You may remember a blog favorite from last year: Just Another Day On The (Nude) Beach. It’s a great honeymoon story about the adventure with my hubby on a nude beach in St. Martin, almost 16 years ago! The entertaining tale certainly lives on…

It’s fun to see our story featured in a big-time magazine; the one and only publication we’ve been subscribing to for years! It keeps us in touch with what we love: the Caribbean and everything the region represents. Turquoise waters, laid-back vibe, soft white sand, palm trees blowing in the warm breeze, sun on the skin, lush landscape, groovy music, an abundance of time, simplicity, and friendly attitudes. Ahhh…

Are you a fan of the Caribbean? If so, what’s your favorite spot?

There wasn’t much time to bask in the afterglow from the concert the night before. This was a new day, and tickets needed to be scored! Previously, I said I wanted front row seats for this second of two Neil Diamond shows, and in the back of my mind I wondered how realistic that really was. And after such a fantastic experience the night before, could this now be asking too much?

But I held strong. Why not?

Expecting the best

Once again, there were no good seats available for the show that night and tickets on the broker websites were exorbitantly priced. As Bill headed out for work that morning, he pulled one of his Hawaiian shirts out of the closet and said, “I’m gonna wear this tonight. It’s my new ‘front row center’ shirt!” Have you heard that old adage: “Act as if”? Well, my trusting hubby was acting as if we would be sitting in the front row. What a great attitude to choose, and I figured I better adopt it as well. I had nothing to lose!

Our plan for the evening was to get downtown early and let things unfold again. But as a back-up plan, throughout the day we searched the internet for other possibilities. In the afternoon we checked online one final time. And not only had ticket prices dropped…but one special pair of front row center tickets was staring right at us for a ridiculously low price! WHAT?!

We certainly didn’t foresee it working out this way, but here were those front row seats I asked for!

So we grabbed ‘em.

Only two lucky people out of the 17,000 or so concertgoers got those amazing seats—front row, dead center. What a thrill!

Ready for fun

It was a beautiful summer evening and we finished work early to get started on the festivities. We love to make a big deal out of everything. It wasn’t just a “concert” to us, but a whole “experience.” So we enjoyed walking around, people-watching, bar hopping, talking with other fans, having dinner on an outdoor patio, and taking in the warmth of the summer evening…in awe of the city buzz all around us.

We felt so fortunate to have the best tickets in-hand and talked about what we wanted out of the night. With our immense gratitude in tow, we decided that we had a job to do up front. We wanted to show Neil and the band a good time, just as they have showed their fans a good time for decades. What a unique and special opportunity to let them know how much we loved and enjoyed them.

Once inside the arena, we made the trek down to our seats—down several tiers of steps and all the way to the front, feeling very special and having to go through a multitude of checkpoints. Instead of the usual, “Can I help you find your seats?” question from security, most of them just smiled and said: “You know where to go!”

We were pretty surprised, though, when we got up to the front. All the way along our row I was cheering to the other lucky people around us saying, “Isn’t this great? Aren’t these seats awesome? This is going to be a fantastic show!”

But I didn’t get much response. The reality: We were sitting around others who weren’t quite as thrilled with the opportunity. One woman had won her tickets and even complained that she was too close to the stage!

Taking our roles seriously

Okay. So after taking the pulse of the group, we did have a job to do. We felt so blessed and honored to have these amazing seats and wanted to share our gratitude and enthusiasm. We wanted to help create a lively and energetic mood up front. The band needed us and our section needed us.

We were up for the task!

And so for the entire two hour-plus concert, we were on fire. Our genuine full-faced smiles beamed light and energy onto the stage. We danced and clapped, yelling out the words to all the songs.

What was absolutely amazing was to see that whenever we shot up out of our seats, we’d look around and see the people behind us then follow and jump up, too; and then our whole section; and then the rest of the arena…all the way up to the top! Pretty cool. Even our new friends right around us were dancing and enjoying the show, no longer able to contain their smiles.

