This Ain’t for the Faint Hearted

Did you have a dream once? Are you living it, or are you, like a lot of people in the world, leading a life of mediocrity, settling for much less than you know you’re capable of? Do you think kids should leave high school feeling like that? Middle school? God forbid, elementary school? Because that’s what we’re teaching them. That’s what we were most likely taught.

Since I first began working with teens, I have become increasingly inspired. And I am determined to pass that inspiration on to whoever will listen. Teenagers, like everyone else, have great potential but can’t seem to get past their anger, their doubts, or their way of doing things, and so they end up in trouble, expelled, suspended. We adults end up in the same place, with our lives suspended because of our fears, our doubts, and our own “way” of doing things.

Although I don’t personally relate to the specific situations all the kids I work with come from, it doesn’t mean that I can’t meet them where they are. I know what it is like to feel unloved, to feel misunderstood, to feel alone, to feel angry at how things are, and to feel what it is like to watch the people around you question who you are. We ALL know what that is like. At some point or another, we have all been disappointed, treated unfairly, or felt betrayed by life. This is exactly why we must reach out and tell our children that it’s normal to feel what they feel, that it’s ok to hurt, that it’s ok to be angry, that it’s ok to feel all of these things so that they can heal and move on with their lives.

Whether we like it or not, we, as adults, are leaders. We are leading today’s children into either a life of inspiration or a life that will pass them by. As leaders, we have to stop covering up the past as though it doesn’t matter. We have to be willing to look at how it’s “always been done” and identify what isn’t working anymore. We need to help our kids empower themselves to be who they know they are. If a child is acting out, doesn’t it make sense that there’s a reason for it? Why would someone “act out” just for the sake of acting out? Don’t we act out? We blame our spouse, our boss, our partner, the driver in front of us who’s going too slow…How “adult-like” is our behavior, really?

The kids I work with all tell me things that they have never shared with anyone…they trust me because I take the time to meet them where they are. I don’t judge their choices. I accept their choices because they are the ones who suffer their own consequences. We need to show our kids that they are creative, that they are magnificent and great human beings, instead of telling them they are bad and that they need to be fixed. We only tell them that because that’s what we’re telling ourselves. They don’t need to be fixed, they need to be loved. They need someone to show up for them.

Each of my students in the O’Nan Project for Change has come up with their own project for this first school year. One of them is creating a mentoring program for 2nd grade students where she wants to empower young kids to find their courage now. The program is called “The Real You.” Another student wants to create the first skateboarding club for kids in the City of Starkville. Another student wants to create a summer fun-camp for kids all ages. Another student wants to get her babysitting certificate and create a tutoring program called “Tiny Learners.” And our 5th student has a desire to be a clothing designer one day and wants to start by creating her own shirts. Each of these things is easy to help support.

Imagine if there were a class in each school that allowed kids to explore their current dreams, to see where they may take them? Imagine if our students had the opportunity to be supported in something that they loved and know that they were going to get that support? Imagine, when you were their age, if you had had someone come and tell you that you could do and be anything you wanted to be? Imagine that. Imagine a world where we all took the time to help one another find our greatness and we actually supported each other in doing what it took to make it happen? Imagine it.

We have to stop placing expectations on our kids and start allowing them to see the world as a place of possibility, a place of fulfillment, a place where their dreams can actually happen. If we empower our kids, then we empower our world. It’s time to step up.

But how can we empower anyone if we’re not empowered ourselves? How can the kids of today’s world learn about pursuing their dreams if all they see around them is adults who have given up on theirs? How can we acknowledge greatness in anyone else if we haven’t acknowledged our own? How can we dare to tell someone to go after their heart’s desire if we haven’t had the courage to even look at our own? We are put on this earth to serve each other. We are put on this earth to be great. We are put on this earth to love. How can we do any of those fully if we can’t admit to the calling of our heart, if we can’t be “as little children” and return to the excitement of asking “what if?…”

It’s time to rise up! It’s time for us as adults to choose our own dream so that our kids know it is ok to choose their own. It’s time for us all to step up and step out boldly. We all have dreams, and we all know what it’s like to lose heart. There’s an old saying that says, “it’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all…” The same can be said for dreams. When was the last time you “indulged” in contemplating your own dream? Now is the time. It’s time to wake up. Your dream was given to you to manifest in this life, not to rest in the safety of slumber. We all need to be empowered. Find someone who will support you. Believe in yourself. Believe you were made for greatness! If you don’t, I will until you do.

