Measuring Value

Posted on by Alice Langholt

Last weekend, I was a vendor at the Victory of Light Expo in Cincinnati, Ohio. I’ve been a vendor at that expo (which happens twice a year) seven times now. I enjoy it. I have a booth in a high traffic, centrally located corner, and I teach a workshop. About 5,000 people come through during the weekend. I offer Reiki sessions, show and sell my books, cards, pendulums, give stone readings, and generally work my little energized butt off for two very full days. 

But, this year was different. I wasn’t making the four hour drive from Cleveland, Ohio. I was coming from my new home in Gaithersburg, Maryland. It’s a much longer and complicated trip.

We (my friend and booth buddy, Ernie and I) were already signed up to attend when I found out we’d be moving. So, I decided to make the trip and see how it went. 

I found plane tickets that were reasonably priced, which took off from BWI and landed me in Columbus, Ohio. Ernie picked me up at the airport, had a quick lunch with Connie, my business partner with RAA, and we drove down, set up, worked the expo, and came back Sunday night to Columbus, stayed overnight at Connie’s, and then Ernie took me back to the airport to fly to BWI. Then I drove the hour’s drive back to Gaithersburg. And that’s how things worked, travel-wise.

The expo was huge and busy. I barely had a voice left by Sunday evening. We met lots of people, shared lots of energy, and sold a fair amount of stuff. We came out ahead. 

But I was left thinking about trying to decide if it was “worth it” to go this time. Here’s what I was weighing:

  • Money-wise, I could have made about three times as much if I’d stayed here and taught a class to five students. It wouldn’t have required travel, or the amount of “on time” that the expo demands. It would’ve been quieter, more intimate, and overall much easier than making the trip to the expo.
  • Marketing-wise, at the expo, I’m talking to a huge number of people, some of whom may end up being my student sometime this year. I’m directly giving Reiki to about 25 people, maybe more. I’m giving readings to somewhere around 40. And hundreds of people are taking my business cards and materials, with a possibility of following up. Those who buy my books may write a review, contact me, or recommend them to others. The impact has a high potential for residual value.
  • Then there are the intangibles. I gave Reiki to a lot of people. I talked about Reiki to even more people. I gave readings all weekend. Any of these people could get a favorable impression about Reiki (I hope so!) or hear the message that anyone can learn Reiki. Healing effects really can’t be measured, nor can I track what will happen after the person experiences Reiki for the first time and then goes on with his life. Maybe he will go in a new direction. One pain-ridden, hunched-over person that I gave her first Reiki session to a few years ago at this exact expo went and found herself a Reiki practitioner, and started having weekly Reiki sessions. She became cancer-free in six months. She comes back every time to give me a hug. That’s priceless.

So how can I measure the value of the money, time, energy, and impact? I can’t. And there’s the lesson. 

Just like in the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life,” when the guy has no idea of the impact his life had on others until he is able to invisibly follow them after he had touched their lives in some way, we don’t really know the impact that an act of kindness, a moment of listening closely, or a hug at the right time can create for someone. For us, it might be just a fleeting thing, easily forgotten. But for someone else, it can be the start of a turning point in their lives.

So, I’ve reminded myself that I’m always in the right place at the right time. If I just do my best in each situation, I’m doing exactly what I’m supposed to do. 

I am grateful for that reminder. 
Happy Thanksgiving.   

Reiki Awakening Reiki blog by Alice Langholt

Thanksgiving 2012

Posted on by Alice Langholt

It’s Thanksgiving. 

It’s always good to review the reasons to be grateful around this time. Funny, but it’s really good to do this daily. I even saw a trend on Facebook with some of my friends to post something every day that they were grateful for. 

In the Reiki Precepts, gratitude is one of the five things that are listed as the secret method for inviting happiness. They all are:
  Just for Today, I will
  Avoid anger
  Avoid worry
  Do my work honestly
  Be grateful for all I have
  Treat everyone with kindness.