Mission accomplished.

Connnecting with the band

From our front row center spot, we exchanged smiles, nods, and acknowledgments with many of the band members. We knew they felt our energy there and enjoyed our presence. What an experience to be up front, and this time, the legendary performer who I had loved and respected since I was 12 was only about six feet in front of us much of the time! We were totally present, completely in the moment, laser focused, and enjoying every minute. It was definitely a “highlight-of-a-lifetime” evening for me.

After the show we walked across the street to a hotel bar. And on our walk from the arena, we felt like celebrities as people came up to us and said, “Hey, you were the guy in the front row!” and “How did you get those amazing seats?” and “You certainly looked like you were having fun!” Obviously, Bill’s loud Hawaiian shirt was easy to spot.

The best part was when we walked into the bar and one of Neil’s guitarists was there mingling with fans. We went over to thank him for a great show. And with a big smile to show that he recognized us, he shook our hands and said, “Hey, I saw you guys in front. You obviously had a great time and that’s what makes it all worthwhile for us. Thanks so much!”

So that defining moment for me a few years ago showed up in the form of concert tickets and an awe-inspiring experience. I was clear on what I wanted. I said it out loud. I trusted it to show up (that is, with a little help from my partner). I figured that everything would unfold exactly as it was meant to; things always, always do anyway.

We were supposed to be there up in the front.

Bill taught me the power of “acting as if”; what’s there to lose?

Gratitude and joy go hand-in-hand

I also learned that gratefulness plays a huge role in the scheme of things, and that when you come from a humble place of pure intention and playfulness, nothing is too much to ask for—not even front row center.

Since then, I’ve seen close to 40 concerts all from within about five rows…and more than half of those shows have been in the front row. And every time, there’s an amazing story about how it all happened and why it was meant to be. Truly mind-blowing. The common thread each time is that it all comes down to me following my joy.

Wanna read another great story on how the Law of Attraction helped me get front row seats to sold-out shows two nights in a row with The Who? Check out Rockin’ With The Who.

My very first experience being in the front row and how it impacted me was actually the catalyst for my initial blog post! It was with Fleetwood Mac; see it here at: Following Your Joy, Fleetwood Mac Style.

And finally, to see a really cool story about the pinnacle of seeing Neil Diamond from the front row four years later, definitely read this one!

So let’s wrap-up. Coming from a place of gratitude:

–What will you ask for that feels like a stretch?

–What will you do to “act as if”?

–How will you trust and allow it to come to you?

Enjoy the ride! It’s all worth it…every single minute of it.

A big Neil Diamond fan

Quick backdrop: My love of Neil started in the early 80’s, when getting tickets to concerts was a whole different deal. I skipped school one day in 8th grade, standing in line for tickets for eight hours! Through the years I’ve remained a loyal and faithful fan.

It’s been a fun constant in my life from the days of feathered hair and braces…to my wild college years…to maturing into adulthood…and to most recently hitting the big 4-0. Throughout it all, when Neil goes on tour, you can bet that I am there.

So on the day before the festivities back in ‘05, believe it or not, this huge fan (me) did not have tickets for the shows. While mediocre seats were available, I wanted the best. I had gotten in touch with all my connections, searched the Internet, and tried a few tricks. But I didn’t seem to be getting anywhere.

I started to wonder if I was going to have to pay a fortune to get those great seats I wanted, and I wasn’t sure what to do. It certainly wasn’t a good time for us to be spending extra money, and I couldn’t imagine how there would ever be good seats still available for such a high-demand entertainer?

When Bill came home from work, he could sense my turmoil about not having tickets, as the first of the two shows was closing in on 24 hours away. I told him about all the roadblocks I had come up against, and he stopped me dead in my tracks and asked:

“So, what exactly do you want?”