Coaches: Elevate Your TEAM Through Balance!

As an athlete, it is a myth that everything you do has to be about your sport. 

 

As a Sports Life Coach for athletes, I have discovered that achieving balance in all areas of an athlete’s life is the answer to taking performance to the top. This may seem like a new paradigm to some, and it may sound “out there” to others, but if you talked to the athletes I work with, they would tell you that they are more confident and more prepared for their games, that their performance has improved in their chosen sport, and that they feel more fulfilled in life overall.  I am not saying that an athlete doesn’t have to work hard to make great achievements, but if there is one area of their life that they are struggling in, then it runs over into other areas of their life, and that includes their sport.

 

Let’s say that one of your athletes just took a test at school and failed it miserably.  Or they’ve just had a fight with a friend.  They go to practice down on themselves, or angry, and they have a horrible practice. Or the athlete goes to a game and their performance is nowhere near where you–or they– would like it to be.  So the athlete goes home and lies on the couch all night watching TV because they are too depressed to do anything else.  Or the athlete blames their teammates, or you, the coach, leading to drama for days and weeks to come.  Although we all know anger can serve as fuel for an aggressive and sometimes powerful performance, there is less satisfaction in the outcome for the athlete because it doesn’t feel controlled.  This then further impacts your athlete’s performance because instead of their using their emotion to control their game, they allow it to control them, leading to unpredictable results each time.

 

So how does an athlete control it?  How does an athlete get the tools necessary to separate their sport from their relationships? How do you, as the coach, keep your athletes from carrying disappointment from one area of their life into another?  Although it is sometimes tough as a coach to know how to help your athletes, I have found that by using a few techniques each week you can help your athletes focus on improving what is important to them in their lives, thereby improving their performance.

 

You can start this process of self empowerment by meeting regularly with your athletes, whether it be once a week, once every two weeks, or once a month.  Call these meetings “balance meetings,” or whatever works for you and your team. Even better, encourage participation by having your athletes come up with a name together so that they accept some sort of responsibility for its development. Take an hour for the meeting to occur. 

 

In these meetings, you will begin by having your athletes choose the five most important areas of their lives from the following categories: Appearance; Sport; Family; Fun; Health; Money; Home (living situation); School; Personal Discovery; Relationships; Service; and Spirituality.  Once they have each chosen the five areas that are most important to them as individuals, you can then help them begin to explore these areas further. 

 

Ask them the following questions about the five areas they have chosen, and have them write their answers down (I have included examples after each question, but you may choose to offer your own examples that you feel are more pertinent to your team): 

 

• If each area of your life were exactly how you wanted it to be, how would you feel? For example, if I were an athlete, in the area of Sport, I would want to always feel confident. I would therefore write down the word, “confident.” (This exercise is meant to get them thinking about what is important for them to feel in the moment; it allows them to set a goal without knowing they are setting a goal.)
• For each area of your life, write down 3-5 things you can do this week or month that will help you feel better in this area of your life. For example, if I wanted to feel confident in my sport, then I could be more focused at practice, I could study signs or plays after practice, or I could spend time talking to my coach on how to improve my game.

Once your athletes have written down three to five things they can do in each area of their life, then give them the freedom to take what they have written and apply it in their life. You can check in with them as a group each week or month to see how they are doing. This will allow the team to come together by sharing what is most important to them.

To strengthen this process further and encourage team building beyond the court/field, have your athletes form “accountability partners” on the team to work with on a weekly basis so that they can check in with each other and see how they are doing on all the important aspects of their lives. And finally, meet with each athlete individually yourself on a consistent basis, so that they know that their well-being is important to you.

There are a lot of options when it comes to helping your athletes, and becoming more involved in their lives is a crucial one. Having team meetings that focus on their personal lives is an excellent way for you to do this without becoming caught up yourself in each athlete’s own personal drama.  Allowing your athletes the space and time to reflect on what is important to them gives them more meaning and purpose for each area of life, which in turn increases focus and performance.

Believe that your athletes’ performance doesn’t have to be a rollercoaster ride.  If you believe it, so will they.  Believe in your athletes.  Know that you can be the best coach you can be, all the time.  And believe you can believe that.

WHAT IS The O’Nan Project for Change??

If you’re reading this, welcome to an exciting new venture that’s changing the lives of teenagers in our country!

