For a little over a year I’ve been running a weekly blog series I call Crafting my Life. The series documents my journey to craft my life into something new, more in line with the way I want to live. It’s not about being crafty, per se (unless being crafty floats your boat, in which case have at ‘er). It’s about living with intention, and seeking out purpose and something approximating balance.
As part of my journey, I took a class on dreaming. As part of that class, I wrote my life list. It included things like sewing skirts (check!), doing pottery (not yet) and living on the water (someday). It also included this:
- Create a ‘Balancing Motherhood’ workshop.
I’ve decided that it’s time to go ahead and create that workshop for mothers. I’m grabbing life by the horns, and I’m doing it. It will be an online course. It will run for 12 weeks. I am planning to launch it in mid-January, 2011. And it will be called (surprise, surprise!) Crafting my Life. It has its very own website and logo and everything.
What will the course look like? Every week I’ll cover a different topic. I’ll send you a few emails each week. Some of them will include video or audio interviews. Some of them will be mostly informational, and some of them will help you find ways to implement change in your life. All of the emails, interviews, videos and activities will be in small, manageable pieces, that you can do in 5, 10 or 15 minutes. Because I don’t have hours to devote to finding myself, and I’m guessing you don’t, either. On top of the emails, there will also be an online community, so that you can share your ideas, gain inspiration and find some like-minded folks to connect with.
If this sounds like your thing, head on over to Crafting my Life and sign up for my super-cool email list by entering your info on the right where it says ‘Subscribe’. You’ll get emails once a week or so updating you on how the course is progressing, offering tips and giving you access to advance registration and course discounts. I’ll just wait here while you do (or don’t – no pressure).
You’re back? Cool. Here is where I spew forth angst.
I’m terrified. I am creating a course, which is something I think I might be good at but I’ve never done before. The course will not be cheap – it will be more than $80, for sure. I’m afraid that I’ll create it and no one will register. I’m afraid that the people who do register will hate it, and by extension, hate me. I’m afraid that the people who don’t sign up will hate me because I’m engaged in some fairly shameless self-promotion here. The dragons (a.k.a. my lizard brain) are saying that I will put in a bunch of work and the end result will be that I alienate everyone and I’ll be all alone.
Fun stuff, right?
So, let’s make a deal. My end of the deal is this: I am going to do my best to create an awesome course, because this is my freaking dream. But I will not be the least bit offended if it’s not your thing. I am not going to keep mental track of who does sign up, and who doesn’t sign up, or any of that stuff. Your end of the deal is this: you decide if this is your thing or not. If it’s not, know that tomorrow I will be back to my regular schedule of blogging about my kids, so you can still come around and we can still be friends. Fair enough?
But seriously, go visit the site. Leave me an encouraging comment. Vote in my tagline poll. Sign up for email list. Or just stay here and tell me that everything is going to be OK, and you really won’t hate me. Pretty please?
PS – As you may know, I have started including a link-up with my monthly reviews. The reviews are an informal listing of a few things I learned in the past month. My November review will go live at 6am tomorrow, which is December 1. If you want to play along, write a post and link up!
Congratulations Amber! You are amazing and I am sure this course will be too! I now have to see if I can scrape up the money to take your course…because hey…I need to work on crafting my life too!
I visited the site, and I really like it! I think it’s a great idea, Amber! I’ll try to sign up for the class, though I assume it will be repeated every once in a while, or will there be new ones? The reason I ask is because I’m currently working on my master’s and time is a bit tight. But I’d really like to do it. Pretty much every word you’ve ever written has resonated with me, so I’m sure much good would come from me taking the class! I’m looking forward to email updates!
Roula’s last post … November 17th
I am HOPING to run the course a few times a year, at least. However, as this will be the first run, I can’t really commit to what will happen down the road. This could be the one and only run. I hope it’s not, but it’s hard to say how it will all go, you know?
Hurrah, hurrah, congratulations, Amber! And I love that you’ve given me yet another word for the shitbird/Resistance/lizard brain/trolls: the DRAGONS! I love it! In Buddhist lore, the dragons are the keepers of wisdom. In a weird way, you have to pay attention to them. The more strongly they seem to be protesting about a particular course of action, the more certain you can be that that course is the course you should be taking….
Best wishes!
Rachael’s last post … Making His Way- Eric
Nice digs!
I think it’s great and wish you all the best.
If you aim for nowhere in partiular that’s where you’ll get.
Aim is good! You’ve got aim, girl.
I think it’s a brilliant idea! Good for you! Launching something is always terrifying, but there’s only one way to find out if it will work. I wish you all the best!