So now we have a holiday about expressing gratitude. It always kind of makes me laugh. Like Mother’s Day – one day to honor mom, when it would be nice to be treated with respect every day. Many of us do anyway, so why one day a year? To make sure we get to it?

Plus, I kind of have weird feelings about Thansgiving’s origins….but I’m not going there right now.

I have lots to be grateful for. This has been a good year.

Here are the top five on my list. Please read them, and then post your top five as comments here below this blog post, because we’d have a really nice long list if every reader added five!

I am grateful for:

  • The ability to work from home, with all four of my kids in school together. A few hours of quiet during the day help me focus, be productive, and schedule my day with flexibility.
     
  • A growing practice, increased enrollment in my school, fantastic teachers and staff, opportunities to teach in Lily Dale and The Cleveland Clinic, and a new book published this year.
     
  • A supportive husband who very agreeably and competently cares for our four kids those weekends when I go to expos or meetings in Columbus, or teach out of town. He’s a great partner and a wonderful father.
     
  • My wonderful students who send me grateful emails and thoughtful questions daily. Not only do they help validate my purpose in life, they also surround me with love.
     
  • My four children, who fill our house with energy, laughter, love, singing, challenges, and a reminder every day of what family really means. 

Reiki Awakening Reiki blog by Alice Langholt

Thanksgiving 2010

Posted on by Alice Langholt


Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to focus on what blesses our lives. I would like to share some conventional and also some possibly “out there” things that I feel grateful for this Thanksgiving.

  • My wonderful husband, Evan. First, foremost, and always. He is the one who supports, encourages me, and keeps me grounded. He lets me work to grow my Reiki practice and work from home, even when a more “traditional” job would ease some pressure financially. He also helps me make sound business decisions with my unconventional chosen career. Evan is a fantastic and patient father, great cook and regularly pitches in with chores. Every day I love him more. Thank you, Evan. Thank you for being #1 on my list.

  • Our children, Rayna, Sari, Eli and Arin. They are wonderful, unique, energetic, and joyful people who show me new ways to see life. I love watching them grow and all of the dynamics that they bring to our family life. They fill our world with love and enrich it with challenge and blessings.

  • Having a roof over our heads, cars to drive, and food on the table. Regardless of our financial challenges, these essentials are a constant and we’re ok.

  • My parents, grandma, and sisters who love us and are there for me and my family. We have weekly Friday night dinners with my mom, dad and grandma, and we’re so grateful for the bonding that is strengthened by our regular coming together.

  • Good friends, most notably Ernie, Connie, and Valerie, who I love spending time with, admire, and who make life easier, more fun, and help me see myself.

  • Online friends I know from Twitter and Facebook, who remind me that I’m not alone but connected and cared for beyond the confines of my local reality, including (but not limited to): Amy Oscar, Krystal, Quelsen, Manish, Marcel, Don, and Tom.

  • My students, local and online, who have embraced what I offer them with amazement and gratitude, and who push me to think deeply about my own practice and growth every day.

  • All of youwho are caring enough to read my blog, whether you comment or not. It’s nice to know that you are interested. I’m glad you’re here.

Now the other items on my list this year, a little unconventional but still worthy of gratitude:

  • My “just do it” attitude. I am grateful for the trait I have that lets me just jump into new experiences and try them without taking the time to doubt or worry about whether they will be successful in the end. I find that even if something I try is not the best thing for me, I always learn more about myself in making the effort to find out. I’ve surprised myself more than a few times when I’ve taken a chance. I’ve discovered that I spoke well, connected with people, got invited to teach, and learned more about what I’m capable of. Wherever this courage or stupidity comes from, I’m grateful it’s there. An example is that I submitted an audition video for a contest called ReadyfortheStage.com which selects ten people to attend a conference in Washington, DC that helps you get connected with opportunities to speak your message and reach lots of people from the stage at large events. They want to support new businesses that help people. I know that what I do is a little different from their usual participant, but I also know that I have made great effort to grow my practice in many ways, I speak from the heart, and the chance to reach more people would help me spread the message that anyone can learn Reiki and tap into their power for healing. Whether I am selected or not, I feel good about being able to express how passionate I am about teaching Reiki. I think that the experience of creating an audition video will lead somewhere, and I look forward to discovering where. Incidentally, you can support me by tweeting on Twitter to @BlueM, @SuzanneEvans, @davidneagle, and/or @baribmb to select me as a finalist! The results will be announced on Monday, and the event (7event.com) is Dec. 7-11 in Washington, DC. I’ll keep you posted.