The O’Nan Project for Change was birthed by the vision of its founder, Meagan O’Nan, whose passion is to empower teenagers to embrace their potential, to see beyond their life circumstances and to think outside their box.

Our Mission Statement: To bring resources, life skills, and hope to teenagers through workshops, community based mentorship programs, and professional life coaching services; ultimately, to enhance and empower our future leaders to make decisions based on their dreams while attaining a foundational mindset that anything is possible.

How It Works:

Two Branches: The O’Nan Project for Change is a nonprofit organization that has two branches. The first provides life coaching scholarships to middle school students (7th and 8th-graders) whose parents can’t otherwise afford it. Life coaching is a powerful process that empowers people to move beyond their present circumstances by embracing their skills and taking responsibility for their lives both as individuals and as members of their community. Life coaching has become very popular among adults across the country but is as yet untapped among teenagers–where we believe its greatest potential lies–partly because its cost is prohibitive to a large part of the population who could benefit from it the most.  The O’Nan Project for Change addresses this by offering partial or full scholarships for life coaching services to ANY 7th or 8th-grader who applies. We have a team of life coaches who have offered their services at a reduced rate so that this project can reach as many teens as possible.

The second branch of the O’Nan Project for Change is a two-year program that is offered in middle schools to select groups of students that the schools have deemed “problem students with potential.” This year, the O’Nan Project’s pilot program is being implemented in the State of Mississippi to serve as a vehicle to bring hope and offer inspiration to those who feel there is no way out of their restrictive circumstances. The O’Nan Project for Change offers monthly coaching and community based mentorship programs where students set goals for themselves and work together over a two-year period towards character building, personal responsibility, and a community-responsible mindset.

Why start with Mississippi schools?  Mississipi ranks among the highest in the nation in teen deaths, middle and high school dropouts, teens not attending school and not working, and teen pregnancies.

Local Community Involvement in the Project: An incentive approach provides local businesses opportunities to support and engage in our program by offering mentorships and merchant discounts to participants. Character building is a core concept in the program, and these concepts are filtered into the community via a network of leadership-based educational opportunities that are offered to the business community by the O’Nan Project for Change.

Our Leaders of the Future: Our teenagers are our leaders of the future, and they need our attention. The O’Nan Project for Change intends to inspire entire communities to take responsibility for establishing a new mindset that will create more opportunities for growth. There is currently no program that offers long-term life coaching services that empower teenagers, and we are changing that! Our vision is to partner with programs throughout the State of Mississippi and the entire United States to provide tools that teenagers can use to empower themselves and teach one another, thus creating a more productive and content society.

“I Have a Dream!”: All over the United States, we receive messages from many sources that tell us we are not good enough, smart enough, worthy enough, or courageous enough to have what we want for our lives. We easily forget to dream the dreams we had when we were children because we do not feel that we can achieve what we truly want. Some of us have been lucky enough to receive an encouraging message or two from someone when we were children; however, the majority of our nation’s children are not being told to “dream big and follow your heart.” Many of us end up in jobs that we do not care about, thereby lowering our collective quality of life and sabotaging our ability to prosper. We are in the middle of a time when our economy is a challenge, and this is creating an opportune time to encourage others.

The Sky’s the Limit: There is no limit to how far The O’Nan Project for Change can reach! Every teenager that is a part of this initiative is given complete trust. When we, as current leaders, allow our leaders of tomorrow to take responsibiltiy for their own lives through trust and expectation, then space is created for them to begin creating meaning and purpose for their own independent and collective missions.

To make change, we must create change…As we create our own heaven, we change the world…

Elevating Your Game Through Balance!

Reflecting on my career as a Division I multi-sport athlete, I wish I had known then what I know now. Being a National Strength and Conditioning All-American was certainly something I cherished, but it would have been so much more rewarding had I known that I could have achieved that honor while still enjoying all the other aspects of my life.  As an athlete, it is a myth that everything you do has to be about your sport. 

 

Wait. Meagan, what are you talking about? We all know that to receive any type of All-American honors you must make your sport your life and your life your sport. Confused yet? 

 

Receiving numerous awards as a college athlete was amazing, but all the while the rest of my life was falling apart while I focused only on my sports. I was so dedicated to my performance that I was oblivious to the fact that my education was suffering, my relationships were suffering, my spiritual life was suffering, and deep down I was not happy with who I was.  If someone had asked me to describe my life in those days, my answer would have been, “just fine.”   But it wasn’t, and little did I know that therein lay the true key to outstanding performance.