Daring to be bold

I sat up straight and said emphatically: “I want great seats the first night…and front row seats the second night.”

Then I flashed Bill a big smile and for a moment I thought that I probably sounded ridiculous. But I knew that’s what I wanted so I figured I might as well say it; he asked a simple question and I gave him a simple answer. So I put it out there, I let it go, and I trusted that all would work out exactly as it was supposed to.

The day of the show came and we headed downtown for a night of fun. I knew as a last resort we could count on getting tickets from the brokers outside the arena, even if we had to pay a premium. But when we got downtown, there were no brokers around, and when I checked at the box office, no good seats had opened up. Hmm. This wasn’t going like I planned. But we found a bar to hang out for a while, still knowing everything would work out…somehow.

Then out of the blue, I was overwhelmed with a feeling to take action! I told Bill I would be right back and shot out of the bar, running down the street to the arena ticket office.

Out of breath, I made my way up to the ticket booth and said to the woman behind the window wearing a headset, “Did anything open up yet?” She had seen me before, and she knew I didn’t mean just “anything.” I wanted the best.

It was just about an hour before show time. She punched a few keys on her computer, looked at me with a mischievous grin, moved her microphone closer to her mouth, and said through the glass quietly as though she had a secret: “I’ve got second row center.”

The power of trusting

Wow! The stars were aligned, and those tickets were meant for me. I couldn’t believe how excited I was (and I only had to pay face value)! On a bigger-picture level, though, the excitement wasn’t all about “the seats.” This was about the power of being clear on what I wanted, saying it out loud, and then trusting it to come.

I ran as fast as I could down the block, leaping over curbs and clutching the freshly printed tickets to my chest. I raced past a myriad of bars and restaurants that were pumping Neil’s music out of their open windows. I could barely wait to tell Bill! I found him at the bar exactly where he said he would wait for me. We hugged each other with a tight “Yeah, we knew this would happen” embrace.

We trusted and look what happened.

That night we allowed the evening to unfold and it was absolutely perfect. Neil was about ten feet in front of us much of the time, and it was almost like a dream as the spotlight behind him kept casting shadows on us! We had a blast…dancing and singing in our own little cheering section right up front and following our joy.

* * * * * * * * *

Concert #1 rocked; how about concert #2?

And so the drama continued. Next day, no tickets for the second show. We wondered what to do. My request for the second night was front row…but how could anything surpass what we had just experienced? And was that now asking too much?

Check out the next post to see what happened!

Many of you who know Bill and me have heard this story before, and many of you have even graciously paid it forward and re-counted the legendary tale to friends; everyone enjoying a good laugh at our expense.

Through the years, we’ve had people who meet us for the first time say, “Oh! So you’re the couple who…” Yep, it’s us. So at your urging to share this story again—and because it definitely ties-in with following your joy—here it is in print.

Following our wedding day in 1994 we embarked on a honeymoon cruise to the Caribbean. The week of vacation was magnificent, and it was a wonderful way to start our new lives together, especially after all the fanfare of a big, traditional wedding.

On the cruise ship following our first day at sea, we attended a big meeting led by the Cruise Director telling us what to expect on our first port of call—the West Indian island of St. Maarten/St. Martin.

Getting “briefed” on the nude beach

“The island is half French and half Dutch,” he said, “And you may have heard about the nude beaches on the French side…” The group of about a hundred of us seated in the glitzy Las Vegas-style lounge snickered and giggled at the idea, but the voice behind the microphone abruptly stopped us: “Don’t get excited,” he said, “It’s not like you’ll see Bo Derek on the beach; it’s gonna be more like Bo Diddley.”

More laughter.

Then in addition to explaining a bit about shopping, taxis, and customs, the Cruise Director further explained that cameras would not be allowed on the clothing-optional section of the beach.

Everyone had a chance to ask their questions and on the way back to our cabin, my new husband of four days said to me, “So what do you think?”

