Hi, I am Mary Lenihan. I am grateful to be sharing a simple Pause Tool – Pause for Inspiration in the midst of everyday life – with people of all walks of life and also in education with pre-K through adult. Each in their own way, people are seeing the value of practicing this Pause Tool. I find it helps me to call upon my inner resources in communication, relationships, daily activities, and the stuff of life! Most of us are searching for the answer to the question, “What is mine to do?” In practicing Pause, Step Back, Step Aside, and Let Inspiration Guide, I am seizing numerous opportunities to do what is mine to do; wherever I am, whatever I am doing, and whomever I am with. I once thought my part had to be some big accomplishment. Now, as I slow down, get out of my own way, listen to Inner Inspiration, and follow, I am doing my part while living ordinary life! The joy doesn’t end there; I am connecting with who I truly am. You can do your part and encounter who you truly are in this practice. I have always felt called to be of service though not sure how or doubting what I could do that would make a difference – I felt ineffective. Now, instead of feeling ineffective, I love people. Really, that is the bottom line of this practice – connect with one’s Helpful Self on-the-spot with those we encounter along the way – and trust that love will follow.
Mary Gerard Lenihan is the CEO – Chief Encouragement Officer – of WNYHOO─NOW, Inc. – World Needs Your Help One-to-One─NOW! DBA Pause for Inspiration, a nonprofit 501c3 since 2008, with public charity status. All our programs, services, and downloadable materials are free. Mary is a writer, teacher, mover, occupational therapist, and helper. Mary has written and chosen to self-publish the book, Pause for Inspiration, in the midst of everyday life (2013). She writes a weekly Pause article published by St. Louis Job Corps. Mary co-created and collaborated in developing several Pause practices including: Pause For Inspiration, Kids Can Pause, Teens Can Pause, Parents Can Pause, Prisoners Can Pause, and Pause for Love. She is now co-creating a children’s book with two other Pause helpers. Mary has an M.S. in Occupational Therapy from Washington University School of Medicine with faculty honors, a B.A in Dance from Southern Illinois University, a B.A. in Psychology from University of Missouri, both summa cum laude, and is a Certified Movement Analyst from the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies in NYC. Mary has been a presenter of Pause at numerous international conferences in San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Las Vegas, and educational and healthcare conferences in St. Louis, and has also presented Pause at businesses, schools, nonprofits, retreats, and churches. She shares Pause on-the-spot as inspired! The helpful practice of Pause for Inspiration has been requested and is being used by people in over 25 countries. A Present Hope is present to all of us in the midst of living our daily lives, calling us to be a present hope to one another in the encounters on our way.