 

As a Sports Life Coach for athletes, I have discovered that achieving balance in all areas of your life is the answer to taking your performance to the top. This may seem like a new paradigm to some, and it may sound “out there” to others, but if you talked to the athletes I work with, they would tell you that they are more confident and more prepared for their games, that their performance has improved in their chosen sport, and that they feel more fulfilled in life overall.  I am not saying that you don’t have to work hard to make great achievements, but if there is one area of your life that you are struggling in, then it runs over into other areas of your life, and that includes your sport.

 

Let’s say you just took a test at school and failed it miserably.  Or you’ve just had a fight with a friend.  You go to practice down on yourself, or angry, and you have a horrible practice. Or you go to a game and your performance is nowhere near where you’d like it to be.  So you go home and lie on the couch all night watching TV because you are too depressed to do anything else.  Or you blame your teammate or coach, leading to drama for days and weeks to come.  Although we all know anger can serve as fuel for an aggressive and sometimes powerful performance, there is less satisfaction in the outcome because it doesn’t feel controlled. 

 

So how do you control it?  How do you get the tools to separate your sport from your relationships? How do you keep yourself from carrying disappointment from one area of your life into another?  How do you learn to use anger or frustration or sadness as

“fuel” in your life without feeling like they’re controlling you? 

 

Sports Life Coaching is not therapy.  And it isn’t going to give you the answers if you’re not looking for them.  Rather, Sports Life Coaching creates a partnership between you as an athlete and your life coach. Your life coach guides you in making personal choices in your life that will elevate your performance by creating balance. Your Coach helps you as an athlete to acknowledge what is important to you, to find purpose and meaning in all the areas of your life. Once you have a purpose that is your own, that comes from deep within yourself and not from the world around you, then you have a much more powerful reason to perform at a higher level.  Through learning to commit to purpose in all areas of your life, balance is created and maintained. Then, working from this understanding of your own purpose, you shift from your head to your heart and begin to perform more naturally, from a place of personal power and true control rather than from the whimsical arena of your emotions.

 

Every athlete has fears and performance anxiety.  “Performance anxiety.”  Two simple words for something that’s anything but simple.  But the truth is that the anxiety is probably not about the performance at all.  Sports Life Coaching isn’t therapy…but it can take an experience and help you quickly get to the core of the issue, which rarely has to do with the sport.  And having identified the issue, you then have the tools to work with it.

 

So what are some of these tools?  What was the best performance you ever had?  And are you still trying to live up to that?  Why was your performance on that day so great?  Why can’t you have that performance all the time?  Do you believe that you can perform at your best all the time?  If you don’t believe it’s possible, how can you possibly do it?  If you don’t believe in yourself, no matter how much other people believe in you, you’ll always fall short of the mark. 

 

Try this.  Take two minutes right now and imagine the best performance you could possibly have.  Picture it, hear the sounds, smell the smells, feel the adrenaline …you’re in the moment…you feel ease, flow…you feel centered inside, quiet, and you know that you are about to make the perfect play…and you do it.  Spend a moment there.  What does it feel like?  What does your body feel like?  What thoughts are you having? 

 

It’s no revelation that envisioning a perfect game can lead to an outstanding performance…star athletes have worked with this concept for decades.  Envisioning…or visioning…is an extremely powerful tool, and one that is used frequently in the context of Sports Life Coaching.  But it is also only as powerful as the commitment to balance of the person doing it.  Sure, it may help one time, or even twice, but if you aren’t committed to the process, its effectiveness will fade quickly.  And if you aren’t balanced in every area of your life, you won’t stay committed. 

 

Believe that your performance doesn’t have to be a rollercoaster ride.  Believe in yourself.  Believe that you can be the best athlete you can be, all the time.  Believe that you can believe that.  

 

 

Meagan O’Nan, MA, MS, is elevating the game for women in sports through her Sports Life Coaching practice, Life on Purpose (www.meaganonan.com). Award winning author of the book, Creating Your Heaven on Earth, Meagan strives to help athletes find balance and purpose to achieve better results in performance, overall satisfaction, and fulfillment in all areas of life.

 *To be published in the NFCA newsletter

Good news!

Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there’s love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.” – Ella Fitzgerald

The O’Nan Project for Change has been approved and accepted in the Starkville, MS school district at Armstrong Middle School! We will begin our work with the school the first week in October. The O’Nan Project for Change is providing life coaching scholarships, professional mentorship matches, opportunities for internships, and cooperation with Mississippi State University to 5 students for the ‘09-’10 Pilot Program year.

For those students, teachers, adminstrators, and/or parents who would like coaching services and are not selected for the program in the future, we are developing a scholarship fund that will provide scholarships for coaching services.

 The O’Nan Project for Change and its Board of Directors believe that we can help change the world by giving life skills, tools, support, and consistency to others…and this is what life coaching does. We can give many people great services (healthcare, welfare, etc.), but most importantly we need to help people find a purpose in order to live their best lives! One at a time, as we support each other, our world will change.

 To make all of this happen, WE NEED YOU!!!! If you are passionate about our message and want to make a difference, please send us contacts who would be willing to support this program. As we launch our program, we are looking for supporters, business or private, monetary or other, to help us reach as many people as possible.

A word about professional coaching: Professional coaching is an interactive process that helps individuals improve their performance and achieve extraordinary results. professional coaches work with clients in all areas, including business, career, finance, health, and relationships. As a result of professional coaching, clients learn to set better goals, take more action, make better decisions, and more fully use their natural strengths. There are currently approximately 7000 members of the International Coach Federation, the credentialing organization for coaches. Help support the O’Nan Project for Change! It only takes one candle to light a room…

O’Nan Project Wishlist: *Computer *Printer *Web Designer (we are ready to make a new website!!!)

 Monetary support: *Student Scholarship Fund ($500 a student) *Life Coaching notebooks for students ($25 a student) *Traveling fund (Mileage and/or tickets) *O’Nan Project promotional fund (printed materials, from $1 to $100)

*Support O’Nan Project with your talent! Ask me how you can help….

*Support the O’Nan Project by passing our info on!!! Thank you to all who have believed in this from the beginning when it was just a vision…now it is real and we are looking forward to empowering our youth!

 Peace and blessings, — Meagan M. O’Nan, MA, MS Founder, The O’Nan Project for Change Author of Creating Your Heaven on Earth www.meaganonan.com

 This is love: to fly toward a secret sky, to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment. First to let go of life.

The O’Nan Project for Change is taking off!!!!

“Heart, be brave. If you cannot be brave, just go. Love’s glory is not a small thing.” – Rumi
 
Dear Friends,
 
The O’Nan Project for Change is taking off! We will begin our work in 3 schools in Mississippi this school year. We are introducing a 2-year program that will serve 7-8th graders through professional mentorship, life coaching, involvement with Mississippi State University, summer programs, and a variety of additional supports depending on the teen and their situation.
 
Our 2-year Scope of Project (curriculum) is being finalized. Each month and each year will have a different theme that our students and life coaches will be integrating into the program. For example, Year 1 will be the theme of Opportunity, and the month of September will have the theme, Courage. Year 2 will be Discovery. Our project gives students a variety of ways to discover the wisdom within them…and the tools necessary to help them make choices based on their heart’s desires.
 
Someone once asked me, “What if you have a kid that wants to be a professional basketball player but doesn’t have an athletic bone in his body?” And I said, “Its not about WHAT they want to do, its about helping them (the kids) find WHY they want to do it.” So, by working with this kid, who wants to be a professional basketball player, we may find that the reason he wants this for his life is to inspire other people – then IMAGINE all of the ways he could choose to inspire others?!?! Our job on this planet, and the purpose of this program, is to help teens realize that they are GREAT human beings and have many gifts to give the world and that there are endless possbilities in how to give of those gifts.
 
5 months ago, when I chose to give everything I had to creating this program…I had no idea that it would take the form that it has. The way things have fallen into place has taken a commitment and willingness to be open, even when I wanted to run away, even when I felt unworthy, even when I doubted every bone in my body. But, I knew deep down that all would become clear…that all would shine its light…so I held on, and the answers continue to come streaming in…at exactly the right time…at exactly the right moment.
 
Life gives us what we give it. I believe in our power as individuals to make a difference. Eventually, you look around you and notice that the army of people who are surrounding you – whom have entered your life to give their passion – can only be an act of Spirit…an act of universal Oneness. To all of those who have given in various ways…thank you for listening to the inner call to support this process.
 
