About Maggie

For most of my life I had no idea how truly unhappy, sad and angry I was. At one point, I began to realize something was "off." I just didn't know what it was, I just knew I needed to do something different and that started me on the most amazing journey. The journey began with the idea that I needed to find some sense of happiness. Everything I tried along the way seemed to help in some measure. I became more self aware and started noticing how I was creating my own unhappiness. However, it wasn't until I found The Work of Byron Katie that things really started to break loose. Before The Work, I used to blame my mother for not listening to me and wanting to run my life, my father for abusing and leaving me, my first husband for having an affair, my daughter for not wanting me in her life and blaming me for her problems. I judged my second husband as unenlightened and not loving enough. I saw my son-in-law as trying to control my daughter. Mentally, I attacked my bosses for not taking advantage of what I had to offer. Then I attacked myself for being judgmental and unable to live according to all the spiritual principles I had learned.

By questioning my beliefs through inquiry those stories have melted away. I find I am a better listener, more understanding, clear, compassionate and, ultimately, kinder to myself and others. I have discovered that I love my mother, father, daughter, ex-husbands, son-in-law, bosses and myself more than I thought possible. From that loving perspective, I live with an amazing sense of internal peace and deep gratitude. I have learned to trust the process of The Work and have realized that inquiry held with a loving heart can hold anything!! If my story resonates with you, give me a call. I would love to hear from you!! As a Facilitator of The Work I work with individuals, couples and families as well as offer workshops and teleclasses. I experience my greatest joy when I am sharing Inquiry with those who are drawn to work with me either individually or by attending one of my workshops. What is important to me is how I show up in the world, which, for me, means to be fully present with myself and with you. It also means being able to sit in the questions that arise with all of the accompanying discomfort and uncertainty. Sit in the questions for the love of truth.

I would like to beg you dear Sir, as well as I can, to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don't search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer. - Rainier Marie Rilke

The questions I am sitting with at this time:
Am I willing to know the Truth no matter what it costs me?
What would happen if I just STOPPED?
What if this is as good as it gets?
What identity am I clinging to in this moment?
Can I be with you and not want anything from you?
Can I sit with you in the midst of discomfort, yours or mine, without wanting to change anything?
Stay tuned – the questions change as I change.

The me that shows up as Maggie in this life is mother to beautiful Wendy, mother-in-law to entrepreneur Mike and Grandmother to amazing Callie and Carson. They show me the way. The human side of me experiences sadness, anger and moments when I behave in the exact opposite way I want to behave. I have learned to "follow my heart" which has required jumping off a few cliffs into the unknown. I make "mistakes" on a regular basis and know that each brings a unique gift if I am open to it. All this humanness leads to laughter, compassion and gratitude. I have come to love the gift of life. In my professional life I have worked as an educator, a director of staff development, a director of human resources, a consultant to organizations, a master facilitator and trainer, personal life coach and facilitator of Inquiry and The Work of Byron Katie. I work with individuals, groups and organizations to facilitate transformational change and explore new ways of being in the world.

Following My Heart and Jumping off Cliffs

"Following my Heart" hasn't always been easy. It has, however, led me to amazing and life changing experiences. I have changed career paths a few times, found myself exploring new ways of living in the world, and followed a spiritual path that has led me to some wonderful mentors and teachers.

To be fully alive, fully human, and completely awake is to be continually thrown out of the nest. - Pema Chodron

Jumping Off Cliffs

I changed both my first and last name at the age of 38. I chose "Maggie" because I loved it and the name "Carter" because it was the maiden name of a favorite great aunt.
I left the secure and wonderful job of classroom teacher and director of staff development to start my own consulting business at the age of 45.
For my 50th year my then-husband and I took a year away from regular life to travel around the world with just a backpack. It was a magical, spiritual, adventurous journey. If you want to learn more email me for a free PDF copy of this book. Click here to read an article about the journey.
I left my job as Human Resource Director for a fabulous and innovative company when it become evident that the fit was no longer there and traveled for a few months in Europe.
I've entered into two marriages with amazing men and in both cases we decided to go our separate ways. Each "divorce" resulted in very powerful experiences. I love each of them in ways I never imagined possible.
In April of 2008 I sold my house and "moved" to Mallorca, Spain with the thought I would live there, become an ex-patriot and learn Spanish. I left four months later, wandered a bit and landed in Ojai, California for a year.
In July 2010 I put everything in storage again, packed my car for what I thought would be a 6-months period of traveling and after one month I found myself renting a lovely place in Bend, Oregon.
And once again, it seems that I am moving - this time to Boulder, Colorado in August. People ask "Why?" and my most honest answer is "I don't know."

Accreditations and Affiliations

Graduate - Institute for Life Coach Training

BA in Elementary Education
MA in Reading and Linguistics
Ph.D. in Staff Development, Adult Learning, and Leadership