That night before we fell asleep, we talked and nervously giggled some more about the possibility of visiting a nude beach. As the ship’s engine hummed through the starlit sea that night, we were rocked to sleep and drifted off into slumber, preparing for the next day’s adventures.

Ready to check it out

Morning came and St. Martin awaited us! After breakfast on the deck, we hailed a cab to the beach on the French side which came highly recommended: Orient Beach. And, just in case we got up the courage to see what all the hype was about…we were assured that yes, there was a nude section on that particular beach.

After a wild cab ride across the island, we got dropped off at this glorious stretch of beach. We began our excursion on the clothed side, and it was beautiful! The soft sand melted underneath our feet and the sun beat down on our tanned faces. We found a spot in the sand and planted ourselves.

But curiosity got the best of us! So off we went and made our way up the beach and eventually walked past a sign that warned visitors to leave their cameras behind.

There we were on the much talked about nude side of the beach. Lots of vacationers sans suits—sunbathing, swimming, or walking along the shore. And the Cruise Director was right: sexy film star Bo Derek was nowhere to be found.

Curious about this new experience—and hiding behind our sunglasses—we walked and we walked and we walked, taking it all in. And when we came to the end of the beach, we were at a sort of crossroads with a decision to make.

“What do you think?” “Do you want to?” “Should we?” we asked one another, knowing full well the reference of these vague inquiries. Back and forth, we conversed through uneasy laughter, realizing that this could be a priceless opportunity to get in on the fun, half-way across the world. After all, it was no big deal—this was the way they did it here. There were lots of nude families relaxing with their children, and no one seemed to care either way.

We chose to seize the opportunity.

Being brave

But wait! How and where do we strip down, we wondered? We didn’t see anyone else taking off their suits—they just sort of appeared naked.

More anxious chatter between us newlyweds ensued: “Do we go in the water and take off our suits and then walk around? Or should we go behind a tree and take them off, or what?” What was the etiquette here? We felt silly and weren’t sure how to proceed. After more fruitless discussion, I grew frustrated and said, “Okay, let’s stop this and just do it here!”

And so off came our suits.

We started walking hand-in-hand, with ear-to-ear smiles on our bright young faces. While my groom scrunched up his trunks neatly into a ball in his fist, I clutched my neon tropical bikini top complete with starchy underwire that measured a foot in length (that would not fold or give) with floral straps and all dangling in the breeze. It was obvious we were first-timers.

The Caribbean air felt incredible on our skin! What a rare opportunity to shed the beliefs we both held so tightly back home—to hide our bodies and their imperfections. These folks down here sure did it right!

About half a minute into our stroll and just starting to enjoy our newfound freedom, I squinted off into the distance and was horrified by an unnatural sight that jolted this perfect moment into a state of panic. “SH*T!” I shouted and squeezed my partner’s hand so tight that it almost cut off his circulation.

Leisurely strolling toward us on the beach was my husband’s co-worker and his wife…both with their suits ON!

Sheer panic

Do you ever hear about a defining moment in one’s life that makes time literally stand still? Well, this was one of them. In hindsight, the logical thing to do would have been to simply turn around and walk the other way; no problem. Instead, however, the panic button was fully activated inside both of us and we freaked. The “fight or flight” human response kicked into full gear. And so we ran! We ran up the beach, suits in hand, fearfully looking over our shoulders and hoping the couple didn’t see us.

A few minutes earlier we marveled at how wonderful it was that no one was looking at us, but now…everyone was looking at us. It was not fun to run naked. We made our way up the beach, dodging coolers and beach chairs, jumping over picnics, until we were safely away and could get those all-important suits back on ASAP! To put it mildly, our heart rates climbed up to danger levels.

Now clothed and exhausted from the adrenaline rush, we made our way back to our towels, packed up, and got our cab back to the ship. We were embarrassed and flustered.