It is COURAGE that pushes us ALL forth to be who we are meant to be…I ask you to dig deep and embrace the courage that lies within you – be BOLD and know that your purpose on this earth is unfolding. Listen to the inner calling to be exactly who you are…trust yourself, and be amazed. Remember, that the outcome to any calling from the heart will never look the way you ever expected it to be – most importantly, remember that your heart will be fulfilled no matter what it looks like. I believe there is a Divine Presence that has so much compassion for us…that when we allow it to help us paint our dreams…then we can only be fulfilled.
 
Courage transforms fear into determination. It is embracing life fully, without holding back, doing what must be done even when it is difficult or risky. When we are tempted to give up, courage supports us to take the next step. It allows us to face adversity with confidence. Courage opens us to new possibilities, and gives us the strength to sacrifice for what we love. At times we need courage to accept the truth, and to pick ourselves up after a mistake, ready to make amends and try again. Courage gives me the strength to make this journey with ALL my heart.

I reach beyond my comfort zone.
I welcome new challenges.
I do what I know is right regardless of the costs.
I face the truth with humility and openness.
I don’t allow my fears to hold me back.
I fully accept life’s invitations.
I am thankful for the gift of Courage. It allows me to spread my wings.
(The Virtues Project)

To all of you who feel led to be a part of The O’Nan Project for Change…to raise awareness around our nation, and to our world, that anything is possible through trusting yourself and trusting that Life really is here to help you fulfill your purpose…please do not hesitate to ask how you can contribute. If there are others in your life that you feel would like to be a part of this project…please forward this email or have them contact me directly.
 
We are applying for grants and are confident that we will receive all that we need and more to give our students many great gifts…most of all, to let them know that there are people in this world that believe in who they are, so that they may help others believe in who they are as well.
 
If you would like to make a monetary contribution, or another contribution that speaks to you, to support a life coaching scholarship and our AMAZING staff, do know that you will receive a tax exempt receipt and an invitation to our end of the year banquet that will introduce many great inspirational speakers and presentations from the students in our program.  Our wishlist is below…
 
Many thank you’s to those who have been a HUGE part of this process…it will be fun to watch this continue to unfold!
 
Blessings,
 
–
Meagan M. O’Nan, MA, MS
Founder, The O’Nan Project for Change
Author of Creating Your Heaven on Earth
www.meaganonan.com
This is love: to fly toward a secret sky, to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment. First to let go of life. Finally, to take a step without feet. – Rumi
 
Paypal address: megonan@gmail.com
 
The O’Nan Project for Change
201 N Montgomery St.
Starkville, MS 39759

Project Wishlist
 
Funds for: new website, life coaching scholarships, professional mentors, summer programs, staff, speakers, computers, travel expenses, mid-term and end of the year banquet, office space, general funding/donations
 
*Thoughts, ideas, connections, your creative time, and most of all…your continued

The O’Nan Foundation Update…

If you can imagine it, you can create it. If you can dream it, you can become it.

William Arthur Ward

Friends and Family,

I just came back from a 10-day adventure to clear my thoughts and allow whatever is working for the foundation, to continue to work. As I was gone, HAY HOUSE, a very large international publisher (http://www.hayhouse.com/), responded to a letter I sent out by offering to provide support to The O’Nan Foundation. This is a great honor – they will be giving some of the inspirational materials they have created over the years to the people the foundation will be serving. I am in complete gratitude and am very humbled.

Things are unfolding at a rapid, yet compassionate, pace…and I get just enough every day to continue to push the vision forward. At this time, I have 5 out of 7 board members who have committed their time to serving and giving to the Foundation. Once I have a complete roster, then I will inform you on who they are with their bios attached.

 I am currently speaking with a woman, Aretha Alvarez, who helps people set up their non-profits. She has helped over 500 non-profits in her career and has been highly recommended. She provides a base rate and serves for as long as the foundation is still moving. She is a wonderful person and I would love to have her a part of the team.

At this juncture, in order to get things officially moving, I am in need of some baseline funds in order to cover the basic costs of setting up a nonprofit; i.e., registering with the State of Mississippi, and setting up basic online information and educational materials in order to promote the program. While I have felt and continue to feel strongly that it will never be my purpose or intention to request monetary donations for the Foundation, I do know that I am supported by so many of you in this endeavor, and it is in this spirit that I am “putting out” to all of you my situation as it stands, knowing that those of you who feel called to contribute monetarily in this early stage will do so only as your hearts lead you.

