, to be called upon for that favor, expected her arrival at my special event, looked for her response in the mail, or hoped for a visit, and I remember the disappointments.
At times, I held back my best because of doubts or assumptions I’d made about a friend’s love for me. I remember the day I stopped making assumptions.
I was splitting time between friends while on a visit back home and wasn’t sure if I’d see one friend in particular. She’d been missing in action and I felt sad about not being in touch, even hurt that she didn’t look for me, but when I told her I was in town, she made plans to see me. I wasn’t sure how the visit would go, but when she arrived, I was caught off guard.
She had a huge smile across her face, immense joy and tears in her eyes, and offered me an embrace that was seemingly unending. She even brought me gifts! I was confused by her generosity, excitement and pure happiness. Previously, we’d been out of touch, not speaking about this unspoken distance and I was concerned for our friendship, but with sincere intention, she assured me of all her love for me.
I could see it, really feel it, and was humbled by it. I was appreciated as a person, as her friend.
Although she hadn’t been expressing how she felt in between visits, she was speaking loud and clear in this moment and that’s what mattered. That was all that ever mattered.
From that point on, I didn’t feel the need to be in constant contact, to be told every secret, to be visited or for her to be present at every milestone in my life…I just needed to know that she loved me, she really loved me and always wanted the best for me.
What a gust of wind to the already wide open doors of my heart. It was quite the epiphany and that wisdom gained has since helped me lift the burdens of expectation on my relationships, allowing me to truly live and let live.
Recently, I was reminded yet again of the love between friends and how electric the exchange can be. Upon returning home, there was a pretty package left for me at the front door. Completely surprised, I rushed in to see what awaited me and soon pulled out from under a plethora of tissue paper a sexy coffee mug filled with packets of Earl Grey tea, a coffee table book on Frida Kahlo, and a card that said, “You’ve been such a good friend to me…”
An expression of gratitude came about because one woman felt nurtured by another
and was therefore contributing to the pure love already flowing between the two of them. This moment turned precious memory inspired the desire for me to continue nourishing her with the best of me. I’m encouraged by such acts and wish for you to be part of the flow.
Immerse yourself in these currents of pure emotion and let your cup runneth over and spill into all the rivers, streams and lakes that make up your world of friends, then…watch it all return…back to you.
TweetTake The Stage
The Artist, The Muse, & The Monologue
Come art, come art, wherever you are…
Art…are you out there?
You scare me.
Intrigue me.
Overwhelm me.
Calm me.
Love me.
Bestow upon me a great power.
Where oh where art thou my one and only inspiration? You are my other half.
Mi media naranja.
My everything.
My worst enemy. Wait.
Are you?
No.
We are each one’s beloved.
Yes.
That’s more like it.
What do you think of you?
The way you are forming, flowing,
shape-shifting from one word to another,
yes, do you see it all unveiling?
In these few moments,
as we journey together,
it is unnerving, yet unraveling before me.
You make your appearance
and I am happy to see,
and I am afraid,
but I trust in something beyond
you,
beyond
me,
so I can
watch and wait
to see
what you will become,
what you will turn out to be,
how you will represent me.
Are you me?
No.
But I see you. And you see me.
We simply know…
You come from within me.
Like a baby,
a seed I have been nourishing,
quietly,
without full understanding
and comprehension
and finally the moment arrives.
I give birth to you
and there you are,
fresh and new,
pure,
completely open and vulnerable,
yet untouchable.
Wisdom tells me to release you,
to let you flourish on your own.
How will you be seen?
That is not my concern.
You are part of me
yet
separate.
I am a channel. Simply.
Respectfully.
You are your own masterpiece.
As I am too.
Open Your Heart
Open Heart