At our table of six that evening at dinner—and during the nightly ritual of going around and answering the question, “What did you do today?”—we sheepishly recounted our experience to the group. And to our surprise, we were cheered on by our tablemates! They wished they had had the courage to do what we did! That new perspective helped us move from sheer embarrassment to now feeling a bit proud.

As our group dug into dessert, my hubby kicked me under the table. From across the dining room, the co-worker and his wife spotted us and rushed over with warm hellos and hugs! It turned out that this couple was also on their honeymoon and got married the same day we did. Who knew?! To this day, we still wonder if they saw us on the beach in St. Martin.

Moral of the story: It is a small world, after all.

Feeling proud

The couple walked away, and our tablemates busted up laughing, making a mess of their chocolate mousse. My true love and I exchanged glances across the table that needed no explaining. We were proud of ourselves for being brave and liked the idea that we had a story ‘to write home about.’

Fifteen years later, this tale lives on, and still reminds us to be bold and have some fun in life. And it’s a story that seems to bring joy to our friends who love (a little too much) to pass it along.

What crazy thing are you willing to try that would make your friends proud?!

*Note: Remember that when you share your joy, the joy multiplies. This post was published in the May 2010 issue of Caribbean Travel + Life! Exciting!

One of the things I do in my work as a Professional Coach is help my clients clarify and “name” what it is that makes them come alive. And sometimes it can be a little elusive to identify, or define, specifically what that is. A good way can be to take the cues from those around you.

Feel-good music and concerts

For me, one of those things is music. The deal for me was sealed when my aunt left a message on our voice mail the other day. She was returning my call about the Chicago / Earth, Wind & Fire concert—I wanted to know how she liked it. And her message said, “The best part of the show was watching you and Bill through my binoculars dancing up a storm!” At first I was a little embarrassed. But then I realized that yep, that was just me, following my joy.

Then one of my clients emailed me the next day and said how she enjoyed our “show” up front! Okay, slightly embarrassed again, but what are ya gonna do? Also reminds me of the time that Bill and I were at a Neil Diamond concert in Sioux City, IA. Afterwards, one of the local radio station DJ’s waved us over outside the arena and said, “Hey, I saw you guys up front. You two were the happiest sons of bitches in the building!” Funny. Okay, I think I got the message.

Really great feel-good music can give me goosebumps on a 90-degree day. And that same music can propel me into a feeling of gratefulness for being alive.

Interestingly enough, for years I have been struggling with how to start out each day on the right foot. I try meditating, but I lose interest. I try reading, but I’m anxious to get going and get on with my day. I try exercising, but I get impatient. In my quest for an easy and enjoyable ritual to begin my day, I now find a song to blast each morning to get me going, and I like my tune loud so that it fills the room. That really does it for me! This morning I chose Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered.” Let’s just say that after feeling that song in my blood, I knew it was going to be a good day. :)

Connecting hearts and spreading joy

Sadly, our great music legend, Michael Jackson, died recently. And I have been moved to tears on several occasions by watching the video tributes out there as well as listening to some of his amazing music. Regardless of anything else you may have heard about him—on a world level, he gave us a gift that connects hearts and souls over oceans, over continents, and over cultures and languages.

Michael gave us the gift of feel-good music that just makes you want to dance and embrace the notion that life is good. Every year when Bill and I go on a cruise, it’s our tradition to request Michael’s “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” in the ship disco to get the boat rockin’. And the coolest part of it all is that the dance floor becomes filled with people from all over the world who speak different languages—but who, in that moment, are all one; all there to have a good time and enjoy life. It’s a pretty incredible experience.

And so as Bill and I were dancing at the concert during Chicago’s “Make Me Smile” and Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Singasong”…I reached in my pocket to touch the flat coin-like blessing ring that I always keep with me. The words inscribed on it say: “Joy: It’s What You Live For.” I felt the bass in my chest and felt the music fill me up to the top. The more I follow my joy and embrace it and honor it, the more the magic continues to unfold for me. And the joy comes back ten-fold, too! (On the flip side, when I shrink back and follow the “should’s” of life…that’s when I get into trouble).