I love this Amber and I think it’s going to be great. It’s my favourite part of your blog and I think a course is a super awesome idea.
I suppose if your dragons are getting really loud, you could always try a test run of the course with a family/friend special discount or limited number of participants so you can work out the kinks before the big reveal. I’m sure you’ve considered that already and you seem ready to take on those dragons!
I’m sure the course will do well and that everyone will still love you regardless of what happens.
Awesome idea Amber. Congratulations on your BOLD step forward!
I think you are very brave, fully capable and already successful for for trying something new! And even if some people don’t sign up for it you are inspiring other women to step outside their own comfort zone and try something new for themselves. Way to go!
Melodie’s last post … Pity Party
i think this is SO FREAKIN AWESOME. i thought about starting an e-course around the time i was launching my soyala site and then i just let my lizard brain talk me out of it.
go you!!!!!
It’s very courageous of you. I used to TA and would love to teach again in the future. Sounds like you will have quite the adventure in this course. Best of luck
mommyingaround’s last post … 2 year developmental update
Wow this is incredible!!! I’m so excited for you.
Steph
Adventures In Babywearing’s last post … Breastfeeding Beyond the Baby
I’m all signed up and ready to go. This is definitely something I need right now. LOL
Summer’s last post … Living Small
Best of luck with your venture Amber. I’m sure it will be great!
Annie @ PhD in Parenting’s last post … Risks of Informal Breastmilk Sharing versus Formula Feeding
I’m jumping up and down, I’m SO proud of you!!! You are doing things decently and in order, and following the prompts of the spirit. I just KNOW that your course will be a huge blessing to many women!! Celebrate YOU!
Congrats on your launch!!!!! I SO want to take it, but your “more than $80, for sure” is making me nervous. $800? $8000? LOL, what does that mean? I want to know if it will even be an option for me before I get all excited.
Amber’s last post … Perspective or- this too shall pass
I will tell you two things:
1) I will be sharing pricing and registration info in my next e-newsletter on Saturday, so you’ll have the info soon.
2) I chose $80 because it will be more than that, but not two times more, if that gives you an idea.
Honestly, I’m not trying to be coy. I’m still figuring it out. But I’ll have the answer soon.
I am breathless with admiration. Although I am going to stick to my much-less-life-affirming but sort -of -exciting- nonetheless library technician courses for the time being. I wish you all the success you have worked for.
allison’s last post … Little Ray of Sunday
Your logo rocks!!! It’s very professional and inviting.
I love the idea. I’ve been on the verge of changing my work life around and it’s been on my mind for nearly 2 years… so yea, very much a good time for me to consider “crafting my life”.
Aida N’s last post … Say Hi Santa!
Full of admiration for your gumption, your bravery, your get-up-and-go, your Face the Fear and Do It Anyway’ness. Love what someone upthread said about dragons. And what someone else said about going where you aim.
Anyway, you are already a success. I can’t believe how much you do in a day. And how you do it with such gusto! You are committed and enthusiastic, not to mention smart as a cracking whip. It’s all going to work out beautifully.
clara’s last post … One Month Till Christmas!
I love your logo, I forgot to come back and tell you the other day. I’m really in awe at your determination and speed of action, and I’m excited about the community idea!
Francesca’s last post … Harvest in the snow
Your Crafting My Life posts are usually my favorite to read – I really find connection in them. I’m excited for your new launch!
kelly @kellynaturally’s last post … Reconnecting Through Laughter
Good for you! I love the logo and the class sounds like it will be very popular.
Lady M’s last post … Calling Home Decorators
I am seriously impressed! How brave of you, and how admirable that you managed to do this while living essentially the same type of life I’m living. What the hell am I doing over here? Lady, you are putting me to shame.
Marilyn @ A Lot of Loves’s last post … Mini-Baker- Wednesday of Few Words
Love the logo and the course idea is a perfectly brilliant idea! It’s simply (yeah, I know) the next step for you in the series of steps I’ve so enjoyed watching you take.
It will be so much fun, and, I expect, will lead you to places you never dreamed of. (“Dare to dream”. Now there’s another tagline…). Just keep taking the next step. You don’t have to have the whole journey mapped out. Just keep making that leap of faith and all will be well. In fact, it will be frickin’ fabulous!
As usual I love your enthusiasm, thoughtfulness, vulnerablility and humour. It’s the Amber formula .And it’s a winner!
xo
This sounds awesome. Hopefully I’ll be able to get it in in the future when we aren’t always broke
Good luck!
Jennifer Albin’s last post … Nurse-Ins are for Everyone Guest Post