When the last issue of "Dare To Play It Big" came out in July, I was at the Glade festival in UK, camping and dancing for three days. I had a great time with people and a few interesting realizations and learning experiences.

I came back recharged, ready to continue working on the many projects that I've got going. This has been a very productive month in terms of getting things done - and I love getting things done.

And of course I came back to my beloved balcony garden. This year I'm growing tomatoes among many other things, and I have been enjoying some already in salads. My own home-grown tomatoes in central London - I love it.

Based on a few experiences I've had recently, the article of this month talks about how we can use all the experiences we go through, pleasant and not-so-pleasant, as stepping stones in our lives, for our growth. Check it out!

You are surely aware of the topic of climate change and may have heard about some of the different initiatives that individuals, organizations and governments take to reduce the impact that the human race has on the environment.

One of these initiatives is to reduce our carbon footprint. A carbon footprint is "the total set of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event or product" (UK Carbon Trust 2008). Greenhouse gas emissions have an enormous impact on the environment; for instance, they damage the ozone layer, which we need as protection from the sun's ultraviolet light.

I found a web site that helps you calculate your carbon footprint and also offers tips for our every day activities to reduce the impact that we have on the environment.

Very interesting - find out more at "What's my carbon footprint?"

Life is beautiful when we live pleasant experiences and have great times - sometimes we wished they never ended. However, it all goes through a cycle and so we also live not-so-pleasant experiences, like being fired, loosing a loved one, or arguing with our partners.

It is my belief that everything that we experience is, if you like, "designed" to help us grow, evolve, and "wake up" or raise our level of consciousness.

After I have had a not-so-pleasant experience, I like to find the value in it for me - and I invariably find not only one, but several gems of knowledge which help me on my journey.

For instance, I may extract a lesson: something that I did which I can do better or in a different way next time. Or I may deepen on my understanding and living of certain qualities which I like to have, such as patience or compassion.

In this way, we can use every experience we have in life, be that small or large, to help us grow. For example, you could take something like being bothered by noise (which is quite noticeable if you live in a city) as a practice to become more patient and tolerating - you could imagine yourself being transparent, or repeat a mantra such as "I am at ease".

Play with experiences - discover what's the best thing you can get from every experience you live. Sometimes I like thinking of life as one of those computer games in which your character goes through different stages or scenarios, collecting tools and confronting challenges, coming out victorious on to the next stage.

In the same way we encounter different experiences in life, some easy to deal with, some not so, and we collect "tools" of knowledge and wisdom, and come out victorious on to the next stage of our lives.

I invite you to look at the next difficult situation in your life with different eyes, and to strive to see it as a stepping stone on your journey. You may just find some invaluable insights in the situation which you may not have found otherwise.

I found this meditational labyrinth online a while ago, and every now and then I do the gratefulness labyrinth pilgrimage.

This is a labyrinth which you can choose to either travel (with your mouse) or you let yourself be carried through it.

Travelling through the labyrinth is very soothing and relaxing. It also has hidden surprises in its corners: images and quotes which you can use as a meditation.

Such a nice little relaxing tool: it's the Gratefulness Labyrinth Pilgrimage. Check it out!

I believe that being grateful for something is one of the most powerful tools to feel better immediately. Here are the two thanking bits of the month:

Thankful for... the kaizen technique. I told you about it in issue #19 of this newsletter - the kaizen technique consists on taking the smallest step possible towards accomplishing a goal, and it has cumulative effects overtime. I'm thankful that the kaizen technique is allowing me to accomplish a lot in several areas of my life.

Thankful for... dreams. I mean the dreams we have when we sleep: I believe that dreams bring to the conscious mind information about ourselves and our lives which we hadn't looked at. I am thankful for my dreams, for they bring me a deeper understanding of my life at any moment.

What are you thankful for? Send me an email trough the Contact Me form and let me know!

Care to send me your thoughts about this issue's topics? Email me and let me know!

If you enjoyed this newsletter, please pass it along to your friends, family and colleagues, or send them to the Dare To Play It Big sign up page. I thank you in advance.

Stay well,

Cristina