What do others notice about you or tell you that they see you enjoy doing? What tips you off or affirms that you are following your joy?

My clients seem to love filling out this worksheet. It’s an exercise that helps you get in touch with the things that make you come alive; the things that bring you joy. Take a few minutes to print out and complete this worksheet to make sure you know the best ways to follow your joy. Talk it over with a friend or a partner, and have them do the exercise, too (of course, this will be unique and different for each person doing the exercise).

The more you can help others follow their joy, the more you indirectly give them “permission” to be who they are. And what a gift that is.

One of my favorite quotes by Harold Whitman says it perfectly: “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

So, what makes YOU come alive?

It was July 2004 in Cedar Falls, Iowa, when a turning point occurred in my life. Bill and I were on a road trip to see one of our favorite bands, Fleetwood Mac. I’ll never forget how sweltering hot it was driving through the Iowa cornfields to get there—the kind of heat where you can see the psychedelic-looking steam radiate off the scorching hood of the car while you’re cruising down the two-lane highway.

And to add to the mid-summer drama, the cicadas (you know, those insects that sound like a major power line buzzing) were engaged in a full-out blast.

If you don’t already know this about me, I’m a huge concert enthusiast. I LOVE classic rock and paying tribute to the legends that helped shape the world of music in the late 60’s and on through the 70’s. I’ve been going to shows since I was a kid and thoroughly enjoying it all along. When I met Bill, I was so happy that he was a rocker just like me (my mom always did say that he was the “male version” of me and vice versa). :)

On that hot summer day, we were so excited to see the band live once again. But this time it was different. This time we had front row seats.

Why the front row rocks

Of course the show was phenomenal and it was a thrill to be so close. I had never experienced anything like it! And what I realized on this night is that being up front represented something for me; something big. In the front, I was no longer a “spectator” on the sidelines, watching the show.

Instead, from this place, I felt powerful. I felt as though I was an actual participant in the show. (Well, actually I was. I did get to play front-man Lindsey Buckingham’s guitar during “Go Your Own Way” as he knelt down from the stage and held his guitar out to a few of us lucky ones. It was a fun story to brag about when we got home!).

The front row experience that night impacted me so greatly that I began writing down ideas as soon as we got back to our hotel room (but of course not until after we made our traditional late-night/post-concert run to a nearby Taco Bell drive-through).

I pondered re-naming our coaching business “Front Row Coaching.” And the tagline: “Because life is not a spectator sport.” I felt called to help others live their lives boldly! In the front row, I was in the game; the game of my life. And it wasn’t until that moment that I realized I had spent much of my life on the sidelines as that “spectator.”

I felt ready to step up with a primal desire to take charge of my life, to live out loud, to be my best…following my joy. And, to be in the front row of the most important show of all for me: My life!

I never did re-name my coaching business (but that’s okay because the focus of my coaching is still the same—I work with my clients to live their absolute best lives). So instead, and more importantly, I re-worked my life with this new perspective.

You’ll hear a lot more from me on my front row experiences, as they’re very symbolic in my life journey.* The front row is one of the many, many places I feel alive…not only because I’m shouting along and dancing to music performed right in front of me by amazing rockers, but because I’m following my joy.

In the movie The Secret,one of my favorite inspirational teachers, Jack Canfield, said, “My primary aim is to feel and experience joy…and then I constantly put myself in that state.” Right on, Jack! And so this blog is dedicated to the magic that happens in your life when you make the conscious decision to be following your joy. Thanks for riding along on the journey with me.

*Editor’s note: For more great front-row stories with legendary musicians, check these out!

–Rockin’ With The Who

–How Synchronicity Led To A Front Row Kiss

–Is Front Row Asking Too Much?