No organization or person can “officially” donate to the Foundation until all paperwork requirements are met. This is what Aretha will help with. However, once the initial paperwork for the nonprofit organization has been filed, I will be happy to provide retroactive tax-exempt receipts to any donations made before that point.

Purpose of the Foundation:

Beginning in the State of Mississippi and spreading throughout the Southeast, The O’Nan Foundation will serve as hope to others and offer inspiration to those who feel that there is no way out. As a non-profit organization, The O’Nan Foundation will develop and set up community based mentorship programs for seniors in high school that filter down to the elementary school level. Chosen high school students will receive a scholarship for a free workshop with me and continued coaching with a certified life coach. The students will then take the skills they have learned and share them with elementary school students. An incentive approach will give local businesses an opportunity to support the program by offering discounts to participants. The O’Nan Foundation is a partnership between love, hope, faith and knowing that, when a vision is so big that all you can do is think about it, if you leap a net will appear.

We are brought to this earth for a reason. Embedded within each of us is a dream…a dream that we hope for but are not sure is realistic or how to grasp a hold of it. So we settle for what is safe and comfortable because we are scared of what we may or may not achieve. We often need someone else to give us permission to shine our own light. The O’Nan Foundation wants to share the message that shining your light is what changes the world. The only way to make better communities is to build hope, responsibility, and a foundational mindset that pushes people to take initiative in their own lives. This then gives others permission to do the same and the ripple continues. We are all in this together.

If you would like to help, in whatever form your heart desires – please know that I am grateful and appreciative beyond words. Once the Foundation gets moving, it is my dream to give back to other organizations who are seeking to give to the world in which this Foundation will be doing. I like to call this, the circle of love

From my heart, to yours, with thanks… -

- Meagan M. O’Nan, MA, MS

2806 Dixon Creek Lane

Fort Collins, CO 80526

Paypal account: megonan@gmail.com

This is love: to fly toward a secret sky, to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment. First to let go of life. Finally, to take a step without feet. – Rumi

The O’Nan Foundation

This is love: to fly toward a secret sky, to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment. First to let go of life. Finally, to take a step without feet. – Rumi

 

We are all brought to this earth for a reason. Embedded within each of us is a dream…a dream that we hope for and are not always sure if it is realistic or how to grasp a hold of it. So, a lot of the time, we settle for what is safe and comfortable because we are scared of what we may not achieve. We may also not feel worthy enough to dream such big dreams. We often need someone else to give us permission to shine our light. The O’Nan Foundation wants to share the message that shining your light is what changes the world.

 

The O’Nan Foundation will be set up to give resources, tools, life skills, and ultimately, permission to others to follow their hearts and discover that anything is possible. All people deserve the proper resources and opportunities to discover that life is not only what we make it, but that each one of us has the authority to create an empowering life.

 

Beginning in the state of Mississippi and spreading throughout the Southeast, The O’Nan Foundation will serve as hope to others and offer inspiration to those who feel that there is no way out. As a non-profit organization, The O’Nan Foundation will set up a scholarship fund for people to receive life coaching services and provide free workshops to those who are in some sort of transition (coming out of prison, leaving foster care, finishing a rehabilitation process, etc.). The Foundation will not be limited to working with one population, as the message of creating possibility expands across age, gender, race, culture, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation.

 

The only way to make better communities is to build hope, responsibility, and a foundational mindset that pushes people to take initiative within their own lives. When people begin to live the life they want to live, then it gives others permission to do the same and the ripple continues. We are all in this together.

 

The Foundation will also have a mentorship program that will teach high school students skills on creating a life they want and taking those skills to their elementary schools and giving the same information to those students. The O’Nan Foundation is a partnership between love, hope, faith and the knowing that when a vision is so big that all you can do is think about it…then leap and watch the net appear beneath you.

 

The net has arrived. I want to inspire others to think outside the box and spread the message that life is meant to be enjoyed, and that it is truly possible. This is my dream – to give of my heart so that others will want to give theirs.

 

If this message resonates with you and you would like more information on how to support The O’Nan Foundation in its initial stages, please email me at megonan@gmail.com or feel free to contact me at 662-312-3854. If there are resources, ideas, or visions of your own that you feel would fit into this mold, please share. All who work for The O’Nan Foundation will also be living the life of their dreams.