  • Times that things did not work out. These have been the events that motivated me to look further, be creative, and try new ideas that ultimately led to bigger and better things. An air of anticipation replaced feelings of failure, and it’s much more positive of a place to be. When registration did not come in for my local Reiki class, I started looking outside the wellness center for opportunities, and came up with new ways to expand my practice. New connections have been initiated, new classes are in the works, and I know progress is being made. I’ll keep you posted about those things as they develop.

  • An ongoing flow of support from my guides and angels, who are lining things up just right for my path. The more I notice things falling into place, the more there are to notice. Even typing this item opens the way for more good energy to flow into my life. I’m ready. I’m grateful.

I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. I hope you can also take the time to see all there is to be grateful for in your life. I welcome your comments.
Love. Light. Peace. Blessings. Joy.

Reiki Awakening Reiki blog by Alice Langholt

A Grateful Thanksgiving

Posted on by Alice Langholt


Hello and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

I am extremely thankful, especially today, to share the wonderful news that my husband has received and accepted a job offer. The long period of unemployment is coming to a close as he assumes the role of Operations Analyst at Lutheran Hospital, which is in Cleveland, near where we live. So we are not moving out of state, and we can keep our roots here for the time being. Interesting to note is that there are still some out of state opportunities brewing for him and he may have other offers coming in the next few months. All will be considered, so this might be a step rather than a stop, so to speak! Still, we are very happy to be able to share such wonderful news that he can go back to work, in a position that can help him grow and further his career goals.
So, Evan landing a job is at the #1 spot on the Thanksgiving Thankful List for today. Here are the next items.

I am thankful for Evan. He has handled his time of uncertainty, waiting, stress, and anxiety with amazing strength and perseverance. He has taken on lots of cooking, cleaning, laundry, home repairs, and dad time, and cleared the way for me to apply myself to working on writing, lining up teaching opportunities, and teaching. We also enjoyed some extra time together that we wouldn’t have had otherwise, even grocery shopping together became a sort of “date.” He never wallowed in misery, but held me up when I needed it. I’m in awe, admiration, and appreciation of him and look at him with overwhelming love and gratitude.

I am thankful for our four children. They bring laughter, energy, love, challenges, and fun to our home on a daily basis. Each of them is an individual with a strong personality, amazing talents, and they make our family abundant in reasons for gratitude.

I am thankful for my parents and mother-in-law, who have given us emotional and financial support when we needed it, and have been constantly encouraging us to hang in there.

I am thankful for my friends on Twitter, Owning Pink, and Facebook who have never stopped giving encouragement, sending Reiki, prayers, and good thoughts our way with each interview and throughout the waiting process that seemed never-ending.

I am thankful for my Reiki students, who have given me the opportunity to share this beautiful and empowering energy with them. Teaching Reiki is my life path, and every person who allows me to show them how to experience Reiki is a blessing to my life.

I am thankful for a warm home, nourishing food, cars that are running, a good internet connection, and the ability to learn to live frugally (a skill which will continue to serve us well).

I’m also thankful for the ability to connect with angels, life force energy, and the constant reassurance that this has provided me when I needed it.

Finally, I’m thankful for those who take the time to read my thoughts here, whether you comment or not, please know I’m glad to have your caring and interest.

Blessings, Gratitude and a Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Reiki Awakening Reiki blog by Alice Langholt