You may want to ask a few trusted friends this question about your name. See what trends are in their responses.

Now apply Picasso technique. Answer this same question again but draw your answer. Pictures and words each access different responses. When you look in both places -- words and pictures -- you will find a much more complete answer than if you looked in only one.

After you have discovered significance of your name, decide if you like it. If so, celebrate it in joy and self-respect.

If not, choose a new significance. Write about it. Draw it. Then go out and live it. You have right, responsibility and power to determine meaning of your name, and your life. You and your name can stand for whatever you desire.

Attention, everyone! Meet newest entry in _Who's Who_ of entire galaxy. With a drum roll and trumpet blast, I proudly introduce -- you!

©Copyright 2002 Stephanie West Allen

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You have to be able to TENDER. When a ship can't get up to a harbor, it anchors and then sends people ashore on smaller boats. To tender in your own situation, you need to use creativity. How else can you get where you need to get when Plan A didn't work out?

Passing MUSTER is also essential. Muster is an emergency plan. It means putting on your life vest and reporting to your assigned muster station. This is practiced in calm times so you'll 'know drill'. Having been through it in a calm and rational time, presumably in a state of panic your body will remember while your mind is flooded with emotion, and you'll get where you need to get. Do you know where muster station is? Practice in quiet times. You'll need knowledge in emergencies.

What ship doesn’t encounter WINDS OF CHANGE. Winds are always blowing in a transition. It's typical to experience ambivalence, wanting thing that's gone, wanting to move forward, fear of unknown, survivor guilt, confusion, joy, sadness, anticipation. Today you're glad you got promotion and ready to go, tomorrow you dread new responsiblity, doubt you can handle it, and mourn changed relationships. The winds can toss you about without anchor of your Personal Power and your Stabilizers.

Stormy seas have WAVES. It matters size of adversity, and succession of adverse events. One large wave can really knock you over. So can a rapid succession of smaller waves. 60' waves routinely roll in slowly, one by one in Pacific, causing no problem, but a rapid succession of 30' waves sank Edmund Fitzgerald on Lake Superior. It had no time to recover, to right itself. Depending upon relative size of your craft and size of wave, it's best to turn and face wave rather than taking it broadside. Turn and face your problems head-on; it will be easier in long run. There’s nothing worse than getting side-swiped. The trench of wave is how it effects you - it may look like just a house your leaving to someone else, but to you it's your memories and your home. Learn about you, learn about waves.

Study transitions. Processing one transition and learning good coping strategies builds resilience and helps you handle next one, and next one. Learn to ride waves to fun and happiness!